We may not be perfect in 2021 but we will be present and make God presence known.
We are at or coming to a crossroads in this culture where we need all hands on deck, all in, 100% committed to changing this city one person at a time. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven is a reality not something we religiously recite. We will stand up and celebrate everyone, struggles and all, even when we are offended and we feel they don’t deserve the gift of grace! You may be knocked down but you’re not knocked out! Your strength may have been sapped, your joy stolen and your testimony tested but it is about to be rejuvenated, and we are ready to roar!! With every sunset there is a sunrise.
If you purpose in your heart to let the SON RISE and let the SON-Set your standards, you will always go to him as your source of strength!
TODD WHITE VIDEO
Isaiah 59:19 19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
When God raises up a standard, it means that His work at the cross has created a standard against the enemy that cannot be overcome.
A standard was an old English word that was used in battle when a standard or flag was raised; it was the signal for all the troops to rally at that point. … So let the Holy Spirit be the one that lifts up that standard that repels the enemy.
Isaiah 28:5-6 In that day the Lord Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people. 6 He will be a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, a source of strength to those who “turn back the battle at the gate”.
The battles in our lives are always at the gates. It may be gates to our thoughts, to our hearts, to our relationships, our bodies or even restaurants, gyms and Walmart.
What we do AT the gate is crucial to what happens BEHIND that gate.
The gates have to be the best guarded places. A city could have thick walls built all around it – but people have to get in and out some way and the only way is through gates. There will always be gateways in our lives – we can’t build up solid walls (despite trying sometimes!) that can’t be penetrated – there has to be a gate. And that gate needs to be well guarded. The gates are where decisions are made.
It is much easier to turn the battle and the enemy back away at the gate than it is once he has come in and caused chaos in our lives and our cities.
“STOP the ONE TRYING TO STEAL YOUR STRENGTH ” We need strength to raise the standard.
Save your strength for your real life and not your “WHAT IF” life.. Stop running from things that should be running from you. The devil got you so afraid that you can’t sleep at night.
Stop giving things unrestricted access into your space and your spirit to sabotage it ” SF
IF YOU LET WORRY IN, YOU LET ANXIETY WIN. I think well-meaning producers have spiritually abused the church by inoculating them with a venomous vaccine of fear for the future. We can’t be more engaged in the future than in the present. Is there real power in the blood or is it a cute camp meeting song? To win the battle, you have to beat it by the blood. Most battles are bloody and they are won and lost at the gate!
SOMETIMES THE BEST PLACE TO FIGHT THE BATTLE IS BEFORE IT BEGINS!!!! Souls are won and lost in the battlefield, your brain! Your will won’t matter when you start worrying in the war. Every time you surrender ground to the enemy, you have gone on the defense rather than the offense. We need to draw the bloodline in the sand! Either it works or it doesn’t! Either I’m victorious or defeated. Either I’m a new creation or a counterfeit. We must beat it before it beats the believer. In other words,
Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
IF you let him in, you let him win!!!! Typically whatever you let in, that’s the thing that wins!
– How can we call God our strength if we don’t set standards with God!!!
We must MATCH STRENGTH WITH GODS STANDARDS
– How can He be the source of my strength if He ISNT the SOURCE OF STANDARDS
– Sometimes we will allow the WORLD TO SET STANDARDS FOR CHURCH!
– Have you thought about it or have you just INHERITED YOUR STANDARDS
– RAISE YOUR OWN STANDARD!!
– WHO SETS YOUR STANDARD?
Isaiah 28: 7 “And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions.”
What you drink (not literally) affects how you think! The priest could not see correctly, therefore they could not lead correctly. It’s so vitally important what you take in!!!
– Where something shows up, isn’t always where it STARTED
– YOU CANNOT GET A NEW START TO THE STORY, BUT YOU CAN CHANGE THE ENDING! Life is a series of events that mould you.
– The Space between what you see and what you do is where the standards are set
The Space between what you hear and how you respond is also based on where you set your standards
– FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, WE ARE CHANGING THE ENDING
IF YOU CANNOT SEE CORRECTLY, HOW CAN YOU LIVE CORRECTLY!!
– Who is the source of YOUR strength? Look at the scripture….” a source of strength to those who “turn back the battle at the gate”.”
