COMMUNITY STRONG

By Reverend Paul N. Papas II

29 August 2011

You’ve see the T-shirts, hats and bumper stickers saying Army Strong. It is time show Community Strong.

Even though it was over forty years ago I remember Boot Camp pretty well. Boys were made into men in eight weeks both physically and mentally. At that time, as now, many went off to war and not all came back. Boys from all over the country, with all kinds of back rounds, were brought together to gain the knowledge, discipline, and tools to become Our Nations defenders of freedom.

Today we have hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes in many parts of the country. Today we have all kinds of people with all kinds of back rounds in need of assistance and our greatest resource is people. The country may be broke, but our people’s spirits are not broken. It is because of our people’s spirits and resourcefulness that we will rebuild.

There are two examples of Community Strong I would like to share with you. One is where a neighbor was able to cook on his stove because he had a manual, not electric, gas stove and oven when the electricity was out for days because of a storm. His neighbors either had electric stoves or electric starts to their stoves and ovens. He invited his neighbors in to share the use of his stove and oven in order that his neighbors could enjoy a hot meal. The story never made the papers and it was not supposed to.

The second example of Community Strong is where a neighbor offered to put another neighbor’s frozen foods in his freezer just because he still had electricity and the other neighbor’s electricity was out because of Irene. It is not known when it will be back on.  Neither neighbor called a press conference.

Neighbors have been helping neighbors for a very long time, even before formal governments were formed. It was neighbors helping neighbors that formed the basis for formal governments.

As we know there are groups of people who help each other out because they are in a similar circumstance, even though they may not otherwise do so. This is also the idea behind support groups.

Whether it is Habitat For Humanity, American Legion, AA, NAMI, or other helping organizations they are designed to help others while helping each other. Each organization has a purpose and a mission to help a certain portion of the population with certain needs.

NAMI and other organizations that assist family and friends of people who have been affected by the medical condition of a mental illness, as well as those who have a medical condition of a mental illness, don’t receive the same status as Habitat For Humanity, American Legion or AA in people’s minds.  This is the stigma that needs to be eradicated.

In this particular trying time hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes it is especially urgent that neighbors help neighbors. One urgent way neighbors should be looking out for each other is looking for signs of despair, depression, anxiety, or worry about their present circumstances, especially if they just lost everything they own. When we knew our neighbors we could more easily tell when our neighbor was in distress. Often times a good listening ear is what is really needed.  I can’t give you any specific advice other than to observe, listen, talk with, and if needed refer someone to a professional for assistance.

We can’t depend on our government for much assistance to rebuild. We can depend upon our greatest resource; which is each other. There are no shortages of needs, pick one or more that you can help with and go to work. Show how you are Community Strong.

https://preacher01704.wordpress.com/2011/09/05/community-strong/

VIDEO Fasting For Spiritual Breakthrough in 2021

December 26, 2020  by Shane Idleman

You choose: Will it be the pain of discipline or the pain of regret? One yields a sense of extreme fulfillment; the other, a lingering sense of defeat. Ironically, we pray for God to heal when we should also pray for the self-discipline to change harmful habits. Fasting is hard because self-denial is hard (discipline), and overindulging is not rewarding (regret). It becomes a never-ending cycle of defeat unless we break the cycle by choosing discipline over regret as we seek the will of God.

God teaches us through discipline because He loves us. We are also encouraged to discipline our bodies to experience breakthrough. We cannot effectively be filled with the Spirit and lack discipline. Our faith is not passive; it’s active faith. Romans 6:16 (NASB) sheds much-needed light: “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” Either way, we are slaves—we are either God’s servant or a slave to our passions and desires. Self-discipline is a fruit of the Spirit, according to 2 Timothy 1:7.

Those who say that discipline is legalism are dead wrong. We are called to yield to the Spirit and quench sin—but when we yield to sin, we quench the Spirit. Fleshly appetites are subdued when fasting. Fasting is challenging because the flesh always wants to negotiate with us. It says, “Can’t we meet in the middle? Don’t completely remove food—that’s too extreme!”

