Be it unto me Lord as Thou have Spoken... Amen (let it be so)!

Recently I received a Word of Prophecy concerning things in my life that are coming. Many people would get excited, and some even seek for a Word from God, but I’ve come to understand something about when the prophet says: “thus saith the Lord”.

Merriam Webster Dictionary defines:  Prophetic as “a foretelling of coming events”.  God has spoken through many prophets in the Bible Old and New Testament alike. Growing up in a Baptist background all of this was very strange to me, but when I became Spirit-filled I learned a lot about God that I never understood before.

See the difference in when I was a Baptist boy and when I became Spirit-filled is now I understand a piece of God which I never knew existed. And being a skeptic, I stood back, (learning about the moves of God) and watched to see if these words of prophecy would come true. And they did! God showed me time after time His love for me through many obedient servants which gave me the message, and told me things that no one else would have known.

God speaks to, and through, His preacher, teachers, and prophets even today. 1 Corinthians 14:3 ^“But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort”.

So from scripture we see that prophetic words are to:

·         Edify – to instruct, uplift, and enlighten, give direction.

·         Exhort – to urge strongly, to give warning or advice, make urgent appeal.

·         Comfort – to give strength and hope.

The word I received told me of climbing a stair stepped pyramid and I was almost to the top. But in my way were all kinds of rocks in which I would have to maneuver around and over. The climb would be rough, but I will make it to the top.

Here is the lesson I have learned.

When God gives you a word, He is telling you and preparing you for the journey. He is trying to prepare you for what is in front of you, and for the obstacles you will have to face. He’s letting you know it will be challenging, and the battle will not be easy. But if you persevere you will come out on top.

The Lesson.

A word from God only comes when you are about to go through a series of trials, and He is trying to warn you of the test. Without a test there are no testimonies. We are saved by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. 

I pray my testimonies will encourage other to reach out and trust God with everything that is inside of them.

My love to you all

Pastor Nolan  

***there is more to this word of prophecy in which I received, but I only shared a part of it. The rest is between me and God.***

The Apostale Paul and his letter to the Church at Philippi ~ [Book of Philippians]

Key Passage: Philippians 3:7-8 

(The following is a transcription from a message preached by Rick Renner in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 12, 1997. In that sermon he described his trip to Rome where he visited the places where the Apostle Paul both ministered and was imprisoned. Rick was assisted in his research by a young, Spirit-filled Christian lady who is recognized as an expert in early church history. This transcribed portion of his message concerns the conditions surrounding Paul’s writing of the Book of Philippians.) 

Many people are of the opinion that Paul wrote his letter to the church at Philippi while under house arrest in Rome described in Acts chapter 28. This, however, is not true. When Paul was imprisoned in Rome at the time he wrote the letter to the Philippians he was locked up in a place known as the Mamretime (?spelling) Prison, also known as the Tulian Keep. It was literally located in the bottom of the palace, referred to as the palace prison. He makes reference to this in Philippians 1:13 and 4:2. 
Toward the end of the trip we went to the prison. It shocked me because it was not like the rest of Rome. Rome was beautiful, it was white, it glistened, their streets were straight, everything was beautiful and luxurious. 

And so I expected this palace prison would be along that same line. But when we arrived there I was shocked to find that it was not beautiful, and it in fact, it is just a cave that has been hollowed out of the foundation of the palace. If you stand at the entrance of the prison and look straight up above you, you will see where the old palace stood. In fact, it still stands today. But today apartments are built in the walls of the old palace. This prison where Paul was is literally cut out of the rock in the bottom of the foundation of the palace. 

As we walked into it, I could see that it was dark and that it was dingy, that it was ugly. And a smell came out of that prison that just about knocked me over. I asked, “What is that smell?” 
She said, “I’ll tell you today what most people don’t know. You won’t read this in any of your books because this is not a theological fact, but it is an archeological fact. 

“At the time that the Apostle Paul was held in this prison, it was the central holding tank for the sewage system of the city of Rome. Most men who were held in this place were killed by the smell. The toxins in this place were so terrible that just breathing them would asphyxiate you to death. That’s what this was when the Apostle Paul was here. And on certain day, if the wind is just right and if the heat is just right, like today, you can still smell the sewage of 2,000 years ago. That is the smell that you are smelling; this is sewage from 2,000 years ago.” 

