Selah for Today 10-28-2019 - Really

Really can mean, an actual fact, as opposed to what is said or imagined to be true or possible or can be used to expressed interest, surprise or doubt. 
  I heard this word used a lot lately used to express surprise or doubt. So it REALLY is a fact that God loves you. In the Bible, God states this plain and clear in
 John 3:16 (NIV) For God so loved YOU* that he gave his one and only Son, that WHEN YOU* believe in him YOU *shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the YOU*, but to save the YOU* through him. (*changes were done for emphasis)  and God wants the best for you 

Jeremiah 29:11(NIV)  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Yes, REALLY!!!

Selah for Today -08-08-2019- DNA

DNA provides a unique set of instructions that build you, however: “All humans are 99.9 percent identical. So to hate someone, a group or race is to hate yourself. Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV) ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^[38 This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Selah for Today, 08-06-2019 Why Selah?

I have already been asked, "Why Selah?"  Selah has many meanings in Hebrew: a can mean to "to lift up or exalt". "to pause or reflect, to stop and listen, to pause and think on that."
   So what better way to start today and every day than to pause and reflect and exalt the Lord God!
Blessings to you and Selah!!

Selah for Today 8-02-2019

The Universe (both physical and Spiritual) is Just One Room in God's House!

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.

The battle for Hacksaw Ridge was part of the campaign to take Okinawa. While the Japanese Army held the ridge, He rescued 75 wounded American Soldiers, lowering them 350 ft., down the side of the escarpment to safety.  Captured 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) Jesus: “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.”

In Luke 15:1-10, God is all about the just one more. The Shepherd had 99 sheep that were safe, but there was one that was lost. The Shepherd was not satisfied until that one lost sheep was found and returned to the flock (just one more). The woman, who had ten silver coins and then lost one. She kept searching until it was found (just one more). Then she calls her friends and neighbors to celebrate. In this passage, we see there is rejoicing in heaven when one sinner repents (just one more).

Finally, 2 Peter 3:9 says it all: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (NIV) (Just One More).

We are being called to by the Holy Spirit to have a burning passion in our hearts and minds, for Just One More, Lord!!

Billy Graham had this passion; his hear cry was,” Give me souls, Lord.” In other words, “Just One More.” God has promised the Billy Graham mantle to the Church, but we also must have the passion for, Just One More.  

We must begin to stir up ourselves. To begin, to cry aloud to Lord, “Just One More, Lord!! Give me Just One More,” Then, we must put into action our prayers. We must be courageous and step out knowing that we are moving with the passion of God.

It’s time for the passion and the heart cry of the Church to be, JUST ONE MORE. When you get the one, cry out again, “LORD!!! JUST ONE MORE!!!”

©COPYRIGHT 2018 RICHARD L SPANGLER

             Adventures in the Spirit: A Series of Prophetic Visions 2nd Edition

THE FLOOD AND THE FIRE

This was first published January 1, 2014.I felt the leading of the Holy Spirit republish this Word Today

 

By Richard L Spangler

  I began seeking the Lord for a word for 2014. I heard in my spirit, “A Flood.” Then I asked the Lord, “What He meant by “A flood.” Then there began an unfolding in my spirit.

  Many people talk about the River of God, and about being in the River of God and the joy of being in the river. There are those who dive in, dip their toes in and those who just drink from the river. Many are happy to stay on the banks of the river enjoying the presence of God that comes from the river. They see it as a peaceful, restful and refreshing place. But I heard from the Lord, “Rivers flood” and like natural rivers the River of God floods.

  Rivers when they flood are powerful, overflowing forces that cannot be stopped. Rivers at flood stage sweep everything in their path away. Destroying buildings, trees and rearranging the landscape. A powerful destructive force. So it with the River of God at flood stage.

