Author: Pastor Dennis Williams | Page 34 | Answers to Life Ministry

Arise Faint in Heart

WE KEEP PRESSING FORWARD AND NOT FAINT.
FAINT: TO QUIT, LOSE HEART, GROW WEARY AND TIRED WITH WEARINESS AND EXHAUSTION.
DON’T QUIT! DON’T Give up.
THOUGH WE MAY THINK WE ARE AT THE END OF OUR ROPE, WE ARE NEVER AT THE END OF HOPE.
JESUS ENCOURAGED THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS TO “FAINT NOT”
Rev 2:2-3: I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Ecclesiasticus 24:24: Faint not to be strong in the Lord; that he may confirm you, cleave unto him: for the Lord Almighty is God alone, and beside him, there is no other Saviour.”

WE WILL NOT FAINT WHEN OUR CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IS IN GOD AND NOT OURSELVES OR ANYONE ELSE
2 Samuel 22: 7 David said In my distress I called upon the Lord and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.

DAVID WAS A MAN THAT PUT HIS CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD:

DAVID wrote PSALM 36:
WHICH SPEAKS OF THE FAITHFULNESS AND MERCY OF GOD
Psalm 36: 5 Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
• In contrast to our weakness and frailty
o God’s mercy and Faithfulness is limitless and unchanging
o The Lord never forgets, never fails, and never falters
o He is stable, steadfast, unwavering, and dependable
6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man, and beast.7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore, the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.12 There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

Give your heart to Jesus today by saying this prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me. Come into my life. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Please, help me to live for you the rest of this life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, I pray.
Amen.

Pulpit and Pew Surrender to Jesus

By Pastor Dennis Williams

Acts 10:38: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Matthew 8:16-17: When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

BELIEVERS DEPART FROM THE FAITH

1 Tim 4:1-2: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

GALATIANS BEWITCHED BY SPIRITS

Galatians 3:1: O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

SATAN GETTING ADVANTAGE OF BELIEVER

II Cor. 2:10-11: To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

OUR DECISION WAS THE START OF A NEW LIFE BUT ALSO A NEW WAR WITH THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS
John 10:10: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.
• Unfortunately, we have to contend with the enemy of our salvation
• When we make ungodly, sinful decisions
o we can open a spiritual gateway to the demonic realm.

NO CHRISTIAN WILL WALK THROUGH THIS LIFE WITHOUT SINNING, BUT WHEN WE TURN TO GOD AND TRULY REPENT, WE RECEIVE HIS GRACIOUS FORGIVENESS.

No two peoples walk with Jesus is alike
Deliverance is a process.
• Like an onion has layers
• Deliverance comes off in layers

BEFORE RECEIVING DELIVERANCE, WE: REPENT AND THEN
1. Repent of all sin.
2. Renounce the sin
Repenting: is asking forgiveness and changing your ways to not behave in that way anymore.
• Renouncing/Denouncing is stating that you no longer want to be associated with it and cutting all ties with the sin.
o Denouncing: Public recognition that you know that sin is wrong

Give your heart to Jesus today by saying this prayer:

Pitfall of Passivity

By Pastor Dennis Williams

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41

WHAT IS PASSIVITY OR BEING PASSIVE

Someone passive: is without active response or resistance
• Passivity is a characteristic of someone who holds back and lets others act.
o When they should also be acting
• To be passive is to have no resistance and yield to external influences.
• Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern
• Lacking energy, drive, motivation, or emotion
• Accepting or allowing what happens or what others do, without active response or resistance

THERE IS GOOD PASSIVITY PASSIVITY IS APPROPRIATE WHEN WE ARE BEING SUBMISSIVE TO THE WILL OF GOD THIS KIND WAS SHOWN BY JESUS ON THE NIGHT OF HIS ARREST

He submitted to the abuse of his captors,
• Rather than allow his disciple to fight for him
1 Peter 2:23: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
• Jesus Christ, did nothing to stop those that bound him in ropes, mock him and beat him
But he had also told his disciples that he could have called twelve legions of Angels
Matthew 26:53: Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
• Jesus sought to do the will of the Father
• Submitted Himself willing to the cross

