John 5:35

The Night



We can be a candle, or we can be a torch, but we should all be like John, who was a burning and shining light!  The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is the torch, the lighthouse, the killer of darkness, for a lost and dying world.  The saints of Almighty God are here to "Light The Night."

"Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the

heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness,

like the stars for ever and ever." 

(Daniel 12:3)

Planet earth is grower darker and darker, but there's good news to behold, because the Church of the living God is grower brighter and brighter!  From North to South and East to West, we can feel a new wind blowing; it's the wind of the Spirit raining power and Glory on a dry, parched, barren land of lost and starving people searching for the reaching hand of God.  Sooner or later, every soul will kneel before Him and call Him LORD!  "Him, who?"  you ask.  He is Jesus Christ our Lord, the Holy One of Israel, the Savior of the world, the Lily of the valley, the bright morning star, the Creator of all things, The One true and only God, our soon coming King!

"And we have the word of the prophets made more certain,

and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light 

shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the 

morning star rises in your hearts."

(2 Peter 1:19)

What should one do in this shaking, rocking, fighting, terror ridden, storming world?  Get out the roadmap, and follow the appointed route  ...  the Holy Bible!  The Lord left detailed instructions of what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen.  Prophecy is still in operation, and it is unfolding with astute accuracy from the roaring words of Prophetic voices of the Bible to the powerful Prophetic voices today, as the light of God's Word fills the whole earth.  

"The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

shining ever brighter till the full light of day."

(Proverbs 4:18)

 The Lord Jesus said in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."  Have you ever felt as though you were filled with darkness, surrounded by darkness, sitting in darkness?  Come to the light  ...  come to Jesus Christ the Lord!  Receive Him as your Savior, repent of your sins, ask Him to fill you with His Spirit and speak with tongues, be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and experience the most glorious, beautiful, peaceful light you have ever known!

The more people walking in the light, the lighter and brighter our world becomes!  We're all fires of the omnipotent Flame!  We can only dispel the darkness by the proliferation of being filled with the flame and pouring fire to fire!  And, soon the darkness will have trouble with its ebony torment, because the burning flares of Glory will cover the world and "Light The Night!"

                                        

                                                                                             By Sheryl Fowler

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

                                              PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

Luke 8:2

"Passion's Paradox"

".. And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils .."   Mary Magdalene is the focus of the day.  She is an example of, and represents, a paradox of the highest proportion,  the extent of the Lord's passion. 

The Lord Jesus Christ IS the essence of "Passion."  The word Passion by definition means "intense overpowering emotion such as love, joy, hatred or anger."  The Lord embodies all of those emotions.  You say, "Jesus doesn't hate!"  I beg to differ;  He "hates"  SIN!  Then, you say, "But, how can a loving God be angry?"  Hide and watch!  He threw out the money changers in the temple, because He was angry; He burned Sodom and Gomorrah in anger; He opened up the earth in the old testament and swallowed up evil doers  ...  He always punishes SIN, and SIN makes Him angry  ...  because SIN destroys the very creation He formed by His own hand!  So, where is the Paradox?  He destroys to protect; He tears down to lift up; He covers to reveal; He dies to live; He leaves to come; He asks us to lose to receive; He moves us to bow lower to climb higher; He says "sing" when we're in the very throws of bankruptcy  ...  need I go on?  He IS the Holy One, the Creator, God Almighty in the flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord, the soon coming King, "Passion's Paradox."

"When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week,

he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom

he had driven seven demons."  (Mark 16:9)

 Why did Jesus appear "first" to Mary?  She was always "there" first!  The one who is forgiven much, loves much!  Herein is the gist of the matter.  "Passion's Paradox" is an expression that Jesus Christ never goes for the obvious; He never chooses the One WE think He would choose.  You may think you could never do or be anything in God because of your past.  You may have done the most horrific sins, but you have been forgiven, and now you stay in the dimly lit shadows, worshipping from afar, sliding in to pray when no one is looking; you dance before the Lord in darkened corners of your bedroom; you "sing" Him love songs in the early morning hours; you speak sweet nothings into the listening ears of the One whom your soul loves  ...  and you think God would never choose "you" to be exalted in the church  ... Hello, Mary!  This article is for "you!" 

