Time for truth in our inward parts!

You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. John 8:32
1 Timothy 5: 17- Let the elders who rule (govern) well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the WORD and DOCTRINE

We don't hear much about the importance of sound doctrine today, but it is essential to our growth as Christians. It's a topic that can seem dry and heady, but when we understand how Jesus mastered in this area, ( in the wilderness) enabling Him to begin His ministry with anointed power, we should want to learn how He operated. After all, He is our example. If He had to master in the area of sound doctrine, (rightly dividing the word of truth in each area) then we will too.

The ability to rightly divide the Word of God correctly can mean the difference between; bondage or freedom. It can mean the difference between truth or lies. It can mean the difference between life or death. It can mean the difference between love or hate. It can mean the difference between bowing and submitting to the enemy, or yielding to Christ our Lord.

With religious persecution on the rise all over the world, it is imperative in our day to understand how a person proclaiming to "love" God, could turn around and kill one of His precious creation, all in God's name?

It's in my heart to try and break down and simplify how doctrines of demons infiltrate churches and homes even here in America and create walls of division. These walls of division are Satan's main game plan in hindering true moves of the Spirit of God, and bringing destruction to real love. We as a people get appalled when seeing God's people murdered just because of their faith in Christ. (At the time of this writing, close to 150 Kenyan Christian students were killed in their college because of their faith in Christ). Well it is just as appalling to see so much division and hate in the body of Christ, which is also the same spirit of murder, which comes through false religion.

How can we overcome this?

One way of overcoming false religion is through knowing and understanding sound doctrine.

What is sound doctrine?

1 Timothy 6:3 - If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words our Lord Jesus Christ, AND TO THE DOCTRINE which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the TRUTH.

Sound doctrine is the sound teaching of the Lord, coming out of the Spirit of truth. It's the tenets of faith and truth that Jesus taught while on the earth, and confirmed through the Holy Spirit now residing in us. (Earthen vessels)

John 7: 16 - 17 - "My doctrine is not mine but His who sent me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on my own authority."

Why is sound doctrine important in our time?

1 Timothy 4: 1 - 3 - Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving (or seducing) spirits and DOCTRINES of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3. Forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who BELIEVE and know the TRUTH

Definitions of deceive - To cause to believe what is not true; mislea

Definitions of seduce - To lead away from proper conduct. 3. To entice or beguile, win over.

How do people speak lies in hypocrisy?

They say and believe one thing, but do another. They put rules and regulations on others, but don't follow the rules themselves. People may have the knowledge of truth in their heads, (intellectualism) but not in reality in their hearts (their spirit). No wisdom or distinction between the head and the heart. Knowledge puffs up, but real love coming from a genuine relationship with our Lord, edifies.

How have doctrines of demons infiltrated American church's?

When we switch gears from operating in the Spirit anointed Word coming out of the pulpits, to the dead letter of the Word, (which kills, or stops the life of Christ) it opens the door to the spirit of bondage. It's easy to start in the Spirit and switch to the flesh, or "works of the law", as the apostle Paul calls it. Man made religion, which is spawned through doctrines of demons, focuses on external works of self righteousness. It's man, trying to meet mans's needs, through his own power and self effort. Our righteousness is filthy rags compared to gift of righteousness that came through Jesus Christ. (Is. 64:6)

Galatians 2: 16 - "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. ... for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

Galatians 3: 10 - For as many are of the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." (The curse of the law brings poverty, sickness and eventual death)

In today's day and age, we don't keep strict adherence to the Old Testament law, so we don't understand fully what Paul is talking about? Any time we try and live our christian faith through the power of our own flesh, (body and soul) we activate the works of the law. It happens very innocently at times, and with our best intentions and motives. It happened with the disciples of Christ as well. Lack of knowledge in these areas have brought much harm and damage to the body of Christ. Satan will use this lack of knowledge to bring destruction, and then place the blame on God.
Being in the ministry for over twenty years I have seen many a shipwreck from well meaning people who love Christ, but bow to the spirit of bondage.

