Why do people tithe to the church? The reasons are many. As I considered
my own motivation, I discovered at least ten reasons why I give ten
percent of my income to the church. A study of these reasons will help
us to understand the great blessing of tithing and the biblical
responsibility to tithe.

1. To Honor the Creator

Render. . .unto God the things that are God’s (Matthew 22:21closeMatthew 22:21 21 They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” (ESV) ).

Acquisitiveness is one of the basic drives of mankind. Children grasp
their toys and cry, “Mine.” Someone has noted three attitudes in the
parable of the Good Samaritan. The priest and the Levite had the
attitude, “What’s mine is mine and I’m going to keep it!” The thieves
had the attitude, “What’s yours is mine, and I’m going to get it!” The
Samaritan had the attitude, “What’s mine is yours, and you can have it.”
There is another attitude which should permeate our thinking, even above
the commendable attitude of the Samaritan. That is, “Everything we have
belongs to God, and we are stewards of His goods.”

God owns the entire world and its substance. “The earth is the LORD’S,
and the fulness thereof” (Psalm 24closePsalm 24 A Psalm of David. 24:1 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers. 3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the Lord
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah 7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle!
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory! Selah. . . . (ESV) :l).”Behold, all souls are mine”
(Ezekiel 18:4closeEzekiel 18:4 4 Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. (ESV) ). “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine” (Haggai 2:8closeHaggai 2:8 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. (ESV) ).
It is God who gives men the power to obtain wealth (Psalm 75:6-7closePsalm 75:6-7 6 For not from the east or from the west
and not from the wilderness comes lifting up,
7 but it is God who executes judgment,
putting down one and lifting up another. (ESV) ;
Ecclesiastes 5:19closeEcclesiastes 5:19 19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. (ESV) ). Men are not to glory in what God has given them, but
to glory in Him (Jeremiah 9:23-24closeJeremiah 9:23-24 23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (ESV) ).

Sharecropping was once a way of life in the farming communities of
America. The sharecropper supplied the labor. The landowner supplied the
land, a house, farming equipment, and machinery or work animals. When
the crop was harvested, a certain percentage was given to the landowner.
For example, from a crop of cotton the landowner may have received
twenty-five percent. If it was corn, the landowner sometimes received
one-third. Often, the sharecropper and the man who furnished the seed
and equipment divided what remained after giving the share to the
landowner.

Why should I begrudge God ten percent when it all belongs to Him? If it
were not for Him, there would be no land, no seed, no strength, no
income, and no life. How generous He is to tell us, “The tithe. . .is
the LORD’S!” (Leviticus 27:30closeLeviticus 27:30 30 “Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord.” (ESV) ).

2. To Acknowledge My Heritage

“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed” (Galatians 3:29closeGalatians 3:29 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (ESV) ).

Abraham was the first tithe-payer of record (Genesis 28:22closeGenesis 28:22 22 “And this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” (ESV) ). Abraham’s
grandson, Jacob, paid tithes (Genesis 28:22closeGenesis 28:22 22 “And this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” (ESV) ). Scripture says that Levi,
Abraham’s descendant and the father of the tribe from which the
priesthood came, paid tithes in Abraham (Hebrews 7:9closeHebrews 7:9 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham. . . . (ESV) ). My heritage of
paying a tithe precedes the law of Moses. As a child of Abraham and an
heir of the promise of Abraham, I acknowledge my family relationship by
paying tithes.

Jesus said to the Jews, “If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the
works of Abraham” (John 8:39closeJohn 8:39 39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did. . . .” (ESV) ). It would be strange to claim to be a
child of Abraham and yet to neglect one of Abraham’s most fundamental
and noteworthy acts. I pay my tithes as a spiritual descendant of
Abraham, the father of the faithful.

3. To Fulfill the Covenant

“For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which
remaineth is glorious” (2 Corinthians 3:11close2 Corinthians 3:11 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. (ESV) ).

In every comparison of the law of Moses and the new covenant that came
by Jesus Christ, the new covenant stands supreme. The characteristic
word in the Book of Hebrews is better, and everything is better about
the new covenant. If the law demanded tithes, then how much more should
we who are under the “perfect law of liberty” give our tithe willingly?
If the law is written in the fleshly tables of our hearts and we follow
God’s commands not from outward rules but because of our new nature,
then how quickly and how easily we should give the tenth that belongs to
the Lord? (See 2 Corinthians 3:3-6close2 Corinthians 3:3-6 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (ESV) .)

