Selah for Today 10-24-2019- Freedom

Freedom according to Webster's Dictionary is the quality or state of being free such as the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action. Liberation from slavery.
  Freedom is wonderful, but freedom without responsibility always leads back to slavery. When we don't take personal responsibility for our freedoms, someone else will do it for us and that leads to tyranny and slavery. True freedom begins with Christ.

Galatians 5:1(NIV) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV) “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive

Selah for Today 10-17-2019- Choose Life

Deuteronomy 30:19-20(NIV) ¹⁹ This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life,* so that you and your children may live ²⁰ and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

God gives us a choice and then gives us the answer, "Choose Life". God wants us to choose life in everything we do, say and think. We need in every area of our lives to choose Life. In other words, choose God for He is Life and gives life. 

*Boldness added for emphasis. 

Selah for Today 09-03-2019- Choice

Good News – You have a CHOICE!
Deuteronomy 30:19 (NKJV) ..I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
 Romans 12:12 (KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” 

Selah for Today 08-13-2019-The Call

Jonah heard the call of God and hid in a boat (Jonah 1:1-6). Peter heard the call of God and stepped out of the boat, to walk with God (Matthew 14:27-29). Think about it. 

Selah for Today 08-12-2019-Life

Your life speaks louder than anything you can say. 

The question is, "What is your life saying?" 

Hebrews 10:23-35 (NIV)Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Selah for Today 08-10-2019-Choose

Hate and Unforgiveness cause your brain to Shrink. Love and Forgiveness cause your brain to Grow. Which do You Choose? 

Deuteronomy 30:19 (NIV)This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. 

A Memorial Day Speical Post: Just One More Lord

This is honor all our military, for they all are Heroes.

Just One More, Lord!

I was watching the movie Hacksaw Ridge, about Desmond Doss a Seventh Day Adventist conscientious objector and Medic and Medal of Honor honoree during World War II.

During one of the worst battles of the war. The battle for Okinawa and the worst battle for the island, Hacksaw Ridge.

While the Japanese Army held the ridge, He rescued 75 wounded American Soldiers, lower them 350 ft. down the side of the escarpment to safety.  Japanese Soldiers reported having him in their gunsights, but their guns would jam when they tried to shoot him. During this time, he kept praying, “Lord, Just One More!”

 That prayer stayed with me, “Lord Just One More!”  I asked the Lord, “Why is this is staying with me.” 

Lord said, “I want my people to have that same cry in their hearts, “Lord Just One More.”

In 1 Corinthians 9:16-27, Paul has this attitude of the heart, doing and being whatever it takes for the Gospel.

Mark 16:15-18 (NKJV)  And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶ He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Then Jesus was beaten and crucified, He was doing the Just One More!

 We Must Cry Out from Our Hearts:

Lord, just one more pledge, here.

Lord, just one more deliverance.

Lord, just one more demon cast out.

Lord, just one more healing.

Lord, just one more miracle.

Lord, just one more Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Most importantly, 

JUST ONE MORE SALVATION!!

 Oh, don’t worry about the devil, God will cause his guns to jam like he did for Desmond Doss.

Third Level Blessing Revisited

By Richard L. Spangler
At the urging of the Holy Spirit, I am reposting this article. This teaching connects to the recent Open Hands Article. As you pray this prayer, pray for the double blessing for everyone you are praying over. I hope this Blesses You.

 While attending a Ministering Spiritual Gifts Conference I heard a teaching by

Apostle John Burkholder of Buffalo, NY. Apostle Burkholder taught on Luke 6:38,
“Give and it will be given to you a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it
will be measured to you.”

             He stated, that he prays this over his offerings regularly. One day as he was praying  this verse, God spoke to him that he was praying it wrong. Apostle John
asked how that he was praying it wrong. The Lord stated it was not enough to pray
for his offering to blessed, but he needed to pray for those who the Lord spoke to:
 to give to him to be blessed, so that they could give.

Then the Lord took it to another level, not only was to pray for blessings for those who were to give to him but also pray for those who were to bless the givers so that they could bless the givers. This is a third level blessing.

This takes blessing others to a whole different level; it takes it beyond simple
addition into a multiplication of blessings. God is a God of multiplication. We see at
creation in Genesis how God commanded everything living thing to be fruitful and
multiply (not add).

 This is true in blessings as well as praying for others to be blessed. If we pray in the
matter stated above, our blessings will be multiplied as well.  So as you give your
tithes and offerings, pray for those who are to give to you, to be blessed, and also for
hose who are to bless them to receive a blessing.