Many have opted out of church going all together to avoid heartache. Many just wander from church to church, never putting down roots anywhere to avoid conflict. The answer is found in what the bible says about His Church, and what God's design and plan is. When we all get behind God's plan correctly, we can experience great breakthrough.

There are no perfect churches anywhere on the planet. The reason being is because there are no perfect people on earth. Just imperfect people serving a loving and perfect God!

I've seen many try on churches like they would try on shoes in a shoe store. Or many try and see where they are going to get the best return on their tithe, like the stock market. This is an out of order approach to finding the right Church to go to.

First and foremost, we are all collectively part of the body of Christ which is His army on the earth. As in any army, there are different troops, different assignments, in different regions all over the earth. There is also a chain of command, and our commander in chief is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus set ministry gifts (the fivefold ministry) in the Church for God's purposes. That purpose is found in the book of Ephesians.

Eph. 4: 11 - 14 - And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some Prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. 12. for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. 13. till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect (mature) man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.We cannot be perfected or matured apart from this process. We can be saved, go to heaven and have a personal relationship with Jesus. We can learn the word of God as well, all while not going to Church, or "organized religion," as some call it.

There is one thing we cannot get alone by ourselves, however, and that is called the "corporate" anointing. This anointing or lampstand as it is called in the book of revelation, is set by God on the earth. Each Church (born of the Spirit of God) has a specific assignment for the region it's called to, and has an angel that guards it. God, as our Commander, then sets members into that specific assembly to carry out His plans for that region, which then brings increase into the Kingdom of God. We don't do the choosing or setting, God does!

So why did God choose the Church to perfect us?

God chose the corporate anointing within the Church to help us grow up spiritually. The friction that naturally comes from people of all different walks of life coming together, is God's design to refine, sharpen, help and train His army. The bible calls it, "iron sharpening iron." (Prov. 27:17)
Most of us run away from conflicts. We run away from tough areas, and tough people. God has made it that we all need to look to Him, hear His voice, as it comes accurately through the Word of God and through His ministry gifts, and be changed. We are changed from glory to glory as we all behold the face of the Lord, while we come together as His family/army, and experience His manifest presence on earth. His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. His word comes alive, and we receive His power and directives for each week. So much more is accomplished with the corporate anointing, then in all the religious works and activity that mankind has tried to do in helping hurting humanity through out all the ages.

God has already accomplished the answer through His Son and the plan for His Church empowered by The Holy Spirit! It's our turn to get on board with God's plan, find our place in the body of Christ, and allow the Holy Spirit to set us in the assembly of His choosing.
Wrong focus, wrong purpose -

Many think that the main purpose of going to church is to love on God's people. Many think the purpose is to bring health and healing to hurting people. Many think the main purpose is to clothe, house and feed the poor. Many also think that the main purpose is to grow the church numerically and financially. While all these purposes are good, biblical and God's desire, He has a way to bring it to pass that's different then our way. When our focus is on people first, and our purpose for coming together Is centered on meeting people's needs first, the order and priority that God has established becomes inverted.

Right focus, right purpose -

Our focus is to be on the Lord and His word first and foremost. When our focus is right and the purpose is right, we will see the Church come into the fullness of glory that the earth has been groaning and waiting for. Humanity will be immensely more blessed and helped, then in all the years that mankind, in his own power, has tried to accomplish. The right focus is to continually seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, then all the other things that are needed in life will be added to us. Paul's prayer is that we would know Christ, and the power of His resurrection! The purpose for loving God first in the corporate assembly, is that there would be a continual habitation of the Spirit, (His Kingdom) on earth, as it is in heaven. In this place, the Spirit anointed word goes forth, the gifts of the Spirit bring miracles and healings, and people can come and taste and see that the Lord is good for themselves. We first learn to receive His love, then it can be given away correctly. People are supernaturally transformed in His presence, and are then able to receive His Word and be healed.

