Learning the ABC’s in the 1700’s in America was to learn about God. The Puritans brought Bibles over from England and by 1690, Boston publishers were reprinting the English Protestant Tutor under the title of The New England Primer. The textbook taught big words that children had to not only learn, but memorize at the age of 5. The contents included many Scriptures to apply to daily life. I remember in grade school in California reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance” which included “One nation under God” every single school day.  The schoolbooks in 2022 have rewritten history. The Word of God has been removed and the next generation will be without the knowledge of what principles the USA was founded upon.  Indeed, as a country, the USA has fallen very far away from the respect of Who God is.  The life changing gift of God is the Holy Spirit and He is grieved by what our kids are being taught today. Spiritual gifts are given so that every Christian can experience the joy and fulfillment of God working through them. Rather than skip ahead and try to plan our future, our responsibility is to let the Word of God grow in us, change us, and guide us.  For all believers, that’s where our stability comes from. Our confidence and ability to stand firm as a nation, as God’s people is directly correlated to how much Word is treasured up in our hearts. The Primer was sold by Ben Franklin, which reveals God will use all to fulfill His purpose. Wisdom and discernment come from God and when His people submit to learning His way, in His living Word, then the Holy Spirit can change people and nations. “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:14 — BE STILL and KNOW that God is God and His ways are not our ways!  The men who signed the Declaration of Independence understood that the nation of people they were organizing would fail if God were taken out of the picture. The New England Primer was the first reading book designed for the American colonies first schools. Harvard University was also initially founded on the Word of God.  The New England Primer was the foundation of schooling BEFORE the 1790’s.  The DVD series “The Truth Project” which is available on Amazon, in particular tour 9 and 10 gives insights to how important the Word of God was in the founding of the United States of America. Pastor Derek Prince goes into detail about the Holy Spirit on this fabulous teaching.

See the comments below this post. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is initially evidenced by speaking in a heavenly language. “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues.” Mark 16:17  — The Holy Spirit infiltrates our thoughts, as He penetrates deeply to teach and guide us into service through the gift He dispatches.  Before surrendering all of our intelligence and desires plus all of our personal dreams to God, like a caterpillar we crawled along  tasting all the world offered and still felt empty.  Willingingly we longed to to fly free from guilt. Obediently like a caterpillar, we chose to surrender and be transformed. Trusting God to create in us a new heart, we became still in the Presence of God and allowed Him to have His way in us and He created a whole new creature! A butterfly emerged with new skills, and a new purpose. Over time we are sanctified by His grace and enabled to fly above the earth with eyes to see what God sees. When we desire change above all else, and as we seek God with all our heart, mind and soul, He satisfies our need to be useful and known.  The treasure of Christ in us is that we have been liberated by His work on the cross. All of  sins power was broken, and because we trusted God, and were willing to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, Satan was defeated.  His promise fulfilled as we spoke with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believed in our heart, the Holy Spirit entered to do His work in us, to transform our desires into His. “God arranged each of the parts in the body exactly as He wanted them.” Our Father also encouraged us that not all believers are prophets, teachers, healers, or miracle workers. Not all speak in tongues, or interpret tongues. Our Father prompts us to seek His most excellent way. We are to focus on loving ourselves and others as God loves us, unconditionally.  Love never ends; but prophecies will pass, tongues will cease, and knowledge will pass. Human knowledge and understanding is partial, and our visions of the future are partial; but when the Perfect One returns, all the partial will pass as Jesus reveals to us all the mysteries. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding as you read 1 Corin chapters 12-13-14  As we humble ourselves before the Holy Presence of God, we come to the absolute END of our will and ways as we acknowledge that without the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing to impact the kingdom. 1 Corinthians 9:19-20 “For although I am a free man, not bound to anyone’s bidding, I have made myself a slave to all in order to win as many people as possible.” It is important that we be prepared to accept the greater responsibility that we ask for.  As believers our responsibilities are great but not as great as our possibilities. We must become less, that the Holy Spirit can be recognized working in and through us.  The manifestation of healings, signs and wonders occur as we seek to identify our God given Spiritual gifts. The Holy Spirit distributes all gifts:

