Promises Of God, Joy Revealed!

Luke 2:101-14, John 14:14; Revelation 2:18-28; Psalm 43:4; Nehemiah 8:10,12:43; Psalm 98:4, 51:12; Isaiah 35:10; Psalm 16:9; Mark 14:38; Luke 21:36


We are walking in today:  Promises Of God, Joy Revealed!

Luke 2:10-14 10)And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  12) And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  I am talking about, joy to the world. I bring tidings of great joy!  Our savior is born!  Behold is a prefix to them, to be excited and to bring attention of good news and glad tidings of Christ being born of a virgin.  This displays the love of God to man, by way of the prophecies and promises relating to Him, fulfilled in the work of man's salvation.  By His peace, pardon and righteousness, all about to be accomplished so in a matter of great joy!!  Not carnal but spiritual, not fake but real, not temporary, but everlasting--even such as it can not be taken away, nor to meddle with, not small but great.  His birth brings us even joy unspeakable, full of glory.  Revelation of a new found joy, now you can truly say. "the joy of the Lord is my strength!"  John 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.  The promises of God--joy revealed!!  I don't know about you but I woke up this morning to say, joy to the world!!   I know right now, 2011 has just been one of those years, that sometimes you could not even say joy, but knowing that the joy of the Lord is your strength--you kept walking and pushing.  Not giving up, you prayed without ceasing.  You walked in this year, being the year of abundance.  You trust and believe what the word of God says.  From Genesis to Revelation, as He comes in the month of December to reveal the reason why you went through what u went through.  He came to reveal that He will bring you out no matter what.  As He comes to reveal that this is the day that the Lord has made.  We are to rejoice and be glad in it.  Get up this morning saying that this is the day that the Lord has made.  We have so much to be thankful for!  Some body did not get up this morning. He is so worthy!  Get up this morning,  saying joy to the world.  I am gonna go through this weekend with joy to the world on my lips!!  I have found that the joy of the Lord has been my strength--His strength is made perfect in our weakness.  Get ready for the revelation of joy.  Get ready for the revelation of peace.  All because of what our Father, has already done for us.  So heavenly, Father we thank You this morning for being joy, unspeakable joy.  We thank you for all the things that You have already done.  We give You thanks, Lord in advance.  We lift up Rev. Duncan, as she comes with a word from the book of Revelation in a season and time like this.  We thank You, Lord for her.  Have your way Holy Spirit.  Somebody shout joy to the world!  Are you ready for the word of God?

