Finishing Strong ~ Broadcast Transcript from April 26, 2020
Good Morning Blessings to each of you today! It is my prayer that Jesus join us, as we join together to seek Him, worship Him and gather in love to support and encourage one another. We have so much to go over today! The Holy Spirit is really guiding and revealing so much to us lately isn’t He? We most certainly are highly favored and blessed.
Because we have much to discuss today, we are going to get right into our study. Today may seem kind of random, but I am going to do my best to not jump all over the place – but then again, you know me and my rambles. We will just let the Spirit lead us, trusting it will all shake out in the end. Amen?
Before we begin, I would like to read a poem one of my inmates recently wrote. Some of you may have seen it already, because I did upload it to the ROF website. It is titled: Stand Up, by – Isaiah Nunez
I am serious when I say many of these inmates bless us way more than I feel like we are blessing them. Another inmate, who I send all broadcast transcripts too shared something just incredibly revealing this week about something the Lord showed him while He was studying his Bible. He was telling me how when Jesus was at such a weakened state from fasting and praying for 40 days and nights and the enemy took Him up on a mountain, tempting Him to perform miracles to feed Himself and offering Him this World as His Kingdom to rule. I am sure you all are familiar to this Bible story – but anyway, Scottie told me the Lord showed him the IMPORTANCE OF THAT MESSAGE WAS for us to follow in Jesus’s footsteps and through obedience lay down our own freewill – that just totally blew me away. What a timely word!
I also get a lot of questions and one really stuck out to me to share with you all today. An inmate asked me if a husband or wife can be saved if the other one is? I found that to be just an amazingly awesome question! Let’s read it in the Word!
1 Corinthians 7
12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
- Notice how this is speaking of marriage of course – but abiding together produces something… sanctification
- Sanctification means – to purify and there is nothing like marriage to purge you of impurities is there? Well, except having kids, that will certainly do it!
- And how God called us to peace so if an unbeliever departs, let them
- We are not to hold or trap people in relationships with us, which is bondage
- We also as believers are not to leave, but if the other one leaves us, we let them go
- Now there is exception to this do not forget: unfaithfulness, which comes in many forms, such as: sexual fornication with others – even in the mind – reminds me of pornography, abuse – physical or emotional, safety reasons, not providing for the family, neglecting one another’s needs, even emotionally, etc… Just someone’s presence in the home does not make them a “faithful” marriage partner, being engaged in the relationship does.
- This Scripture is speaking to ONE INSTANCE… being unequally yoked – a believer and non-believer. In other words… If one got saved and one wasn’t yet – and they treat you in faithfulness, just because they do not believe is no reason to leave, because THROUGH PURIFYING the Lord may use you to save the unbeliever.
So, I just thought that was such an excellent question and I wanted to share it with you all, because usually if one has it – so do others. Real quick, I must add – Jesus can do anything and is totally into doing the impossible, just surrender to Him, He will always guide and lead us on His chosen path for our lives. And remember, you do not have to divorce someone just because you do not live together. Remember Jesus said it is okay for two to separate for an agreed time with plans to reconcile, or come back together. As always, everything I am sharing is given by the Word for instruction – but only Jesus can guide you on the straight and narrow path as obedience is key.
You know there is one commonality we all have at this very moment, especially – which is we all have something the Lord is working on us to overcome. Knowing all things are possible with Jesus, it seems He has perfectly orchestrated obstacles in our lives which require we learn to lean on and trust Him ways we haven’t before. As we are being rooted and grounded in His love, our eyes are being opened to His sovereignty and this is something to be most grateful for in a most precious way.
Just a couple reminders from the Word about this very position we are placed in:
Revelation 3 –
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Now I just took this excerpt out of the messages to us, the church. Each church was given an assignment to overcome the World in some way. You can read about this in Revelation Chapters 2 and 3 and maybe soon we will study this together. Just so we understand – the Lord is purging the world out of His church right now, out of us as His members of His Body because we are in the World not of it.
1 John 4 & 5 says –
4 – Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the World.
5 – Who is it that overcomes the World except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
One last Scripture…
Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Witnesses – those who are watching us continually, observing our lives each day – we are often an example to them that with Jesus it is possible to not be overcome with evil and instead overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)
May we finish this race strong and not give up, but keep our eyes fully fixated on the Prize – Jesus.
This is a wonderful encouragement to check our intentions and actions, asking Jesus to guide us continually to be an example of Him right here on Earth – people are watching, we can’t take that lightly. May it be with excellence we strive to represent God’s Kingdom as His child.