Here is a personal example. I prayed over my offering that afternoon and on Sunday
at church. Now my wife has had some physical issues that prevented her from
working for more than two years. (God has been faithful in His provision for us).
  We and her doctors agreed that she should apply for disability. So, she set down and
filled out all the paperwork and submitted it. Her claim was promptly rejected. She
appealed. We were to go to an appeals hearing on the next Tuesday. I was told that I
could say nothing during the hearing, so I just sat there and prayed quietly in the
Spirit. The judge stated that it appeared my wife qualified and that we would be
notified in 7 to 10 days of his decision. We were excited and praised God. It gets
better, our attorney called on Friday, stating that the judge’s decision had already
been given and he ruled in our favor! She stated it would at least two months before
we received any back payments (two years’ worth) and then monthly checks. We
again rejoiced. Then on the following Tuesday, the lawyer called, stating she did not
understand it but the checked was already processed and mailed. We were stunned. On Friday we received a check for two years’ worth of back payments. Praise the
Lord.  We tithed on what we received and I again prayed over it and now waiting to
see what God does now.

            Again I want to encourage you, when you give your tithes and offerings praying for God’s blessing. Then go beyond that praying for others to be blessed so they can bless you. Finally, take it to the third level of blessing, praying for those to be blessed that are to bless those who are to bless you. Then, watch and see what God will do.

©COPYRIGHT 2012 RICHARD SPANGLER

Adventures in the Spirit A Series of Prophetic Visions

Run Your Race with Compassion

By Richard L Spangler

Recently, I completed the challenge of walking the Virginia Beach Rock N Roll Half Marathon. I had never done anything like this before. It took two years of training and discipline, and a lot of support from family and friends, as well as mountain of prayer. So at sixty years old, this man who had a quadruple heart by-pass surgery seven years ago started the race.

   What started as a personal goal two years ago, graduated to a 13.1-mile prayer walk for the seven cities of Hampton Roads, the Commonwealth of Virginia and our nation. If that was enough, I found myself saying thank you to the police officers, firemen and women and the rescue personnel along the race route. Many of these men and women had a surprised look on their faces and smiled and thanked me in return.  Soon others, who were moving at the same pace I was also began to do the same thing. This was showing thankfulness and compassion to our first responders.

 Somewhere, close to the half way point most everyone including myself became very focused on the race. Going down this wooded road with ditches on both sides a fellow race participant caught my attention. She had moved off the road and was holding on to the speed limit sign. I passed her but felt the urging of the Holy Spirit to go back. I asked, “Are you okay?” she said, “Yes” I started to walk away and hear the Holy Spirit say, “She’s NOT okay.” I went back and asked again. This time she said, “I am having problems keeping my balance and walking straight. Can I use your arm to get me to the center of the road and to steady me?” I said, “Yes. There is a water station just down the road, I will you get there.”

 We got to the water station and she thanked me. Out of my mouth came “I Will walk with you some more to make sure your okay.” As we walked she began holding my arm again.  I asked, a couple of times if she wanted medical help? She said, “No, she wanted to complete the race.” After a short distance she said, I think I need the paramedics. “As we came out of the wooded area there sat a rescue unit. I yelled for their help and they came over to assist the lady.

 I finished the race about 20 minutes later than I would have but I still finished. As I thought about the day’s events, I realized that many running their race were so focused on their finish they missed an opportunity to show compassion to someone else. 

 We as believers are running our race for the prize of the crown of glory (1 Corinthians 9:24 and Hebrews 12:1) but we are also to run the race with compassion.  Jesus was moved with compassion, Matthew 9:35-37. Matthew 14:13-21 the feeding of the 5000 started with compassion. And again in Matthew 15:29-38 4000 fed. Luke 7:11-15 The raising of the Widow’s son and Matthew 20:30-34 the blinds eyes opened, were done as Jesus was moved with compassion. Webster’s Dictionary defines compassion:  sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it.

  We as believers, we will finish our race but we need to be moved with compassion as Christ was. I believe our planned works for the Lord will earn us rewards. But, it is our unplanned acts of compassion, prompted by the Holy Spirit that we hear “Will done my good and faithful servant…”  

  Run your race and run it well, by keeping your eyes and ears open for acts of compassion along your course, so that you will not only finish the race but will hear “Well Done...”

©COPYRIGHT 2015 RICHARD L. SPANGLER