Self-control is also required for leadership. In Titus 1:8 (NIV), Paul adds that a leader “must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.” John Wesley required fasting so that his leaders disciplined their appetites rather than allow their appetites to rule them. It’s been said for centuries that no man who cannot command himself is fit to command another. Paul told the Corinthians that he strikes a blow to his body and makes it his slave so that he will not be disqualified for service (1 Cor. 9:27). An undisciplined leader is an oxymoron.

We also see the power of fasting in Joel 1:14: “Consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.” The magnitude of the situation determined the response. God’s people had departed from Him. The call was to return through fasting, prayer, and broken-ness. Fasting is depriving the flesh of its appetite as we pray and seek God’s will and mercy. We are saying, “The flesh got me into this predicament, now it’s time to seek God’s mercy and humble myself before Him.”

Obviously, people have overcome challenges without fasting, but fasting adds extra strength, especially when overcoming addictions. One addiction may end, but others can continue. The alcoholic switches to caffeine, the nicotine addict switches to sugar, and the opioid user switches to food. It’s a never-ending cycle, but fasting can break the cycle. However, fasting is not a cure-all or a magic wand; it’s a spiritual discipline designed to aid in victory. Again, choose the pain of discipline over the pain of regret.

Fasting—The Physical Affects the Spiritual

Through fasting, our body becomes a servant instead of a master. When Jesus directs us, the outcome is always beneficial, spiritually and physically. Notice He said, “When you fast” (Matt. 6:16). Scripture doesn’t say, “When you sin, and if you fast,” but rather, “If you sin” and “When you fast.” The obvious goal and benefit of fasting is spiritual, but there are physical benefits as well. Can we pray and seek God with all our heart with a headache, tight pants, and a sluggish, lethargic body strung out on our favorite addictive substance? Of course not. Does the way you feel affect your productivity and the quality of your life? Absolutely. Our diet affects key hormones such as serotonin for relaxation, dopamine for pleasure, glutamate for healthy thinking, and noradrenaline for handling stress. If we allow junk food and addictions to control our attitude and productivity, it will hinder what we do for God. When we’re always dealing with stress, anxiety, and sickness, can we do much for God? No, we will be limited. Granted, there are those who, through no fault of their own, have a debilitating illness. I’m assuming the reader understands that I’m talking to those who can make changes.

What you put in the mouth (body) and the mind (soul) affects the spirit—and when you feed the spirit, it affects the body and the soul. I’m often asked to pray for panic attacks, angry outbursts, and anxiety. That can be done, and God honors prayer, but are we opening the door to these things by not halting highly addictive caffeine, sugar, opioid, or nicotine habits? Or are we renewing our mind by meditating on the Word and spending time in prayer? The physical affects the spiritual, and the spiritual affects the physical. Much of the healing that I have witnessed over the years was the result of renewed stewardship of the body. You can do this … it’s all about falling forward.

Now that you’re motivated to fast, I want to offer two helpful resources. First, here is a recent message on fasting that will help answer many questions. I also want to recommend my book, Feasting and Fasting – what works, what doesn’t, and why. This link has free download options. While there, download my brand new book, HELP! I’m Addicted. 

Fasting For Spiritual Breakthrough in 2021

Itching To Talk Nonsense!

by Paul

(Charles Spurgeon)

“To the Law and to the Testimony! If they do not speak according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20

Take care never to impute the vain follies of your imagination to the Holy Spirit. I have seen the Spirit of God shamefully dishonored by people–I hope they were insane–who have said that they have had this and that revealed to them.

For some years there has not been a single week in which I have not been pestered with the revelations of hypocrites or maniacs. Semi-lunatics are very fond of coming with “messages from the Lord” to me. It may spare them some trouble if I tell them once for all that I will have none of their stupid messages!

Never think that events are revealed to you by God–or you may come to be like those idiots who dare impute their blatant follies to the Holy Spirit. If you feel your tongue itch to talk nonsense–then trace it to the devil, and not to the Spirit of God!

Whatever is to be revealed by the Spirit to any of us, is in the Word of God already. He adds nothing to the Bible, and never will. Let people who have revelations of this, that, and the other thing–go to bed, and wake up in their senses. I only wish they would follow Scripture and no longer insult the Holy Spirit by laying their nonsense at His door!

