Tag Archives: Jesus

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Going Through Trials and Spiritual Warfare

If you’re going through any situation and it seems like there is no end or any answers, just remember the Lord Yeshua will not put no more on you than you can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). And if we have the understanding and faith in that, then we must know that He is making us in His perfect will. And what is that will? That is to be like Yeshua. What greater faith, love and confidence does the Lord have in us to make us just like Him.

A blacksmith works on raw steel, heating, beating, and heating and beating, over and over again and again, only to become a hardened metal sword that has been tried by fire; only to be used in the army of the Lord, cutting and ripping down every stronghold and every place that may give refuge to Satan and his fallen ones. Now think! If we are going through trials and spiritual warfare, He knows that we can bear it. But He will not put no thing on you that will cause you to sin!

So that means you can have the confidence, faith and determination to see to the end because He already saw your victory! You are to become that hardened sword, that tried-by-fire sword, that light, that city that sitteth on a hill, that light that shines in darkness and the darkness can’t comprehend it. The love of God, the grace, faith, the voice, the move, the fullness of God on earth, in a world that contains emptiness. The hope for people who have lost their dreams. The answer for those who have lost direction.

Now that we know that the Lord is forging us through the fire of trials and spiritual warfare, then why stand here crying, moping, with that Johnny can you spare a dime mentality? Gird yourself up. Pick yourself up, dust off and begin to wield your spiritual sword and to be all you can in Yeshua’s army, and with these 7 words on your lips, “IN YESHUA’S NAME THE VICTORY IS OURS!”

Read 1 Peter 4:12-19:

12 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

Always remember:

  1. Who shall separate us from the love of God! (Romans 8:35)
  2. We shall judge this world and angels (1 Corinthians 6:1-6)
  3. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world! (1 John 4:4)
  4. No weapon that is formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17)

Other Scriptures:

  • Philippians 1:29 – “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.”
  • Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
  • Galatians 5:1 – “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
  • Ephesians 6:11-14 – Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”

Sermon by Pastor Tony Catron

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Is Bread Enough for You?

Does anyone remember when you were so hungry that you ate a slice of bread, or you were so hungry that you ate an air-wich? Some of you may ask, what’s an air-wich? Well, it’s two slices of bread placed together. You may say that you’ve never had that, but if you ever go through any hard time you would know what I mean. You will eat that air-wich like it had meat between those slices of bread. But after eating that bread, you found out that it wasn’t enough, because now your body craves water afterward.

As you can see, the bread wasn’t enough, it just serviced for a short time. So when you compare this to your soul, it needs to be fed as well. So what type of food are you feeding your soul – nourishment or junk food? You may ask, what is junk food for the soul? Well, that would be anything that is contradictory to the bread of life, and that bread of life is found in John 6:22-59:

22 “The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone; 23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:) 24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. 25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? 26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. 59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.”

We need to understand that Yeshua is the only source of all mankind, and His Word, and will for us is nourishment to our soul and bones.

John 4:31-34:

31 “In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”

In my conclusion remember Matthew 4:4:

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Sermon by Pastor Tony Catron

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Are You Authorized and in Charge or at Large?

Do any of you remember when we would try to get our siblings to do what we wanted by invoking the word of authority to them by saying phrases like: “Father or mother said”. 

The word invoke means: to petition for help or appeal to or cite as authority. In Greek: epikaloume; means to appeal or quote. 

The reason why I would do this was to make it like I’m in charge. So, by invoking the name of the one in authority, both of us have to give an account. I felt this would cause her to listen to me and do what I said, but in actuality, I was acting in a lie and was acting illegitimately because if the true person of authority was to find out, I would receive punishment that was in accordance with the offense. So, as a so-called Christian, if you haven’t been given the authority by Yeshua, Jesus Christ to operate in His authority as a Christian, then you would be operating as an illegitimate Christian trying to invoke the authority of God on others, as though you have the right under God’s righteousness. Get right before you fight. Even when Yeshua Jesus Christ, who was given all the authority from God the Father, the Pharisees tried to question his authority.

Let’s turn in the Bible to Mark 11: 23-33: 

23 “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. 27 And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, 28 And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? 29 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. 31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? 32 But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. 33 And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

In this country, they have something called making a citizen’s arrest, but that doesn’t make you a police officer. You can only walk into the office when you have met and been taught the requirements for the office. In other words, just saying you’re a child of God or a Christian, doesn’t make it so. Find the truth and stop living in a subjugated, fake Christian life.

In the Bible reads John 3:5-7:

5 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

Also in Acts 2:38-40:

38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”

In my conclusion, read Matthew 28:18-20:

18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

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The Uncompleted Struggles of an Unforgiving Heart

When we look at the word struggle, it means to contend with an adversary or opposing force, war, fight, conflict, or contest of any kind. As we go through the highs and lows in our lives, how many different types of struggles do we encounter in our hearts? How many of those encounters deal with emotional ties? How many of those encounters deal with unforgiveness? Do we understand what the word unforgiveness means?

Unforgiveness means:

1. Not disposed to forgive or show mercy; unrelenting.

2. Not allowing for mistakes, carelessness, or weakness: the unforgiving nature of aviation.

Let’s read James 4:1-6:

“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

As your emotional struggles begin to build, your heart moves farther from Jesus/Yeshua, and you move towards self-pity, which is closer to demonic influence. These are the signs that follow them that are following down that path of thinking. Here are six signs and traits of this infectious behavior:

  1. I’m alone and no one understands me
  2. The blame game 
  3. Self-condemnation
  4. Self-isolation
  5. Self-destruction
  6. Demonic vexation

If you know anyone you’ve seen or heard exhibiting any of these signs or traits, then it’s time for you to react and not get lax. You need to give them care immediately by:

  1. Showing them God is present by being present with them
  2. By listening to their heart
  3. Being humble and genuinely caring about their concerns and not interrupting
  4. Let them see the love of Yeshua Jesus in you by what you do
  5. Tell them of the love of Yeshua Christ has waiting to give them
  6. Pray the prayer of healing and restoration on them so they can hear and agree

Sometimes, the biggest failure in ministries is not actually ministering to that person’s needs. Some will console their flesh and temperament.

Temperament:

1. the combination of mental, physical, and emotional traits of a person; natural predisposition.

2. unusual personal attitudes or nature as manifested by peculiarities of feeling, temper, action, etc, often with a disclination to submit to conventional rules or restraints. 

Read with me James 2:14-19:

14 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

In my conclusion, read Matthew 25:31-40:

31 “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

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What Does It Take to Get You Awake?

How many of you remember when you were going to school and every morning your parents would always try to wake you up for school, but it seems as though that’s when the best sleep of your life came on you even though you heard your name being called. Then, the desire to not let go of that wonderful time of peace and relaxation had bound your body, mind, and soul to that bed. You willingly did not want to leave the warmth and the comfort that the bed had to offer though we knew we had to get up to face reality and growth in our life for the future. Sometimes, we get into situations that tend to lock us in a certain mindset that is not healthy for our body physically, or a subjugated lifestyle that is not profitable and beneficial for our soul.

Turn with me to Romans 13:1-14:

1 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. 8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

So in conclusion, we need to know that when we get a clear understanding of the word of God then we need to walk in that understanding.

Extra Readings: John 12:35-36, John 12:44-49