Four Directives for 2021 (part 2)

1.17.2021

These four points are strongly on my heart right now for 2021.

1. You can weather any storm or test when you align your thoughts, values and lifestyle with God and His Word.

Clash of kingdoms

Not about politics

Not about race

It is the kingdom of God vs kingdom of Satan.

Luke 17:20-21 (NKJV)

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

What we are inside enables us to go through anything on the outside.

Woe be to the person who is empty inside in this time we are living in.

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

When you know from the Word that you are loved, you are favored, you are protected, your are a victor, you are an overcomer, that God is always for you, that You are seated with Jesus in a position of authority, that no weapon formed against you can succeed, that nothing can separate you from God and his love, that God answers prayer, that God takes every worry and care and solves it, that God fights your battles, that the angels of God surround you, that the Holy Spirit is inside of you, that greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world, that your future is secure in heaven – then you can face any challenge with the Peace of God!

When the Word is in you, you live by kingdom law! And the kingdom of God rises up within you.

How did the disciples of Jesus go through all the hellish things they endured? The kingdom of God was within them.

We live by the rules of heaven. We are His ambassadors here.

An ambassador from one nation to another lives by the rules of his native nation while living in another country. Diplomatic immunity is his.

Luke 17:20-21 (NKJV)

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

God and His kingdom never change.

Everything around us is going to be undergoing radical changes…get ready!

Don’t allow your focus to be on anything but God and His kingdom. Everything else will one day crash.

This election season has been volatile, and more than likely will continue to be for a while.

Food, water supply for a few weeks…

Most importantly, get the Word inside you and be a kingdom person.

You will live with peace inside through it all.

Some believers are much too caught up with the political stuff!!!!

John 18:36 (NKJV)

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

You think things are tough now. When the church began in the first century, they were oppressed, suppressed, lied about, vilified, yet they brought Christianity to the world…

You cannot keep the kingdom of God down!

You are living in the eternal realm while on earth, when you live by the Word. God’s kingdom is eternal.

Daniel 2:44 (NKJV)

And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

Daniel 7:13-14 (NKJV)

I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.

The influences of culture should not take precedence over God and His word in my life! Period.

This is a time to keep our focus on Jesus and His kingdom!!

The kingdom of God should take precedence over everything else!

Shake, break, and bake…

Hebrews 12:25-29 (NKJV)

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, how much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Our nation is being shaken because injustice and unrighteous acts have permeated our leadership and have been allowed to fester and grow. We are watching a judgment of our national leadership through this hardship with the election.

Tremendous instability is ahead.

Make sure that what you are valuing in your life is attached to eternity. Make sure you are living by the kingdom of God within.

I’ve been praying 1 Corinthians 4:5 for our national leadership for many years now…

2. This year, you are going to have to choose whether to stay home, or come and help us promote the kingdom of God and train new Christ followers.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT)

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (25) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (TPT)

Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love. (25) This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other! In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (GW)

We must also consider how to encourage each other to show love and to do good things. (25) We should not stop gathering together with other believers, as some of you are doing. Instead, we must continue to encourage each other even more as we see the day of the Lord coming.

Do we obey God when the government says no to what God says we should do?

Acts 4:16-20 (NLT)

What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. (17) But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.” (18) So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. (19) But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? (20) We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

This last year, health has been found to be an effective tool for controlling the world.

There is an all-out assault on freedom today – worldwide. And there is an assault on the kingdom of God through the suppression of church services and Christian gatherings.

There is now, and this will increase, a suppression of truth.

Staying at home and wearing masks is more than about lessening the curve (seriously, what ever happened to that?) – it is about forcing people to conform – and it will not stop with a virus.

When this all first began – God gave me the word nefarious.

Nefarious:

extremely wicked or villainous; iniquitous:

a nefarious plot.

OTHER WORDS FOR nefarious:

heinous, horrible, odious, outrageous, shameful, vicious, vile, abominable, atrocious, base, corrupt, criminal, degenerate, depraved, detestable, dreadful, evil, execrable, flagitious, flagrant, foul, glaring, gross, infamous, infernal, iniquitous, miscreant, monstrous, opprobrious, perverse, putrid, rank, rotten, treacherous, villainous, wicked

This is the beginning stages of the antiChrist’s control mechanisms.

