Peace of Mind – God in the Chaos
Sometimes it’s hard to hear the voice of God in the midst of emotional turmoil, check out the secrets that Pastor Jonnathan learned through one of the toughest trials of his life.
Nusara and Robert Pirkle – July 30, 2017
Nusara and Robert Pirkle ministering on new covenant at God Manifest.
Pastor’s Testimony – July 23, 2017
You’re in for a treat, as our Pastor, Jonnathan Zin Truong, shares his radical testimony on how God heard his first cry to Him and answered him in a miraculous way, while he was still a devout buddhist and just a few steps away committing suicide while in college in 2003.
United We Stand – July 16, 2017
God is calling His church to unite! Here’s a link to today’s sermon titled: United We Stand – July 16, 2017 taught by Pastor Jonnathan Zin Truong
Detours – July 9, 2017
One of the worst things you can do to a driver who is rushing from point A to point B, is to throw up the dreaded “Detour” sign to into their route.
Throughout the bible, God used detours to recalculate the directions of lives of His people to be better aligned with His plans. I believe that God-detours still happen today to believers who are seeking God’s will and desires above all.
Psalm 37:23
The steps of a good person are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
Say, “I am a good person and my steps are ordered by Him.
Carjacked
A few months into my salvation, while working on a graphic design project for school, I decided to take a break, head to the store and pick up some drinks and some a frozen pizza from the neighborhood supermarket. As I was leaving, I told my mom of my plans, and set off on what should have been a 15 minute round trip. Just like previous nights, I was in, went straight to my beverage of choice, and stopped by the freezer section to pick up my Red Barron brand supreme pizza, checked out and started to make my way towards the door. As I approached the exit, God audibly spoke to me in the store, He said, “He is will carjack you.”
Upon hearing that, I stopped, looked around and saw who God was talking about. He was a big white guy, bushy beard probably 6 foot 4 inches and 280 pounds.
“Him?” I asked God, gesturing with my chin, so not to draw attention to myself.
“Yes,” God replied.
I said, “Praise God for saving me!” turned to go the other way before God spoke again… “Offer him a ride anywhere he wants to go.”
I literally stopped in my footsteps, looked up to the sky and said, “WHAT!?!”
I thought, “Ok, that can’t be God, I must be hearing the devil!”
Pausing, I felt in my heart it was God. Not knowing His plans for the situation, I made a decision to be obedient. Lowering my head, I walked outside, right up to the guy.
“Excuse me…” the man started. Interrupting him, I asked, “Would you like a ride sir?”
In shock, the man… stuttering said… “Umm, ahh, well, yes.”
I replied, “Great, I’m parked right over there, follow me.”
We arrived at my truck and I put my groceries in the back seat, hopped in the drivers seat and watched the man approach the passenger-side door in my mirror. I watched him pause, adjust something in his belt/pants waist, cover it with his shirt and climb in the front seat.
“Where would you like to go?” I asked the man.
Again, hesitantly, he started to stutter and saying, “Umm, ahh, well, what?”
Again, I asked, “Where would you like to go?” I added, “I’ll take you anywhere you want tonight but would like to get home soon to make my pizza before it defrost.”
With a confused look on his face, he said, “Down West Bellfort towards Murphy Road.”
What the man didn’t know was, I was about to mess in my pants.
After about 20 minutes of directing and driving, the man asked, “Why did you offer me a ride?”
I replied, “Do you really want to know?”
“Yes,” he answered.
“God told me that you needed a ride as I was leaving the store and instructed me to offer you a ride anywhere you wanted, so here I am. Just trying to be obedient because I’m a new Christian and trying to learn what to do.”
Wide-eyed, he muttered one word… “W-What?”
I was a bit speechless too, I just smirked and shrugged me shoulder and said, “Where to now?”
He replied, “Why would God offer me a ride thru you?”
Before replying, I thought, “Because He must be mad at me for something.” But instead, I replied, “I guess because He knew you needed a ride and wanted you to know that He heard you.”
With that the man, pointed towards a side street and said, “Turn left there and pull over, here’s my stop.”
It was a dead-end. So I asked, “Are you sure?” now thinking, “Gosh, I’m going to die here tonight?”