Some people say, “Oh, we do not pay tithes, because tithing was under
the law.” If that is a sufficient reason for not paying tithes, then
we could also mistreat our parents, for the law said, “Honor thy father
and thy mother” (Exodus 20:12closeExodus 20:12 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” (ESV) ). In actuality, we honor our father and
mother and we give our tithes because the principles of the law are
written in our hearts by the Spirit of God. We give willingly and
liberally because the Spirit motivates us to give that which God has
said is His.

4. To Show my Love

Love is the strongest motivation in the world. “Many waters cannot
quench love” (Song of Solomon 8:7closeSong of Solomon 8:7 7 Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can floods drown it.
If a man offered for love
all the wealth of his house,
he would be utterly despised. (ESV) ).

I have seen bumper stickers that say, “If you love Jesus, honk your
horn!” Anyone can honk his horn. But David said, “Neither will I offer
…unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing” (II Samuel
24:24). Someone should print a sticker that says, “If you love Jesus,
pay your tithes!”

For someone who genuinely loves the Lord, the tithe is only the
beginning of his giving. He gives not only his tithe, but also offerings
(plural), not grudgingly and not of necessity, but cheerfully with love.

5. To Fulfill an Obligation

“Ye pay tithe. . .These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the
other undone” (Matthew 23:23closeMatthew 23:23 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” (ESV) ).

Jesus did not criticize the Pharisees for paying tithes. He commended
them. He said it was something they “ought” to have done. The word ought
expresses an obligation or duty. It is one of the strongest words in the
English language. To pay tithes is something every Christian ought to
do.

The word ought has three meanings: (a) obligation or duty; as in, He
ought to pay his debts”; (b) desirability; as in, “You ought to eat more
slowly”; (c) expectancy or probability; as in, “I ought to be through by
Monday.” Each one of these meanings puts an obligation upon the
Christian. It is desirable for him to pay his tithes, he is expected to
pay his tithes and he has a duty to pay his tithes.

6. To Escape Condemnation

“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. . .in tithes and offerings”
(Malachi 3:8closeMalachi 3:8 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. (ESV) ). How sad it is that men who are honest in business and who
pay their debts to the bank, the store and the government will not pay
God what belongs to Him! Sometimes people quibble about whether they are
“paying” or “giving” tithes, but both terms seem appropriate. The tithe
is the Lord’s, and it is expected that we pay it to Him; at the same
time, He does not receive it until we give it to Him. He does not allow
us to use this tithe for other purposes, but we have the power to spend
it as long as it is in our hands. Nevertheless, a person is condemned if
he spends God’s money.

7. To Spread the Gospel

“So hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live
of the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:14close1 Corinthians 9:14 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. (ESV) ).

God has ordained that men should be saved by the preaching of the
gospel. “How shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14closeRomans 10:14 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (ESV) ).

Tithing is God’s way of supporting the ministry. In the Old Testament,
the Levites and the priest were God’s ministers to the nation of Israel.
In the New Testament, God has called people to be ministers to the
church. These ministers can be more effective if they do not have to
provide for their livelihood by working on a secular job. They need time
to give themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.

It is not wrong for a man to labor with his hands, nor should a minister
feel too good to engage in honest labor. Yet God’s plan is for those who
preach the gospel to live of the gospel.

When God inspired Moses to write that the people should not put a muzzle
on the ox that labored, God was not as concerned with the ox as he was
with the principle that a laborer should receive his livelihood from his
work. The application of the principle is that the minister of the
gospel should earn his living from his ministry. (See 1 Corinthians 9:9close1 Corinthians 9:9 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? (ESV) -
10.)

Some ministers have endured financial hardships and deprivation in order
to proclaim the gospel in needy areas. I admire these preachers who made
sacrifices to go where there was no financial support-men like Brother
Morris Wilburn, who, when one of his horses died in the harness, took
the horse’s place and helped pull the wagon to the next place of
meeting.

If the tithing income ensures that the minister can live in a good
house, drive a good car and buy sufficient clothes for his family, why
should I begrudge providing these things to a man who would preach the
gospel even if he had to work on a secular job to do it? It is a
disgrace to the church if the pastor has to take a secular job to supply
his family’s needs when there should be sufficient tithing income
available to allow him to do God’s work on a full-time basis. My tithing
can help to spread the gospel.