We are moving into a period of time when "the last will be first."  The "forgotten" ones are not "forsaken" ones; The Lord will bring them to the forefront.  Why?  They have been forgiven much, so they love much!  It's not that God loves those who were raised in the Lord and their lives have always been the purest any less; it's just God's incomprehensible, unreasonable, indecipherable, illogical, paradoxical "Mindset."  And, by the way, He's God; He can think any way He wants to!

It's intriguing, isn't it?  To think that God would raise up those whom society might think less deserving.  It's actually beautiful, profound, and very very humbling to all of us!  We look back ... out of all of Jesse's children, God chose smelly David, out tending the sheep, singing love poems to the Lord and strumming his harp.  No one else would have chosen him ...  Paul was a paradox, "singing" in the midst of a dirty, dark, hopeless prison cell  ...  God always hears "the song"  ...

 

How many Mary Magdalenes are out there?  Maybe you're reading this and you have a dream in your soul for the work of God, but you have never been chosen; in fact, you feel like your life was too bad, before the Lord saved you, to qualify you for any kind of ministry.  Hello, Mary!  Don't be surprised if you hear the Lord calling your name!  He heard your "song" in the night!  

The humble are exalted; the meek inherit; the losers become winners; the so-called ugly are crowned as most beautiful; those who are deemed "the can't do its" will "do it better than anyone else;" those on the back seat will be ushered and prominently seated on the front seat.  Why?  Because there's One who sees all, knows all, hears all, IS all  ...  Listen intently  ...  there's every reason for you to SING; you are the personification of Passion's Paradox and you can hear the faintness of a passionate loving whisper, calling, calling  ... "Mary?" 

                                                                             By Sheryl Fowler

 (Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

                                                PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

I Timothy 3:15

"Pillar Of Truth"

"If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth."  The red, white and blue for the world is the Church!  Quoting Pastor Kenneth Phillips of PromiseLand Church, "Blue is for heavenly principles, Red is for sacrifice in crimson passion, White is for purity.  Stars are for scars who paid the price."  Beautiful, Beautiful, Pastor!  To me, this represents the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, the sure Foundation, and the Pillar of Truth.

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple

and that God's Spirit lives in you?"

(I Corinthians 3:16)

The Church is not a building; it's people, people who have been filled with the Holy Ghost, baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and who walk with the spirits of just men made perfect  ... the Apostles, who bear the scars of the faith.  The red, white and blue of America are not just colors; they are the Godly foundation of truth in Almighty God and pillars to enfold us "in the midst of the year 2011."  This will be a year to remember.  You ask, "Why; what is there about it that is so monumental?"  Hang around; it's not over yet!  

"Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether

Jews, Greeks, or the Church of God ---"

(I Corinthians 10:32)

 I'd say the above scripture means, "Do justice, Love mercy, and Walk humbly."  (Micah 6:8)  What is truth?  Honesty, sincerity, loyalty, accuracy  ... truth is the opposite of Lie ... which also is our Lord Jesus Christ versus satan.  He that the Son sets free is free indeed!  Freedom means a lot to those who are bound; those who live under dictatorships; those laden with guilt, shame and sin; those in countries where "Truth" is foreign and where the Lord Jesus Christ is not Lord.  

Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm,

sealed with this inscription, "The Lord knows those

who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the 

name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

(2 Timothy 2:19)

The Church is a lighthouse beaming the truth to a world lost and alone, lighting the way to salvation, (Acts 2:38; Acts 8; Acts 10; Acts 19) and it is "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone."  (Ephesians 2:20)  The Church will succeed; the Saints of Almighty God will win; and the red, white, and blue of sacrifice will reign forever.  The strength of a Nation; the power of a country; and the survival of a world depends upon its faith in the One True, Omnipotent, Holy God, the Lord Jesus Christ! 

So this is what the Sovereign LORD says, "See, I 

lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious 

cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts 

will never be dismayed."  (Isaiah 28:16)

AWAKE, Oh World!  The Lord Jesus Christ is on the prowl, looking for a people, looking for a Nation, looking for a world, looking for one more soul  ...  before the door is shut, the heavens are darkened, the earth stands in horror, and judgment falls.  The Lord has made a way of escape for all of those who will trust in Him, reach up to His loving arms, surrender to His perfect will and walk in His light of truth.  Will it be you?