Matthew 11:12 (NKJV)

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

Matthew 11:12 (NCV)

Since the time John the Baptist came until now, the kingdom of heaven has been going forward in strength, and people have been trying to take it by force.

Matthew 11:12 (GW)

From the time of John the Baptizer until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful people have been seizing it.

Matthew 11:12 (CEV)

From the time of John the Baptist until now, violent people have been trying to take over the kingdom of heaven by force.

Matthew 11:12 (AMP)

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize].

Satan is seeking to keep us away from one another, fearful and uninvolved in reaching the world for Jesus. He wants the darkness to overwhelm the world!

And right now his major goal is suppression of truth.

Don’t be a part of his scheme.

3. The Holy Spirit manifests in unity, not in isolation.

There is coming, and we are now entering a great moving of the Holy Spirit. It will be unprecedented in our time.

Satan seeks to divide us in order to conquer us!

Matthew 24:7-10 (NLT)

Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 8 But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. 9 Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. (10) And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other.

Right now, the seeds of division are being sown…don’t yield to it.

Years ago, Kenneth Hagin said, “Anything that seeks to hinder the ministry of the local church is demonic in origin.”

 

Matthew 12:25 (NKJV)

But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”

 

Matthew 12:25 (CEV)

Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said to them: Any kingdom where people fight each other will end up ruined. And a town or family that fights will soon destroy itself.

Satan’s tactic in our nation is to destroy us through infighting, racial division, political disunity.

Satan’s tactic in the church world is to create division and disunity – so the Holy Spirit will not manifest.

Notice that it was unity among the people in the Book of Acts that brought the manifestations of the Holy Spirit …

Acts 1:14 (NKJV)

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Acts 2:1 (NKJV)

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Acts 2:42-47 (NKJV)

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 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, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Acts 4:29-32 (NKJV)

Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. 32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

Acts 5:12-16 (NKJV)

And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Unity produces strength.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT)

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Genesis 11:1-8 (NLT)

At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. 2 As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. 3 They began saying to each other, “Let’s make bricks and harden them with fire.” (In this region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar.) 4 Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” 5 But the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. 6 “Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! 7 Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.” 8 In that way, the Lord scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city.

Unity aids Holy Spirit manifestations.

2 Chronicles 5:11-14 (NLT)

Then the priests left the Holy Place. All the priests who were present had purified themselves, whether or not they were on duty that day. 12 And the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and all their sons and brothers—were dressed in fine linen robes and stood at the east side of the altar playing cymbals, lyres, and harps. They were joined by 120 priests who were playing trumpets. 13 The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words: “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. 14 The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God.

Together, we now create a temple where God can manifest Himself.

 

1 Corinthians 3:16 (AMPC)

Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God’s temple (His sanctuary), and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?

Ephesians 2:19-22 (NLT)

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

The Holy Spirit will NEVER motivate a person to do anything that brings division in a local church.

Make sure by your actions and words that you help create unity here!

4. REACH OUT TO OTHERS – Don’t hold back and lock down – GO! Help us lead people to Jesus!

God has called us to be salt and light.

Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)

1You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. (15) No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. (16) In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Salt DOES NO GOOD as long as it remains alone. It must leave the shaker.

Light extinguishes darkness.

God has called Victory to be an Oasis in a desert and a Lighthouse in a storm.

Matthew 28:18-20 (AMP)

Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually — regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”

Can God trust you to represent Him in this dark time?

The time to arise is now!

Isaiah 60:1-3 (AMP)

Arise [from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the LORD]; for your light has come, And the glory and brilliance of the LORD has risen upon you. 2 For in fact, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness will cover the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you [Jerusalem] And His glory and brilliance will be seen on you. 3 Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.

Action Points:

1. Is there anything in my life I value MORE than being in the kingdom of God?
2. Am I prepared to be used by God to minister to others?
3. Am I engaged with other believers creating an atmosphere in my church for God to manifest Himself?
4. Am I praying many people to come to Jesus this year, and am I planning to help my church disciple those who come to Jesus?