“Y-yes, just drop me off and go home. Thank you for the ride.” He said.
In shock, I pulled over, he got out of the truck shaking his head and I zipped off to the dead-end, u-turned and started drove past him. As I watched him in the mirror, I could see him still shaking his head.
Roadside Assistance
Another time, a few years into salvation, I met this girl named Annette, who worked in the building that I had my design studio at. She was a receptionist of the company who owned the building and a person I passed 5-6 days a week while walking to my office.
One morning as I was walking passed her desk, God said, “Invite her to lunch.”
I stopped in my footsteps, turned into her office, introduced myself and asked if I could buy her lunch that day. Remember, I was single at that time and God would rarely or never ask a married person to do as I did.
Annette looked caught off guard but said, “Yes.”
“Great,” I said, “I’ll come by at noon to get you. You pick the restaurant.”
Noon came and I made my way to her desk, walked her to my car and made our way to the restaurant.
We ate, we talked, and it was a “normal” start to a new friendship.
Once we got into my car to make our way back to our building, she started to cry.
“I don’t know why I feel like telling you this,” she proclaimed, “I am a single mother and have a desire to marry my daughter’s father, who isn’t a believer and has been estranged from us for over three months”
Now, I was in shock, I pulled over, grabbed her hand and said… “Well, that sounds like a good desire and I believe that if it is aligned with God’s heart, we can pray, and it will happen.”
I prayed that this man’s heart would turn towards God’s, then to Annette, and lastly to his daughter. I added that before the day ended, Annette would receive a call with God’s decision to our prayer.
I was a new Christian, fairly untouched by religious Christianity, and tried my best to seek God’s heart on any situation before praying.
However, the older I got and the more “churched” I became, I noticed that my less faith I displayed.
At the end of the day, I received a phone call on my office line. I picked up and heard a woman crying.
“Ma-am, are you okay,” I asked, “may I help you?”
The voice on the other end replied, “He called, he called, and said that He wants God, me, and my daughter. God answered your prayers, my daughter is going to have a father.”
I started to cry and answered her, “It was our prayers, Annette and it was 100% my pleasure. Thank you for letting me pray for you.”
In the months that followed, they married, joined a church, and became a family.
About a year passed after my last contact with Annette. I was driving up 59 towards 288 when God’s audible voice entered my car.
“Pull over and help Annette,” the voice said.
I looked on the shoulder of both sides, saw a newer model sedan stranded on the inner shoulder, and told God… “Annette, drive a beat up read truck, God, not a new sedan.”
Just in case I was wrong, I changed lanes to the left most lane.
As I passed the broken car, I turned my neck to see if it was indeed Annette standing by the car.
You know what, it was!
I sweared my car and pulled over. Got out and walked over to her, noticing that she was frantically trying to make a call.
I said, “Hi Annette, looks like you’re having some car issues. Can I help?”
She started to mumble, I’m trying to call my friend Jonnathan as she looked up to me.
“Jonnathan!, she screamed, started to cry and said, “I’ve been trying to call you since my car broke down because I remembered that you lived down the street.”
She added, “Oh my God, are you an angel?”
After convincing her that I was not an angel, a tow truck driver pulled up and asked if he could tow her off the highway to safety. Upon arriving at the gas station, the tow truck driver walked up and said, “I don’t normally offer this, but if you have a spare tire, I’ll change it out for you for free.”
Not knowing if she had a spare, we checked, found a full-size spare and sat in my truck watching the guy change out the tire, clean up, get into his tow truck, without giving any invoice, wave at us, honk and drive off.
Looking at Annette, I reiterated, “I’m not an angel but I there’s a chance he was.”
Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.
Has God ever taken you on a detour?
We know God’s love through the cross, however scripture states that He knows our love through our obedience. John 14:15 states, “If you love me, keep my commands.”
Through my walk with Christ, I have come to a realization of His timing. If God knew us before we were formed in our mother’s womb, He also know how early He needed to ask us to do something before we do it and how many detours we would need to fulfill His command.
To this day, I don’t know if I would have been carjacked, if that was a real man, an angel, or just a guy who needed to know God heard him. But I do know this, I’m still alive and that man I left on the corner of a dead-end street was alive when I left him.