PASSIVITY BECAME DESTRUCTIVE TO DAVID A MIGHTY MAN OF GOD

2 Samuel 11:1: And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
• David did not answer his call to duty
• He did not take care of his responsibilities
o He was not where he was supposed to be
o He was supposed to be on the battlefield leading his troops
• He stayed in the comfort zone of the palace
• As a result, he had TOO MUCH TIME ON HIS HANDS

THE INSTRUCTIONS THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE DON’T REQUIRE PASSIVITY.
THEY CALL US TO TAKE ACTION. WE ARE COMMANDED TO PUT AWAY PASSIVITY AND DO THESE THINGS:
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING
1 Thessalonians 5:17: Pray without ceasing.
PREACH THE WORD
2 Timothy 4:2: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER
Hebrews 3:13: But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER
1 Peter 1:22: 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
FLEE FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY AND LUSTFUL SEXUAL THINGS TO EYES AND EAR
1 Corinthians 6:18: Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
HONOR PARENTS
Ephesians 6:2: Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
PUT TO DEATH . . . THE COMPONENTS OF YOUR EARTHLY NATURE: SEXUAL IMMORALITY, IMPURITY, LUST, EVIL DESIRES, AND GREED, WHICH IS IDOLATRY
Colossians 3:5: Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
HONOR THE LORD IN YOUR BODY AND SPIRIT WHICH BELONG TO HIM
1 Corinthians 6:20: For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s

Give your heart to Jesus today by saying this prayer:

Light In The Darkness

By Pastor Dennis Williams

JESUS IS COMING!

EXAMINE OUR WAYS TO SEE IF ANYTHING WE ARE DOING IS GRIEVING THE HOLY SPIRIT
Ephesians 4:30: And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

IF HE IS THE BRIDEGROOM, WHO IS HIS BRIDE?
Matthew 25:1-13: 25 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Matthew 5:15-16 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
• Our light will not shine if we have no oil in our lamps
• We are responsible for our own oil. Not anyone else.
• You got to desire the Oil of God
o The things of the Spirit

Exodus 27:20: And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.
• Is your anointing to live for Jesus fading
• Get back in the Word of God
• Fight your way back
• Get prayer

CHRISTIANS LIGHTS WILL NOT SHINE IF THEIR LIVES ARE FILLED WITH SIN:
1 Thess. 5.4-8: 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

MATTHEW 25: 3-4:
They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps
FOOLISH VIRGINS WERE FALSE PROFESSORS NO OIL IN THEIR LAMPS
• THE LAMP OF PROFESSION WAS IN THEIR HANDS BUT IT WAS NOT IN THEIR HEARTS
• THEY PROFESSED BUT DIDN’T POSSESS

Eze 33:31-32: And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. Vs 32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

MATTHEW 25: VS 4-7
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps
• Day by day, make sure there is oil in your lamp
o and the wick is trimmed
• MAKE SURE THAT WICK IS DRAWING OIL AND MAKING FIRE
• Make sure that wick doesn’t get the ways of the world on
o Carbon build-up on the wick makes smoke inside the lamp
o Makes the Light dull
o Sometimes that light will go out
Make sure YOUR OWN LAMP stays trimmed properly
• Get right with the Lord now; Don’t wait
• There will be no time to make it right when He comes
KEEP LAMPS TRIMMED AND BRIGHT BY STAYING AWAY FROM SIN
Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
Revelation 19:6-9:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Give your heart to Jesus today by saying this prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me. Come into my life. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Please, help me to live for you the rest of this life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, I pray.
Amen.

Hunger for Spiritual Food

By Pastor Dennis Williams

Psalm 119:9: Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy Word.”

Psalm 119:10: With my whole heart have I sought thee. O let me not wander from thy commandments

“WITH MY WHOLE HEART I HAVE SOUGHT THEE.”

