................" TELL JOHN "...................... SOME TIME AGO I WAS IN CHURCH, AND DURING THE PRAISE AND WORSHIP I HEARD THESE WORDS COME FROM MY HEART,"TELL JOHN". THE WORDS CAME AGAIN AND I SAID TELL JOHN, TELL JOHN WHAT? THE WORDS TELL JOHN CAME AGAIN WITH AUTHORITY AND FORCE AND I REMEMBERED THE WORDS TELL JOHN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AND I SAID I UNDERSTAND TELL JOHN. I WILL SHARE WHAT I LEARNED FROM THAT . Hebrews 2:1 (KJV) 1. Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. EARNEST: MORE EXCEEDINGLY HEED: PAY DEVOTION OF THOUGHT AND EFFORT TO DO A THING - TO HOLD THE MIND TO - TO ADHERE TO.. SLIP: TO FIND ONE'S SELF GLIDING, OR PASSING BY WITHOUT GIVING DUE HEED TO A THING. LIT. TO FLOW PAST, OR GLIDE BY. EXAMPLE.. A RIVER WITH A PIECE OF DRIFT WOOD FLOATING IN THE CURRENT, AND WE WATCH IT SLIP ON BY WITHOUT PAYING ANY ATTENTION. ( THAT WOULD SEEM TO BE WHAT THIS SCRIPTURE IS SAYING, BUT IT IS SAYING JUST THE OPPOSITE. WE WILL MISS THE POINT IF WE DON'T REALIZE THAT. ) YOU TAKE THE PLACE OF THE DRIFT WOOD. SAY YOU ARE FLOATING IN A BOAT DOWN THE RIVER. WHATEVER IS ON THE BANKS OF THAT RIVER IS SOLID, IT IS TRUE, IT'S THERE TO BE SEEN AND ENJOYED. BY NOT PAYING ATTENTION, NOT GIVING EARNEST HEED TO WHAT IS ON THE BANKS, YOU FLOAT ON BY MISSING THE BEAUTY OF THE LAND, PEOPLE, PICNIC AREAS, AND WILDLIFE. WHEN ASK WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THAT HUGE BOULDER THAT LOOKED LIKE A MAN'S FACE, YOU WOULD SAY WHAT BOULDER. WHILE OTHERS FLOATING DOWN THE RIVER MAY PADDLE IN TO EVERY INTERESTING THING THEY SEE. UPON CLOSE EXAMINATION THEY MAY SEE THINGS THAT OTHERS CAN'T SEE FROM OUT IN THE RIVER. THEY MAY TAKE PICTURES SO THEY CAN RE-VISIT IT ONCE AGAIN WITHOUT PHYSICALLY BEING THERE. WHEN ASK ABOUT A PLACE OR THING ALONG THE RIVER THEY CAN TELL YOU ABOUT IT, AND EVEN SHOW YOU BECAUSE THEY WERE PAYING EARNEST HEED TO THE THINGS THEY SAW AND DOCUMENTING IT. THEY MAY EVEN KNOW MORE THAN THE PERSON ASKING. THAT IS WHY IN A CHURCH SERVICE SOME PEOPLE CAN NOT TELL YOU WHAT IT WAS ABOUT, WHILE OTHERS CAN TELL YOU WHAT WAS SAID AND EVEN GO DEEPER. BECAUSE THEY WERE PAYING EARNEST HEED,AND THE LORD COULD TAKE THEM DEEPER THAN THE MINISTER WAS PRESENTING. ..... SO PAY EARNEST HEED TO THIS THAT YOU HEAR TODAY....... ........................................... " TELL JOHN "............................................... YOU CAN PUT YOUR NAME IN JOHN'S PLACE. IN FACT YOU MUST PUT YOUR NAME IN JOHN'S PLACE. AS WE LOOK AT JOHN THE BAPTIST YOU WILL SEE WHY THE TITLE " TELL JOHN ". AND YOU WILL SEE WHY YOU MUST PUT YOURSELF IN HIS PLACE, IN ORDER TO LEARN THIS LESSON. YOU CAN SLIP ON BY WHAT GOD IS SAYING TO YOU BECAUSE YOU DON'T PAY EARNEST HEED TO IT OR YOU PAY HEED TO THE WRONG THING AND BECOME OFFENDED AND MISS THE POINT BECAUSE YOUR FOCUS WAS NOT WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. BEFORE WE GET TO JOHN THE BAPTIST LET'S GIVE AND EXAMPLE OF GIVING IN TO OFFENCE AND LOOSING FOCUS AND NOT GIVING EARNEST HEED TO WHAT WE SHOULD, AND THE RESULT OF THIS DISPLACED FOCUS. Mark 6:1-6 ( KJV ) 1. And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. 2. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? 3. Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? AND THEY WERE OFFENDED AT HIM. 4. But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 5. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. THESE PEOPLE DID NOT PAY EARNEST HEED TO WHAT THEY HEARD, INSTEAD THEY SAT IN JUDGEMENT AND PAYED HEED TO SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T MATTER AND BECAME OFFENDED AND THEY SLIPPED ON BY THE TRUTH THAT STOOD BEFORE THEM, AND THEY COULD NOT RECEIVE ANY MIGHTY WORK BECAUSE THEIR FOCUS TOOK THEM TO OFFENCE. AND THAT OFFENCE TOOK THEM TO UNBELIEF. THEY SLIPPED AWAY FROM THE IMPORTANT THINGS. NOW LET'S LOOK AT JOHN THE BAPTIST
Matthew 3:1-3 (KJV) 1. In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2. And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
JOHN WAS SENT TO PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD CONCERNING HIS FIRST COMING. WE ARE SENT TO PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD CONCERNING HIS SECOND COMING.
MATTHEW 3: 11-17 (KJV) 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. 13. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15. And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
JOHN STARTED TO GET OUT OF STEP WITH HIS CALLING. WHEN JESUS CAME TO HIM TO BE BAPTIZED HE FORBADE JESUS AND SAID I HAVE NEED TO BE BAPTIZED OF YOU. YOU SEE JESUS WAS THE SACRIFICE, THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB OF GOD, AND HE NEEDED JOHN TO TO PRESENT HIM AS THE SPOTLESS SON OF GOD TO FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS. EVERY SACRIFICE HAD TO PRESENTED BY THE PRIESTHOOD AND THE PRIESTHOOD OF THAT DAY THOUGHT OF JESUS AS A SPOT,BLEMISHED, AND WRINKLED. John WAS OF THE LINEAGE OF THE PRIESTHOOD AND HE ALONE WAS THE ONE WHO KNEW AND COULD PRESENT JESUS AS THE SPOTLESS SON OF GOD. JESUS TOLD HIM IT MUST BE SO FOR NOW THAT JOHN BAPTIZE HIM. THIS GOT JOHN BACK ON TRACK.
WE ALL HAVE A PLACE AND A PURPOSE IN THE MASTER PLAN.
JOHN 3:22 - (30 ) - 36 (KJV)
Passage John 3:22-36: 22After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 24For John was not yet cast into prison. 25Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. 28Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
30He must increase, but I must decrease.
31He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. 32And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. 33He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. 34For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 35The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
JOHN KNEW HE WOULD HAVE TO STEP BACK AND JESUS WOULD STEP UP. HE KNEW JESUS WAS GOING TO INCREASE AND HE MUST DECREASE. JOHN DIDN'T HAVE TO DIE TO DECREASE, THAT WAS HIS OWN DOING. HE GOT INTO TROUBLE THE SAME WAY WE DO IF WE DON'T WATCH IT, WITH OUR MOUTHS. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT SOME MORE A LITTLE LATER ON. FOR NOW WE NEED TO SEE THAT WE ALL HAVE A PLAN AND PURPOSE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Passage Ephesians 4:11-16 (KJV) 11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST, AND WE ARE ALL FITLY JOINED TOGETHER. EVERY ONE OF US SHOULD BE SUPPLYING TO OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY.
EVERYONE MUST DO THEIR PART.