Likewise, I don’t know where Annette is and how her family is doing.
What I do know is, the detours God brought me through, was exactly what He needed at that time, no matter how scary or inconvenience they were.
Have you ever been a victim of a God-detour, or on a receiving end of a God-detour? I’m sure that if you think about it really heard, you have been on both accounts.
I’m not telling you these to encourage you to give big creepy guys random rides, or pull over for anyone stranded on the side of the road. I’m telling you these testimonies to encourage you that if you hear God’s voice, do what He asked, you may be walking into an opportunity to be as He is.
Biblical Examples of God-detours
- Jonah and Nineveh
- Mary, mother of Jesus Christ
- Paul (Saul) on the road to Damascus
- Moses
For those who know some of the life events God has brought me to and through, you know that God has worked every one of them for good, no matter how dire or inconvenience.
Olivia once asked me earlier on in our relationship if God gets upset at how long it takes us to say yes to His command.
My belief and experience is, God knows us intimately, knowing exactly how long we’ll delay before saying yes and what detours we may need to take us to wherever He wants us to do exactly what He asks of us.
The goal of every Christian is to be consistent, allowing our yes be yes and our no be no, while working to lower the time it takes us to do exactly as God says, without delay.
My testimony about the carjacker, Annette, Jonah, Mary, Paul, and Moses are instances of God taking His believers on detours which got them to be exactly where God needed them, exactly when they were needed.
Bow your heads. Father Lord, thank that we are your sheep and Your word proclaims that your sheep know your voice. Cause us to hear and follow exactly what you command of us, daily and without hesitation. In Jesus name.
SALVATION:
I never want to end a service without giving an opportunity to for those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. If this is your first time hearing about Jesus Christ and you want what we have. It is freely yours. Would everyone close your eyes and repeat after me:
Lord, my heart yearns for You. I ask You to be my Lord, Savior, and Father today. I ask You to come into my heart, wash me in Your blood, and make me whole. Today, I have received your free gift of salvation and choose You, as my Lord, Savior and Heavenly Father, in Jesus name, amen.
The Fire – June 2, 2017
When I was in tenth grade, I broke my right ankle for the first time trying to dunk the ball. While in the air, I was undercut, fell, on my right toe, with all my weight. At the time I was just under five foot tall but the fall would tear all the ligaments on the outside of my ankle, fracturing the inside of my ankle. After six months of being in a cast, I was finally able to take it off. I remember the day. I was excited, especially to scratch my shin, calf, ankle, and foot for the first time in months. Next I was excited to get back on the court, because I knew that all four foot, eleven inches of me was destined for the NBA one day. As the doctor checked out my ankle and foot, he was happy with how it healed but still believed that I would eventually require surgery to stabilize it. He showed me a few rehabilitation exercises to start my progress of recovery and strengthening the ankle. He scheduled me with a rehab clinic, which I never went to, to help me fully recover and to help determine if I needed surgery. I remember the list of “do nots” he gave me… do not play basketball, do not run, do not jump, do not jog, so not practice kung-fu, do not…
At 15 years old, I heard him speak but didn’t hear what he said. I just wanted to get home and test out my newly healed ankle.
At the time, I lived in Alief, Houston. As we pulled up to our unit, I noticed thick line of dark smoke snaking up to the sky. I pointed and said, “Mom, pull around the corner, I think there’s a fire!”
My mother answered in Chinese, “No, you need to go inside and rest.”
I replied, “Mom, you have to pull around, someone may need help!”
My mother dropped her head, and pulled the car around.
As we turned the corner, I surveyed the scene, as I was taught in emergency training in middle school, just a few short years ago.
When we arrived at the scene, I saw a crowd of people standing around and watching, two men, a Hispanic and Black guy, standing by a window where the smoke was originating from, they were attempting to break more glass. My heart raced as I turned to my mother and was surprised that she was already looking at me, I said… “I have to go help mom!” With tears in her eyes, she replied, “I know, you were meant to save lives. Go and save lives.”
With that, I sprang into action, forgetting what my doctor just instructed me an hour before. I ran up to the two men by the window and asked them if anyone was inside. The Black guy responded that there was a handicap man trapped in the unit. Next I screamed out to the crowd to call 9-1-1 and pointed to two ladies asking them to bring me two moist towels. Then I ran up and down all the stairs of the unit and adjoined unit knocking on every door, screaming, “FIRE, get out! FIRE, get out!”