 The Church of Thyatira-A Corrupt Church: The Jezebel Spirit Rules

In Revelation 2:18-28 we read Jesus’ letter to the church in Thyatira.  This church was clearly a ‘life-giving church’.  The Lord Jesus commends them with these words; “I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.” (Rev 2:19 ).  But there was a problem.  The enemy had planted in this church a subversive agent who was causing significant disruption to the life of the body.
(19) What Jesus knows about the Christians in Thyatira.  I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.  I know your works: Thyatira was the least significant city among the seven cities Jesus addressed.  Yet they were not hidden to Jesus.  Like each one of the churches, Jesus says to the church at Thyatira I know your works.  Love, service, faith, and your patience: In many ways, the church at Thyatira was a model church. They had four great essential qualities. They had love, both for the Lord and for one another. They knew service, and had faith and patience worth mentioning.  As for your works, the last are more than the first: This is another compliment to the church at Thyatira.  Not only do they have these works, but they have them in increasing measure--they are growing in love, service, faith, and patience.
(20-21) What Jesus has against the church at Thyatira.  Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.  Nevertheless: Despite all the good Jesus sees in the church at Thyatira, there are significant problems.  The problems are big enough for Jesus to say nevertheless, which means “despite all the good, I have a few things against you.”  Because you allow that woman Jezebel: The center of the corruption at the church at Thyatira is a woman Jesus calls Jezebel. This may not have been her literal name, but a “title” that clearly represents a self-styled prophetess within the church, after the pattern of Jezebel in the Old Testament (1 Kings 16:31-34 and 2 Kings 9:30-37)
In verse 20 the Master speaks of “…that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess.”  This verse as it relates to us today speaks of an unnamed person who is manifesting the spiritual characteristics of the Jezebel spirit the following verses give some very clear pointers to the character and operation of one manifesting this very destructive spirit.
     -“…calls herself a prophetess.” Note the personal claim to a position of status, influence and authority.  There is an arrogance and pride which demands recognition not the quiet humble spirit which waits for godliness and gifting to be recognized and affirmed by the body.
     -“By her teaching she misleads my servants…”  Note the impact of ‘Jezebel’s’ teaching.  Does it glorify Christ by promoting righteousness, holiness and unity?  No!  Rather it lays the foundations for immorality, idolatry, relationship break down and party spirit.  This person’s operation was clearly very subtle for many of the Lord’s people were deceived.
     -“…into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.” There was a patently fleshly element to this influence in the life of the church.  These words speak of spiritual and moral compromise.  Jesus requires the highest standards of spiritual and moral integrity among His people.  The enemy seeks to undermine these in any way possible.
     -“I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.” Do you see the pride and arrogance demonstrated here?  Those deceived by this spiritual entity are blind to their own error and deception.  Therefore they see no need to express repentance or apology?
The Spirit of Jezebel Today.  Some who study the life of the Church today have become aware that the same destructive spirit which challenged the spirit of prophecy in the time of Elijah and in the church at Thyatira is very much at work today.  The human personalities have changed, but the demonic entities that inspired Jezebel of old, are still the same.  There are a series of very discernible characteristics which define an attack of the spirit of Jezebel upon a community of God’s people.  While the attack will generally be personified in one or two people, they may be the unwitting (naïve) agents in a far more wide ranging strategy to neutralize a ‘life giving’ church.  Here are some of the characteristics of Jezebel agents one might expect to observe and identify through such an attack.
     Disguise- The enemy often chooses people who have a thorough knowledge of spiritual issues but wrong motivations to become his instruments in destruction.  To many they appear to be very genuine, spiritual people.  They use the ‘right’ words and attend the right meetings.  However the outward displays of sincerity and commitment may be a cover for wrong motivations or some other sin issue that has allowed the enemy access. The disguise is so good that even the most discerning leaders can miss it completely.
     Deception- Relationships are the key to the operation of this spiritual subterfuge.  The agent seeks to develop webs of relationships which position them in a place to influence others and ultimately to exercise considerable power over the life of the church.  There is often an element of deception and manipulation in these relationships.
The pastor is often the point of initial approach.  To many overstretched pastors, the arrival of a seemingly spiritual and willing worker or couple seems to be an answer to prayer.   The tell tale signal is the way in which these individuals seek to position themselves close to the pastor and spouse.  A variety of strategies are applied.  Personal friendship, financial assistance, support and encouragement, access to confidential information--are just some of the baits in the enemy’s tackle bag.  In order to secure the confidence of the pastor in his agent, the enemy may even use this plant to reveal seemingly important aspects of his strategy.
And should the pastor’s discernment warn him of the danger to the extent that he places barriers in the way, the deception simply changes focus to other people of influence. An elder, deacon, steward or spouse, leader of a significant ministry, a home group or indeed any network of relationships that delivers the much sought after influence and ultimately power. The pastor who seeks to warn his leadership team of the danger is often chided for having an overactive imagination.
Let’s recognize the suggested tell tale signs:
     -The pastor is overstretched in earnestly working in God’s Kingdom doing ministry.
     -The goal of the individual befriending the pastor/spouse for the position and recognition for increased influence and power.
     -The pastor’s discernment recognizes and warns other leaders but is not, believed as one who is responsible for our very souls?  Instead leaders see his/her warnings as an overactive imagination, or him/her viewing situations too spiritually or any other excuse we use to see things from a worldly prospective and overlook God as an all knowing God.  Also when this position is taken by leadership they are overlooking the pastor as our assigned leader and guide according to God.  See the examples given in Rev. 1-2 in how He recognizes the 7 stars (pastors) separately from the lamp stands (churches).
The name Jezebel had a powerful association.  If we called someone a “Judas” or a “Hitler” it would mean something strong.  It’s also a strong thing to call this woman Jezebel.  “She was one of the most evil characters of the Old Testament, who attempted to combine the worship of Israel with the worship of the idol Baal . . . Jezebel herself had a most unenviable record of evil.” (Walvoord)