1) Prophesy: “The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.” 1 Samuel 10:16 “The prophets are prophesying lies in My name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.” Jeremiah 14:14 – Prophets feel compelled from within to express their thoughts and ideas verbally. They are open about their own faults as they make quick judgements on what is seen and heard and they speak up quickly. They can be painfully direct with corrections. They are willing to suffer for saying or doing what is right. The Apostle Peter quickly condemned Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:3) Peter was reluctant to forgive and asked how long he endure his offenders (Matt 18:21) Peter fell at the feet of Jesus and admitted he was a sinful man (Luke 5:8) His defense of Jesus was quick as he cut off an ear (John 18:10) Peter rejoiced in his suffering for the cause of Christ (Acts 5:29) The misuse of the gift of prophecy is that they jump to speak judgement with a few known facts. Quick to judge, they tend to point out problems.  They accuse others who do not give full disclosure of their faults or weakness.

2) Serve: “We have different gifts according to the grace given us…If it is serving, serve…A humble servant cannot out give the Master….and yet, it is best that we patiently pause before responding to all perceived needs to ask our Lord, ‘What would You have me do? ” Our own desire to help may at times undermine God’s plan for the situation, or the person in need. Therefore it is essential to trust God in all matters, and NOT our feelings. Jesus did not fill every need, or heal all the sick. In His 👊🏼 timing, authority, mercy, plan and power, I trust His will shall be done in each situation, only when I ask Him how I am to proceed. 🌷 Waiting on the Lord gives us the grace to set limits and healthy boundaries. — His purpose is that we do greater things, according to His will, NOT ours!❤️ “I must decrease that He might increase. ” Jesus also asked a guy who was lame for over 30 years “Do you want to be healed?” Sometimes people seek to exploit our generosity. “Get wisdom” from God first, then obey His guidance.

3)Teach: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another.” Colossians 3:16 “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” Galatians 5:25 – Teachers need to validate truth to certify statements with the delight they get in their research. They tend to preface what they have learned by giving their teaching credentials. They emphasize accuracy with an alertness to details. They are diligent as they listen in silence to discern any fault is what is said. Doctor Luke qualified his teaching by reciting eyewitness accounts. (Luke 1:1) His account of Jesus is the longest gospel. He gave precise descriptions while his personal  statements were never recorded. Misuse of the gift of teaching is to be unaware that his details bored his listeners with too much research. Teachers can puff in pride. “knowledge puffeth up but love edifieth.” (1 Cor 8:1) They tend to be skeptical of all that they hear until they confirm the source. They give much information without spiritual application. They lean on their own understanding, yet God warns that our thoughts are not His. Teachers assume that more knowledge prepares them to evaluate new ideas, or interpretations of God’s word. They can shut themselves up which closes out those around them. Luke emphasized his detailed chronological account in order to convince others with his research. (Luke 1:1-3) While the Roman’s rolled their eyes with disinterest, God provided another writer for their ears to hear.

4) Exhort: “But encourage one another daily… We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.” Heb 11:1 “By faith we understand…by faith Abel, Enoch, Noah and  Abraham all still lived by faith when they died.” Heb 11 – Exhorters are motivated from within to urge others to their full spiritual maturity in Christ. They have the ability to discern what level of life in Christ someone is and they speak at that level. They tend to give steps of action with a drive to explain truth with logic to make it more applicable. They desire face to face conversations so that they can determine acceptance by a listeners attentiveness. They easily identify with people from all sort of backgrounds in order to gain a wider audience. The Apostle Paul longed to see his companions in the faith affirmed as he used personal dialogues. He also hung out in places where the lost were, to save more. (1 Cor 9:19) The misuse of this gift is to not reveal how long it takes to work out their salvation. Their delight to help others may cut into family responsibilities. They assume that friends respect the time they take to help others. They tend to treat people as projects rather than friends.  They may use private illustrations of conversion without permission.

