Steps of Faith

Notes on Healing and Faith

Healing doesn't mean no doctors, unless God specifically tells you no, but it also doesn't mean relying on them over what God said. You can follow some of these general principles:

• Get the Word of God on the subject. 15 scriptures might not even be as effective as meditating on two or three.
  
• You read them several times a day, and confess them every time you are feeling pain or anything contrary to your expected outcome.
  
• Watch for words of unbelief. When you are tempted to talk about your pain change it to either
• How much your good body parts feel
• How your injured part is recovering
  
• Then move on to new topic
• Take your doctors advice. Doctors aren't always right, you know that better than me. However they know some things and unless God tells you directly to ignore a certain advice follow it obediently. Submit to that authority.
  
• Many times God will use medications and surgeries for the simple reason that you aren't developed enough in faith, or ARE developed enough against it that it would either take longer or not happen. He may direct you along those lines too in the mean time. Even then you have to confess the Word over that and believe God against side effects and for recovery. The Word always takes first place and final authority.
  
• Always believe for more and better than the doctor projects. Word of God people don't settle for natural results!

These principles apply to finances and any other need I have.

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Abide!

John 14-15


John 14


² In My Father’s house are many mansions.


¹³ And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask^[c] anything in My name, I will do it.


John 15


⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me


⁹ “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ¹⁰ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 
¹¹ “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. ¹² This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.










It's funny. You can think of gold streets and it's an easy transition to mansions. I wonder why it's so hard to get a mansion mentality here and now. The idea that you walk into a nice place or a model that is out of your "budget" and feel out of place just being there is a strange idea. For most people ANY model home is out of their budget. That's why they have to go over to the bank and beg them for a loan. It doesn't matter whether the house is $400K or $2.5MM or $25. Who cares? It's out of YOUR budget. It is the rare person who even considers the idea of buying a house outright cash in hand. But if God is my provider and HE has mansions and gold streets, I am REQUIRED to change my mindset. HE is my provider. NOT the internet, or the next big idea, or the next scheme, or the next job... HE and HE ALONE. 


If I ask, He will do it. Hands Down. He already promised houses to me in his word in several places. So a house is what I expect. 


Are there prerequisites? Yes! ABIDE... this is more than just read it every morning, say a prayer if your remember and try to be a good person. Darrell Glen Wolfe.... You need to ABIDE... live, breath, talk, dream, The Word of God and beyond ALL OF THAT... you still need to abide. Isn't that abiding? Yes, it's all part of it. But Abiding is deeper than those things. Abiding means time spent talking WITH Him. Not:

• Talking AT Him
• Giving Him your grocery list of needs, wants, and desires

But actually sitting down with Him and discussing things, life, the universe, what HE wants today... etc... ABIDE

Imagine ABIDING with your wife and never talking with her about anything except what you want from her. She wouldn't ABIDE with you like that forever. Children do this and we train them out of it. It's time to mature and grow. 

The ONLY way to have true JOY which is deeper than happiness, is to abide. It means you can sit still, for extended periods of time, with nothing to distract, entertain, or amuse you except HIM. That is Abiding... it is the goal of my life from this day forward. When I catch myself NOT abiding... I will repent and turn. 

Darrell G. Wolfe

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John 16


13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.

24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.


33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."




As I read today, I couldn't help but thinking how full of doubt I've actually been. Not doubt in God, or His Word, or even WHAT His word says. These things are steady in me. I've been doubtful about my ability to recieve them. This is mostly due to the frequency that I find myself saying something and not doing it. If you doubt your word, faith cannot rise.
 
I make a renewed commitment today to not only BELIEVE but walk out the grace and love of God. This morning I needed to bring something to a mexican themed potluck, but just plain couldn't think of anything to bring and we had nothing to take. So God provided a can of Refried Beans, GOOD beans GOOD brand, I took them home and mixed them with onions, Lime, and Red Pepper Flakes. BIG Hit! God is good, even when you doubt... Just give him a shot...
 
I'm going to go out on a limb and start asking for stuff...
 