Finally, I made it to the front door of the unit. I’m sure I saw the Black guy kick down the door. When the door opened, a thick wall of smoke crawled out with about 12 inches of clearer air. I turned around and reached out to the two ladies, motioning to them to give me the towels I just asked for. Neither of them had towels. Frustrated, I fell to my knees and stared into the smoke.
“Jonnathan, help me. I’m in the same room you’re in,” a voice rang out from the smoke.
You see, our apartment units were all cookie cutter units, meaning I knew exactly where he was. Also, I knew I could get to the room because, being a boy, I spent a lot of time walking around my house with my eyes shut to see if I could walk around the house by shear memory.
I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and started crawling in on my stomach. Suddenly, midway into the unit, I felt someone grab my ankle. Then, whoever it was, started to pull me out towards the door. I knew this because I screamed, briefly opened my eyes, and look back.
As the dark smoke turned to sunshine, I was flipped around and pressed against the brick next to the front door.
“What are you doing, boy?,” a voiced came out of nowhere, “Jonnathan, what do you think you’re doing?”
Rubbing my eyes, I looked up, covered in soot, I said, “Trying to save a man in a wheelchair.”
Finally, my eyes focused and I saw a familiar face. It was the Black guy that was at the window and the guy who kicked the door down.
“You mean, you are willing to lay your life down for a complete stranger?” he asked.
“Huh? Yes, please excuse me, I need to go get him!” I screamed.
Then he pressed me against the brick once more, leaned in and said, “If you go in there, you will die. Let me go in your place.”
Upon hearing of my mortality, my tunnel vision turned off, looked around, smelled the smoke, heard the crackling of the fire, heard the screaming of a woman, who I would later find out was the daughter in-law of the man who was trapped, and I heard the sirens.
Dropping my head, in shame, and because I suddenly felt fear, I said, “Ok.”
With my permission, the Black guy got up, and walked into the smoke, disappearing.
I curled up on the floor, hugging my legs as I waited. A few minutes passed and I heard coughing and the man reappeared, tears in his eyes, shaking his head, he repeated over and over, “I almost had him. I almost had him. All he had to do was reach back to me and I would have plucked him out of the fire. They never reach back.”
“Never reach back?” I thought to myself. How many fires was this guy in?
I jumped to my feet and screamed, as tears started to roll down my face, “I would have got to him!”
Shaking his head again, the Black man, put his hand on my shoulder, looked me in the eyes and said, “Yes, you would have gotten to him, but I was the only person who could save him.”
With that sentence, the fire truck showed up and we were pushed out of the way as they ran into the fire.
We found out that the guy died. In fact, he was dead for at least 30 minutes before I arrived.
I stood outside in the parking lot with the Black guy. I asked him what apartment he lived in. Smiling, he point towards/over the third floor where there was a patio full of flowers, and said, “I live over there.”
I replied, “Where the pretty flowers are at?”
Smiling and putting his arm around my shoulder, he answered, nodding, “Yes, exactly, where the beautiful flowers are.”
Then suddenly, the Hispanic man ran up to us and said that the news crew wanted to interview me because I was a hero. The Black man agreed, urged me to get interviewed, proclaiming I kicked the door down and walked into the fire. I shook my head, no, and said I am no hero, because the guy died.
“Zin!” a familiar voice came from behind me, “Zin, are you okay?”
Turning around, my mom’s eyes were wide open in shock as she looked me up and down. She said, “You went in to the fire!?!?”
I nodded yes.
She then asked, “Are you okay? What happened?
I turned around to introduce my mom to the Black guy, and he wasn’t there.
I asked my mother where the black guy I was talking to went and she insisted that I was standing alone when she approached me. In denial, I insisted that there was in fact a Black guy and I was talking to him.
Midsentence, my mom asked… “How’s your ankle?”
With her question, the pain shot up my leg and I feel over onto her. I said, “I think I broke it again.”
“Broke it? How?” She asked.
Looking around, I said, “Apparently, I kicked a door down and walked into the fire.”