The "Pillar of Truth" had a start with the birth, life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, with the inception of the Church in the Book of Acts, and it has a Finish  ... it's all wrapped up in red, white and blue  ....!

"I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and He that

sat upon him was called faithful and true, and in justice He doth

judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire; and upon

His head were many diadems; and He hath a name written that

no one knew but He Himself.  And He was clothed with a vesture

dipped in blood; and His name is called the Word of God ...  And 

He hath upon His vesture and upon His thigh, a name written, 

King of kings and Lord of lords."  

(Revelation 19:11-14,16)

                                                                              By Sheryl Fowler

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

                                               PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips) 

I Samuel 2:8

"People Business"

"He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's and he hath set the world upon them."  The Lord Jesus Christ was and is "in" the most valuable and precious business of all ... "People Business."

Guess what?  If we belong to Jesus Christ, "we" are entrepeneurs! It is a spiritual "gene" of Passion passed down through the Spirit from Father to child.  It's all about souls, creation, the dust of the earth molded into man ... People Business!

"But it is God who judges: He brings one down, 

he exalts another."  (Psalm 75:7) 

"Forgiven" is the word for People Business.  The woman taken in adultery in John 8:3 was brought to Jesus by the Scribes and Pharisees, and they informed Jesus that according to the law of Moses, she should be stoned; they asked Jesus, "What sayest thou?"  They were attempting to trap and accuse Jesus.  But, Jesus ignored them and with His finger wrote on the ground.  When they continued asking, Jesus said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."  Again, Jesus stooped and wrote on the ground.  As they watched, they were convicted by their own conscience and they all left one by one.  Jesus asked the woman if any man was condemning her, and she said none, Lord.  He said, "Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more."  

"But he giveth more grace.  Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."  (James 4:6)  The Lord Jesus Christ came to seek and to save the lost; He is not willing that any should be lost or perish.  Those whom the world condemns have a second chance if they humble themselves before the Lord; the Lord Jesus Christ bought their Pardon with His own blood.  Prison bars can't hold them; the weight of sin and shame can't destroy them; the guilt of their own souls can't bury them, for the Lord Jesus Christ came to set all mankind free from sin, sickness, disease, temptation and evil!

"But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks."  (Psalm 107:41)  What do you need?  The people of Jesus Christ are the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.  We say, even as Peter said , "Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."  (Acts 3:6)  We have seen miracles, signs and wonders from the mighty hands of God manifested through the hands of His anointed ones, His Church. 

The Church of Almighty God is recognizing its place in the world; every one a minister; every home a chapel; every minister's hand an anointed extension of God's hand in the earth.  We are ever learning, moving, growing, praying, and speaking the Word in power and authority in the Name of Jesus, by the Word of Jesus, and the Blood of Jesus!  Bottom line?  Rise up and walk!  Be healed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!  "Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus." 

If you are reading this and you have illness of any kind; I rebuke spirits of iniquity that would come against your mind, heart, soul, and body.  I curse cancers to the roots, and all manner of diseases and infirmities; rise up and be whole!  I rebuke evil spirits that seek to possess and control any part of your spirit, soul or body!  Rise up and walk in newness of life by the power, Name, Word, and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ! 

It's all about "People Business!"

                      By Sheryl Fowler

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

                                             PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)



John 4:14

"Running On Water"

"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."  

A Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water and Jesus asked her, "Give me to drink."  She then replied that Jews don't ask Samaritans that question, because in that time the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans.  Jesus said to her that if she knew who she was talking to, she would have asked of Him, and He would give her "living water."  

The race we're running today requires "Living Water!"  Living Water from Jesus Christ our Lord "IS" the Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost.  How can we "run" without the 'spring'?  What sets our feet to dancing?  From where does the power emanate to drive us to race?  I have the answer!  "Spring Up Oh Well; Spring Up!  Do you want Joy Unspeakable and full of Glory?  Do you want peace like a river flooding your soul?  Do you want to "run" and not grow weary?  Dive into the spring  ... be filled with the well  ...  seek ye the Holy Ghost and fire!  

