Amy Adams

Fleshly Desires

I have been looking at something that I have had a problem with in the past and have truly been wondering what makes something a fleshly desire. I believe God has taken me on this journey to show me how something that doesn’t start out as a fleshly desire can become one and then that fleshly desire soon turns into sin, because it takes the place of God and becomes an idol. The thing that I have had a problem figuring out is a substance called kratom, something that I believe God told me He put on this earth to help people with pain, but only acute pain and was never intended to be taken long term. Truly, any substance that produces a feeling of euphoria has the potential for abuse, like alcohol, weed, or pain killers.

Fleshly desires cause you to feel disconnected from God, even though He is still right there. It will get you further away from the frequency it takes to hear the Holy Spirit. They cause you to be full of fear instead of full of faith. What might start out as something innocent becomes something that makes you question your identity in Christ. That is around the time that you should be praying to God for help to get you off it and He will deliver you. “I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:3. I have had a bit of a rough time in dealing with this particular substance because unlike most others, this is one that you can function on easily without feeling overly intoxicated, like alcohol or marijuana. God also showed me while taking kratom that there are a lot of people who are struggling to get off it. I talked to one person who took it for 8 years straight. That is a long time to be on anything.

God has shown me that people are easily swayed to continue doing something that feels good and even continue doing it when it doesn’t. This is very dangerous because kratom is particularly bad on your liver and kidneys, something most people aren’t aware of until it’s too late. And as if that is not bad enough, once you stop taking it, you experience withdrawals likened to coming off heroin, but not nearly as bad (I have come off both). To top it off, your brain has a hard time producing dopamine the way it used to. For me, that’s not been such a big deal because I have God in my life and I truly believe He fixed my brain so that I didn’t feel that, except for the first couple of weeks coming off kratom when I had stayed on it for 6 months.

The devil will try and convince you to get back on it if you are a child of God and will take out his heaviest arsenal, making you question God talking to you, giving you horrible anxiety and depression. Sometimes the attacks are unrelenting. However, I have come to find that when I meditate on God’s word and remember Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” The enemy is good at putting bad thoughts in your head and making it seem like those thoughts are your thoughts. You must come into your identity and remember who you are and WHO’s you are… A Child of the KING of Kings. The Lord loves His children and if you ask Him for anything without wavering on Him answering, He will answer you. His guidance can also offer a way of escaping from the situation. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be temptedbeyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

And when I tell you that the devil is good at making you forget, I mean he’s cunning and gives you spiritual amnesia. He puts a spirit of confusion on you and makes you forget about your interactions with God, almost like you haven’t spoken to God in ages, when in fact, you have. God has been having me write things down as proof that I have spoken to Him and it has helped me tremendously remember things, although I still freak out for a little bit until I remember to look. Everyone has times where their faith wavers, but when you have indulged in fleshly desires, sometimes it really wages war against your soul. “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;”1 Peter 2:11

On this journey with God, I have pondered why a fleshly lust is so detrimental and towards the end of It, I have seen it makes you question yourself in Christ. Also, I see it makes you feel so awkward mentally and makes you question whether God loves you or not. At least that has been the case for me.

This certain fleshly desire to kratom has shown me just how weak-minded certain substances make people in the long run. We were never meant to feel weak like that. We are children of God and are meant to feel empowered because He made us in HIS IMAGE AND HIS LIKENESS. By that definition, we are not weak by any means when we walk the path He has for us. Withdrawing from it made me feel so full of fear and anxious because it affected my limbic system badly, and that is only using on and off for 2 months. I can’t even imagine what it would feel like quitting it after doing it for years. It felt like the gates of hell were going to prevail against me, the fear was so bad.

