Miracles Witnessed Part 3 Touching on Visions.

Joel 2:28

King James Version (KJV)

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Everyone touches on this Scripture by starting with "the Bible is complete and nothing can be added to it". Some suggest that there is no reason for "dreams and visions" today. Yes nothing can be added to the Scriptures but yes there still are dreams and visions and they function very well in the church today. In fact they are necessary, even crucial for exposing sin, function, exhortation, prophesy, and personal encouragement.

Here is my experience with dreams and visions an incomplete representation:

Second vision after conversion:
I had only been saved for half a dozen months and was hungering and thirsting after real meat and real drink. I had dedicated many hours a day to prayer and reading the NT every morning early before sun rise. The Word consumed me and I felt pressed to feed upon it and wait upon His Revelation Daily for "things convenient for that day". I never wanted to know anything before His time and where I got that idea from certainly wasn't man. I believe that then and now I only need "wisdom convenient for this day". When I read Scripture I would first pray "Lord give me wisdom convenient for this day. For we cannot change the past, and the future never comes, because when the tomorrow arrives it is called today. So wisdom and grace for today will be sufficient." I was in a "feeding frenzy."

Having covered the NT about 22 times in the first 6 month's, (I never was led to read anything else at that time), my love for Christ, His sacrifice and finished work, and His word drove me to prayer with a broken spirit and wanting more from my Father in Heaven. Many times I asked for Him to glorify His name and manifest Himself as I sought His face in prayer with weeping. This brought about my second vision and it may not be the way everyone would expect.

I was not at home in prayer early in the morning as was my habit then. In fact I was at work in a small stainless steel tubing plant in South Lyon, Mi. It was warm and sunny so the whole crew (7 people) decided to eat lunch outside. As I went to sit with one of two groups, (labors, bricklayers), both invited me to join them. As I approached the bricklayers the Holy Spirit called me to spend time with Him. He then led me "away's off" to a small stack of pallets which were used to bring in materials for the job. I took out my small NT and began to read when I was overcome with desire to worship. I cried out to God that I might be able to express my love for Him in a more passionate and complete manner.  As I worshiped God I fell into a trance and the heavens were opened. I saw a hand coming down with a very large book in it opened to a very fancy and scrolled page, book marked with a gold ribbon. All the writing was bordered by gold filigree and the sight of the book was awe inspiring. A voice said "read". I knew in my spirit that as soon as I would reach the last verse that the book would be taken from me. So I started to read and it was an answer to the prayer I just prayed about expressing my Love for God in a more passionate way. As the last verse approached I would start all over again at the top and done thus 3 more times before I read the last verse. By this time I was weeping. I read the last verse and the book was taken and I was back to sitting on the pallets astonished at what was just done.

I did not know where what I read had come from in the Scriptures and I had not taken it to memory in the reading of it. I just know that it touched my heart with incredible impact and joy. Months later I was heading up a Bible study in the Nazarene Church being led by the Spirit for it's content which changed each week. Sometimes prayer, sometimes preaching, sometimes just reading Scripture as the Spirit led.

This day the Holy Spirit (while in prayer before the class started) told me to just open my Bible when the class started and read the Scripture before me. I was obedient to the request not opening the Bible before the start of the class. When all were there and we started with prayer requests, prayer, then worship with thanksgiving I announced that we would be reading from the Scriptures as God would lead. I opened the Bible and proceeded to read the first Scripture that was opened to. Psalms 64 came up so I started to read it aloud. After I read the first several verses the Holy Spirit took me back the the pallet vision and I realized that this is what was "written in the book" that I was handed. I couldn't help but weep as I read the Psalm for the second time and gained a double blessing from God. I explained to the class what was happening (they were wondering about the weeping) and we all praised God for His divinely touching the lives of man. Miracles followed in that class of believers and many were baptized in the Holy Spirit, some were healed, causing all to be moved to deeper relationship in Christ, and (I must say sadly), headed us to being asked to leave the church because we were practicing things that were not in their "Book of Doctrine".

First vision after conversion, prophetic:

I was sitting one Sunday in the worship service at the same church mentioned above when during the preaching I was entranced and given a vision. Here is what it was:

There was a field (background) of sky blue. After a while a single shaft of wheat appeared, gold and full of grain, mature. In a short time the head of a lion appeared behind it and the shaft of wheat was in the middle of the lions face before it. The lion looked me directly in the eyes and never broke his stare. In a few moments, while still looking at me, he rotated his head so he could bite off the shaft and did so while still staring at me. He rotated his head back to upright and stared for a moment then all disappeared.

After the service I approached the pastor (new to the church but warned that I  could be a problem), and asked if I could share what had happened in the service. He said yes so I told him about the vision and the details. His Youth Pastor (second in command there), was present also. After the presentation the pastor twisted up his face and said (disbelievingly but wanting to humor me), I wonder what that could mean. Until he asked I had no idea of the interpretation, but as soon as he asked God gave it to me. I said that the shaft of wheat was a mature Christian, perhaps a leader, that Satan was going to snatch away from the flock. The pastor immediately got nervous and excused himself saying "I don't know anyone like that."

Story wrapped up short version:

Months down the road he was found having an affair with my friends wife both divorcing their spouses and marrying each other. My friend and his wife went to that church too. Not to mention that I had told my friend a prophesy about his wife's affair with the pastor which upon arriving home she denied but later followed through with the divorce.

Dreams and visions are needed for today in the church, in fact they are necessary, even crucial for exposing sin, function, exhortation, prophesy, and personal encouragement.

God will meet all your needs in according with His purpose through Christ Jesus.

