Life

Revival: “Come Alive” (Valley of Dry Bones)
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Revival: “Come Alive” (Valley of Dry Bones)

Valley of Dry BonesThere has always been a stirring in my spirit for more of God. When Jesus came into my life it was real and life changing. He took away hurt of an abusive step father and anguish of not having my real father in my life instantly. At the age of nine years old, when I asked Jesus into my heart, my life was never the same. Peace flooded my heart and courage to conquer my world came. I felt immediate significance in my life.

Because of the radical change that happened in my heart, I couldn’t help but tell others what Jesus did for me. I wanted to see others experience the same radical love I felt that day and every day of their life. My heart became awakened to a love I never felt before. A transforming love that flooded my very core.

From that epiphany moment on I had to have more of Jesus. It has been a craving in me ever since that amazing day. He burns in my belly. It’s a fire that can never be quenched. This is a revivalist. To see others revived in their relationship with God and that reviving becomes contagious and spreads to others.

The word “revival” often carries some baggage. It brings to mind an old-fashioned religious church service or tent meeting. But there is SO much more to revival than a church meeting! Revival is a completely renewed and transformed way of life! Once you experience personal revival in your own life, then you cannot help changing the world around you.

Wikipedia states Revival as: an increased spiritual interest or renewal in the life of a church congregation or society, with a local, national or global effect.

Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary defines revival this way:

REVI’VAL, n. [from revive.]

1. Return, recall or recovery to life from death or apparent death; as the revival of a drowned person.

2. Return or recall to activity from a state of languor; as the revival of spirits.

3. Recall, return or recovery from a state of neglect, oblivion, obscurity or depression; as the revival of letters or learning.

4. Renewed and more active attention to religion; an awakening of men to their spiritual concerns.

As of late, that burning in my spirit/belly has gotten stronger and stronger. It’s a fire that burns continuously and brightly in me. Throughout my life since I received Christ as my Lord and Savior, that fire is evident in my song writing, any position on a church staff, or any place I have spoken or ministered in song, or my books I have written, all are from a Revivalist’s burning heart to help others be healed and get close to God!
Jesus is looking for a church who still has their First Love burning strong in them.

Rev. 3:17 – 18 KJV
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

The church of Laodicea had drifted away from their first love. They had become ensnared in prosperity, comfort, and easy living, much like the American Church in this day. They were preaching, having services, and living life as normal yet they had grown cold in their hearts. It is amazingly easy for people to start out serving God with humility and hunger, then end up blinded by complacency. This is what had happened to the Laodicean church. Their eyes were blinded to the deeper things of God.

Jesus told the Laodicean church to repent and return to their first love. Revival is always a move of repentance. As the revival fire of God falls upon churches and communities, people will return to their first love. In that process of return there is a great deliverance that takes place. God’s people are delivered from distraction, deception, and the lies of the enemy as their hearts are purified by holy fire. Jesus instructed the Laodicean church to anoint their eyes with eye salve. I believe that this is a clear instruction to get the prophetic vision and ministry restored to the House of God.

Maybe you feel like you are dead inside. Maybe you have dead areas in your life that you never thought could live again. You need a personal revival.

Ezekiel 37:1 – 14 NKJV
The Dry Bones Live
The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”
Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’”
So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’”

There are several ways to interpret this vision given to Ezekiel. Here are a few…

  1. It is a prophesy for the nation of Israel to be restored and strength to come back to her.
  2. It is a picture of the sinner coming alive in Christ and living a life of being a soldier for God in His regime.
  3. It is a prophetic prophesy/picture of those who have lost their first love of Christ coming alive when they looked like no life was in them.
  4. It is a powerful prophetic picture of having anything “dead in our life that God can bring to life again. He is the God of the impossible!

I want to focus on the the last two today. Truly we can apply this scripture to our own lives and see that our spirit needs to be revived. This is a prophetic picture of you and I and how easily it can be to fall away and lose our spiritual life by just being exposed to the world and its ways, and also how our own life’s experiences can isolate us and bleach out our strength and all looks dead. The resurrection power of Christ can raise the dead of:

-Relationships
-Finances
-Hope for a better future
-Our Health
-Dead dreams
-and so much more!

Proverbs 17:22 NKJV
A merry heart does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones.

Dry: Hebrew3001 Yaw-bashe: A primitive root; to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also to dry up or wither: be ashamed, be confounded, dry, shame.

Dry Bones: Bleached by long exposure to the atmosphere.

Psalm 104:30 NKJV
You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;
And You renew the face of the earth.

rûach
Spirit: roo’-akh
From H7306; wind; by resemblance breath, that is, a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions): – air, anger, blast, breath, X cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit ([-ual]), tempest, X vain, ([whirl-]) wind (-y).

What Can Make Our Bones Dry?

1. Broken Spirit – to be overwhelmed with sorrow. It could also mean being wounded and never heal. To stay in that state of sorrow.

I am not referring to someone dying in your life and you are freshly grieving. We all need a time to grieve and mourn for our loss. It is a natural process that helps us let go of the dead and move on. What I am talking about is allowing that grief to be consuming years and years down the road, when we all should be moving on by then. Also I am talking about being hurt by someone or an event and we never get over it.

We have lost our joy. We have lost our peace. All we can see is what we lost or what happened to us. There is no life in that.

Allowing our hearts to be revived in God will give us JOY! God’s joy! Our “bones” are the very structure of our natural being. Without them, we would all be just a lump of tissue, blood, and flesh. To have a broken spirit is like taking our bones, our joy, away and we are left with feeling like we are just a blob of brokenness. This will dry up your bones quickly. Don’t let this be you! Quickly give your grief, hurt, and emotions to God and allow His healing to come. Don’t allow your bones to dry up!

Proverbs 17:22 NKJV
A merry heart does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones.

2. Ashamed – guilty or embarrassed of sin.

The enemy wants us to sin, then he wants us to feel guilty and ashamed of our sin the rest of our lives. If we do this, it will dry us up spiritually. We are not walking in God’s forgiveness which gives us strength and power.

Psalm 83:17 KJV
Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish.

What this verse is actually saying, after learning about dry bones, is: Dry up the bones of my enemy and may they die!

Shame is a drying component. It saps our living water out of us! This is what the devil wants for each of us.

Psalm 31:17 KJV
Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: oiler the wicked be ashamed, [and] let them be silent in the grave.

Failure/Failing – caught up in your own failures and never overcoming.

We can put our trust in God that He has forgiven us from any trespass, any iniquity, any sin and we are in right standing with Him when we repent and turn from it all. Don’t allow your passed mistakes to dictate who you are! You are a child of God! Your identity is in Christ.

3. Disappointments – Disappointed to the point all hope is gone.

Disappointments happen to us everyday. We put our expectations into something or someone, and when those expectations are not fulfilled, we become disappointed.

Romans 8:28 NKJV
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

1 Peter 5:7 (Amplified Bible)
“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”

We have to turn those disappointments over to God. They will eat us up from the inside out.

4. Confused or Confounded – you are following any “wind” that blows your way.

Acts 19:32 NKJV
Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

People are easily distracted by other doctrines and gods. We have to know what we believe and why we believe it! This will give you a good foundation and not be tossed to and fro with every wind of polices, practices, prophecies, and preaching.

When we are tossed by every wind that blows our way, it will dry up our spiritual bones to the point we don’t know what we believe. Confusion and be confounded and we will turn away from God.

Dehydration – away from the True Vine. Lack of water. No rain.

John 15:1- 6 NIV
The Vine and the Branches
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

“…apart from Me you can do nothing.” We are not productive apart from God. We are not strong apart from God. We will wither and die if we are not abiding in the true Vine, Jesus Christ. Find time to spend with Him daily. Spend time with His Bride (fellowship). Talk to Him throughout your day. Keep the lines of communication open at all times. If not, we will get dehydrated apart from the Vine. This will cause us to dry out.

5. Busyness – Always being busy doing “good things” but never doing the “One Thing” of spending time in His presence.

I think busyness is one of the sneakiest schemes the enemy uses on us. Being busy makes you think you are productive and valuable. It makes you think you are getting things accomplished, and at times you are, but to what cost? Being busy for busyness sake is a trap.

Luke 10:38-42 ESV
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Matthew 11:28 ESV
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Romans 12:2 ESV
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

6. Isolation – Thinking your own way, or separating yourself from others.

It is long exposure to worldly atmospheres. As you do this, you will isolate yourself and become a law unto yourself. You will think the Bible is not true and decide to follow your own ideas. This will lead to death always. We have to rely on God and Abide in the Vine of Christ. Leave it up to our own thinking and we will lead ourselves astray. Doing this will dry us up spiritually. It is foolish! Be aware of this!

Psalm 14:1 NIV
The fool says in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

Proverbs 18:1 ESV
Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.

Hebrews 10:25 ESV
Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Have you found yourself in a valley of Dry Bones? There is hope!

I prophecy to you:

Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to you: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD!

Get ready for a noise, a rattling sound, as your bones are coming together! Bone to bone. Tendons and flesh are now on you and you have beautiful skin covering your entire spiritual body in Jesus name!

I prophecy to the breath; This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live!

You prophecy to yourself:
Now breath is entering into your spirit by the breath of God! You are alive! You are a mighty army!

I prophecy that your graves will open and you are up from them! You will possess your promised land! Then you will know God is real and He is LORD and He is the One who opened your graves. He has put His Spirit in you and you will live! You will be settled into your own land! Now you know the LORD has spoken, and He has done it!

Now I want you to Prophecy to all your dead graves and call forth the bones to come up and live….

-Friendships
-Marriages
-Finances
-Good Health – I am strong and full of life!
-Emotional healing
-Releasing of past hurts
-_____________________ (Name it!)

Take the time to breathe in New Life right now! Allow your Spirit to sore in this new found freedom of Life Jesus has given you!!!

 

Your Sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

Kris’ Facebook Page: 

Valley Of Dry Bones VideoValley of Dry Bones

God is Bigger Than The Grave
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God is Bigger Than The Grave

Easter is one of the most celebrated Holidays in the Christian world. It is the very crux of the Christian faith. Christ, who was sinless, came to earth and showed us the right example of how to live. He died and rose again. He also took our place and sacrificed His life for us. In doing so, he had authority over death and the grave. God is truly bigger than the grave.

We celebrate Easter every year, but do we really realize what is available to us all because of what Christ did on the cross and rose again for you and I?

In the book of Acts, the disciples preached about Christ and focused on His resurrection. The resurrection makes the difference from any other religion. Death, the grave was conquered once and for all. This was done for you and I.

Christ wants us to live a victorious life. Once we ask Jesus in our hearts as Lord and Savior, we are born again. In other words, we are new.

2 Cor. 5:17 NKJV
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

What Jesus did for you and I can never be taken away from us. Even if people don’t believe, we know it is true. When Jesus died, He went to Hell and took the keys. He is bigger than the grave!

It was an amazing thing what Jesus did for us. He also carries the keys of the grave with him.

Rev. 1:18 KJV
I am He that liveth, and was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

We have nothing to dread if we put our trust in Christ.

To hold the keys means He holds the power over the dark world; Hell. Our Savior has this authority as He had been raised from the dead by His own power. This shows that Christ has dominion over hell and death. He can raise the dead and destroy the living. Power over life, death, and the grave!

We see that when He raised Lazarus from the dead.

Read John 11:40 – 44

Lazarus hands and feet were bound.  He was alive but could not go anywhere or do anything.  Lazarus’ head was also bound.  He couldn’t hear, see, or speak.

Many Believers are bound up.  They are spiritually alive, but bound up where they can’t go anywhere or do anything for the Lord.  They are bound up so they can’t hear the voice of Jesus, see spiritual things, or speak or share the Word of God.

What grave clothes do you still have on? What is keeping you bound up? Many of us are walking around in our own grave clothes thinking we are okay, but in reality we are the walking dead.

Grave clothes are not what you are wearing physically, but a state of being, or a state of mind. Grave clothes represent things you use to do when you were spiritually dead. Grave clothes represent addictions and worldly things we hold on to. Grave clothes represent things in your past you keep holding on to.

Some Grave Clothes you may be wearing

1. Bad memories

You may be living and reliving bad memories from you past and they torment you. It is time to shed those dirty grave clothes once and for all. This is being obsessed with the grave. You are looking to what was and missing it and wanting it back. We can never live in the past. The past is done and gone away. Living and reliving memories of the past is like constantly looking in the review mirror of your life. You will get in a accident if you don’t start keep your eyes forward to the present.

Philippians 3:13 – 14 Amplified Bible
I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

2. Sin

Galatians 5:19 – 21 NKJV
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

If we settle for less than a passionate relationship with God, we will start to die and eventually fall into a rut or a pit. We become “grave tenders” of our lives instead of living life to its fullest. We see other people living life and enjoying it, yet in our own lives we are dead. We tend our very own grave, and often times we fight or force others to stay away from our grave. A. W. Tozer states in “Rut, Rot, or Revival” that we are in a “circular grave” when sin has entered our hearts. Sin will separate us from God. This is a fact.

A circular grave has no ending and no beginning. In other words, you can’t remember when or how you got in the mess you are in, and you can’t find a way out on your own. You are dead inside. You see no hope, and no way of escape. A dead corpse has no way of reviving it self. A dead corpse needs intervention from a living source to bring life back. Don’t fool yourself by thinking you can get out of this circular grave on your own. Allow the Giver of life to breathe new life back into your dead places in your heart. Allow God to show and direct you out of your circular grave and bring you on solid ground to stand boldly in Him. It will cost you your control. It will cost you your pride, but it is well worth having new reviving life back into your spirit again.

Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.

We all have sinned and need a Savior. Receiving Jesus Christ into your heart as Lord is the first step to a revival in your heart, but there is more to repentance then just receiving Christ in your heart. If one is truly repentant they will turn 180° in the opposite direction of their sin.

Satan will try and trip us up in sin. This causes bondage in our hearts and spirit, and a barrier preventing our hearts to be revived. Being aware that sin separates us from God helps us to do our best to stay away and even run from the appearance of evil. The more you fall in love with God the more you want to obey Him and do what pleases His heart.

Tozer also states that, “Since only sin offends God, and sin is extremely deceitful, it can be present doing its deadly work while the people may not be aware of it at all until it is called to their attention.”

Once you realize the sin that is causing you to feel separated from God, immediately repent and ask God to forgive you. The short term pleasure of sin is not worth the long term separation from God. The after affects of sin is not worth the pleasures of pleasing God and being close to him.