“I’m ready to go home,” I added, withholding tears.
Getting home, I walked in to see my brother watching the news. As he turned to me, he screamed, “You idiot! I should kill you for going into that fire. The news is talking about a Hispanic man and Asian kid who kicked down the door and ran into the fire to save a man.”
I went to shower to wash off the smoke and my day. I had nightmares for months about fires but also had dreams about the mysterious man who pulled me out of the flames and especially what he said to me when he reappeared from the smoke.
“I almost had him.”
“All he had to do was reach back to me and I would have plucked him out of the fire.”
“They never reach back.”
“I was the only person who could save him.”
I spent many sleepless nights wondering why I was spared, saved, and pulled away from the flames and especially wondering who that man was.
I found out who He was when I was saved. It was Jesus Christ.
Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.”
Jesus Christ showed me a beautiful illustration of what happened.
You see, from birth, He is reaching down to us, waiting for us to look up, acknowledge Him, and reach to Him. Once we do that, He, the only one who could save, would grab hold of us and pluck up from the fires of this world. Not for us to escape, but rather for us to be a light to it, shining His light, and displaying His love and compassion to the world so when the time is right, they too will look up, reach up, and be saved.
Salvation is the ultimate saving, but Jesus Christ promises never to leave you or forsake you. As scripture stated in Jeremiah, He knew you, even before you were formed in your mother’s womb. He will not only save you from hell, He will save you from your circumstances, and mostly yourself.
If you’re in a situation where it feels hopeless. Close your eyes where you’re at. Raise your hands up to our Heavenly Father, as a child asking to be picked up by their father, and say.
Heavenly Father, I need you. I grab hold of You right now and ask that You pluck me from this fire. I am yours. Lord, lead me to where you need me and let your face shine upon me. In, Jesus name.
SALVATION:
I never want to end a service without giving an opportunity to for those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
If this is your first time hearing about Jesus Christ and you want what we have. It is freely yours. Would everyone close your eyes and repeat after me: Lord, my heart yearns for You. I ask You to be my Lord, Savior, and Father today. I ask You to come into my heart, wash me in Your blood, and make me whole. Today, I have received your free gift of salvation and choose You, as my Lord, Savior and Heavenly Father, in Jesus name, amen.
June 25, 2017 – Guest Speaker: Scott Windrum
Shannon and Scott Windrum of WindSong Ministries are a dynamic duo. Scott was a pastor for over 20 years and now travels, partnering with churches from around the world and their leaders in bringing sound biblical teaching, powerful preaching, and accurate prophetic voice to the body of Christ. Scott prophesies while playing his guitar, singing original lyrics and playing original chords which he receives and delivers to a person or a group in song.
Shannon carries the heart and love of Christ, pouring it out freely to every group or person she encounters. Physical and emotional healing manifest while she reveal the deep intimate love and passion that God has for them. When Shannon prays, expect miracles to in overflow.
Dream Interpretation
Dream Interpretation
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. – Acts 2:17
What is a Dream?
A succession of images, thoughts, or emotions passing through the mind during sleep.
Why does God use Dreams?
… because He can and because it allows Him to have our undivided attention.
Is Dream Interpretation for Today?
Yes, because if it wasn’t, God would not have included it in the bible.
What does God use Dreams for?
- Protection
- Direction
- Correction
- Warning
Dreams are all over the Bible, cover-to-cover, however…Not all dreams are messages from God. Some may be just dreams. Here’s a few important examples of dreams and dream interpretations in the bible… let’s dive in.
Examples in the Old Testament:
First Account of a Dream in the Bible.
Genesis 20:3
But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married women.”
Correction & Protection
Jacob’s Ladder
Genesis 28:10-17
Jacob, son of Isaac, had a dream of a stairway resting on earth and reaching into heaven, where the angel of the Lord were ascending and descending on it. At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and He said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and the east, to the north and the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
Direction & Protection
Joseph’s Prophecy
Genesis 37:1-11
Joseph was both a dreamer and dream interpreter. He had a dream that prophesied that his family would bow to him someday, which once shared, propelled him in the direction of his destiny. Although, at times, things looked bleak, Joseph remained faithful, even in prison where he interpreted two dreams of his fellow prisoners, Pharaoh’s cup-bearer and baker. Joseph’s interpretations were fulfilled and the cup-bearer returned to the Pharaoh’s service and the baker was killed, just as Joseph interpreted. Two years later, the Pharaoh had a dream and the cup-bearer remember Joseph’s gift, told Pharaoh about him. Once Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, Pharaoh promoted Joseph to second-in-command.
