ADVENT SCRIPTURES: HOPE

ADVENT SCRIPTURES FOR 2020

Week One: Hope

Isaiah 9:2 (NKJV) The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. 

Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. 

Isaiah 9:6–7 (NKJV) For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. 

Isaiah 60:1–3 (NKJV) Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 

Micah 5:2 (NKJV) But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.

Luke 1:26–33 (NKJV) Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 

IF WE EVER NEEDED HOPE

IF WE EVER NEEDED HOPE, IT’S NOW!

Every year, churches around the world observe Advent, a time of waiting and preparation as we look forward to Christmas. Advent is a month of Sundays and Christmas Eve. Each Sunday has a different theme. This is the first Sunday of Advent and the theme for today is hope. 

Folks, if we ever needed hope, it is now! 2020 has been a challenge for everyone. This pandemic has produced pressure, pain, and poverty. I pray that this time of Advent would change our focus from trial to triumph, from poverty to provision, and from sorrow to the Savior. 

Romans 5:5 (NKJV) Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

1. Hope does not disappoint.

Now, I want you to focus on that first phrase: Now hope does not disappoint...

Now, let’s be honest. We have all had times when we were disappointed that what we hoped for did not come true. Is that what Paul is saying here? I don’t think so. He is not saying we will never be disappointed. He is saying that we will never be ashamed because we believed God for something. The word here is also translated: to shame, delude, dishonor, humiliate, disgrace. I am never ashamed because I trust God. I am never ashamed for putting my hope in Him. Disappointed? Yes. Ashamed? Never. The Bible is full of stories of people who had tremendous faith, but did not see their hope come to pass. 

Hebrews 11:35-40 (NKJV) Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

2. Hope is always distant.

Romans 8:24 (NKJV) For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?

Some of the fun of life is not knowing how it will all turn out! Where would the adventure be if we knew all the answers?

3. Hope is often delayed.

Proverbs 13:12 (NKJV) Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

I have seen many marriages destroyed by expectations and fantasies. Things people hoped would happen, didn’t.  Disappointment led to despair and disillusionment. This comes because the Bible says to let our expectations be of God alone. 

Psalms 62:5 (NKJV) My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.

4. Hope is built on the ways of God.

Psalms 103:7 (NKJV) He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

We often desire God’s acts more than His ways. Hope is built on the ways of God. If we understand how God works, then this helps us live in hope. 

Let’s look at an example. As children we begin to dream about what we would like to be. As we grow older that morphs into a more realistic goal or passion. I wanted to play professional baseball, but high school curveballs put and end to that. I wanted to be a doctor, but sometimes got sick at the sight of blood. I loved nuclear physics, but flunked out of trig! I’m glad God called me to preach!

God gives all of us a purpose in life, a vision for our future. God operates on vision. However, many times God will allow that vision to die, so that He can miraculously fulfill it. 

Jesus spoke about it. 

John 12:24 (NKJV) “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”

Life to death to life. 

Think about Abraham. God told him he would be the father of many nations, yet he was childless. He tried to make it happen, but only trouble came. When God finally gave him a miracle baby, Isaac, God told him to sacrifice him as a burnt offering to God! Abraham obeyed, God stopped him, and the promise was fulfilled. 

This is the way of God. A vision is birthed in us. The vision dies. God resurrects it and brings it to pass. 

Habakkuk 2:3 (NKJV) For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Habakkuk 2:3 (MSG) This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.

Joseph, as a young man, had dreams of being a person who would impact the world. Then, he was sold into slavery by his brothers. Arriving in Egypt, he became the trusted slave of Potiphar, an important Egyptian. His wife desired Joseph, and when he refused her advances, she lied about him and he was thrown into prison for twelve years. All hope was gone, yet God raised him up to be the prime minister of Egypt and literally save the world from famine!