  The River of God at flood stage, changes both the spiritual and physical landscapes. This flood will sweep away everything temporal (manmade) in the church. It will clean the landscape for what is to come. It will renew and nourish the church. Washing away the chains of religious spirits and traditions.

What is to come is a clear flow of My Spirit to renew and to build up my people. There are those who have been held down but know me, walk with me and know my voice and walk in obedience. These will rise as the flood rises. As it was with the ark of Noah so it will be them. They are in the ark of relationship with me and will cause them to rise in the spirit and in the natural.  

  Then I heard the Lord say; “There will be Fire! Not a little fire that warms and can be controlled. Many say, “They love my fire. They think they know My Fire. But the Fire of Spirit will seem to be a Firestorm, uncontrolled by man.”

 A fire in the natural clears the land removes what is dead and removes the under growth that chokes out life. It also removes those things that are alive but are weak and sick. It prepares the way for the new. So it is in the spirit.

 When the firestorm of My Spirit rolls through my church, it will remove that which is dead, it will cause repentance and remove sin, it will melt away religious chains and traditions. It will prepare my people to receive what I am doing and going to do in the earth. I want a pure people, who know me and hear my voice with clarity and will move will me.

  What is coming will sweep the earth, freeing billions from the chains of sin and dead. It will release my manifest glory upon the earth.

This is year ordinated for this to begin to happen for I will have a pure people and it is my desire for all to repent and know me.

  Then I asked the Lord, “How can there be both a flood and fire at the same time?” I heard the Lord say; “Mount Saint Helens.”

  I researched Mt. Saint Helens and found there was both a fire and a flood. When the mountain exploded there was an unleashing of a firestorm and as the mountain moved it forced water out of Spirit Lake creating a massive flood. Both the fire and flood changed the landscape and cleared the land and today there is new growth everywhere on the mountain.

  There is an explosion in the realm of the spirit. There is an explosion of the Holy Spirit and the effects are roaring down the Mountain of God. Get ready don’t be unprepared for what is coming for it is already on its way and will be here in 2014.      

 

  ©COPYRIGHT 2014 RICHARD L. SPANGLER  

 

 

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Here We Stand

By Richard L Spangler

  We are standing at a crossroads as a church, a nation and the world.  We all have been hearing this from various sources both spiritual and secular. The nation is divided in a 50/50 spilt politically; we have economic problems here and in the world. We are in moral decay, we are told what is right is wrong and what is wrong is right. We are under spiritual attack from those who want to remove God from our nation. There are others who would force us to submit to their beliefs and reject Jesus Christ. Yet, we are told to be politically correct in our thoughts and speech. Some have been moved to action by the Holy Spirit, CBN’s 50 Days of Prayer and America for Jesus are the most recent calls for prayer for our nation. But, the Holy Spirit kept urging me that there was more to do than gather in one place or in our homes and churches and pray. We can take action as individual believers. We can change the course of our communities, our nation and the world by answering the call of God.

   Abram was commanded as part of the covenant with God to look and see the land the Lord had given him and he was also told to walk the land. This served a two-fold purpose: first was Abram could see more and more as he walked and secondly as he walked the land God said wherever he walked was his land. Genesis 13:17(AMP) Arise, walk through the land, the length of it and the breadth of it, for I will give it to you.

  Then in Ephesians we read that we are to put on the Whole Armor of God and to stand, holding your ground. Ephesians 6:14 (AMP) Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,(Boldness added for emphasis)

   So there are two things that need to happen first to see the land and walk it, then the other is to hold your ground. Sadly, the church has not been doing either of these things. We hunker down behind the four walls of our church buildings and homes and prayer closets and pray for our land. We pray with an expectation that God will do all the work and take back our nation for us. This is a lie of the enemy, he wants us just to sit back and pray. The devil knows that God has chosen His people to take dominion over our communities, states and nations. So long as there no action with our prayers then devil doesn’t have to worry.

