Saturday, April 27, 2013

Carriers of Peace


Joey LeTourneau:
Carriers of Peace
Joey LeTourneauPeace is an interesting subject to me, and a hot topic in the world. It is very needed, sought after, and hoped for, yet often so misunderstood. There are two things about peace I believe the Lord wants us to understand more clearly during this time. First, we already have more peace than we realize, for peace is a Person named Jesus, and He lives within us. Second, when we know Peace as a Person who already resides in our lives, we cease from being pursuers and we become carriers of peace to a world that is longing for such.
World Peace Or Your Piece?
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Your pieceWe may not find peace in the world, but the world can find peace in us. Jesus tells us that in the world we will find difficulties, divisions, and the like, which we all can see happening. But, He also assures us that in Him we may have peace, because He has overcome the world. If we want to see peace in the world, or in our circumstances, it is us who will carry and deliver such as the world waits for the piece of the puzzle that is alive in you and me. God is raising up an army whose weapon is peace.
Misconceptions of Peace
...be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush satan under your feet shortly...Romans 16:19-20
We often misunderstand peace to be passive, and much of the time we are trying to "keep our peace." But God has called forth a people bearing His likeness who walk in peace as an offensive strategy who will give their peace away for the sake of the world, yet are never lacking such because the well of Peace is deep within them.
Another misconception of peace I come across in my own life is that we often relate peace with laziness or inactivity. When was the last time when asked how you were doing that you responded, "I'm peaceful"? I can't remember the last time I said that – it's just not a common response. Instead, we often respond with how "busy" we are, how "stressed" we've been, or how "crazy" life has been. Do we realize what we're saying?Are we afraid that someone will mistake us as lazy or unsuccessful? We must not speak strife into our lives, or, instead of breeding peace, begin to spread its counterpart.
Peace is very underrated because it moves so quietly, and often without being seen. It is difficult to value the unseen, but that is often where the greatest value hides. Peace can't be measured as some things can, but that should not devalue the anointing it can and will have through the lives of those who believe.
Shalom
ShalomShalom, in a single word, is among the first of my go-to prayers. It is a power-packed, loaded word that brings holistic definition to our concept of peace. I declare shalom when praying over our family and over our house, and I have seen God heal sickness through a simple prayer of "Shalom."
According to Strong's#7965, "Shalom" is defined by: "completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord." Many of us are striving to have just a few of these words present in our life. Yet, with shalom, God has given us an "all for one" sort of deal.
This "whole" definition is very important because it takes every form of peace we often pursue externally and puts them together in one package that we as Believers already freely possess in order to freely give away. Sometimes we will pursue prosperity and, in doing so, lose our health. We might pursue perfectness but sacrifice true rest. We plug one hole of the leak only to watch another spring about, and therefore steal even more peace from our lives. That is the enemy's plan.
But Jesus is "Sar Shalom," the "Prince of Peace," and He lives in us. Just as shalom, or salam, is a greeting in so many nations across the world, our Heavenly Father has spoken shalom over us and even given such to us in the form of His Son. If we recognize that Jesus is alive in our life, then we also must recognize that we already possess every facet of the above definition of shalom. Shalom is a wellspring within us that will not run dry, and is the most pregnant form of peace that we may carry to the world.
Carriers of Peace
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9
Jesus set the ultimate example, not just for the peace He carried, but the priority He gave peace as an offensive tool of transformation when sending others into mission. Look at the passages where Jesus sent the twelve and the seventy: Each time we find that He gave them one thing to carry, and hopefully, leave behind. "If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it" (Matthew 10:13), "But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.' And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it..." (Luke 10:5-6).
When Jesus blessed the peacemakers to be called sons of God, He gave us a clear mandate of the true intention and mission of peace. It is not something to be kept or simply hoped for, but Peace is the Presence that will mark the revealing of the sons of God so many are believing for (see Romans 8). We may not ever find peace in the world, but I thank God that the world will find Peace in us. May we, as carriers of Peace, now arise and go out to the world each day!
Joey LeTourneau
M.A.R.K. 10:14 Family/Heavenly Hope Ministries

Email: joey.letourneau@gmail.com
Website: bringhishope.org / uncommonvision.org
Joey LeTourneau, his wife Destiny, and their four daughters live near Denver, Colorado. They travel extensively, empowering the Body of Christ to draw near to their First Love and live out the life-giving testimony of Jesus to the world around them. They desire to see the Father's heart fully revealed to the world, and through such see a multiplication of life so abundant the whole world will know the true nature of our Father! Joey has authored two books, Revolutionary Freedom, and his new release, The Life Giver.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

God is Releasing Expansion and Abundance! ~ Renew Your Mind Now by Dr. Sandie Freed


Excerpt from a larger article ~ 
God is Releasing Expansion and Abundance!

