Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Going For the Gold


The fact that works will not save us shuld not blind us to the fact we will be eternally rewarded for our works. But not those of our own choosing. But only those done in obedience to God's specific directions. Doing what we are told wins the gold.

The Source of Truth

Generally speaking, the Bible is regarded by Christians as the primary source of the truth of God.
And not withstanding that there are translation errors, versions, as well as being subject to private interpretations. Thus, denominations.

The Bible is the written Word of the Author, the Holy Spirit, who is the primary source of truth. That is why He was sent as our Teacher. So to seek the truth we need to sit at His feet, so to speak, through being baptized in Him by Jesus.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit


Scriptures indeed say that it is the Holy Spirit who decides who gets what gifts. He gives them to the obedient, those who are dedicated to using them as He intends, and those who will share their benefits. And He plays favorites.

The Great Barrier Belief

Perhaps the greatest barrier to receiving the Holy Spirit's gifts is a proud heart. And it works well to fortify our comfort zone.

Time For Some Ryme?

Our commission
Jesus as a man became,
to take my blame,
to bear my shame,
and heal the lame.
And we're to now proclaim,
In His Holy name,
and by the Holy Spirit's flame,
...the same.
May it be our aim.

Hal Weeks, California

**********************
The Big Question
What purpose do we serve,
If we never have the nerve,
To share our faith,
...without reserve?
For fear we'll turn whoever off,
That some will turn away and scoff.
But keep it bottled up inside,
Because of pride.
We're to be forever bold,
Until our story's told,
...and sold.
And then we'll know a joy untold,
And later get a crown of gold.
So we're to go our way,
And say our say,
Without delay,
...today.
And it will pay,
When we go away,
Someday...to stay,
...I pray.

Hal Weeks, California
***********************

Christ's Empathy
Jesus came to set us free,
from Satan and his tyranny.
To take away creation's curse,
By being made a substitute,
and found to be of no repute.
He also gave His very all,
to redeem us from the fall,
-- if we will only hear His call.
He died and then arose,
to show to all of those,
who in their sins were rebels still,
and who'll continue 'till,
they finally pay their total bill.
Then when He to Heaven went,
the Holy Ghost was duly sent,
To make it clearly evident,
that we can be a holy place,
Wherein for Him to shed his grace.
So now we have the Holy Ghost,
That we might do our uttermost,
To spread His word from coast to coast.
And when our earthly work is done,
and our new life has just begun,
we'll be someone to whom He says,
"Well done, my good and faithful son."

Hal Weeks, California

Divine Perks

The Holy Spirit has many a perk for those who never shirk from doing His work.

Obedience to God

Being obedient to God is impossible as long as we remain hunkered down in our "comfort zone."

The Perfect Investment

Investing in the Kingdom of God guarantees an abundant return.
But He wants it up front.

The Enabling of The Holy Spirt

The Holy Spirit is the Helper to those are doing what He wants.

He is the Teacher of those who need to know how to do it.

He is the Guide to those who need His direction.

He is the Comforter of those who suffer persucation for doing it.

But it starts with the ball in our court!

The Life God Rewards

If what we claim we are doing for God is no more than what unbelievers are doing for their own self-gratification, wherein is our testimony? God rewards those things done in obedience to Him. Therein lies our testimony.

Monday, August 29, 2005

A Common Dodge

When we know there is something we should be doing for God but don't want to do it, we can dodge it by adding it to our "Good Intentions." list.

First Things First

If we want answers to our prayer, first start by asking the Holy Spirit what He wants us to pray for.

Faith Versus Faith

Faith negates worry.

Turning our problems over to God is better than tossing and turning in bed.

Faith and worry are mutually exclusive.

Worrying is borrowing trouble at an exorbitant rate of interest.

Faith is God's antidote for worry.

Faith is a lot less time comsuming.

Becoming Charismatic - Who Needs it?

Becoming Charismatic is not merely a fringe benefit. It is vital for spiritual growth.

Bible Class Teaching

Bible Study is merely intellectual if it is not consequential.

Sunday, August 28, 2005

Handy Cop-out

If there is something we know God wants us to do but we don't want to do it, we can just give it a low priority on our good intentions list.

A Praise Report

I have just received a book entitled "Water to Wine 2 Fish to a Feast" by Betty Overstreet.
It was sent to me because I had agreed to allow using my testimony in the book. It is on page 35 but you can read it on my website too at http://69.6.236.221/mystory.htm
This is the third book in which my testimony has been included.