Have faith. Ask, seek, knock with all your heart then let God reveal Himself to you in His way and time.

God Bless and Keep
Love in Christ
J&E in Tn

Miracles Witnessed Part 2: Healing

Greetings in Jesus name....

If you follow the postings in order there will be no need for more background on each post. 

I am continuing with Biblical manifestations of God that have been evident in our lives, some include my wife and some of my own at work or in hospitals. As previously stated every Christian should receive "power from on high" if he tarry before God believing in His promises in Scripture and "seeking Him with all his heart." These gifts, commands, promises, and calling and elections are sure and literally "all" Christians (true believers in Christ) will experience them. If one is a true believer and has not then it is his or her fault based on lack of faith, lack of meat teaching, fear and pride, or not believing the Holy Scriptures (which is then "believing a lie and not holding to truth the Word of God). You can be saved believing in the finished work of Christ for salvation, but be of no consequence of God for the promotion of His glory. Jesus saved you to "do His mighty works" through you for the Fathers glory not to just "pack a pew."

I can promise you this: When we make it to the promised land, (we all believe and want that), we will stand before Him in all His glory and say "if I would of only known you were like this I could  have believed and would have done anything for you." I know because I was already there and said the same thing. More on that in another post. Just know that if all you want from the Christian experience is to pray and play than that is what you will get. If you want "everything" in Scripture to be added to your Christian walk as shown in the Word then just ask, seek and knock, waiting patiently on the Lord and He will direct thy paths. All His promises are sure, and "yes" to all those who long for His glory to encompass the earth.

That brings me to my next addition for miracles God has preformed in my life. Not that these are in order but one which includes great healing given "according to His will."

Remember the foreman in the 1st post? Well guess who is up next. A bit of background on him, not to judge, but just where he was at when he received his miracle. He was an obsessive man when it came to life not resisting moral sin, using hard drugs, excessive drinking and carousing, but at the same time demanding discipline and consistency from others. Still over the years we spent a lot of time together on jobs and had become great friends as he had a desire to here the Word and was amazed at my ready discussions about faith in Christ. We were working at a small electric plant relining a scrubber stack working 7 days a week 12 hours a day. He was the  general foreman and I was one of the crew of bricklayers and laborers inside this 365' stack doing the reline. The job was going 2 shifts of equal crews and after a good run we were wrapping up on the last day.

I left the job at around 6:15 pm for the long drive home, about 2 hours. He was to be on my heels behind me but had to brief the night shift about cleaning up the job and loading out the trucks. At about 1 am I received a call from his wife, (who was also a good friend of Elise and myself, having hope for good influence on her husband), that he wasn't home yet and wondered if I knew why? Both of us thought that he may have disappeared into the ghetto again for a wild run of drugs for a while. Not so as we found out several hours later with a call from the police that he had been in an accident. 

Rebuilding the story it went like this. He left work after doing a rather heavy dose of drugs and as per usual he thought he could make it home under the influence. Driving down the road (secondary hwy) he thought that he was coming up on a commercial truck that was going down the road also. When he realized the truck wasn't moving it was to late. Not wearing a seat belt he hit the truck at about 70 mph and came to an immediate stop with his chest hitting the steering wheel and blowing our the ventricle on the heart that feeds the brain. The truck driver was sleeping in the cab and somehow the authorities were notified. By the time the ambulance arrived he was in bad shape but still alive. It took the rescue people 1.5 hours to get him to the hospital where he was prepped for surgery. I don't know all of what they did but they said that he was without blood moving to the brain for over an hour and a half. Bad news for any prognoses.

His wife called me and told me the situation to have me and Elise pray and so we did, I stating that if it looks bad (they weren't allowing any visitors) that I would come down and lay hand on him and anoint him with oil. They were Methodist and though encouraged over the years of things that I have told them about Christ and the power in His name, they weren't convinced that they weren't just imaginations. Well the rubber was on the road now and there aren't any atheists in a foxhole. This was that foxhole. Keeping in touch about his condition daily things seemed to be progressing, he was holding his own and moved out of intensive care. Several days after the accident I received a phone call that she feared for his life and wanted me to come down to pray for him verbalizing that there would be obstacles in the way before that could be done. That obstacle was his high ranking military Dad. Hard nose everything including Catholic. My friend had been given the last rights and according to his Dad, "why would he need any more than that, and who the heck are you anyways? Do you think you are better than a priest?" The Holy Spirit gave me words to speak that touched his heart and he finally allowed me to enter his room. When his wife walked me in he was in a wheelchair, strapped in (so as not to fall out), drooling and without any motor skills but breathing. The blood that was cut off to his brain had left him in a vegetative state and by report he was blind, dumb, deaf, unable to move any limb, head hanging down, drooling, unable to swallow on his own, and would be confined to that wheel chair until his body gave out. This was the state that he was in, without hope, and on the fast track to decline. Another elder from the church was with me and he stood behind the man with me standing in front. I anointed his head with oil and as the Spirit led "reintroduced" him to Christ. After the reintroduction we prayed in Jesus name. He immediately straightened up and spoke recognizing me immediately asking "what was I doing there and where was he?" He had his sight, sound, speech, restored along with limb movement and complete cognition to the family around him. His wife was weeping, nurses where astonished, his Dad was taken back, and all others who knew his state were in unbelief. His original prognosis was a slow cruel death as a vegetable. 

A time later he was released to go home and I had the chance to visit with him on many occasions. During those occasions he described to me the moments before the accident and how the first thing he seen after was as he put it "my smiling face saying in Jesus name, in Jesus name."