1. KNOW YOUR PLACE
2. KNOW YOUR PART
3. KNOW YOUR GIFT AND CALL AND WALK IN IT.
4. DON'T SEEK TO WALK IN ANTHER'S PLACE.
WE ARE GOING TO READ FROM LUKE CHAPTER 7 . JOHN IS IN PRISON AT THIS TIME. HE IS NOT THERE BECAUSE IT WAS GOD'S WILL OR PLAN. HE IS THERE BECAUSE OF HIS MOUTH AND ATTITUDE. HE GOT INTO TROUBLE THE SAME WAY WE DO AND HE STARTED TO BLAME GOD JUST LIKE WE DO IF WE ARE NOT WATCHFUL. HE STARTED TO BECOME OFFENDED AT JESUS. LET'S LOOK AT THIS CHAPTER AND HAVE OUR EYES OPENED.
Luke 7 :1-23 (KJV)
1. Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. 3. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. 4. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: 5. For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. 6. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7. Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. 8. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 9. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 10. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick. LUKE 7:1-10 THIS WAS A LESSON ON AUTHORITY AND FAITH AND HEALING.
11. And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.
LUKE 7:11-17 IN THAT SET OF SCRIPTURES WE SEE JESUS RAISE THE DEAD.
VERSE 16 THE FEAR THAT IS SPOKEN OF HERE IS A REVERENTIAL FEAR. IT IS NOT A FEAR OF HIM OR HIS POWER, BUT RATHER A DREAD OF DOING SOMETHING DISPLEASING IN HIS SIGHT.
VERSE 17 SAID THIS RUMOUR OF HIM WENT FORTH.
THE WORD RUMOUR TO US IN THIS DAY AND TIME MEANS UNVERIFIED HEARSAY SPREAD MY WORD OF MOUTH, TRUE OR NOT , TOLD AS FACT. RUMOUR IN THE TIME THIS WAS WRITTEN SIMPLY MEANT TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF.
18. And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. 19. And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 20. When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 21. And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. 22. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. 23. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
IN VERSES 18-23
JOHN'S FOLLOWERS CAME AND TOLD JOHN THE EVENTS THAT HAD BEEN HAPPENING WITH JESUS. JOHN SENT THEM TO ASK JESUS IF HE WAS THE ONE OR SHOULD THEY SEEK ANOTHER. JOHN WAS IN PRISON. IT WAS OF HIS OWN DOING. HE WAS THINKING LIKE A LOT OF US. IF I'M A CHRISTIAN THEN WHY AM I IN THIS PROBLEM. WE BLAME GOD. IT'S US WHO CAUSE THE PROBLEM. JOHN GOT IN HEROD'S FACE AND TOLD HIM IT WAS NOT LAWFUL TO HAVE HIS BROTHERS WIFE. THIS WAS NOT THE THING YOU DID IN THOSE DAYS. YOU ONLY SPOKE TO LEADERS WHEN THEY CALLED ON YOU. WHAT JOHN SAID WAS TRUE BUT IT WAS SAID OUT OF ORDER AND IT GOT HIM INTO TROUBLE. JOHN LET HIS MOUTH GET HIM INTO A PREDICAMENT THAT LEAD TO HIS DEATH. JUST BECAUSE WE ARE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST DOESN'T PROTECT US FROM OUR OWN UNDOING. IF WE WALK OUTSIDE THE WORD WE WALK OUTSIDE OF PROTECTION, WE LOCK GOD OUT THEN WE BLAME HIM. IF YOU ARE SAYING WHY DID GOD LET THIS HAPPEN TO ME.. WHY?.. IT'S NOT GOD THAT CAUSED YOUR PROBLEM IT'S YOU.
JOHN WAS STARTING TO BECOME OFFENDED AT JESUS. QUESTIONING ARE YOU THE ONE OR SHOULD WE SEEK ANOTHER? PEOPLE TODAY THAT GET THEMSELVES INTO TROUBLE, AND BLAME GOD, AND EVEN GET OFFENDED AT HIM. WHEN HE ISN'T THE PROBLEM. HE IS THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM AND THE ANSWER TO NOT GETTING INTO THE PROBLEM TO START WITH.
