Save the Doves for Another Day

Save the Doves for another day

"And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise."

This morning reading this setting of scripture I noticed something of interest.

Notice the progression.

He drove all of those selling stuff out of the temple. He drove the cattle and sheep out. He poured out the money. He turned the tables over.

And Jesus spoke to those selling doves,
"Take these hence."

The natural progression is that he would have got rid of them; let them go, seeing he drove out, poured out and turned over the rest, instead he spoke to those that sold doves, "Get these out of here!"

Why did he do that?

I propose the reason is found in that when you drive the people out, you can get the people back together. You can round up the cattle and catch all the sheep. You can gather the money back together and put the table right side up. But if you let the doves out, you will not get the doves back.

When God brings correction, he always leaves a way to get things back in proper order, however he will leave intact what cannot be restored. No matter how severely God deals with us, he leaves the door open to get it right the next time. He Saved the Doves for another day.

If you are dealing with a situation that needs correction, be sure to preserve what cannot be restored.

Selah.

In Him, By Him, Through Him,

Scott A. Phillips
http://www.newbirth.us

originally written
Nov 18, 2003

When Lame Expectations meet an Apostolic Mindset

originally written Feb 11 2005 11:49PM

What do you do when you meet someone whose thinking is on the wrong level?

It is hard to relate with people who have had certain life experience. Life has away of causing us to relegate our thinking to survival concepts. However I think it goes without saying, we must have a mind change.

Too often lame expectations meet lame excuses.

Silver and Gold have I none.

Imagine that, the apostles with Pentecost behind their belt, faith burning in their heart, but yet the golden steed had not arrived. So often we can fall into these lame excuses and never go any further. Silver and Gold have I none. That can become the crux of our conversation.

We can position ourselves at beautiful gates where people go to worship looking for money, but lame mindsets can't get in the house of God. Often people take their bodies to the temple, but their brains hang out at the gates. The carnal mind cannot understand the things of God, so while we reach for the mighty God, we plot and scheme silver and gold plans whereby we reason we will reach the world. How many calls have I received from people who of honest heart and fervent faith were asking me for silver and gold?

I get emails regularly from India from Christians and they share with me their need for some silver and gold. We are bombarded from all directions this plea for silver, gold, plastic or paper. How did the early church reach the world of their day? Was it Radio, Internet, Television, marketing campaigns, nice buildings or billboards? I am not against these things, please bear with me. I have been on radio and will again. I send out this via the internet and have a website, spend a lot of money on marketing and would love to have a few billboards and just built a new building.

How did they, the early church, do what we seem to have trouble doing with all of these aids available to us? All of the things listed takes silver and gold, and if you're like me, I don't have enough to do what I want to do. Peter and John said, silver and gold have I none. He did not follow that by saying, "Give your way to a miracle." He did not tell him for a monthly partnership he could get his latest series on how to get healing. He simply did what he did because something came alive inside of him when he fastened his eyes on this lame man.


We live in a religious world whose leaders are money grubbing and money hungry who think gain is godliness. In the words of the Apostle, "from such withdraw thyself." Phillips translation, "Don't have anything to do with them for they are walking in the error of Balaam, selling their prophecy to the highest bidder."

What would happen if you would fasten your eyes on someone who needs what you have? You may say, I don't have the money or I don't have a van or I don't have a place to preach or you repeat what your last lame excuse was. Quit worrying about what you don't have and realize and say, "There is something I do have." We can spend our lives worrying about what we wish we had and not use what we do have. You do have a power that can transform people's lives. It does not require a degree, certificate, training course, position or title. All it requires is for you to let your lame excuses get an apostolic infusion to start doing what you can do.

Following this lame mans encounter with someone who understood the power that resides inside of everyone of us, he walked, leaped and praised God into the temple. The result was that multitudes were added to the church. About five thousand men.