 Of all the healing he received one thing that God didn't heal to keep his focus on the Divine and that was his leg that had been crushed in the accident. It had many pins in it and allowed us much time to visit at his house and talk about the goodness of God.

The story doesn't have the ending you would expect till the end of his life was reached. He continued weakly down the wrong path after rehab with many "things" happening to him to bring him back to Christ, but thankfully before he passed he met Christ and now knows the story as already told. 

Brothers and Sisters "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the good things that God has for those who love Him. 1 Cor 2:9. All things are possible with God. Pray fervently believing and God will glorify His name for all the world to see, and you will be partaker of this divine inheritance.

God Bless and Keep in Jesus name, strengthening you, empowering you, and making you bold for His names sake, in Jesus name..............

Love in Christ
J&E

Miracles Witnessed Part 1: Healing

At times I will post a personal experience of Faith. I do not mean for these to be any more than a witness bearing out the fact that God's Word is true from everlasting to everlasting, and that miracles still happen according to the promises in Scripture. It is in no wise posted to "compare ourselves among ourselves" thereby being not wise. Another reason for posting these incidences is to encourage every believer that reads this that these promises are for you and all who "call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." 

Jesus said:

 Mark 16: 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They 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. 

John 14: 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

1 Corinthians 12: ⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,^[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.^[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

These scriptures are the guaranty that God has promised to be active in our lives as we believe in Him, have faith in His promises, and ask in Jesus name. Notice how that none of the gifts are  within man's reach in the natural sense. All of the "manifestations of the Holy Spirit" are impossibilities within our own abilities. This is so that God may be Glorified and that those used of God might be humbled. Anything that God does through man always humbles never puffs up. The one sure sign of the Holy Spirit is working in us is the profound feeling of humility that comes with the manifestation/use of God. The key to "being used of God" is a seeking heart, faith, and compassion towards others. We must realize that whatever God is doing "through" us He is doing "towards" meeting a need that will bring the observer closer to Himself. That observer could be ourselves or others.

A tongue in a private prayer time where one's prayer is both "in the Spirit" and of the mind edifies the believer. 1 Cor 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.15. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 

But then when a believer prays corporately in a tongue others hear the manifestation and, if interpreted, would also be edified. A lot can be said more about tongues and its use but this will suffice for an explanation now.

Of course all the gifts listed in the Scriptures are used in the same way by God. He manifests Himself and encourages others through them. Tongues may be the biggest one seen in churches today but the other gifts that "seem more impossible" have a smaller part in today's manifestation of the Spirit. Why don't we see them? Why only tongues and the now and then manifestation of prophesy? Because those can be the most influenced by man. "The prophesy is subject to the prophet." I think that, not in all cases, tongues and prophesy (and I have served as a prophet since I was saved and filled with the Holy Spirit) are the most influenced by pride or a personal show of "spirituality". Remember that the gifts are supposed to manifest God, to the one being used, and those around them receiving or witnessing them. That is why healing, miraculous signs and wonders, raising the dead, multiplication of needs, and casting out demons are seldom seen any more in the body of Christ (at least in Western Christianity) because they are "uncontrollable" and without the influence of man. Let me interject here that the manifestations above mentioned are present in the Body of Christ but not with the abundance shown in the book of Acts or in the Gospels with Jesus. Not according to "as every man receives". No they are not the norm in every "believing" church and that because of lack of faith or "real meat" teaching. Most pastors would feel displaced if they had "Holy Spirit" empowered people in their congregations doing the work of "their Father in Heaven". No slight intended just truth.

In my walk with Christ so far I have seen all the spiritual gifts made manifest by the hand of God and because I believed in the Word and Commands of God my children also witnessed the same manifestations. The Holy Spirit has graced our house with many healing's, signs and wonders, multiplication of food, money, jobs, (I was a bricklayer, seasonal work in Michigan),  then at work/hospitals: site given to the blind, dumb talking, deaf hearing, the power of coma's broken, prophesy given both written and spoken and the list goes on. God never changes and He built His Church on the promises of Scripture and they still hold true for today for those who will believe and "hear His voice."

The working of miracles always incorporates the use of Faith. "With out faith it is impossible to please God", and "it is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things unseen". When one walks by faith he sees the need, has and shows compassion on the needy, then "sees the Father's work" and acts upon it, "knowing that God is a rewarder of those that seek Him diligently". Christians should always be compassionate people, willing to step in and let God change the circumstances according to His will. Willing to step in is where most Christians fail. As many Christians as there are in the world you would think that it would be turned upside down right now by the hand of God. The Apostles, used of God, did so in not much time through the Book of Acts. Why don't we? Because we are scared, prideful and don't understand the will of God. We think: Oh we will be embarrassed if nothing happens! Is the power in your hands to do these things? Then: "ye of little faith" will fail because there is no power natural in man to accomplish the "will of the Father". Only those "led by the Spirit" will do the will of the Father, those who obey His commands and seek His face will "hear the we small voice". Knowing His will, hearing His voice, obeying His commands, and exhibiting compassion is all we need to move out and do His work. 

In some cases I have been told of the Lord to pray for someone for healing. At other times I was "moved with compassion" and stepped out in faith, laid on hands, prayed, and "let God". Many of these times were with miraculous results, and many times I wasn't even there to see the miracle happen because it wasn't manifest when I left. That is why faith is so important. Listen to me Children of God..........By faith we do not have to see the results of every prayer offered every time we lay on hands. That's what faith is: "the evidence of things hoped for the substance of things unseen". You might walk away and the person prayed for might have to confront God for the healing. Maybe get right with God on a matter of sin. Only God knows so put it in His hands and let Him work "according to His will."