8. To Avoid a Curse

“Ye are cursed with a curse” (Malachi 3:9closeMalachi 3:9 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. (ESV) ).

Someone has said, “You can’t out give God, and you can’t out squeeze Him
either.”

Some people put their money into “a bag with holes” (Haggai 1:6closeHaggai 1:6 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. (ESV) ). They
do not give God His tithe, but they eventually spend the money for
automobile repairs, medical bills and a thousand other things that they
might have avoided if they had been faithful to God in their giving.

God said that the whole nation of Israel was cursed because they had
not given Hod His due. God asked Israel to dedicate the gold of Jericho
to Him, but Achan took a wedge of gold and hid it in his tent. It became
a curse to him and his whole family.

I do not want God to curse my blessings. I want to give Him His tithe.

9. To Enjoy God’s Blessing

“Prove me herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you
the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall
not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10closeMalachi 3:10 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (ESV) ).

The people who pay tithes are the ones whom God blesses. They do
not always have the most money or the best clothes, but they are the
ones who are blessed.

However, I am wary of those who promise “If you give God a dollar, He
will give you back four.” The expectation of a return should not be our
motivation for giving.

But I do want God to notice me and remember me. He noticed that the
widow put money into the treasury at the Temple. He noticed what
Cornelius was giving. He noticed what Israel was not giving. He knows
what we give and He notices when we give.

God has asked us to prove Him and see if He will not give us His
blessings. I have trusted Him, tested Him, and tried Him and I have
concluded that it is better to give God what belongs to Him.

10. To Be Consistent

Be thou an example of the believers” (1 Timothy 4:12close1 Timothy 4:12 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (ESV) ).

For most of my ministry, I have lived on the tithing income. How could I
receive tithes and not pay tithes? I could not do so and be consistent.
The Levites, who received tithes, also paid tithes on what they received
(Nehemiah 10:38closeNehemiah 10:38 38 And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse. (ESV) ). Preachers who receive tithes should be most faithful
to pay them.

Paying tithes will not save a person – everyone must be born again
to be saved. But paying tithes will reap a blessing. Genuine Christians
not only pay tithes, but they also willingly pay tithes.

Joseph D. Carpenter

May 13, 1946-October 3, 2011

We have lost a leader.
We have lost a visionary.
We have lost a friend.
But Heaven has gained a faithful servant.
Prayers are being sent up from across the nation for the family of a great man of God.

Pastor Carpenter began his ministry in the early 60′s, teaching Sunday School and leading the Youth Ministry of Christian Temple Church in Jackson, Michigan. He was elected as Section 3 Youth Director in 1967, the same year he received his ministerial credentials. After many years of serving as the Assistant Pastor in Jackson he was called to Mount Morris to pastor.

Reverend Carpenter was the Senior Pastor of First Apostolic Church of Mount Morris from November of 1981 until May of 2011. In April of 2011 he was elected as Bishop of FAC. As pastor of First Apostolic he started daughter works in Imlay City and Kentwood, Michigan. He has served the district in numerous capacities over the past 43 years that he has held credentials with the United Pentecostal Church, International. Pastor Carpenter has ministered in several countries, including The Philippines, Ethiopia, Estonia, Italy, and has encouraged and supported congregations and missionaries around the world.

• From 1973 until 1981 he served as District Youth President
• From 1984 until 1985 he served as District Sunday School Director
• From 1985 until 1990 he served as District Home Missions Director
• From 1990 until 2000 he served as District Secretary-Treasurer
• In May of 2000 he was elected as the District Superintendent

Reverend Carpenter was a member of the General Board of the UPCI and also a board member of the United Pentecostal Foundation.

He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Victoria Carpenter; children Rev. Joseph L. (Sherrie) Carpenter of Mt. Morris and Angela (Rev. Jamison) Jones of Kentwood; grandchildren Samuel Carpenter, Joshua Carpenter and Kelsea Jones.

Visitation will be Thursday October 6, 12 – 2 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. at First Apostolic Church in Mt. Morris (11650 Church St.), and Friday October 7, 1:30 -2:30 p.m. at South Flint Tabernacle in Burton (G3450 S. Saginaw St.). Funeral services will follow visitation on Friday with Rev. J. Mark Jordan and Rev. Robert E. Henson officiating.