Imagine trying to teach them all Bible Studies. To answer my earlier question of how the early church reached their world, they used what they had and did not let their lack stop them. The great miracle we need is not for the lame to start walking, but our lame thinking to be lifted up to a new level. To fasten our vision on those things we can put our hands on. Lift them up, pull them up, drag them up and walk them into the presence of the Lord. "And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us."

Quit whining about what you don't have and what you can't do.

These are lame excuses. "Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." Acts 3:6

Pray this prayer.

Lord Renew me in the Spirit of my Mind. Transform my Thinking. Help me to see an opportunity for your Spirit to do a miracle. I have decided I am not going to let what I don't have, stop what I do have.

In Jesus Name, In Him, By Him, Through Him,

Scott A. Phillips
www.newbirth.us


The Bonus Soap Box Edition
No Extra Charge - Free Commentary

The great error in the charismatic world is this egomaniac, money hungry and product selling mindset. I went to one of their sites the other day, and you can't even listen to them preach "their gospel without paying money". I would think they would be freely giving what they have freely received. Lets not mimic this bad practice. Freely you have received, freely give.

Matt 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

1 Cor 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Jude 1:11
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
(KJV)

2 Pet 2:15-22
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
(KJV)



1 Tim 6:10-11
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
(KJV)

The Space Between

Originally written Apr 20 2003

The Space Between

The other day I found myself pondering the concept of God, “beholding my going out and my coming in.” I heard the Lord speak to me in my spirit,

“The space in between of going out and coming in will change a person, for good or evil, they will not stay the same.”

I was reminded of the story of Jonah. He fled from the presence of the Lord. God was asking Jonah to do something that he did not want to do, so it would seem he tried to cut his connection with God. He seemed to try to get as far away from God and what he was supposed to do.

He was going into a storm. You cannot flee from the presence of the Lord; in trying to we find God will prepare something for us.

Going into the storm there are some outstanding characteristics about Jonah.

He was a Hebrew.
He was a Prophet.
He was disobedient.

The storm could not change whom or what he was in way of nationality or office, but the condition of his heart, that is an area the storm could work on.

Going into the Storm, Jonah had a need for change, and the storm was going to change him one way or the other.

It would seem that Jonah was headed for destruction, but in reality as he was thrown into the stormy waves, God had prepared his deliverance. After three days, a type of God’s completeness in dealing with Jonah, Jonah finally found himself willing to obey God.

Coming out of the storm,

He was still a Hebrew.
He was still a prophet.
But now he was willing to be obedient.

When Obedience Got in the Belly with Jonah, That was more than the Fish could take. “This belly is not big enough for both of us.”

You may be a Child of God.
You may be a Saint of God.
You may be a minister of God.

But are you being obedient?

If not, it could be that this is where your storm is coming from. It is not for your destruction, but for your deliverance. Sometimes we all wish that God would just leave us alone in those areas that we don’t won’t to submit, but we fail to realize that disobedience breaks fellowship, and our actions telegraph to others that we are “Fleeing from the presence of the Lord.”

While others may think you have peace while in the storm, you know that what you are really being is stubborn and obstinate and you would rather let others suffer in your storm, than wake up and face God and what he is trying to get you to do.

The space in between. It will change you.

Jonah found repentance in a place, in a space; this space was created by God in the form of a fish. God created a chamber of contrition. God created a closed environment where Jonah could stew in the contents of his own disobedience and after the time was complete, he made peace with his personal preferences and God’s call.

A word of Warning is everyone does not find that place. Esau the Bible says, “for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”

If you find your self in a place God has created for Repentance in your life, you better realize what a blessing that place is.

God Created the Space.

God Created the Place.

Grace is the space and the place where we can find repentance.

The space between.

You will not leave the place you are at right now the same. It will change you. I pray it will change you for the Good and you will finally be willing to obey God in the area he is dealing with you in.

Thank God for the space between of my going in and my coming out!

In Him, By Him, Through Him,

Scott Phillips

A Prophetic Anointing of Authority

I am on vacation. Planning on sleeping late. Three times I wake up... with the story of Saul and his anointing on my mind. I realize, "You better get up."