It doesn’t matter what your fleshly desire is, whatever it is: money, power, fame, substances, gossiping etc. There is always a mountain you have to climb to get to your next high. You must continue to increase whatever desire you have to find contentment, but at the end of the day, nothing will give you fulfillment like walking in the life God has called you to. You can and do live in a constant state of joy and peace, within reason, but almost to the point that circumstances that would undo most people don’t phase you like it phases others. What the world calls foolishness, God calls wisdom and what the world calls wisdom and satisfaction, God calls foolishness.

A lot of people are going to think that this wasn’t God, but I truly know that it was because he told me to stop a few weeks before I stopped. He told me to stop when it was about to become a fleshly desire, staying within the confines of His word. I have to say now that I noticed when it shifted from not being a desire of the flesh to being one and then there was a certain point where He said that from that day forward, it would be considered sin. God didn’t want me to experience this level of intensity on the withdrawals mentally and emotionally, but I know now that a fleshly desire is something that comes in all forms. It is not just a substance that makes you feel something, but it is anything that has the ability to become an idol or an unrighteous act. It starts out innocent but gets worse over time. Be advised that these things will hurt you and God wants nothing but the best for His children.

Pray and ask God if there is anything in your life that has a stronghold on you and needs to be removed and see what He says. He will lead you out of it. All you need to do is repent, turn towards Him, and ask Him for help. Once He tells you what to do, you must listen and obey what He tells you, otherwise you will stay where you were.

Marriage and Communion with God

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ⁸Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:4-8

With households becoming more unpredictable and family life becoming much more hectic than ever before, there are more and more people nowadays struggling with identity issues. There is a reason for all these wanky thought patterns, whether it be from LGBTQ+ to anxious attachments, there is a STRONG need for Christ followers to rise up and stop playing around with the gifts and callings that God has given to each one of us.

Moms were always meant to stay at home to raise their children along with incorporating a bigger, God-ordained calling outside of just being a housewife. Why do you think there was such a major rise in popping pills and the pharmaceutical industry in the 60s and 70s from house moms staying at home doing nothing and getting bored when their kids went to school? Also, why do you think that drug use is on the rise period?? Because people have lost their true identities and when you lose your identity and don’t know that you have a God-given calling, you get bored, depressed, anxious, angry, and potentially addicted to kill whatever pain is growing on the inside. I know this better than most because my mammaw was a pill popper, my mom was an alcoholic, and I was a full-blown junkie before God got a hold of me. I can say with certainty that it’s time to stop medicating and covering up our problems with pharmaceutical drugs and be healed completely by the One who knows us by name and created us for the purpose of being loved by Him.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

There is this term I came across called anxious attachment style, which is cultivated from not having a stable but rather unpredictable household. Most, if not all people from broken households struggle with this in some form or fashion. This is something I have unknowingly struggled with. God is showing me how to break this mindset and truly find freedom in knowing that God loves me unconditionally, I never have to worry about Him leaving me or forsaking me and that I never have to fear anything anymore. Children will not be well-rounded if the parents are not well-rounded. That is just common sense. Anxious attachment style displays itself in many ways, and I am starting to see this now in myself and in my past relationships and in my current relationship with God.

Some of the characteristics a person with anxious attachment style displays is a need for constant reassurance, validation, and affirmation of their partner’s love and commitment to them and feel very uncomfortable when they don’t receive it. They are afraid of rejection, which will lead to anxiety and overreaching attempts to gain closeness again. Anxious attachments can make people clingy and needy, causing them to want to spend a lot of time with whoever they’re attached to, leading to separation anxiety. Jealousy plays a huge role in this person’s behavior as well, feeling threatened by other people and often leading to erratic behavior and taking their jealousy out on other people or the person they’re attached to. Having unhealthy boundaries causes them to struggle with respecting that person’s space and prioritizing that person’s needs above their own.