Friday, August 26, 2005

A Major Miner's Mistake

The Holy Spirit's spiritual gifts are a mine of miracles but most Christians just don't dig it.

God's Ways Are Not Our Ways

What might seem like a detour in our spiritual journey could well be a shortcut in God's plan for us.

Think Again

Jesus needed signs and wonder to spread the gospel.
Some modern churches think they can do it by social action alone.

The Proof of Being a Christian

That we are a born-again Chrisian is a claim, but it takes signs and wonder to prove it. Mark 16:15-20

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

The Mandate of Doing

The mandate of what we, as Christians, are called to be should not negate the mandate of what we are called to do.

Satan's Trap

One of the most insidious traps that most Christians fall into has been set by Satan - a comfort zone.

A Rarely Taught Topic

Question: "What is the Judgment Seat of Christ / Bema Seat of Christ?”

Answer: A believer's deeds are judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10-12). This judgment does not determine salvation, but rather is when believers must give an account of their lives to Christ. We should not look at the Judgment Seat of Christ as God judging our sins, but rather as God rewarding us for our lives. Yes, we will have to give an account of our lives. Part of this is surely answering for the sins we committed. However, I do not think that is going to be the focus of the Judgment Seat of Christ.
At the Judgment Seat of Christ, believers are rewarded based on how faithfully they served Christ (1 Corinthians 9:4-27; 2 Timothy 2:5). The things we will likely be judged on is how well we obeyed the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20), how victorious we were over sin (Romans 6:1-4), how well we controlled our tongue (James 3:1-9), etc. The Bible speaks of believers receiving crowns for different things based on how faithfully they served Christ (1Corinthians 9:4-27; 2Timothy 2:5). The various crowns are described in 2 Timothy 2:5; 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelation
2:10.

This Is What The Bible Says To Me

Private interpretaion of the Scriptures is the root of denominationalism

Rarely Asked Questions

Oswald Chambers, the author of the best-seller, "My Utmost For His Highest," testifies in his autobiography that it was Luke 11:9-13 that led him into experiencing the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Luke 11 9. "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10. "For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 11. "Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake ievil, know how to give good gifts to your children, "Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Then how much will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.

First, it tells us to ask, seek and knock.
9. "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.;"And then it tells what we will receive if we do it.
"and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10. "For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.

Then it cites a hman example.
"Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12. "Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he?

Since it refers to our Heavenly Father, is it not being addressed to Spirit-filled believers?
"Then how much will your Heavenly Father"

What then are we, as Spirit-filled believers, to be asking, seeking, and knocking to receive?
that your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him

Monday, August 22, 2005

Not Having Time

If you are claiming you don't have time to do what God requires then you better not watch TV.

Being Honest

Our excuses are an honesty test.

How to Grieve the Holy Spirit

Equating the well of Living Water with the River -- the salvation measure with the overflow -- the part with the whole, will both quench and grieve Him.

The land of Miracles

Here is the link to my website about miracles and how to experience them. www.howtoheal.org

Worldly Christians

Christians are like the world when they want something from God they are not willing to pay for.

Something to Remember

If your Bible teaching does not elicit a response, remember it is hard to endorse what we don't want to do. But it testified to the relevence of your topic.

Divine Selfishness

Being obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit is enlightened self-interest -- He rewards obedience.

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Miracles Experienced by Former Healing Class Student

This past week at the healing rooms, a woman who had come in 2-3 weeks ago told my prayer team that she had been prayed for panic attacks and they were gone and also she had gone off her medications voluntarily. She told her Christian psychriatrist.

Another woman was prayed for as a demonstration in a healing room class and lost her back pain. She came Thurs. eve and was prayed for again by my team. We broke the geneational curse of sciatica (her mother had this also) and took authority over the generational spirit of sciatica and her pain of a "6" was gone. We never prayed for actual healing. Praise God

Bill and I went to the Harvest Rock Confernece where Bill Johnson was one of the speakers. We know that people are being raised from the dead infreguently in Africa, but Bill says they've had 2 incidences of pregnant mothers who were told by their doctors that their babies had died and they had to opeate to remove the dead baby or the mother would also die. Both chose to believe God and got prayer. Both delivered healthy babies in the US! He says we are going to see more and more of the miraculous. Becky Hitt

Our Autobiography

Our priorities are an autobiography of what we are. For Christians it tells what kind.

