Watch AND Pray.

Watch AND Pray. Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Mark 14:38 NKJV) Jesus wants you to be watchful and then He wants you to pray. You need to know what is going on in the world around you. For the purpose of praying into those situations. Our spirit is very willing like Jesus often did, to pray all night. But our flesh is weak and lazy. If you don't do this, you will end up being led into temptation. So what have you watched going on in the world recently? Islamic terrorists have murdered dozens of people in France, Tunisia, Kuwait and Nigeria. On Friday the US Supreme Court made same-sex marriage legal. Yesterday, 30,000 people in London took part in a "Gay Pride" march. Our two biggest threats to peace nowadays are from Islam and the homosexual promoters. Islam and Homosexuality are aimed at destroying humanity. So what do you think Jesus is praying for us?

Jesus Prays The Word Over You.

Jesus Prays The Word Over You. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25 NKJV) This is such an important aspect in Jesus life He does it always. He lives to do it, He has made it His primary purpose. He is praying for you right now. But what is He praying for you? What can He pray? He can only pray the Word for you. Whatever situation we are in, He will pray the right Word.

Our Forever Intercessor - Jesus.

Our Forever Intercessor - Jesus.

Therefore He (Jesus) is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25  NKJV)

To save everyone who comes to God through Him, always on the job to speak up for them.  (Hebrews 7:25  Message)

Because of His unchangeable priesthood, He can save all who choose to come to God. 

Since = Because of these reasons.

Everything Jesus set out to achieve on earth He accomplished.

 He said - It is finished.

His whole purpose in life now is to pray for you.

 Jesus is always speaking up for you.

If He never says anything negative about you:

 Neither should you.

If He believes that you can live the life His Bible says you can:

 Go ahead and believe it yourself.

If you believe this scripture, you are never without prayer support.

 So live life to the full. Jesus has got your back.

Do you want to come in to the safest place in the universe?

Would you like to have Jesus praying always for you?

Just come to Him and He will save you and pray for you.

Jesus - High Priest Forever

Jesus - High Priest Forever.

Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He (Jesus), because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. (Hebrews 7:24-25)

Jesus is definitely the same, yesterday, today and forever. Our ever living Jesus has an unchangeable priesthood.  His High Priesthood is eternal, so our priesthood is eternal too. Jesus continues forever, so do we. We will not be prevented by death from continuing with Him.

Loved Like Jesus.

Loved Like Jesus. 

The glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may

know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17: 22-23 NKJV)

 

What does our unity do - it tells the world that Father sent Jesus.

AND - that Father loves you like He loves Jesus.

WOW - talk about stepping into a parallel universe, everything about Him is opposite to the world. 

He loves you with an unconditional love, like He loves Jesus.

How can you not make this public - The Creator of the Universe - loves you.

Be more visible, be more vocal about the fact that God loves you, which helps you tell others that He loves them too.

Tell someone now - God loves me.

Glorified Unity.

Glorified Unity. The glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17: 22-23 NKJV) But there is more. Now Jesus says that the glory Father gave Him, He gave to us. So that we can be united like Father and Jesus are. Does that sound impossible? Of course it does. But it is still the truth from God who specialises in the Impossible. Jesus says that He is in us and Father is in Jesus. As an example, as a precursor, as a positive proof of possibility. That we too can be perfect in one.

Jesus Prayed For You.

Jesus Prayed For You. I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (John 17:20-21 NKJV) Each one of us believes through the words of the Gospels, the words that the Holy Spirit inspired the disciples to write. So Jesus was praying for you - then. Before you were even born. This brings me comfort - while I was still rebelling, He was praying. What was He praying for you? That we may be one together just like Father and Jesus are. Jesus wants us to be united in the Godhead. But why? So the world can believe that Father sent Jesus. How? Our unity must be visible to the world.

Father Makes Us Holy.

Father Makes Us Holy. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. (John 17:17-19 NKJV) Father makes people holy by the truth of The Word of God. If you are struggling living a holy life, stop it. The Word in your heart will sanctify you by itself. Just get more Word. Jesus made sure He lived a holy life, so we could live holy too. Here He is praying for His disciples, but there is more.

Your Prayer Of Salvation.

