A Season of Breaking and Reshaping

A Season of Breaking and Reshaping   (Rough draft)
We must have an understanding of the times we are in and what we should do.
We need the wisdom of God and His direction for us.
 
Paul was writing to the church at a special time which was like the time we are in now.
As proverbs 3 says, “TRUST IN THE LORD” with all your heart…
 
We must have the ability and willingness to hear what the Lord is saying.  We must be able and willing to hear, discern and follow the voice of the Lord!
 
My sheep hear my voice.
This is a season of shaking and breaking.  It is also a season of reshaping and remaking.
The potter can reshape the vessel he makes for whatever reason he desires.
 
He is reshaping  the people of God as instruments of His glory.
Not to the point of being destroyed but breaking of the familiar things to in order to be remolded.
We must learn to count it all joy!
(James 1:1-3)  1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally…a double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
4 necessary attributes
In the first 8 verses of James, we find
praise/ rejoicing, patience, wisdom and, faith  
to be necessary in dealing with the scattering, uncertainty and temptations we will face.
This was a time of great persecution against the saints to light Rome.
Nero, emperor of Rome in 70 AD, had the temple destroyed for his own reasons.
Christians were blamed for these fires, and many were martyred.  They were used to make great displays and entertainment as they were wrapped in sheepskins,  lit  with fire and used as living torches to light up Rome.
 
Jesus himself foretold of persecution.
(Mattew 10:22) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
 
(1 John 3:13) 13Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
 
And Paul later (I Peter 4:12,13) 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
John 15:25 25But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
James the apostle over the Jerusalem church remained in Jerusalem as the saints were scattered.
 
Jesus had instructed the saints to remain in Jerusalem until filled with the Spirit.
Jesus’ instructions are found in (Acts 1:8). But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. ”
 He said it would not be their own might or power but by the power of the Holy Spirit that they would succeed.  Paul said, “Put on the whole armor of God”  to be ale to stand in the evil day. (Ephesians 6:11)  Jesus had said, “You will receive power” to be witnesses of who He is.
Commissioned by God to Go into all the world,
(Matt 28:18) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
These signs will follow you.
(Mark 16:17-18    And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
 
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They saw miracles among themselves but there was no outreach to the lost and had become complacent that God allowed the persecution to come.  They were glamorous with manifestations of the spirit and the glory of God in their midst, but were not following the commission to go forth and be a light in the world.  Many have become more like the world than like Christ.  The church had become more earthly minded than heavenly minded and had not followed through with the command to be a light and reach the lost.  God is not willing that any should perish.
 
 
So the lord allowed persecution then with some scattering and is allowing some in these last few years a wake-up call to remind us to go and to be about what God has given us to do. He has given each of us a calling and responsibility and many have been sitting on their callings and not moving forward to fulfill the calling that God has on their lives.
Many have been given gifts and ministry callings to advance the kingdom of God.
 
Persecution and scattering came through the Romans and through Saul of Tarsus.
James wrote this letter to the saints that were scattered abroad to prepare them for what was to come.
The first command necessary in verse 2 of James, “count it all joy” when you fall into divers trmpttioins.!
 
REJOICE – don’t let the devil steal your joy.  Don’t lose your strength!
There is a great falling away from trusting the written word of God.  Because of many philosophies/world mindsets and mixtures with other religions, men fall away from Jesus being the only way. 
Praise is a weapon
The devil wants to steal your joy, your praise..    Rejoice, sing, speak the word of God  and declare His goodness at all times.
(Psalm 34:1)His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  Where the spirit of the lord is there is liberty.  Let God arise and the enemy will be scattered. 
(Psalm 22:3)
Let His glory inhabit your atmosphere.  The Lord inhabits the praises of his people.
 
Praise scatters the enemy
(Exodus 17:11)  Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands during Joshua’s battle against Amalek.  I believe the lifting of his hands represented praise.
Joy is your steadfast confidence in God.
 
Habakkuk said it this way,  though there be no cattle in the stall…, “yet will I praise Him.”  We know that the enemy will be scattered and it will give us strength, knowing that in due time God will give us victory. 
In the battle of Jehoshaphat, the prophet told him to “send Judah first”.
send up praises first.
The devil wants to shut your mouth and steel your praise.
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You must lift your voice like a trumpet and declare the victory in the midst of pain and in the midst of confusion.
When the enemy comes in, like a flood the spirit of the lord raises up a standard against him.
Send up a flood of praise!
Don’t lose your confidence in God’s faithfulness.
Think it not strange.  Praise the lord at all times.
knowing this.. the trying of our faith worketh patience.
By trials and hardships patience is developed in you.
 
 
(Psalm 34:19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. 
Endure, run the race with patience
(2 Timothy 2:3)  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
the race is not to the swift or to the strong. Endure hardness as a good soldier.
 