5: Give: “Give and it shall be given to you..” Luke 6:38  Give is found 1433 times in the Bible.  “the righteous give without sparing.” Prv21:26 Givers discern wise investments as they practice personal frugality in order to give more. They prefer giving quietly. Matthew emphasizes giving secretly (Matt 6:1) as he also records the great costly gifts given (Matt 2:11) he records misused funds (Matt 21:33) records a condemnation by Jesus for the man who was forgiven much but refused to forgive others.(Matt 18:23) Matthew was a tax collector whose job required that he motivate others to give (Luke 5:29) Givers misuse their gift by causing resentment in the family by their generosity, they may corrupt people with funds and cause others to look to givers rather than to God, they also may ask God and wait for His prompting to give.

6: Administrators/Managers: “be self-controlled, respectable, able to teach and manage his own family, keeping hold of the deep truths of the faith.” 1 Timothy 3:4-9 NIV Managers have the ability to see the final result, the big picture of a completed task.  They can break down goals as they engage others to ‘get it done’. They tend to not be distracted by details that they can focus on the finished project. They endure negative responses to their plan to improve or change things. They delegate extremely well as they inspire and encourage workers cheerfully with much praise. They delight in watching all parts come together. Nehemiah accomplished a huge task by removing obstacles as he acknowledged the name and skill of each worker. (Neh 3:1) He retained responsibility to obtain necessary resources and by effectively dealing with enemies. (Neh 2:6) Misuses of managers; using people to accomplish personal ambitions; showing favoritism; they take charge prematurely when they see inefficiency.  They may ignore valid suggestions of improvement to a plan of action.

7: Show Mercy: “The poor plead for mercy “ Prv 18:23  “He has shown you, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 – Those who extend mercy  are themselves sensitive people and subject to be hurt as they measure acceptance by physical closeness and quality time with friends. They desire deep friendships and they attract people who experience mental or emotional distress. Mercy givers want to remove the cause of hurt. The Apostle John wrote to extend fellowship, joy, hope and confidence. (1 John 1:3; 3:2; 4:18; 5:13) He desired the closest place to Jesus (John 13:23) He encouraged others to stop hating (1 John 3:11) He referred to himself as the one Jesus loved. (John 13:23) Those with the gift of mercy misuse their gift by failing to be firm and decisive when necessary. They tend to make decisions based on emotion rather than by how the Spirit leads. By their deep need for loyalty in friendship they tend to be possessive and get disappointed with their great expectations for mutual commitment. They take up the offenses of those being abused and can cut off fellowship with those who they perceive as insensitive. 

As we choose to endure the pain of a heart that breaks for what breaks His, we then are truly placing God first — above our popularity, comfort, preference or pleasure.  “I have wept, I have groaned, I have travailed all night, until God broke me. Until God mows you down, you will never have this long suffering for others. You must pay a price for everything that you get from God.  There is nothing worth having —that you do not have to pay for— either temporally or spiritually. ”  Smith Wigglesworth (S.W.)  Anything of great VALUE comes at a great PRICE. Consider the price Jesus paid for the VALUE of our eternal salvation?  “I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.” Psalm 119:112 — ASK and RECEIVE  the gift of discernment…Our Father gave us faith and discernment to identify the spirit of strife, envy, jealousy, or the cunning of Jezebel.  We are to have a singleness of purpose as we speak strongly against the Liar, the great deceiver. It is wise to not attempt to be like anybody else because God redeemed, cleansed, gifted, forgave and sanctified each soul that professed Jesus as Lord. Our Father created us all differently for His purpose and glory. He wants us to come to faith, just as we are, with the personality that He gave us.  God has always used ordinary peeps  like Amos, Mark, Mary, Priscilla, Joel, Hannah, and an orphan named Esther.  We are not to echo or imitate other people, we are to echo the words of Jesus as we boldly share the gospel with the voice  He gave us.  “Before God could bring me to this place of working miracles, He had to break me a thousand times.” S.W. Ask the Holy Spirit for all that you want, ask Him to make your gifts clear. When we are operating in our gifts, it flows, it is not a struggle. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.” 1 Corin 12-14. As we eagerly desire these gifts of the Spirit, we do our best to excel in those that build up the church.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:2-6 We are to be united “in Christ” without division, bitterness, envy or jealousy. “So Christ Himself gave the (FIVE FOLD MINISTRY) apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,  to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up  until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13