DW

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I speak therefore I show whose I am.

John 12

⁴ But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said,

Note for later study... Was Judas Simon PETERS son or a different Simon's son?

⁴⁹ For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. ⁵⁰ And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”




I will determine to listen to God to see what HE would say before I speak. Especially before I respond to an important matter, decision, or do anything in writing. My daily speech must be His words. Inappropriate joking and participating in comments and conversations that do not build up but rather tear down are not acceptable and not productive. 





Darrell G. Wolfe

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But GOD!

John 11

Mary was sitting in the house. ²¹ Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. ²²But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” 


Martha is often pointed out for her failure to recognize the important matters of life. If the man could feed 5000 + people with two fish and five loafs than you don't need to be fussing over dinner.

However, there is another side to this dynamic. This time MARY is still sitting when action is needed and it's MARTHA who takes the action. She GETS UP and GOES! Then she displays that she too, indeed, has faith.

My Brother died... BUT... GOD...

It is important when a tragedy occurs that you recognize it, then out loud I must say BUT GOD!!!!

Anything that happens that is contrary to what I know should or must happen, I can turn and say BUT GOD!!! Then find HIS plan and roll with it.

But she goes on from her to backpedal a little bit. However it was this act of faith that gave Jesus room to work.

Darrell G. Wolfe

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Withdraw and Take Authority

John 10


³¹ Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. ³² Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”
³³ The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”
³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’?^[c] 35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), ³⁶ do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? ³⁷ If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; ³⁸ but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe^[d] that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” ³⁹ Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand.⁴⁰ And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed. ⁴¹ Then many came to Him and said, “John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.” ⁴² And many believed in Him there.






The best place to go after conflict is to WITHDRAW and PRAY... 


Get quiet before God and spend some time, even if you only have a few minutes get away. You may have un-expected results. 


In this case Jesus' rejection turned to revival. 


I read this in the morning, by 6:30pm I had gotten fed up with my day, and my results. I got away... and decided to start over. The rest went well and I made up what I was behind and I even got breakthroughs on my knowledge of excel. If only I had remember to get away earlier!






Jesus, in verse:  ¹⁸ No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” 




I take it up, I lay it down!!! That is a command from the Father. We have no choice about that. I MUST take authority over my life. I MUST NOT allow circumstances to dictate ANYTHING to me!








Darrell G. Wolfe

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Amazing Grace for the Seeing Blind.

John 9

 ¹ Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. ² And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
³ Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. ⁴ I^[a] must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. ⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 




This is not put well into English. I never understood this passage. How does this man being born blind glorify God? Does a Father break his children's legs just so he can show them a new splint technique He knows? That would NOT be an act of LOVE!

What IS Jesus saying here?? WELL... there are no punctuation marks, or capitol letters in the Greek. Some person translating decided to add those for understanding. Therefore I can re-write those for better understanding.

Answer:
Neither this man nor his parents sinned!


New Thought:
BUT that the works of God should be revealed in him, ⁴ I^[a] must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. ⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 


This is means that the works of God is restoration NOT lack.

25..."One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” 

Amazing Grace... HOW SWEET THE SOUND!!!! That saved a wretch like me... I once was lost but now am found was BLIND but now I see!

⁴¹ Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.


What does this mean??


The think they see but don't because they are reject The Truth Himself. Therefore they are blind. I get that. HOW would they be without sin by being blind? 


In the natural... A blind person knows they are blind. They don't look shocked when someone says: HEY BUDDY... You can't see!


Wow... My My... Thanks for letting me know... I hadn't noticed... lol.


The spiritual blind person that recognizes any level of blindness in himself can receive the light of God and see. Only that one who comes to terms with "A wretch like me" can then go on to say "But now I see". 


Darrell G. Wolfe

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ABIDING is not passive...

John 8

³¹ Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 


How does one KNOW INTIMATELY anyone, anything, or any subject? He or she must spend time with it/that person! Take music for example. 

• I could spend months sitting in the same room as my guitar and never become familiar with how it works. 
• I could spend time listening to someone play guitar either live or recorded and it may give me one step more familiarity, at least I know how it sounds.
• I could pick it up and strum it every so often and play what I already know how to play... that would build familiarity around those songs and skills. 