Negative self-perception also comes from anxious attachment styles. We were never meant to think of ourselves as less than what we are: a miracle that God pre-ordained before the foundation of the world to have a relationship with Him and walk in the specific calling He made us for. “Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.” Ephesians 1:4. Overthinking and ruminating about mistakes or things that have happened is another common thing that someone with this anxious thought process has. Personally, I have found it really hard to let go of things I have done to people, things other people have done to me, and beating myself up over silly mistakes that most people wouldn’t even think twice about. I frustrate myself more than anything most of the time, but that is not how my story will end. Anyone who truly follows Christ and lays down their life for Him will begin and end in victory and all those years stuck in broken mindsets will be gone. Life truly begins when you lay your life down for the God who knows you better than anyone.

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 16:25

That being said, traditionally, men weren’t just supposed to be the bread winners and providers. They were supposed to have a partnership with their spouse in whatever God called them to do, complimenting each other. “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18. A husband was never meant to provide for his family by working and never be at home while a wife was never meant to stay at home cleaning the house and raising kids. So, what happened? We lost sight of God and started focusing on what we wanted or thought we wanted. The great news is He never lost sight of us. I believe He is raising up men and women to be strong in Him and then bring them together to be ultimate power couples for the kingdom of God. He has told me that getting a right relationship with Him first is crucial before bringing a strong, godly man in my life to marry. I believe He is doing this with multiple men and women across the world. Think about it like this: it’s a lot easier to work with one individual and their individual problems than it is to work with 2 individuals and their individual problems at the same time. They can destroy each other before God’s work is finished. It’s not impossible but it’s not expedient either.

If men and women nowadays that have been absent of God most of their life come into a relationship with God, they need time with God before coming into a relationship with another person, namely a like-minded believer. They need to learn how to drop their anxious, destructive thought processes by learning how to trust in God while learning how to be loyal and faithful to God too. They need to have a healthy relationship with God before they would be able to come into a relationship with another believer. God has to take a lot of crap depending on how broken that person is, and He doesn’t want another person to have to go through some of the mistreatment and infidelity He goes through with a broken person. Not only that, but a believer is ready for a relationship, it can’t be with a non-believer. It could completely immobilize and debilitate any destiny the believer has with God. I have seen how one spouse was a believer in a relationship with God while the other was a believer but had no relationship with God. The man tried several times to start a church and every time, it failed. Not because the man wasn’t a man of God but because the wife wasn’t a strong woman of God. The wife unintentionally stole his God-given destiny.

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14

Men and women are meant to compliment each other. They are meant to help each other and work side by side, hopefully doing work for the kingdom of God. They are not meant to out rank the other because one does more than the other, but rather they are supposed to help each other when it comes to any endeavor God has called them to. Before He can bring two like-minded believers together, He must fix a few things, change a few perceptions, and clean up whatever mess the world created in that man or woman. Sometimes it could take weeks for a person to be healed and cleansed if they have the right church discipling them. Unfortunately, it could also take years depending on the willingness and attitude of the believer God is cultivating. All need deliverance from spirits and mindsets and if the church isn’t equipped to do that, it’s a problem, but not a problem too big for God to get around.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

So, if you’re lonely and you are currently working on yourself and have a relationship with the Lord, take heart because God knows that you shouldn’t be alone any longer than you need to be and you deserve to have a spouse who compliments you in every way. Get plugged into a church that will hold you accountable and offer deliverance and healing. Lean into God and He will get you there, make your paths straight, and give you the desires of your heart when you delight yourself in Him.

Freedom In Christ

No longer will the enemy block me

Nothing in heaven or on earth can stop me

As long as God’s got me.

Complaining anymore is out of the question

Grumbling the last few years has brought some devastation.

I’m breaking off idols with God’s help too

In a sincere effort to get to see His point of view.

The Most High is breaking strongholds

And busting me out of my old molds.

All things are made new with Yahweh’s Spirit inside of me

Holding tightly to His hand as He leads and guides me.

He’s getting me closer to the way He intended me to be

Praise be to the Most High, the One who sets us free!