It is natural to be a better person when we are closer to God. It is natural to experience more of God and His love when sin is not in the picture. Allow God to show you right now if you have sin in your life that is separating you from Him. Take the time to repent and walk away from the debilitating and crippling sinful action.

Romans 8:15 (MSG)
This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid,“grave tending” life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike, “What’s next Papa? God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who He is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us an unbelievable inheritance!

Nothing is worth missing out on our inheritance from God. No sin is so good that it overshadows what we receive from God. No earthly pleasure is more pleasurable then getting closer to God and experiencing His joy and abundant life He has for us. The sacrifice of leaving our sin behind is nothing compared to the relationship we gain with God.

3. Disbelief

Sometimes we are plagued with disbelief or doubt. We find more pleasure in worldly ways. We don’t want to be told what to do.

2 Tim. 3:1 – 4 Amplified Bible
But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane. [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good. [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God.

4. Obsessed with self

Being obsessed with self means it is all about you and what you want, when you want it, and how you want it. You are always thinking of ways to satisfy yourself.

Romans 8:6 – 11 The Message Bible
Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored. But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won’t know what we’re talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells – even though you still experience all the limitations of sin – you yourself experience life on God’s terms. It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he’ll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ’s!

5. Addictions

Approval addictions, drug addictions, money addictions, food addictions, these and many more are grave clothes that God wants to remove from your life. See them for what they are… dead carcasses. No life, as a matter of fact they suck all the life out of you and leave you with shame, pain, and destruction.

Christ’s blood sets the addict free!

Proverbs 20:1 NKJV
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Proverbs 6:26 NKJV
For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.

6. Put off the “Old man”

Eph. 4:22 NKJV
“…that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts”

Col. 3:8 – 9 NJKV
But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

All these things are from the old life, old self, or old nature. These things should be shed off of us once we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. We leave behind the old life and break away from it.

“It’s time to take your grave clothes off!”

God is trying to get you to a certain place and move you to another level. He is trying to move you to another level of grace, another level of His anointing, another level in your relationships, another level in your finances. He wants to change the way you think or look at life. You have to take your grave clothes off to get there

Sometimes the grave clothes are our own power or abilities. We have to be stripped of our own power to allow God’s power to manifest. If he does this, will you still serve Him? (Job – He gives and takes away)

The Lord will strip you down of your pride and humble you so that He can lift you up instead of you lifting yourself up. We all need to get to the place and say, “For God I live and for God I die.” Then you are ready for the next level in life.

When we are wrapped up in grave clothes we can’t work because our hands are bound. We can’t walk in light because our feet are bound. When we are wrapped in grave clothes we can’t witness or talk for the Lord because our mouths are bound. Bondage prevents us experiencing life and freedom in Christ!

Being in a rut and not wanting to get out of it is really a grave with the ends knocked out. Be revived in your spirit from sleeping or from death. Don’t allow your life to just drift. Have purpose and desire. Find your place in God and what His purpose is for your life.

Replace the grave clothes and put on…

1. Put on Christ

Gal. 3:27 NKJV
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Rom. 13:14 NKJV
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

2. Put on the new self

Eph. 4:24 NASB
and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Col. 3:10 NASB
and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—

3. Put on the elect of God

Col. 3:10 – 17 NASB
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

4. Put on the whole armor of God

Eph. 6:11 NASB
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

5. A new heart and spirit

Eze. 36:26 NKJV
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

6. Gladness

Psalm 32:11 Amplified Bible
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you who are upright and in right standing with Him]; shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Psalm 100:2 Amplified Bible
Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing!

7. Put on love

Colossians 3:14 NKJV
But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Jesus came and conquered the grave. It’s time you give your grave clothes over to Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life. He lives and wants you to have abundant life! He is all powerful and nothing, no one can take His power away.

God is bigger than any grave you may be carrying, pursuing, or wearing. It is up to you to let it all go and run to the resurrection and the life! Jesus came to give us all life, real life with meaning. He wants to heal your broken heart and bind up any wounds you may have from your past. When you receive Christ in your life, you have made the best decision you will ever make. It is an eternity decision. Where will you go after you die? If I were you, I would run to the One Who conquered the grave and holds the keys of death and hell. I would choose eternal life with Christ any day over eternity in Hell. Choose life!

Your sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.KrisBelfils.com
www.HopeFellowshipSpokane.com
www.KrisBelfils.WordPress.com

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20 Things The Blood Of Jesus Does For Us!

20 Things the Blood of Jesus Does For usWe were born into a sinful world. Everyone of us. This world is corrupt, evil, fleshly, and worldly! Those terms all describe someone without God. This is you and I and what we were born into. The world will dive deeper and deeper into its own evil desires. It is human nature did you know that? Human nature is to look out for ourselves and to do what feels good to our flesh. Human nature doesn’t care about others as much as it cares for itself. All murder, rape, robbery, embezzlements come from our selfish human nature, not to mention the devil has his hand in all of that too. All unforgiveness, bitterness, grumbling and complaining, gossiping, and so much more stem from a fallen world. When God created it in the beginning, none of this was present until Adam and Eve disobeyed and ate from the fruit of good and evil. God knew it would happen and had a plan.

Jesus was crucified and paid the ultimate price for you and for me. His blood was shed on the cross for our salvation, but there is so much more that the blood of Jesus does for us. The blood of Jesus is powerful. Isn’t it any wonder that people try to get Jesus out of schools, politics, government, any institution and more. Truth can offend, and Jesus’ name offends many. But, if you embrace what He did for you and believe and receive it for your own life, it doesn’t offend, but saves you from God’s wrath and eternity in hell.

In this discussion we will look at twenty things the blood of Jesus does for us. This is powerful! I believe it will make you want to worship Jesus more and set you free from any evil that is trying to control you.

1.      It remits sins.

The word remit means: to transmit or send (money, a check, etc.) to a person or place, usually in payment, to refrain from inflicting or enforcing, as a punishment, sentence, etc., to refrain from exacting, as a payment or service, to pardon or forgive (a sin, offense, etc.), to slacken; abate; relax: to remit watchfulness (Dictionary.com)

Matthew 26:28 Amp
For this is My blood of the new covenant, which [ratifies the agreement and] is being poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus paid the price for our sins. His blood was shed. His blood had to be shed or there would be no remittence, or payment, or pardon for all the wrong the world has done. This is a done deal. Christ’s blood was spilt, therefore we have forgiveness if we receive this payment. We can refuse this powerful gift and not accept it. To me this would be crazy. It all comes down to believing. We either believe it happened or it didn’t. Your choice. But the prices was paid nevertheless and is available to all people.

2.      It gives life to those who consume it.

John 6:53 Amp
And Jesus said to them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, you cannot have any life in you unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood [unless you appropriate His life and the saving merit of His blood].

Whosoever by faith trusts in the death of Christ and spiritually partakes of the body and blood of Christ. So does he also who eats in loving remembrance of him the emblems that represent his body and blood. We take communion on a regular basis to remember what Christ did for us. We need His salvation for our spiritual lives. It is safe to say that If Christ is present, life is present, but when Christ is absent, then death is present.

We taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). Jesus Christ, the true Bread, is that to the soul which bread is to the body, nourishing and supporting the spiritual life. Our bodies couldn’t live without food and our souls can not live without Christ. Those who have received this Bread are to be the distributors of it to other hungry souls.

I am sure you have heard the term, “I am hungry for the Lord!” This means that the one saying it wants more of God. They want to receive more of Him in their life. They have spent time in His presence and it brings a craving for more. They have depleted what spiritual nourishment they had and their spiritual bodies need more to maintain and continue.

When we consume, believe, receive Christ’s selfless act on the cross we have His resurrected life in us.

3.      It causes us to dwell in Christ and He in us.

John 6:56 Amp
He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood dwells continually in Me, and I [in like manner dwell continually] in him.

Barnes Notes Commentary states: To dwell or abide in him is to remain in the belief of his doctrine, and in the participation of the benefits of his death. Jesus dwells in believers by his Spirit and doctrine. When his Spirit is given them to sanctify them; when his temper, his meekness, his humility, and his love pervade their hearts; when his doctrine is received by them and influences their life, and when they are supported by the consolations of the gospel, it may be said that he abides or dwells in them.

Jameson, Fasset, and Brown state: As our food becomes incorporated with ourselves, so Christ and those who eat His flesh and drink His blood become spiritually one life, though personally distinct.

Christ’s flesh is meat, food indeed; for the soul, partaken of by faith.

4.      It is the means by which Jesus purchased the church.

Acts 20:28 NKJV
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Jesus purchased the church by His shed blood. He literally died so the church would be established. This is powerful. I hear people telling me that the church is not something God established but man created it. This is not true. Christ died for the church and you and I are that church. Yahoo God made all things new!

5.      It is the means by which Jesus becomes our atonement through faith.

Romans 3:25 Amp
Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.

Jesus was our sacrifice and we receive this sacrifice through faith by His blood. We know in the Old Testament in order for you to be forgiven you had to offer a sacrifice on the altar. Blood had to be spilt. Something had to pay the price for your sin. Now, Jesus was that ultimate sacrifice. His blood was spilt for your sin.

Propitiation means: an atoning sacrifice (Webster’s Dictionary). It is a big word with a simple meaning: Jesus’ blood was shed for our sacrifice.

6.      It justifies us and saves us from wrath.

Romans 5:9 NKJV
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Romans 5:9 Amp
Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ’s blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God.

We are justified which means to render just or innocent. We are innocent all because of the blood of Jesus. This means that God’s wrath will not come on us. Is God mad? No, but he is a just God and sin separates us from Him.

God hates sin and unrepentant sin receives His wrath (Romans 1:18-21). Sin is always an act of unbelief in that we choose to trust in ourselves although we have no excuse. God made a way for us to be rescued from His wrath. It is like having to take a test, but the teacher gives you all the answers. God has given us a way out from His wrath and eternal damnation and that is through His Son’s blood. We are justified (innocent) and saved all because of what Jesus did on the cross for you and I.

7.      It redeems us.

Eph. 1:7 Amp
In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor,

We all need a Savior. We all need forgiveness. Even if you don’t believe it, it is true. We need Someone to redeem us. Redemption means to “ransom in full” (Strongs Hebrew and Greek Definitions). We are delivered from sin and the evil consequences of sin because Jesus went and shed His blood.

1 Peter 1:18 – 19 Amp
You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers, not with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold, But [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot.

Nothing can purchase, redeem, ransom, us from eternal damnation except for the blood of Jesus! People have denied its power. But it still is strong and mighty to save from generation to generation. Christ blood will never lose its power, ever! No matter what man says, no matter what our circumstances, no matter what we think, Christ’s blood redeems us from all evil. We can stand in that! We can function in that! We are over-comers because of that! Whoot Whoot!

8.      It brings those who were far away from God near to Him.

Eph. 2:13 Amp
But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were [so] far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near.

In the Old Covenant (Old Testament) common people were not permitted to approach the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle. That is where God’s presence dwelt. It was a holy place. Only Priests were allowed to come and offer sacrifices for the people before God. This showed the distance from God to man was far away. But after Christ gave up His last breath, the veil of the curtain into the Holy of holies was ripped in two signifying an ultimate sacrifice was made and all mankind can now approach God through His Son. We are made close to God through the blood of Jesus.

The saints are a people near to God. Salvation is far from the wicked until they believe. Instantly, when we believe and receive what Christ did for us we are brought near to God. We owe Christ everything. We can commune with God daily. We have hope that God will not turn His wrath against us because He sees His Son when we approach His throne, and not our mistakes. Hallelujah!

9.      It grants us the forgiveness of sins.

Col. 1:14 Amp
In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.

We are forgiven. Common sense tells us that we have messed up and there is no “un-doing” our mistakes. But the blood of Jesus changes everything. It makes all things new: you and I. We are new. The blood of Jesus redeems us and therefore we are forgiven. It is only grace that we are saved through faith. Not of our works so we won’t and can’t boast about it. Each one of us deserves punishment for the wrong we have done. Yet, Christ’s shed blood represents our ransom paid and we don’t owe for our mistakes. We humble receive this and walk daily in obedience to God and His word. We don’t go back to the way we use to be before His blood and presence came and changed us. We don’t want to! When one has tasted freedom they don’t want to go back to bondage. It is only when we are deceived that we think the bondage is better then our freedom. Be wise to this tool of the enemy. Satan makes the right look wrong and the wrong look right. The more you read the Bible, and stay close to Jesus, the more you will see it as black and white instead of gray.

10.    It brings peace and reconciliation to God.

Col. 1:20 Amp
And God purposed that through ([a]by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled [b]back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross.

Col. 1:20 NKJV
And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Reconcile in the dictionary means: to restore to friendship or harmony. God reconciled mankind to himself, because of the fall, through the bloodshed of His Son’s blood. We are made right with God as born again believers.

Have you ever had a friendship that went sour and there was no peace. When you thought about what happened your peace was gone and all you experienced was torment and anguish? But when you were able to go and ask for forgiveness, or they came and asked for your forgiveness, your peace came back. True reconciliation will bring peace to every heart! This is healthy! Both parties need to give. In this case of Christ’s blood, God gave His Son, and we give our lives back to Him. It is a beautiful picture of reconciliation.

11.    It has obtained eternal redemption for us (Heb. 9:12).

Heb. 9:12 Amp
Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Eternal, no one can take this redemption away from you. It is everlasting redemption. Christ’s blood removes transgressions from the soul eternally. It will continue forever. It is not a temporary deliverance leaving the redeemed in danger of falling into sin and ruin. We can fall away and choose to walk away from God, but His redemption is always available for every soul.

This is called an eternal redemption, because it extends to the saints in all ages; backwards and forwards; it includes eternal life and happiness; and such as are sharers in it shall never perish, but shall be saved with an everlasting salvation (John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible).

12.    It cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Heb. 9:14 NKJV
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Cleanse your conscience… That is, purge, purify, or sanctify your conscience. Guilt is the main thing we harbor in our hearts after we have done something wrong. Offerings in the Old Testament gave external purification but never gave peace to a troubled conscience. It couldn’t remove the guilt when one would remember what they did. Guilt makes a us troubled when we think of death and the judgment; it is guilt only which alarms us when we think of a holy God; and it is nothing but guilt that makes the entrance into another world terrible and awful. If we had no guilt we would never dread our Maker, nor would the presence of our God be ever painful to us. If we had no guilt we would not fear to die – for what have the innocent to fear?