Here is an example:
I was going to a Nazarene church after that I was saved. My conversion to Christianity was almost a Damascus road experience. Having been filled with the Spirit, (at that time with out the evidence of speaking with tongues), God first taught me to pray and then gave me compassion.  I was sitting in a Wednesday night service and the Lord spoke to me about laying hands on an elderly woman who, along with her husband, were charter members in the church. She played the organ and he sang in the choir. She had just had a full hysterectomy and was in great pain. She asked to be kept in prayer for the pain and a quick recovery. During the service the Lord spoke to me and said: "Go lay hands on her and pray so I can heal her." I answered Him back and said: "Lord this is a Nazarene church they don't believe in healing or any gifts". He said "Go and pray for her as I will heal her". This conversation went back and forth for some time me foolishly arguing with the Lord and Him putting up with me. After half an hour he gave me the missing motivator "compassion", then I saw her pain as if I was experiencing it myself and moved into action. At the end of every Nazarene service there was an alter call. She was at the alter so I mustered up the confidence to "no matter what" obey Christ. I walked up the isle and knelt next to her. After a moment or two I said I would like to pray with her. She said ok except she didn't understand that I wanted to lay hands on her, anoint her with oil and pray for healing in Jesus name. Once that was out in the open her heart hardened. No way. That doesn't work and we DON"T BELIEVE  IN THAT here. I told her that the Lord told me to do so and at the same time prayed "Lord you have to open her heart". He did and she finally allowed it. Having prayed there was no immediate results and by faith I left her none the better for all the struggles it took to happen. As I walked away I prayed Lord if you don't touch her I will have much trouble from her on Sunday.
Well Sunday came and the first thing I seen when I entered the church was this woman streaking toward me with this (anticipated) aggravated scowl on her face. Then she lit into me with "I was never in so much pain in my life Thursday, Friday, and Saturday"!!!! She said all of a sudden it came to mind that she had to believe in her healing to receive it. Must have been the Lord speaking to her so she did the right thing and knelt down to pray with weeping because of her hard heart. Healing was immediate and complete. Pain gone. Then a big smile came over her face and she thanked me for having compassion and praying with her.

Here is an example of so many things having to do with faith and obedience on both the side of the receiver and the minister. Now this was about healing with a church member someone who knows Christ. Lets look at another one with a non believer.

By the time this healing happened I had grown in grace and faith for a few years not withstanding that during this growth period many manifestations had happened.
I was working with a small Coke Battery maintenance crew on Zug Island, Delray, Michigan. The company we were working for was at best austere and cruel. The job was hot and the safety equipment at best meager. The foreman's were at best yes men and belligerent. Working was dangerous and we had to be ready to work in between pushing coke. One of the employees on the crew was at best an immoral drug user who had no qualms of making mock of me, God or anything of faith. He came in that day with his middle finger twisted out of joint and at a 90 degree angle to his hand running sideways along his other fingers towards his thumb. His hand was huge and the pain was intense. He showed it to the boss and he said that he had to work anyway or we would be short on the crew. He added that if he couldn't do his job he would be fired, a bad situation for a drug user. As the four of us stood around waiting to hit it and get it I suddenly felt compassion for this man and without word or guaranty from the Lord I offered to pray for his hand. It went like this: "you have mocked Christ with both your living and your words even while having been exposed to the Gospel by myself and others. Now Christ will heal your hand as a manifestation of His love to you, then a decision must be made as to "what will you do with Jesus?" He said he would do anything to have his hand made whole. So as 3 of the other crew members stood and watched, I anointed his hand with oil and commanded healing in the name of Jesus. We all watched as his finger went back in place, (no one touching it) and the swelling went down and he was made whole. No one there was a believer but me but all were saying (quite naturally) praise the Lord and thank you Jesus. He began to jump around praising God and laughing. He showed the foreman who had seen his hand previously and his response was: "get back to work". A prophesy followed for the young man that was healed saying that if he didn't embrace the Gospel of Christ many bad things would follow. Many years later we worked together again on another job and he confessed to me that he did't head the prophesy and the many bad things came to pass. Here is a partial list: Shot once, stabbed several times, nearly beat to death on more than a couple of occasions, and hit by a car. This is a partial list. I believe by faith that God will bring him in because faith is the evidence of things hoped for.........and I hoped and prayed for his salvation. I have enough faith that I don't have to see the answer to all the prayers I have prayed on the immediate basis, I know they are answered otherwise faith is not faith.

These are just a couple of examples of the manifestation of God in my life with many more to be added to this blog in the future. 

A note to all believers that read this: most of the miracles that I have witnessed in my serving God has been at work more than in the church. Each of us should be doing our part to turn the world upside down as the Lord wills.

Grow in grace, faith, and obedience.

God Bless and Keep
Love in Christ   
Jerrold Cavasin 

Worship

Worship:

The art of humbling ourselves before the Living God by the aid of the Holy Spirit to bring us to a state of awe.

Love in Christ

J&E 

Humbling Thought

Romans 3:4

Let God be true and every man a liar.

Love in Christ

J&E in Tn

God is Love!

If Love wasn't the most important thing in life........

Then God wouldn't be it!
1 John 4:8

Love
In Christ
J&E in Tn

If we are in God thru Christ and:

If we are in God thru Christ and:

God’s Love is unconditional.

God’s supply of Love is limitless.

God’s Love cannot run out.

God commands us to Love Him and one another.

Then:

"If your Love is truly Unconditional than your Supply will never run out."

Love 

In Christ

J&E in Tn

Happiness......

Happiness is squeezed out of life.

Joyfulness is squeezed out of Christ.