Direction
Gideon
Judges 7:12-15
Gideon snuck into the enemy’s camp and overheard an enemy soldier sharing a dream he had. The interpreter of the dreamed, mentioning Gideon by name, predicted that Israel would win under Gideon’s command.
Warning
Examples in the New Testament
Joseph – Jesus’ father
God sent an angel into his dream to tell him that Mary was indeed telling the truth, convincing him to marry her. God continued to communicate with him in dreams, once telling him to flee to Egypt away from Harold and another time telling him that Harold has died.
Warning & Direction
Pontius Pilot’s Wife
She had a dream that Jesus was innocent and sent a warning to her husband.
Warning
Five Questions for Interpreting Dreams
- Ask God if the dream was from him.
If yes, then… - Ask God who the dream is for. (a person, group, church, the body of Christ)
Once He answers… then ask: - What details are important in the dream. (Make a list)
Not everything that is important is what it seems. - Then ask God, what each important item means.
(Define each item, one-by-one) - Finally, ask God what these details and the dream means for you, another person, group, church, or the body of Christ
What to ask when interpreting
Remember that dreams are a succession of images, thoughts, or emotions.
- Images: What do you see?
- Thoughts: What are you thinking?
- Emotions: What are you feeling?
Every detail matters.
Final Rule
ALWAYS include God in every dream interpretation.
Identity Theft – June 11, 2017
Has anyone here ever been a victim of identity theft? The truth is, everyone here should all raise our hands because, before Christ, our identities were stolen by the devil in the Garden of Eden.
Our identities, both our spiritual and physical, determine:
- Who we are
- What we do
- Who we belong to
- What belongs to us
For those of you who don’t know, last week, we found out that we were victims of identity theft. A person in Tennessee somehow got hold of one of my debit card, called the bank as us, made transfer from our savings account into our debit account, realized that they transferred it to the wrong card, called and moved it from one debit card to another. Once the debit card they had had the funds they needed in it, they made a nice size jewelry purchase online.
When Olivia found the missing money from the first transaction, she immediately called me to see if I transferred or withdrew any money recently. Upon learning that I had not, she started clicking through all our accounts to find that a large sum of money was moved, not once, but twice and the worst part was that there was a huge jewelry purchase made, just six hours before the Holy Spirit prompted her to log online, for no reason, and checkout account.
Upon assuring Olivia that I didn’t use most of our savings to surprise her with jewelry, we contacted our bank, then the company who the purchase was made from. Luckily, we caught it early enough and got hold of the jewelry store before the order was fulfilled and the director of sales, reversed the order and nothing but our sense of security, was lost.
Needless to say, Olivia and I felt violated when we found out about the theft. After all, both of us are very careful with where we use our cards and how we discard of our sensitive items and yet the criminals in Tennessee somehow acquired my card info, and other sensitive information, and made us victims.
As followers of Jesus Christ, our identities are priceless, and we need to be willing to do whatever it takes to keep it safe. Too often I see believers settle for being victims of identity theft to the devil, easily handing over what Jesus gave back to us, our rightful place as kings and priests of the earth.
Before the fall of man, there was another fall, the fall of Lucifer and one third of every angel ever created out of Heaven. In one swift blow, the angelic beings were throwing out of Heaven, lost their identities and the angels and became the first minions. In Luke 10:18, Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” The fall of Lucifer, was a violent one.
Ever since the fall of Lucifer, and the creation of the devil, he and his minions have been trying to regain the influence they had in Heaven through the stealing our identities. You see, the devil is powerless on this planet and being so, needs to partner with people to accomplish his plans and who better to partner with, than with Christians who don’t know who they are and what they can do.
When Adam and Eve were created, they were given full dominion over the earth. However, as you know, a short time after taking rule, the devil stole their identity, when he convinced them, the rightful rulers of earth, to sin, forfeiting their position to the devil.
