Lisa Great

What are you doing with the authority you have been given? You may be asking yourself, what authority have I been given? Many of us do not realize we have been given authority, let alone authority to do what? I think more often than not we think of authority as ruling over, rather than releasing to. Let me explain.

When the word authority is used, many people’s first notion is to think of someone in authority over them. Police officers have been given authority over us; parents are given authority over children; managers are given authority over employees; Presidents are given authority over nations; so authority is usually seen as someone who is over us.

Jesus in Matthew 9 is in a discussion with the Pharisees about telling a paralyzed man that his sins are forgiven. This caused the religious leaders to hear Jesus’s words as blasphemy, because they believed only God could forgiven sins. So, Jesus goes on and says, what is easier to say your sins are forgiven or take up your mat and walk, so Jesus said to the man, take up your mat and walk and the man was healed instantly.

What a powerful healing, what a story, but what is often missed is the reaction of the crowd that witnessed this event. Listen to what they say in Matthew 9:8 “When the crowds witnessed this miracle, they were awestruck. They shouted praises to God because he had given such authority to human beings.”

What authority are they seeing, speaking of that had been given to human beings? They had seen many healings and never made this statement, so it was not the authority to heal. What they saw and heard was a human being given authority to forgive sins. This was revolutionary to them.

Did you know you have been given authority to forgive other people’s sins? Are you exercising the authority of forgiveness you have been given? You have been given authority, not to rule over someone else, but to forgive others as you have been forgiven. This is an authority we need to value and exercise. Www.apostolicresourcenter.org

Walking the main roadway in a downtown city yields sights, sounds and smells you do not get in your everyday location. Even though I have been downtown many times, with various visitors, there is always something new to learn, because of the people I am giving the tour to. I love that a city is alive and reveals more of itself depending on who is with me as we look at it.

The buildings haven’t changed, the stores haven’t shifted, the eateries and drinkeries are still releasing the same music with every step we take. But today I saw something different, because the person I was with felt something in my city I had not felt. He said he felt sadness. He went on to say it feels like hope is lost here.

I pondered his words the whole time we were downtown today. His words colored the way I saw the city. Today I saw people in wheelchairs, more than I have ever seen before down there. I saw the look in older women’s eyes that I had not seen before. I heard the tone of waitresses I had not heard in that way before. My heart began to break as I saw humanity hurting today.

We discussed the sights, sounds and smells of the city and the one word we all agreed humanity needs is love. Not lip service, not physical, but genuine love. Love that is of come, comes from God but flows through us. Then I was reading Psalm 123 moments ago and it says…

“The way I love you is like the way a servant wants to please his master, the way a maid waits for the orders of her mistress. We look to you, our God, with passionate longing to please you and discover more of your mercy and grace.”

Love is not transactional it is reciprocal. Love heals broken places in us that the one in front of us did not break. Love sounds different anything else on earth. Love motivates us to do things for love we would never do for money. Love compels me to please the Lord, to serve people, to submit to everyone, not out of duty, but out of love.

I love my city and I realized my city is in need of love. God’s love through humanity. Love that wants to be generous with a listening ear, a smile as we pass by or some financial gift to give a small hand up. Love looks Iike someone and today love looked like us three in this city. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

Your words are powerful! They build up or tear down; they open or they close; they add value or take something away; they increase what they speak into or they decrease it. This is not to scare you, this is to empower you, to remind you, your words, my words are powerful.

When confronted about words we have spoken that were not beneficial to the hearer, it is important to confess, declare yourself guilty and accept forgiveness. Don’t deny it, don’t hide from it, face it head on, quickly and be released from those past mistakes, so you can chart a new words course going forward.

What do you see when you look at your nation, your city, your community, your church, your company, your family? What you see is usually what you say, but what if what you saw changed so what you said changed? Anyone can see the dirt, the divorce, the disaster, the destruction, but what if you saw the reconciliation, the redemption, the revival, the renaissance? Language follows sight.

I have been wondering if we have created our situations by the words we have spoken. When we see problems if we only speak problems we establish the problem with our words, but what if we saw solutions, spoke life and when we entered the location, our good news released beauty not ashes?

Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns!”

What if when your feet landed in a location, good news began to beautify every destination? Your words are like footprints and what you speak has the power to beautify wherever you walk or stand. What are you bringing into a room? Www.apostolicresourececenter.org

PRAYER KEEPS YOUR SWORD SHARP! I was awakened this morning with these words reverberating in my spirit. Now we know according to Ephesians 6 our battle is not against flesh and blood, so the sword is not physical, it is a spiritual sword. It is as Paul describes the sword of the spirit which is the word of God.

Prayer keeps our swords sharp because we are told to pray without ceasing. Not because we are in a never ending war, but because it keeps us alert, so we are not caught off guard.