Those desiring may make contributions to First Apostolic Church. Your condolences may be shared with the family at swartzfuneralhomeinc.com.

We are in an invisible war.
Ephesians 6:10-12closeEphesians 6:10-12 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (ESV)

We are to prepare ourselves for battle.
Ephesians 6:13-15closeEphesians 6:13-15 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. (ESV)

When we resist the enemy, he will flee from us.
Ephesians 6:16-17closeEphesians 6:16-17 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. . . . (ESV)

Intercessory prayer is pivotal and essential for corporate and individual deliverance.
Ephesians 6:18-20closeEphesians 6:18-20 18 Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (ESV)

Summary of Ephesians 6:18-20closeEphesians 6:18-20 18 Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (ESV)
The means by which believers are to withstand and overcome the attacks of the enemy in spiritual warfare is by consistent, intense, strategic prayer for one another in conjunction with the personal application of the armor of God.

1. I. Intercessory Prayer is Our Most Powerful and Strategic Corporate Weapon in Spiritual Warfare.
   • Prayer has a direct impact on spiritual warfare. Mark 9:29closeMark 9:29 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” (ESV)
   • Prayer provides / assists in the deliverance of others who are undergoing
   • spiritual attack. Luke 22:31-32closeLuke 22:31-32 31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (ESV)
   • Power falls where prayer prevails. Acts 1:14, 2:42, 3closeActs 1:14 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. Acts 2:42 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:3 3 And spanided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. (ESV) :1, 4:24-35, 6:4-8, 8:14-16, 9:40-42, 10:1-4, Church history is replete with examples
2. What Kind of Prayer Brings God’s Deliverance and Power in the Midst of Spiritual Attack?
   • Consistent Prayer – v. 18a
     • “with all prayer and petition” = all kinds of prayer
     • “pray at all times” = prayer on all occasions
     • “pray in the spirit” = in communion with and directed by the agency and power of the Holy Spirit Romans 8:26-27closeRomans 8:26-27 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (ESV) and 1 Corinthians 14:15close1 Corinthians 14:15 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. (ESV)
   • Intense Prayer – v. 18b
     • “be on the alert” = literally without sleep, vigilant
     • “with all perseverance” = enduring, not giving up
   • Strategic Prayer – v. 18c – 20
     • “for all the saints” = that God’s messengers will be bold
     • “utterance may be given” = God’s message will be clear and have opportunity

   Summary

   The Missing Ingredient in most Christian’s lives and in most churches is the commitment and regular practice of intercessory prayer. Scripture indicates that (individual and corporate) consistent, intense, and strategic intercessory prayer will in fact “deliver us from the evil one.”

   The great people of the earth today are the people who pray. I do not mean those who talk about prayer; nor those who say they believe in prayer; nor yet those who can explain about prayer; but I mean those people who take time and pray. They have not time. It must be taken from something else. This something else is important. Very important, and pressing, but still less important and less pressing than prayer.
   S. D. Gordon

