Relax Your Grip, Open Your Hand

 Relax Your Grip, Open Your Hand

by Pastor Roy Esposito

2 Chronicles 20:12-17 – Jehosaphat
John 5:19
Judges 6:1-16 – Gideon
2 Corinthians 4:6-7 – Vessels of clay get broken so the treasure of Light can breakthrough.

2 Chronicles 20:17-30 – God gives the specifics for victory:

  1. Position yourselves to listen
  2. Stand still
  3. See
  4. Don’t fear or be anxious
  5. It’s coming down tomorrow at the Ascent of Ziz.

Verse 18 – Jehoshaphat bows his head: “Worried” king to “Worshipping” king
Hallel Praise – to rave; to boast; to be clamorously foolish; to act madly before God.
Verse 20 – Prophetic/ Apostolic mantle
Verse 21 – Tehellah Praise – a spontaneous, prophetic song that speaks what is on God’s heart.

Psalm 22:8 – God came in their midst and set ambushes against the enemy.

John 4:23-24 (Passion)

  1. Truth -clear sight and discernment
  2. Spirit — The graces of divine empowerment

Ekklesia – The “called”
Matthew 22:14 – “Many are called but few are chosen…”
Passion – “For everyone is invited to enter in, but few respond in excellence.”
Chosen – Eklektoi – worthy, pure, excellent
Excellence – done passionately and to the best of one’s ability.

The ” New Song” –

  1. the sound of God’s unquestioned authority sung-through His people.
  2. Accompanied by a “Death-knell” Selah over the enemy.
  3. Declares, “God is present” in Zion

Revelations 14:5 (Passion) – a song “…whose words are always true and flawless.”

Grace to Listen, Grace to See

Grace to Listen, Grace to See

by Pastor Roy Esposito

Romans 12:3

Romans 12:6

Rev 21:15

Eph 4:7

Jer 29:13, Prov 8:17 — Seek/Find

Heb 4:16  —   “Find” grace  — implies seeking it.

New Grace —  More than a deeper understanding of God’s unmerited favor.

                       A fresh infusion of Divine Power to fulfill our destiny.

                                 David’s Qualification for Kingdom Leadership:

                  1. Loved God  2. Respected family  3. Did the daily tasks set before him

                                                    Psalms of David:

A vocabulary of God’s desires written on David’s heart and prophetically uttered through spontaneous worship which ushered in the Presence of God to the hearers.

2Chron 20:1-5

                                                 All Enemies Seek 5 things:

     1. The Land  2. The Harvest  3. To break the generational covenant  4.The worship  5. The Destiny

Molech –“To ascend to the throne.”

Lucifer “The anointed cherub that covers the throne.”  —   Ezk 28:14

Ezk 28:16 – Lucifer, cast down by God — left the throne uncovered.

Ps 22:3  – God enthroned on the praises of His people.

                                           3 Enemy Armies

Ammonites — Represent sexual perversion and perversion of the Truth.

Moabites —    Represent xenophobia: suspicion, rejection, and hatred of people of different cultures

Mt Seir   —    Represent an Erosion of faith

2Chron 20: 5-15  — Jahaziel  — “God will cause to see”  —   “Listen!”  —  ” See!”

“There is a grace coming available that will allow us to see into the realm of the Spirit (Heaven) where there is no debate about God’s authority.”  — PR

                     Jesus didn’t think logically, He thought optically.  —  Jn 5:19

The Prayer of Groaning Honesty

The Prayer of Groaning Honesty

“Everything happening, great or small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message.” – Malcolm Muggeridge

“Our path toward God should grow from questions rather than certainty, discovery rather than doctrine, and the experience of living rather than academic study.”  — Margret Silf

Belief Systems — a desire for certainty

Faith – “mystery” discovered

“Faith is the journey of discovery that draws me constantly beyond my certainties and toward the “mystery” that will always be beyond my understanding.” – PR