Study the saints before us and the Word of God:

1) Prophets are people who speak what God gives them to say – “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.” Amos 3:11 – “Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.” 1 Kings 18:22 – Consider the Prophet Isaiah.  When he saw himself clearly, he fell on his face totally undone an cried out to God “I am a man of unclean lips”. (Isaiah 6:1) When we honestly measure our words to the holiness of God, we discover that we are unclean.

2) Servants recognize a need and fill it. Are you motivated to get people together and serve them?  Do you enjoy hospitality? Jesus said, “ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:18 – Our Lord calls us all to evangelize as His servants.

3) Teachers validate truth by studying the scriptures. “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Acts 17:11 – Do you conduct detailed research to share with others?

4) Exhorters admonish, advise, encourage, counsel, rebuke, caution out of love. “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers.” 1 Timothy 5:1

5) Givers make wise investments because they inquire of God, do the research and trust God. “To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability.” Matthew 25:15

6) Admin/Managers/Rulers organize steps to get the job done. “The work is being carried on with diligence and is making rapid progress under their direction.” Ezra 5:8

7) Mercy givers feel compassion and gently assist. “Let your gentleness be evident to all.” Phil 4:5 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12

As disciples of Jesus, we follow Him and the Holy Spirit in us refines us. He sanctifies us as He finishes the work He began in us.  “If anyone destroys God’s sanctuary (temple), God will destroy him; for God’s sanctuary is holy, and that is what you are.” 1 Corin 3:17 -Out of the love of God, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, so that we may confess and be forgiven. “ Praise God in all things!” We are all gifted differently and therefore we may rub against others in the church who feel like sandpaper to us. Any internal agitation may be a prompt from the Holy Spirit that we should examine our frustrations, our anger, our irritations. The truth is that we can remain united as we give thanks for each hand, foot, ear, toe, and tongue within the body of Christ. It is clear that we need one another. Repenting, we get restored to purity.  PICTURE THIS: Walk into the ocean and willingly submerge your physical container of the Holy Spirit into the vast depth of the ocean — into the deep, wide, fullness of God.