Christ’s blood removes our guilt from our conscience

Heb. 9:14 Amp
How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own preexistent divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever] living God?

Dead works? The works of sin are dead works. Duties themselves, performed without faith and love, are dead works; nor can they procure life. Even the works of believers themselves are sometimes performed in a very lifeless manner and can be dead works. Dead works are those things we do to try and be perfect, or to gain approval of man. Dead works is a huge category with much involved. Bottom line is dead works do not please God and will never get you to heaven. But Christ’s blood cleanses us from all of that so we can serve a living God wholeheartedly, and without shame. When we truly grab ahold of our salvation from Christ, we are set free from dead works and we no longer have to strive to be good or right with God. Christ’s blood immediately takes care of all of that. Then, we can’t boast about what we have done, no, all glory goes to Christ and we are humbled and in awe of Christ’s power of His blood!

13.    It is the means by which we enter the most holy place with boldness.

Heb. 10:19 Amp
Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom and confidence to enter into the [Holy of] Holies [by the power and virtue] in the blood of Jesus,

The word boldness can also be rendered liberty. We have full liberty to enter into the presence of God, and not only that, we have full liberty to enter into Heaven (The Holiest of holies) by Christ’s bloodshed. Before Christ died and entered into heaven, there was no such access to the throne of grace as man needed. Man had no offering which he could bring that would make him acceptable to God. But now the way was open. Access was free for all, and all might come with the utmost freedom.

This means we can boldly come to the throne of God with our praise and worship and with our petitions. We have access through the open door Christ made. How awesome is that?! We no longer have to go through a priest. Now, personally, we can enter into the presence of God 24/7 and will not be turned away. I love this. Truly I can’t imagine not being able to have this access. It is a beautiful thing. God’s presence changes everything. We get to access His presence when we pray. We get to come into the Holy of holies when we worship together. We get to boldly come to the throne of God with the boldness of Christ’s sufficiency and not our own! What wonderful communion and fellowship we now have all because of Christ’s shed blood.

14.    It speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Heb. 12:24 NIV
to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Cain killed Abel all because Abel’s sacrifice of the animal was received, but Cain’s sacrifice of the first fruits of the land was not. Why? Blood has to be shed for a true sacrifice in the Old Testament. Christ’s blood is a better sacrifice then Abel’s all the way around. Abel’s was received but he had to perform another sacrifice the next time he sinned. Today, Christ was the ultimate sacrifice and there will be no other. Christ willingly went to the cross where as Cain killed Abel and Abel’s blood was no sacrifice but was murder on Cain’s part.

A better word is that Christ’s blood covers it all; from when He first died, for past generations, present, to future generations, Christ sacrifice is complete and we don’t need another. God ordained this for all of us. We don’t have to wait for another divine sacrifice. Jesus was sacrificed and His blood speaks volumes.

15.    It sanctifies us.

Heb. 13:12 NKJV
Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

Sanctify in the Webster’s Dictionary means: to make (something) holy, to give official acceptance or approval to (something). Jesus’ blood stamps God’s approval on your life. No matter what people think, or even what you think, God approves of you all because of Christ’s sacrifice. This sets us apart from the world. We have Christ’s mark or brand on us and we are His. We are fully loved and accepted by God through the blood of Christ.

16.    It makes us complete for every good work.

Heb. 13:20 – 21 NKJV
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

By ourselves we are not complete, we are not perfect. But with Christ we are complete and perfect. I love the cross of Christ. I’ve written songs about the cross and what Jesus has done for me. One of my songs is entitled; “Cross of Grace.” It speaks of seeing all the wrong I have done and scared of what others may think of me. I remember writing the song out of my own struggles. One day God showed me this huge cross, bigger then my house, and said, “You can hide behind that!” The realization of hiding behind Christ’s cross makes people see what Christ did and not my own works. Christ’s blood completed me and changed my mistakes into a beautiful message of brokenness. Christ’s blood makes me complete for anything He has called me to do. If anyone questions me ministering for God I just hide behind Christ’s cross and they can’t question that, ever!

There will be times you will be promoted, not because of your merits, but because of Who you belong too. God’s favor, because of His Son’s blood, goes before us and makes a way where there seem to be noway. People have questioned what I do, but they can’t question what Christ has done in me!!! That is why the criminal in jail, who comes to know Jesus, gets a pardon, or transforms their life for God’s glory and speaks of His goodness. No one can argue with a testimony. What God did in you is truth, and you are complete for every good work He will have you do.

17.    It cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

1 John 1:7 Amp
But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

Walking in the light may include the three following things: 1. Leading lives of holiness and purity, being a light in the world. 2. Walking in and embracing the Truth, even when someone opposes you. 3. Enjoying the comforts of your faith which includes the joy it gives.

Christ’s blood cleanses and removes all sin from our life. To any and every sin that we are aware of, there is power in that blood to remove it, and to make us wholly pure. There is no stain made by sin so deep that the blood of Christ cannot take it entirely away from us.

The Bible tells us that God casts all our sins into the depths of the sea, never to be seen again (Micah 7:19). As far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12). It is not a part of us any longer. It is removed from us. When God sees you He doesn’t see our mistakes, no, He sees His Son and what His Son has done for you. He sees a cleansed vessel who shines for His glory.

18.    It bears witness in the earth along with the Spirit and the water.

1 John 5:8 KJV
And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

How did water, blood, and spirit bear witness to the fact that “Jesus is the Son of God”? Water was a witness bearer because when Jesus was baptized in water, Jehovah himself expressed His approval of him as His Son. (Matt. 3:17) Jesus’ blood, or life, given as “a corresponding ransom for all,” also showed that Jesus is God’s Son. (1 Tim. 2:5, 6) And the holy spirit testified that Jesus is the Son of God when it descended upon him at his baptism, enabling him to go “through the land doing good and healing all those oppressed by the Devil.”—John 1:29-34; Acts 10:38.

The blood is a witness along with the Spirit and the water that Jesus was the Son of God and takes away the sins of the world.

19.    It is the means by which Jesus washes us.

Rev. 1:5 Amp
And from Jesus Christ the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead [first to be brought back to life] and the Prince (Ruler) of the kings of the earth. To Him Who ever loves us and has [once [for all] loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood,

How can blood wash away our sins? Christ has removed the pollution of sin from our souls by his blood; that is, his blood has been applied to cleanse us from sin. Blood can be represented as having a cleansing power only as it makes an atonement (Webster: the reconciliation of God and humankind through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ) for sin.

Christ’s blood does wash us white as snow. We are pure and holy all because of what Jesus did for us. When we receive His atonement our sins are washed away! I love this! We no longer have spots or blemishes, or wrinkles, we are pressed and cleaned through the blood of Jesus.

20.    It is the means by which we overcome the accuser of the brethren.

Rev. 12:11 Amp
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

The word, “They” in this passage represents the church. The blood of Jesus overcomes the devil! The enemy thought he conquered the church by killing Jesus, but he only set Jesus up to be resurrected in power and glory!!! That is why we can say, “By the power of Christ’s blood satan you are defeated. You have no power!” We can apply the blood of Christ with our words over our homes, children, church, finances, relationships, and anything that needs to be overcome from the accuser.