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV) “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

In the mid-1990s, God gave me a vision of pastoring a church in El Paso. I thought the church I was serving would be the vehicle to fulling that dream. The vision plan was interrupted when I got relieved of my duties and encouraged to look for another place to serve. I couldn’t find anywhere to pastor. Churches I contacted wanted me as a worship leader, but no one wanted me as a pastor. Finally, a small country church let me come and preach for them. They were so desperate for a preacher, they let me stay. Four years later, a wonderful time for Alba and I, the vision was fulfilled and Restoration Fellowship was born. *Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gifts!*

Just this week, Alba and I saw this process happen again. 

Machai’s story...

Where are you today? Are in the birth of a vision? The death of a vision? Or the resurrection of a vision? Wherever you are, you are not out of God’s will! He is there with you, working to bring your dream, your desire, your vision to pass. Cry out to God. Wait patiently for Him and He will bring it to pass. 

Psalms 37:4-5 (NKJV) Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

GOD’S INDESCRIBABLE GIFT

 GOD’S INDESCRIBABLE GIFT

 

I am sure that some of us may wonder what we have to be thankful for this year. Somebody remarked the other day that we now have a new four letter word in our vocabulary: “2020”! 

 

I got a phone call yesterday that brought it all into perspective for me. The call came from a preacher friend of mine in east Texas. He suffers with multiple sclerosis and is now in his 70s, bed fast, and basically alone. He lives in a care home and cannot have visitors because of COVID. We talk just about every week. He always asks me, “Has your church found a preacher yet?”, and then he laughs long and loud!

 

He said, “I want you to ask the church a question tomorrow.” I said, “What question is that, Jim?” He said, “Ask the church… If you were writing a letter to Jesus, and could only thank Him for one thing, what would it be?”

 

I asked him, “What would your letter say?” He replied, “The blood; I would thank Jesus for His blood!”

 

I thought, “That’s incredible! Here is a man who has very little to be thankful for, but he can find thankfulness in his heart for the blood of Jesus.” 

 

That brings us to our text today. It is found in 2 Corinthians 9:15.

 

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

 

We may not have much to be thankful for this year, but we can be thankful for the gift of God. Let’s look at this gift and let thanks fill our hearts.

 

First, this is a free gift, totally undeserved.

 

It is all of grace: God’s unmerited favor. This verse is the final chorus of a hymn that has stretched for two chapters where grace is referred to multiple times. 

 

Romans 5:15–19 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

 

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

 

Imagine that after celebrating Christmas with your family, your kids come up to you and say, “Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad. I really appreciate the gifts. I plan to get a job and pay you for them just as quick as I can. I promise I’ll make it up to you.” How would you react? You might be moved by their gratitude, but I’m sure you would try to persuade them that the price has already been paid. The gift is given because of love and nothing else is required!

 

Jesus paid the price; nothing else is required. We give Him our thanks and praise out of a grateful heart, not out of a debt! 

 

He paid a debt He did not owe.

I owed a debt I could not pay.

I needed someone 

To wash my sins away.

 

So now I sing a brand-new song,

“Amazing Grace”.

Christ Jesus paid the debt

That I could never pay!

 

Are we thankful today that our debt has been taken out of the way, nailed to the Cross?

 

Colossians 2:13–14 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

 

Second, this is a spiritual or supernatural gift. 

 

John 4:10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

 

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

 

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

 

What do you need today? God loves giving things to His kids!

 

Matthew 7:9–11 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

 

All we have to do is ask!

 

Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

 

Look at the way Luke records this passage. 

 

Luke 11:11–13 “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

 

Third: this gift is indescribable!

 

This is the only time this word is used in the entire New Testament. It means: Incapable of being adequately expressed or uttered. Some synonyms used elsewhere in the New Testament are unspeakable, unsearchable, inexpressible, unutterable, ineffable. In other words, we cannot begin to understand or explain God’s gift of His Son.

 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

 

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

Excerpts from Just Give Me Jesus, by Anne Graham Lotz. Originally titled “That’s My King” by S.M. Lockridge. 