The Crushing

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world, ye will have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Our faith must be tested through trials to prove its genuineness. I have been guilty of turning away from God when trials come because I believed that He was punishing me and that I did something wrong, but that’s just not true. If I really lean on His word, I know these momentary troubles won’t last and not only that, but I can find joy in tests and tribulations.

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1: 2-4

Many are called to come to Christ, but few are chosen because most people can’t handle the intense crushing that has to take place to remove all of our impurities. Just like when making a quality wine, the grapes must be crushed to get wine. Crushing is essential to preparing the wine. When people crush wine with their feet like in the old days rather than mechanically, they have the ability to control the tannin levels and influence the wine’s character. That is exactly what God is doing when He allows these trials in your life. He knows what He’s doing a lot better than we do. He crushes us to produce the fruit of the Spirit and draws out the impurities from our souls. He knows how to bring forth good wine/faith in all His children and it is not really our business to ask about His methods, but rather trust that He knows what He’s doing when He’s trying to shape you into the person He originally intended you to be.

Not only that, but the grapes then must be fermented then aged to bring about the perfect wine. The process of producing faith and the fruit of the Spirit is just like that. Faith gets stronger and better with age and increases even more when you start stepping out in faith. It is extremely important to trust in God and follow His directions and let Him lead you through the hard times. Just like wine, you must be crushed and purified to get to a state of total trust and dependence on the Vintner (winemaker) of your life. He says repeatedly, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

When you doubt that God’s in control, worry and fear creeps in, which opens a doorway to the demonic to wreak havoc on your life. Faith is so important to our walk with Christ and is paramount to getting to the next level of your relationship with God. If you don’t step out in faith and trust, you can’t please God. During the time of crushing, God is molding you into who He originally intended you to be, and though it might take a while, after the process of making you into “new wine” is over, that is the time where your ministry can truly begin. It doesn’t matter if you want to be a pastor of a church. Not everyone is meant for that kind of ministry. Others are meant to work behind the scenes by praying in intercession, healing the sick, casting out demons, and most importantly, “putting on Christ” towards everyone they encounter. This can only be done properly when the purification and sanctification process is finished, or when God’s “winemaking process” is finished. I heard that if you still have wounds you haven’t dealt with and ongoing sin, you can’t help others and it’s true. Jesus Himself said this, “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:3-5.

God is the Ultimate Vintner (winemaker). Sometimes, the process of God making us into new wine can take a short time, or for others who rebel and/or led astray, it can take years. I used to think that I would always have to deal with offenses until one man, who had a very similar background to mine said that Jesus and His word have transformed his heart and mind so much that he has lived years without taking offense from anyone he has encountered. He couldn’t do it in his own strength but fully leaning on God’s word and getting the love of the Father in him, he came to a point where he could walk in love and live without offense. Isn’t that incredible?! I want to live from a place of pure love so much and now that I know it’s attainable, it has gotten me back into God’s word and seeking His face more. I just want people to know the love of God and I have been misrepresenting Him poorly, not because of anything He’s done but because of my stubbornness and unwillingness to strive for that relationship with Christ. My selfishness has kept me from experiencing the love of the Father, but I am working with God now more than ever to get to that state of being Christ-like.

“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death… Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ.” Phillippians 3: 10, 12

The Stony Heart

Photo by Ju0119drzej Koralewski on Pexels.com

“Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away…But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy received it; Yet hath he not root in himself but endured for a while: for when tribulation and persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended.”

Matthew 13: 5, 6, 20, 21

I have been trying to follow Christ (very poorly) for about 4 years now, but it’s time for a change. It is time to rise up out of the ashes of my mistakes and stop being afraid of what other people think of me or if God has my back or not. There are times when I feel so strong in the Lord and I’m full of joy because everything is going right. Then, there are other times when I am so depressed and angry because of Murphy’s Law of everything that can go wrong does go wrong in overdrive, but these bad things are trials sent to test my faith and I am just now seeing it crystal clear for the first time.