Finishing strong… Not giving up and not giving in – to the World, people, temptation, sickness, the enemy, our own pride or emotions or anything that is not replicating Heaven on Earth. We can do all things in Christ, Who strengthens us day by day, moment by moment and fortifies us through every fiery trial.
FINISHING STRONG is… Seeking God’s will and then… APPLYING HIS WILL INTO OUR LIVES through completely surrendering our own will by coming into agreement with His, void of complaint.
To finish strong requires we apply what He instructs through His Word, not how human’s instruct – but God. If you are feeling anemic and weak each day – it is a good guess you are not reading His word and APPLYING it to your life. We should be reading His Word as if it was written only to us, individually – personally let Him nourish you and even better in every circumstance pray and ask Jesus to show to you exactly how He would react. There is no better example than Him we can follow.
Quite often I will get emails that Jesus isn’t talking to them or they can’t hear Him and I always ask if they are reading their instruction manual – the Bible – inevitably they say no. I tell them His Word is Him speaking to them and yet they refuse to listen. Over time of reading His word, He will begin to speak His word back to you in that still small voice. As a matter of fact, Jesus quotes Scripture to me a lot in my heart, now that I am thinking about it. I guess you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink – so the saying goes.
When adversity strikes – overcomers give it to Jesus and trust Him for the outcome and rest in the truth He will get us where we need to be, on time, every time. Please learn from my mistakes – I have gotten myself in a lot of hot water taking counsel from men, when I should have focused more the Word and Jesus to save me out of messes, I looked to others and honestly, in many ways I am still paying for it – literally. Have you ever wanted to believe someone so much that you did? Well, that has been me, practically my whole life. Thankfully, our sins are washed clean as snow when we call upon the Name of the Lord. We have much to be grateful for, don’t we? He often allows falls so we lean upon Him the most.
What is beautiful is that the Father has already placed within us a desire for His word – this is because we belong to Him. We need His truth to survive here, there is no doubt. We get confused, dazed and are not sober or rather delusional anytime we have pleasure in unrighteousness so the Lord pulls us out often through suffering so we are not sent a strong delusion, having pleasure in the unrighteous ways of the World, no longer believing the truth.
In 2 Thessalonians we are told specifically about Jesus being THE WAY, THE TRUTH & THE LIFE. May we continually seek to receive Him as truth, believe His truth and finishing strong on the path which is the narrow way few find. I praise the Father for drawing us unto Jesus. Remember, blessed are those who believe without seeing. Thank You Lord Jesus.
Okay, switching gears here…
BLAMING OTHERS is woven into humanity from the fall. It is in me and in you. Let that truth sink in for a moment because NO ONE is exempt and NO ONE has fully conquered this sin nature fully yet.
Just a couple disclaimers before we discuss this topic.
1 – I am going to use me as an example of how not to be and I am going to use my marriage to do so – but in that I pray the Lord does not allow Aaron to hear this message because he gets really upset when I use him on air in anyway.
2 – I cannot speak of anything evil that happens to a child before the age of accountability since it is still a mystery to me, meaning the Father has not fully revealed the truth to me of why this happens. Man has tried over and over to explain it in various ways, but much of what they say does not resonate within me as the truth. And you know what? I am okay with that – I do not need to know everything, some things are just that – the Father’s ways and our ways are not His and therefore we do not know them all. I call this believing without sight, trusting Him, He knows what He will permit and what He will not to mold and fashion us into His very image.
Here we go… Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent, directly after the fall. And all throughout our lives we have made mistakes and rather than taking ownership and repent, we run from the road that leads to life and deliverance screeching blame all the way. Most of what we experience as pain each day is due to our own rebellion in some way coming back to us. There are consequences to our own self-willed choices – which is how we learn to go and sin no more.
What is startling to me is how many people call themselves a follower of Jesus and blame everyone else for the hurt they are feeling, but I totally get it, I was the same way. It is a dangerous ground because when you blame others, you are one step away from blaming God and remember it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. Blaming others and blaming Him does make Him angry.
In order to protect the sanctity of marriage, there are many things which transpired that were horrible, many actions against me and if I told you all the details you would likely cry. You would also definitely think I was a victim, which in many ways I was. Now none of this would be a shock to Aaron in anyway – I’ve already apologized to him long ago after the Lord pointed out I had blood on my hands as well – and the death was a marriage. It was my own willful disobedience that placed me into harm’s way in the arms of a man who God did not choose for me, but I had chosen. Being a compromised soul, made me vulnerable to be placed in a compromised position. And once the Lord showed me my part, I had no one to blame but myself. Accountability is an important tool the Father uses to draw us into His arms.