As His obedient servants, we willingly drown ourselves in baptism, and rise up as His uniquely gifted disciples. We wisely refuse to deceive ourselves and believe the lie that we are not fully equipped. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” Eph 1:3-6 — God said it, therefore it is true!  “Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.” 1 Cor 1:6-7 We are not to trust our feelings, we are to trust God at His Word. According to the will of God, we are to look into the mirror and remember who our Father says we are “in Him”. We can then confidently persevere to do our best for His glory. James 1:22-25  As we commune with the inner Man in our secret place, we confess to Him our shortcomings and pray for increased faith and discernment…. we wait on Him, for the season He chooses for that increase. Our Lord sends us out to rely on Him for wisdom in every situation. We embrace the task to “go and make disciples” We teach others to obey God by our example.  Trusting the living Word of God, we claim every spiritual blessing. Even when we choose to “walk in the Spirit” it is NOT because of our personal discipline or resolve that equips us with a supernatural power to follow through with our choice to live in the Spirit. It is the work of God through the Holy Spirit that enables us to “be” His obedient disciples. “For it is God who works in us, to will (desire) and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.” Phil 2:12 We are daily to pick up our cross and pray: “Help me Holy Spirit, today I am willing to be led and walk where You lead, and speak what You prompt me to say.” AMEN The wisest man ever born wrote “then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it.” Ecclesiastes 8:17 We must all fully yield to the Spirit to be completely changed, whole and effective in the gifts of the Spirit. Consider the caterpillar and the emerging butterfly? The caterpillar had to be still and completely surrender so that God could knit together a whole new creature with the ability to fly. Forgive me Father for not completely surrendering my desires to do things my way. Help me to fully submit so that the Holy Spirit is unhindered by my sinful nature to resist what is best. AMEN  God’s workers listen, study, ask questions, obey and put into practice what we learn. We are to endure the hardship of doing what the Holy Spirit prompts us to do — whether we feel adequate to the task or not. As we lay aside our natural abilities and our feelings, the Holy Spirit then can equip us to do what He probes us to do.  Our obedience brings blessing, favor and supernatural wisdom.  “Love Me and keep My commands” Children of God hope to hear our Father say “Well done My good and faithful servant.” What does our Father expect of us? That we use the gifts according to the grace and ability He gave us. Remember to fear NOT! “He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.”  The Holy Spirit chastises us to love the unlovable, to forgive the unforgivable, and to issue mercy to our oppressors.  Our old soul was great at manipulating and deceiving itself of it’s own goodness, knowledge and ways. The new regenerated soul in Christ is challenged to take hold of every thought and measure it against the will, and ways of God. “The secret to spiritual success is a hunger that persists. ..it is an awful condition to be satisfied with one’s spiritual attainment.”  Smith Wigglesworth. Oh Lord do not allow me to stay the same, teach me, refine me.  I want to follow Jesus, my Commander in Chief and if He says jump, Lord send someone to push me, to encourage me to use the gift faith. It is my desire to glorify God in all that I write, speak and do. When we care more about God …than what people think, we find that we no longer need recognition or validation from our peers.  Our soul audience is God and we trust that our Father is watching and listening and that He is pleased.  “I fail to see how a Christian will ever reach a place where God can use them…unless they get angry with the Devil.” S.W. – When we get angry for being defeated as a slave to the lie that we are insufficient or that ‘it’ is impossible…then is when we begin to boldly declare the victory we have “in Jesus”.  Jesus got angry and turned over tables and it is good that we get angry enough to take back our full power and authority.

Our conduct is approved by God when we speak firmly against the evil brute, the prince of the air who infiltrates our mind with worry and fear. “Living in fear is blasphemy. Our petty fears deny that our God is big enough.” David Wilkerson. It is great to write down a personal mission statement so that we are clear with who we are “in Him”.  Who am I to the King of kings?  I am His servant  and I do my best to walk in step with the Spirit. My Father repeats “fear not” so obediently I confidently use the authority that He gave me. My mission is to  continuously work out my salvation as I diligently study the Holy Scriptures. I trust that my Father will complete the work He began in me. My purpose is to lean on the Holy Spirit, not my own intelligence, or understanding. “For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”  Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”     1 Corinthians 1:19-20

My job is to continue to train in righteousness as my Father equips me to do every good work. The Word of God is living and active and it penetrates and separates my soul from the Spirit of God. The Word of God judges my hidden thoughts, ideas, ways, and my selfish motives. The Holy Scriptures encourage me. “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but the righteous stand bold as a lion.” Proverbs 29:25 Because I claim that Jesus is Lord of my life,  and as I assimilate the scripture, His words pour from my mouth. The truth is that the living Word always accomplishes all that God intends.  My career “in Him” is to live a blameless life, above reproach, holy and disciplined to remain solid as the Holy Spirit convicts, teaches, and comforts me.

“The Pentecostal movement is too large to be confined in any denomination or sect. The Holy Spirit works above our understanding as He draws all people together in one bond of love, one church, one body of Christ.” William Seymour —

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an outpouring of God’s abounding love which falls upon you. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit fills all the emptiness of a life outside of Christ. The supernatural ability to speak in tongues is evidence of being baptized in the Spirit. This ability does not come on demand and we are wise to ask for it, to pray for it, and to wait patiently for it. Praying in tongues is not the only evidence of a person surrendered to Christ. The evidence of a surrendered life “in Christ” is a person who walks humbly in step with the Spirit bearing the fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 Angry outbursts while speaking evil against others is  what defiles a Christian. Wherever hate abides, the Spirit does not. “If you speak evil and backbite, I do not care how many tongues you speak, you are not walking in step or obeying what the Word of God says.  Beloved we are not seeking for tongues…but we are seeking the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire. And when we receive Him, we shall be so filled with the Holy Ghost that He Himself will speak in the power of the Spirit through us.  The Apostolic faith means one accord, one soul, one heart. My heart cries out to God that He would make every child of His see the necessity of living as One in the Body of Christ as God outlines it in John chapter 17.” William Seymour.

