He Knew you would fail . . .

He also knows that you will come back and He has an assignment for you when you do come back.

Luke 22:31-32
31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." NKJV

Everyone of us has failed the Lord at some point in our history of being FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST. Just like Peter's failure did not catch Jesus by surprise yours does not either, so the key is to know that when you come back you have an ASSIGNMENT (see John 21).

When Jesus showed up in the middle of Peter's backsliding (he went back to fishing) I believe that He killed Peter's CROWING ROOSTER. I can hear you now, "Where is that in the Bible?" It is not there except the rooster crowed after Peter denied Jesus three times just like Jesus said it would happen. 

If it were me every time I heard a ROOSTER CROW it would remind me of my past and that is what the ENEMY DOES best (Revelation 12:10-12). In ancient Israel CROWING ROOSTERS were a very common occurance as they are today. Which means Peter had a constant agonizing reminder of his FAILURE multiple times per day.

When Jesus asked Peter, "DO YOU LOVE ME," and Peter answered, "LORD YOU KNOW I DO." Then Jesus proceeded to give Peter these words, "THEN FEED MY SHEEP." 

It is my deepest CONVICTION that by doing this Jesus KILLED PETER'S CROWING ROOSTER and let Peter know that he had a future with Jesus and His Kingdom. The rest is history!! Who preached on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2)? Who led the Gentiles into the fullness of the Spirit (Acts 10)?

Your past is going crop up but hear JESUS GIVE YOU YOUR ASSIGNMENT AND KILL YOUR CROWING ROOSTER AT THE SAME TIME.

Amen!!!!

Ed

Day 21 AWAKENING 2012

Well here we are the last day of our prayre and fasting. It has really gone by fast (no pun intended). Last night at Generations Church we had our AWAKENING CELEBRATION & TESTIMONY service. Oh my!!!! The testimonies were off the charts amazing! People got direct revelation from God, healings, rent paid for 8 months, deliverance, and that is just a sampling.

Did we pray and fast to move God's hand? NO! Did we pray and fast to get miracles? NO! WE PRAYED AND FASTED TO RECEIVE HIS HEART FOR US AND TO CLEAR OUR SPACE SO THAT HE COULD FILL IT. He did that and so much more.

Matt 7:9-11
9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! NIV

My final AWAKE 21 challenge for you is for you to know that our God is the God of HOW MUCH MORE. I have learned during this time of prayer and fasting to take the limitations off of all that God wants to do inside of me HIS CHURCH.

Please take some or your valuable time and reasearh the places in the Bible were you can find Him as the God of HOW MUCH MORE. I will help you with one in the O. T. that is found in Genesis 22.

I promise you the God of the Bible wants so much more for us than we could even thnk or ask if we would just be AWAKENED TO A SURRENDERED LIFESTYLE. That in a nut shell is what this time of prayer and fasting has been all about.

Be Blessed,

Ed



Day 20 AWAKENING 2012

Phil 3:12
12 I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. NLT

My AWAKE 21 has brought me to the realization that  I am a "possessed man!" This dedicated time of prayer and fasting has caused such a spiritual OVERTHROW in my life. As I have cleared space for HIM in so many areas of my life He has come right on in and POSSESSED that free space. I DECLARE IN JESUS NAME THAT I WILL NOT GO BACK OR GIVE IN TO MY FLESH OR THE EVIL ONE IN ANY OF THOSE AREAS.

Would you consider allowing Him to POSSESS more of you than He already does. I am sure that there are areas in all of our lives that we hold back thinking it will be okay. I promise you this GOD IS NOT A TAKER HE IS A FILLER.

Let Him POSSESS YOU so that you can do what you do and be the in the PURPOSE FOR WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN POSSESSED. 

Eph 2:10
10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. NLT

Standing With You

Ed

Day 18 AWAKENING 2012

I heard or read somewhere that "WORRY IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF SPIRITUAL ARROGANCE." I thought to myself WOW! that is a strong statement. Then I began to meditate on this in the light of scripture.

Matt 6:34
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. NKJV

When we waste time, energy, and effort in worry we are really telling God, "I GOT THIS." When in reality we do not because we should be praying for the answer to our circumstance to a God who is ready willing and able to bring us the answers that we need (not necessarily want). We have chosen the path of pride and arrogance that says, "I CAN DO THIS, I CAN HANDLE THIS, I HAVE THE ANSWER TO THIS." When there is really no way that we do or we would not be worried. The "what ifs" and the "if onlys" are signs that we have not been praying enough.