“A prophet who presumes to speak in My name anything I have not commanded him to say . . . must be put to death!” Deuteronomy 18:20

“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds!” Jeremiah 14:14

“Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the Word of the LORD!” Ezekiel 13:2

https://thegospelvideoblog.wordpress.com/2019/07/12/itching-to-talk-nonsense/

The Grace Period Is Over

July 11, 2019 by mariomurilloministries

 

The grace period is over for false and carnal preachers because there is too much at stake. It’s over, because protecting you from shame is not nearly as important as saving a nation from destruction.

The Left has declared total war on decency, and you are in God’s line of fire.

Ask yourself. Why were Ananias and Sapphira struck dead at the feet of Peter in Acts chapter 5? It was not just for what they did, it was also because of when they did it. They did it at an explosive moment for the church. Satan was going about like a roaring lion, trying to destroy the church, and God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of the Apostles. Ananias and Sapphira chose to lie to the Holy Spirit at a strategic time when the church needed to be reminded that they served a holy God.

You will either be purified or replaced.  The time when God winked at your compromise is over.  You thought God didn’t see. “And they say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?””  (Psalm 73:11).

Worse yet, you thought because He has delayed your discipline, He has somehow given you license to continue in your lifestyle of drunkenness and materialism.

Public confession of sin is coming.  Malachi 3:3 says, “He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.” Remember—not everyone who is disciplined by God will make the cut.

Look for tragic downfalls—you who have fattened yourselves at the expense of the sheep and left them weak and unprotected.  (see Ezekiel 34) God told you to resist the wicked winds of political change.  Instead, you hid behind a lame excuse that you didn’t want to be political.

The wicked devices of the Left that have wrecked marriage, and continue to kill the unborn, are but a few of the evils it was your duty to oppose.  Instead, you self-righteously said you were above politics.

Meanwhile, those political policies have oppressed the sheep of God. Godless laws got them fired for being Christian.  You said nothing. Political correctness got their children suspended from school. You looked the other way.   Godless laws bankrupted bakers, florists, and other Christian small businesses.  And still, you were silent.

In your silence, you are taking other people down with you.   You are damaging your audience by only saying what they want to hear. You have not led them forward; you have not removed them from danger.  Worse yet, when you finally speak out, it is misguided.

You were silent when Obama worked his destruction.  But now you oppose a President who is doing more for the sheep of God than you are.  Man of God: Tell the truth.

I was awakened out of a dead sleep, and God said, “It is time to fulfill My promise.” Then He showed me Jeremiah 3:15, “And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

Satan is not impressed with your billion-dollar empire. He mocks it.  It has no power where it matters.  R. A. Torrey said, “The Devil is perfectly willing that the church should multiply its organizations and its deftly contrived machinery for the conquest of the world for Christ, if it will only give up praying…The Devil is not afraid of machinery; he is only afraid of God. And machinery without prayer is machinery without God.”

Then God told me how He has come to despise the word, ‘Activate.’  He is rebuking the signs-and- wonders-crowd who are cheapening the gifts of the Spirit by promising instant activation of gifts and  turning God into some kind of vending machine.  God is opposed to the message that promises gifts without a relationship to the Heart of the Father.  God will only grant gifts to those who surrender to intimacy with Christ.  It is not an overnight deal—it is a grueling journey, it is the furnace of affliction, and a season of preparation.

‘Instant-ism’ is bringing the prophetic movement down.  Repent or you will soon find your movement in the museum of failed revivals.  The enterprise of doling out daily words of prophecy grieves God.  He deems it to be the same as horoscope reading.  Worst of all, it has driven the sheep away from the Bible.  All of this prophesying has failed to lead to a spiritual awakening in America. 

Consider:  “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.  But if they had stood in My counsel, and had caused My people to hear My words, then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings.” (Jeremiah 23: 21,22)

We are on the cusp of a golden era of soul winning.  God sees the harvest is ripe.  Beware of the anger of God most when He sees the lost searching for Him.  That is when He cleans house. That is when He says, “I am going to save the lost—either let me purify you for service, or get out of My way.”

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. (Hebrews 10:31)

https://mariomurilloministries.wordpress.com/2019/07/11/the-grace-period-is-over/