YOU MIGHT THINK HOW COULD JOHN ASK HIS DISCIPLES TO ASK JESUS IF HE WAS THE ONE. THIS JOHN KNEW JESUS WAS THE ONE. HE HEARD GOD'S VOICE SAY THIS IS MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED. YOU MIGHT SAY HOW COULD JOHN ASK THAT.
CHRISTIANS DO IT ALL THE TIME. THEY LET THEIR MOUTH GET THEM INTO TROUBLE. THEN THEY BLAME GOD FOR THE TROUBLES. BLAME LEADS TO OFFENCE, OFFENCE LEADS TO UNBELIEF, AND UNBELIEF LEADS TO DOUBT.
WHEN PAUL GOT BIT BY THE VIPER HE DIDN'T WHINE AND CRY WHY DID GOD LET THIS HAPPEN TO ME. IT WAS HIS FAULT FOR PICKING UP A LOAD OF STICKS WITHOUT CHECKING FOR SNAKES FIRST. WHEN HE GOT BIT HE SHOOK IT OFF AND WENT ABOUT HIS BUSINESS. IT WAS ALREADY SETTLED IN HIS HEART THAT NO DEADLY THING COULD HARM HIM. HE COULD HAVE FREAKED OUT AND DIED, BUT HE HAD THE WORD SETTLED IN HIS HEART AND FOLLOWED IT INSTEAD.
WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE?
IF PAUL WAS LIKE A LOT OF US HE WOULD HAVE CRIED WHY ME? I'M PAUL.. CALLED OF GOD.. SENT BY GOD TO THE GENTILES.. FULL OF REVELATION.. FULL OF PURPOSE.. WHY?... TO THINK IT ALL ENDS HERE OUT IN THE BOONDOCKS BITTEN BY A VIPER.
NO HE HAD THE WORD IN HIS HEART.. YOUR HEART DEALS WITH THE ISSUES OF LIFE.. BUT YOU MUST HAVE IT FULL OF THE WORD TO FOR THE RIGHT THINGS TO COME OUT.
IF YOU HEAR WORDS COMING FROM YOUR MOUTH THAT ARE SAYING,"WHY DID YOU LET THIS HAPPEN, OR WHY ME." AND YOU ARE BLAMING GOD, YOU ARE ON THE WRONG TRACK, OUT OF STEP, AND NEED TO GET BACK ON TRACK.
YOU NEED TO GO BACK AND READ OUT LOUD LUKE 7:21-23 AND PUT YOUR NAME IN PLACE OF JOHN'S. LUKE 7:21-23 21. And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. 22. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. 23. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. VERSE 23 WAS FOR JOHN VERSE 23 IS FOR US WHEN WE START TO LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT IS GOING ON. TELL JOHN.. TELL MIKE.. TELL VICKIE.. TELL GLORIA.. TELL WHO EVER NEEDS TO HEAR IT, THE BLIND SEE, THE LAME WALK, THE LEPERS ARE CLEANSED, THE DEAF HEAR, THE DEAD ARE RAISED THE POOR ARE BEING PREACHED THE GOSPEL, AND BLESSED IS HE THAT IS NOT OFFENDED IN ME.

Hello everyone. My name is Michael. I have been a Christian since 1975. My experience in the church was bad, and not the way it should have been. It has been said that Christians shoot and bury their wounded. A lot of them do, because they have never renewed their minds and hearts to the Word of God. They call themselves Christians and walk in the world. The church I first attended was not teaching any thing helpful to a Christian, let alone a new convert, a babe in Christ. When I started going I was not a saved person. My girlfriend attended there so I went with her, and we got married, and continued to attend. I got saved in that church, only because of a group that came and ministered the Word of Salvation to us. Six months of sitting in services at that church and never heard any word on salvation. We continued there for about 2 years. Never were we taught the things we were to need to walk this new life. Nothing on Walking in Love, forgiveness, not taking offence, health and healing, miracles, authority in Christ, or anything we really needed at all. In 1977 we moved to another church that was teaching more of what was needed to live in this world as a Christian. Only they weren't living or walking the talk they were speaking. I got offended ....!!! Hurt..!!!! And unforgiving..!!!!! Which lead to a life of bitterness for the next 23 years.. (What a waste) I continued to go to church, but it was out of duty not out of a heart of love, or being thirsty and hungry for righteousness and the kingdom of God. In 1982 We moved to a third church and sat there 18 years out of duty, sulking in bitterness, not able to walk in the calling on our lives to teach, preach, and sing the Word. One day in the year 2000 something happened that caused me to think and reflect on a statement that my daughter said about me. That day it all turned around for me. Angry and upset over what she had said, I sat in my study alone, when I spoke out loud to myself a question. I said, " what she said was true, so why am I getting so upset over it?" Just as I said that I heard a voice say," I'm glad you ask, now we can get this taken care of." What happened after that changed me from an unforgiving, bitter, unproductive, hurtful, not able to help others, into a minister of the Word, seeing people healed and set free, helping others find the way, helping others grow in the things that they need to walk in Victory in this life in Christ. I am doing my best with God's help to keep others from walking down that long wasted path i walked, being bitter and unproductive. God has us testifying of our past ( being like an open book ) and then teaching a foundation of what we need to live a Christ centered lives. How to deal with hurtful, unforgiving, offensive, unlearned in the scriptures, rejecting people. And not not becoming like that, but instead becoming one who walks in Victory and draws people to Christ. The day it all turned around in my life was awesome. The Lord just started speaking once that question left my lips. I am going to take you through that day and what the Lord showed me in the Word that transformed me from a loser to a winner in Christ. I will be talking about a dark past that I never really wanted to even remember let alone share with others. The Lord said to be an effective minister that I would need to be an open book, nothing hidden or covered up, in order to reach and help others. I told Him yes I can do that, so in the next blog posting I will go through my testimony of where I had been, and what happened on that day of the great turnaround, to where I am today. Then the Lord and I will start some foundation teaching and build on that, to deeper things in Christ. REMEMBER THAT GOD IS LIGHT AND IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL. JOHN 10:10 ANYTHING THAT KILLS, STEALS, OR DESTROYS IS FROM THE DEVIL. AND ABUNDANT LIFE TO THE FULL COMES FROM GOD. Your brother in Christ Michael

Testimony Pt.2 Many things happened from the time I gave my heart to the Lord until that turn a round day in 2000. As I stated in the First Posting the Christians, and Churches I attended were not teaching any substantial, meaningful, fruitful things pertaining to how to live a Christ centered life in this world. I was offended at them and found a church that taught more, but they didn't walk in it. I was more offended and found yet another church, where I spent 18 years pouting and drowning in unforgiveness and bitterness toward others. One day my daughter said a statement about me, and I got upset over it. When You live in bitterness even the truth will upset you. As I was sitting in my place of study thinking on what she had said, and rehearsing those words in my mind, I spoke out loud these words. I said, " What she said was true so why am I so mad and upset about it?" As soon as those words left my lips I heard a voice from deep within my heart say, "I'm glad you asked, Now we can take care of this problem in your life." All those years in church hearing the word but not living it was about to come to a head. That word was in me and God was about to bring it out and show me what I needed to do. On this day He turned my whole life around and launched me on a journey that amazes me.. First the Lord asked me if I remembered what my son had said his favorite scripture was. Sure I said it's Song of Solomon 2:15 which says, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." He said that I had walked in bitterness and unforgiveness so long that it was like a brother to me, and I let the little things set me off, and they were choking the life out of me. He then directed me to go to MARK 11:22-26 King James Version (KJV)Passage Mark 11:22-26: 22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23For 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. 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. The Lord told me when it comes down to it without forgiveness nothing will work. First I had to forgive the hardest person in the world to forgive.