I am tired of the highs and lows because the bible says to “rejoice in tribulations” (Romans 5:3). I have yet to master that art because of the stony heart that I have grown accustomed to having, but that stops here. Rejoice also means glory in the King James Version and the definition of that means “to take great pride or pleasure in.” How can one take pleasure in pain? By focusing on the fact that God is testing you and shaping you more and more into His image and likeness.

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brethren throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5: 6-11

Peter really knew what he was talking about. It seems like every time I get through a trial or tribulation, I look back and realize why God did let these bad things happen. I need to have a better attitude from now on and trust God to see me through to the other side. I know now that the pain and trouble won’t last but like most people, it’s easy to get in our feelings and our flesh and become angry and offended that God would allow such horrible things to happen. But it’s for our good. ALL OF IT! “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. Every single time, I have always felt bad for not trusting Him because He has always come in clutch for me. I have likened the breadcrumbs of His Presence and His Ways that He has left to be like puzzle pieces fitting together or a zipper zipping up with how precise and fitting all the bad things align up to bring out something good. I haven’t written in months because my tablet screen broke and then out of nowhere, my stepdad got a laptop because my daughter wanted one. God knew that I couldn’t afford one right away and made a way for me to start writing again.

“For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us!” (Romans 8:18). We must stop thinking that God doesn’t have a plan for all the bad things that happen or for the intentional trials He puts us through to test our faith. Not only that, but sometimes, He will let it get bad to push you back towards something that He has been asking you to do all along, because He knows that you’ll find peace and joy in it, whether it be writing, seeking His face, reading His word, etc.

It’s time to take our stony hearts and let the Holy Spirit repurpose them into hearts of flesh that are full of the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance. (Galatians 5: 22, 23)

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall seek my judgements, and do them.” Ezekiel 36:26, 27

Surrending to God

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” – 1 Peter 5:6-11

How do you humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and submit to His will? There are so many ways but one of the most effective ways is to sacrifice something that is dear to you and most people choose to fast from food for a time. I have noticed that fasting from food is by far the most effective way to hear from God. It is more mental than anything to stay away from food for a time, especially when its such a major habit in our daily lives. If you aren’t diabetic and don’t have any serious medical conditions, I strongly recommend doing a food fast to help you get closer to God and hear from Him. Pray about it!

Usually, the Holy Spirit Himself will lead you into a fast if you already have a relationship with Him. I have also heard stories of people fasting from food just to seek God and to know Him and towards the end of the fast, God reveals Himself in a very powerful, supernatural way. More often than not, most fasts are meant to abstain from food for a period of time for spiritual reasons, but some people choose to do a Daniel Fast or do some other kind of fast, like a social media fast.

I have heard a lot of testimonies about people in the New Age movement fast from food to get closer to Nirvana or receive enlightenment, but that truth is twisted with the lies of the enemy. Familiar spirits and ancestral spirits are nothing but demons pretending to be someone you knew or someone who relates to you and your vices. Don’t fast for them or for any kind of enlightenment but the Truth that proceeds from God. Fast for the ONE TRUE GOD who will save you from all the pain and trauma you have experienced in this life. He will give you real truth and enlightenment to live by. Horoscopes, astrology, tarot cards, crystals, voodoo, Santeria etc. are completely demonic and are not to be trusted to bring you happiness, only chaos, death and destruction.

Fasting for God doesn’t have to just be food. It can be other things too. Personally, I have observed that I am more spiritually sensitive to the Spirit of God when I fast from food as opposed to fasting from social media or abstaining from certain foods. Although, fasting from social media gives you more time to focus on things of the Spirit. It’s not necessarily fasting alone that brings results, but prayer in tandem with fasting, along with reading your Word. This causes you to have a hunger for God and to seek His face more. That is what brings true results. God is the one who gives the increase and the anointing, not the action itself. Fasting can break strongholds, deliver you from certain generational curses and certain demonic spirits, bad habits, addictions, and more. It can even show you if you have an unhealthy obsession with food, which is what a lot of people in America suffer from.

