Prepare Yourself For God

I wrote this back in 2006. But it has been on my heart for the last few days. I felt like sharing it with you. I cannot stress how important it is that we be prepared. The Fire of the Holy Ghost, the move of God will NOT fall on an empty altar, on people who cannot get over themselves enough to set aside their time and seek God. Church, we've tried everything. But for the most part, not much has changed. Not many have a burden to pray. Not many are concerned even though they have loved ones on their way to hell. We must repent of our own wickedness, complacency, and unconcern, our UNBELIEF which is the driving force behind all other sins, and let God break us. Ask Him to help us see ourselves as He does. We must prepare ourselves, we must do it now. There is so little time left.

Mat 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mat 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

We are all very familiar with the word "repent" but what exactly does that word mean? How do these scriptures in Matthew 3 apply to me and you? When you consider the Word of God says the Lord changes not, he's the same yesterday, today, and forever. I must believe it and understand how it applies to my life. On Judgment Day He won't be calling witnesses forward to testify of any good or bad deeds I have done. This word is what I will face. He will look at me and by his grace and through the faith he has given me, and by the power of his Holy Spirit, I intend for him to see HIMSELF in me. Then he can't say I don't know you, depart. If I spend time with him now, seeking his face, and learning his voice, he'll never be able to deny me.

What is real and true repentance? There are three Greek words (two as verbs) used in the New Testament in regard to repentance. First, "metamelomai" (Mat_27:3). It means to change your mind, with regret and remorse for sin, but not necessarily a change of heart or behavior. You've done wrong, and you see it, and regret it. One example of this type of repentance is Judas Iscariot. Then there is the second, "metanoeo" meaning to change one's mind and purpose as the result of repentance after knowledge of sin. I see what I did hurt you and determine not to do it again. But, third, "Metanoia" (noun) is true repentance. The parable of the Prodigal Son is a good example of this kind of repentance. (Luk_15:11-32) He goes the wrong way, loses everything good his father gave him, gets used and abused by the world. He hits rock bottom and realizes his error, remembers his father's love and provision, and goes home, terribly sorry, ready to assume the position of servant, knowing he has sinned grievously against his father and God. Knowing he is unworthy of being the son anymore. But his father is such a picture of the heart of God when he saves someone. He doesn't condemn or criticize, he welcomes with open arms and restores his son.

In Verse 2, John is saying repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He goes on to say prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight! What does all that mean?

First we have to realize God is sending His Word, He's about to do something never before done. His Son is about to come into this world, to this people enslaved in darkness. They live all their lives in fear and bondage, dreading death. God's about to change everything. Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, the messenger says. Folks, what you've been doing isn't working so well. Look around you, see the destruction, see the misery, the bondage, the hopelessness, the famine in the land for the true Word of God. He had been silent for 400 years. There had to be preparation. To prepare means to adapt or qualify something or someone for a particular purpose, service or use. To make ready, provide something for someone's use, to establish, or appoint something or someone for a particular service, or reason. To make all things ready, taking the necessary measures to be ready for service when called upon. You know the call is going to come, you don't know when, but you know you must be ready.

The army is trained and prepared for war. They didn't get that way sitting on their hands. When you plant a garden, you prepare the ground to receive the seed. You take a tiller and turn and break up the ground, you get the rocks out, the weeds out, you rake it and smooth it and fertilize it. This is what we have to do to our hearts to prepare them for God's word and will if we expect to grow and bear fruit. Else the seed of His Word will die under the clods of hardness in our hearts. We have to recognize if there's any area of resistance in our hearts to obedience to his word, whether it's a habit we don't want to stop, or a change we don't want to make, or are having trouble making, He can give us all the help we need. But we must cooperate with him and let him have his way. Frequently and regularly and prayerfully expose our hearts to his word, because he said whoever falls on his word will be broken. (Luk_20:18)