(Hebrews 10:35)  cast not away your confidence
He will provide, meet all your need.  You have need of patience.
(Galatians 6) - don’t be weary in well doing.
(Luke 18:1-8) Men ought always pray and not faint.
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Have steadfast confidence in His faithfulness.
perfect and entire, wanting nothing
 
(Romans 5:2)
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad
in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
 
He will deliver you today and tomorrow
we have access by faith into His glory and we rejoice knowing that He is coming again to receive us unto himself
 
(Romans 8:18) The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us.
(1 Corinthians 2:9 ) eye has not seen nor ear hear the things he has prepared for us
 
In Romans 5:3 Paul said we rejoice in tribulation also, knowing that tribulation works in us.
He speaks of a far greater weight of glory, greater understanding of God’s power.   works for our good.
 
Without a trial, there is no testimony!
testimony of God’s healing, breakthrough helps you encourage others and comfort them with the comfort you received from the lord.  Not only did God bring me through then but he will do it again. 
Hope makes not ashamed.
 
Wisdom is the 2nd necessity
Wisdom is for revelation and understanding what the will of the lord is, if any lack wisdom
James 1:5 KJV: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
 
“God is leading us on, He is showing us the way, a way we have never known before…” (song)
 
He said we would hear a voice behind us saying this is the way, walk ye in it.
 
(Proverbs 3:5-9) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
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There is a way that seemeth right to a man…
Be so in tune and careful to always be led by the spirit.
remember Proverbs 3  trust in the Lord e own understanding.
Ask of God.  Don’t seek man’s wisdom.
 
(Psalm 1 ) Don’t rely on the counsel of the ungodly.
Let God be true and every mana liar.  If you need wisdom, ask God!
Ask,  Seek and Knock
the only way to receive the wisdom of
God is to read the word and be in the presence of God.
 
 
 
3rd necessity- Prayer
Stay in the presence of God.  Pray in the Holy Ghost.
We know not what to pray as we ought but the spirit helps our infirmities..  He will cause us to pray according to the will of God.
Sometimes we don’t understand the enemy’s strategies and weapons.
Pray in the Holy Ghost and your spirit will be edified.
 
The mind is unfruitful as you pray in the Holy Ghost, but the Spirit prays mysteries to God and His spirit will begin to speak to you and remind you of the word, give you visions, dreams etc. 
Be led by the spirit, every word of God in the spirit
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Comparing Spirit with spirit Wisdom that comes from God…is pure peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, without partiality
The Holy Ghost teaches this wisdom.
4th , Faith is necessary!  You cannot be doubled minded.
Be stead and unshakeable, unmoveable.
Ask in faith, nothing wavering. not based on your intellect and the things of this world. 
EPHESIANS,
Winds of doctrine, cunning craftiness abound. Be totally submitted to the authority of God’s word.  Faith believes I have received what I cannot see.
Faith is a steadfast confidence in the faithfulness of God.
Hebrews 11-  faith is evidence
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 
If we come to hm for his wisdom, we must believe that He is what He is.
Believe that he is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent/all powerful and a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Believe that you can call those things that be not
 
The worlds were framed by His word.  In the midst of darkness, declare that there is going to be light.  in pain declare that by His stripes I am healed…
Frame your world, speak life, declare His promises in the midst of darkness, In the midst of chaos declare  I have the peace of God.  I have the spirit of peace, I have the power of a sound mind, I have no fear, all my fear is a reverence unto God.  I fear the Lord and Him only will I serve.  We have t live by faith!  Without it you can’t even please God.  the just shall live by faith.
 
He is the God of peace, keep your mind stayed on Him.
Have no fear!
Declare this in time of trouble;  Him only will I serve
The just shall live by faith.
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His word cannot fail
If God is God, serve Him!
We cannot be lukewarm in this situation.
cannot be doubleminded – let not that man think he shall receive anything from the Lord.
This is a time of reshaping
He is the potter, and we are the clay.
This is the season of preparation for destination
We see great outpourings in this day
Signs and wonders in the sky, meteors, etc.
We are seeing more volcanoes, smoke, earthquakes, increasing as the day approaches and we will see  a greater glory on god’s people.
 
There is a remnant, scattered
Acts 8  promotion to God’s people
When persecution came, Philip advanced to deacon and then to evangelist
 
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God has a great work for you, a calling on your life.
Move forward in the greater works God has for your life.
Philip was an example of a man who got forced out of his comfort zone.
Acts 8:3  Saul on a rampage goes from house to house imprisoning the saints of God, had Stephen killed.
 
We have been under a special grace in America.  The covering over America is being lifted. Canada and other countries have already begun to feel an increase in persecution.
The world is developing a mindset of government controlled and ready for the mark of the beast. We are doming to the close of this age and there will be greater persecution. Mass media will not publicize this.
Many are being martyred and losing their lives for Christ.
things against God.  things not publicized by the media.
And Saul was consenting unto his d And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.eath
 
And at that time there was geat persecution dagainst the church which was at Jeusalem, and they were all scattered abroad throughout regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles
Acts 8:6 therefore they that were scattered abroad, went everywhere preaching the word
word.  people with one accord gave heed to the things they peached.
verse 2  hearing and seeing the miracles which he did
unclean spirits come out…great joy in that city!
He is reminding us today. “Don’t lose your praise”,
We belong to Him and we are the temple of the Holy Ghost.
endure hardness, seek wisdom, walk by faith
We are bought with a price.   He equips us to glorify him.
 
Stand fast, rejoice, be patient and steadfast!