Bill - Revelations From The Road

What If? – Part 1, Takeover

November 6, 2010 by Bill Leave a Comment

October 15, 2010

What if a rich and powerful business man moved into town and started buying up land, taking over local businesses, hiring associates to work for him, and began bribing local officials? He is doing this with the promise of, “Join with me and things will be good, I’ll take care of you”. Many people join and find that things seem to be going well for them. But those that do not join are harassed all the time and find it increasingly difficult to operate on their own. Eventually, the early-joiners realize that things aren’t so good anymore and they long for the way life used to be when they made most of their own decisions based on the ancient plan of the town’s founder.

Well…that rich and powerful man IS here! “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;” (John 10:10). He makes it look sweet at first and his promises sound good but his plan is bad.

But what if…the town’s people got together and decided to join forces and oppose this man and his association and take back their town? We’ve seen it happen in old west movies haven’t we? We always cheer when good wins and evil loses. This is what we as Christians and churches need to do. Join forces, work together, resist the evil and watch him flee, (James 4:7). Or, we can sit back and let things continue to get worse. Edmund Burke says, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”. But the Bible says, “In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man.”, (Mark 3:27). Let’s go get him!

Stir It Up

November 4, 2010 by Bill 172 Comments

Given November 3, 2010

As I was praying and reading this morning, I was reminded of the gift of the Holy Spirit that resides in me and the potential of that gift for good. I realized, by the small still voice inside, that the Spirit in me was not being used anywhere near its potential. Then the scripture came to me from 2 Timothy 1:6 where the Apostle Paul was counseling Timothy, “For the which cause I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee through the laying on of my hands.” I thought, “Yes, I need to stir up the gift that’s in me, it’s been laying dormant.” You know if the fire in the fireplace or the campground is dying out, you get a stick and stir up the embers and it will flame up again. That’s what I want!

So I asked God, “Father, how do I stir up the gift inside me?” Immediately, the answers started coming. Pray – Time spent with God, in conversation, is the first way to stir up the gift. And not just asking God for things but conversing with Him; asking talking, listening. He will tell you things that stir you up! Praise & Worship – “My Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.” The first thing Jesus said when teaching his guys how to pray. When we forget all that’s around us and lift up praise to the King, we are stirred. I can feel it right now! Music – Music has always been a part of worship and most of us know the affect praise and worship music can have on our Spirits. Music can stir us up especially if used in conjunction with prayer and praise. Read the Word – God speaks to us through His Word. One of the most Spirit-stirring activities we can do is to read the Bible and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to us, teach us, and give us revelation. When we read a passage and suddenly get a new revelation of what it means, wow, what a stirring. And another good way to stir our Spirits is to Fellowship with Believers – As we get together with like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ, we can talk, discuss, testify, and share what God has revealed to us and encourage each other. We can stir each other up!

But, God also reminded me of another type of stirring. I was taken, in my mind’s eye, to the hardware store where the associate added a little squirt of color to a gallon of base paint then put it into the paint mixer. This process is not a gentle stirring to mix the contents but a violent shaking that quickly does the job. God reminded me that sometimes He has to allow us to be in a situation where we are shaken violently in order to stir us up to action. If that’s what I need to increase the power of the gift in me, then secure the lid Lord and commence the shaking!

Jesus at the Back of the Church

October 29, 2010 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given 2007

While sitting in church one Sunday morning contemplating the concept of focusing on God and His Kingdom, the Holy Spirit gave me this vision.

We were all sitting in our church where the stage and pulpit are up front and the doors are at the back. I was sitting on the long aisle about half way to the front. The service was in progress when I heard a commotion in the back and turned in my seat to see what it was. To my surprise, not that He was here because He always shows up, but that I could actually see Him. It was Jesus! He was tall, dressed as He did in His day, smiling and nodding His head to the deacons and ushers who sat in the back. He had with him a group of men and I noticed, as I joined the people who were getting out of their seats and moving toward the back, that each man had a label on him. One was labeled Salvation, another Healing, and another, Deliverance. Others were Peace, Joy, Prosperity, Wisdom and that’s all I could see. I thought, “What does this mean?”

As we moved quickly toward Jesus and the group, some of those who were sitting closer to the back got there ahead of us and I saw one lady go straight to the man labeled Prosperity. I was amazed that he didn’t even acknowledge her! Another man ran straight to Deliverance and got the same treatment causing me to wonder what was going on here.

Then, just as I got near Jesus, I noticed an elderly man who had been sitting right on the back row moving slowly with the help of a walker right up to Jesus. He didn’t pay any attention to Mr. Healing, who he obviously needed, but inched his way to Jesus. As I stood there I could hear him say¸ “Jesus, I’m so honored to see you. I love you.” Jesus replied, “I love you too and enjoy the time we spend together each day.” Then the old, crippled man started to ask Jesus, “Master, would you…”, and Jesus said, “I know what you need son, here, let me introduce you to my associate, Healing.” Jesus motioned with his hand toward the man labeled Healing and the old man smiled up at Jesus, thanked Him, and inched toward Healing who stood with open arms for the man.

In my vision, I immediately was reminded of Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” The message was made clear by what I had seen; as Christians, or sinners for that matter, we are to seek Jesus first, put all our needs aside, and focus our heart, soul, mind, and strength on Him. When we do that, and really seek Him, we will find everything we need and even more than we can think or imagine.

Words of Encouragement

October 21, 2010 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given August 2010

In these times of so many people needing prayer for different circumstances in their lives, I thought it would be good to be encouraged by the Word of God. “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:13).

• In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
• Praise the Lord. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Psalm 150
• Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4
• If God is for me who can be against me? Romans 8:31
• 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. Jeremiah 29:11
• I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2
• Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me. Psalm 23:4
• Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3
• You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12
• I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5
• When I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10
• Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
• Submit yourselves therefore unto God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7
• Trust in the Lord, in due time He will raise you up, cast your cares, what the devil meant for harm, My grace is sufficient, I can do all things, Jesus loves me, this I know!

Say these out loud and be encouraged by them. Be blessed!

Lessons From Sports – Part 6, Cheering and Praise

October 12, 2010 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given March 2010

In this final installment to the Lessons from Sports series, let’s look at the similarities and differences in cheering for your team and praising the Lord.

Any good sports fan will get excited when they’re at the game and their team does well. They love the team and when they succeed their emotions and actions erupt with cheering, clapping, jumping and whatever else they can use to express their joy. Some seem to go a little overboard at times, maybe even fanatical, but it’s accepted because they’re all there to support their team.

Any good Christian should get excited when they’re at church and the congregation is offering up praise to God for all the great things He has done. They love God and when they’re in His presence their joy and thankfulness is expressed by shouting, clapping, jumping and other ways they can express their praise. Some criticize the emotion expressed in praise but accept the emotion expressed at the game. Why is that? “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” (Psalm 47:1). “And David danced before the Lord with all his might,” (2 Samuel 6:14). Fanatics?

I certainly am not condemning anyone for cheering at a ball game. I have let up many a shout when a last second shot went in or one of “mine” crossed the goal line. I’m suggesting if we love God as much as we love our team…shouldn’t our praise and cheering be similar?

Another comparison is the Super Bowl party. We have a special gathering, sometimes at church, to cheer our team on to victory and if you are a super fan, you might even get tickets to be there in person. However, I hear there is a “great cloud of witnesses”, (Hebrews 12:1), assembled in a stadium in the sky cheering us on as we “compete”. And¸ when someone gets saved, I can just hear the crowd erupt in rejoicing, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:7). These lessons are designed to make us think and see if there’s anything we need to learn. Go God! We love you!