AWAKE 21 has given God the space for us to focus our energy and faith on God's truth and answers for the dramas of life. Take it to God as quickly as possible.

^{Philippians 4}

^6-7Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. MESSAGE 

We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.

Oswald Chambers

Lets repent of our arrogance and be bold and quick to take all our drama to Jesus.

Loving God - Loving People

Ed

Day 17 AWAKENING 2012

THIS IS BREAK THROUGH WEEK FOR AWAKE 21!!

I  have three observations for you that I believe will encourage to finish strong.

1. The devil only attacks us if we are on the right track. Opposition is usually a sign that you have made head way and you are doing damage to the devil's kingdom. (See Luke 4 how Jesus fasted and prayed for 40 days before entering public ministry - the enemy attacked)

2. It really is true that with out prayer and fasting some things just will not happen.(see Matthew 9:20,21) Prayer and fasting is that SMART BOMB that zeroes in on the exact poiint that change needs to happen. That change is usually in us and not others: our thinking, our words, living out of our feelings rather than our faith. Just to name a few.

3. Jesus said that we would fast so we should. (see Matthew 9:14-17) Please consider making prayer and fasting a part of your regular spiritual disciplines. Many of us will move into worry and complaining rather than going into a brief time of prayer and fasting that will help us hit the RESET BUTTON on all drama and decisions that we wrestle with.

Finally, I have noticed that my perspectives on people, places, and circumstances has totally changed during these days of AWAKENING 2012. They have definitely changed for the better! That does not mean that there are not still challenges out there but it does mean I look at them differently now.

BREAK THROUGH TODAY!!!
Ed

Day 14 AWAKENING 2012

Matt 11:28-30

 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." 

NKJV

Many of us need to "come apart" before we COME APART. Do you know what I mean? We have all  been there!! Come be honest with the mirror. These days of prayer and fasting have been working these truths in me as I DRAW NEAR. My prayer for you is that you will experience this rest.

The Lord uses the word REST twice in three verses. I believe that they are two distinctly different kinds of REST.

1. The REST that the weary heavy laden sinner ( does not know Jesus ) needs is available if they will COME TO HIM. 

The overburdened person who carries unnecessarily the shame and guilt of a life that at best can be described as "HEAVY LADEN." Hear Him inviting them to COME AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST that only a SAVIOR CAN GIVE. Lay your life down at His nail pierced feet and SURRENDER.

2. The REST that comes to the BELIEVER as they 100% SURRENDER to Christ.

They learn from Him and yes they become the D word - DISCIPLE (a learner under discipline). This Christ following business cannot be double minded nor can be enticed away by the world to just be content to live our lives however we want and just add Jesus like an additional accessory that we want to add to a new car. TRUE REST ONLY COMES FROM TRUE SURRENDER.

Matt 6:10

10 Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

NKJV

It does not matter which REST that you need they are both readily available to those who will TOTALLY SURRENDER TO HIM. If you need Jesus as your SAVIOR just ask Him to be your LORD AND SAVIOR. If you have lost your FIRST LOVE go back to that place on the mountain top and just SURRENDER YOUR WILL FOR HIS.

COMING TO JESUS DAILY

Ed

Day 12 AWAKENING 2012

We are more than half way - BE STRENGTHEN IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT!!

Luke 24:30-32
30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"  NKJV

The resurrected Lord Jesus had revealed Himself to some followers but they did not recognized Him. How often do we not recognize His presence among us. This AWAKENING time has cause me to be acutely aware of when I am in His presence and when I am not. Of course He is always there for me but I have been the one to drift off into other arenas.

They finally recognized Him once He broke bread with them. One translation said that their eyes were "INSTANTLY OPENED" and they were able to recognize with whom they had been walking and talking with. Like us we cruise through life not knowing that He is right there with us and it usually takes broken bread (the Bible) to open up our ears and hearts (Matt 4:4).

They knew that something was different about this man as He walked and talked with them along the Emmaus road. They recalled how "our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road" which is just like us because we know that He is speaking and our hearts are on fire yet we choose to ignore it. AT WHAT COST DO WE DO THIS?

Lets carry over our awareness of Him from this 21 days of AWAKENING. I pray that our hearts will continue to burn with the power of His WORDS.

Be Blessed,
Ed