This is not the end of the spiritual characteristics of the attack of the Jezebel spirit, but it is a great start.  We encourage you to pray for your discernment, the spiritual health of the body of Christ and the Holy Spirit to lead us to all truth.  We are not done in our revelation of what Jesus is saying to the churches.  Please read (1 Kings 16:21-34, chapters 17-21 and 2 Kings 9:30-37)


Search your hearts, fiveamprayer!  This is a great time for a self-check.  We are the church.  There are so many things that God has revealed unto us with this walk through the book of Revelation.  We should be so excited about this weekend!  God just keeps pouring into my spirit, joy to the world!  Psalm 43:4Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.  Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.  Nehemiah 12:43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.  Look at that the people has so much joy, their praises could be heard from a far.  God has been so good to us, fiveamprayer!  Psalm 98:4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.  Joy to the world, the Lord has come!  Keep on giving God praises!  Psalm 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.  Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.  Get up this morning saying, "joy to the world, the Lord has come!"  God is telling us how to walk, we got joy unspeakable.  Sorrow and sighing shall (there is that mandate again--the thing must be!) flee away.  There is no room for those sad and depressed thoughts when we are standing on the joy of the Lord we are strengthened and our hearts lifted!  For He has made us glad!!  Psalm 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.  We are saved!  Hallelujah!  This is only something that God could do!  Thank You Lord for doing so!  Fiveamprayer, seek out the everlasting joy, not happiness, which is fleeting.  Praise Him!  Thank You God!  This season is all about celebrating His birth!  The Christ, born here on Earth, of His mother Mary and laid in a manger.  God always had a plan for us!  Plans that were set in motion so long ago!  God has perfect vision, to begin a plan generations ago to be fulfilled years and years later!  Thank You Lord, for Your perfect timing and perfect plan.  A plan that is sure. that we can trust in and stand on!  Joy to the Lord!  Thank You Lord for teaching is today why we must walk with discernment in the churches.  We are asking that You restore our joy!  We lift up prayer requests, those known and unknown, have them to know that unto us a Savior is born!  Celebrate Him with songs and everlasting joy!  We come to ask for forgiveness, for our wrongs.  Thank You for forgiving us with no condemnation, that our sins are remembered no more.  Thank You for freeing us from the guilt and other attacks of the enemy!  Thank You Lord for having us to walk through the book of Revelation of Jesus Christ, this last month of the year.  You said 2011, is a year of abundance!  You have certainly delivered, more and more of You and less and less of us!  Amen!  Hallelujah!  Joy to the world, the Lord has come!

We seal this prayer in His precious blood: 1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

Welcome to the overflow...
Hallelujah and glory to His name!  I get joy when I think about, what He's done for me!  Keep on teaching us Lord, You are our King of kings, our Lord of lords, the great I AM, Emmanuel.  Come let us adore Him!  Anybody have joy?!  As we enter in to remembering Your birth, look at how the word goes in before us!  Leading us, He is the Way, the Truth and the Life!  Joy to the world!  Fiveamprayer we have received the best gift, the Revelation of Jesus Christ!  We are the church!  We have learned, and know--then we must do better!!  That is why we are directed to watch and pray--Mark 14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.  Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.  God is teaching us how to recognize a Jezebel spirit.  We come, lifting up all of the churches to walk according to Your word.  To follow as You lead and direct us.  We got the best gift--the gift that keep on giving!  Joy to the world, the Lord has come!  Hold on to this word!  Watch and pray!  Pray and watch!  Have a supernatural weekend!  Visit us on facebook and take some time to read the scriptures for yourself!  Joy to the world, the Lord has come!  Let Earth receive her King!  Let every heart prepare Him room...