Your Prayer Of Salvation. How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. (1 Corinthians 14:26 NKJV) So here's what I want you to do. When you gather for worship, each one of you be prepared with something that will be useful for all: Sing a hymn, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight. (1 Corinthians 14:26 Message) That does not mean that each person can do all of these things each time you meet. But each person should come prepared, based on the scriptures they put in their heart. So here is a challenge for you all. Thinking about telling your own story, and how you got saved. What scriptures meant the most to you as you were Born Again? Now write out a simple salvation prayer based on those verses, it should take about 15 seconds to speak out from the heart. Write it out so that you can keep it in your wallet or purse, ready for the next salvation. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you and if you need to, ask someone else to help. Just make sure that you do it, it will bless you. If you are really bold, you might like to share the prayer with us in a comment.

Preach The Word.

Preach The Word. Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (2 Timothy 4:2-4) Don’t forget, preaching is not limited to getting up behind a pulpit on a Sunday. It is being a Herald - speaking out what someone else has written. Everybody wants to be taught - so it must be the right thing. You have heard the phrase - Practice makes perfect? That is not correct - only practicing the right thing makes perfect. That's why we need to convince people about The Truth. Ready to rebuke (in love) what they say when it contradicts scripture. Exhorting (encouraging) them to believe. With lots of long-suffering and teaching. It took over 5 years to get one friend to the prayer of salvation. Lots of patience too.

Salvation By The Word.

Salvation By The Word.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV)

Whenever I have led someone to Jesus, I did not need weeks of preparation to lead them in a prayer.

The scriptures I new, gave them the correct doctrine.

The scriptures challenged and corrected their way of thinking.

They instructed them in righteousness.

Because I was thoroughly equipped to get them saved.

I just say - how certain are you that you will make heaven?

If not, would you like the assurance of a guarantee?

Then pray this prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, I believe that you raised Jesus from the dead after He died for my sins.I repent of my sins and I receive Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I thank You that I am now a Born Again child of God and I will serve You all the days of my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

Staying In A Different Place.

Staying In A Different Place. 

But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:14-15 NKJV)

But you. You are different from those who are being deceived, so stay in your different place. You have heard the Gospel and been assured of it because you are still living it. 

You also know the validity of the people who led you to Jesus.

Can you say that you know the Holy Scriptures?

How much Bible would come out of you if you were squeezed? 

Scriptures make you wise for salvation - not just for your own salvation. 

They can help you get other people saved too.

Living A Godly Life.

Living A Godly Life. 

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. (II Timothy 3:12-13 NKJV)

Do you get persecution for being a Christian?

If so you must be desiring to live a Godly life. If you never feel any persecution check how Godly your desires are. 

We all need to be alert too. There will always be people who are trying to deceive others. Why? Because they themselves are deceived. But that is not the end of the story, we need to keep reading.

Bringing Your Own Gift Of Love.

Bringing Your Own Gift Of Love. How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. (1 Corinthians 14:26) These are the Blessing Gifts, where you have the ability to bless your fellow church members. Every one of us has a Psalm, Tongue, Revelation, Interpretation. Check “each of you” in the original Greek - it still says - every one, every man. All of this is done to edify (build up) the hearers. Yes these are all speaking gifts, its just taking to people. Because He loves you and you love the other believers.

Holy Spirit Gifts Of Love.

Holy Spirit Gifts Of Love. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) The Nine Main Gifts of Love. Word of Wisdom - Helping us handle tricky situations, because He loves us. Word of Knowledge - So we can know more of the truth, because He loves us. Faith - Being able to trust Him totally, because He loves us. Gifts of Healings - We can heal and be healed, because He loves us. Miracles - Sometimes it takes a little extra, because He loves us. Prophecy - Keeping us in line with His will, because He loves us. Discerning of Spirits - Staying away from works of the flesh and the devil, because He loves us. Tongues - Building us up on our Holy Faith, because He loves us. Interpretation of Tongues - With tongues is another way of getting prophecy to us, because He loves us.

Relationships Of Love.

Relationships Of Love. That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:14-16) Jesus is the head, we are His body. We are joined together and knit together by what every joint supplies. But what is the joint? Because we are all members of the same body, the joint is the connection, the relationship of love between the members. Especially the Love from Jesus. Each part does its share and causes the Body to grow and build itself up in love. All based on the relationships we develop in love.

Growing Up In Love.

Growing Up In Love. That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:14-16) Jesus wants us to move away from the latest fad, the latest revelation and trust the Holy Spirit. Staying in fellowship with people we already trust. He leads us to become maturing, stable, love-speaking people who are growing up in Jesus. Because He loves us.