Love

inn Christ

J&E in Tn

Loving God, Serving God = Manifestations of God

How many “followers” of Jesus ever really expect to see God manifest Himself in accordance with His Word? It’s almost like the Word He had written as a testimony to His plan for salvation, and the redemption of the whole of humanity was expected to come from such frail vessels, us. Not so, it was His plan to be us and Him. Next question: Has this statement been prove right by you? Me? The “followers”? Yes we have salvation nailed down not because of manifestation but because, “Who wants to burn in Hell for all eternity?” Faith comes easy when eternal torment is on the line, but what about the rest of this salvation message. What about the part that says and witnesses that this Jesus is all He says He is because that He sent the Holy Spirit to “teach us and remind us of all things that He said, always”. What about the commands of Christ that say: “these things I do you shall do also and greater things.” Why do we have to do “these things?” Answer: Because He did and He commanded/prophesied us to do them, but how did He know what to do? “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. He seen the Father doing the works and so He (as a good Son) did them also for His Fathers Glory.

What is this weak link?

Blindness! Our blindness! Blindness to the scriptures promises, the spiritual blindness of being able to see “Our Father who art in Heaven” doing His works and doing them also. Are we good sons? Are we truly obedient children? If not, why not?

Answer: We do not practice the Great Commandment!

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself."

We do not “Love” the Father as Jesus loved the Father, we do not “seek” Him with all our hearts as Jesus did, and we just don’t “find” Him as we ought any more. This is why the “manifestations” promised us by Our Savior seem not to exist today. Lovelessness! Forsaking the Love showed us by God our Father thru Christ the Son, failing to “return” it back to Him in seeking with all our hearts. Here is a thought: What if God said that in order to get to heaven you had to pay $1,000,000? What effort would you make to earn that so you wouldn't go to hell? Isn't it something that all we got to do to repay the debt that was paid for us is to just “love”? Now that is difficult, even for Gods people. Why? Because our vision and understanding of God is linked to our carnal life here on earth. We can curse God, shake our fist at God, be mad at Him, and blame Him for whatever happens just like we do “those that irritate us”. Our revelation of Jesus Christ and what He did and God the Father and who He is isn't what it should be.

Why? 

Because we rely more on the teachings of man for our understanding of Him instead on the Holy Spirit “revealing” who He really is. There is a big difference between “understanding” and “revelation”. The Pharisee’s understood, Paul had a revelation. Clear now? What do you want? An understanding or to be standing in His presence? If the understanding that you get is only from man than “it is enough for the student to be as his teacher”, but if you seek with all your heart the Face of God, then He will reveal Himself to you personally and your awe will be great. Love will come easy when you see the Face of Him who loved you and died for your sins.

Now that we see “face to face” what’s next?

All the promises of God written in scripture. All of them as the Holy Spirit gives, severally to Glorify your Father in Heaven. Service becomes natural when you Love the one you serve.

Try it you’ll like it!

Love

In Christ

Jerrold Cavasin

Today if you hear:

Today if you hear:

¹² Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; ¹³ but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ¹⁴ For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, ¹⁵ while it is said:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

Unbelief and an evil heart causes us to depart from the living God, thereby blocking the ears from “hearing His voice.” Ever wonder why the argument about “whether or not God still speaks to us” is so valid for today. Well you just read the best one in the text above. We don’t hear because we are sinful and the sin mentioned above is unbelief from an evil heart, no faith. In order to hear Him speak you must believe that He is and that He rewards those who seek Him diligently.

Are you listening? Do you believe that He wants to speak to you? Are you convinced like most the church that all that God has to say was written in the Bible and nothing else is to be said? For sure God won’t add to His Word, the Holy Scriptures , but Christ communicated with Him in prayer and He heard His voice and “did the things His Father commanded.” It sounds like someone was having a conversation to me not just a monologue. Jesus told us that we would do what He did and greater things so why not “converse” with our Father in heaven as He did.

The question is; “are we really listening?” Do we actually want to hear? Is His “wee small voice” ever given a chance to be heard over the i-pod, stereo, or whatever other practice we have to keep our minds busy via the attention channel. “With all your heart” is the kind of seeking that opens the ears to hear the “we small voice.”

Our relationship can become so intimate (at all times) that no matter what we are doing physically, we are in fellowship spiritually and able to “hear Him speak”. Not even the most astounding roar can deafen us to His voice as He leads and directs our paths. He even promises that we should not even think of things to say when approached because He will fill our mouths with words to speak “at that time”. How can He fill our mouths if He isn’t allowed to fill our spirit with His words, words of life?

So here is what to do:

Be still and know that He is God.

Know that He would speak to us as a Father to a Son.

He loves us and wants to use us to manifest His Glory.

Even though He knows us intimately He still wants to hear from us.

We need His Words (of life) to us more than He needs our words to Him.

Take time to stop and listen every day until you just listen all the time.

Don’t believe those of little faith that can’t see what God would have to say to you.

If you are hard of hearing remember that “He caused the deaf to hear”.

Be healed in Jesus name.

Love in Christ

Jerrold Cavasin

Touching on Faith 3

Child like faith:

Though the above wording is not present in scripture Jesus exhorts us to “become as little children” to enter into the kingdom of God. This instruction is consistent throughout the New Testament. Let’s look at how this command starts with the words of Jesus and is supported by the teachings of the Apostles

.

Jesus said: “Suffer not the little children to come unto me for such is the Kingdom of Heaven”, also “unless you become like one of these little ones you shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven”.