But If I am ever to become intimately familiar with the guitar, not just A guitar but MY GUITAR specifically...

• I must spend time playing it as often as possible.
• I must spend time reading and learning about things I didn't know about it.
• I must learn and practice NEW techniques and skills. 
• I must be purposeful in my time with the guitar to become proficient. 

Therefore I must spend time with HIS word, not just reading...

• Read it
• Think about it
• Ask questions about it
• Pray about it with purpose
• Repeat all this over and over throughout each day.

I can't just put my bible down and forget what I read. That is NOT abiding. 

I must think about what I've been reading throughout the day, ask myself how I'm going to change or grow according to and consistent with what I read. In between calls and tasks and duties... Meditate on that word....

Darrell G. Wolfe

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Obedience is BETTER than sacrifice!

John 5 
,
⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
⁷ The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
⁸ Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” ⁹ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
And that day was the Sabbath. ¹⁰ The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
¹¹ He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’”
¹² Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” ¹³ But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. ¹⁴ Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
¹⁵ The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

I don't see, unlike most of the miracles in Jesus earthly ministry, any displayed faith in the man here... in fact Jesus asks him a yes or no question and all he gets from this man is excuses. I'm not asking why you aren't healed I am asking if you want to be! However something must have clicked for this man because he displays a high level of obedience. He not only gets up and carry's his bed, but he carry's it even after some religious people question him on his "rule breaking". There is a high level of trust displayed in this after effect.

Many times you don't need to meditate for years about something as much as you just need to DO what he said DO and DO IT IMMEDIATELY!!!!

We've been teaching our children a phrase that they are required to repeat every time they are disciplined.

"I obey the first time, every time, and I do it with a happy heart."

The funny thing is that as I've taught them to say it I've noticed that I hear it in my own head throughout the day as God is telling me things! THAT is what faith is about. DO IT... JUST DO IT!!!

04.13.10
If we set out to serve God and do His work but get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence.



Darrell G. Wolfe

Practicing His Presence

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The Life of God... Decision is yours

John 4

31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”
32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”
33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?”
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”...
...47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”
49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”
50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”
52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.
54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.



04/12/10: My Utmost for His Highest
If it is difficult to get right with God, it is because we refuse to make this moral decision about sin. But once we do decide, the full life of God comes in immediately.

There is a theme for today... that theme is DECISION! You decide to believe. You decide to do His will. You decide to be dead to sin so that HE may live in you. It's not just the some of God's life in you... it is GOD HIMSELF in you! That is the key. It's not "Lord what can I do for you today?" It's "Lord, do something THROUGH me today. I'll just take ME out of the equation!"

Questions to ask:

• What is YOUR will today?
• What is YOUR plan today?
• What would you like me to accomplish today?
• Who needs a touch from you through me today?
• How can I bring peace and rest today?
• How can I bring LOVE into the situation?

Darrell G. Wolfe

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Born of the Spirit and Light

John 3



⁵ Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 




One must be born all over again. This isn't about "Conversion". We're not trying to get your to join our group! This about understanding that you are dead, and there is a NEW you. Not just metaphorically. You really are NEW. Time alone prevents us from taking on our new bodies to go with our new spirits but we are NEW NOW.


Therefore we must evaluate all we do in light of this. If an idea or task is of the flesh it will have no effect for you. You can struggle with get rich quick schemes and others projects and drive your body to death but still see no supernatural results. ALL your endeavors must be of the spirit. If you are working HIS plan than you are more than able to succeed. 


Pray until you get an unction from HIM what you should do today, what you should buy, what you should do to believe for the next step... 


That brings up something important for me today... if I am faced with the daunting task of needing something to happen but seeing no solutions in sight than I must be VERY cautious NOT to spin and spin trying to MAKE something happen or FORCE a solution. I should shift DOWN into LOW SLOW, check inside and pray until I have exactly what the mind of God is. He is not surprised by a need and He already PLANNED on meeting this need before time began. Therefore HE is already in process of meeting that need. It will not happen if I don't jump into HIS flow and get onto HIS plan. 