Friday, August 19, 2005

Those Who Think They Are a Wheel

Many Christians put the Holy Spirit in the back seat when He should be at the wheel. And they don't like back-seat drivers.

The Right Page

If we are willing to turn over a new page, the baptism in the Holy Spirit puts us on His page.

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Sharing Our Faith

That advertisers spend millions to have their comercials repeated over and over demonstrates that we need to follow the same practice in sharing our faith.

Prayer and Healing Class Report

Our attendance consisted of three pale faces and seven Afro-Americans.
Anita Bumgardner, Rhonda, Anna, Jewel, and a gentlemen who came and brought his three daughters.
There were several praise reports of how God had used them to minister to others.

Rhonda prayed for Jewel for vertigo attacks. Anita prayed for the gentleman who had back pain.

The meeting closed with a prayer circle and Anna sang, "He Touched Me."

A Health Tip

Staying tuned to the checks of the Holy Spirit is the cure for biting your tongue.

Monday, August 15, 2005

Our Frame of Reference

If we have a narrow frame of reference we will never see the big picture.

More Where That Came From.

Many who have experienced the salvation measure of the Holy Spirit do not take advantage of the fact there is more where that came from.

Staying on Tap

Keep doing what the Holy Spirit tells you and He will keep you on tap.

A Major Mistake

Those who treat the Holy Spirit like a minor member of the Trinity are making a major mistake.

Private Interpretation of the Bible

The lense of private interpretation makes us spiritually
near-sighted.

A Comfort Zone

A comfort zone is like a rocking chair, you may be dong something but not going anywhere.

Bible Class Teaching

Oswald Chambers - August 13

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. KJV

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. KJV

Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? KJV


Matthew 12:31-32 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. KJV
Romans 8 11. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.


Never choose to be a worker, but when God has put His call on you, woe be to you if you turn either to the right or the left.
We are not here to serve God because we have chosen to do so, but because God has apprehended [to grasp with the understanding : recognize the meaning of] us.
There is never any thought of -- "Oh well, I am not fitted for this."
What you are to preach is determined by God, not your own natural inclinations.
Keep your soul steadfastly related to God and remember that you are called not to bear testimony only, but to preach the gospel. Every Christian must testify, but when it comes to the call to preach, there must be the agonizing grip of God's hand on you, your life is in the grip of God for that one thing. How many of us are held like that?

Never water down the Word of God, preach it in its undiluted sterness; there must be unflinching loyalty to the word of God; but when you come to personal dealing with your fellow men, remember who you are -- not a special being made up in Heaven, but a sinner saved by grace.
"I count not myself to apprehended; but this one thing I do......"Questions:

If we are not doing what the Holy Spirit tells us, are we not grieving Him?

How can we do what He tell us if we are not listening?

And if we repeatedly turn a deaf ear to His prompting won't He stop trying?

Won't He be quenched and grieved?

Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
KJV

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Believe It Or Not!

http://www.healingsandmiracles.org/

Bible Interpretation

Private interpretaion of the Bible makes it a personal version.
It will leave out those things which, convict, exhort, direct and condemn.

Saturday, August 13, 2005

God Heals a Neck Pain

Dear Hal,
Two weeks ago I asked for prayer in your Healing Class. My neck vertebras were injured a long time ago. Arthritis settled there and the pain was very intense and I had no flexibility in my neck.
You prayed for me and the pain that was a nine on a scale of one to ten went to zero. I am still pain free as I type this testimony [and I regained normal flexibility in my neck movement].
I thank the Lord Jesus for healing my neck through your prayers
.

Beware!

Rock someone's doctrinal boat and they will hit you with either/or.

The Price of Holding Unforgiveness

Matthew 6:14-15 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. KJV
Holding unforgiveness puts the ball in our court.

Friday, August 12, 2005

The Nine Spiritual Gifts

The controversy over the nine spiritual gifts demonstrates that the devil is is alive and well on planet earth.

Comfort Zones

Comfort zones are anchors when propellers are what are needed.

Bible Study

Bible study that never results in action is like studying a cookbook but never going into the kitchen.

Discipeship

Claiming to be a disciple without ever making disciples is being sterile.

Importance of Doctrine

Doctrine is important only insofar as it determines our actions.

Thursday, August 11, 2005

You Better Believe it!

Evangelism is not a calling; It is an act of obedience.

