Psalm 2- The Useless Rantings of this World

Why do the nations plot, and why do their people make useless plans?
The plans the world (or you and I) make without God are USELESS!




The kings of this earth have all joined together to turn against the LORD and his chosen one.
They say, "Let's cut the ropes and set ourselves free!"

This world functions like it wants to be free of God.

In heaven the LORD laughs as he sits on his throne, making fun of the nations.
Initially God is patient with His creation. He shakes His head and laughs, like a parent watching a silly child.
The LORD becomes furious and threatens them. His anger terrifies them as he says,
His patience turns to fury as He understands the silly antics are actually stubborn rebellion...no repentance in sight.
"I've put my king on Zion, my sacred hill."

He knows He's set in place the solution to all problems, althoug Christ is being ignored.


I will tell the promise that the LORD made to me: "You are my son, because today I have become your father. Ask me for the nations, and every nation on earth will belong to you. You will smash them with an iron rod and shatter them like dishes of clay."


Be smart, all you rulers, and pay close attention. Serve and honor the LORD; be glad and tremble. Show respect to his son because if you don't, the LORD might become furious and suddenly destroy you. But he blesses and protects everyone who runs to him.

We have to acknowledge Christ as King, and Lord of all. All we need is found in Him.

Blessed by the Psalms

This weekend I was blessed to witness the Psalms brought to life through the creative arts of dance, vocals and instruments. These visual and audio displays of worship inspired me to take a new journey through the Psalms myself.

Today I began with Psalm 1.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

I found the following song by shanlin16 on YouTube:




What I take away from this psalm is that following God is an ongoing choice. As believers we are tempted constantly to give up and not move in God's direction. Our lives are like winding paths that lead to constant "forks in the road", places of decision where we have to choose God's path or another. In this psalm, God is assuring us that His path is the right one to choose. He is letting us know that there are blessings that await those who opt to walk in His way, and severe consequences for those who do not. Another song that comes to mind is "Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns. This song reminds me that many of these decisions are subtle and gradual based on a series of behavior choices. As believers, we must avoid wandering, but be constantly aware of where we are walking.

Barren Fig Trees

This message is a continuation of the previous message. It was delivered on Sunday January 9, 2011 by pastor Clarence Walker at FACC (Fresh Anointing Christian Center).

Faith in God is paradoxical. You need faith to believe and when it comes to pass, you won't believe it!

Matthew 21:18-22

God has called me to be a barren-fig-tree terminator!
Why?
Because he expects me to terminate ALL that tries to block me from Him!

As stated before, barren fig trees represent hopelessness - no harvest to look forward to.

You cannot get hope from a hopeless situation; that situation needs to DIE!!!

Hopelessness has to die before faith materializes because faith is the substance of things HOPED for!
No hope = No basis for faith

Find the "barren fig trees" in your life. Barren trees speak negative messages. You cancel these by finding out what God says about your situation in His Word.

The Captivation of Faith
Hope - to expect, look forward to

• Not a wish
• not "I think..."

Hope says "It's coming!"

Even if you don't have all the faith you want, God won't let you drown.

A little faith will get you back to your destination.

The Procurement of Faith

Have, hold in hand, take possession of, seize

You have to take possession of faith. That's why it must have substance (foundation, firm trust, assurance).

Faith is the "title deed" that says I am His property.

My problem is I am not exercising my right in the title deed. I am co-owner with God and no one has the right to evict me from my blessings.

Commitment of Faith

Firm Assurance In Trusting Him - I am convinced and convicted by the Truth that what God says, He means.

Investment of Faith

Cannot have faith for something until you have faith in something. What you put your faith in determines the harvest.

Trusting in people (and not in God) not only limits your harvest, but also brings on a curse.

Psalm 28:7 - The Lord is my strength and (impenetrable) shield. He takes the blows for me. My heart trusts in (relies in, and confidently leans on) Him, and I am helped.

Have Faith in God

Message delivered Sunday January 2, 2011 by Pastor Clarence Walker at Fresh Anointing Christian Center.

Scripture reference: Mark 11:12-14, 20

Jesus curses a fig tree, and then later says "Have faith in God." What's up with that?!

Both positive and negative situations are about faith.

How is this about faith?

Fig tree-what we know:

• it's slow-growing (takes time to mature)
• yields 2 crops a year (one in March and one in June) - the first crop yields beautiful leaves and "forerunner" fruit that is smaller in size to announce the larger harvest to come later. The "forerunner" fruit is immature, yet edible

The absence of the forerunner fruit from the fig tree was an indication that there would be no fruit later in the season.