²¹ But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”


This brings another subject to light... If there is anything in you that feels like you need to hide from others, especially those close to you that is a red flag of darkness. There are no secrets in the Kingdom of God. Everybody in heaven knows your thoughts. If you don't feel totally at peace with someone checking up on you, looking into your records, questioning why you did something... even if you did it all right... you may not have had right motives. Check that out, darkness is taking hold somehow and it needs to be purged to hear from God clearly. 






                 Darrell G. Wolfe






I've discovered an interesting book:



This man of God, no long gone to heaven, has deep and penetrating insights and I challenge anyone to read his work 365 days in a row and ask yourself this question after each reading. "What must I do about this TODAY in my life?"

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Hear and Obey... Water becomes Wine!

John 2

⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
⁶ Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. ⁷ Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. ⁹ When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. ¹⁰And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” ¹¹ This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. ¹² After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.




Jesus here tells the people to use the water used for cleansing. This is the DISH WATER... This is the water used to wash dishes and hands and feet... EWWW... 


Yet this water becomes the BEST wine!


Listen and Obey HIM... NO MATTER WHAT He says or HOW silly it is. 


The Results will always be amazing in the end. 


This makes me think about my own provision. How often have I wanted to do something BIG for God but I'm too wrapped up in my current problems or situations. He asks me to write Him a story or work on a book. But it doesn't seem like it's the solution to the CURRENT situation... it's not an IMMEDIATE fix... so I don't do it... delay after delay. Then ONE day YEARS later I'm asking Him for direction. He says... I ALREADY TOLD YOU! After a few rounds of this I start writing it... SO FAR the books aren't done. But one did turn into a website and the other is MUCH farther along and a whole host of websites have come out of that writing. You just never know what that little obedience could turn out to mean... 




Darrell G. Wolfe




This is my favorite bible. I strongly recommend this one to anyone looking for a good study bible. You can look up Hebrew and Greek definitions right in the back as you study. It's brought MUCH light to my study over the years. 

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Believe!

Luke 24

¹¹ And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.
⁴¹ But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said 






     The Word of God has placed a HIGH priority and value on Believing. It is among the most important aspects of the life of the Christian "believer". The Disciples were constantly rebuked for their lack of faith by Jesus during His ministry. Here again He finds them not believing. 


     Another interesting thing we find here though is a phrase that is both awkward as it is profound:


...they still did not believe for joy, and marveled...


     Believing is tied to joy. You cannot have joy if you don't believe. If you don't believe you will be a bystander and a marveler instead of a participant. 




     Who is responsible for your believing? YOU! Choose, as an act of your will and a quality decision to believe the truth, despite what you feel. Then take actions regarding it. Be like the man who said to Jesus:


"I believe Lord, help my unbelief!" 








Darrell G. Wolfe

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I commit myself... therefore no one takes it from me!

Welcome to Supernatural Monday!!!

Spring and New are Here!
My Prayer and Purpose:

Drink the Living Water of the Spirit through praying in tongues
Eat the bread of life: The Word
Eat the meat of life: DOING His Will
Eat the Veggies of life: living in the Basic principles of God
Enjoy the Sweets of life: The Rewards of God

Be Well Nourished!


Luke 23

How fitting... the day after easter we read about His death and burial. So much could be said about this chapter however I'm looking for what the Holy Spirit has to say to me specifically today!

Jesus died ON a cross... NOT FROM a cross!

⁴⁶ And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’”^[n] Having said this, He breathed His last. 


     It says in another account that they didn't have to break His legs like they did the other two. People on crosses died more from asphyxiation then blood loss. But that typically only happened after breaking their legs so that they cannot press up to breath.

     Jesus said:

John 10:17-19 (New King James Version)

¹⁷ “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
¹⁹ Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings.

     In death as in life the Son of Man was out living example of the Genesis 1:26 man. SO MUST I live like this too. I my LIVE my life in dominion not as a doormat. I commit my spirit, soul, and body to God! Therefore NO DEVIL and NO MAN CAN take my life from me! I am in control THOUGH the Holy Spirit.


