God, faith and you

Have you noticed that faith is a theme found in scripture??  Have you noticed how often Jesus referred to faith and how it connects to the spiritual?  It’s a fascinating study.  Before you read His word, I encourage you to ask God to show you His themes and His truth.  Here are some examples.

 

Luke 17:1-5 (NKJV)

17 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! ² It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. ³ Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you,rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. ⁴ And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

⁵ And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

 

This passage raises some questions.  What is the connection between faith and being a good spiritual example?  How can we be bridges to God and all that He is instead of barriers to Him and His way of life and love?  What is the connection between faith and forgiveness, many times repeated forgiveness?  After hearing these words, why did the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith?  On the surface, the passage was about not being a stumbling block to new believers and being willing to forgive those who hurt us repeatedly as long as they repented.

 

Matthew 9:27-28  (NKJV)

²⁷ When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”

²⁸ And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”

 

This is but one example in scripture about the connection between faith and healing.  Another example follows.  Did you realize there was nothing that these men could do on their own power to increase their faith?  So where did that faith come from?  Scripture tells us that faith is a gift from God and a fruit of the spirit.  This tells us that God the Holy Spirit was at work, granting these blind men the faith that they needed to be made whole by Jesus.  The same is true for us.  God the Holy Spirit works in us so that we are spiritually equipped to be and do what God has for us to be and do.

 

Mark 9:23-25  (NKJV)

²³ Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

²⁴ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

²⁵ When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!”

 

Here a desperate dad looks at himself and sees what he thinks he lacks:  adequate faith to deliver his child from the kingdom of darkness.  He knows he cannot cast the demon out himself, and he wants to remove any stumbling block to Jesus doing this work.  This shows us that anything within Godly parameters can be done as long as the right conditions exist.  How totally do you rely upon God to heal or deliver you from demons or a bad life situation?

 

Pastor George and I pray that these inspired words have a real impact on your spiritual life.  May God increase your faith so that you can move forward to be and do what He has for you to be and do.

 

copyright 2018, Pastors George and Sharon Billington, All Rights Reserved

When what God does in your life doesn’t make sense, do you still trust Him?

via When what God does in your life doesn’t make sense, do you still trust Him?

Will you obey God and do His will?

If your answer is “yes”, then you will not participate in or observe Halloween in any way.  If you do so, you will be celebrating death, demons,  witchcraft and the occult.  In no way does Halloween honor God, which those of us who are believers and follow Jesus seek to do with all that we are.

 

Exodus 20:2-5  (NKJV) 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 “You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting[ the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Matthew 22:37-38 (NKJV)

³⁷ Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’³⁸ This is the first and great commandment.

 

 

Revelation 21:8 (NKJV)

⁸ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

 

Spiritual family, If you practice Halloween, God sees you as a sorcerer and idolater.  His word says to count the cost.  His word also says to examine yourself to see if you are in the faith.  Is it really worth losing an eternity with Him to dress up and hand out candy to kids?  Repent and return to Him and worship Him and Him alone.

 

copyright 2018, Pastors George and Sharon Billington, All Rights Reserved

It matters to God whether or not you celebrate Halloween Does it matter to you?

Hopefully by now you know that Halloween in no way honors God but instead celebrates satan, the demons, witchcraft, death and the occult. You may tell yourself that dressing up is fun and that giving candy to kids is fun.  You may even rationalize that you observe Halloween for your kids’ and grandkids’ sakes.  Oh, really?  Have you thought about the example it sets for them?  Can’t you find other things for the kids to do that honor God and set a right, spiritual example?

Anton Lavey (a chief satanist) has publicly stated that Halloween is a major holiday for his followers.  Did you know that one way for you to literally expose yourself to the kingdom of darkness and its harmful ways is by celebrating Halloween?  Is that what you really want to do?

God does not want you to hurt yourself or your family..  He wants you to practice spiritually safe tactics in your life.  You can do this by putting Him and His way of life first and by thinking about these things, focusing upon them.

 

Matthew 22:37-38 (NKJV)

³⁷ Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment.