The Wrong Priorities

Going to the Doctor first and then seeking God in prayer has Him playing second fiddle.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Who is in Charge?

Many Christians claim that the Holy Spirit is in charge but their actions prove He is, at best, staff.

Make Somebody Smile Today

Declare that you are not called to be an evangelist and Satan will smile.

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

We sing it but do we demonstrate our friendship by introducing Him to others?

The Human Predicament

As much as we may lament the human predicament, if we are honest, we will agree it is one of God's attention-getters.

Monday, August 08, 2005

The Ultimate in Dishonesty

Luke 6:46 46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? KJV

Calling Jesus Lord is lip-service unless we:

Ernestly seek His baptism in the Holy Spirit. (John 7:37-39), (Luke 11:9-13)

Covet His spiritual gifts. (I Corinthians 12:13)

Go forth and make disciples. (Mathew 28:19-20)

The land of Miracles

I have a website about miracles and how to experience them at www.howtoheal.org that I invite you to visit.

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Sunday, August 07, 2005

What If?

What if the disciples had not spread the Gospel because they did not want to risk turning someone off, of being rejected, of what others might think, of being persecuted, and the many other reasons most Christians use as an excuse for not doing likewise?

John 16 33. "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

What ties God's Hands

God can't work withing the constraints of denominationalism.

When Good is Bad

When everyting is going well, spiritual growth is on hold.

Saturday, August 06, 2005

Lady Healed of Back Pain

Working at San Diego State University requires a certain amount of walking on my part. Therefore having a pinched nerve in my back, leaving my left leg without the usual lift in my step, was causing a great deal of pain, discomfort, and inconvenience. Over a period of several months, and many trips to doctors, including the usual physical therapy, my medical condition did not change.
For a whole week my husband did all of work at home while I lay on our couch, propped up by pillows in a supposedly therapeutic pose, bringing no improvement whatsoever. Oh yes, I could move about, but the pain didn't let up for a moment.
One weekend my husband, Jerry, took me on a short walk to show me our neighbors' garden and their fuchsias called "Dancing Ladies" that were in full bloom. We knew our neighbors, Hal and Ginny Weeks, through the church. While we were admiring their flowers, the Weeks visited with us through their window and invited us inside to pray for my painful condition.
Hal invoked the Spirit of Our Living God, in the name of Jesus Christ, to enter my body and heal me of my pain. Within minutes my miracle took place, the pain never to return. My healing was approximately five years ago. I am now more of a believer in miracle healing through the Holy Spirit than ever before. Trust and obey and PRAISE THE LORD!

LaVerna Armistead
Coronado, California

P.S. The Holy Bible is our foundation for living

In my humble opinion

The body of Christ is non-denominational.
Denominationalism is based on private human interpretation of the Bible, not on the interpretation of the Author, the Holy Spirit

Friday, August 05, 2005

Chicken Soup for the Mind

The Return of Christ
To be prepared for the coming of our Lord is to be longing for it, to be looking forward to it, and to be living accordingly.
Whether it is the public debt, the population explosion, the pollution of our environment, AIDS, or any other catastrophe facing our society, human effort is limited to merely slowing the trend -- not reversing it. The sin and greed that have caused these things are still present. God is long-suffering but He has foreordained a military coup when Christ returns to rule with a rod of iron.

Miracle in Hospital Waiting Room

On July 26, while I was sitting waiting my turn for a blood test, I noticed a lady that appeared to be very distressed.
I went over tho her and asked her if she needed help. She said it was her back that was so painful.that she could hardly stand it. I then asked her if she believed in divine healing and she said she did.
I then offered to pray for her back. As we usually do, I asked her how long she had had it. She said for over a year and the doctors didn't know what to dofor it. I then asked her, on a scale of one to ten, how bad was it. She said eight or ten.
I prayed for her and it went down to about a four. I prayed again and it went down to a two. I didn't pray for her further healing and I explained why. When someone is totally healed they usually go there way and forget that Jesus had healed them. I told her to consumate the healing start thanking Jesus for what she had already recieved until the remaining pain had gone. She thanked me and I went back to my seat. All of which proved to me again that we are to minister to others wherever, whenever, and however. Thank you, Jesus!

Monday, August 01, 2005

Bible students that flunk the course

How many Bible class attendees never learn to lead others to Christ, never learn to pray for the sick and see them recover?
Never cast out a demon.
Never even teach a Bible class themselves.
Have they passed or flunked the course?