 

So here we are, on the verge of Thanksgiving in a year of pain and pressure. What about that letter my friend, Jim, spoke of? Can you write one? What is the one thing you would thank Jesus for? Let’s do that, today!

DON’T LOSE HEART

 DON’T LOSE HEART

Are you fed up with all this stuff we are in right now? When I talk to people around me, I sense much discouragement and despair. Like Moses we pray…

 

Psalms 90:13-14 (NKJV) Return, O LORD! How long? And have compassion on Your servants. Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!

 

Like you, I am wondering how long this is gonna go on. And it doesn’t have to be this present situation we’re in. In can be any trial or test or fight or lack. We cry, “Lord, how long?” 

 

Ephesians 3:13 (NKJV) Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

 

I want to be encourage you today. I want to give you an exhortation to strengthen you today. I want you to know that the Lord is with you today. He is your Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the Sheep. He is your Door through which you go in and out and find pasture. He is your Rock, your Fortress, your High Tower that you can run to for safety and shelter. He is your Friend who is closer that a brother. He will never leave you or forsake you. He is with you always, even into the end of the world. 

 

Church, I want to say something to you today…      

 

Isaiah 40:10-12 (NKJV) Behold your God! Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him. He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, Measured heaven with a span And calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales And the hills in a balance?

 

Hear Jesus say to us…

 

Luke 18:1 (NKJV) Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

 

Hear Paul say to us…

 

2 Corinthians 4:1 (NKJV) Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.

 

2 Corinthians 4:16 (NKJV) Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

 

How? That is the question. Paul gives us some answers..,

 

Galatians 6:7-10 (NKJV) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

 

1.    Sow to the Spirit.

a.    Sow to the Word. 

b.    Sow to prayer. 

c.    Sow to worship.

d.    Sow to spiritual disciplines.

 

Richard Foster, in his 1978 book Celebration of Discipline, examines the inward disciplines of prayer, fasting, meditation, and study; the outward disciplines of simplicity, solitude, submission, and service; and the corporate disciplines of confession, worship, guidance, and celebration.

 

2.    Do good to all.

a.    Don’t be narcissistic.

                                              i.     Grouchy

                                            ii.     Reactive

b.    Golden rule. 

c.    Show love and compassion.

 

3.    Take care of each other.

a.    Pray for each other

b.    Care for each other. 

c.    Encourage each other.

 

4.    Keep at it.  

 

2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NKJV) But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.

 

Then comes the hard part: waiting…

 

Hebrews 10:35-39 (NKJV) Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

 

The rewards of waiting are tremendous…

 

Isaiah 40:28-31 (NKJV) Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

 

Waiting on the Lord is actively ministering to Him! This is our purpose. This verse came out in my ICU group this week…

 

Exodus 19:5-6 (AMPC) Now therefore, if you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation [consecrated, set apart to the worship of God]. These are the words you shall speak to the Israelites.

 

So there it is: as I minister to God, He ministers to me.

 

Ezekiel 44:15-16 (NKJV) But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood,” says the Lord GOD. “They shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge.

ANGELS

 ANGELS

 

 When God was going to lead his people out of Egypt, Moses appeared before Pharaoh and threw his rod down and the rod became a serpent.  Along came Pharaoh’s wise men and threw their rod’s down and they too became serpents.  Had there been television and social media in those days imagine the kind of ridicule that poor Moses would have experienced when the magicians copied the miracles; the serpents, the changing of the water to blood, the frogs, the flies - poor Moses. Don’t tell me that you have never thought about it, “how did they do that anyway?” “Can someone really do those things?”  Do you ever wonder about some of the things that are in the Bible or do you just skip over them and say I don’t understand them so obviously they are not for me, or just dismiss them as being something that was only for Bible days?  I think most of us do, and in so doing we discount things that God wants to give us to empower us today. Do we dismiss them because it’s easier to dismiss them than to admit that we don’t have them or we are afraid of them?