A child is used by Jesus on many occasions to show an example of what type of faith it takes to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. His heart possesses simple, childlike, innocent, trusting faith in his Father’s instruction that teaches and nurtures him while he grows in knowledge and experiences life. The child pleases the Father by the obedience to these instructions and thereby finds great self value and reward. These childlike attributes are not applied first to the social realm of influence but to the singular influence of his parents, primarily the Father then secondly the Mother as she enforces the design instructions of the Father. Regardless of what society dictates in today’s applications God’s design has always been that the Father is the head of the house and also as scripture says “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God”, also “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church”.

Having established headship the responsibility’s fall to the Father to lead in instruction of the child until marriage demands that he become the new authority in his own household.

This thread follows through in all teachings in the New Testament as Scripture shows “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things”. As a child we take to the instructions of our Fathers without argument or dissemination. We are safe and look to him for all our needs, we rest in his provisions and influence in our lives.

So it is with God our Father. We come to Him with complete trust and obedience to know and do what pleases Him. For those that do this enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. As with our worldly Father we should spend time and learn of our Heavenly Father to know what pleases Him so we can do His will. As He instructs us and we desire to be obedient to those instructions Our Father in Heaven will bless us with the ability to manifest His presence to all the world with signs and wonders in His Son’s name thereby putting approval on our obedience. A good Father gives his children good things how much more our Father in Heaven? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

Draw neigh to God with childlike faith, seeking Him and loving Him.

Expect that He will reward those that diligently seek Him.

Believe that He has good gifts to offer you for your love and obedience.

Having been so blessed manifest His Glory as the Holy Spirit prompts and empowers you.

Give thanks for His Love and provision in all things.

Love

In Christ

J&E in Tn

God is good.

God is good,

Life is good,

The more our lives exist in God the better our lives will be, unchanged/effected by the obstacles and situations around us. Faith will override our political, financial, and family concerns giving us the hope we need for the times we live in. Hope in God and not ourselves or the power of man. Real hope, enduring hope, hope that inspires Faith making our hope “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen”. Faith ushering in the promises of God bearing witness that we are His and our hope is made sure.

Look up for your redemption draweth neigh!

Pray without ceasing.

In everything give thanks.

Love

J&E in Tn

Touching on Faith 2

Touching on Faith Part 2:

Faith and the Word of God:

In continuing about faith we have to address how we look at, and explain scripture. This is the most important application of faith that we can have. How do we treat the Word of God realizing that there is a couple of warnings in Scripture with very heavy consequences. James says: “My brethren, be not many masters (teachers), knowing that we shall receive the grater condemnation”. Also in Revelations 22: 18-19, "For I testify unto very man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book: and 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 this 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 that are written in this book”. Anyone want to be a teacher?

So then how do we teach? By following Scripture, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and by not interjecting the thoughts of man into the Word of God. What the Scriptures say is exactly what they mean with all the bases covered by the Wisdom of God, “men writing guided by the Holy Spirit”. His Word is Spirit. You can only know God’s word in truth by the Holy Spirit. No amount of studying, teaching, or preaching will ever be accurate without the Holy Spirit. Look back to the 1300-1500’s when man interpreting the Scriptures cost the world millions of lives in the Great Inquisition. Again after that onslaught was stopped the next slaughter started over baby baptism wherein many more were put to death because of the “interpretation” of the time. The proof of error in interpreting the Word of God can be shown in this verse: “The Truth shall set you free”. If the interpretation does not expose evil and draw us neigh to God working humbly in our hearts than it will not be “the Truth that sets us free”. (I have capitalized the word Truth and all words that are used as the name of Christ.) The Truth also exposes God for who He is not who we want Him to be.

God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent, all knowing, all present, and all powerful. He is not a “story teller” who makes things up to teach us, He is not promoting a white lie to help us understand, He is God who is incapable of any lie, exaggeration or “sin for our benefit” and as said in Scripture “let God be true and every man a liar”.  Here is where faith is exercised when reading the Holy Scriptures. When a man of faith reads the Word of God he believes/asks that the Holy Spirit will instruct him according to the will of God “convenient” for that day. This is a very important application for the Scriptures say “today if you hear my voice”. Yesterday is past and cannot be changed, tomorrow never comes (when it does it is today), so the only instruction necessary is for today just like “grace” convenient for the day. God wants us to receive from Him what is due today so that we have the tools to sow the seed with and the power to glorify Him, today! Look at it this way, if we have all the grace and Revelation by faith convenient for today; than we will not be ineffective in our calling and election, and in the use of the spiritual gifts that are also given by the Holy Spirit for that day. This will have an effect our outlook of how we apply Scripture by giving the due wisdom and power of God to the application. Example: most preach that the parables are stories to teach us a life lesson. Did you ever wonder where the parable came from? Did God just make them up to instruct us. If God made them up than it is clear that He has lied which He can’t do, but faith gives God His glory by saying that somewhere in time God has seen these actions taking place and verbalized them for the lesson at hand. Yes there was a sower, yes there was a prodigal son, yes there was a Master of the vineyard and to all of the parables, yes, yes, yes. Now here is the amazing part: yes there was and yes there is! God’s Word is eternal and there is “nothing new under the sun” so that which was written then has been written for today. Time changes, God doesn’t, and sad to say neither does man. There seems to always be a twist to the interpretation of Scripture not based on the unchanging God (“God cannot change”) but based on the changing “desires of man’s lusts. Sorry to say that many church’s vacillate to the times and bow to the demands of sinful man changing the pure Word of God to fit the times making the Word of God of “none effect”.