  This then is a call to action by the Holy Spirit, to get out of the four walls of churches and homes, to come out of our closets and take action. First get a friend, (Jesus sent the disciples out two by two), and go to a street corner in your city (ask the Holy Spirit which street corner He will tell you). Second, look around you and see the land the Lord has given you. Third, begin to thank and praise God for the land he has given you. Fourth, pray for the land and the people in it. Praying that the people will come to know Christ and His love (no prayers of condemnation or judgment) and for God to heal the land. Fifth, rebuke the devil.

   If, someone comes up ask what you are doing, tell them you are praying for your community and the nation and invite them to joint you. If they say, “yes” let them joint if they say, “no” ask them if you can pray for them. If you find yourselves with two or more jointing you , then you or your partner take one of them and move to another corner nearby and begin to pray. In this way, you have walked your land and have stood your ground and God will give you the land.

  A closing note, please stay on public property and do not block a sidewalk. This is not a time for a show or a display of religious exercises, do it in humble matter, but with the power and authority of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

                          ©COPYRIGHT 2012 RICHARD SPANGLER

 

 

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Forgive, How Much?

By Richard L. Spangler

  People ask, “How many times must I forgive this person?” Or, “I can’t forgive what they did to me.”  And, “I want God to judge this person.” These same people have financial and other troubles, wondering why God is not blessing them. Some also have relationship issues with their family and others.

  I have personally dealt with people that were hard to forgive. Once I was given the responsibility of running a shop and yard crew for the water department. I worked with men, most of whom were much older than myself. There was this guy I will call Frank, who would ride my case from the time I walked in the gate until I left. Frank would curse constantly, put open men’s magazines on my desk, and relocate my Bible and my lunch. There were times I felt like getting revenge on him, but I didn’t. I continued to pray for him, asking God to save him, and to help me forgive him. This situation continued for months. 

  Then one day, Frank came into my office. I feared the worse, but to my surprise, he broke down. Frank’s life was a mess and he needed someone to talk to. He asked me to forgive him. I told him I already had and was willing to listen and help. After that, a good working relationship developed. Frank would still slip up with the language, but would quickly ask my forgiveness. This was my first lesson in forgiving someone who continually sinned against me, so I understand how difficult forgiving can be.  The question arises, how much to forgive someone? We can thank the Apostle Peter for the answer.

“Then Peter came to Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV).

If we analyze these figures, it is amazing. Jesus says to forgive 70 times 7, which is 490 times a day! Then when you divide 490 by 24 hours in a day it means 20.4 times an hour. Then you divide 60 minutes in hour by 20.4 and you get 2.9 minutes. So we are to forgive someone who sins against us every 2.9 minutes!

This is a lifestyle of forgiveness. It does not matter what someone does to you or how many times they may sin against you, you are to forgive. It is almost impossible for someone to reach this volume of sinning against another. If you’re counting, are you really forgiving?

  But, what about if they are breaking the law, you may ask? If they break a law of man they still have to pay the consequences and if they haven’t accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord, then they are under the judgment of God’s law, so we must leave the judging to Him.

  Forgiveness is for you, not them. Unforgiveness blocks our relationship with God and leads to bitterness. Both unforgiveness and bitterness not only take their toll on you spiritually but also physically, opening the door to sickness and death. They also poison every relationship you have.

Unforgiveness also affects the blessings you receive from God.

“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful^. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:32-38 NKJV).

  What caught my attention is that most of this scripture deals with our relationship with others, then comes this one statement by Jesus on giving at the end. We are to love our enemies. We are to forgive unconditionally. We are to show mercy as God has shown mercy to us. Don’t condemn or judge and finally, forgive. Forgiveness jumps out as the key to the other blessings.

So forgive, for your own sake. Then, you will have an open, unhindered relationship with God and others. When you pray for the blessings of God, they will flow to you in a far greater way than you can imagine. 

©COPYRIGHT 2012 RICHARD L SPANGLER

 

 

 

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