Author: Pastor Dennis Williams | Page 35 | Answers to Life Ministry

Twisting the Word | Spirit of Error

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.

Hole in the Heart

By Pastor Dennis Williams

There is a hole in the middle of our hearts until we find Jesus!

Only Jesus can quench our thirst and hunger!

Matt 5:6: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied

Righteousness is right standing with God.
In a right relationship with Him
Wanting to do it God’s way
Trusting in His Power and Strength

ITS NOT OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
THE BIBLE ALSO TELLS US THAT THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO TO EARN OUR WAY TO HEAVEN BECAUSE WE’VE ALL SINNED !

Romans 3:10: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.

EVERYDAY YOU’LL WAKE UP HUNGRY AND THIRSTY,
• What do we chase after daily?
• Seek ye first the Kingdom of God – And all these things shall be added unto you
• Examine our own selves

HOW DO YOU TRY TO QUENCH YOUR SPIRITUAL THIRST?
Jesus told the woman at the well that those that drink that “physical water’ will thirst again.
John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
• Jesus, is the thirst quencher
• We may seek to fill the dry place
WITH:
• our thirst for knowledge, power, pleasure
• Or with other gods like relationships, eating, shopping, alcohol, drugs, sex, careers, or possessions.
o Along with these gods bring:
o Addictions, perversions, debt, stress
o Leave us parched and dry
• All these only satisfy temporarily
• Temporarily can turn into years

JESUS CAN DO IT. JESUS CAN FIX IT

2 Corinthians 5:21: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God

• He, and He alone, can fulfill that desire in our hearts for righteousness
2 Corinthians 5:15: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
2 Corinthians 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Spiritual Desire

Psalm 73:25: Whom have I in heaven? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
Isa 26:9: With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

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.

Spiritual Failure and Restoration

By Pastor Dennis Williams

WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT THE OLD TESTAMENT BELIEVERS DIDN’T HAVE

We have the Trinity living inside of us according to the Bible
John 14: 16 and vs. 23: 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; vs. ²³Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

THE WHOLE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN FOR US TO LEARN FROM OTHERS EXAMPLES AND FOLLOW THE WORDS OF GOD

1 Corinthians 10: 6-12: 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

ANY CHILD OF THE KING, GROUP OF PEOPLE OR NATION CAN FALL AWAY OR BACKSLIDE FROM THE LORD:

Jeremiah 14:7: O Lord though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee

Hos 14:4: I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

The word “backslide” literally means “turn back” or “turn away “from God

not a jump off a cliff, but a coasting downhill
Most times forsaking God or backsliding does not happen overnight
Spiritual decay is a gradual process
Loose focus on spiritual things the flesh seeks fulfillment

Steadfast: the quality or state of being steadfast, firmness, constant, fixedness of purpose.

SCRIPTURES

Deut 10:20: Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God’ him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave (means: unwavering, loyal devotion), and swear by his name.

Jos 23:8: But cleave unto the Lord you God, as ye have done unto this day.

2 Peter 3:17: Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.

1 Cor 15:20: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Hebrews 4:14

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Heb 10:23: Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

The Faithfulness to God

Deuteronomy 7:9 – Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he [is] God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Jeremiah 29:11-13:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.13 And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Psalms 86:15 – But thou, O Lord, [art] a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Lamentations 3:22-23: It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

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.

Meeked Stallion

By Pastor Dennis Williams

Matthew 5:5: BLESSED ARE THE MEEK FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH

WHAT IS MEEKNESS

It sounds like weakness.
But meekness is Power under control

MEEKNESS: MEANS NOT EASILY PROVOKED. SUFFERS INJURIES AND HURTS WITHOUT A DESIRE FOR REVENGE.

EXAMPLE OF MEEKNESS: BACK IN THE DAY, A WILD STALLION BROUGHT DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAINS, HAD TO BE BROKEN

THE HORSE HAD TO BE BROKEN OR “MEEKED” TO READY FOR A RIDER.

SOME WERE USED FOR PULLING WAGONS
SOME WERE USED IN RACES

BUT THE BEST HORSES WERE RETAINED FOR WARFARE

THESE HORSES COULD

RESPOND TO THE SLIGHTEST NUDGE OF THE RIDER
GALLOP AT 35 MILES AN HOUR AND STOP AT THE SLIGHTEST WORD
WERE NOT FRIGHTENED BY ARROWS, SPEARS, OR TORCHES

THESE MEEKED HORSES WERE POWER UNDER CONTROL

TO BE MEEKED WAS TO BE TAKEN FROM A STATE OF WILD REBELLION
• AND BROUGHT TO LOYALTY AND DEPENDENT UPON, ONE’S MASTER
JESUS HAS HAD TO GET A HOLD OF SOME OF US WILD STALLIONS
• HE Took us from wild rebellion
• And wants us to be completely loyal
• And dependent on Him
• Change us our attitudes
• So we can be used by Him

MEEKNESS IS ALSO CONNECTED TO RESTORATION

When something is restored: “restore” as to bring back to or put back something to a former or original state