Scriptures on God’s help: The Scripture is your sword
Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe. “Don’t feel bad when you have to run to God when you’re not ready to use the strength you got from Him.”
Nehemiah 8:10 Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Psalm 34:17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.
Don’t Worry Or Fear, Find Your Strength In Him . It can be so easy to give into worry, fear and despair, but with Him we can find strength, and look forward to wonderful things. He gives us hope!
Isaiah 43:1-3 Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 27: 1-3 The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Psalm 145: 18-19 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
God Gives Us A Spirit Of Strength And Power . Through faith in Christ we are given a spirit of power, love and discipline, and for that reason we have nothing to fear. We can hold onto his promises and be confident that he’ll see us through even the darkest of days.
Psalm 16:8 I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 62:1-2 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Psalm 91:1-2 You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God in whom I trust.”
Psalm 112: 1, 7-8 Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord. They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord. Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid.
Isaiah 28:5 In that day the Lord Almighty will be a glorious crown,
a beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people
Wreath symbolizes victory. The remnant is what is left. God always has a remnant 32,000-300 The remnant always has a remedy! God will not be limited by what you lost. He will take the loaves and fishes if that’s all you got. Stop weeping, worrying, whispering on what walked away!!! Rejoice that your part of a remnant that will usher in a regional revival. Quit fixing your faith on failure and start focusing on the future! As a church we will not fret on who left and why!! We have a new reason in this season. We are that “HAPPY CHURCH” We will live happy, love happy, give happy, the Joy of the Lord is my strength! The same God that is the source of our strength is also the source of our standards. How can I expect Gods strength when I don’t embrace Gods standards? I can’t look to my culture to set my standards without looking to my creator for my strength. I can’t look to the world to set my standards that are contrary to his and then go to God to bless what isn’t his!
My savior sets my standards! I am steady, secure in my salvation as I shelter under his shadow. I am self-disciplined and I will not be shaken as I raise the standards. The Holy Spirit will not permit me to stumble! We can’t be standardized by a dysfunctional world. We can’t function in that environment. We are a royal priesthood…a holy nation….
Who set your standard? Who created your moral compass? Who drew your line in the sand?
If you don’t raise your standard, someone will lower it for you.. They are not just social standards but sinful standards as well. Where do you draw the line?
– LIVE RIGHT BECAUSE GOD LOVES YOU
– STOP trying to LIVE UP TO STANDARDS, But start LIVING OUT OF THEM
– DONT SPEAK TO SOMETHING YOU SHOULD BE STEPPING ON!!!!
Why do we ask God to do his best when we don’t do our best? God is not average
WE ARE THE PEOPLE OF GOD!!! HAVE A STANDARD!!!
Do you want the INFLUENCE? WHAT IS YOUR SACRIFICE
You can’t have the resurrection without the crucifixion
– OPPOSITE OF EXCELLENCE IS JUDGMENTALISM: I will confess I can be that way. What happens? I open the gate of pride to fill me. The devil tries to come in and set up his standard.
DON’T have a conversation WITH WHAT GOD TOLD YOU TO CRUSH!!!!! How can we embrace UNITY if we don’t ACCEPT GOD’s STANDARD OF EQUALITY!! DREAMS WITHOUT ACTIONS IS AN ILLUSION . WE CANNOT POISON THE WELL AND THEN COMPLAIN ABOUT THE WATER
The source is where you get the strength to say, THIS STOPS HERE!! The gate is the entrance. The gates of change start with standards. The area in your life that you need strength is where you need standards. Who set, or is setting your standards? Are your standards set by your clothes, by the color of your car? What farm you live on, if you’re kosher or not, if you speak in tongues or not? If you’re baptized immediately after you repent? If you are pre, mid or post tribe? What color Jesus was? Did Adam have a belly button? Is healing for today or not? Who told you the gift of tongues, and prophesy is a fairy tale? Who told you the 5 fold ministry office of the pastor, teacher, prophet, apostle and evangelist are not for today? Who told you not to dance before the Lord in church? Wave a banner? Shout the victory? Who told you the party was over? Stand guard at the gate!! Protect the Presence of God! The Presence of God is where your personal party begins!!!
“This is the day the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it! “Psalms 118:24
“God is not calling you to reach the standard…just to raise it!
Isaiah 59:19 “ So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him”