 

Many years ago when we were living in Lazbuddie, TX. and God was moving in a mighty way in our church, people would drive from 60 miles away to come to church.  There was a family that drove from Clovis, New Mexico, about 30 miles one way, every time we met.  The mom was always talking about her encounter with angels.  I loved to hear her stories.  I wanted to be with her so I could see her angels.  She was happy go lucky and was always moving too fast.  One day she was painting and as she was getting off a ladder she began to fall. I remember her sharing how an angel appeared and caught her.  She thanked the angel and kept on painting.  I was so jealous because I wanted to see an angel.

 

Some of you have heard my story that in this church there have been three appearances of angels by three different people who didn’t know each other, and didn’t know there had been a former appearance of an angel.  The first time someone saw an angel in this church, it was our grandson Jordyn.  He was four or five years old and he was in Chapel with pastor Sip.  Jordyn loved to watch the Bible Man cartoons when he was little. One day during elementary Chapel he saw a tall angel where the big stained glass window is in the front.  It was so big that he could only see him from the chest down and he drew his sword.  I didn’t really put too much stock on it because he was so young.  I might of mentioned it to Pastor Gary and Pastor Sip, but I never spoke about it to anyone else.  Six months to a year passed and a precious man that came to our church, a very quiet man, came up to me after church one day and said, “Miss Alba, I need to tell you what happened during worship today.”  I said, “sure!”  He said, “While we were singing I saw a huge angel in the front where the stained glass window is. He was so big that I could only see him from the chest down and as we sang he drew his sword.  He stood there with his sword drawn the entire time we sang.” It was exactly the same description Jordyn had given me. I only told Gary about it.  I Just kept quiet so people wouldn’t think I was working too hard.  Several years passed and one Sunday a lady was visiting and came up during the ministry time.  I was going to pray with her and she said, “I’m not here for prayer, I just have to tell you what I saw while were were singing.” And once again I heard the description of the same angel that the other two had described.  I want to tell you, “DON’T CLOSE YOUR EYES WHILE YOU SING!  YOU MIGHT MISS HIS VISITATION! Btw, that lady never visited here again, that I am aware of.

 

If Jesus is in us and he is the resurrection, there should be resurrection happening around us.  If he is healer and He is in us, then there should be healing happening around us.  If He is Spirit and life, then there should be Spirit and life happening around us.

 

Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him. 24 Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted to you.  (MARK 11:23-24).

 

When we went to see the kids we I came home a day before Gary and as God would have it, I sat next to a Puerto Rican pastor from Orlando to Houston and he preached to me about angels, and he began open my eyes about some truths in the Word. So for the last month I have been studying about angels.

 

Angels are created beings assigned to do God’s Work. They are ministering spirits. The world “angel” means messenger.

 

“But to which of the angels has He ever said, “sit at my right hand,  until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet ”? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to provide service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”

Hebrews 1:13-14 NASB

 

A.      Guardian Angels 

Psalms 91:11

“For He will give His angels orders concerning you, To protect you in all your ways.”

 

B.      Messenger Angels

Luke 1:26-38

“You shall conceive and bear a son and name Him Jesus”

 

C.      Warrior Angels

2 Kings 19:35

“Then it happened that night that the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when the rest got up early in the morning, behold, all of the 185,000 were dead.”

D.      Worshipping Angels

Hebrews 1:6

“And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.””

 

The Bible teaches that 1/3 of angels fell and are demons and they wage war against the saints.  But 2/3 are ministering spirits.   So they outnumber the demons 2 to 1.  I’m just bold enough to think that mine are just really bold.  They are Cuban boxers. 