An inverted priority is a perverted priority -

When we put loving people, above loving God first, a strange inverted order takes place that brings in seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. In the Old Testament there were true prophets, priests, and Kings of God.
Examples:

1. True Prophet - Jeremiah - Jer. 1:5
2. True Priests - The sons of Zadok - Ez. 40:46
3. True King - David - 1 Sam. 16:12

There were also the false. There were prophets of the people, priests of the people, and kings of the people.
Examples:

1. False Prophet - Hananiah - Jer. 28
2. False Priests - The wicked sons of Eli the priest. 1 Sam. 2: 12
3. False King - King Saul - 1 Sam. 15:10

Any time a Prophet, Priest or King, began serving the needs or wants of the people, above obedience to God, an inversion followed by perversion always took place. It happens even today. It's a slow subtle shift, that is not easy to detect, because it comes under the guise of doing good works for humanity, clothed in scripture, taken out of the context of God's order, and empowered by self effort. This is how Satan comes to twist and distort God's word. He comes as an angel of light, appearing to do good!

2 Corinth. 11: 14-15 - ....For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if HIS MINISTERS also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness.

How do we overcome these deceptions? -
Jesus said that we will know the truth, and the truth shall set us free. He also said that we are His sheep, and the voice of a stranger we will not follow. When we grow up spiritually by feeding on the Word of God, and we are set in the Church that God leads us to, and we learn to rightly divide the word of truth like Jesus did, we will overcome every tactic of the enemy. Jesus was never fooled by the false priests or leaders of His day. If they spoke an accurate scripture but it was taken out of context and meant to snare Jesus to bring Him into bondage, He always confronted that spirit of bondage with truth.

March 20, 2015 - (First day of Spring, Super moon and Solar Eclipse of the sun)

John 14:30 - The Ruler of this World is coming, and he has nothing In Me.

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples before He went to the cross. He also said...

John 14:31 - "But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

We all know that Jesus is our example of how to live supernaturally in a dark world. His life and way of operating are our wisdom keys. He only did what He saw His Father do, and only said what He heard His Father say. Sounds simple. It would be if we didn't have our flesh or souls to contend with.

Jesus lived out of His spirit, not His mind. This way of living is an intense training that goes cross wise with most of our upbringing and culture. We live in a world that focuses so much on externalism that it's hard to overcome. Jesus focus was on the inner life and this puzzled His disciples too.

While the disciples wanted a king/Messiah to conquer the natural kingdom of Rome, Jesus came to set up His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven, by having the Holy Spirit come and dwell within us. He came to change us from the inside out, first, then the world around us changes. He did this by setting us free from the kingdoms of this world.

Rev. 11:15 - Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"

The world today is still trying to change and better mankind from the outside in. It has never worked. Until the sin condition in men's hearts are transformed by knowing and receiving Christ, they have no power over the works of the flesh. We can become intellectual genius's, work out and eat right to be in the best physical condition, be the most benevolent to humanity, and even become spiritually sensitive to the unseen realm. Without Christ however, we still miss eternity.
The religious to this day will try so hard to do good works externally, and focus on following rules and regulations of their own making. Both done in the power of their own self effort, for the adulation of men's praise, is vanity. Discipline in any area is good, but when our works supersede the finished work of Christ on the cross in making us righteous, we are in error.

Rom. 14:17 - for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

In today's blog I want to highlight how Jesus put following and obeying His Father first place. He did not bow to mens dictates or control coming through the enemy. This angered the religious community of His day. Jesus could not be bought, manipulated, or even guilted into serving humanity apart from the Father's directives.

Jesus was first led of the Spirit to be tested in the wilderness, before He started His earthly ministry.
Those of us in ministry or wanting to go into ministry will also be tested.

How was Jesus Tested?