What about “dispensation”? To dispensate something is another way of rendering mute the subject by time or changing events. Many denominations eliminate the need for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the calling and elections that God has set in place. Of course they say that there are pastors, teachers, and evangelist, but what about apostles, and prophets? Concerning gifts what about all of them? Remember that when you add or detract from the Word of God there are consequences, also because God cannot change if we believe that Scripture has changed then how do we know that salvation hasn’t been dispensated? We have faith in an unchanging God “in whom we put our trust”. How can you trust a god (small g in god on purpose because our God is an Awesome God) that changes with time? If that was true then how can we have hope? No, “let God be true and all men liars”. He cannot change, and Scripture cannot change! Why? Because Jesus Christ cannot (nor has) changed just by His continued presence. Here is what I mean. All Scripture is “God breathed” which means that God cannot violate Himself or go against the things He has said, “in any wise”. The Word of God supports itself and is its own witness to Truth because “He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life”. Now here is a seldom looked at Truth in Scripture that supports this but is never referenced that I know of till now. (Could be wrong, not being prideful). “The Word (written Word, Scripture!), became flesh and dwelt among us”. God has sealed unchangeable Truth by making the Word become flesh, letting the Word dwell among us for proof, die on a cross for our salvation, buried 3 days, rose from the dead, and now dwells at the Right hand of God making intersession and waiting for His return, when all things are put under Him. So I ask, if we eliminate any Scripture, any, what part of the “written Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us”, Jesus Christ, will be missing? If we take away prophesy does Jesus loose His ears (so we/He can’t hear God’s voice), what about the Word of Wisdom, does He loose the Mind of Christ, what about word of faith, does He loose His vision? You see what I mean. If every word penned through man by the guidance of the Holy Spirit became the complete Christ then what will be eliminated if some are dispensated? These dispensations Do Not Glorify God! The impossibility of God’s Word to comprehend is to make us trust Him for Truth because “nothing is impossible for God”. That is why so many instructions/teachings in Scripture seem so impossible that we might find ourselves “seeking Him with all our heart” that we might have the proper understanding of His Word, (Christ), and thereby the “full” application by faith.

By faith each of us receive our measure of revelation that is needed to function in the position that we have “in the Body of Christ”. No part of the body is unto itself but needs all the members to do their part, (adding their revelation of Christ), so that the body will be complete, lacking nothing.

One more thing for this posting about faith:

The literal interpretation of Scripture: How does this fit in?

Well quite honestly this is the only interpretation there is. Why? Because God is glorified in the impossibilities that Prophesy in Scripture speaks of. If we with our carnal minds, outside of Faith in God, look at Scripture than we have to explain it based on our limited knowledge that is apparent in everyone’s brains. But if we look at the literal interpretation of God’s Word; than the writing becomes impossible to envision or understand there by necessitating faith, and opening the door for God to do the impossible in accomplishing it.  So a literal interpretation makes our faith grow/increase and humbly brings us to worship God and trust in all His (impossible) promises helping us to rely on Him. God’s Word was designed by Him to be carnally impossible to understand because it is spiritually discerned, that is why we seek the infilling of the Holy Spirit for “Truth that sets us free”. More later.

Keep this in mind:

No revelation of Christ will violate Scripture in any wise.

No one man has the complete Revelation of Jesus Christ.  

God’s Word is always true, every word, and example.

A literal interpretation brings Glory to God as His Spirit instructs us daily.

Truth can only be found when “we seek Him with all our hearts” by faith.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God”.

In time, faith will expose all revelation and guidance of God in His Word.

God bless and keep.

Love in Christ

J&E in Tn

Touching on Faith

About Faith:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. It’s a perplexing statement for man but “proof” for God. Put in a paraphrase: “now faith is the existing physical object of what we hope for in the future, and the proof that what we don’t see already exists. I don’t know if that didn't explain it any better but it is the way God designed His Kingdom to be experienced. Again He says: “but 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.”

Where does faith come from? Who gives it? How does it work? The answer to the first two questions is Jesus. First: “No man comes unto me but by the Holy Spirit”. The Holy Spirit has several jobs to do, draw all men unto Christ, teach us and remind us of all things that Jesus Christ has said and done, and then to infill and give gifts severally in accordance with God’s will. The Holy Spirit and faith are inseparable in that He initiates the “draw to Christ” by the grace through faith given all who live from the womb. There is absolutely no man or woman alive from the beginning Gen. 1 vs. 26 thru Revelation 20 vs. 9 ( I can’t tell if more come after that verse) that has not been given the “grace thru faith” to be saved. Jesus cuts the argument against this short by the Holy Spirit saying in Scripture “the word is neigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart: that is the word of faith which we preach”, again “so then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. But I say, have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the earth”. Faith is given to all men by Jesus and for the second question: Jesus said He was the starter and finisher of our faith.

Now for the third question: How does it work?

There are 3 levels of faith:

1.       Great: The Centurion, servant grievously tormented, “Only say the word” requested, Jesus: “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel”.

2.       Small faith: Grain of mustard (but still can move mountains).

3.       Faithless: Jesus speaking, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Remember that He is speaking to his disciples here. More on that later.     

A quick revue shows us that we can’t be saved without faith. We can’t please God without faith and we cannot do God’s will without faith. Now let’s go deeper on the application of faith in the Scriptures and at times compare what man has to say about it.

First established fact is: Faith in God makes all things possible when it’s according to His will. There are no limits and nothing is impossible for God when His will is being sought to perform it for His glory. This is what scares most denominations even Full Gospel, Pentecostals, Charismatic’s, let alone Catholics, Methodist, Lutheran’s, Baptist’s, ect. ect. All have an applied faith that they feel comfortable with which doesn’t ruffle any feathers as long as everyone stays within the lines of doctrine. Several of these denominations “believe” that faith as shown in the Scriptures is valid but few practice what they believe is valid. The worst part of their application of doctrine comes when someone really believes (has faith) and wants to see God glorify Himself and questions why nothing is happening if the promises of Scripture are true (as the church deeply ascertains).