 

I truly believe that there has been an assignment of fear against the people of God over the last few months.  If you are not afraid of dying or failing you would live differently.  I remember a day 19 years ago when Pawpaw and Gary and Mike and I sat in the school office at Bessemer and we spoke about the school. We had no money and they felt we needed to close down the school. It was the first year that I was the principal of JCS.  I told them that I loved them and I respected them, but I didn’t feel that God had called me to fail. I told them I could not listen to those reports any more. There have been many times in the last 20 years that when Gary has spoken to me I have put my fingers in my ears, not because I had more faith, but because I could not allow any doubt to enter my mind.  I was walking in the last thread of faith and it seemed to be unraveling. So many times I would fast and cry out to God for help. I would feel like I could not breathe.   What I didn’t know is that I had a host of angels that were already working on my behalf.

 

I’m sure that’s how Daniel felt when he was calling out to God when he was fasting for his people in Daniel 9-10.

 

“The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God. 

Daniel 9:23 NLT

 

“Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling. Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.

 

“Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”

Daniel 10:7-12, 19,  NLT

 

The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God. 

Daniel 9:23 NLT

 

So this Puerto Rican Pastor said to me, I am going to prophesy over you, and I said, “come on, I receive it!”   And he said, “ I want you to know that the  angels assigned to you are waiting for your command to gather resources for you and for your school and you will not have lack, because your ministering angels await your command! 

 

In Jesus’s name we can give a command to the host of angels that have been assigned to us to carry forth the assignment.

 

Angels are not omniscient.  They are not ALL-KNOWING.  They are hanging around us as ministering spirits waiting to be instructed what to do.   The thing is, we have to have the mind of Christ.  We can’t just tell them what to do in the flesh.  We have to be walking in the Spirit because they can discern what is from God and what is not of God.  But, if we command them to do what is coming from a higher authority they will respond to the Command that was given.

 

The Kingdom of God is doing just fine in heaven.  You show me WHAT you believe by WHAT you do.  There is no different between who you ARE and what you DO.  

 

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whate                                  , , ,,vejr you wishi, and it will be done for you.” 

John 15:7 NASB

 

After we learned this principle we were praying with a family who had been waiting for a check that was owed to them for 5 months.  We prayed and commanded their angels in Jesus’ name to go get that check and the very next morning the check hit their bank account.   Some might say it was a coincidence, but I choose to believe it was angels ministering and doing as they were commanded to do.

 

What is so encouraging, is that once our prayers of faith are spoken, a commandment is issued by Jesus to our angels whether we know it or not, and angels begin working on our behalf. Even though I was not aware that my angels were working on my behalf, prayers were being answered.  There have been many gifts to JCS through the years.  But, since I have been principal, we have received computers, houses, food trucks, cars, and over a million dollars in gifts.  One time I asked the Lord why He didn’t give us a million dollar at once like other ministries.  I remember it was the 7th year I had been principal, and he said, “ If I would have given you one million dollars you would have had 1 miracle, but because you have had to believe me for payroll 24 times a year for 7 years you have had 168 miracles!”  I couldn’t argue with that!  Now, I know that the moment I began praying a command had been given, we absolutely could not fail!  I’m here to tell you today, that you need to know that you need to get rid of your fear of failure and death!  His ministering angels surround you.  Command them in the name of Jesus to move on your behalf. 

 

One last thing.. I might have seen an angel or two…Hebrews 13:1-2 says

 

“Let love of the brothers and sisters continue. Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

 

God has put some people in RF for us to take care of.   There was no one else in their life.  One particular elderly lady called the church and asked us for help.  She was in an apartment in the west-side and she had called over 10 churches and no one would help, Pastor Gary and Pastor Sip delivered the 10 items she requested. From there she moved to 3 different apartments, and we would take her groceries. Then she went to visit a pastor friend in northern California and they stole all her things at a shelter.  She returned in the middle of winter with nothing. She was living in an apartment with no furniture, no heat, no blankets. We went and got her things so she could survive. We took care of her for the next three or four years.  Then one day I showed up to check on her and she was gone and we never heard from her again.  I had the strangest feeling that for several years we had entertained an angel unaware.