Surrendering your all to God is not easy. Jesus said this in Luke 9:23-25: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” This truly means whatever thing God asks you to let go of needs to be surrendered to Him if you truly want to follow Him and keep His commandments. 10 times out of 10, what He is asking you to give up will benefit you so much more than keeping it. I have been walking with Him for 3 years now and the time has come to fully surrender my life to Jesus. I am still afraid to take that leap but after coming to know Jesus via the Holy Spirit, I know it will be so much better than I could ever imagine. “’Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit…” 1 Corinthians 2:9, 10

Amy’s Psalm

Jesus is my Savior, the One I love and admire

Whose Spirit burns within me like a flaming fire.

Even before He laid the foundations of the earth

He had me in His thoughts.

Thank you Lord for everything,

Being near You makes me want to dance and sing.

I will tell everyone of Your glorious ways

So hopefully they will want to know you too.

Before I knew You, You were there.

When I was at my lowest, You were there.

On my best days and my worst nights,

You are constantly here by my side.

You will never leave me nor forsake me,

Even when I cannot see the way.

Not once have you let me be led astray,

Except when I tried to do things my way.

You are closer than a brother,

More loving than a mother,

You can’t be compared to any other.

More than once you have saved my life

From addictions that threatened to take it.

You pulled me out of that miry pit,

Otherwise I would have died

If You didn’t come to walk by my side.

You are not the kind who runs and hides.

You come in clutch EVERY SINGLE TIME!

Even when I hide in my shame,

Your love for me stays the same.

If it weren’t for you, I would be dead

You are all I need, my daily bread.

Time For a Change

Sermon by: Duane Thompson

Transcribed by: Amy Adams

Ecclesiastes 3:1: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”

Daniel 2:20-22: “Daniel answered and said, ‘Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His: And He changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings, and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding. He reveals deep secrets and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him.”

There is a time for everything. Everything moves by seasons and everything has a different timing. Your life moves in seasons and so does God. The place of God’s purpose is also the place of God’s power, purpose and provision. God had a purpose for you before you were created. Once you know why you were created and why you’re here, it will take you not only to the promises of your life but to the problems of your life as well. God is constantly moving. Most of us follow Him to the degree that we’re comfortable, but we all should start following Him to the point that we’re uncomfortable.

Ephesians 3:20: “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”

God is constantly trying to lead us into a place of purpose and trying to transition us into another season.

Psalm 66:12: “Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and throgh water: but you brought us out into a wealthy (abundant) place.”

A lot people are stuck in a process where they don’t want to move on to the next season.

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation that has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

There is a difference in going through and coming out on the other side as opposed to just quitting. Church has preached people to the cross instead of through the cross. IF you come to the cross and don’t go into it, you will go back to what you knew before you knew Jesus.

God is the Ultimate Provider. Think about the Exodus. The Israelites were used to the certainty of being provided for in Egypt while they were slaves, but God would provide to the Israelites as He saw their need in the desert in a different way.

Our new life began at the cross. Most people’s life before the cross was a disaster. We have to make that decision to step into following Him into our purpose after the cross. After making that decision, there’s a dynamic change of who and what you’re supposed to be.

Matthew 16:25: “For whosoever will save His life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

How do you move into your next season? Here are 4 Greek words that have to do with different aspects of time for context:

–Chronos is the passing of time. –Kairos is the appointed time, right, critical or opportune moment –Hora is the exact moment in time –Pleroma is the fullness of time; when it’s finished; completeness or perfection

Every season is a chronos. You need to prepare for the appointment, the time that the door is about to open, which is the kairos. Hora is the exact moment in time when your divine appointment is and when you should be ready to make the transition by stepping through the door. Pleroma or pleuros is the end result of stepping through the door and hopefully accomplishing what God wanted you to accomplish.

