The Truth Will Set You Free!

The Truth Will Set You Free!

Is the Bible True?

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful

for teaching, rebuking, correcting and

training in righteousness."

(2 Timothy 3:16)



"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the 

scripture is of any private interpretation.  

For the prophecy came not in old time by the

will of man: but holy men of God spake as they

were moved by the Holy Ghost."

(2 Peter 1:20-21)

In the Holy Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ stated in John 10:35, "Scripture cannot be broken," and "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."  (Matthew 5:18)  And, Jesus Christ used the authority of the Bible against satan, when He said, "It is written," seventy times.  

Martin Luther, the father of the

Protestant Churches in the 1500's

Luther said, "My conscience has been taken

captive by the Word of God."

We realize the anointing and profundity of the Holy Bible only after we have received the infilling of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues.  The Book of 2 Corinthians 3:6 says, "Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."  When I read the Bible before I had received the Holy Ghost, it was just words that didn't seem to prick my heart, and it was somewhat difficult to understand, as well as the fact that I didn't know where to begin, but then, after having received the Spirit of God, the Bible came alive!  The Spirit gave the Word "life." 

The Bible is composed of 66 Books, written over a period of approximatley 1,500 years from about 1450 BC to about 90 AD by over 40 different people.  The writers were from many different backgrounds and some were rich, some were poor, some young and some were old.  Some were priests, some were prophets; Matthew was a tax collector; Luke was a doctor; Paul was a tentmaker, and Peter was a fisherman.  Yet, they all wrote about the same man who was God in the flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord.  

The Bible is historically accurate; Luke's writings have been confirmed by ancient Roman historical records and archeology.  Even unbelieving scholars agree that King David, King Solomon, and the philistines existed, as well as the cities in the Bible: Ephesus, Philippi and Thessalonica.  A Canaanite bronze calf was discovered a couple of years ago and featured in Time Magazine, which gave proof of the Bible's account that pagan nations worshipped calves.  

Old testament prophecies, which were given several hundred years before the Lord Jesus Christ, foretold the exact time of Jesus' coming, the exact place of His birth, the family of which He would be born, the status of His family at the time of His birth, how He would be received by the people, the method and details of His death, how He would be buried, and His resurrection.  All of the predictions in the Bible were fulfilled with exact detail in the Lord Jesus Christ.  (Isaiah 53, Micah 5:2, Daniel 9: 25-27, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Psalm 16:8-11)  

  

Apostle Peter, being crucified upside down

The new testament writers of, and the eyewitnesses to, the Lord Jesus' existence and His resurrection suffered extreme horrific persecution.  Who, in his right mind, would willingly be tortured to uphold a lie, if the events of the Holy Bible were false?  Matthew was killed with a sword in Ethiopia; Mark died as a result of being dragged through the streets of Alexandria; Luke was hanged on an olive tree; John was boiled in oil and banished to the Isle of Patmos where he wrote the Book of Revelation, while he was "in the Spirit on the Lord's day;" Peter was crucified upside down, because he counted himself unworthy to die like His Lord; Jude was shot to death with arrows; and Paul was beheaded at Rome by Emperor Nero.

Noah's Ark, and Rainbow

Have you seen a rainbow lately, or for that matter, any time in your life?  If you have, stamp it true!  Stamp what?  The Bible!  "And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth."  This is recorded in Genesis 9:12-13; God told Noah He would never again destroy the earth by flood, and as a sign of His promise, He set the rainbow in the sky.  So, now, in times of torrential rains, we can look up and we are comforted with a beautiful "rainbow" directly from the hand of God.  Every time you see the arching cascade of mingled heavenly colors, you know the Bible is true!

According to the Bible, the first Israel had to be reborn and this would reveal we had entered the latter years of the last days.  This happened May 14, 1948, when Israel became a Nation.  Then, approximatley 365 prophecies would be fulfilled within that generation; 364 are now fulfilled.  Here are some questions (from Amazingbible.org) which are predictions from the Bible for the hour in which we are living:

 

    Will strange weather patterns begin to happen and increase? Yes

Will earthquakes, wind storms, and even tidal waves increase? Yes

Will alternate lifestyles increase and become acceptable? Yes

Will false prophets arise and deceive many? Yes

Will there be a one-world system or global economy? Yes

Will Russia, Iran, and some Arab nations invade Israel, and the USA become involved? Yes

Will all these things and many more begin happening "after" the rebirth of Israel? Yes

Were these things happening 75 or 100 years ago?  NO

The "Truth" will set You Free!

