The Real Pandemic- The Whine Flu

According to Wikipedia, "A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region; for instance a continent, or even worldwide... Throughout history there have been a number of pandemics, such as smallpox and tuberculosis. More recent pandemics include the HIV pandemic and the 2009 flu pandemic." These pandemics are serious and cause much harm to those whom become infected. But there is a more serious pandemic that affects our lives even when it isn't flu season. It can harm you regardless of how healthy your human body may be. Right now, Swine Flu is all the rage! Throughout history though, the most potent and destructive pandemic has been, "the whine flu!" It cannot be treated with drugs, it cannot be overcome by simply eating healthy or exercising. The only way to fight it is with faith.

How do you know if you have the whine flu? Here are some tell tale signs:
-Fever, you're still red-hot over what was done to you yesterday or even 25 years ago.
-Shaking your fist at God always asking why?
-Vomiting out negative words that are destroying your relationships & your future

Let's be honest, most of us are bilingual and are very fluent in "whinese." We have a proclivity towards saying & believing negative things. In other words, we like to whine. Did you know that the Bible teaches us that, "The tongue has the power of life and death…" (Proverbs 18:21, NIV) Over the next few days I'll be posting some thoughts about this important topic & how we can vaccinate ourselves against the spread of the vicious sickness of negativity.

Supernatural- Week 4

This past weekend we finished a great series that we adapted from Lifechurch.tv called, "Supernatural." I talked about who angels are and what they do in our world. There is so much misinformation in regards to angels and what they do. Well meaning people say lots of silly things that are simply nonsensical from a Biblical perspective. Angels are created spiritual beings that serve the desires and purpose of God. Check out some of the scriptures and thoughts about these important beings that are all around you! To hear this important message in it's entirety you can subscribe to our podcast via iTunes. (Freedom Life Christian Center)

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2

WHO ARE ANGELS?

ANGELS ARE WORSHIPPERS.
"And then, when he presented his honored Son to the world, God said, "Let all the angels of God worship him." Hebrews 1:6 NLT
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne...In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Revelation 5:11-12

ANGELS ARE WARRIORS.  
"That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp." 2 Kings 19:35
"And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back." Revelation 12:7

ANGELS ARE MESSENGERS.
"When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." Judges 6:12
"But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus." Luke 1:30-31     
                           
WHAT DO ANGELS DO?

ANGELS GIVE YOU DIRECTION.
"…an angel of the Lord appeared to (Joseph) in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit." Matthew 1:20       
"Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field…" Numbers 22:21-23

ANGELS PROTECT YOU FROM DANGER.
"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." Psalms 91:11-12
"Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists. Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him…Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches…" Acts 12:7-8, 11

ANGELS MINISTER TO YOU.
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14
"Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him." Matthew 4:11
"An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him." Luke 22:43

Supernatural- Week 3

Last weekend we celebrated some of the answers to prayer that we have received due to our prayer & fasting emphasis. We also celebrated that fact that 172 people have made decisions to follow Jesus Christ this past year! God is truly doing supernatural things in this house. Whenever God moves, you know that the enemy is at work. Below are the message notes that we adapted from lifechurch.tv in regards to demons & the devil. Check it out...

WHERE DID SATAN COME FROM?

And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down-that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Revelation 12:7-9 See also Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezek 28:12-17

WHAT DO DEMONS DO?

1. DEMONS INFLUENCE THE LEADERS OF NATIONS.
But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Daniel 10:13
2. DEMONS DESIRE TO INFLICT SUFFERING ON YOU.
"Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water… [Jesus said], “Bring the boy here to me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. Matthew 17:15, 17-18
3. DEMONS SCHEME TO LURE YOU AWAY FROM GOD.
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 1 Timothy 4:1
4. DEMONS WANT TO PARALYZE YOU WITH FEAR.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:6-7 NKJV

Our key story came from Acts 19:1-20. Our key thought was that it is not enough to know about God, if you want His power & authority, you must get to know Him. Click here to read the story in it's entirety. Click here to read the historical background of where the event took place.

BATTLING THE DARKNESS

1. WE DON’T TREAT OUR ENEMY LIGHTLY.
But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"  Jude 9-10
2. WE DON’T FLIRT WITH DARKNESS.
Let no one be found among you who…practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD… Deuteronomy 18:10-12
3. WE DON’T FIGHT WITH OUR POWER BUT WITH GOD’S AUTHORITY.
(Jesus) called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. Matthew 10:1 see also James 4:7-8

Get Your Fire Back

I just read another great devotional from Joel Osteen ministries that I thought would be an encouragement to you. If you are feeling down & discouraged today, I challenge you to get with God & to get your fire back!

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…" (II Timothy 1:6, NIV)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria
I believe that God has planted seeds of greatness on the inside of every one of us. We all have dreams and desires, things we want to accomplish; things we want to see changed. But so many times, life has a way of stealing our dreams. We go through disappointments, face adversity, things don't turn out as we would like. Too often, we just end up settling for second best. But God doesn't want us to settle for second best. He wants us to be determined, press on, and pursue the greatness that's on the inside. We should never let "good enough" be good enough!

I want to encourage you today to stir yourself up and get your fire back. Start speaking victory over your future. If one dream has died, dream another dream. Put yourself in a positive, faith-filled environment. Get around people of excellence who live passionately. Fan the flame that is in you so you can move forward into all God has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father in heaven, I come to You today giving You my disappointments, setbacks, hurts, and broken dreams. I ask that You restore my passion and vision for the future. Let Your flame burn brightly in me now and forevermore. In Jesus' Name. Amen."