How many of us can genuinely pray this back to the Lord?
We have not arrived yet
- We are pressing forward to the mark:

Philippians 3:14: I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

THE PSALMIST SAID: “WITH MY WHOLE HEART I HAVE SOUGHT THEE”
GIVE OUR WHOLE HEART TO THE LORD
In Loving Him
Deut 6:5: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with thy soul, and with all thy might
In Obeying Him and His Word
Psalm 119:2: Blessed are they that keep his testimonies and that seek him with the whole heart

• Develop that Thirst and Hunger for His Word
In trusting the Lord
Pr 3:5: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.
• We don’t know what is best for us
• Don’t trust in the Power of Self, self-confidence, self-esteem, etc
Give Him your whole heart in Prayer
Je 29:13: And ye shall seek me, and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
• Promise of God
• Lay down the time wasters
• Pick up a ministry of Prayer
In Repentance when you need too
Jl 2:12: Therefore, also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping and with mourning:

Psalm 119:11: Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
WHAT ARE WE PUTTING IN OUR INNERMOST BEING? THAT PART OF US THAT WE CANNOT SEE.
Hebrew 4:12: For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
• The Word of God is living
• The Word has power or creative energy
• The Word admonishes (warns and reprimands) us
• The Word of God only source that can divide the soul and spirit

Down in Psalm 119 vs. 15-16: I will meditate in thy precepts (instructions), and have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statures: I WILL NOT FORGET THY WORD.
Meditate on the Word- Meditate is to think deeply or carefully concerning the Word
• Spend some time.
• Let our time with the Word be rich – not scarce
• Get to know the ways and mind of the Lord

Twisting the Word | Spirit of Error

By Pastor Dennis Williams

I John 4:6: We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Isa 26:3: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

WHAT OCCUPIES YOUR MIND THE MOST ?
Last week we talked about thirsting for God
We also talked about a thirst for knowledge
• As Christians should be careful of what we put in the mind
• Lead us down the wrong pathways
• A head-on collision with:
o Error and False doctrines, conspiracy theories,
o Conspiracies mixed with religion
o Can become and addiction
o And others
• Lead to Spiritual Contamination:
o Contamination is the action or state of making or being made impure by polluting or poisoning. (drinking water, atmosphere, food)
o Wrong information can contaminate your entire being (Body soul and spirit)
• Are we protecting our Body, soul, and spirit?

AS A CHRISTIAN SIN BEGINS IN OUR THOUGHT LIFE
GOD GOES THROUGH THE MIND TO GET TO OUR HEARTS
Jesus said, “Mark 7:20-23 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:23 All these evil things come from within and defile the man.”
• No one commits these outward sins without first having committed them
• in his mind.
• If we want to grow in godliness,
• we must win the battle
• over sin on the thought level.
WE SHOULD DEVELOP A CHRISTIAN THOUGHT LIFE
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

• This scripture is not talking about “Positive Thinking”
• written by the author of “THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING”
• This author was a universalist:
o and believed that everyone is going to heaven if they believe in a god, and have some redeeming value
o which is just about everyone.
• The Bible is but not all Positive: Talks about Heaven Hell, SIN (The wages but the Gift of God)
• The Truth is: We cannot overcome the evils of this world,
• or even the evil in our hearts, in our strength.

APART FROM CHRIST WE CAN DO NOTHING
John 15:5: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

ALONGSIDE THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING IS ANOTHER HERESY CALL THE POWER OF POSITIVE CONFESSION

A belief that words have a kind of spiritual, magical power that we can use to get what we want.

The practice borrows not from biblical truths
but from a new age concept called the “law of attraction.”
Which teaches that “like attracts like”— or a positive statement or thought will draw a positive reaction.
WE CANNOT FORCE GOD TO DO ANYTHING
GOD DOESN’T WORK FOR US
GOD’S PLAN FOR OUR LIVES MAY NOT MATCH UP WITH OUR OWN

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Romans 11:33-35 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

WE ARE TO DEVELOP A CHRISTIAN THOUGHT LIFE THAT INCLUDES JESUS CHRIST AS LORD

Easy to get caught up in ERROR in today’s time
- Conspiracy theories etc
- False doctrines
- Doing “spiritual internet searches” for the latest in spiritual news. (BE CAREFUL AND PRAYERFUL)

2 Corinthians 2:11: Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

2 Corinthians 10:5: Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Read the Bible everyday and stand clear of error
Pray about bouncing from teacher to teacher and website to website
Error in the Word of God can bring confusion
Can bring despair and hopelessness

Give your heart to Jesus today by saying this prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus,Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me. Come into my life. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Please, help me to live for you the rest of this life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, I pray.
Amen.