Rainbow over Bethlehem

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

"I AM"

"I AM"

The God of Creation is the Lion of Judah,

the Lamb slain, and He reigns

He is Jesus Christ our Lord; He rules with

 power, over our earthly domain

The universe responds to the thunder of His

voice, and authority of power

While the demons bow under His hand, and

the devil ever cowers

"In earth as it is in heaven" is His constant

battle cry to His own

As we pray through the second heaven, and

gather the seeds we've sown

"Come hither" He whispers, to His surrendered

and loyal marching army

He gives orders and assignments, for His world

Church moving in harmony

The earth quivers with the pawing, of the four

horses, edgy to ride

It's a countdown to judgment, and a call to all,

on the Lord Jesus' side 

The heavenly Gates are polished, and the Golden

Streets glitter in waiting

For the Bride of Christ to appear, and sit down to

the supper so elating

But, the Church sets the wedding date, and the sands

of time are quickly falling

While the world is unaware of its destiny, of holy

redemption and calling

We salute You, Lord Jesus, and we hasten to please

You, our Lion and our Lamb

Our loyalty is steadfast for the lover of our souls,

The Holy and The Great "I AM."

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

State of the Union?

State of the Union?

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach

the gospel to all creation."

(Mark 16:15)

All believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, all over the world, have a mandate to "Go;" "Preach the gospel;" to all creation.  So, the question we have to ask ourselves is: What is the state of our unity among all of Christianity; are we coming together for the common goal; are we joining Nation to Nation for the cause of Jesus Christ; what is the "State of the Union?"

There is an "Awakening" occurring in God's Church all over the world!  Nations are coming together to bring more Nations together and the result is a stirring in the heavenlies, multitudes of angel lines forming, warrior angels sharpening their swords, battles in the Spirit realm  ...  Why?  Because the condition of the Church worldwide, the "State of the Union" is becoming stronger, bigger, more powerful, more united, more organized, and it's growing minute by minute  ...

The universe is bursting with the light of God's love on every continent.  You say, "But, there's such trouble going on all over the world."  "... at evening time there shall be light."  When it's the darkest, the mighty Church rises to meet the challenge, her light is a beacon  ...  every soul is looking for the light, gravitating toward the light, seeking the light.  The light represents Truth, salvation, love, safety, Spirit, comfort, peace and Joy.  Every second, with each new soul filled with the Holy Ghost and fire, the light shines brighter.

"They devoted themselves to the apostles'

teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking

of bread and to prayer."

(Acts 2:42)

      

That's how it all began in the Book of Acts when the first Church exploded with growth, and that is what is happening today!  The devil cringes when Nations join hands in Jesus Christ, when people of many different dialects ignore their languages and sing Holy, Holy, Holy as ONE, when tongues of fire sit upon each of them and they all speak in God's language, when Joy is One outburst, when Hallelujah is universal, when the shout of JESUS shakes the heavens  ...  when praying in the union of The Word, The Blood, and The Name transcends borders, kindreds and tongues.  Oh, what a Glorious Day is the shout of heaven  ...  The people of God are becoming One people, under One God, for One purpose!

"And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all

people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your old men will dream dreams, your young men

will see visions."

(Joel 2:28)

Over 580 million people worldwide have received the Holy Ghost and fire, with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance, and it is growing!  The Lord is readying His world for the Rapture of the Church, when the saved in Jesus Christ are "caught up" together with Him in the clouds and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (I Thessalonians 4:17)  It's all about eternity with Him, no more tears, no more pain, no more war, no more heartache, no more disease  ...  no more  ...