 

Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)

Meditate on These Things

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

 

Spiritual family, the only things that are praiseworthy fall within Godly parameters.  Show God His thoughts and ways matter by honoring Him daily and casting out of your life and thoughts those things that don’t fit within Godly parameters  Pastor G and I pray you do.  Enjoy God and His ways by living a life truly dedicated to and pleasing to Him.

 

copyright 2018, Pastors George and Sharon Billington, All Rights Reserved

 

God is not pleased

when you blend spiritual practices.

There are some things some of you do that do not honor Him.  Some of you practice yoga, which is spiritual but has nothing to do with Him.  Many of you observe Halloween, which honors death, demons, witchcraft and the occult and dishonors Him.  Some of you observe eastern traditions that have nothing to do with Him.  Eastern meditation requires you to empty your mind and thus opens the door to the kingdom  of darkness to enter in, while Godly meditation has you focusing on spiritual thoughts and principles and exploring and expanding them within Godly parameters.

You can stop doing those things that dishonor Him and return to or begin to practice those things that honor Him.  Pastor G and I pray you do.

James 1:8 (NKJV)

⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

 

Matthew 22:37 (NKJV)

³⁷ Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

 

Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)

Meditate on These Things

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

 

copyright 2018, Pastors George and Sharon Billington, All Rights reserved

 

 

How to spiritually examine yourself

Scripture tells us to examine ourselves so that we can be on the right path spiritually  Here are some pointers on how to do that.

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV)

⁵ Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

 

Consider whether you walk in the fruits of the spirit or exhibit carnal, fleshly works.

 

James 3:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

 

James 3:14-16 (NKJV)

¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

 

Galatians 5:16-21 (NKJV)

¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are:adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

Another key is learning what God hates and reversing it, turning it around into things God loves.

 

 

Proverbs 6:16-19

¹⁶ These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
¹⁷ A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
¹⁹ A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren

 

Spiritual family, God wants us all to become spiritually mature and stop doing those things which hinder our spiritual growth.  Pastor G and I suggest you prayerfully ask Him to help you make needed changes so that you can spiritually endure to the end and be saved.  You began the salvation process when you asked Jesus into your heart as Lord and as Savior.  Salvation is a lifelong process.  May God help you to endure to the end.

 

copyright 2018, Pastors George and Sharon Billington, All Rights Reserved

How God speaks to you and me

 

 

 

Beginning with the Garden of Eden, God has been speaking to man.  He began by conversing directly, as He did with Adam.   Then He spoke through prophets, beginning with Noah and Moses.  And then, He communicated through personal dreams and visions like He did with Joseph and Daniel.  Sometimes, He used various methods with one person, as He did through many prophets.  Lastly, He communicates through the Bible, where we learn how He thinks and does things.

How does God communicate with you?  Pastor G and I have been blessed through the years to hear His voice directly and get to know Him that way and through His written word, the Bible.  At times, He has communicated with us through dreams and visions and given us personal words of revelation and warning for individuals and groups.  We will give you some examples from the Bible for you to see for yourself.  We welcome your thoughts and comments at the bottom of this blog post.

 

Genesis 2:16-17  (NKJV)

¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; ¹⁷ but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

 

Genesis 37:5  (NKJV)

⁵ Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more.

Note:  It takes wisdom, discernment and spiritual maturity to know when to share what God has revealed.  Joseph was clueless and should have kept silent even though the revelation proved to be very true in his future.

 

Genesis 18:1-8 (NKJV)

18 Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. ² So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, ³ and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. ⁴ Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. ⁵ And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.”

They said, “Do as you have said.”

⁶ So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” ⁷ And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. ⁸ So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.

 

1 Samuel 3:4-10  (NKJV) 4 that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” 5 So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down. 6 Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.) 8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

 

Job 42:7 (NKJV)

⁷ And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.

 

Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV)

⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

 

 

Revelation 22:6  (NKJV)

⁶ Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.

 

Revelation 18:4-5  (NKJV)

⁴ And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. ⁵ For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

 

 

copyright 2018, Pastors George and Sharon Billington,  All Rights Reserved