What are some of these “faith” promises?

You can be saved by the finished work of Christ.

You can (having been saved) be filled with the Holy Spirit. “When you seek me with your whole heart you will find me”.

You can continue to grow in faith.

You can have a continuing revelation of Jesus Christ.

Through the Revelation of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit you can have the Mind of Christ and understand the Scriptures.

By the understanding of Scripture you will be challenged to glorify God with your life.

To be able to glorify God you will be given “gifts severally” in accordance with His will.

You will also be given a calling and election to minister under. Apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher ect.

Having been given a calling and election you qualify by faith to “manifest” the truth and glorify God the Father through “signs and wonders” becoming “Christ Like”, “Being conformed to His image and likeness”. “It is enough that the student is equal to his teacher”.

So what are these signs and wonders promised us by Christ to be performed by faith? This Scripture sums it up: Mark 16 vs. 17: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing , it shall not harm them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover”.

We also have the promise in Scripture that “you will do those things I do (Jesus) and greater things”. Some of those things are: healing the sick, blinded eyes seeing, dumb talking, deaf hearing, multiplication of food, lepers cleansed, lame walking, the dead being raised, and casting out demons. Only by faith can this be done by one who seeks God’s face and desires to glorify Him and not ourselves.

Why aren't these miracles common place anymore? First and foremost it’s the “lack of faith”. Secondly: the Scriptures aren't taught in truth with expectancy for this to happen so it isn't practiced anymore. Thirdly: Few will draw close enough to God to “seek Him with all your heart” so we can find Him and be used of Him to manifest Himself to all the earth. Pure and simple we have grown lazy and content to dwell full and happy in a dying and hopeless world. Just like God warned the Hebrews before they entered into the Promised Land. Having been given fatness we have forsaken God who has blessed us so. Yes that means Christians. Aside from salvation and (in a few denominations) tongues or prophesy, few have the passion to Glorify God the Father in heaven. We are saved so no more is expected. To some extent we are saying “am I my brother’s keeper?” Happily holding onto heaven, while denying the very power of God to use us for “covering the earth with the knowledge of Him”. We (or some) lift their hands to worship and praise their Father in Heaven with the occasional person weeping only to walk away powerless (faithless) to make a difference. I don’t say this as a rebuke as if in some way I point a finger at the present state of the church. No, but I have a broken heart for the unused promises of God that have been freely given but sorely used. Sadly Jesus said: “When I return will I find faith on earth?” He already knew the answer. We cannot surprise Him. He is asking if He will find God Glorifying Faith still being manifested by “those who believe”.

Live by faith.

Walk by faith.

Work by faith.

More about other facets of faith to come.

Love in Christ

J&E in Tn

Blessings are for:

Blessings are for:

Those who “forgive” when wounded,

Those who “help” without question,

Those who “care” about others,

Those who “seek” the better for someone else,

Those who “lift up” in adversity,

Those who “ease” the hurt of the suffering,

Those who “weep” with the weeping,

Those who “laugh” with the laughing,

Those who “improve” the lives of the living,

In other words:

Those who “Love Unconditionally” are not only “Blessed” by God but also “Blessed” by those around them.

Love in Christ
J&E in Tn

Life and Love are inseparable partners

Life and Love are inseparable partners.

The longer you live the more the lines blur between the two (or at least they should).
Love determines the "quality" of the life you live more so than finances or accomplishments. One who loves is rich in all things that really matter and is able to be thankful with true joy in all life's travels.
So Love much,
Live like you are making a difference,

Be joyful in all things.

Love
J&E in Tn

The Opposite of Love

The opposite of Love:

Many words could be used to describe the opposite of Love, but the one word that sums them all up best is “sin”. Because God is Love than we know that all the attributes of God are also the attributes of Love. Love is, as God is, perfect and eternal and endless in application. Scripture says that “Love cannot fail” even as God cannot fail. The failing of our application of Love would be sin in so much that it takes God out of the effort, and allows one of the other words that would be the opposite of Love to make itself manifest in our responses. That would be words like hatred, malice, despite, vindictiveness, and forwardness.

Let’s also realize that the opposite of Love is the application of making room for sin to be accepted as good also remembering the scripture that “God is good.” So now sin is not only the opposite of Love but is the opposite of God. It is a Loveless thing (sin) to call good evil and evil good.

By scripture we clearly see that in order for us to Love at all times we must be in an intimate relationship with God through His Love Gift the Lord Jesus Christ. “In Him, through Him, by Him, are all things”, so if He is in us than so are all things in Him also in us. His Love, kindness, patience (that’s a hard one for me), meekness, and care of others become a natural performance in our lives and bless others around us because Love always blesses even when present in discipline, (discipline can only be barbaric without Love.)

The greatest testing of Love in our lives will come when others oppose us, especially someone dear, like a family member or friend. When Love is poured out to someone over a long period of time then there almost grows an expectation of “good response” back to the one Loving. But True (Unconditional) Love (although seeing the offence) responds “softly” (“a kind word turns away wrath”), and with aforethought, kind aforethought, forgiving aforethought, premeditation that proves the very Love that we are communicating throughout the conflict. “Love never fails” so if the application of Love is in the conflict the conflict will end on a note of Love and forgiveness having “redeemed the time for the days are evil.”

Again the opposite of Love is sin. True Love never fails. True Love redeems our souls (both offended and offender) and honors God.

Love

In Christ

J&E in Tn