Making Adam and Eve the first people to sin, to fall, to lose their identities, and to become slaves.
We become slaves to who we are indebted to, on earth and in the spiritual. (Proverbs 22:7) in this instance, the debt could be sin or grace, one is paid for with our life, the other by the life/identity of Christ.
Sin caused man to fall and we remained fallen from the first sin, all the way to the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. During those dark ages, the devil used the authority and identities of Adam and Eve which he stole to spread darkness, death, and destruction over the earth, bringing hell to earth, instead bringing heaven to earth, as we believers are designed to do.
Despite being saved, a lot of us, including me, were and still are victims of identity theft. It is evident of our status of being either a victim or a victor by how we love one another (John 13:35), receive a stranger (Matthew 25:40), or repay an offense (1 Peter 3:9).
For instance, my flesh, sometimes provides my first inclination, wanted to retaliate, call down a little fire, and see them get punished. Although, I believe, they need to be caught to keep others from falling victim, and I believe I have all their information now, I first want them to be saved.
God accomplishes whatever He wants through whoever and whatever He decides. The devil needs you, your identity, your authority, your dominion, and your life to accomplish his plans. He knows we carry more power on our worst day than he does on his best day.
Last week, after my sermon, Tamesha, Olivia, and I went out to La Madeleine for lunch. I noticed that the cashier was missing an arm and upon informing the ladies, Olivia insisted that we offer to pray for her. Which, after being reminded on my last sermon, I agreed and upon praying for her, her countenance completely changed. She lite up the restaurant with her joy as she asked us to pray for her schooling. After praying for her first request, Olivia stepped out in boldness to inquire about how she lost her arm. The girl, gladly shared about the accident she had when she was younger while she was in a different country. Then, Olivia asked if we could pray for a new arm. She agreed and we prayed. No arm grew yet, but we are still believing and expecting a testimony. We all left the restaurant realizing that God just showed that girl, a complete stranger to us, that she mattered, that He knew her, and that He loves her.
I once heard Bill Johnson say, “The only thing better than knowing God, is God knowing you.”
A practice that Olivia and I have, is the practice of calling out people’s true identities. Allowing us to use our God-given authority to speak what we see in the supernatural to the natural.
In the bible, there are many examples of God calling someone’s true identity out:
- God called Gideon a mighty man of valor, thru an angel, when Gideon was hiding.
- Jesus called Peter the rock, knowing Peter would deny him.
- Jesus proclaimed Nathaniel a man with no deceit/guile after Nathaniel asked what good can come from Nazareth.
The world is lost, identities stolen, and no one knows who they really are and what they were created to do.
It’s our duty, to fully embrace who we are to do what we are called to do. Here are some facts to help you fully grasp your identity.
- You were worthy dying for. In fact, Jesus Christ, came and proved it through providing Himself, God’s only son, as a sacrifice for all of us.
- You were created to rule. When men were first created, we were given full dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26). Our dominion was forfeited in the garden but restored at the cross.
- You are under a new covenant. Even though Adam and Eve failed… however, we believers are under a new covenant because Jesus Christ succeeded! He not only restored our authority but He gave us His authority, to complete His work and greater! (John 14:12)
- The devil is a liar! The only thing he can do is try to put you in situations to doubt or forget who you are. Luckily, scripture states that we have all fallen short. (Romans 3:23), meaning our identities are no longer ours to forfeit because they are hidden with in Jesus.
Both the enemy and God will use your weakness. The devil will use it to convince you out of your identity, however, God will use your weakness to exalt you and Himself because God promises to make you strong in your weakness.
If you are like me, tired of having your identity stolen by the devil and used to glorify darkness, please stand up and repeat after me.
Devil, shut up and go! I know who I am and will do exactly what I was created to do. I will no longer partner with you in your plots but will allow my actions to show the world who my God is. I am powerful, I have authority, I know who I am, and I am worth the sacrifice! In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Beloved. You are released into your identity in Jesus Christ. Go and let your light shine!
SALVATION:
I never want to end a service without giving an opportunity to for those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
If this is your first time hearing about Jesus Christ and you want what we have. It is freely yours. Would everyone close your eyes and repeat after me: Lord, my heart yearns for You. I ask You to be my Lord, Savior, and Father today. I ask You to come into my heart, wash me in Your blood, and make me whole. Today, I have received your free gift of salvation and choose You, as my Lord, Savior and Heavenly Father, in Jesus name, amen.