3. The Ministry of Deliverance
   • Its Validity
     • Jesus regularly exercised this ministry. Mark 1:27, 39closeMark 1:27 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” Mark 1:39 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. (ESV)
     • The apostles regularly exercised this ministry. Luke 10closeLuke 10 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. 13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. 16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” 17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” 38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (ESV)
     • The early church regularly exercised this ministry. Acts 16closeActs 16 16:1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. 6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. 16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of spanination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. 19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. 35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. (ESV)
     • The New Testament writers provide clear direction concerning this ministry. James 4:1-10closeJames 4:1-10 4:1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (ESV)
   • Its Problems
     • Extremism and fanaticism tend to negatively color this ministry.
     • Confusion concerning demon possession versus oppression of believers cloud this ministry’s validity among Christians.
     • Fear and ignorance have caused many to simply ignore this ministry.
     • Those who engage in this ministry are often tempted by pride or become so singularly focused they fall into theological error.
     • Assigning blame of all one’s problems to demonic influence versus assuming personal responsibility and using Biblical common sense call this ministry into question.
   • The Cause(s) of Demonic Influence
     • Yielding to sin – John 8:34closeJohn 8:34 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” (ESV)
     • Spiritual rebellion – 1 Samuel 15:23close1 Samuel 15:23 23 “For rebellion is as the sin of spanination,
       and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
       Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
       he has also rejected you from being king.” (ESV)
     • Participating in the occult – Deuteronomy 18:10-11closeDeuteronomy 18:10-11 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices spanination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer 11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead. . . . (ESV)
     • Attempting to contact the dead – Deuteronomy 18:11closeDeuteronomy 18:11 11 Or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead. . . . (ESV)
     • Unresolved anger and bitterness – Ephesians 4:26-27closeEphesians 4:26-27 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. (ESV)
     • Association with those involved in Satanic activity – 2 Corinthians 6:14-16close2 Corinthians 6:14-16 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
       and I will be their God,
       and they shall be my people.” (ESV)
   • New Testament Evidences of Demonic Influence
     • Severe sickness – Matthew 12:22closeMatthew 12:22 22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. (ESV)
     • Divination (telling the future) – Acts 16:16closeActs 16:16 16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of spanination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. (ESV)
     • Unusual physical strength – Mark 5:3closeMark 5:3 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. . . . (ESV)
     • Fits of rage – Mark 5:4closeMark 5:4 4 For he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. (ESV)
     • Split personality – Mark 5:6-7closeMark 5:6-7 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” (ESV)
     • Resistance to spiritual help – Mark 5:7closeMark 5:7 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” (ESV)
     • Other voices from within – Mark 5:9closeMark 5:9 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” (ESV)
     • Occult powers – Deuteronomy 18:10-11closeDeuteronomy 18:10-11 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices spanination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer 11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead. . . . (ESV)
   • The Cure for Demonic Influence
     • Allow Christ to be the Lord of your life – John 1:12closeJohn 1:12 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. . . . (ESV)
     • Confess sins – 1 John 1:9close1 John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)
     • Renounce works of the devil – 2 Corinthians 4:2close2 Corinthians 4:2 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. (ESV)
     • Destroy occult objects – Acts 19:17-20closeActs 19:17-20 17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. 18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and spanulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. (ESV) (see also 2 Chronicles 14:2, 23:17close2 Chronicles 14:2 2  And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. 2 Chronicles 23:17 17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. (ESV) )
     • Break friendship with occultists – 2 Corinthians 6:14-16close2 Corinthians 6:14-16 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
       and I will be their God,
       and they shall be my people.” (ESV)
     • Rest in Christ’s deliverance – Colossians 1:13closeColossians 1:13 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. . . . (ESV)
     • Resist the devil – James 4:7closeJames 4:7 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (ESV)
     • Meditate on and apply the Word of God – Ephesians 6:17closeEphesians 6:17 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. . . . (ESV) , Matthew 4:4, 7, 10closeMatthew 4:4 4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
       but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:7 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Matthew 4:10 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God
       and him only shall you serve.’” (ESV)
     • Engage in corporate prayer – Ephesians 6:18closeEphesians 6:18 18 Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. . . . (ESV) , Matthew 18:19closeMatthew 18:19 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. (ESV)
     • If necessary, have spirit cast out in the name of Jesus Christ by a spirit filled believer – Mark 16:17closeMark 16:17 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues. . . . (ESV) , Acts 16:16-18closeActs 16:16-18 16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of spanination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. (ESV)

Free 2-Day Community Event at POK!

FREE backpacks and school supplies!

Each child must be present on August 13 during the family picnic to receive. First come, first serve while supplies last.

Saturday, August 13th | 2pm – 6pm

6th Annual Family Picnic

• Kids’ Carnival – All kids win prizes
• Face Painting
• Balloons and Magic
• Live Music (all genres, for all tastes, all day!)
• Door Prizes! Every 30 Minutes
• Lots of Food! Hot Dogs, chips, and drinks… all FREE!
• Tons of Great Fun! Paint-ball target range, Basketball Freethrow Contest, BOUNCE HOUSE, Kentwood Fire Truck, and more, more, more!

Sunday, August 14th | 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Family Celebration Service

With special guests Jordan and Marie Hopper!

• Fun puppets!
• Exciting Magic!
• Energetic Action Songs and Music!
• All centered around Jesus!
• Free Prizes!
• “Back to School Prayer” over all students!

Don’t miss this great time of family fun!

The Laws of Motion series is a look at some of the principles we find in the apostle Paul’s ministry and in his life that helped make him successful in his Christian life. It seems that many of these laws of motion are timeless and can change the way we view our life and ministry each day!