"For he satisfies the thirsty and fills

the hungry with good things." 

(Psalm 107:9)

We should respond like Mary, the mother of Jesus, "Be it unto me according to your Word."  The Word of God says, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead, be filled with the Spirit."  (Ephesians 5:18)  The Joy of the Lord is your strength; the peace that passes all understanding comes only from the Lord; the energy to "run" in this race against time and endure to the end requires the "Spirit," with a capital "S," meaning the Spirit of Almighty God, the Lord Jesus Christ!

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said,

streams of living water will flow from within him."

(John 7:38)

I have a question!  Who wouldn't want to be free from guilt, free from shame, free from torment, free from sin  ...  FREE?  All we have to do is ask.  It's very easy, please pray with me, "Lord Jesus, I've made a mess of my life; please forgive me of all of my sins; have mercy on me.  I believe You are my Savior; I come to You now and I give You my life, my past, my present and my future; lead me in the paths of righteousness for Your name's sake; I turn around and I follow You now and forever; fill me with Your Spirit; give me Joy, peace and love.  I'll live for You, read the bible, and tell everyone I see about You; fill me with the Holy Ghost and give me eternal life, and living water!  Amen and Amen!  (Begin to praise the Lord; "I love You Lord; I worship You; I'll serve You with all of my heart."  As you praise Him, words you have never learned will come into your mind; speak them aloud; you will speak in other tongues, or another language, as the Spirit of God gives you the utterance  ... this is the Spirit of God living in you, the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, the "living water," the "well springing up," the Holy Ghost!) 

Now, you can "RUN!"

                                                           By Sheryl Fowler

     (Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

                                                   PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

2 Timothy 2:15

"Divide To Multiply"

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  Where does one go in the Holy Bible to find out how to be saved?  Where do we search about the life of Jesus?  How are we supposed to conduct our lives after salvation?  What about the antichrist and the tribulation period?  Where should one start reading in the Bible?  When we know where to look for what we want to know, we are way ahead in our understanding of the Word of God, and we will know how to lead others into the knowledge of the Bible.  We "divide" the Word of God into its appropriate categories and then follow it like a roadmap.  In doing this, we multiply faith, knowledge, and understanding in ourselves and in others ... we Divide to Multiply!

The Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament are the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  They are accounts and perspectives of the life of Jesus Christ in earth. We read of His virgin birth, when the Angel came to Mary and she answered, "Be It Unto Me According To Your Word."  We learn of Jesus' disappearance at 12 years of age, and his parents searching and finding Him in the temple confounding the doctors with His words.  We feel the pain and agony of the whip ripping His flesh, and then His long bloody trudgery to Calvary, where He hung nailed to a cross between two thieves.  The whole earth groaned and responded with crushing stormy darkness in the middle of the day as the Holy omnipotent God of the universe said, "It Is Finished."  Our eyes wince at the brightness of angelic light as we read of the stone rolled away from the burial tomb of Jesus Christ, and now we know for a fact that He Is Risen ... because He was seen and heard, and He said it!  He said He would rise on the third day; He did; He's alive!  The four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John ... read them like a novel.  It will spurn your curiosity for more! 

                                                               

You have only just begun ... now it's time to read of power falling from heaven as tongues of fire descend upon hungry souls and they speak in languages they have never learned as the Spirit of God moves them.  Then come miracles, signs, wonders, miraculous jailbreaks ... and the "dividing" and "multiplying" as the Word of God goes forth bringing thousands into the Church of Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Book of Acts is recognized by theologians as the Book where the Church began.  If we want to know how to be saved, we must go to where the first Church started.  In the above scriptures, the people asked Peter what they should do {to be saved} and Peter explained it in Acts 2:38, Repent of your sins, be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will receive the Holy Ghost and speak with other tongues, the salvation message.  