The accuser of the brethren is the devil himself. He will accuse you of your past and that you are not forgiven; which is a lie! Satan will feed you lies in your mind to try and deceive you into thinking there is no power in what Christ did on the cross. Be aware of this. Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy. Don’t listen to the accusations either. Overcome the enemy by the power of Christ’s blood. It is finished and complete.

So much we can learn from the blood of Jesus. We will always have power when we stay connected to the power source! There is power in the blood of Jesus!

From one blood bought child of God to another,

Pastor Kris Belfils
http://www.KrisBelfils.com
http://www.HopeFellowshipSpokane.com
http://www.KrisBelfils.WordPress.com

 

Content written by Pastor Kris Belfils, the list was from:

20 Things the Blood of Jesus Does

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2013 – A New Year For A New You (Part 2 – Obedience Brings Blessing)

2013 - A New Year For A New You (Part 2 - Obedience Brings Blessing)2013 is here! We have walked in it now for several days. There is an expectancy I sense within myself, and so many people I have met. 2013 will be a powerful, abundant year of blessings and breakthroughs. Do you believe it? I sure do.

What are you believing for this year? Allow your faith to arise in your spirit that God will do great things. He is for you! He is on your side!

Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us”

Ephesians 3:20 (Message)

“God can do anything, you know — far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”

There are no exceptions to this promise. God can and WILL do exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ask or think. Think BIG for this new year. When the dream is bigger then you are, or what you can accomplish, it makes you rely on God and follow His leading.

Let’s be those who dream for the glory of God! I love the Lord so much, and I have seen Him do impossible things that were bigger then my wildest dreams. You see it gives God all the glory when we dream bigger then ourselves. If we only dreamt what we could accomplish on our own, we get the glory because we have fulfilled it with our own strength. When we dream bigger then our abilities, power, or strength God is the only One who can make it happen and therefore He receives the glory when the dream is fulfilled, especially beyond our biggest dreams we have dreamt.

Obedience Brings Blessing

We are successful not because of anything we can do, but because of God’s ability. On our own, we will fail. Everyone of us have weaknesses but when you put God into the equation it always adds up to more! God wants us to succeed. He is for us.

Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)

“This Book of the Law shall not depart form your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

This verse shows that we will be successful when you do what the Bible says and obey what it teaches. It’s pretty simple. Actually is not a hardship. God has such basic things we need to follow in His Word for our safety and success.

Obedience use to be a hardship, a dread in my life. I remember when I was a little girl, when my Mom told me to clean my room, I did it with drudgery. I would always say to her; “It’s too hard of work!” I would put a hardship on my Mom just because of my attitude. I found a joy in making my Mom happy when I obeyed her quickly when she told me to do something. This is true with our relationship with God. Often we think it is “too hard of work” to obey the Word of God. Maybe we get rebellious and decide to do our own thing thinking; “Who can tell me what to do?” “I am my own person and I can do what I feel like doing!” Have you ever said or thought those words?

To obey is hard, but we have to obey so many people in our lives. We obey our bosses when they ask us to do something at work. We obey our spouse when they ask us to do something for them. We obey our parents, which there are many promised blessings in God’s Word when we do.

Obedience. Most of the time it is not fun. But I am here to tell you there is a joy in obedience we can have. This joy compels me to obey God all the time, not just when it is convenient, or when it feels good or doesn’t cost me anything. There is joy in obedience and God’s favor follows.

I had a dream the night before I was to write this message. In the dream I was in charge of a group of children. All the children obeyed me except one. He seemed to be disobedient to everything I asked the class to do. I would try everything I knew to get the child to obey and be a part of the class. Still, this child had it in his mind to ignore, or blatantly disregard the rules and choose to be stubborn and self-willed. It caused havoc in the class. Chaos would erupt just because of one child’s disobedience. I was at my wits end when I asked someone from his family for help and insight. They told me to just say, “Do I have to get your Daddy?” When this family member said this, the entire room I was in transformed into a beautiful room, kind of like a living room. I couldn’t believe my eyes. There was peace, all chaos was gone. I couldn’t wait to use this new secret on this challenging child. It worked! As soon as he started to act up, I said, “Do I have to get your Daddy?” and immediately he quieted down and listened and obeyed me. From then on the class was productive and in harmony.

This reminds me of our walk with Father God. There is a love that He gives which no one else can ever give, and in turn there is a respect we give Him because He is the ultimate authority and power in our life. Often we live our lives not believing or even ignoring our Father. It is easy because in today’s society there is so much disrespect for parents and for leaders, or presidents, or anyone who has authority over us. Let’s be a people who obey quickly. Let’s be people who realize how Holy God is. If you choose disobedience, it shows you do not have a close relationship with God. Obedience to God shows your love for Him. It shows humility. It speaks clearly that you are not your own, but God’s.

Truth about obedience:

  1. God loves you unconditionally. 

We all make mistakes. Truly the mistake you made is not the issue, as much as, your actions and steps before and after the mistake. God sees you. He sees what you are doing right now. He knows if you will obey Him or not. Still, He loves you with an everlasting love. There is nothing you can or can’t do that will take His love away from you. All that said, remember God will not destroy you if you disobey. He gives us chance after chance to start over.

Romans 8:38 – 39 (NKJV)

“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 created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The closer you get to God, the quicker you will obey. God will love us back to Himself. When we realize this, It makes for an easier comeback.

2.  When we obey we are blessed

First, and foremost, we make good decisions when we choose to follow God’s Word. It is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.

Psalms 119:105 (NKJV)

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Obeying God’s word will help shine light on the next step you should take. We can look to God’s Word for any situation we may be facing in life. God has the answers for us. Are you willing to look?

Second, when we obey God, our life has less trials then one who disobeys and continues to make poor decisions for their life.

Proverbs 4:18 – 19 (The Message)

“The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine. But the road of the wrongdoing gets darker and darker – travelers can’t see a thing; they fall flat on their faces.”

I almost titled this message: “Right living = Right Results!” If we choose to live right, and follow God’s word, we will achieve right results in our life. Isn’t it awesome that God gave us His word to help bring right results and success in our lives? This makes me want to obey God even more. It shows His love for us.

Proverbs 3:35 (The Message)

“Wise living gets rewarded with honor; stupid living gets the booby prize.”

I don’t want anything except the very best from God. If my choices of obeying God brings good results, I will all the more obey Him.

3. When we obey God’s word we choose life!

Deuteronomy 30:19 – 20 (NKJV)

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may life; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

We choose good health when we choose to obey God and His word. He is for us and His word has life. God will not lead us astray. No! God’s direction is always the right direction to take. We can trust God with our life. He created us in the first place. Surely the Creator knows what is best for His creation. He has given us a blueprint, a roadmap for our lives with His word if we choose to follow and obey it. We will live a prosperous, productive, successful life when we do.

4.  When we obey it shows we trust God.

What ever happens, whatever you face in 2013 say to yourself: “I trust You, Jesus!” Remind yourself of His power, glory, and love He has for you. This helps trust to build in your heart so you can stand on His principles and His word.

Proverbs 3:5 – 6 (The Message)

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.”

Our own understanding can deceive us at times. God sees all. Trusting our own understanding is like the blind leading the blind. We can’t see beyond where we are at, but God sees the past, present, and future. When we are trusting in our own intellect and knowledge there is no room for faith.