The Israelites were yoked with fear while in the wilderness. They were unable to fully trust God, so a murmuring generation died in the wilderness and never witnessed its promise. I believe they just couldn't see it! They refused to renew their minds and believe that what God promised was truly theirs. I want you to know that God has victory planned for your life. Keep this passage in the forefront as you continue to believe God for your breakthrough:

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, Here I am. If you take away from your midst yokes of oppression [wherever you find them], the finger pointed in scorn [toward the oppressed or the godly], and every form of false, harsh, unjust, and wicked speaking...then shall your light rise in darkness...And the Lord shall guide you continually.Isaiah 58:9-11 AMP (emphasis added)

Contemplate the previous passage right now and maybe for the next few days, while asking God to renew your mind. If you have contended against a spirit of Mammon in the past, know that it is possible that it will rise up again. You will need to renew your mind concerning God's desire to bless your future! In my book, Crushing the Spirits of Greed and Poverty: Discerning and Defeating the Ancient Powers of Mammon and Babylon, I have gone into great detail to expose the lies of accusing spirits that attempt to steal financial breakthroughs and expansion.

After meditating on Isaiah 58:9-11, take a few more minutes and read through Isaiah 54:1-4 (I have written this passage below for you to read). Ask the Holy Spirit to quicken you how to contend against anything attached to a sense of lack, poverty or loss. If you have opened doors to poverty due to a false belief system, simply repent. Christ paid the price on the Cross for you to have victory, expansion and prosperity!

Then, rise up and declare:

"God has great breakthroughs planned for me! He will break off yokes of oppression, doubt and unbelief. When I call, He will answer me with goodness. When I cry out He will say, 'Here I am!' Yes, I can truly trust the Lord!"

Again, it is a time to stand upon the promises in Isaiah 54, especially verses 2-4 (from The Message):

"Clear lots of ground for your tents!
Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big!
Use plenty of rope, drive the tent pegs deep. You're going to need lots of elbow room for your growing family.
You're going to take over whole nations; you're going to resettle abandoned cities.
Don't be afraid — you're not going to be embarrassed.
Don't hold back — you're not going to come up short."

Beloved, if you can see it, you shall have it!

In Him,
Dr. Sandie Freed
Zion Ministries

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Baptize Your Promised Land by Pleading the Blood


April 6, 2013
Sandie Freed:

Dear Believer,
I am always amazed at the faithfulness of God, aren't you? It's so easy to love a God like ours; especially when we recall what Jesus did at the Cross. I have noticed that the message of the Cross and the power in the Blood of Jesus are rarely discussed anymore. It's difficult to locate a church that truly focuses on the finished work of Christ. However, there seems to be plenty of churches and ministries that hold onto religious works and man-made traditions. Yet, Jesus died so that we can become completely free of religious performance.