The “Dance of Creation” – Discovering God within the paradox of:
Light/ Darkness — Action/Rest  — Sorrow/Joy  — Life/Death
Jeremiah 29:13, Proverbs 8:17  – An open and passionate heart will find God
Romans 12:2 (Passion)

  1. Process of Time
  2. Prayer of Distress
  3. The pursuit of His Presence

Exodus —  Chronicles 2-5 – Moses – “To draw out”
Matthew 4:8
Elohim – The “Sublime” One — The God in the liminality
Exodus 3:3-4 – Turns to look

“If we live our lives faithfully, trusting God, we will without ever noticing it, grow into the answers to our questions.” – Rainer Maria Rilke

PR’s translation:  “If we give ourselves to God’s process, the answers become revealed through what we become.”

Isaiah 28:10 – Precept upon precept
Exodus 2:23-25 – “Died – Cried – Sighed” – GROANED
Luke 11:38 – Jesus groaned at Lazarus death and resurrection was the result!
Romans 8:26 – Spirit makes intercession with groaning 
Matthew 7: 22-23 – giftings and anointings are not enough!
Psalm 12:1 – “Help, Lord !!”

Exodus 2:24-25

Praise

PRAISE

by Pastor Marie Esposito

Give God permission to change your life right now. Worship is my warfare- my praise is a weapon
I WILL bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth Psalm 34
PRAISE elevates us – PRAISE lifts us up
PRAISE raises us up – PRAISE aligns us
PRAISE OPENS A PORTAL TO AN OPEN HEAVEN
PRAISE causes us to ascend to where He lives in the kingdom of the Most HIGH GOD
PRAISE lifts our vision to SEE HIM
PRAISE is a place we live with an
ATTITUDE OF THANKSGIVING- He inhabits our praise
We need to be filled with Praise to Him
so we are filled WITH HIM
AT THE READY…
AT THE READY…
AT THE READY…
All things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
ALL FOR HIS PURPOSE
TO DISPLAY HIS MAJESTY
THROUGH US

Holy Spirit is The Resident in my heart, in the inner court, expressing His love to me and through me.
He is not a visitor.

Let the high praises of God be in my mouth and a two edged sword in my Hand. why? To execute vengeance on the nations, to bind their kings with chains, their nobles with iron fetters.
This is our honor as the saints of the Lord. Psalm 149

HE GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER AND THE ENEMY GETS SMALLER AND SMALLER UNTIL THE ENEMY DISAPPEARS FROM VIEW AND ALL WE SEE IS HIS HEART OF BEAUTY.

Psalm 119:165- 7 times a day and all day long I praise YOU because of your righteous decrees.
Great peace have they who love your law and nothing shall by any means offend them or make them stumble.
STAY BEYOND OFFENSE. GO HIGHER.
Offenses hinder our advancement

FORGIVE FORGIVE FORGIVE

Release the offense and the offender as well. REST IN HIS ARMS [God] AND SEE THE OFFENDER IN HIS ARMS AS WELL. – Matt 11:6
Are you sharing the true gospel?
Have you been persecuted for righteousness sake? Offended because you are a Christian?
Mocked? Rejected? Misunderstood? Pushed aside? Disrespected? Accused? Cast Aside?
Whipped? Beaten? Spit on? Stoned? Crucified?
Hebrews 12: 3 – We have not yet resisted unto blood.

Do not hold grudges. Keep short accounts.
Philippians 4:8 – Whatsoever is true and honest and just and pure, and lovely, virtuous or praiseworthy; think on these things.
Let heaven fill your thoughts. Colossians 3:2

Forgive forgive forgive

We say: ABBA WE BELONG TO YOU, YOU ARE OUR DELIGHT AND OUR DESIRE.
KEEP GOING. DON’T QUIT.

We praise Him because we value Him!
Praise is the element of celebration that can transport us into the throne room of God right in the midst of the place we find ourselves in.

God is looking for true worshipers who worship Him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
YADAH- means to praise with extended, lifted up hands. SURRENDERED TO HIM

JUDAH – means praise- it also means to throw or shoot a stone or arrow at your enemy.

PRAISE AND WORSHIP ARE OUR STRONGEST WEAPONS OF WARFARE.

Resting in His victory in the midst of praises brings His Presence in peace. Then we SEE HIM.
Satan hates it. He wants us to worship him

We give thanks for each and every aspect of God’s nature and character. Right where we are now.

As we worship with our hands outstretched our daily provision is released.

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING ARE THE OPPOSITE OF WORRY AND ANXIETY.

THERE IS A FOUNTAIN AND A WELL
DEEP INSIDE YOU.

Embrace the cost and experience the real fruit of praise all the time.

Psalm 134 a song to bring you higher… All his loving priests who serve and sing, come and sing your song of blessing to God. Come and stand before him in the house of God throughout the night watch, lifting up your hands in holy worship; come and bless the Lord! May the Lord, whom you worship, the mighty Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion’s glory!

BE RENEWED AND STRENGTHENED AND FORTIFIED in your personal relationships, in your personal trusts, and in your personal victories through ALMIGHTY GOD WHO IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED!!!

Yes! We Will!

Yes! We Will!

by Pastor Roy Esposito

Matthew 10:7-8(Passion
Romans 12:6 – Use the proportion of faith you have to prophesy
John 6:63 – Jesus’ words à àà Spirit and Life
Matthew 10:11-14(Passion) – Vs. 13(AMP)
Matthew 28:20
Genesis 8:8-9
John 14: 27 – Jesus gives His peace
Acts 5:15-16(Passion) – Peter’s shadow heals the sick

“Your shadow will always release whatever overshadows you.”

Luke 9:1 – Power and authority given to 12 disciples
Power – The ability or capacity to act or perform effectively.
Authority – The capacity to command, enforce and exact obedience over any opposing force.
Romans 8: 14 – mature children are Spirit-led
1 John 3:2 – Christ revealed
Revealed (Greek) – phaneroo – in true character

“The spiritual fuel of transformation is a combination of our zeal for God and His Grace.” – PR

Luke 5:17 – Power for a specific purpose.
Next step in spiritual maturity – “Lord, what is it you want done in this circumstance?”
Human Prophesying – Deducing what God wants and commands from a natural perspective.
Spirit generated Faith Prophesying – Speaking a word that releases a solution:
Aggressive intercession instead of condemning hostility. – Redemptive, not destructive.
Isaiah 6:8 – “Who will go for us? Here we are, Lord. send us!”

Intercession: The Ministry of Reconciliation

Intercession: The Ministry of Reconciliation

by Pastor Roy Esposito

Immature prayer – we try to change God’s mind

Mature prayer – we ask God to help change us and cede control to Him believing in His goodness and love.

Mark 9:23 – All things now become possible!

Three Goals of Mature Prayer

  1. To help reconcile ourselves with the human condition of life.
  2. For courage and humility to repent of sin.
  3. To recover a sense of awe of the intricacies of God’s creation and our part in it.

Thirst

It doesn’t have to be a blue iris
it could be weeds in a vacant lot
Or a few small stones
Just pay attention, then try to patch a few words together
Don’t make them elaborate
This isn’t a contest but a doorway to thanks!
It’s an entrance into a silence in which another’s voice may speak.
– Mary Oliver

John 14:13 – The works Jesus did and greater!

Romans 10:17 – “Faith come by hearing the Word…” – Spirit to spirit hearing

Belief systems – experiences, perceptions, and deductions

Faith – a gift of the Spirit – 1 Corinthians 12:9

2 Corinthians 5:18 – Ministers of Reconciliation

Reconcile – to someone or something consistent and compatible with another – GOD

Intercession – Paga (Greek) – encounter – a place of meeting.

Jesus interceded and became the “meeting place” where humanity met God. – PR

1 Corinthians 15:55(Passion)

Psalm 5:3 “…every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on Your altar and wait for Your fire to fall on my heart.” – King David

Romans 6:4-9

Romans 8:10-11(Passion)

“Ministers of Reconciliation are dispersal units of the life-force of Jesus Christ.” – PR

Colossians 1:21-27(Passion)

Faith

Faith

by Pastor Marie Esposito

Faith is what you hope for, what you cannot see, faith is the conviction that what He says will be.

Faith is action – perseverance – expectation

Like a runner who starts with ½ mile slowly and increases every day until they are able to run 4 miles quickly.

Take faith as your Wrap around shield… Ephesians 6

Faith- Hebrews 11 Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen 

Faith is based on trust in something

With God it is:

the character of God, 

the wisdom of God 

and the ways of God.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. 

Where will your faith take you? 

Ephesians 3:14-21 TPT – Paul prays for love to overflow.

14 So I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, 15 the perfect Father of every father and child[a] in heaven and on the earth. 16 And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power.
17 Then, by CONSTANTLY USING YOUR FAITH, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life.
18–19 Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!
20 Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.
21 Now we offer up to God all the glorious praise that rises from every church in every generation through Jesus Christ—and all that will yet be manifest through time and eternity. Amen!

It starts with prayer and It ends up in praise and worship!

FAITH IS  …

  • An action 
  • A gift
  • A fruit
  • Something to use

Take it… wrap around shield  Ephesians 6
Every breath, every heartbeat, is immersed in His grace through faith
Grace alone empowers…Ephesians 3:8

Faith simply means believing that something is true, and then committing our lives to it. In the Bible, “faith” means believing in God, and in what Christ has done for us to make our salvation possible–and then committing ourselves to Him.  Faith isn’t a vague hope that God might exist; it is a definite belief that what the Bible says about Him is true. The Bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). 

( Matthew 8:13 )
( Matthew 9:2 )
( Mark 5:34 )
( Mark 5:36 )
( Luke 18:42 )

“Your faith has healed you.”
Ephesians 1:19 – CHRIST’S FAITHFULNESS.
GOD’S PLAN all from the book of Ephesians.

His perfect plan,
His unfolding plan,
His detailed plan
the plans of His heart.
God’s plan was completely fulfilled in Christ. 
Ephesians 4:4
Ephesians 4:13
Ephesians 4:15-… ALL OUR DIRECTION AND MINISTRIES WILL FLOW FROM CHRIST AND LEAD US DEEPER INTO HIM, THE ANOINTED HEAD OF HIS BODY, THE CHURCH.

God sees us:
Ephesians 3:17 CONSTANTLY USING YOUR FAITH, THE LIFE OF CHRIST WILL BE RELEASED DEEP INSIDE YOU AND THE RESTING PLACE OF HIS LOVE WILL BECOME THE VERY SOURCE AND ROOT OF YOUR LIFE
Ephesians 4:21- THE ULTIMATE REALITY IS EMBODIED IN JESUS!
Ephesians 5:1- WALK SURRENDERED TO THE EXTRAVAGANT LOVE OF CHRIST…
Ephesians 6:10
Ephesians 6:16

What Am I Becoming?

What Am I Becoming?

by Pastor Roy Esposito

Romans 6:23
Sin — The expectation of death.
Death — The concept of taking life; a wasting away

John 1:4 – “In Him was LIFE –” ZOE
Zoe — The principal of Life

Galatians 4:19 — Christ FORMED
Formed — 1. Mor-fah-oo– an inner change of reality 2. Schema — a semblance of the original

Mark 1:16-17 (Passion) — “— I will transform you into men who catch people –“

How to Identify a Disciple of Christ

  1. John 13:35 (Passion) — love demonstrated
  2. Put s faith into action — Galatians 6:1-9 (Passion)
  3. Fulfills the duties of a Minister of Reconciliation — 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

Ephesians 4:26-27 — ” Be angry and sin not!”
Proverbs 4:4

Romans 5:12 — Sin: a doorway to death

“When you get down in the mud to wrestle a pig, you both get dirty but the pig likes it!” — LBJ

1 Corinthians 5:6 — leaven
Luke 6:14-16
John 12:16 – Judas: a thief
Acts 7:60 — Stephen stoned

2 Timothy 3:5 — Christian Pharisees
Love — the power of godliness

Godly Judgment -- a balance of Ethics and Wisdom. 

Questions: "What Am I Becoming?"
          "Do I carry the sweet fragrance of the Savior or the acrid stench of hell?"

The Gift of “Night Vision”

The Gift of “Night Vision”
by Pastor Roy Esposito

1 Cor 12:10 — The Gift of Discerning of Spirits — The ability to detect the true source of circumstances or motives of people.

  1. Desire and ask God for it. 2. Allow by yielding to God

Allowing/Yielding — 1. Trusting in God’s good intentions for hope and a future of blessings — Jer 29:11-13
2. Staying attentive to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Rapid change >> Uncertainty >> Anxiety >> Stress >> Irrational Thiunking >> Irrational Actions

2Cor 10:5 — Taking irrationality captive to the Truth of Christ

1 Cor 2:6-16 (Passion) — God’s revealing the keys to “mysteries” He’s prepared and ordained for this time.

“God doesn’t hide things from us but for us.” — Rick Joyner

“Pitfalls can occur through the tedium of daily life wherein the Holy Things become Common and thereby lose their power for transformation. So stay alert !!” — PR

The Gift of Discerning of Spirits — the ability to perceive the obscure and concealed things of God: To see the hidden things (Oscura) in order to not be blinded by (Tinieblas) evil.

Darkness — Oscura — hidden
Tinieblas — Blindness

1 Cor 2:16 – The “Mind of Christ” — Knows fully the things of God. It perceives God’s instructions and “sees” clearly through life’s obscurity.

Golgatha — The Place of the Skull — 1. Where Jesus was crucified. 2. Where our old mindsets must be crucified.

Mindsets — Attitudes, thought patterns, random external thoughts

2Cor 10:5-6 — ” Every thought that enters our mind is alive and wants to remain so. We must put them to death to become alive.” — PR

1 Cor 2:15 — Spirit man discerns “all things.” — The good wolf from the evil one!

Rom 14:23b (Passion) — anything not springing from faith is sin!

Rom 5:12 (Passion) — Death is the result of sin.

“Unsurrendered sin creates in us the capacity to absorb death.” — PR

People learn to adjust to the world they live in.

Old Nature — learns to live with the expectation of death. — the concept of “taking life.”

Jn 1:4 — In Jesus — ” Zoe” — The principle or concept of life — the reality of being alive in God.

Eternal Life — Not just in duration of time but in the quality of the life lived.

The Sacrament of the Present Moment — Jean-Pierre Caussade

He’s the Hope that Holds Me

by Pastor Marie Esposito

He’s the Hope that Holds Me

Psalm 91:1,2,4

Psalm 91:1,2,9-10

Psalm 92 – “Your anointing has made me strong and mighty.  You’ve empowered my life for triumph by pouring fresh oil over me.”

Anointed One- Disciplined One – Creative One

God’s purpose

God’s Intention

John 3:16

Colossians 1:28

Ephesians 3:10

Matthew 6:6

Isaiah 40:31

Eagles catch the updraft

Psalm 138:8

Philippians 1:6

Colossians 3:2

Philippians 4

Proverbs 4:23

The anointing comes so that we can discipline ourselves to speak creatively into a situation and set the captives free. -JM

In the Shadow

Transformed

Transfigured

Philippians 4:12-13

Proverbs 20:27

WHO HE IS

HE IS BEAUTIFUL

AT the beach:

How deep do you want to go with Him?

The stillness of silence

Revelation 8:1-5

Revelation 8:1

The silence of the awe of God – the enormity of and the revelation of His Majesty which brings fullness to God’s work. 

WE WANT THAT FULLNESS.