A person who constantly complains or ridicules others does NOT welcome the Holy Spirit, but repels Him.  These words were written by a chronic complainer. “There I go again, I have tried not to be so negative,  but my grumbling persists. Seemingly, involuntarily – a voice of bitter anger pours out of my mouth.  Once I get on a roll of condemnation, I slide down a dark trail of whining and complaining. We are to examine ourselves and be aware of who irritates us and why. Most often, the people who irritate us are simply those who are operating in a different Spirit given gift!

The Holy Spirit distributes according to His will:

1) wisdom to apply to life, a skill.

2) knowledge, revelation of facts.

3) faith  – for increase in finance, a new project

4) healing –prayers result in healing.

5) miracles – supernatural restorations

6) prophecy –  “for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of  prophesy.” Rev.19:10 KJV  All prophecy benefits the church

7) discernment of spirits; prophesy, spiritual conditions, evil

8) tongues; a supernatural prayer language

9) interpretation tongues. The gift of to interpret tongues spoken to edify the church.

As we focus on the gifts of others, we can better identify our own. Ahhh, we do not argue over petty things, we choose to keep unity and issue grace with thanksgiving towards those with different gifts. The apostle Paul empathized with the needs, weaknesses, values and ideas of the lost to establish common ground. As we examine our irritation, we choose to die to our feelings as we focus on extending God’s love.  Note the increase of JOY when we complain less. All spiritual gifts are accomplished by the grace of God, not by our own desire and power.  The more grace a Christian receives, the more confident and effective that Christian will be.“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” As we practice all the gifts, we develop confidence in how God gifted us.  When the Holy Spirit convicts us to a point of apologizing for our lack of issuing mercy, we become aware that what comes out of our mouths is what dominates our heart.  We need to turn from our natural tendency to complain or get irritated and appreciate how God has gifted each of us differently. We are to love people, issue mercy whether we feel like it or not.  “If people irritate you a lot, your problem isn’t the people; it’s your pride.” The Holy Spirit had my attention. My soul argued that I was entitled to feel angry because the Lord got angry in the temple courts! The lesson for me is that whenever I feel entitled to complain, I need to capture that thought and ask the Holy Spirit to counsel me. Dying to my irritation, to my superiority, to my pride —requires that I humbly confess my sin.  “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25 God prospers us by His correction in His perfect timing. I have been shown that grumbling and thanksgiving cannot co-exist in a pure heart for the Lord. God tells me that I am to be thankful: “ in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess 5:18. – Pray to be useful for His purpose. Exhort, Encourage, Teach, Reach, Pastor, Prophesy, SPEAK LIFE with the gift the Holy Spirit gives. ❤ Lord, help me to guard my mouth so that I will not grieve You when I speak. Help me to be kind when I speak correction, or when it is necessary to admonish. From a heart filled with Your Spirit, enable my tongue to be Your voice as I speak. Help me to never speak words that in any way belittle a person, or cause them to lose hope or feel unworthy of their salvation in Jesus Christ.

Keep me from ever saying anything that would bring grief to You Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN – WORSHIP WORDS TO SING OUT: “Here I am” take me into the Holy of Holies, part the veil that keeps me from seeing Jesus fully. I was made to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. Take the coal and cleanse my lips, I hunger and thirst for Your righteousness, which is only found in one place.  As in the days of Moses, hide me in the cleft, in that secret place. May Your holy shadow pass over and cause me to bow and worship. The blood of Jesus is enough to cleanse, touch and heal. Take me past the outer courts, past the crowds of people for I long to be stand in Your Light. A man who is transparent, who shares his struggle to pray, to be still and trust God. A man who thought he had disappointed God by his lack of faith. The video is well worth watching if you do not know your gift, or how to please God Almighty.