MEEKNESS IS CONSIDERING OTHER ABOVE OURSELVES

So many sitting on pews across the world
Right in the Body of Christ
Need restoring
WE NEED MORE MEEKNESS IN THE PEWS
OF CHURCH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

Galatians 6:1: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

JESUS restored us to God through His Meekness

should gently restore someone who is in sin
considering thyself
anyone one of us can fall into sin
says ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;

MEEKNESS LETS GOD HANDLE THINGS/ TAKES ITS HANDS OFF OF THE SITUATION
Psalm 46:10. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
• Jesus can fix it, while we make things worse
Psalms 147:6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

MEEKNESS CAUSES US TO BE TEACHABLE AND OPEN TO CORRECTION
Ps 25: 9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

JESUS OUR PERFECT EXAMPLE OF MEEKNESS
Is 53:7: He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep, before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth

The Accuser

By Pastor Dennis Williams

Rev 12:10: And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

The word accuser means: “one who accuses before a judge”

WE GOT TO KNOW WHO THE REAL ACCUSER IS

Psalm 55:12-14: For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together and walked unto the house of God in company.

The devil works powerfully amongst people we familiar with (talk)
We got to be able to identify who the real enemy is

The Bible declares that our enemies are not flesh and blood as we suppose.

Eph 6:12: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

• Churches destroyed,
• families destroyed,
• leaders destroyed
• We have got to know who is behind these accusations
SATAN IS THE ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN

Example of the accusations: The Pastor didn’t speak to you today! He was aiming his whole sermon at you. Or, why didn’t the Smith family invite you to lunch? Maybe they don’t like you!
We have all experienced this type of attack in our minds.
2 Cor 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;
• We know the Battle of the Mind
• Get it under control.
• Rather than listening to the lies of the ACCUSER
• Before it controls our whole life

FORGIVE

Mark 11:25: And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses

HOW WE PRAY IN OUR PRAYER CLOSETS REFLECT OUR HEARTS:

THE PRAYER CLOSET IS SUPPOSE TO BE A HOLY PLACE

Matthew 6: 1-6: Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
• Let the Lord wash away the bitterness and Hurt
• When we do it His Way

HOW WE ARE IN THIS HOLY PLACE OF PRAYER SHOWS WHO WE ARE SERVING

WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AS BELIEVERS TO COVER ONE ANOTHER—NOT ACCUSE ONE ANOTHER.

OUR ROLE MODEL IS JESUS CHRIST:

Jesus Came to Save the World Not Condemn

John 3:17: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He is sending His Body into the World

John 20:21: Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Jesus can Help us Heal from Past Hurts and Disappointments

Psalms 147:3 “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

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.

Pure In Heart

By Pastor Dennis Williams

THE MOST IMPORTANT “ATTITUDE” WHEN THE LORD IS TEACHING US ANYTHING IS TO HAVE A PURE HEART:
MATT 5:3-12 ARE OUR CHRISTIAN ATTITUDES
I WILL REFER TO ONE OF the BEATITUDES ON THE SERMON OF THE MOUNT
MATT 5: 8 BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART: FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD.

BE ABLE TO HEAR AND SEE THROUGH THE EYES OF GOD
1 Samuel 16:6-7: 6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him .7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
• The scales need to come off our eyes, heart, and mind
• This is part of our renewal process
• We cooperate with the Lord
• When the scales come off, we can see the truth

HAVE SPIRITUAL EARS
We get those through hearing the Word of God
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
• Hearing through spiritual ears
• There is something called spiritual deafness
• Can cause us not to have faith
• We can command spiritual deafness off our spiritual ears
Matt 11:15: He that hath ears to hear let him hear
• Hear what the Spirit is saying
• Not what we think we should hear
Matt 13:16: But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears for they hear
• When we see and hear the way God does,
• we will have a burden to intercede

The Body of Christ Needs Intercessors – The Lord is calling Intercessor He can trust and that have a Pure Heart.

Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

Intercession– is basically as Ezekiel 22:30 says – make up the hedge, and stand in the gap (DEFINITION FROM DICTIONARY

To expose oneself for the protection of something
To make a defense against an attacking danger
To take the place of a fallen defender or supporter

JESUS IS THE GREATEST INTERCESSOR – HE IS OUR EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW
Hebrews 1:3” Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high
Romans 8:34: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
HE INTERCEDED FOR –STOOD IN THE GAP FOR ALL OF MANKIND
Isaiah 53:12: Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
• His death was not an accident
• Jesus willingly came
• “pour out his soul unto death.”
• Most important: made intercession for the transgressors
• Transgressors: The criminal, delinquent, felon, evildoer, reprobate

THIS IS WHERE WE NEED THAT CHANGE OF HEART

“Bare the sin of many” and made intercession for the transgressors. (people that everyone hates and judges)

He saw things that way his Father saw them
That’s how we have to be

LIVE FOR JESUS AND SEEK TO HAVE A PURE HEART

MATT 5: 8 BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART: FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD.