In the Midnight Hour

In the Midnight Hour

Written: October 31, 2011

Tonight, I am just so thankful for the Word of God and the knowledge of the Authority of the Believer. I am so thankful for having grown up in a Rhema graduate's home and basically attending Rhema my whole life. So thankful that rather than fun, silly music about the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" my parents raised us on David Ingles, Rhema Singers and Band, Shekinah Glory, SuperKids, and other faith-filled music because we needed it last night!

Last night right around midnight I went into my sister's room to check on her because she hadn't been feeling well. When I went in and saw her, it was obvious something was not right. She was burning up with fever, but she was shivering like someone with hypothermia and saying she was freezing, yet her head and body were on fire. Her hands, feet, and lower legs were white as snow and had no warmth, they literally felt like ice. If I touched her, she said it hurt and she said her stomach felt terrible, her head felt like it was going to explode, and she just hurt and ached all over. I am not going to lie, at that moment fear began to take hold of my mind, but something on the inside stirred and I knew what she needed. I laid my hands on her and spoke the Word over her body. I went into my room still not at peace with the circumstances and knew I needed to call my parents to let them know what was going on.

Itching Ears

 ‎"For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths."  

~ 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT

We live in a world today that is driven by "hype" and "glam" rather what is real. Just look at popular culture. We can't present the truth of what a person looks like, we have to photo"chop" them and create a false illusion to the public, in order to keep the public interested and hooked, and we have to keep pushing the limits to be on the "cutting edge" of what is expected. Hype rules the world we live in, it drives it and that same mentality has, sadly, entered into the church world. The church can no longer preach the truth because it is the "same old, same old" and there is nothing exciting about it. Church people want something new and exciting that "no one else has" and this most often leads to error and, in some cases, destruction. 

I know we christians don't like to talk about our flesh or even admit that it does dictate our perceptions of the Word, if we allow it to. But the truth is that if you open the door, your flesh can cause you to chase after teaching and doctrine that satisfies your flesh or itching ears, rather than strengthening your Spirit. Paul himself said, "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." (1 Cor. 9:27). Even Paul felt pressure from his flesh, but he made a decision NOT to let his flesh rule or have the loudest voice in his life. I feel that too many christians are not following Paul's example, rather than renewing their mind to the Word and allowing the Spirit to be the loudest voice in them, they are allowing their flesh to dictate their beliefs, doctrine, and perception of the scripture. 

Do You Hate Your Brother?

I was reading Love is the Way to Victory by Kenneth E. Hagin and came across 1 John 3:15 and went on to look up the whole chapter and read the passage in its entirety. Anyway it caused me to really think about some things....


Have you ever harbored feelings of hatred towards someone, because of something they did to you OR because of something you perceived they did to you? This seems to happen more often than it should in the church! 


I know we are probably all guilty of "hating" someone at some point in our christian walk, I mean we are human after all and completely capable of tripping and falling every now and then. But, do you know what the Word says about hating someone? It equates hating someone to MURDER! Yep, you heard me right, murder! You may say, "Oh, but Jess, you don't know what they've done to me! You have no idea how bad it is! They did...." Maybe so, maybe I don't know what they did to you because my experiences are different, and maybe what they did to you is worse than anything that has ever happened to me, BUT the God's love is UNCONDITIONAL! And we are supposed to exemplify God's love to humanity (Psst, even the people we don't like!). Love is something you just decide to do because you feel like it, it is a daily decision you make because it is what God wants you to do!

Give Me the Word!

The following words are lyrics from a song that Raygene Wilson used to sing called "Give Me the Word." That song has just been stirring in my heart and I just wanted to put it out here! :) I may have messed some words up since I was typing and listening to the song (since I can't actually find the lyrics ANYWHERE!) ... but, that aside, these are AWESOME words to sing!

Adding to and Taking Away from the Bible!

I want to begin by saying it is not my intention to attack any individual, my intention is to speak the truth in love, and hope that the truth can set people free from the deception they have allowed themselves to be lead into. My heart is for people, and it breaks my heart when I see them following others right off of a cliff. For example, the bridge on a major interstate is out and people are driving off of it right into the Mississippi River and let's say Jane is silently standing there praying for everyone who passes by to see that the bridge is out and John is shooting flares and jumping in front of the cars waving and doing everything he can to get them to see the truth and probably getting persecuted and cursed by angry drivers. Who loves them more? The passive one or the one actively trying to get them to see the truth? Well, I have decided to be like John, even if people hate me because of it! I can't, in good-conscious, keep silent and remain passive! So anyway, now that I've shared my heart it is time for the point I wanted to make...

Lately, I am becoming more and more aware of the fact that we are living in the last days as I see the boldness and audacity of some people to purport the doctrines and beliefs that DO NOT line up with scripture. I could not believe my eyes when I read where someone quoted scripture as follows:

"Who then can be saved? Jesus said, with man (including tithing & sowing seed) it is IMPOSSIBLE, but with God who HAS PROVIDED THE TITHE, Jesus Christ, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!"

UNFAZED!

Word for today:

"An empty-head thinks mischief is fun, but a mindful person relishes wisdom. The nightmares of the wicked come true; what the good people desire, they get. When the storm is over, there's nothing left of the wicked; good people, firm on their rock foundation, aren't even FAZED." Proverbs 10:23-25

Know the promises of God's word, stand firm in faith and nothing will FAZE you!!!!
Praise God for His Word! His Word is ALWAYS relevant, no matter what new doctrine or method comes along to undo the validity the Word! God's Word remains the same yesterday, today, and forever -- "For ever, O LORD, your word is settled in heaven." (Ps. 119:89) When the storms of life try to move and shake your foundation, just dig in even deeper into the Word and the promises of God and stand firm! Be strong and courageous because God is with you! He will never leave you and He will never forsake you... don't let the devil's smoke screen attack get you off track -- he is just a bunch of puff and fluff!!!!! Stand firm and remain UNFAZED!

God's Richest Blessings on You,
JRT