It's about the world; it's always been about every man, woman, teenager, and child on planet earth.  He is not willing that any be lost or perish, and He has done His part  ...  now it's up to us.  We go forth in the Glory and the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, undergirded with sacrificial prayer and fasting, strengthened in the power of the Holy Ghost, marching toward the rehearsal sound of the trumpet, gathering the sheaves that our tears cultivated, and the path before us is glowing brilliantly for harvest.

What is the "State of the Union?"  It's getting brighter every second and it's covering the earth  ...  The Church unified!

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

"The Lord's Prayer"

"The Lord's Prayer"

In the Book of Luke, the disciples asked the Lord, "Teach us how to pray."  The Lord answered with The prayer, which is a model prayer, and which some call a summary of the Gospel; it is the beautiful incomparable "The Lord's Prayer."

The prayer above all prayers acknowledges and draws us close to the Creator, Our Father, and describes His character: "Hallowed be thy name," which speaks of His Holiness and His sanctity.  Then, right below His deity, He refers to the Kingdom, the thing closest to His heart.  Ah, the Kingdom  ...  we still, and are, talking about it much today.  The Kingdom  ...  that realm of justice, peace, purity, holiness, health, and the place where good is rewarded and the forces of evil are punished  ...  the Kingdom; we feel the breath of it; it's so close, almost like it's just on the other side of a blowing wisp of a breezy curtain  ... the Kingdom  ...

Following "thy Kingdom come" is "thy Will be done."  This is the uppermost question of all Christians; "Lord, what is Your will?"  In all of our conquests of life, we constantly seek to do His will.  Why?  Because operating outside of God's will is a road to trouble and heartache, disappointment and confusion; we save ourselves much grief if we seek the will of God and follow it. 

"In earth as it is in heaven" is the cry of this hour in which we are living.  Dear Lord, bring Your Church to the place of Glory, power, honor, miracles, signs, and wonders  ...  "in earth as it is in heaven."  There is no pain in heaven, no war, no terror, no tears, no disease, no evil  ...  It is Spirit  ...  Pour out Your Spirit, O Lord, upon all flesh  ... in earth as it is in heaven  ...



Give us our daily bread, O Lord  ...  supply our needs, we pray, and we need the Bread of Life: You, O Lord, to lead us and guide us in all of our ways.  What will get us through life?  The Word, the Blood, and the Name!  We love and hide Your Word in our hearts that we might not sin against You; we apply the Blood of Jesus Christ to every situation, every prayer, and over our own bodies for healing and deliverance; and by the Name of Jesus Christ we are sanctified, forgiven, and we arise to newness of life.  By the Word, the Blood, and the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we rebuke, resist and cast out devils, speak to the mountains, take authority and dominion, and we are set free!  

Lord Jesus, forgive us our debts, we pray, as we forgive our debtors  ...  Forgive us  ...  Forgive us  ...  Two words that should be shouted from the housetops, from Nation to Nation, all around the world  ...  Forgive us  ...  Only when we pray and ask for forgiveness of our sins will God hear and heal our land.  The Lord comes to us immediately in our humility and pleas to be forgiven.  Then, there is the second step  ...  forgive others.  It is difficult sometimes to forgive those who hurt us, who hurt our families, and come against us in all manner of evil and destruction, but how many times are we told to forgive our brother  ...  seventy times seven  ...

O, Lord, Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil  ...  Temptation is all around us, on every corner, on website after website, TV programs and even commercials; it's everywhere; how can we escape?  We hide His Word in our hearts; we pray and seek His face; we fast and sanctify ourselves day by day; we bring our bodies, souls, minds and spirits under subjection to our holy anointed Pastors, and we submit our whole beings to the Lord Jesus Christ continually, and we pray "deliver us from evil"  ...

For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the 

Glory forever, Amen!     

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

The Power of One"

"The Power of One"

"And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two tablets of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God."

(Exodus 31:18)

"The Finger of God" is an ominous thing!  God's "One" finger wrote the Ten commandments, with flashes of lightning strokes on tables of stone, as Moses sat, in awe, staring incredulously on the misty mountain crag.  What would You do if a powerful hand, with One pointing finger, appeared in front you and began to write? 

"Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin"

In the Book of Daniel, Chapter 5, Belshazzar the king made a great feast and ordered that the holy vessels of gold and silver be brought from the temple and he and his princes, wives, and concubines drank from them praising the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood and stone.  Suddenly, a hand appeared and One finger began to write on the wall, sending spellbinding fright into all at the feast.  Daniel was brought in to interpret the writing, and his interpretation was: "God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it; Thou are weighed in the balances, and art found wanting; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians."  That very night the King, Belshazzar, was slain by the Chaldeans.  The One finger of God, writing  ...  again  ...

                                           

The Holy finger of God has written our clear instructions in the Commandments, but He's still pointing and reaching to us to respond to His call.  "What call?" you ask.  The call sent out to every Christian to be His witnesses throughout the world, to write, to speak, to "sign," to act and produce dramas, to sing, to play instruments, to teach, to preach, to take the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to every man, woman and child in earth  ...  before He comes  ...  WE are the One finger of God in the earth today.  Are we wasting "it" on electronic gadgets for our own pleasure? 

The Lord sent US a "handwriting on the wall" message through His Word; He said in the day of the coming of the Lord, it would be just like in Noah's day, we would be "treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." (2 Timothy 3:4)  You say, "I'm not those things, but I've got to make a living, and I've got troubles and problems of my own; besides, I really don't have any special talents and I can't do anything; I'm just one person."  Jesus Christ understands about your troubles; He is nigh unto those with a broken heart and such as have a contrite spirit.  But, ALL of us can give something, even if it's just a simple tract to invite someone to church while we're going through a drive-through.  You say, "They'll just throw it away."  Maybe, but perhaps another person will pick it up?  It's happened before; God's Word does not return void!

There was an old woman in the old days of the Soviet Union, who spent her days translating the Holy Bible into the Russian language.  She was paralyzed, except for one finger.  Her husband set her up, braced her with pillows, and placed her before the typewriter, where she pecked, pecked, pecked with her one finger every day bringing the Good News of the Word of God to the Russian people.  The KGB NEVER checked on her, because they didn't think she was capable of doing anything! 

                                


The One finger of God is still writing messages today in the hearts of His people.  What is He saying?  He 's saying, "YOU are valuable; YOU are worthy; YOU are important to the world; YOU have something to give that no one else has, because YOU are unique; YOU are fearfully and wonderfully made!

A man, born with no arms or legs, spends his life as a Minister and preacher going all over the world telling of his joy in the Lord!  He has a tiny little foot that protrudes from one side of his body, and he says he wouldn't know what he would do without that foot!

One finger, one foot, one voice, one "sign"  ...  it only takes One  ...  God showed us that  ...  The "Power of One" is summed up in One simple but profound statement: You just gotta' have the "want to"  ...

Nick Vujicic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaIbym0hYtY&feature=player_detailpage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJwHSGjjifg&feature=player_detailpage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=SWnmarKDftk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxjiEi2Eywk&feature=player_detailpage

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

Introducing: "THE Lion of Judah"

Introducing:  "THE Lion of Judah"

"And one of the elders said unto me, Weep not: behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll, and to loose the seven seals thereof."

(Revelation 5:5)

There is only ONE Lion of the tribe of Judah, only ONE lamb slain from the foundation of the world, only ONE King of Kings, only ONE LORD of Lords, only ONE Alpha and Omega, and His name is JESUS CHRIST!

"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you

this testimony for the churches.  I am the Root

and the Offspring of David, and the

bright Morning Star."

(Revelation 22:16)

We don't serve a "wanna' be," "should be," or "coulda' been;" we serve the Mighty and Great I AM!  Clarke's commentary explains:  "The Lion of the tribe of Juda - Jesus Christ, who sprang from this tribe, as his genealogy proves, see Matthew 1:2, Matthew 1:3, Luke 3:23 (notes).  There is an allusion here to Genesis 49:9, Judah is a lion's whelp; the lion was the emblem of this tribe, and was supposed to have been embroidered on its ensigns.  The Root of David - See Isaiah 11:1.  Christ was the root of David as to his Divine nature; he was a branch out of the stem of Jesse as to his human nature."