Today: I commit my life to YOUR will and YOUR direction!

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Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s a light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free! Refrain Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace. Through death into life everlasting He passed, and we follow Him there; Over us sin no more hath dominion— For more than conquerors we are! Refrain His Word shall not fail you—He promised; Believe Him, and all will be well: Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell! Refrain

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Spirit Led

Luke 22

 ⁷ Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. ⁸ And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.” ⁹ So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?” ¹⁰ And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. ¹¹ Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ ¹² Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.” ¹³ So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

     On the busiest day of the year Jesus and more than 12 people with Him had a room reserved and provided for Him. That is Favor! He was also able to give detailed instructions of what they would find and what would happen. Only through a lifestyle of prayer can this type of foreknowledge and Spiritual wisdom be a daily lifestyle for the believer. 

     I believe to today I will develop a lifestyle of prayer to obtain the level of understanding, insight, wisdom, and spirit led life that is needed to walk in all He has for us!

Darrell G. Wolfe

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Ready... Set... Almost time...

04.01.2010

Luke 21

From time to time in my daily readings it happens that not just one part or piece stands out but rather the whole chapter and theme and overview hit me. I saw several things of interest to me:

Luke 21

The Widow’s Two Mites

 ¹ And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, ² and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. ³So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; ⁴ for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God,^[a] but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

Giving God your best doesn't mean giving God MUCH, it means giving God the BEST YOU HAVE. So today, I will give God the Best I HAVE not the best someone else has!

Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple

⁵ Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, ⁶ “These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

⁷ So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”
⁸ And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore^[b] do not go after them. ⁹ But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”
¹⁰ Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. ¹² But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. ¹³ But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. ¹⁴ Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; ¹⁵ for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head shall be lost. ¹⁹ By your patience possess your souls.

     Nation will rise against nation, we've seen this in two world wars and several since. Kingdom will rise against Kingdom... Then it hits me. He talks about The Kingdom of God CONSTANTLY. He's not saying the same thing. Yes nations will have natural wars, but there will also be wars of the spirit. The Kingdom of God will clash against The Kingdom of Darkness of This World. 

     We are now seeing that in full force. Evolution being taught as fact with no evidence, legalization of the murder of babies, acceptance of sexual immorality of every kind. The battle ground is in our homes, internet, government, courts, even work places. One can't call abortion murder in the workplace without being written up for not being tolerant of other view points. 

     This battle is taking place everywhere. You go to a workplace lunch room and the TV has a room of people engrossed in a battle over who a child's real father is. These things ought not be! The Kingdom of God is being fought hard because the Devil knows his time is up. He will and has already brought those in the Kingdom of God into the courts. Decide NOW that you need not meditate what you will say. Just as Jesus walked through verbal traps so will you. HE will put HIS words in your mouth through the Holy Spirit. His promise is that if you will do it his way not a hair on your head will be lost. Fully Protected through these trials is your promise! Patience is the key to keeping your mind, will, and emotions in tact. 

The Destruction of Jerusalem

²⁰ “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. ²² For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. ²³ But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. ²⁴ And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁵ “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; ²⁶ men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

     The People are concerned about global warming and films depicting the end of the world through natural disasters are abounding. Astronomers are finding new things in the sky all the time. There are signs in the sky constantly. The very constellations are signs of the Word and the Plan of redemption. 

     The spirit of fear is all over this generation. Fear of economy and disaster and people... This is that time!

The Parable of the Fig Tree

²⁹ Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. ³⁰ When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. ³¹ So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. ³² Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

The Importance of Watching

³⁴ “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵ For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy^[c] to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
³⁷ And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. ³⁸ Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

     Watching means to watch the signs and determine the times you are in. In a previous reading we looked at discerning the times! This should read:

Watch therefore and pray always! In this way you may be counted worthy...

This isn't saying that you should pray that you would be counted worthy. It's saying that by watching and praying you would be counted worthy! 

Darrell G. Wolfe

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