United By Love.

United By Love. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13) The five-fold ministry is given so the saints can be in unity of faith ( so we all believe the same stuff) and unity of our knowledge of Jesus ( so we all know the same stuff). Then we can all grow up into Jesus, our example, because He loves us.

Equipped By Love.

Equipped By Love. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-12) The five-fold ministry is given so the saints can be equipped to do their ministry. To build up the body, not just numerically but spiritually, because He loves us. Just like the Army recruit is fully equipped to be a soldier. So the saint is not expected to supply their own equipment. He does it all through these gifts because He loves us.

Giving People As Gifts.

Giving People As Gifts. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. (Ephesians 4:11) God gives the five-fold ministry because He loves us. Apostles establish churches we can be at home in, because He loves us. Prophets reveal His plans for our future because He loves us. He gives Evangelists so that we and all our household can be saved because He loves us. Pastors bring Father's heart to us because He loves us. Teachers bring His Word to our hearts because He loves us.

The Holy Spirit Changes Us.

The Holy Spirit Changes Us. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:46-47) We don't usually meet as a church daily like they did, but you could read the Bible each day. Breaking bread doesn't just mean taking communion, they ate together. How often do you have a meal with other Christians? They did it because they loved being together as believers, his caused praise to God and gave them favour with everyone. That's why at Christmas in FCF we celebrate with a Banquet - not a church service. How will The Lord continue to add people to The Church daily? They will hear the believers praising God. They will see the joy and peace and fellowship among you.

The Common-Wealth Of Believers.

The Common-Wealth Of Believers. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. (Acts 2:44-45) This is a true common-wealth of believers. They were a body and shared everything. How much of what you have, do you bless other people with? Who do you know that is struggling because they have a need, and yet you have a surplus of the same thing. Don't forget that reaping comes after sowing.

The Holy Spirit Brings Unity.

The Holy Spirit Brings Unity. Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. (Acts 2:41-43) Peter preaches the first ever Gospel sermon and 3000 people are saved. Immediately they are baptised, probably both in water and the Spirit. Now because they had all received the Holy Spirit, they stayed in unity. You are going to find it hard to stay in unity without The Spirit. This was not just a spiritual unity - they fellowshipped together, they took communion together and prayed together. Reverential fear came upon all of them, to do what Jesus said: To go into all the world and preach the Gospel. As a result, many signs and wonders were done by Spirit-filled believers. If you want to see the miracles, you will have to do the unity bit too. When did you last fellowship with other believers outside of church? Is there a home group that you could attend?

The Holy Spirit Brings Joy.

The Holy Spirit Brings Joy.

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.(Romans 14:17)

This is why on the Day of Pentecost, the people thought they were all drunk. Why? Because they were all full of joy.

This is what receiving the Holy Spirit gives you.

Assurance of your righteous state before God, fullness of Peace and fullness of Joy.

If your present situation is trying to bring you down, pray in the Holy Spirit awhile and see the joy return.

Filled With The Holy Spirit

Filled With The Holy Spirit.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the

Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4)

If you check the people who were present, that includes Mary.

The mother of Jesus spoke in tongues too.

As Jesse Duplantis Ministries once said:

We are to pray like Mary, not to Mary.

All were filled, not just a little bit - filled.

Immediately they began to speak in another language, as the Holy Spirit enabled and empowered them.

I couldn't understand it when I received the Holy Spirit.

But you are not supposed to understand - we receive this by faith.

We don't have to think up what to say, the Holy Spirit does that for us.

The Spirit Came As Promised

The Spirit Came As Promised.

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. (Acts 2:1-3)

Their being in one accord, was to wait together for the Promise to arrive.

They were waiting to be changed, to be different, to be bolder.

There was no wind in the upper room, just a sound like a storm.

Then a fire manifestation of the Holy Spirit that everyone received.

The Holy Spirit always makes His presence and His power felt.

The Promise of The Holy Spirit.

The Promise of The Holy Spirit. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, which, He said, you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. (Acts 1:4-5) If you heard such a promise to you, what would you do about it? What do you do when Jesus gives you a command? Jesus spoke in their language, so they knew exactly what baptized meant. Our translators did not translate the word into English for us. Baptizo = to immerse, submerge, overwhelm. From Bapto = to dip in, to dye, to colour. So you can expect to be different when you receive the Spirit. To dye something is usually permanent. You can expect to be overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit too.