I made a huge mistake… So let’s use me as an example of how not to be, okay? I am sharing this because after crying for years really, feeling like a victim and such one day the Lord woke me up with the truth, saying… What I join together, you cannot separate – the issue I have with you is that you joined you together. Now I have to tell you – that was certainly a stunning wake up call to repent. Prior to that moment, I was delusional thinking I was a complete and total victim (which in many ways I was) but the point He was showing me was rebellion removes His covering for a hard lesson to be learned. He then took me way back to the times when Aaron and I were dating and He showed me I had numerous and I mean numerous red flags (warnings from Him) that I ignored when I should have only needed one. He started to show me a very ugly side of myself, a longing for another to take His place on my heart throne because it was easy and satisfying and the Father wound I had still from being deserted at five years old. And because I had all this brokenness, you know what I did? I was relentlessly pursuing a well without everlasting water – which made me vulnerable to many evil entities afflicting me. The truth is – I knew in my heart Aaron was not ready for marriage, I even knew it was not of the Lord and yet – I wanted what I wanted and nothing would stop it – my mind was fixated on that happy home I had envisioned, so I pressured him into marrying me and him being weak-willed went along with it all in words – but in actions it was obvious he did not want to be married and I ignored them all.
Needless to say – the Father made me confess this to Aaron a few years ago and finally healing came and forgiveness and wholeness on my part. He was finally released. Peace was restored. But I owe the Father all the glory in this – and I thank Him for His patience and mercy with me that a little bit way too late was enough.
Repentance is actually taking up your bed and walking… Which leads to healing. But if we stay in a constant place of blaming others – we will never be healed in the soul. There is not a day that goes by that I do not speak to someone or get an email from someone that they are not blaming someone for the problems or hurt in their lives. And I mean, every day. So I figure misery loves company right? Lol But seriously, please know you are not alone in this process of overcoming and also, that I fully understand your pain – but it really it is time to pick up your bed and walk – stop blaming others and ask the Lord to show you your part in your sufferings. I hope this isn’t too harsh? But if I would have never sought the Lord like this, I too would be blaming and crying and so very upset that the perfect little family I had framed in my head was stolen from me, even to this day. I was really sick in the soul, mind and heart and I could not perceive until the Lord revealed it.
If we take just one tiny step towards Jesus, He is there. If we seek Him with our whole hearts in truth, remaining teachable and open, rather than rebellious – He is so very mighty to save every single time. I shared all this to hopefully just encourage even one person to look within and to dare be purged of all weights holding you down. Sometimes the very thing we need to overcome the World is the part of ourselves which are still operating like it. And that was me. The Father trains His own children in the way that we should go – part of that training is judging our own hearts and intentions and when we are victims ask ourselves – What doors did my freewill open to make me vulnerable to the serpent’s tongue?
Often when we look back we think what an emotional wreck we were and yet the Lord prevailed in saving us out of that mess. Chances are in six months from now we will look back and say the same, which is why I try never to judge an unformed vessel, because I am one too.
~~~Freely we have been given, freely we receive. Amen.
Mathew 10 –
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
- Preach
- Heal
- Cleanse
- Raise the dead
- Cast out devils
You have been given these powers freely, give them out to others freely.
Okay that’s all… Thank You Lord. Lololol – I wish… truly oh how I wish the Lord released me from saying what He has been pressing me to share on this one. Ugh…
My heart has been grieving for days and I am in constant prayer seeking the Lord’s intervention before it is too late. Before a dream I had comes fully into fruition. I believe I was shown something about a particular pastor to intercede on his behalf and he doesn’t even know me really. But lately the pressure from the Holy Spirit has been so forceful and how all this is unfolding it is a warning for many.
I had a dream years ago and LayLay may know more about the details of when that was – she seems to be the keeper of my dreams. Sometimes she will remind me of a dream I had that I’ve already forgotten and she amazes me every time.
Anyway, in my dream this well-known pastor was sitting at a desk with his head in his hands weeping uncontrollably. He was in such grief because he could not retrieve all the books and videos he had made back – from profit from the ministry he had been freely given by the Lord. He had even tried, wore himself out physically calling people and asking them to return his books but in defeat he sat crying at his desk knowing there was no way to retrieve all the materials that were floating around out there full of vain words, words that were God’s that he sold to others for lucre – money and the worst part is he had sensationalized much of what he was given adding to what the Lord instructed him to do. My heart is breaking just seeing this pain in his heart – he truly was inconsolable. Prior to that moment for him, the Lord had sent many to warn him, in which he refused to listen and he would block them or call them attacks and try to cast them off as devils, but in fact they were messengers sent forth by God to warn him of the end of himself if he did not repent and turn back to God for the freely given assignment the Lord had for him. The Lord also showed me it was due to a lack he felt internally that prompted him to be famous since at a young age he was counted out. Fame had gripped his poor soul and he was enjoying the bright lights and wealth it brought to be honored by man. The Lord told me, he was… “selling the drama.” And my dream ended but the ache in my heart has not.
