Author: Pastor Dennis Williams | Page 36 | Answers to Life Ministry

Fiery Trials

Jesus said for us to be perfect

• This was a commandment from the Lord
• We certainly cannot do this on our own
• Not by our strength or brainpower
• But by God’s grace, we can do all things.
Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.
Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
• Our strength comes from God’s grace
BY GOD’S FREE GRACE
Everything that God requires us to do in the New Testament is by the grace of God
• This grace is made available through Jesus Christ
• Grace begins where human effort ends
• When we do things in our strength
o Our righteousness
o Our wisdom
o We don’t need Gods grace
• When we come to the end of the best we can do, we come to the beginning of God’s grace
God says: “My grace is sufficient.”
2 Corinthians 12:9: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
• Do we believe that the grace of God is sufficient for us
• When we are weak He is made strong
• We can become more Christlike through His Grace and strength
• “That the power of Christ may rest upon us”

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS CAN DRIVE US AWAY OR CLOSER TO THE LORD ALL ABOUT CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

Romans 5:1-4: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
• Justification (spoken in verse one) is not an escape from the trials of this life
• Jesus said in John 16:33: In this world ye shall have tribulation
• But for believer trials work for us and not against us
• No amount of suffering can separate us from the Lord:
o Romans 8:35-39
• Instead fiery trials bring us closer to the Lord
o Make us more like the Lord
• Romans 5:4: the word “experience” is used
• This means character that has been proved
• The flow is this: tribulation-patience-proven character and hope
As we go through tribulations and depend on God’s grace
• The trials only purify us and help to get rid of the chaff
Fiery Trials:
1 Peter 4:12-13: Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Paul and Silas in Imprisonment:
Acts 16:23: And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
Acts 16:25: And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
THE LOVE OF GOD IS SHED ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS
Romans 5:5: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
• The total love of God is poured into our hearts
• When you become born again, the Bible says the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit come and live inside of you.

THE PURPOSE WE ARE TRYING ACHIEVE IS CHRISTLIKENESS
CHARACTER TRAITS OF CHRISTLIKENESS:
BOLD:
Pr 28:1: The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
CONTRITE feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt
Isa 57:15: For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Isa 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
GODLY
Ps 4:3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.
2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
HUMBLE
Ps 34:2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Dear Father in heaven, I recognize that I cannot be perfect in my
strength. Pour out Your love and grace in my heart in such a way that
I may walk with You in obedience. I want to learn obedience as Jesus
did, and I commit myself to study Your Word and obey it, loving You
and learning to love others by what You teach me from Your Word.
Thank you in advance for helping me to take this step. In Jesus’
name. Amen.

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.

Unity In Jesus

By Pastor Dennis Williams

Unity in Jesus

AND IN JOHN CHAPTER 17: VS 11 AND VS 20-23
• VS 11 JESUS PRAYED THAT WE WOULD BE ONE JUST AS HE AND THE FATHER ARE ONE
John 17:11: And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
• Christians may belong to different fellowships,
• but we all belong to the Lord
• and to each other.

John 17:20-23: Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Jesus was also praying for ones that would become Christians
Jesus is praying that His people experience a spiritual unity
that is like the oneness of the Father and the Son.
Jesus wants His Church to increase and grow
That those that come into the faith can also be one in Christ

Vs. 23: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

It is all about Jesus
How is the World going to know that Jesus is real
What the lost world can see in a Christian is what they will believe about God.
The gift of God through Jesus Christ is for “Whosoever will”

Revelation 22:17: And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.

Whosoever will accept that Blood Sacrifice of Jesus Christ belongs the Jesus

THE APOSTLE PAUL INSPIRES BELIEVERS WORK “TOGETHER”

Eph 2:5–6, &vs 22.: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: vs. 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

THE UNITY OF THE BODY OF CHRIST IN

Eph 4:4–6: There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

We are encouraged to be united in our faith.
So if we are of the Faith of God
No matter where we go on this earth
If that fellowship is of the faith, we won’t be outcast
It should not matter what race, nationality, or how you look
We are accepted in the beloved of God

THE WORK OF THE CHURCH IS TO MAKE DISCIPLES

Remember Jesus said in John 17:20-21: Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

How a person looks on the outside does not matter
What race or nationality they are
What language they speak
How good or how bad they are

THEY ARE CANDIDATES TO RECEIVE THE GIFT OF SALVATION

JESUS IS COMING BACK FOR A BRIDE WHO IS WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE.

The fact that men will be in that number
Shows that this will not be an earthly Bride
We are talking about a Heavenly supernatural Bride
Consisting of men, women, and children
All types, shapes, sizes, and colors

ALL PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT THEIR STATUS IN LIFE ARE EQUAL IN GOD’S EYES

LOVE: THE SUPREME COMMAND OF BELIEVERS IS TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

We are to love one another just as Jesus has loved us

“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another”Jn.13:34-35.

“This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you” Jn.15:12.

Jesus loves us all today.

If you feel the Lord tugging at your heart: or you once knew the Lord and went away from HIM. Just say this prayer, Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me of all my sins and come into my heart and life. I give you my body, soul, and spirit. 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.

Trust in God | Trust in God series 1

By Pastor Dennis Williams

Trust in God

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Heb 13:8
This is a time when many are giving up on God and unbelievers are turning a cold shoulder
• May be due to what is going on in the world
• Or what may be going in your personal life
• But the Bible says God is the same, yesterday, today and forever
• Though this world is changing Jesus will never change

Jeremiah 17:5-10: Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
• Vs. 5 starts by saying we can’t make humanity our strength
• Because when we do “our heart departeth from the Lord
Psalm 118:8-9: It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.9It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
John 15:4 – Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
That verse in Jeremiah 15:5 also says: “When we trust in humanity, our heart departeth from the Lord.”
• We did some teaching on the Heart
• We found out that the Heart can deceive us
Vs.9-10 in Jeremiah 17 says The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
• We don’t even know our hearts
• But Jesus does
• He searches the heart and mind and knows how to reward each person
• If we want to know what our hearts are like, we must read the Word and let
the Spirit of God teach us.