Jesus Christ: The Lion and The Lamb

The Lord Jesus Christ is portrayed as a Lion and a Lamb.  The Apostle John called the Lord Jesus, "The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world."  Jesus Christ was born of a virgin in a stable, and laid in an animal trough, a manger.  He lived in the little hill city of Nazareth with impoverished parents.  He came into this world "as a lamb to the slaughter."  He answered not a word to the accusations made against Him before the cross.  Why?  Because He was born to live; He lived to die; and He died to Rise!  Hallelujah!  Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God was the sacrifice for the world; He bore our sins and spilled the blood that should have been our blood, took the nails that should have nailed us, and HE paid our price. 

The lamb-like persona of the Lord Jesus Christ before and on the cross, has now become ferocious in the Book of Revelation, where He is called the Lion of Judah, because He is the ONE worthy to open the Book, the ONE who has the authority to judge the earth, because He created it.  The lion is a fearless animal and its roar makes all the beasts of the land tremble.  So it is with Jesus Christ our Lord; Joel 3:16 describes it:

"The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder

from Jerusalem; the earth and the sky will tremble."

The Holy One, the Lord Jesus Christ has a date with planet earth; He's coming again "to judge."  He, who redeemed the earth, was the only ONE worthy to open the scroll and loose the seals.

The four horses of the Apocalypse

As Jesus Christ opened the Book, the redeemed fell down before Him and began to sing.  What ensues is war, famine, pestilence and death: "judgment."  What should we do?  Make friends with the Lion   ...  while He is still a Lamb! 

Lord Jesus: SAVE ME!  Have mercy on me, Dear Lord!  I repent of all of my sins; I fall on my face before You; I'm sorry for every evil thing I have ever done; please wash me in Your blood and cleanse me of all of my sins.  Fill me with Your Spirit and I will speak in tongues as Your Spirit fills me.  I will go and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of my sins.  Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul; I will live for You all the days of my life and I will be a witness of Your mercy and grace to everyone.  Bless me, I pray, and I will bless others.  I give You my love, my life, my body, my strength, my soul and my spirit; guide me and lead me into all righteousness for Your name's sake.  Amen!

He's coming back!  Who?  The Lion and the Lamb; they are One and the same, Jesus Christ the Lord.  Before then, He'll have one more revival, one more outpouring, one more move of His signs, miracles and wonders, one more Holy fire on the altar of worship, one more beckoning to come unto Him, one more bright light of awe for the creation He loves so much.  It's time to look UP!

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

"Hands of Glory"

"Hands of Glory"

"And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders

and signs were done by the apostles."

(Acts 2:43)

Do you feel it?  "Feel what?" you ask.  The implicit difference in the atmosphere, the change in wind direction, the anticipation of glorification, a mood-lifting surge in the Spirit  ...  It's the power of "12!"  What?  Twelve is one of God's most favorite numbers, and this year will show forth His favor in a big way.  How?  By the move of the Book of Acts power in the work of God's Ministers; we're finally realizing who we are, where we're going, and what we're here to do.  It will all be manifested, transferred, and operated through the mighty hands of God's people.  But, "Anointed" hands come with a price; the cost is fasting and prayer, devotion and dedication, sitting at the feet of the Holy God when the whole world is asleep, dreaming God's dreams, seeing through God's eyes, and walkin' the walk and talkin' the talk.  The price is worth it.  There are some in earth who are highly blessed with "Hands of Glory." 

Pastor Kenneth Phillips laying hands on,

and praying for, one being baptized in

the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"We" have the authority through the Lord Jesus Christ to lay hands on people, for deliverance, for healing, for miracles, for baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, for the infilling of the Holy Ghost and fire with the evidence of speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance, for the holy operation of God's Gifts, and last but not least, for the casting out of devils and demons.  The power of the pulpit was transferred to the apostles, and they did the works of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The word "Apostle" by definition means: a prominent Christian missionary, responsible for converting people.  Hey, if we are believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, baptized in His name, filled with His Spirit, walking in repentance  ... then, WE are apostles.  And, our hands are not our own  ...

The only hands in earth today, to carry on the work of Jesus Christ, are yours and mine.  We are sent forth as sheep among wolves to "lay hands" on the hurting and searching, dying and bound, diseased and fearful, surrendered and repentant.  And with our hands, we place "them" in the hands of Jesus Christ.  We, who are Christians, have a mandate to be God's witnesses from Nation to Nation, Sea to Sea, until the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ covers the earth like a crimson blanket of heaven-sent redemption.  It's up to you and me; there will be no more splintered crosses; One Savior died and rose again; and only One Savior is coming back  ...  It Is Finished, for Part 1; we are in Part II and it is now the gathering of the wedding participants, clothing the Bride, and filling up the Hope Chest.  There's gonna' be a Marriage Supper of the Lamb, ya'll, and the table's not near full yet  ...

Barnes' Notes says it much better than I ever could:

"And fear came - That is, there was great reverance or

awe.  The multitude had just before derided them (the 

apostles in Acts 2:13) but so striking and manifest was

the power of God on this occasion, that it silenced all

clamors, and produced a general veneration and awe.  

The effect of a great work of God's grace is commonly

to produce an unusual seriousness and solemnity in a 

community, even among those who are not converted.  

It restrains, subdues, and silences opposition."

  

Now "That" is what WE want to do: "awe" them.  "Them who?" you ask.  The doubters and mockers of the power of the Lord Jesus Christ manifested in the earth today.  The Lord said there would be some  ...  mockers in the last days saying, "Where is the sign of His coming?"  I heard News commentators on TV saying just those words recently.  It sent a chill down my spine; the gentleman was laughing as he actually said those very words.  

This is not a boastful thing for us, as Christians, to flaunt the power of God, but We are humbled to even think that the God of the universe would use us to do miracles, signs and wonders in His stead.  We rejoice and bow at the mighty hand of God flowing through our hands.  Because, we are but dust  ...

There is no thrill greater than seeing a hurting and hopeless soul filled with the Holy Ghost and fire, speaking in a language never learned as the Spirit gives utterance, raised to newness of life, walking in the light of His glory and love, living with new purpose and joy, basking in the holiness of the God who created him/her, and smiling with the hope that only comes from the heavenly Eden.  It's joy unspeakable and full of glory!

And, it all started with "those hands."  The hands sent from God, the hands of anointed blessing and power, hands that should be insured except the value is beyond measure, the hands that replace death with life  ...  Hands in service of the King  ...  Hands that pull mankind out of the mire and set him on streets of gold  ...  Hands commissioned to grab other hands  ...

Have you ever had "anointed" hands of God laid upon you?  It's an experience beyond earth; sometimes when my Pastor, Kenneth Phillips, laid hands on me, it was so powerful that I staggered backward and tongues of fire poured from me like an erupting volcano; many are slain in the Spirit - meaning they sort of faint but are still awake in a spiritual realm.  These are not "odd" things if you consider that this is the "POWER" of Almighty God.  And, it takes that kind of power to deliver, heal, cast out, and change  ...

Where would we be without the Spirit, grace, love, and peace of our Creator transferred to us by "anointed" hands?  And, just any old hands won't do  ...  No, no, it has to be "anointed" hands, consecrated hands, holy hands, hands that are accustomed to the power of God, hands laid on the altar as a sacrifice to the God who created them, hands that when you are touched by them  ... you know, that you know, you've been touched; they are hands that send you out different than when you came, hands so powerful that your body responds with healing, hands that are the question AND the answer  ...  They are: "Hands of Glory."

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

       

"The Twelve"

"The Twelve"

"And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted.  And they came to Him.  Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons."

(Mark 3:13-15)

This was a critical time in Jesus' ministry, and He did what every strong powerful leader must do  ...  He delegated.  Jesus was in a precarious situation; He came against the long held religious traditions, and the religious leadership of that day were plotting to destroy Him, along with the political leadership.  The enormous crowds that followed Him were not particularly interested in spiritual things, so they could be easily turned against Him.  So, the Holy God of all creation spent all night in prayer, (Luke 6:12), the procedure required for anyone who has big decisions to make, and then He selected "The Twelve."