Jesus learned the difference between the scriptures being spoken to Him by satan, and the spirit anointed scriptures that applied correctly to His situation. He knew the voice of His Father versus the voice of the enemy coming through the flesh. He overcame the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life (1 John 2:16). He overcame every test the enemy threw at Him.

Matt. 4:1 - Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

How does the enemy tempt us?

Satan always uses the scripture, out of context, to manipulate us into actions of his choosing, rather then the Lord's. When we bow to this tactic of the enemy, we come into bondage, because we are doing work born of the flesh, not of the Spirit. Satan comes as an angel of light to twist and distort scripture in order to seduce and press us into action. This takes spiritual and emotional development to master.

How does God speak to us?

The Holy Spirit is a gentleman and always leads us on the inside. He never presses or pushes us into any activity. When the Holy Spirit speaks to our re-born spirit, it always produces the fruit of peace. It's one of the attributes of the Kingdom of God that we spoke of earlier. Even if our flesh doesn't want to do something initially, if we train our spirit to be led of the Holy Spirit, the Lord will always confirm what we are doing and bring us help to accomplish His will.

If we do anything born of the flesh, we come under bondage, and open the door to guilt, condemnation and strife. We actually come into union with a spirit of division, that always produces pain and destruction. This doesn't happen all at once, but in stages. and can be hard to detect. We can have the best of intentions and motives to do good, but if anything we do is born of the flesh, it's an open door to be manipulated by the devil. This is where satan will even cloak his intentions by wrapping scriptures around what he manipulates us to do. This is the voice of the stranger. It takes much maturity to understand and master this process.

Rom. 8:13 -14 - For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.

Why does the enemy use scripture to deceive us into taking action apart from God?

Satan is the accuser of the brethren. He is a liar, thief and destroyer. If he can't manipulate us into gross sin, he will pervert the ways of God, and make it seem that God is the author of bad in our lives.

How does he do this?

After we take action that we believe to be of God, and things don't work out, we are tempted to get angry at God. We are tempted to hold Him in contempt, because we thought we were doing God's will.

How this happened in my life - 

This happened to me when our ministry was in its early days. I thought any activity that involved the church doing good in the community was God's will. I learned the hard way, that this was not the case. We were planning an event with our church kids and decided to invite the outside community as well. I kept getting a check in my spirit, but couldn't see anything in the natural to discourage the event. I sensed that we should just open the event to the children in our own church family. I spoke up, but what I felt was not the consensus, so I continued on with "our" plans. To make a long story short, one of the kids from the outside community did not want to be there, and began putting down the event to one of the kids from our church. They introduced "perverted" information which hurt other children.

As a minister and mother, this devastated me! The church is supposed to be a safe place for our children to be protected! How could this happen? As I prayed and cried out to God for answers, I felt myself getting angry at God for not protecting the little ones. I heard a very stern warning in my spirit, that I will never forget! The Lord said to me, "be careful not to hold me in contempt!" I chose to trust God, even though nothing made sense in my emotions. A couple of days later the Lord brought back to my remembrance the check I had gotten in my spirit. He had warned us. We just didn't listen, because nothing "looked" wrong in the natural. Everything in the natural seemed fine. Our intentions were great and noble. We were "going into all the world" like Jesus said, so how could this be wrong? The Lord has a way, and timing to all things. He knows the end from the beginning, so if we listen to Him, He will help us avoid these snares of the enemy. The enemy is crafty in that he'll attach all the right scriptures to dupe us into doing something even after the Lord warns us. We get confused and go by our sense knowledge instead. Very dangerous.

The Lord is wanting the Church to get to the place that the enemy has "nothing in us" in the matters of discerning the difference between the voice of a stranger, versus the voice of the Lord. The Lord wants us to develop like Jesus did, knowing good from evil, and to distinguish between the soul and the spirit. This requires coming to the full measure of maturity in Christ according to (Eph. 4:13).

Jesus is our redeemer -

On a good note, Jesus redeemed the entire situation at this children's event. It didn't happen overnight. If we stay open to God, even when in pain, He can restore and turn around even the worst hits the enemy throws at us. He brought all things to light, and the situation was confronted and dealt with.