Back in Jeremiah 17:6 says
Says: If we put our trust in humanity: “we shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.”
• Heath – is a shrub
• We will be like a plant in the dessert
o Undernourished
o No water –stay close to the Word of God
 Not drinking spiritual water, we will die from dehydration
• Or our physical health will suffer
 “That verse says “but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness
o To avoid drying up and dying spiritually stay close to the Bible and Spirit of God
o So that we can have faith and receive the blessings of God
WE HAVE THE WORD OF GOD TO KEEP US FULLY SPIRITUALLY HYDRATED
Psalm 119:105: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:103: How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psalm 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever

WE CAN SEE MORE OF THE FRUIT OF WORD OF GOD
John 15:16: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
• The Lord in his infinite found us when we were lost
• As we dwell in His Love and Word, we will bring forth fruit
Matthew 3:7-8, and vs. 10 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?8 Bring forth; therefore, fruits meet for repentance: vs. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
• For over four hundred years, the nation had not heard the voice of a prophet.
• John came along and preached repentance
• repent means “to change one’s mind and act on that change.”
• More than regret or remorse; he wanted “fruits meet for repentance.”
• That means evidence of a changed mind and a changed life.
LET’S STAY IN A REPENTANT HEART AND CLOSE TO JESUS

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.

Father of Nations

By Pastor Dennis Williams

Abraham is called the Father of us all

Romans 4:16: Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end, the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,”
• Because of Abraham’s Faith, God blessed him to be the father of many nations
• and we, by our faith, become Abraham’s offspring,
• and heirs with him to the promises of God:

Abraham Receives Call of God

Genesis 12:1-3: Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Abraham was a man of faith in God even willing to sacrifice his only Son Issac

Hebrews 11:11, and Vs17 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a child when she was past age because she judged him faithful who had promised. Vs. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

God told Abraham that he would be the Father of many nations

Genesis 17:2-9: 2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee and will multiply thee exceedingly.3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee

SO, WHO IS THE SEED OF ABRAHAM?

PAUL PROVIDED AN ANSWER TO THIS IN GALATIANS

Galatians 3: 8-14 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

THE SEED IS NOT A PHYSICAL RACE OR ETHNIC GROUP OF PEOPLE

John 3:3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
• The seed OR the chosen of God
• must be born again in spirit and truth.
• Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 15:50)
1 Peter 1:23: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.

SO IT MATTERS NOT WHAT RACE OR NATIONALITY YOU AND I ARE TODAY

• Citizenship in God’s Kingdom is through faith in Jesus
• That is all that will get us there
• He is the only God that sits on the throne

LIKE ABRAHAM WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT PLACE WHOSE BUILDER AND MAKER IS GOD:

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband
Revelation 22:5: And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever.
John 14:1-3: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Strongholds of Sin

By Pastor Dennis Williams

THE BIBLE TELLS US NOT TO BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God,

There is an information war out there:
• we’re continually faced with anti christian input
• through employment, education, billboard and store advertising,
• not to mention conversations with relatives, friends, and neighbors.

OUR SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT WHETHER BABIES OR DEVELOPED BELIEVERS IN CHRIST DEPENDS on READING AND LISTENING TO TRUTH.
2 Timothy 2:15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth
Read Psalm 119 (the whole thing) read: 11-16 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Ephesians 4:11-24
BECOMING BORN AGAIN BY GOD’S SPIRIT AND FAIL TO READ GOD’S WORD, OUR CHARACTER WILL NOT CHANGE.
• Spiritual growth is a work in process
• dependent upon proper spiritual nourishment.
• And our hunger and thirst
• For the milk and meat of the Word
1 Peter 2:2: As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Hebrews 5:12-13: For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Col.1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
2 Ti.3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness
1Corinthians 3:2: I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
• Spiritual growth is a work in process
• A work that we are willing to participate in
• God does not make us do anything
• He doesn’t want us to have someone else’s mind
• He wants us to have the “MIND OF CHRIST.”

Holy Spiritual Warfare

By Pastor Dennis Williams

OUR PRAYERS ARE WORDS THAT COME FROM THE HEART
Psalm 139:23-24: Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
• We should always listen to how we are praying
• The words we are praying reflect our heart
• Let the Holy Spirit search your heart
1 Corinthians 6:19 – What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? And lead you to repentance if needed

Proverbs 18:21: Death and life are in the power of the tongue
• The tongue has the opportunity to speak death or life
• Pray that the Holy Spirit uses our tongues
• Rather than the unholy spirit
• Or our old nature
• The enemy does not want us to fight against Him or His Kingdom
Proverbs 13:3: He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
• Be careful in how we speak and what we say
• Our words are used for us or against
• In the physical realm and the spirit realm
o Our words can activate spirits
o On God’s side or the devil’s side
1 Peter 3:10 For he that will love life and see good days let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile.

Ephesians 4:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
• God’s weapons cannot be used like we would use a physical weapon
• The words we speak can be weapons
• We must learn the ways of the spirit of God
• Spirit to spirit
• Our goal is walking in nature of Jesus Christ through the Bible
• And minister like Jesus ministered in the Word of God

Jesus wants us to be his representatives: He has put a new spirit in us. He is changing us from glory to glory

Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:27: “And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”