( MYSELF ) and all the others I had ought against. He then directed me to this passage of scripture. Passage Hebrews 12:11-15: 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; The Lord said," Michael you have walked in bitterness, and you have defiled many. You can't progress and a lot of those you hurt haven't progressed either. " ( I'll come back to this point and tell you what I had to do to make it right.) There was one more set of scripture that the Lord took me too, that day, and it set me free so I could go back to HEBREWS 12:11-15 and do something about that root of bitterness, and those that I had defiled (hurt). He then took me to PSALMS 51:1-14 1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. THIS IS AN AWESOME PASSAGE I BROKE DOWN AT VERSE 10 Oh Lord what do I need to do. 1. Realize the things that I've done. 2. forgive others and myself and ask the Lord to forgive me. 3. Ask God to remove that root of bitterness from me. 4. Ask God to create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me. I did all those steps and what freedom came over me.. Heaviness lifted. Was that all I had to do? NO I had to go back to all those that I had hurt and speak to then about my life and my new life and ask them for forgiveness, and bring a restoration to all our lives... ( I'll tell you about that in the next posting.) ...............Your Brother In Christ.............Michael

TESTIMONY PT. 3 Hebrews 12:14-1514. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:15. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;As I stated in the last posting I had defiled or hurt many people as I walked in bitterness all those years. Asking the Lord to forgive and clean me up wasn't going to be all I needed to do. He told me I must go back to many of them and ask for their forgiveness. One very important thing He impressed on me was this truth. Many times we know we must go back to people and make amends or restitution. We charge out and find those people and talk to them and think, If they accept my apology great, and if they don't, well I tried. I did my best. No you haven't. The Lord told me to go to these people, but only when he told me to go to each one, and to listen for the words to say to them, and only say those words. He was working in their lives and only can we say we did our best is after we do it in God timing and with the words he gave us to say.Everyone hears forgiveness in different ways and words.The first thing I had to do was go to my wife and to my children and ask their forgiveness, because I was a mess for most of the kids lives. Then to about six other people from the past I must go. As I was weed eating the back yard on afternoon, the Lord began to speak to me about going to a man named Sonny. I said yea right he would probably shoot me if he saw me on his front porch. The answer was still the same you must talk to him. As i was trimming the yard I looked up and Sonny was coming cross the alley towards me. I shut the weed eater off and he ask me a question and we started talking. A miracle in itself. He was asking about some people that had moved into the neighborhood. As we talked I was listening for the right words to say concerning forgiveness. The Lord told me with Sonny the way he hears I'm sorry will you forgive me is in the word apologise. I said, Sonny we have had a problem for a while. I did some things that I shouldn't concerning you. He said, I know I've wanted to kill you for at least four years. ( It was bad between us ) ( real bad ) I said to him that I was not that person anymore. I guess he could see that word apologise was about to come out. He said forget it that is water under the bridge. ( He did not want to hear that word come from me because it would then take the burden off me and force him to make a decision concerning the situation.I told him no it is not water under the bridge, and I want to apologise for my actions of the past. He looked at me and stared at me for a moment and the said OK... We talked for a long time and have been like brothers ever since. He has asked me to watch his house when he is gone. My apology placed a choice for him to make. To accept it or to reject it. He accepted it and it was awesome. Whichever way he went in his choice to accept or reject my apology, I could truly say I did all I could do, because I listened for the words to say and said them. I didn't have to wait for when to go because he came to me. He was ready.One of the others I needed to go to came a little later at a store. The Lord said now is the time just go up to him and start talking as if nothing ever happened between you at all. ( He had a chainsaw cranked up and was yelling for me to come out of the house. He was mad at me for something I had done. I came out with a rifle and we then each went back into our houses. ) Bitterness defiles many and many had I defiled. It was bad in those bitter years. And now the Lord was telling me to just walk up and start talking to him as if nothing ever happened between us. He said this man sees forgiveness in that act of walking up to him and talking as if the past never happened. I did just that and stood in that store and talked and talked like had never missed a step .. In every case I went back to the people the Lord told me to go too. I listened and said what the Lord said to say. And all of them gave me the forgiveness I was seeking. We are all friends. I know you won't always get 100% good results like I did, but if you just rush into it and not listen for what to say and when to go you sure won't get 100% good results. Doing it in God's way and God's time is the only way you can say I did all I can do.I was restored in Christ and restored to the people I had hurt in the past. Now I needed to get back into the Word and get a foundation and build a good solid mature Christian out of myself and go on to teach others as God had called me to do.