In the three years of the ministry of Jesus Christ, prior to the cross, nothing was more important than choosing His twelve.  The world would never be the same because of these twelve.  They did not choose Him; He chose them.  Why twelve?  This was the foundation of His chosen people, twelve tribes of Israel made up the Hebrew nation; and the twelve apostles laid the foundation of the Church.  The disciples had three main assignments: To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, to heal the sick and cast out devils, and to wage war with satan and destroy his kingdom and influence.  These men were so valuable to the Lord Jesus Christ that the twelve foundations of God's Holy City are named after them.  

Almighty God gives significance to numbers.  Besides the biblical importance, there are twelve divisions to the sky and an octave of piano notes has 7 white keys and twelve notes total; numbers to God have meaning in all of creation.  God does not use numbers and number patterns haphazardly.  For instance, in the Book of Revelation, He said seven times "let him that has ears to hear, hear what the spirit says to the churches."  In the Bible, twelve women have seven associated with their lives; twelve men are mentioned in groups of twelve; twelve time periods are mentioned for forty days, and there were twelve periods of forty years.

As noted in philologos.org, "Zola Levitt has a video and a book on the Feast cycle mirroring the development of the child in the womb.  Right to Life describes the womb as a sanctuary.  Perhaps an interpretation of the symbolism surrounding the Tabernacle and its function and this number pattern in Scriptures is that they symbolize and parallel reproduction as we know it in the physical world."

Further this study states, "We also see the Bride adorned with twelve stars, the New Jerusalem with 12 Gates, 12 Angels, 12 tribes, 12,000 of each tribe, 12 foundations, 12 apostles, 12 pearls, 12 stones, 12,000 furlongs on 3 dimensions, 12 fruits of the tree of life, 144 cubits the measure of the wall--12 things in all marking again the female, the Bride.  No restraint of a number pattern here--by now, we should understand God's number language... There is no mixing of the use of 7 or 12.  In other words, all things associated with the Bride, the New Jerusalem, are by 12's--she's all girl.  The Bridegroom likewise is surrounded with 7's--all boy.  Our couple is in full maturity.  This is a wedding!  At times, when I see in Scriptures an abundance of 7, 12, or 40's, I see creation, procreation, renewal, redemption and life.  God has adorned His message with a sprinkling of numbers."

You say, "What does all this have to do with me, my rent, grocery bill, and day to day life?"  Everything!  Understanding God's Word, His reason for doing things, His patterns of numbers, and His repetitive use of certain numbers, tells us more about Him, us, and the universe.  "So?" you say.  So, "wisdom" is something only God has, and we are admonished to sincerely seek His wisdom, knowledge and understanding.  Why?  He said in His Word that it is His desire that we prosper and be in health even as our souls prosper.  Therefore, wisdom and knowledge could help us prosper  ...  not to heap it upon ourselves, but to further the Kingdom of God.  

The Lord Jesus Christ chose twelve and they turned the world upside down.  He is still choosing twelve today, and the world is still His realm of every thought.  He is not willing that any should be lost or perish; His powerful number pattern still illuminates the order of the last days; and His use of mathematical reasoning is ever present in Churches today, who understand a methodical God.  The Creator operates with a form of "new math" such as the world knows not of; those who seek to understand Him are privy to His secrets.  

      

The Lord anointed His twelve for the greatest endeavor ever propagated in the history of the world.  Imagine that?  Just twelve everyday normal men, covered by the hands of Glory, taught by the King of Kings, sent out by the omnipotent One who said, "Where were you when I formed the foundation of the world?"  And, the twelve live on in our Home away from home, basking in the light of the One who sits on the throne  ...  The Maker of twelve  ...

We have arrived again at God's significant number: "12."  This year looms with an aura of destiny, arises with an excited anticipated power, and there's an awesome stillness of prophetic insight blowing through breezes of expected Glory  ...  It has climbed the craggy mountain again, and stares down at earth's inhabitants like a settled knowing Eagle, ready to pump its gigantic wingspread and fly to every nation, kindred and tongue.  You say, "What in the world are you talking about?"  I'm talking about  ...  "The Twelve."

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

See "The Truth of Twelve" @promiselandchurch.net.