The books of Romans to Jude, which are directly following the Book of Acts, are books telling us how to live after salvation.  We learn about the many gifts of the Spirit in Corinthians, and the wealth, walk and warfare of the Christian in Ephesians.  We're told in Philippians, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."  In Hebrews we learn we can have "the spirits of just men made perfect;" in James, we learn the tongue is a fire and the most wicked member of the body (this is why at salvation, we must speak in tongues, or a language we have never learned; this is God taking control and taming that most wicked member); in the Books of Peter, we're told to be holy in all manner of conversation.  Finally, in Jude, we learn we must build ourselves up on our most Holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keeping ourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

The last and most blessed Book of the Bible is the stirring and incredible Book of Revelation.  We receive a blessing just by reading it; verse 3 states, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy ..."  It is the fulfillment of all things.  The synopsis of Revelation is found in Revelation 1:19, "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter."  We read about the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia  (the favored Church), and Laodicea (which is the church age in which we are now living).  The Rapture of the Church takes place in Revelation 4:1; following that, we read about the antichrist, the mark of the beast, the tribulation period with the seals, vials and judgment being poured out on the earth, and then we read all about Heaven in Revelation 21 and 22.  

The most important thing to remember about the Holy Bible is what it says in the last few verses, "...if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."  

The New Testament divisions: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, The Gospels, which represent the birth, life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Next: The Book of Acts where the Church began, and instructions of how to be saved (Acts 2:38).  The Books of Romans to Jude tell us how to live after salvation.  Then, last but not least, the Book of Revelation: the fulfillment of all things.  

We learn the divisions of the Bible just like learning how to look up a word in the dictionary.  Then, we become knowledgable and we can teach others, who teach others, and it's called winning souls, bringing in the harvest, reaching the hungry, or just simply "Divide To Multiply." 

                                                             By Sheryl Fowler

                                                  (Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

                                              PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

Daniel 5:25

"Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin"



If there's anything people don't want, it's for a hand to appear in your dining room and begin writing on your wall!  Belshazzar was having a grand feast, a wild party with a thousand of his lords, and he commanded that the gold and silver vessels, which were taken from the temple in Jerusalem, be brought so that they could drink their wine from them.  Suddenly, a misty frightening, imposing, and surreal Hand appears and begins writing on the wall of the banquet room!  Barnes' notes states, "The Babylonians, it would seem, were unaquainted with the 'characters' that were used, and of course, were unable to understand the meaning."  Almighty God knows how to make an appearance!

"This is what these words mean: Mene: God has

numbered the days of your reign and brought it

to an end."  (Daniel 5:26)

 Daniel was brought to read the writing, which was easy for him to do since it was "in the ancient Hebrew character."  Barnes' notes further states in his commentary, "it was the Divine intention to put honor on Daniel."  Belshazzar told Daniel that if he could give him the interpretation, he would clothe him with scarlet, put a gold chain about his neck, and make him the third ruler of the kingdom.  Daniel's reply to this was, "Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another, yet I will read the writing unto the king ..."

What if God's Hand wrote across the sky today?  What if He disrupted the upheavals of our world with the appearance of His Holy Hand in the midst of human debauchery and sin?  You say, "Well, that kind of thing just wouldn't happen today."  You may be right, because we are in the dispensation of "grace."  But, it's about over  ...  there is a final "number" that will register on God's own mental digital analytic converter, which causes Him to "Inhale" and the saved in the Lord Jesus Christ will rise in the moment in the twinkling of an eye, and so shall we ever be with the Lord, known as the Rapture of the Church (I Thessalonians 4:16-17 and I Corinthians 15:52).

God is not just overlooking evil; He's biding His time until the "fulfillment of time."  We don't want to be around when the 7 years of tribulation begins in the book of Revelation after the Church leaves in Revelation 4:1.  The tribulation period will be judgment upon all those who did not obey Him, all those who denied Him, all those who did not receive Him as their Lord and Savior, who were not baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and were not filled with His Spirit and spoke with other tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance.  (Acts 2:38; Acts 8; Acts 10; and Acts 19)  

We "do" have writing on the wall today!  It's the image of Matthew, of Ezekiel 38-39; it's the view of prophecy being manifested every day in our headlines, and all around the world.  Our "wall" is the writing of the Holy Bible playing out before our very eyes.  When God writes, it's an eminent warning, "Get Ready!"  He's writing on the walls of every Nation; He's writing, writing, writing, on the hearts of men, women and children from North to South, East to West  ...  don't you feel the "pen pricks" on the doors of your souls?  The Lord Jesus Christ is shaking the earth with a mighty "vengeance," trying to get people's attention ... He's writing in the earthquakes, the fires, the storms, the clouds of darkness in the form of turmoil the world over. 