5.  To obey is better then sacrifice.

There is a story of obedience in the Bible that is so true today (Read 1 Samuel 15). Saul was anointed as King over Israel by Samuel. He was given a command to go and attack Amalek and utterly destroy all that they had. They were not to spare anyone or anything (1 Samuel 15:3). Saul went and attacked the Amalekites. He took their king, Agag, but destroyed all the people. Saul and the people also spared the best sheep, oxen, fatlings, lambs, and all that was good and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless was destroyed (1 Samuel 15:9). Then God spoke to Samuel that He regretted setting up Saul as king because he turned his back from following and obeying Him. Samuel grieved all night over this. He left in the morning to meet Saul and it was told him that “Saul went to Carmel, and indeed he set up a monument for himself” (1 Samuel 15:12). Saul sweet talked Samuel saying “Blessed are you of the LORD!” and lied and said he “performed the commandment of the LORD” (1 Samuel 15:13). Samuel asked what was this bleating of the sheep and lowing of the oxen he heard? Saul passed the blame onto the people and said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD you God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed” (1 Samuel 15:15). Samuel told Saul to be quiet and told him what the LORD told him that when Saul was “little in his own eyes” or thought low of himself, God anointed him as king and was the head of Israel. Then the Lord sent him on a mission to go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they were consumed or exterminated. Why did you disobey and take the spoil and do evil in the sight of God (vs. 17)? Saul proceeded to change the command of the Lord and said He did obey God and brought back the king of the Amalekites, Agag, but utterly destroyed the people. Then he passed the blame onto the Israelites, who He was king over, and said they took the plunder the sheep, the oxen and the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal. Then Samuel replied:

1 Samuel 15:22 – 23 (NKJV)

“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice. And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.”

Saul confessed he did sin and disobeyed the commandments of the LORD, and that he feared the people and obeyed them instead. But wanted Samuel to make it all right and sacrifice and worship together. Samuel refused because the LORD rejected him as king and walked away. Saul grabbed and ripped his robe and Samuel said, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you” (1 Samuel 15:28). Even after all this Saul still wanted Samuel to honor him in front of the people. This shows Saul was afraid of man more than God. He wanted man’s approval constantly and at a huge price – losing the kingdom and being king of Israel.

We can learn so much from this story. God wants to see obedience. There is a reason He asks, commands, and states what He wants us to do and how we are to live. God sees everything, we only see what is in front of our eyes.

We can do all these good works, but if we don’t obey God, we are wasting our time and energy. Obedience trumps works. You may say, “Isn’t that the same thing?” No, Works, or trying to be good, is not the same thing as obeying God’s word and following Him. We can still have our own agenda, or our own motives, which very possibly may be selfish. Works will not please God, and will not get you into heaven. Believing in Jesus and receiving Him into your heart is the only way to heaven. When we do this, we start to change from the inside out. Our heart learns and wants to please Him and then our actions will follow. It is not the other way around.

6.  Obey even when you are afraid.

Fear wants you to run and hide. It wants you to please man, or your flesh. God wants you to finish what you started. Our very obedience could be the catalyst to launch us into something new. It could be the very thing that is needed to obtain our promise land!

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

As we read about Saul and his fear of man and how he was seen by them, do you fall into that category? Saul was insecure with who he was. We know this because 1 Samuel 15:17 states: “So Samuel said, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel?”

In Saul’s promotion, even when he saw himself as “less-then,” God promoted him to be king. Saul didn’t overcome his insecurities. They actually grew bigger because he was a people pleaser.

Fear of man will paralyze you from being who God created you to be. Fear of man brings bondage. You will never measure up to the expectations of others. It is a never ending battle. I know, as I was trapped in this snare for much of my earlier years. I always wanted people to approve of me. I would do anything to win the favor of others, when I should have been more concerned with God’s favor and walking in obedience to Him.

Fear of any kind is torment. Fear brings present torment concerning future situations that may never happen. God wants to free you from the inside out. Remember that perfect love cast out all fear (1 John 4:18). Love drives out fear. Love makes the insecure, secure.

Ephesians 3:17 (Amplified Bible)

“May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.”

7.  When we obey we have joy!

There is joy in obedience. Why? Because it stems from your love for God. When we love somebody there is joy involved. Love is something you do. Obedience to God is our love in action.

Psalm 84:5 – 7 (TLB)

“Happy are those who are strong in the Lord, who want above all else to follow Your steps. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping it will become a place of springs where pools of blessing and refreshment collect after rains! They will grow constantly in strength.” 

Something happens to the heart of an obedient Christian. It finds a place of contentment and rest. It knows that all things are possible with God. It has stood the test after every trial and circumstance to see that their obedience to God is a safe place to live.

“When we choose the obedient life, we are permitting God to make our lives all He dreamed they would become. We no longer need to ask what God’s will is because we are continually living in His will. Our goal in life is obedience to Him in the midst of each situation.”

Hope MacDonald

Discovering the joy of obedience

I like that quote. It shows we don’t have to strive to know the perfect will of God. The only thing we need to do is live a life of obedience.

What happiness, what joy we can have in obeying God and His Word! There is blessings for those who obey God. 2013 will be a year of promised blessings and much abundance and advancement. Walk in obedience and do not fear for God is with you wherever you go!

From one obedient child to another,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

www.krisbelfils.wordpress.com

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You Are Never Too Dead For A Resurrection

We just celebrated Easter. The very crux of our Christian faith. Christ came and died and rose again for all of us.

 Corinthians 15:3 – 4 (NKJV)

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

We know this all happened. We stand on this everyday of our lives. We believe that Christ was raised from the dead. There is a resurrection of the dead.

Corinthians 15:12 – 14 (NKJV)

“Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.”

This concept is powerful. There is a resurrection of the dead. Not only did Christ raise from the dead, but there is story after story of people who were dead and were raised to life. I am sure you have heard of many, here are just a few:

  1. CBN – JOHNATHON ALDEE – 28 minutes without oxygen 
  2. Daniel Ekechukwu from Nigeria (2001) –  CBN.com
  3. God Can Breathe Life Into Dead Things –From Pastor Kris Belfils book: “Revive, Rebuild, andRestore”

God Can Breathe Life Into Dead Things

Eze 37:3 (KJV)

“And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.” 

My oldest daughter had a school project when she was in the 4th grade. The students were given a caterpillar in a jar. Each student was assigned to take care of their caterpillar and make sure there were plenty of leaves for them to eat. Soon, the caterpillars would make a cocoon and look dead. The students, including my daughter, were worried as they thought they did something wrong to make the caterpillar look dead. One by one the cocoons would open up and out came the beautiful butterfly they transformed into. My daughter’s cocoon didn’t open up as quickly as some of her class mates did. She was constantly thinking about it and telling me about her cocoon. I assured her that she will have a butterfly soon, and to just wait and let nature take its course. Before long, her cocoon opened up and a beautiful butterfly came out. My daughter was very happy, and when our family went camping, soon after the re-birth, we set aside a time for her to release her butterfly from the jar into the wide open space of our camping site.

This makes me think of God and how He is at work in the middle of what looks dead. He has the power to bring forth life from dead places.

Just like CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is used to help a victim of cardiac arrest or, respiratory arrest, to keep them alive, God can and will breathe life into dead things.