I remember when my son, who was very much into the Marvel movies when he was younger, wanted me to join him and his best friend to go and see the Marvel movie called Infinity War. I had been to other Marvel movies with him, so I said sure, I would love to join you two. I sat in that movie theatre for two hours and watched a battle from start to finish.

When we walked out of that movie theatre, with no closure on the battle, I was so irritated. I told my son and his friend, that was the dumbest movie I have ever seen. I continued by saying, what was the point of this movie? I mean I was so annoyed by the waste of two hours of my time.

The two of them looked at me and my son said, “Mom, the movie is called Infinity War.” Like I was supposed to know that it would be a war that did not end. We laugh about it today, but it was not funny at the time. I was irritated, because fighting for infinity is not what we are called to do. We fight to win, not for the sake of fighting. There must be an end.

I have met people who are always in a battle, it is an infinity war in the spirit they are fighting, and it is not supposed to be this way. Prayer keeps our swords sharp, so we can win, not just fight. Jesus paid the price for our victory over the battle. Prayer keeps your sword sharp so you can win battles not live with infinity wars. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

Tables, so many types of tables. Card tables for playing games with friends; banquet tables for dining with a large group of people; tables in the wilderness where manna is served; tables in the presence of your enemies (Psalm 23); tables in coffee shops to work away from home; tables in restaurants for casual or special occasions. Tables, so common and yet so powerful.

There is an anointing on tables right now. Tables of reconciliation, we even say come meet me at the table or pull up a seat at the table. Passover was a table where Jesus sat and ate with His disciples and uttered those famous words, “Take and eat this is my body broken for you. Then after supper He took the cup and said the new covenant of my blood shed for you.” It as at a table the New Covenant was inaugurated.

There is another table we do not hear much about but is extremely significant for those who find it, it is Wisdom’s Table. Proverbs 9 says, “Wisdom has built herself a palace upon seven pillars to keep it secure. She has made ready a banquet feast and the sacrifice has been killed. She has mingled her wine, and the table’s all set. She has sent out her maidens, crying out from the high place, inviting everyone to come and eat until they’re full. Whoever wants to know me and receive my wisdom, come and dine at my table and drink of my wine.”

God is anointing Tables and we are invited to find our seat at the table. When you come to the table you will find food and drink, fellowship and fun, but you will also hear Wisdom speak. The table is not just for talking it is for listening, for it is at the table that Wisdom reveals truth that we need, and it is found at the table. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

Repentance is changing the way we think, it is not behavior modification. The way we think manifests in the way we behave. This is why the Bible says, a child is known by their actions (Proverbs 20:11). This is why people say they are good people, for they are not hurting anyone, their actions are not causing harm, but they still need to repent, because it is not their actions, it is the way they think.

Repentance is not for unbelievers only, yes they need to change the way they think about Jesus, who He is and what He came to do. But so do Christians, and honestly, we who are believers, can be the ones who have a harder time changing the way we think than unbelievers do. We think we know the truth, so what is there to change about the way we think?

Jesus came preaching, Repent for the kingdom of God is here/at hand. This message was spoken to a nation who knew Yahweh, who went to Temple, who attended the Feasts, who practiced the Law, who believed they knew the truth. Why do you think this message to repent for the kingdom of God is at hand was so hard for them to accept?

The same is true for us today. We are being invited to repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Our thinking is hindering us more than we realize.

I was praying this morning and the Holy Spirit had me repent for not possessing what Christ has paid for. Tears fell down my face as I received a glimpse into what we have access to vesus what we have actually possessed. This is what I was invited to repent for on behalf of the body of Christ.

Genesis 22:17 says “Blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.” We have been granted access to possess for it has already been paid for. We must change the way we think, for there is more access granted than we have possessed. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

We as people were made for adventure. There is something innate in us as humanity that lives for a life of adventure. Some people like high adrenaline adventure like race car driving, bungy jumping, cliff diving or Olympic level down hill skiing. Others like lower impact adventures like fishing, water skiing, hot air balloon riding or even a sporting event.

Adventure, activity is built inside of us. If we are not active, we say we are bored. Boredom is not what we were made for, we were created for adventure, for advancement, for movement. This is by the very design of God, for the Creator of heaven and earth rested on the sixth day, He did not stop creating on the sixth day.

Psalm 139 says, “You knit me together in my mother’s womb…Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” The Creator has created every human being who has ever been conceived. Isaiah 9 says, “And of the increase of HIs government there will be no end. An ever increasing government is the work of an active God.

John 10 says, My sheep hear my voice and a strangers voice they will not follow. Not only is our God Creator, He is also a voice. The book of Revelation says, His voice is like the sound of many waters. A voice that continues to speak to us even today, a voice that will never be silenced. He is still speaking and He will continue to speak.

We are made in the image of a God who is not static, but active; who is not silent, but speaks. This is our God and this is why you were not meant to be static, which is why you do not like to be bored.