She continued and said, “The ancient water system and sewage system of ancient Rome was more developed that it is today. The sewage system then carried more human sewage that they are able to handle in the city of Rome today. And this was the central holding tank for all of the sewage from the central part of Rome, here in the very bottom of the palace. All of the sewage of the palace emptied into this place which was called the Mamretime Prison. Because it was a place of human waste, it was the most notorious, deadly prison in the world. Only the Isle of Patmos was second to this prison. 
This was the worst. 

“Furthermore, the apostle Peter was also held in this prison once for nine months. When Peter was held here, because he was not a citizen, he was held here in total darkness, standing in the sewage. It was a miracle that he did not lose his mind.” 

We came into this prison and there were two levels: an upper level and a lower level. The upper level today has been turned into a Catholic church but 2,000 years ago this is where the Roman guards stood. Over to the side of the first level is a set of circular stairs that goes down into the lower section and the lower section is where the sewage was. The lower level is also where they held the prisoners. Only one prisoner at a time was held in this prison. These were the capital offenders, these were the worst criminals of the empire. Peter was held there alone. Paul was held there alone. 

And as we stepped into the lower part of that prison, she said, “As you walk down these steps, remember the Apostle Paul was a short man. When he was in this prison we believe ie probably stood up to his hips in human sewage. There were no chairs to sit on. Had there been and he sat on them he would have been sitting in human sewage. There were no beds because he would have been laying in sewage. 

“The prisoners were held chained to the wall with their hands extended upwards. If they were a Roman citizen they were held for 30 days at a time without being released. They slept hanging from the chains. When they went to the bathroom, they went to the bathroom in their clothes against the wall, hanging from the chains. The human waste was covered with rats eating the waste. There was disease, slime, infestation, and the stink so bad it could kill a man. 

“If the stink did not kill you most people held here died from limb rot because the chains became so corroded and rusted by the human contamination that they began to cut into the flesh and the flesh would begin to rot. So when you go downstairs today, I want you to see where the Apostle Paul was when he wrote the book of Philippians.” 

I tried to imagine what it would be like to be up to your waist in human sewage. To have your arms chained above your head for 30 days at a time: you would lose all circulation in your arms; no blood, completely numb. The pain from hanging from the chains, how tired your legs would be from standing for 30 days without ever sitting or lying. Being fed just pieces of bread. Having to think about the rats that are all around you, and yet you can’t see the rats because you’re standing in total darkness, not even the light of a candle. 

But because Paul was a citizen he was allowed to receive and to send mail once a month. This was the rights of citizenship. So once a month he would hear the clanging as a Roman soldier would come walking down the steps carrying a candle. The soldier would slush through the human waste towards Paul, carrying a candle and carrying mail, and carrying paper and a writing utensil. The soldier would reach up and release Paul’s, which would fall like dead meat because there was no feeling, no circulation in his arms. The guard would try to hand him a letter but Paul had much difficulty holding the letter because his arms and hands had lost all feeling. His eyes had trouble adjusting to the light of the candle because he had been in total darkness for 30 days. 

It was in these conditions that Paul received a letter from the Philippians (4:10 & 14). It the letter he found out they were thinking about him, praying for him, and that they had sent an offering to him. When he had finished reading the letter, the guard handed him a writing utensil and a piece of parchment. Then, in the light of the candle, while standing up to his hips in human sewage, Paul began slowly and agonizingly moving his arm and hand and write a letter back to the Philippians. 

Having all this knowledge completely changes the way that you read the Book of Philippians: 

Philippians 3:8 ~ Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. 

Philippians 4:8 ~ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there by any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

Philippians 4:18 ~ But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable wellpleasing to God. 

Rather than thinking about the waste he is standing in, he thinks about his worldly accomplishments and considers them to be equal to the sewage that reaches up to his hips. Rather than thinking about the stench, he thinks about the sacrifice of the Philippians to send him an offering. Rather than thinking about the rats that could stop eating the sewage and start eating him, he focuses on thoughts that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of a good report, virtuous and praiseworthy. 

Even more outstanding is the fact that this book is known as the “Epistle of Joy.” Paul writes about joy 17 times in this book: “I therein do rejoice, Yea and will rejoice.” I rejoice greatly.” “I joy.” “I do rejoice.” “You are my crown and joy.” “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice.” He even talks about the peace of God totally enveloping his heart and mind. 