"Just One Fig, Please!"

Jesus was hungry, he wanted to eat the forerunner fruit from the fig tree, but there was none.

The leaves gave the expectation that there was fruit of some kind. The fact that there was no fruit was like the fig tree was saying "Jesus, you cannot fulfill your desires here!" It symbolized hopelessness.

Faith is a fruit. It has substance.

Faith In God

Jesus was just looking for a little fruit. From us, He is looking for just a little faith. He can work with a little faith. He can do nothing with NO faith.

That is why He cursed the fig tree.

Believers cannot be like the fig tree, cursed. It took faith to accept Christ.

The believers prayer: I have faith, but not enough. Lord, help me have more!

Like fruit, faith gives energy. Some faith brings increased faith.

When you don't believe God will save you, it aggravates God.

God is looking for folks who expect Him to do amazing things. He is an amazing God!

Sometimes "impossible" stands between me and my dreams and desires, but God...

Any situation that tells me that God can't fulfill my God-given desire HAS TO DIE!!!

Hope can't live until hopelessness dies.

Faith of Heaven in 2011-Faith Forward: Faith for Your Future

This message was part 3/3 of the Watch Night introduction to faith series. It was delivered by Pastor/Elder J. Ted Reed of Fresh Anointing Christian Center on 12/31/10

Romans 10:17 (according to Pastor Ted)
Faith comes (is developed, GROWS) by hearing from God...

Life-Producing Faith - Matthew 4

• comes from what God is saying
• says "It has to manifest because I believe it and the ONLY way I believe it is because God said it!"

Desire is the Tree of Life which sustains me.

It is OK to be disappointed.

Faith must be tried by God's purpose. We must learn to look at His purpose for the promises He gives us, not just the promise. God has a purpose in His promises. If he has promised us something, He has a great purpose for bringing that promise to pass.

When we find ourselves in trouble, we ought to see it as a P.I.T. (Prophet in Training)

Read about Joseph in Genesis, and remember it's not about me, but God needs someone He can trust...

Faith of Heaven in 2011- What is faith?

Introduction -- Part 2 delivered 12/31/10 by Elder E. Harrigan at FACC Watch Night service

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.

Subtance - faith makes something out of nothing

It is a foundation.

Evidence - You can't percieve it in the natural. It starts with belief.

Mark 11:24 - Therefore whatever I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you will receive them, and you will have them.

It starts with receiving from God what you cannot see.

John 20:22, 27-29

The disciples had to receive the Holy Spirit that they could not see in order to continue the work of Jesus. Although Thomas asked to see evidence that Jesus was who He said He was, Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed".

Faith of Heaven in 2011- Faith to Overcome My Past

This is a series of messages delivered on Friday 12/31, Sunday 1/2/11 and 1/9/11.



The introductory messages, "Faith to Overcome Your Past, Possess Your Present, and Prepare for Your Future", were delivered at Watchnight service by Elder Troy Corbin, Elder Elliot Harrigan, and Elder Ted Reed, all of FACC.



The Sunday messages were delivered by Pastor Clarence Walker of FACC during morning service.

Introduction- Part 1: Faith to Overcome My Past

In 2010, I prepared to win. The emphasis should be on "prepared". Winning is not an overnight process. In order to win, I have to take what I have learned and apply it by FAITH! To do that, I must increase my faith from where it is presently. The first step in this process is to apply what faith I have now to allow me to overcome my pasts.



Scirpture reference: 1 John 5:4

...for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that overcomes the world

OVERCOME -implies a continuous battle; indicates assurance of victory (The victory that overcomes our past is our faith)

The beginning of appropriating my faith is to be honest about where I REALLY am. I can't get grace until I admit the truth.

Faith is always expressed as obedience. I must make a decision to operate in faith. Faith must "hook up" with desire. How bad do I want to be free?

Faith= confession, repentance and obedience

I must agree with the Holy Spirit, confessing disobedience, fear, doubt and unbelief.

Then I must stop dwelling in my failure record. I can analyze it, but I can't STAY there. I have to keep moving.

To walk as the new creature God made me (I got saved when Jesus died):
1) Change my reality through obedience in the Word
2) Develop a winning attitude -- I am a winner!
3) Get to know my true identity in Christ
4) Stop asking what do I have to do; instead say "what do I have to be"
5) Gain control of my emotions, including fear

Phil 3:13-14

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.