Week 1 (August 2nd) - The Theory of Opposition

Week 2 (August 9th) - The Theory of Disruption

Week 3 (August 16th) - The Theory of Chaos

The Pentecostals of Kentwood is currently looking for a solid ministry couple (or individual) that is talented, self-motivated and creative to lead our Outreach and Evangelism ministry. This is currently a part-time, paid position, and responsibilities would include the following:

• Directly responsible for Outreach and evangelism for POK in the Kentwood, MI and surrounding area
• Develop outreach programs that are effective in winning souls in today’s generation
• Recruit and train new people to assist with the outreach ministry of our church
• Develop a group of people who are willing to teach Bible studies
• Implement a course to train people in Bible study teaching and evangelism
• Oversee all community evangelism campaigns
• Personally meet weekly evangelism and Bible study goals.

Director would be free to work a supplemental job and/or schedule outside Evangelism opportunities in addition to employment with POK to subsidize their income. At least one weekend per month would be required to be onsite in POK services.

The Pentecostals of Kentwood is an exciting, growing church founded nearly 8 years ago with a heart and focus on reaching the Lost with the saving message of Jesus Christ. We are deeply passionate about personal, lifestyle evangelism, and tremendously hungry for unprecedented endtime revival in our city of nearly 50,000 souls.

Pastor Jay Jones is a leader in personal servanthood, compassion and evangelism, and is willing to invest in and support the efforts necessary to reach our World. We believe with the right attention and the right individual(s) to lead our Evangelism effort, we will see this vision become a reality. http://mypentecost.com/serve/outreach/

If you know anyone who may be interested in becoming part of our team, please help us make the connection (contact form here). In addition to offering a part-time position, we do have employment and housing connections in the community, and can assist with relocation efforts.

Kentwood is a key city in the Grand Rapids Metro region, contributing to the nearly 3/4 million people who are in need of God.

Links of Interest:

• The Pentecostals of Kentwood website
• The Pentecostals of Kentwood on Facebook
• City of Kentwood
• Michigan District UPCI

II Thes.1:11 states “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.” The Greek rendition of power (dunamis) here means force; might; violence; strength; mighty work, etc. Matt. 11:12relays “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”According to God’s plan and through His Spirit, prayer has the power to turn people from the power of Satan to the power of God.Acts 26:18closeActs 26:18 18 ‘To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ (ESV) says, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto the power of God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

Light is a kind of “energy” that exists as a range of electromagnetic radiation that can be detected by the human eye. Have you opened your eyes and evaluated your life lately to determine if you may be wasting some valuable time on “formless energy”…trivial things that are temporal and don’t really matter in the long-run? Remember, prayer has eternal value and when we pray in accordance to the will of God and choose to release our energy or vigor in that capacity, then it will be very rewarding.

God is light. In the beginning He said, “Let there be light,” and the darkness dissipated at the entrance of it. Although the power source may have been connected partly and previously through the initial infilling of the Holy Ghost, when Christians pray, it continually turns on God’s “light switch” in their lives. The light activated from that switch also shines upon the lives of others who sit in darkest, blinded by the god of this world. We then can see the chains that bind others and direct them to God so that He can set the captives free. That light creates a fire when ignited by the burden of the Lord and we may effectively engage in fervent prayer. John the Baptist declared that Jesus would baptize “with the Holy Ghost and fire.” If that fire is truly shut up in our bones, as was the case with Jeremiah, then surely we will speak God’s Word in prayer.Jer. 23:29closeJeremiah 23:29 29 Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (ESV) says “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD.” Ps. 119:105closePsalm 119:105 Nun 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path. (ESV) also declares “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” That fire can burn away the chains and that light can cause the blind to see!