**A man standing imprisoned in human waste and urine had written and encouraging letter of peace and joy to people who were free to come and go as they pleased. Where does that place you and I in our complaining?

Blessings to You

Pastor Nolan

Prayer Which Changes Lives.

Listed below are the Ephesians Prayers which The Apostale Paul wrote. These Prayers are from The Amplified Bible. Notice the spaces in the scriptures, in these spaces place the name of the person you are praying for, or if you are praying these prayers for yourself start in verse * 17 and use ( I, my, me, myself). These prayer are scripture based and extremely Powerful. This will change your life or a loved one. 

Ephesians 1:15-20 (Amplified Bible)

15 For this reason, because I have heard of ____ faith in the Lord Jesus and ____ love toward all the saints (the people of God),

16 I do not cease to give thanks for ____, making mention of him/her in my prayers.

*17 [For I always pray to] the God of my Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant ____ a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,

18 By having the eyes of ____ heart flooded with light, so that ____ can know and understand the hope to which He has called ____, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),

19 And [so that ____ can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for we who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,

Ephesians 3:14-21 (Amplified Bible) 
14 I bow my knees before the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ,

15 For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].

16 May He grant ____ out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling ____ innermost being and personality].

17 May Christ through ____ faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in ____ heart! May ____ be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,

18 That ____ may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];

19 [That ____ may really come] to know [practically, through experience for himself/herself/myself] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that ____ may be filled [through all his/her/my being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]

21 To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever.
Amen (so be it).

***Feel free to copy and paste this on a document to keep in your Bible or notebook.***

Sunday is Coming!

 As we approach Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday I place myself in different thoughts. I watched “The Passion of the Christ” last night once again. As weird as it sounds it’s not a movie I enjoy, but truly love at the same time. I say that because it moves me deeply when I watch it seeing what my Lord went through for me.

I think every believer in Jesus Christ should own and watch “The Passion of the Christ”. But when I watched the movie this time I placed myself in another perspective. I watched in the mindset of the disciples, and followers of Jesus in that day and time.

You have to understand they were living under Roman occupation. They were ruled and governed by Rome. They were made to pay tribute to Caesar, and punished for not obeying Roman law. They found themselves basically enslaved once again. They were looking for a Hero, a Champion, a Warrior who would remove the Roman oppression and bring them freedom.

And the Hero came, the Champion was born, and the Warrior made His stand not only with Rome, but also with religion. They were there when He changed water into wine. Opened blind eyes, healed sickness and disease, raised the dead, and even the demons were subject to Him. What manner of man is this they thought, He must be the Messiah which was prophesied. Our Hero has come.

To what surprise they must have felt, when the battle happened… He stood silent, and went with the accusers without a fight. Their Hero was beaten, mocked, humiliated, and whipped, than crucified. How hopeless they felt, fear gripped their hearts, and hopelessness filled their minds. The Champion, Hero, the Brave Warrior is now dead.

They we looking for a man with a sword in hand, but what they got was a Champion with a sword in His mouth.  They wanted revenge, but they got Righteousness. They wanted war, but they got Peace that goes beyond understanding. They wanted freedom, but they got complete Salvation. See the battle they wanted was fought and the Hero did win. But it didn’t happen as they had expected.

Though He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, He was actually walking face first into the biggest battle this world has ever known until He comes again. They were looking for a warrior, but instead they got a triumphant Lamb. They were looking for human strength, but what they got was not only earthly, but also Eternal Freedom.

Jesus didn’t look like what they thought, nor did He fight as the expected. But the results He brought didn’t just win the battle… HE WON THE WAR! With His death a Covenant ended, with His Resurrection a New Covenant began, a new and better Covenant.

In our lives we all face opposition, and we are looking for answer which seems to elude us. Keep in mind, answers never come as we expect them too. But they do come. It’s always darkest before the dawn. And as with those of old, remember… Sunday is coming. Never lose hope, our King is Risen!!!

Blessings to you on this Resurrection week… May you be Strengthened, and Renewed with Hope, and Wisdom. For Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is alive forevermore.

Pastor Nolan

 “Not my will Father, but Your will be done”. ~ [Jesus]

It Begins...

And This Blog begins. I will write as I'm inspired, and share as I receive from the Lord. I pray this Blog becomes and inspiration to all who join, and a source of insight into new thoughts about my Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Please pray for me in this journey, may it bring strength and wisdom to us all. So Lets begin. My Love to you.... Nolan