There's a happy ending to the story  ... that is, if we yield to His magnificent offer!  "What offer?" you say.  Life without end, golden streets, rivers of life, mansions and Glory  ... Heaven  ... and then eternal life  ...  The bottom line?  Nobody lives forever  ...  that is, unless we take hold of the Master's Hand of salvation!  But, not the Hand that's writing ... Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin!   God told Belshazzar, by the power of His writing Hand, that his reign was coming to an end.  Belshazzar died that same day! 

It's best to join the Reign "that has no End!"

                                                                                                                                     By Sheryl Fowler

                                                       (Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

                                                  PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

In Memory of Mitch Scarlett

In Memory Of Mitch Scarlett

We'll see you soon, Mitch!

You can "direct" the heavenly streaming!

Sheryl fowler

James 2:23

"A Ram Away"



"And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God."  The definition of friend is "somebody emotionally close."  Abraham was, indeed, emotionally close to Almighty God; he was so close in fact, that he was willing to sacrifice his own son just because God asked him to.  The Great God of creation considers those who are "obedient" to Him, to be His friends, and friends of the God of the universe are notably highly blessed  ... but greatly tried  ...  Abraham's miracle was coming up the other side of the mountain; it was "A Ram Away."   

"Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if

thou be able to number them.  And he said unto

him, So shall thy seed be."  (James 2:3-5)

Abraham was being told he would be the father of many nations, and this was before he and Sarah had Isaac when he was 100 years old and Sarah was 90.  This is where "faith" takes a giant leap.  How many things bypass us because of our unbelief?  How many blessings are waiting on the other side of obedience?  When the Lord Jesus Christ, the Great "I Am," says something, we must obey! 

I feel the Lord telling me to "trust" Him very often, when I'm wandering through my own long hot desert of obedience.  God doesn't often give us all the details, just as He didn't give Abraham the "rest of the story" about the ram coming up the other side of the mountain, even as Abraham raised his trembling knife-held hand to sacrifice Isaac.  I can imagine the clenched jaw, the eyes closed, the flood of tears on the edge of already red eyelids, as the Angel grabbed Abraham's arm moments before the plunging of the knife.  Sometimes we speak our own prophecy. Isaac asked his daddy, while they were coming up the mountain, "Father, where is the sacrifice?"  Abraham answered prophetically, "God Himself will provide the sacrifice!"  Oh, Abraham, thou saist!

What about "your" mountain?  What is your pressuring climb of obedience?  All through the Bible, our Lord God says "if you will ... then I will."  (Read all about it in 2 Chronicles 7:14)  God requires implicit obedience, and sometimes He asks us to do some very strange things; it's "strange" according to "our" own human reasoning.  He will never ask us to do sin, or anything illicit, but remember when He asked Naaman to dip seven times in the muddy, filthy Jordan river to be healed of leprosy?  Remember when Elijah, the Prophet, asked the woman to take the last of her food that she was going to prepare for herself, her son and then die, and bake a cake for him?  (Always heed the Prophet; I Kings 17:17-24)  Remember the words, "Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have I give unto thee, rise up and walk."  It was in the "obedient" painful effort of rising on atrophied, twisted, stiff, lifeless legs, that the man was healed!  

Obedience!  Climbing the mountain of obedience is treacherous sometimes; it's dry, sweaty, and every step scrapes away a little arrogance, some hideous pride, a life of stubbornness, and that lingering often semi-hidden egotism, until our weary bodies tumble over the bushy acme, and we catch a whiff of that surrendered humble mountain air  ... And OH!  Everything's so clear up there; suddenly, as we observe how high we've climbed, we look down and realize we're on our knees bowing very very low.  Obedience!  The mountain before the answer!  The hard climb, the submission, the final trudging steps of surrender, the obeisance, all lead to the treasure wrapped in a casing of spiny thorns  ... the miracle; it's just "A Ram Away!"

                                                                                                                By Sheryl Fowler

                                                         (Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

                                                    PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)