INTENTIONS! INTENTIONS! INTENTIONS!

Whatever we do for the LORD, He always look at the intent of the heart. We can give to the poor or minister His Word from a pulpit. Again He's still observing the intent of our heart. Whenever we do the work of the LORD, we need to ask ...ourselves. What are my true intentions? Is God pleased with my intentions? Are my intentions pure and holy?

My husband and I once met a native African pastor who spent most of his time helping the poor in his communities. We believed that his intentions were pure at heart so we began to help him. Later in our relationship, he became offended at the way we did things and ended the relationship. We also found out the true intention of his heart in helping the poor in his communities. Whenever he travelled to America, he would tell sad stories and share sad photos regarding the poor in his country in order to gain financial assistance. To ease his conscious, he would spend a tiny amount of money to help the poor in his communities, but the bulk of the money was used to educate his children and help his own family. Christ Jesus knew that the intentions of his heart was selfishness and greed. The sad part to this story is he did not live to see his children grown. He later died of cancer.

When we do the work of the LORD, we need to search our hearts and make sure our intentions are pure and holy in the sight of God, not mankind; for we will truly reap what we have sown. Selah.

Note: This post is not intended to discourage a person from doing good, only to think about the intent of our heart when doing good. The good works may look good in the sight of mankind, but if the intent and purpose of the heart is wrong, then God is not pleased.

Demon Stirrers

There's a subtle profession still lurking in our church today. This profession is called "Demon Stirrers". You're probably wondering what (or who) is a demon stirrer.

First of all, demons are like cock roaches. All it takes is for an individual to allow one to enter their house and they will begin to multiply. Before you know it, an infestation has occurred. In order to get rid of them, some people will purchase a type of spray to use in their home. The spray will have just enough power to stir them up, but it does not destroy their nest. Therefore causing the roaches to only manifest their disorganized and confused state but later they settle back down in their place of safety.

Many years ago, my husband and I attended a special church service. They invited an internationally known prophetess to minister. At that time, I had never heard of her. When she began to minister, I noticed a gentleman behind me as a demon manifested through him. The Holy Spirit urged me to observe the behavior of the man and the prophetess. As my heart began to cry out for the man possessed with that demon, I strongly assumed that the prophetess would use her Authority in Jesus Christ to cast the demon out. I also noticed that she knew the man needed deliverance from the demonic intruder, but instead she continued to verbalized it's presence and had great joy in knowing that the demon had manifested. As she and the congregation were rejoicing, the Pastor ordered the deacons to take the man out of the sanctuary so that he could calm down. I was sad because I knew the man needed deliverance. The prophetess was a demon stirrer--a person who has power to stir up or cause demons to manifest, but cannot cast them out (Acts 19:12-16).

Some of God's children are so gullible to the subtle deceit of the enemy. The enemy is causing them to believe that stirring up demons is the same as casting demons out. Don’t trust every spirit. On the contrary, test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1 CJB). On the other hand, the enemy has some of God's children believing that deliverance is not part of their ministry. Do not be naive in this matter. According to the Word of God, every child of God has a deliverance ministry. In other words, throwing demons out of their places of safety is unavoidable to all believers.

Mark 16:17-18 (MB)

"These are some of the signs that will accompany believers: They will throw out demons in my name, they will speak in new tongues, they will take snakes in their hands, they will drink poison and not be hurt, they will lay hands on the sick and make them well."

Dear Hearts, let's continue to strive in Christ Jesus and uproot the kingdom of darkness. Submit or cleave to HIM, Jesus Christ, in every area of your lives; then we will be able to resist the devil and he will flee or run away from us (James 4:7).

Selah.

Hope In Christ Jesus

A young girl tried to commit suicide. Looking at her on the hospital bed, I asked, " Why?" She stated, "I broke up with my boyfriend and I did not see no hope. I immediately responded, "As long as you live, there's hope. When you die, there is no need for hope."

Wikipedia defines the word "hope" as "belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life". Today many women are placing their hope in an unstable foundation. The Word of God in James 1:8 says, "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways". The word "unstable" means "likely to fall, collapse, and changeable". Just like this young girl, many women are choosing to directly place their belief in a human man to bring them positive results for their life. Too many women have committed suicide or carry the thoughts of suicide because of their failure to place their hope directly in a solid foundation. Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11 MB). Hope in Jesus Christ will guarantee one to have positive and happy results in their life and marriage (Psalms 146:5).

My husband and I have been married for 25 years. During the early years of our marriage, we both failed to commit our heart, soul, mind and strength to the LORD God. We failed to place our hope in Jesus Christ which resulted in anger, confusion and misery (Psalms 43:5). We omitted the One, True Person who could have given us positive and happy results in our marriage and lives. As a result, the demon spirit of infidelity attacked our marriage. My husband decided to leave me and his two small daughters. A few days passed and he decided to come over to give me some money for the girls. I immediately responded to him, "The girls do not need your money. They need their father." Then he left again. I then went upstairs crying with all my heart. As I laid on the bed crying, suddenly a Presence entered my room. I did not see anybody, but I knew something strange was happening. My crying came to an immediate stop and I felt peace in my room and in my heart. I was not worrying any longer. I was about to fall into a peaceful sleep when all of a sudden the doorbell rung. I went to the door and it was my husband. He immediately hugged me and repented for his actions. I later asked him, "Why did you return?" He said, "I tried to leave, but couldn't."

Many years later when I began to serve the LORD God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength; the Holy Spirit reminded me of this circumstance in my life. I immediately knew that the Presence that entered my room that night was Jesus Christ. Even though, at that time, I did not have my hope in Him, He had His hope in me. He visited me and my husband and kept us together. I truly know that, faith and hope in Christ Jesus, will produce a positive and happy marriage and life.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (MB)

But blessed is the man who trusts me, GOD, the woman who sticks with GOD. They’re like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers —Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf, Serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season.

Written with Permission from Roger D. King

by Mrs. Terry B. King, Evangelist/Missionary

Who Is Truly Being Glorified?

The word "into" is a preposition which indicates that somebody or something moves inside something, either physically or figuratively. John 16:13 says, "However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own initiative but will say only what he hears. He will also announce to you the events of the future."

In reading this word of truth, it is safe to say that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to move or live inside of us in order to show us everything there is to know about truth. He is our Teacher and Guide or in today's term, our "Life Coach". Then what is this truth He is to lead us into? First, we need to find out what truth is. In John 16:14-15, Jesus Christ is the one doing the talking. He said, "He (the Holy Spirit) will glorify me, because he will receive from what is mine and announce it to you. Everything the Father has is mine; this is why I said that he receives from what is mine and will announce it to you." And in John the first chapter, it says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God, who is Truth. If the Holy Spirit is indeed living or moving in us, then we too, according to John 16:14, will glorify Jesus Christ in word and deeds. Remember, the Holy Spirit does not glorify Himself. He only glorify Jesus Christ. Our words and actions should always lead others to glorify Jesus Christ because He lives in us by the Holy Spirit.

The word "glorify" means to worship, adore, exalt, elevate, celebrate, and to praise somebody or something highly. Let us truly examine ourselves in the words we speak and the actions we take. Now, who is truly being glorified? Is it Jesus Christ? Or self? Selah (think on this).