There’s gifts and things on the other side that you have no idea about. There are provisions provided to you that only God could provide. You sometimes have to go to a place where there’s less. The thing that’s the worst or hardest to come to terms with is this: after you’ve come to the end of the season, there’s a divine shift. There are things that used to work over here in the last season that won’t work anymore in the new season. It’s a divine shift. You have to go through transformation. The person you were in the last season is not the person you’ll be in the next season.

Jeremiah 18 is about “the potter and the clay.” The problem is when you’re being transformed by the Potter (God) you have to get the lumps (impurities) out. Removing the lumps is painful. Count it all joy when He gets the lumps out. You have to learn to forgive others. All of these trials and tribulations are necessary for what you need for your life and the purpose God has for you.

Jeremiah 29:11-13: “’For I know the thoughts I think toward you,’ says the Lord, ‘thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then you shall call upon me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will hear you. And you shall seek me and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.’”

Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

You can’t change your mind until you’re willing to tear down some stuff in your mind: old ways of thinking, old thought patterns, old actions and attitudes, etc.

Truly Knowing Jesus Christ

What does it mean to really know God? Can you know Him like a friend or do you know Him like a celebrity only? One is to know Him intimately and have a real relationship with Him while the other is to know Him from a distance and know of the things He has done in other people’s lives. For instance, Moses knew of God’s ways while the children of Israel knew of His works only. A theologian can know the Bible better than you but you can know God better than the theologian. So how do you get to know God on a more personal, intimate level? Surrender.

When most people are first saved and come to Christ, most accept Christ as their Lord and Savior but few ever hear about the Holy Spirit, at least that’s how it was for me. I never knew of God being someone I could commune with and do life with via the Holy Spirit. God Himself introduced Himself to me and that is really upsetting that He had to introduce Himself rather than the church where I was baptized with water. I used to think only pastors had that access to talk to God. I felt like only people who read the Bible every day and prayed for hours on end had that access to God. Come to find out, that is a lie and God is constantly looking for a relationship with His long, lost children, which is all of us.

Jesus didn’t come for the religious leaders. He came for the lost, the hopeless, the sinful, and the outcasts. His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection after 3 days made it possible for the Holy Spirit to be poured out on all men so that you and I could personally know Jesus.

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.” Joel 2:28

If Jesus didn’t become the Ultimate Sacrifice, there wouldn’t be an atonement for all the sins of the world. If He didn’t die and wasn’t resurrected and then ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit wouldn’t have the opportunity to be poured out on those who choose to seek a relationship with God. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross gave us access to the Father through the Holy Spirit.

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” John 16:7

If you truly follow Christ and His ways, you must have the Holy Spirit to help you through your struggles and trials. You must crucify your flesh and follow Christ.

“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26

I have struggled with addiction ALL of my adult life. From 18 to 33, I have struggled with various substances in one way or another. Even in my walk with Christ, the enemy or myself (not sure which, probably both) has deceived me into taking certain substances that I have had a struggle getting off of. Only the Holy Spirit has been able to help me stay sober for an extended period of time. Before that, the only time I didn’t get high before I knew God was when I didn’t have the money to get high. God has been the only answer in my struggle with addiction, despite the enemy hindering me on my walk with Christ. All in all, I’m not sure if I still have a spirit of addiction or if it’s just the flesh that still causes these cravings, but what I do know for sure that Christ has been with me the whole time and is the only reason why I am sober right now. If it wasn’t for ever knowing Him, I personally feel that I wouldn’t have a reason to ever get sober. My “need” to be numb is something I know was generational at least down to 3 generations on both my mom’s side and my dad’s side. It is something that has progressively gotten worse with each generation. Because of Christ, I now have the power to break this generational curse.

My point is, a lot of people know of Christ but I truly know Christ for myself via being filled with the Holy Spirit and I need Him daily to stay away from my cravings and desires. Without Him, I would be dead or living under a bridge. He helped me break the stronghold heroin and meth had over me years ago when I first met Him. He rescued me from hell and the grave. It wasn’t the Bible and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount that saved me, but Christ Himself. I truly believe everyone needs to know Christ on a personal level along with reading the Bible. I have known Christ for 3 years and have yet to read the whole Bible because no one stressed how important it was for me to read it. In the beginning, Christ would always speak to my heart and point me to a Bible verse when I was struggling, but now it is time to mature in Christ and read the whole Bible for myself so that I will be filled with His Word and stop being deceived by the power and influence of the enemy.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you might be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:10-17

So for all of those who are struggling right now with various things and situations, turn towards Christ and He will help you overcome anything that is standing in your way of becoming the person whom Christ made you to be. God will not leave you nor forsake you. The plans He has for you are so much better than anything you could ever imagine. Don’t give up. Turn towards Jesus when your strength is running low and in every situation you face that is bigger than you.

Suffering With Christ

What does it mean to suffer with Christ? Does that sound like something you would be willing to do for someone you don’t even have a relationship with? Probably not. Seeking a relationship with God is paramount to living a life full of purpose. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you…” God yearns for a relationship with every single one of us. If you have a relationship with Him, there may come a time where you have to suffer for Him at some point when you defend His name and biblical principles.

For those of you who need a reminder, Jesus Christ was God in the flesh and died on a cross for ALL of our sins, every last one of them (past, present and future). He was the perfect sacrifice: unstained, unblemished, and without sin. He died so that we ALL could have the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins and live a holy life by having a relationship with God the Father through the Holy Spirit. Christ’s death was horrific. Not only did He have nails driven through His hands and feet and hang on a cross, but He was tortured with a cat of nine tails (whip with razor-like ends) and beaten. Because He did that, we should see just how much He loves us. That kind of sacrifice should make us want to seek a relationship with Him. If that relationship requires us at some point to suffer for righteousness on account of Him, so be it. “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” 1 Peter 3:17

There is coming a time as the end draws near and the thousand year reign begins where Christ followers are going to be persecuted more frequently and severely in America. They are already being persecuted, beaten and jailed in other countries like China, North Korea, and many African and European countries, etc. America will go from bad to worse as the years go on and the “woke” ideologies will become more prevalent. Then comes the Great Reset. My point is that you must be willing to suffer with Christ. “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12, 13. You would only suffer for someone if you loved them and had a relationship with them, right? I wouldn’t suffer for someone I didn’t know. I wouldn’t get tortured or jailed for someone I didn’t know. Would you? No. Absolutely not.

It is about time people start waking up to the One and only Truth and start seeking a relationship with Him: God Almighty. Stop living for yourself and start living to please Him. “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:39. I promise you that you won’t regret knowing Christ. Those who have turned away from the faith never knew Christ and the ones who were willing to die and be persecuted for His names sake knew the King of the World. It sounds insane to suffer for someone you can’t see but yet, countless people in the past 2 millennia have suffered for the name of Jesus and His good news. Did they all have a mass psychosis?? Absolutely not. That must mean all the people who have died and the ones who continue to suffer and are persecuted all over the world must believe in something that is tangible and true: God is real, died for our sins and now pursue a relationship with Him no matter the cost. “And if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.” Romans 8:7

It is a wonderful thing to be in the presence of the Living God! It is the most incredible feeling in the world and take it from me, I have done so many drugs and have been so high but all of those feeling pale in comparison to being in the presence of my Lord and Savior. God saved me from hell and the grave and got me sober because He loves me! Without Him, I wouldn’t be in my daughter’s life and would be in prison or dead. He is the lover of my soul and the kindest and most compassionate person I have ever known and my message to you is that He will do the same for you if you let Him. All you have to do is seek Him and you will find Him. “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13. So if and when the time comes that you are called to suffer for Him, it won’t be as hard as you think when you have that relationship with Him. Without it, you will not endure to the end but with it, you can face anything.

“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:13