We got in last night for our vacation. I don't have any where to preach... so I guess someone somewhere needed some confirmation... or a sermon.

If it is you, please send me an offering and help me pay for my vacation. Ha!

Have a Great Pentecost Sunday! God Bless!


Israel's First King

Saul was a young man sent on an errand to retrieve his fathers lost mules. In this errand he meets Samuel, the prophet of God. Samuel had come to anoint Israel’s first king. In this exchange Samuel prepared Saul for what was about to happen. He told him a few specific things that were going to transpire.
Saul was anointed to be King. Saul was given an anointing of Authority. To lead. To bring victory and establish dominion for the People of God

What we see is a process of the anointing in this story. When God’s purpose touches your life, there are things that are just going to happen that are dynamic. You are no longer just going and doing your own thing, but God has inserted a dimension of the miraculous in your life. You need to get ready for a new way of life.

As Saul turned to leave Samuel, the Scripture says that God gave him a new heart. This is something that you can expect to happen to you. After the Word of God has been spoken and the residue of anointing still is on your brow, you will notice things have changed... something new about your life.

The next thing that happened to Saul was the Lord sent someone into his path that would provide the “bread of confirmation” into his life. Saul was told, receive it from them. It is our nature not to receive what someone wants to give us. Someone we do not know. But Saul was said, receive it... receive the bread of confirmation.

Saul is still chewing on the bread when he walks into a procession of prophets. When he encounters these prophetic people with this prophetic spirit he begins to prophesies. It is so significant, this experience, that there is a proverb that begins, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” I believe we see a foreshadowing of God’s desire that was never realized. God wanted Saul to be a Prophetic King. There is a powerful combination of an Anointing of Authority with a Prophetic Utterance. This is what God wanted for Saul.

The final instruction of Saul was that after all this happened, Saul was to spend seven days in the prayerful service of sacrifice. Samuel told him, I want you to wait seven days in this posture until I arrive.

Obedient Waiting

I think it is noteworthy that Saul neglected to fulfill his part. After Saul’s anointing, God did everything that he promised that he would do.

The men with the bread showed up. The Prophets showed up and the spirit of God touched and changed Saul. But the one thing that God asked Saul to do, he seemed to have neglected to do it.

Let me tell you something. You must not allow the divine appointment of God to come and go and you fail to follow God’s detailed instructions for your life. Because what starts out as ... “Oh I will do that later...” will never get done.

I believe that this omission was the seeds of Saul’s failure.

It is not enough to rejoice in the glow of God’s purpose. We must understand our individual need to spend some personal, intimate time in patient fellowship and contemplation to the purpose of God for our lives.

What will follow your anointing.

He had an encounter with the Man of God. And this encounter was the beginning of great things in his life.

The parallel of this is the promise of Jesus Christ just before he ascended. He told them, Go and Tarry in Jerusalem until ye be endued with power on high. There is something special about prayerful waiting and allowing a spirit of anticipation.

Acts 2

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.


The anointing of a King, is much like the anointing we receive when we receive the Holy Ghost... ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.

A prophetic anointing of Authority.

There will be Bread. There will be Prophesy. There will be a process of God’s purpose in your life. But remember, that when the wind has stopped blowing and the flames are no longer an external expression.

Let that flame of passion continue to burn inside of you in your patient obedience of fulfilling God’s plan for your life.

God has an anointing of authority and power for your life.

Your own personal Pentecost.

The beginning of a reign of dominion. To turn the tables on the story of your life. Rather than being defeated... victorious. Rather than at the bottom, on Top.
God wants you to be the Head and not the Tail.

We celebrate Pentecost because of the fulfilled promise of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

I thank God for my personal Pentecost. Not just what happened thirty three years ago. But my personal Pentecost that I am able to enjoy in everyday through my daily relationship with Jesus.

An Anointing of Prophetic Authority!

In Him, By Him, Through Him,

Scott Phillips
www.newbirth.us


Israel’s first King

I Samuel 10
5After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:

6And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

7And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.