Vital to Life – You’re the Antidote – Sermon – June 4, 2017
Vital to Life – You’re the Antidote | June 4, 2017
A funny thing happened to me while at another church years ago. A prostitute walked in, sat down and mid-service got up, walked up to the piano, pounded on the keys, screamed and walked out of the church. Upon seeing this my friend Lisa and I went after her, to see if we could show her love and get her to stay. Upon reaching her, she was babbling and ranting… suddenly she paused, pointed straight at me, made eye contact and said… “You will burn this city down.”
Instantly I knew it was God speaking through the prostitute, speaking something to be. I believe that when we started this church, we started the blaze.
The people of the world are dying, infected by a poison that is slowly devouring them. The poison affects every person’s life differently, but it has claimed the lives of far too many.
From the fall of man until now, sin, in all its sneaky ways, has stolen too many souls.
The antidote to sin, like an antibody, lives within every believer. It is in and through Jesus Christ.
There only one way to administer this antidote, it’s through God’s redemptive love.
Scripture states that the borrower is a slave to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7) Meaning the price we pay to live a life apart from the life offered and demonstrated by Jesus Christ, can only be paid for with our lives and souls.
We go about our lives, carrying the cure, within us, that will heal every person we encounter. Since starting God Manifest, I must have prayed for more strangers in the last two weeks, than I have in any two week period in the past six years. Recently, Olivia and I chase down a man in the ninety-nine cents store who had a stroke. This week, while I was at the bank, I saw an older woman with a cane whom I introduced myself and prayed for, she recently had hip surgery. A few weeks ago, I prayed for the cashier at Krogers who was coughing, sniffling, and very grouchy. While interviewing contractors for some work we need around the house, we found out that the contractor’s son, had pain in his back and leg, we told him a few testimonies, and prayed for him. Then at the end of their presentation, their father, a former pastor, asked if we could pray for his knee, with joy, we absolutely did.
I wonder what these people are thinking as we approach them with a smile on our faces. Or what they think about us when they’re telling us about their affliction and we look at one another and smile. What we’re thinking is, “God brought you to us because He is about to do something amazing.” “We can’t wait to see what God is about to do!”
God has been raising the level of our expectations, stretching our faith. Each time we pray, we expect something to happen. Don’t allow doubt to stop you. We need to move from, “What if I pray and nothing happens, to what if I pray and something happens.”
We were ransomed through the highest price possible to pay. A Father’s plan to reconnect with Him with His creations. In thinking about the road that Jesus Christ took to save us. Seated in Heaven as God, stepping down to earth to become a man, beaten and sacrifice, travel to the pits of hell to take back the keys we we forfeited, then rose again.
Jesus saw hell, so we wouldn’t!
Jesus did all this without a guarantee that a single person would truly turn from their ways and pursue the life He demonstrated. He suffered not for the best-of-the-best but for the worst-of-the-worst, every sinner.
I have a burning desire to experience more of God, display the fullness of His Love, see souls saved and hearts and lives restored.
Beloved, you aren’t just called to carry the antidote the world needs, you are to become it!
God is lighting a fire in this church body today and through us, He will set this city, state, and country on fire.
Today, I proclaim what that woman proclaimed to me years ago, “You will burn this city down.” Now, go and love. You are the antidote!
If you are like me, and want more of God. Want to be used more. Want to experience more. Want to love more. Stand up. Life your hands and say:
God, here I am. Take me! Let your fire burn inside of me and let your love freely pour out to me. Place in me a heart that will move for you. In Jesus, name. Amen.
SALVATION:
I never like to end a service without giving an opportunity to for those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
If this is your first time hearing about Jesus Christ and you want what we have. It is freely yours. Would everyone close your eyes and repeat after me: Lord, my heart yearns for You. I ask You to be my Lord, Savior, and Father today. I ask You to come into my heart, wash me in Your blood, and make me whole. Today, I have received your free gift of salvation and choose You, as my Lord, Savior and Heavenly Father, in Jesus name, amen.