Once while in the corner of a dark church closet, engaged in vigorous intercessory prayer for a lost soul (stranger) that I beforehand just had met on the streets, a brilliant, bright, white, natural light suddenly appeared in the corner where I was praying and hovered above and overshadowed me for about one minute! It was unlike anything I had ever seen or experienced before! What emanated from that comer was not an overhead fluorescent light activated from a light switch that was turned on nor an iridescent lamp that was swiftly plugged into a power socket, but rather it was light generated from “power from on high!” It was evident that this glorious presence of God was manifested by tapping into the Power Source through prayer. Another young lady in the church was present nearby when the light appeared. So, she was a witness of this divine manifestation also, and this was such a testimony…she shortly later received the Holy Ghost. No human being had cut on the light to generate this power, but rather God Himself was the power source…and the light, as well! He is the Light of the World. Ps. 27:1closePsalm 27:1 Of David. 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid? (ESV) says “The Lord is my light and my salvation…” God is “the light that shineth in darkness and…the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:5closeJohn 1:5 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (ESV) , 9). This appearance of light is just a glimpse of what God desires to unveil. Light travels at a speed of about 186,000 miles per second. God is faster. Time cannot even measure or confine Him. In fact, God is Omnipresent. He’s already there. Miracles can happen in an instant! Prayer is exciting! Prayer is powerful!

Just as His presence descended upon the mercy seat behind the veil on the Ark of the Covenant in the holiest of holies, so does His light and fire consume the sacrifice of prayer to bring mercy in this sinner’s stead. God has many wonderful ways in confirming that He has heard our prayers when we go beyond the veil and abide in that secret place under the shadow of the Almighty. King David relayed “For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God shall enlighten my darkness” (Ps. 18:28closePsalm 18:28 28 For it is you who light my lamp;
the Lord my God lightens my darkness. (ESV) ). Truly, what we need to help the despondent and destitute in this world is not a Doctor’s degree in “psychology,” but rather we need the Master’s degree in “kneeology,” and can obtain it when we kneel to the Master in prayer and let Him “teach us to pray.”

Pursue God with passion and pray with vigor, and be as like David in this context…”a man after God’s own heart.” Observe the many songs that he sang and the prayers that he prayed, particularly in the Book of Psalms. Notice how God was with David and how he was even named in the lineage of Christ. Wow! What will be your connection to God? More than ever, will you pray with vigor? If God sees that fervency, vigor, and passion (fire, energy, and light) emitting from you, How can He refrain from blessing you as you pray according to His will. Whosh…there comes down the Fire, Power, and Light on the mercy seat to consume that sacrifice…of prayer. What an attraction! God wants to greatly use you; so, like never before, experience the vigor of prayer!

Flo Shaw
International Coordinator
World Network of Prayer

Unfortunately most people are not taking the responsibility for themselves to have a changed life, which includes altering several things like:

• the way they think
• the places they go
• the friends they have
• and the things they allow or include in their life.

Often there is no real desire to change, mostly just guilt for being the way they are.

God can open the prison doors, but when he taps you on the side and says, “get up and get out”, you’ve got to go. Then, as Peter, realize that was just the first stage of deliverance… there are guards to that prison that you must go past who will put you back in if you let them, and an iron gate to the city that will test you further… and it won’t open until you encounter it.

Acts 12:8-10closeActs 12:8-10 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. (ESV) Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. (NIV)

Deliverance will still require full repentance and a transformed, renewed mind. People can’t escape the fact they must own their responsibility of a continued change of life. When a person receives the Holy Ghost, they receive the power to change. In Romans 12:1-2closeRomans 12:1-2 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV) , Paul is speaking to the church and telling them that the key area of transformation is the renewing of the mind. Many people receive the Holy Ghost but never have their mind renewed. While they have the power to change, they don’t because they are walking around with the same old mind.

Sometimes God’s deliverance comes in different ways, too.

• Sometimes God just gives us a different view of the problem. He teaches us what the problem is.
• Sometimes, He destroys the cause of the trouble Himself (Pharaoh’s army).
• Sometimes He uses us and He uses our own efforts to overcome and destroy the trouble (Noah built a boat).
• Sometimes He causes our enemies (or trouble) to destroy themselves (Gideon and the Midianites).
• Sometimes He helps us to endure the trouble, and sometimes prevents the effects (Joseph).
• Sometimes He puts someone or something in our life to help us through it (Elijah and the ravens, Daniel in the Lion’s den, Paul’s help while in prison).
• Sometimes He doesn’t remove the trouble at all, but prevents the consequences (Paul and the viper bite, the 3 Hebrew boys).
• Sometimes He allows the consequences to come upon us to show us He’s the only thing we truly desire. God will allow our sin to punish us for our wrong… He chastens those He loves.

Ultimately, God will COMPLETELY deliver us when this life is over and our final rest is with Him. Until then, we have this life to “endure to the end”.