One time after going through a really rough season, the Lord asked me, "if I learned more than I lost?" I answered yes to Him, and He said, "Then you have gained!" God is so good the way He encourages us!

We see how the enemy manipulates actions apart from God in the garden of Eden as well-

Gen. 3:1 - 4 - Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, "you shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"
2. And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, "You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die."
4. Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die. 5 "For God knows that in that day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

The enemy always lies about God, twists and distorts His intentions for healthy boundaries in our lives, and makes it like obeying God will result in Him holding back on us.

Jesus mastered every test of the enemy trying to manipulate His flesh and soul into actions born apart from His Father.

Jesus obeys God even over the needs of His friends - 

Jesus loved His friends Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus. Mary and Martha sent for Jesus to come to their home when their Brother Lazarus was sick. Jesus waited and went to them after their brother had died. He knew what the Father's will was ahead of time.

John 11:21 & 25 - Now Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
25. Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live.

Can you imagine if a really close friend needed you and was at the point of death, and you just stayed away until four days after they passed? Wow, that would be considered mean, unloving, and uncaring. Chances are the friends would stop wanting your friendship.


Well, Jesus had the Word of the Lord on the death of Lazarus, and chose to obey God even above the call of His friends to come earlier. This means, He was willing to jeopardize His natural friendships and His own reputation in order to obey God. This is the tough stuff of being a follower of God, and not a pleaser of men. The religious of the day were lovers of men more than lovers of God. This is a major area the enemy will use to manipulate us into actions apart from God. Our reputation and need for the love and acceptance of others, over our obedience to God.

Jesus speaks the truth - 

Another example where satan had nothing in Jesus, is that He couldn't be manipulated away from speaking the truth to his disciples. His first priority was to speak the truth in love. Jesus was more interested in helping His disciples to grow, than being popular and liked by them. He loved them correctly and laid His life down for them. He prepared them to endure hardness and even persecution for His names sake.

Matt. 16:13, 16 & 17 - Who do men say that I, the Son of man, am?"
16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Jesus knew when Peter was speaking by way of revelation from the Lord. He also knew when he was speaking by way of the enemy.

Peter gets rebuked by Jesus after he predicts His death and resurrection - 

Matt. 16: 22 - 23 - Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord, this shall not happen in You!"
23 But He turned and said to Peter, " Get behind Me Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."

Wow, Jesus didn't candy coat the truth to soothe the soul of Peter. He didn't even speak to Peter, but directly to the devil influencing Peter to speak out of his soul.

Jesus keeps moving forward regardless of betrayal -

When Jesus needed His disciples to pray with Him before going to the cross, they fell asleep. He kept His course regardless, and continued to pray alone.

Matt. 26: 40-41 - "What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 "Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

After this, Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss as a sign to the guards and chief priests who were coming to arrest Him.

Mark 14: 44 - Now His betrayer (Judas) had given them a signal saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely."
In the midst of all this and knowing even more betrayal was to come, Jesus stayed true to His assignment for mankind. He continued in the perfect will and plan of the Father for His life on earth. What an example to us!

One morning I heard the Holy Spirit teaching me an important lesson concerning Jesus prayer alone in Gethsemane. He said to me, "don't be so mindful of getting people to follow you where I've called you to go, rather be more mindful of following Me where I've called you to go." 

Jesus kept moving forward in following God's plan regardless of His disciples falling asleep. Yes it can be lonely at times, but the rewards far outweigh the cost of obedience.

If we are going to grow up spiritually and emotionally in the body of Christ, we too are going to have to master in these areas as well. We will have to learn not to be moved by the influences of others, and stand strong on the Spirit anointed Word proceeding from the mouth of our Father in heaven!

1 Cor. 15: 58 - Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. That is the key!

Nugget from the Lord - "If you have learned more than you have lost, then you have gained."