Eze 37:1 – 14 talks about the dry bones that came back to life as the breath of the Lord was prophesied and breathed into them. Eze 37:3 (NKJV) states, “…can these bones live?” The word “live” is translated: “To live, whether literally or figuratively, to revive – keep, make alive, promise life, nourish up, preserve, quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life) revive – Be whole.

As the wind breathed life into the bones, and as the word was prophesied, the bones received life. This is what God wants to do with our dead places. God wants to revive us. He wants to breathe life into our dead areas.

Eze 37:12 (NKJV)

“Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.”

God will bring us out of our graves and cause us to live.

The dead have to listen to God’s voice.

There is an old hymn entitled, “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing.” It has twenty verses, but there is one verse that pops out to me; “He speaks, and, listening to His voice, New life the dead receive, The mournful, broken hearts rejoice, The humble poor believe.”

Lazarus was one of the dead that listened to the voice of Christ (John 11:1 – 44). Jesus spoke and breathed, “…I am the resurrection, and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die…” this is what he breathed or spoke to Martha when she met Him after hearing He was coming. Martha knew where her source was. She said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” There was still faith even after seeing the dead.

He is the Resurrection and the Life! If you believe, though you were dead, you shall live. All it takes is a little faith to see the wonders of God.

Scripture states, in John 11:5 and 6 “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.” Jesus stayed two more extra days after finding out Lazarus was sick. Why would He do this? I believe for two reasons, First, He was setting the stage for a miracle so the people would see His glory as verse 4 states, “…this sickness is not unto dearth, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it,” but there is more to the reason why Jesus lingered where He was instead of making hast to get to the one He loved to heal him. Secondly, if Jesus would have hurried and healed Lazarus before he died, it would be like what He had done for many. If Christ had raised him to life after he recently died, it would be no more than He had done for some, but waiting so long gave Jesus the opportunity to do more for Lazarus, Martha, and Mary then He had done for anyone. This is His love.

I like how the Message Bible states John 11:11, “He said these things, and then announced, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, I’m going to wake him up.’” To God, raising someone from the dead is like waking them up from a sleep. It is no difficult thing for God to raise our dead things.

What areas of your life need to be resurrected, restored, or revived? Remember that the Father God is constantly watching you to bring resurrection life into your dead places. Look at delays as His love in action, just waiting for the right time to truly show you how much He loves you.

The prodigal son was dead and came back to life. We read in Luke 15:11 – 32 the story of how a father’s son asked for his inheritance before His father died. His father granted the request and gave the son what was allotted to him. The son went out and squandered all the money on extravagant living and ended up with no money wishing he could eat what he fed the pigs. He thought in his heart that even a hired hand, or a servant, was well fed in his father’s house. He came to the end of himself. He made up his mind to go home and ask to be a servant. But his father had other plans. His father missed him so much it felt like his son was dead. He grieved over the loss of his son. He longed for life to come back to him, to come back home. This is exactly like our Heavenly Father who sees the dead in our life and longs for life to come again.

God is waiting for us to “come to the end of ourselves” and come to Him for help. Resurrection power brings new life. What was resurrected, by the power of God, is even better than what was there before.

Everyone who calls on Jesus will be saved, will be revived, and will be brought back to life!

John 5:24 – 28 (KJV)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice…” 

Jesus said this concerning His coming, but we can truly apply this to anything dead in our life.

The dead have no choice but to obey the voice of the Lord to come back to life. God is the Beginning and the End; He is the Alpha and the Omega. He alone knows when someone will be born and when they will die. He is the one who breathes life into them. Since He is the Alpha and the Omega, He always finishes what He starts. Nothing ends without His permission.

Resurrection Advancement

The bigger the stone the enemy places on you to stop your advancement in life, the stronger, and bigger the stage of your advancement so rejoice! Just look at the stone the enemy tried to place in front of Jesus’ tomb. Even death could not keep that stone in place. If you feel a huge stone has been placed on you, get ready for a resurrection advancement!

Hebrews 10:35 (NASB)

“Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.”

Sometimes the fruit of our labor takes time to see. Planting a fruit tree it will take 2 or 3 years to see the fruit in an adult stage. We are to never give up!

James 1:12 (CEV)

“God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves Him.”

The Living Dead

There are people, who call themselves Christian, walking around as the Living Dead. They go to church, are much involved with the activities there, but hardly have life in them. They think they are alive just because of their activity. But reality is they are walking zombies. There is no life in them. They are not relying on the resurrection power of God or even expecting good things from God. Often they feel the way their life is will never change. “It is what it is” is often said from their mouth. This kind of talk is not standing on God’s word or promises. It is not activating the resurrection power in their life.

It is God’s will for us to live in His resurrection power. Let His resurrection power quicken or enliven us to do His will. He will give us eyes to see and ears to hear what is causing us to walk around as the living dead.

Peter 1:3 – 5 (NJKV)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Living Hope

“…a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!” Hope is something that is living and alive!~ I watched the movie “Hunger Games” this past week and one line in the movie stuck out to me: “Hope is the only thing that can stand against fear.” Having hope propels you to keep trying in the middle of your fears. Hope helps us to stay focused. If we don’t have hope, we will fall into our fears and doubts.

We hope in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. The word “resurrection” means: “Standing up again, that is, (Literally) a resurrection from death (individual, general or by implication (it’s author)), or (figuratively) a (moral) recovery (of spiritual truth): raised to life again, resurrection, rise from the dead, that should rise, rising again.”

Death could not hold Jesus! We have that same spirit dwelling in us everyday!

Romans 8:11 (NKJV)

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

Message Bible

“It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he’ll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ’s!”

God can breathe new life into any situation, circumstance, or issue, and bring forth life again.

Jesus was raised from the dead. Resurrection Life came from the One who is the Resurrection and the Life. We have to remember that the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us.

God can resurrect your dreams and passions that seem to have died while you have been waiting for a miracle. When God gives us a dream it must first die. Just like a seed that is dead has to be buried, so our dreams have to die so they can bring forth life. And just like the growth from the seed that bursts from the ground, which is exactly what happens when life comes from dead things.

What dreams has God given you? Do they seem like they will never come true? Have you held onto them too tightly for God to breathe new life into them? We need to learn to “hold on loosely” to our dreams. Don’t hold onto something so much that it consumes you. Allow your dreams to die. Give your desires to God and watch Him make something from nothing.

God can make beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:1 – 3). What if the ashes where made from your own match? What if you started the fire that burned your life into ashes, can God breathe new life into our wrong choices? Can God birth life from our mistakes? I say, “YES!” God specializes in making beauty from ashes.

What is dead in your life, your emotions, your finances, your relationships, your family, or circumstances? Maybe you feel dead inside? Do you feel God is far away and you don’t feel close to Him? Allow God to come and breathe new life into your spirit.

You might be feeling dead inside due to sin in your life. You might be feeling dead because of something you had to walk through. No matter the reason, God is there to breathe new life into your spirit today!

All our powerful God has to do is to speak or breathe life into dead things and the dead have to listen.

Do you have faith to believe God can breathe life into you? Ask God to come and breathe His life into your situation. Believe that situation will listen and be born again.

Remember “You Are Never Too Dead For A Resurrection!”

Blessings,

Pastor Kris Belfils