Please note – it is not that I do not want to warn this man, it is just that I already know he will not listen. As a matter of fact he is entwined with others who will not listen either and what is breaking my heart at the moment, others are being drawn into his situation – it is an unholy alliance. So I pray continually for the Lord to intervene as only He can. I have discreetly tried to warn a few – but they will not hear me and sometimes it is so overwhelming my heart physically hurts.
So I thought today maybe if I share, maybe some good can come out of this by the Father’s hand through a teaching and maybe the pain in my heart will alleviate a little.
We are not to take the Lord’s Name in vain – which actually means – to use it for selfish gain. Whether that be financially, to boast in ourselves, to become an idol in someone’s eyes, to manipulate or seduce others, to entertain others – in other words to use God, to come in His Name saying He is Lord for our own benefit.
Here is the Scripture:
2 Timothy 3 –
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their’s also was.
Now, please understand I am only sharing this because the Lord pressed me too. The reason is, He gave me a warning that He is getting ready to overturn the tables within the ministries of those who are using His Name in vain for selfish gain and when He does – the sheep are going to be dreadfully heartbroken, shocked, having a deep pain of the heart. Part of my calling has always been to prepare the way of the Lord’s appearing in a situation or someone’s life by preparing His people to alleviate what pain they may go through and walk them through that journey of pain so they arrive whole and healed on the other side. Something like softening the blow and comfort when it comes.
There is a call going out to those “who sell the drama” is the word He gave me – for them to seek His face and turn away from such wickedness because judgement always starts in the house of the Lord and it is going to come in like a flood and thief to many.
He never showed me the end of that pastor as the dream ended – but I certainly still can feel the deep anguish of this man’s soul.
Again… In order this not contain anything of me, I want to wrap this up by reading His words again:
Mathew 10 –
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
- Preach
- Heal
- Cleanse
- Raise the dead
- Cast out devils
You have been given these powers freely, give them out to others freely. Knowing we all are surrounded by witnesses this is a good lesson for all of us.
If this is something you share in the heart with me on, would you please take just a few moments each day to intercede for those being tempted in such a way, in prayer asking the Father to be merciful to them, to draw them away unto Himself quickly before it is too late?
It is a very difficult task at times to be called to walk by faith and not sight. I understand the financial fear of taking nothing and going forward but the Lord has a way of keeping us totally dependent on Him and He often does this by removing the very thing which would bring security outside of Him. Just please pray for all those who have a calling upon their lives and for one another, no matter how great or how small so that the Lord is merciful in His corrective instructor. And for those of you who listen to anyone to compliment your walk with Jesus, just remember we are all human and Jesus is the Only Source and Way to everlasting life. We are mere humanity and pale into comparison to Him – you need not have anyone besides Him in your life to make it into the Kingdom of Heaven.
I realize the Bible speaks a lot about prophets, teachers, pastors, etc… Especially, in the Old Testament, but truthfully much of that was put aside to some degree now that we can actually have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us – with Him we should need no other instruction or guidance from the mediator of man. Of course it is a blessing to fellowship with one another, learn from and comfort on another – I am most grateful for these times with you all, I really am. But, the truth is, if I vanished today or if your favorite prophet or pastor vanished today – please know you will be okay with just you and God. I am speaking to myself here as well, encouraging hopefully your souls as I encourage my own.
Every single thing the Father does with us is so beautiful and loving. Especially repentance. I think we sometimes get fearful of that word repent. But think of it this way – Repentance is like the kiss of our Father upon our souls which prepares the way for the Lord to have His way with us, to protect us from harm by Jesus establishing His rightful ownership for the price He paid to insure that we are no longer our own and we definitely have been purchased out of the World. He does this so that we hear His voice and not harden our hearts to it. By the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit we are saved from the condemning voices that flow from the pit and are fully rescued being saved by grace. As we yield to Jesus in a most precious way we escape by Him making a way out of the enemy’s grasp.
2 Chronicles 16:9 tells us to cleave to Jesus with a singleness of heart.
And that truly is what our heart’s desire and need actually is.