Performance is a very hard taskmaster. In fact, under performance we can never do enough. For us to believe that God only loves us or approves of us because of what we DO for Him rather than WHOSE we are, is to actually demonstrate that what Christ did on the Cross is of no effect! In other words, we are believing that His death and the shedding of His Blood was not enough to place us in right-standing with God.
Righteous Because of the Blood
Dear one, we will never be righteous due to anything we do for God. Only the righteousness of Jesus Christ which covers us makes us righteous. This is why in Galatians 3:1, Paul addressed those in the Church concerning this issue. Paul was concerned that they seemed to have tossed aside the finished work of Christ and were back into the old belief system that involved the Law and performance. If they were truly doing this, and obviously Paul thought they were, then they were negating what occurred on the Cross! Read what Paul said to the Galatians:
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing – if it really was for nothing? Does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Galatians 3:1-6
Foolish and Bewitched
Paul pointed out that the Galatians had become "foolish." He asked them if they received the Spirit by observing the law or believing what that had "heard." Let us all remember how faith in God comes – by hearing and hearing the Word (Romans 10:17). And, precious saint, we "believe" because we "hear," and not because of what we do! What we do for God does not make us righteous, nor does it cause our faith to become established. Our relationship with Him establishes our faith and our righteousness is only due to the fact that when Christ shed His Blood, we, therefore, became righteous.
Notice that Paul asked the Galatians who had "bewitched" them. This word means "cast a spell," (over them) or "fascinated" (them). Fascination and sensationalism are closely linked. All too often Christians like to be entertained. It's unfortunate that many Believers have "itching ears" to hear what merely flatters the flesh. Many church services are geared more to entertaining rather than preaching the grace of God to be saved, healed and restored.
Jesus on the CrossWhen Jesus died on the Cross, He provided the fullness of sozo, a Greek word meaning not only salvation, but also healing, deliverance, provision and all that Heaven offers! Yet, if our relationship with God is somewhat superficial (meaning we want the sensation without the relation (relationship), we fall short of receiving what we need from God because we really don't know how to believe for His best!
Self-Focused Mentalities
It is unfortunate that many Believers have become self-focused rather than God-focused. By this I mean that we focus on what we need rather than the One Who shed His Blood to provide what is needed. Matthew 6:33 says that we are to "...seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you (my emphasis). Did you notice that we are to seek first God's Kingdom and "His" righteousness? This means that we are not righteous without Him and that we are to seek His righteousness – this is clearly stating that we cannot be righteous due to our performance or religious works, but only righteous due to Christ's righteousness.
Secondly, when we do this "first," then "all" things are added to us. The term "all" in this passage refers to everything we need is already accomplished due to the finished work of Christ! We need not perform any longer believing that this makes us a better person or that God will bless us because of what we do. No! It means whatever we need is already done – at the Cross!
Christian Legalism
How sad it is for me to witness so many Christians bowing down to legalism and religious works. I have even witnessed some Believers saying that they couldn't wait until Resurrection Day so that they could be healed. My heart sank because many other people believe this way.
Dear one, if you received a bad report from your doctor that you had cancer, would you wait several months to pray for your healing? I just know you wouldn't! We don't have to wait for a certain time of year (or even wait until another church service!) to pray the prayer of faith. After all, our faith is in Christ and what He did at the Cross. Our faith is not centered around a certain day, date or year. While I am writing this article it is Passover week, but I have not waited until this season to apply the Blood of Jesus over my situation, no! I plead the Blood whenever I need to.
Let me give you an example. Years ago my mother had lung cancer which was diagnosed in the month of September. Though I knew that on Resurrection Day that God demonstrated His power through the resurrection of Jesus, we did not wait until then to believe for her healing. No way! We began to immediately pray for her and a few days later she coughed up the lung tumor which was cancerous! She was completely healed of lung cancer!
However, if I had been bound up in religious performance, we may not have had faith to believe for God's perfect timing for her healing. It is the same for anything I need; remember all things are supplied and they are supplied because of the finished work of Christ. Hallelujah!
Pleading the Blood of Jesus
I have learned to plead the Blood of Jesus over many different situations and therefore have witnessed various miracles. But I have also had to understand that to simply shout out a religious term or phrase, such as pleading the Blood of Jesus, without fully understanding what it truly means gives little results (this is an example of religious jargon). Precious Believer, when we "plead the Blood," we are proclaiming all that Jesus accomplished for us by shedding His Blood. Let's not just charismatically (or religiously) plead the Blood without full understanding the accomplished work at the Cross. To plead it with faith of all that Christ did on our behalf will release the demonstration and power of God!
Baptize Your Land Today or Any Day!
In my recent book, The Power in the Blood: Possessing Your Spiritual Inheritance (order through Elijah List), I explain how to baptize your land to possess all of your Promised Land. Let me first remind you that God provided the first sacrifice for the sin of mankind. He placed skins of a slain animal upon both Adam and Eve to cover their sin.

Grape VineLater we notice that Noah, upon coming out of the ark after the Flood, made a sacrifice to God immediately upon stepping onto the land.
This is symbolic of our going to baptize our Promised Land by recalling what Jesus accomplished at the Cross (I go further into detail in my book if you desire more information). In other words, when we recognize what Christ did and that we are righteous due to His Blood, it empowers us to take our Promised Land! Wow!
Think upon this. Every time we receive a prophetic promise or prophetic revelation, we baptize that promise from God by renewing our mind concerning what Christ did at the CrossWe can, therefore, tell the devil to "get off our land," when we remind him that the battle is already won!
Free Indeed
Many of you are aware that I am known to be a freedom fighter! It is no accident that I married Mickey Freed – with "Freed" as my covenant-married name. I am destined to point the way to freedom. I don't just want you free – I want you free indeed. This means completely free, especially from a spirit of legalism or religious works.

So, therefore, precious freed-up-Believer of God, rise up and declare the power that is in the Blood! And, know that TODAY is your day that God will provide for your every need!
In Him,
Sandie Freed
Zion Ministries

Email: zionministries1@sbcglobal.net
Sandie Freed co-labors with her husband, Mickey Freed, doing the work of the Lord as a ministry team. In addition, Sandie is the Founder and Director of the School of the Prophets and Apostolic Training Center in Bedford, Texas. With a strong anointing of discerning of spirits, Sandie has been known to discern territorial strongholds and release churches and regions from spiritual assignments that withhold finances, deliverances, and breakthroughs. Prophetess Sandie and Apostle Mickey are ordained with Christian International Ministries, serving on their Board of Governors and the Board of Directors. Together they serve as the Mid-Southern Regional Directors of the Christian International Network of Churches, which is the Prophetic-Apostolic oversight for Texas and Oklahoma regions, as well as several other states and regions. They have been married since 1973, and have one daughter, Kim Putman.