The question I have is, do we create warfare, drama, conflict, in order to avoid boredom? If we would read our Bible, we would get to know our God and in getting to know Him we see Him and He is the greatest adventure. His purpose for your life, His design for your desires, He loves to activate you. Even waiting on God is active, not passive.

Don’t settle for a lesser activity like conflict, arise to see, hear and engage in the activity of God on earth. You have a job to do here and now, but you must spend time with God to discover what He prepared ahead of time for you to do. I promise it will be the best adventure of your life. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

What you believe is what you will see, hear, and find. If we believe lies we will find lies and spread lies. We will not think it is a lie, because we believe it, so to us it is the truth or a fact, but in reality it is a lie whether we realize it or not.

There is someone I know and they continually share proven lies about some things on Facebook. I am not one that comments when I see these things, but they do make me ponder them. I was thinking of this person’s latest post, which was not an original but rather a share of someone else’s post. The post was not the truth, it was a lie about a public figure.

I was thinking about that post this morning and the Holy Spirit whispered to me, that is not the only lie they are believing. I thought, how true that is. We do not just believe a lie about someone we have never met, but we have other lies we believe as well.

What I have learned is that what we believe we will see, we will hear, we will find. If we are lovers of truth, we will find truth, seek truth, pursue truth, hear truth and listen to truth, for we love the truth. Proverbs 6 says it this way, “For truth is a bright beam of light shining into every area of your life,
instructing and correcting you to discover the ways to godly living.” Truth is light and it is not limited to one area of life, it affects them all.

Whether we believe lies or the truth, the choice is ours. We can believe the lies we believe are truth and then we deceive ourselves, which is the worst deception. But the truth is, when you hear truth, even when it hurts, humbles, corrects or directs, if you love truth you will submit to the truth.

Our response to truth reveals whether we love truth or prefer to live with lies. Jesus is the Truth. He is the standard, the plumb line and in the words of a song I heard yesterday, The Cross Cannot Be Undone. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I pray you love truth no matter the personal cost to you, for it will set you free. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

Before the sun rose, the invitation to wake up came. Out the door with the dog I go. Not a movement on the streets, not a dog barking in backyards, just the sound of birds beginning to sing their song to the Lord. If only I knew their language, i can only imagine they are saying with me, He is Risen, He is Risen indeed.

The moon was bright this morning, the air was crisp in such a good way. A very gentle breeze blew across my face as I smiled from ear to ear thinking of this day so many year ago, when Luke 24 says…

“Very early that Sunday morning, the women made their way to the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared. (10)Among them were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Jesus’ mother Mary. Arriving at the tomb they discovered that the huge stone covering the entrance had been rolled aside, so they went in to look. But the tomb was empty. The body of Jesus was gone!”

He is Risen, He is Risen indeed. He is alive, He hears when we speak, He speaks when we listen. Oh to serve a living God there is truly nothing like it. People all over the world will be going to gather in a church building this morning. From accapella singing to full band songs, the God of all the earth will hear His creation declaring His name today.

From the first sunrise in the East to the last Sunset in the West today, the Lord of Glory will tell His story of how He conquered sin, hell and the grave. He finished what He started. He did what He promised. What a mighty God we serve. Happy Resurrection Day! Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

SILENCE is possibly the loudest word in the English language. Silence is not a location like the beach, it is not a destination like death, it is posture, a position, we enter into. It is not something external, it is internal. People may not speak, people may go sit in the woods or on a lake fishing, but the silence is absent when internally the voices are so loud.

Historically today was the most silent day in history. The crucifixion of Christ was yesterday, the resurrection of Christ is tomorrow, but what is it about today, a day of silence. People were stunned at His death, they were in awe of His life, they pondered His possible resurrection, but no guarantees and probably more doubt that belief. Silence escaped them as voices inside of them pondered, wondered, questioned.

Yahweh is the God of silence. Silence is a gift from a very generous God. He loves to declare peace be still to the storms raging inside of us. He loves to silence the voices that are lying to us. He enjoys ordering our inner world, so we can live with silence. It is a truth many do not know but some actually enjoy on the daily. Silence.

Psalm 46 says, “God is in the midst of his city, secure and never shaken. At daybreak his help will be seen with the appearing of the dawn. When the nations are in uproar with their tottering kingdoms, God simply raises his voice, and the earth begins to disintegrate before him. Here he comes! The Commander! The mighty Lord of Angel Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob fights for us! Pause in his presence.”

Psalm 46 continues, “Surrender your anxiety. Be still and realize that I am God. I am God above all the nations, and I am exalted throughout the whole earth. Here he stands! The Commander! The mighty Lord of Angel Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob fights for us! Pause in his presence.”

The noise outside of us is not the issue, it is the noise inside of us that causes anxiety, fear, doubt, but how do we silence the noise inside of us? We read the Bible until we get to know the nature and character of God. In this knowing we learn to trust Him and trusting God is where the internal silence comes from. Trust silences the voices. I pray you learn to trust, for silence is a gift from our God. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org