The more we come to “see and know” God the more wisdom of His ways we glean and eventually we understand love and discipline are not in opposition to one another, but rather perfectly compliment one another to work all things together for our good because we fall in love with the fullness of Who He is as Abba Father. He is Abba Father to us, His children, which is why we cry out for Him continually and even our cries bring Him much pleasure.
Being a parent many of you know the fullness of joy that comes from comforting a crying child. To have that inconsolable child melt into your arms of comfort and be calm and satisfied is unexplainable by words – and that family, is the source of our Father. We could just sing of His praises forever, couldn’t we? And we shall!
Let’s pray ~
Heavenly and merciful Father – You are the one Who made the stars and you named each of one of them. You formed the seas and the mountains and You watch over us with singing. Nothing is too impossible for You as You are majestic in all Your ways. We first want to humbly thank You for this precious gathering today. We praise You for divinely sealing us in Your love and mercy, especially to one another Lord. May all that we do and say reflect the excellency of You and when it doesn’t convict and teach us Lord the deeper ways of Who You are so that we go forth as examples of Your Kingdom here on Earth. Forgive us Father for our rebellion at times when we resist repentance. Open our eyes to the ways we have been disobedient so we may be granted the opportunity to go and sin no more. Close our eyes to the shortcomings of others Father, forging a trust within us that they of a different fold You will go get them too and bring them close to Jesus by Your Sovereign hand and will. We release all those who have trespassed against us and we say bless them Lord as You surround them in Your saving love. Specifically, Father for those who are using Your word or mighty Name for gain – we ask You to humble them Father to their knees with a repentant heart. I also ask You intervene quickly and divinely before they take one more step towards the ledge of pride and ego, in order they are not totally lost, dazed and confused. And Father I do not say this just for them, but for me too and all those listening. Make us instruments of Your peace for the glory of only You. May we too be a living sacrifice just like Jesus was for Your glory today and forevermore. Amen.
Well, I thank you all for joining me today – what an amazing time of blessing we had! I absolutely love spending time with you all and with Jesus.
Just a couple housekeeping things –
For those of you who have my phone number – Could you do me a favor and please not text or call me between the hours of 9 am and 9 pm unless it is a real emergency? Due to the nature of my family’s needs, I do not put my phone on disturb when resting and I am extremely busy and never know for sure when I can sleep for a little bit. Sometimes I fall asleep early and get up at 4 am to work or vice versa and I am one if my phone wakes me up I cannot go back to sleep, even if I only had three hours of sleep – I just can’t do it. I am juggling several balls in the air at the moment, hardly having a moment to think – not a complaint, just a request for mercy and patience is all. Keep emailing me, just know I answer every single email so there at times is often a short delay. But I do read each one to make sure there is no crisis, however, sometimes I have to prioritize what order I answer them in. Thank You very much!
And text messages… Wow you all really like to text don’t you? Lol Well, I don’t. lol… I prefer an email so I can pray and respond fully. The other thing about text messages for me is I may get ten at once or over the course of a couple hours or even in the middle of the night and I lose some in the flood. So please do not be offended if I miss one or if I answer with just a heart or couple words because I find it very difficult to keep up sometimes. To me texting is an afterthought… It takes less effort really and can be patronizing sometimes and as you all know – I am really not into technology that much.
Lastly, videos… You all are so very kind to think of me –you truly are and I am so humbled by your love. But, sometimes I get upward of 5 or more videos sent to me in a day and if I watched every one of them, I couldn’t get anything else done. I appreciate the fact you think of me – but please understand and please, please do not be offended if I cannot watch all of what you send. And the same is true with books, there is just not enough time in the day to accomplish all I want to accomplish and remember… I am still homeschooling two teenagers over here every day, which is a chore in of itself.
We know this too shall pass. Amen.
So far so good on the inmate letter writing still – the Lord is keeping that door open, Estelle Unit was shut down for a couple weeks which explains the delay some of you are having at the moment with getting letters back from inmates. This is only temporary – thank you so much for visiting the prisons with me!
Lastly, like always I want to honor those who come along beside me with ROF ministries with prayer, encouragement, finances and especially your love. You are an intricate piece to us healing hearts His way and I appreciate you more than you know. Should you have a prayer request, question or something to share please email me at: Markedbyheaven7@gmail. Com or visit our website at rofministries.com for updates, to post a prayer request or ways to donate to our assignment for the glory of the Lord.
Always know you are loved, by me but most importantly by our Lord, keep close to Him and there is no possible way you won’t finish strong! God Bless You all!
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