Jer 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

His word, when you yield to it, and pray for understanding of it, has an amazing effect on the heart. We are prepared for the service God wants us to do by knowledge and understanding of him through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives, who reveals to us his word. His word is still crying in the wilderness of sin this world is to us, prepare the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight. He won't send his presence, and his holy word to a bunch of self absorbed, selfish people who aren't willing to receive and yield to it. He sends the call out for mercy. He gives everyone a chance. Grace is here and now, but not forever. That's why he says "Today if you can hear his voice, harden not your heart." That's why he warned his disciples not to cast their pearls before swine. The word of God is precious. His presence is so needed among his people. Pigs are selfish animals who are also happy wallowing in filth. That sounds like the sinner I used to be. Content with sin. Thank God for mercy and for not leaving me in the dark.

There is a nightclub behind my house. My back yard runs up against the wall of this club. On the weekends, when I come in from and church and come back here in my room, my little sanctuary, to get on the computer and study my Father's word and pray, I can hear the thump thump of the music. I have been praying for him to shut that place down. There are fights in the parking lot, and in the building. People get out in the parking lot cursing and talking ugly and my children playing in the back yard can hear in the warm weather when they are outside. Last weekend, someone fired a gun in the parking lot. When I go by there on my way home, it grieves my heart to see the parking lot nearly always full on the weekends. Packed like sardines. And then I go to the house of the Lord and see so many empty seats. So many vacant parking spots. It literally pains my heart.

We need God's fiery presence in our churches, in our vessels. In our homes. In our lives. In our hearts. We need to prepare ourselves, sanctify ourselves, wake up and realize the Lord is coming soon, and there is still so much to be done. We need to be fasting and praying and calling on God, drawing his attention to us, saying, Lord, I'll be willing, send me. I'll do what I can to prepare myself, I'll shut the TV off, I'll quit surfing the internet, I'll open your word and get on my knees and pray. I'll be willing to share the grief in your heart over the sins of the people, I will repent of not caring enough for the lost around me, pour your compassion for them in my heart. It's not naturally in me to care. Help me see. I'll be willing to suffer my flesh to hunger. I'll turn off the music and get alone and pray. God, help us as his people to look around and get disgusted with the complacency and the empty seats. I get jealous for the House of God when I see the malls are full, the clubs are full, and God's house is neglected and so many seats need souls to be in them.

Something I wonder about is this: we say we as God's people want his presence among us, we want his anointing on our lives. I've never seen a lot I have read in the Word of God in action. I've not seen the signs following the believer-this one included, that the word says there are to be. I WANT TO. I'm tired of it, I'm not content to sit still and do nothing about it. I want to see the glory of God fill his house like I've heard it has. I want this vessel of mine which is his temple to be filled with the glory of God. (The glory of God is his Son Jesus Christ, manifested and reigning unchallenged in my body)

Heb 1:1 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

He holds me up by the word of his power. He can guide me and change me by the word of his power. If I pray and seek his face and sanctify myself as much as I can, he will do what I can't. I can't baptize me with the Holy Ghost. He can. He promised. If I'll prepare the way. If I'll make his path straight and get down to business with him and cleanse myself from all that I can and bring the rest to him and say Lord, help me. Here it is. Take it. I repent. God, you're coming soon, there's so many lost and hurting souls. Help me care more. I want the single eye, focused on the kingdom of God. The desires of God's heart.

Mat 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few;

Mat 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.

Joh 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

How much whiter are the fields now? Has there ever been a time when his presence and glory in the House are more needed? Wouldn't it be awesome to walk in his house when it was time for church and see people praying at the altar pleading with God to send the fire, and send in lost souls, rather than standing around talking and chit chatting until the service starts? Where are we as God's people focusing our time and energy and assets? What are we doing with what God has given us? Isn't it time to look in his word and see he says "these signs will follow him who believes" and look behind us and say "Oh Lord, where is the problem? They're not there." Help me fix the problem. Change me, Oh Lord. Start with me. I want people to honor and revere God first and foremost in his house, I want his presence so real no sinner can sit in his house unmoved. I want to see the carnality smashed to smithereens. I want to see his people presenting their vessels, their time, their lives to his altar for his use, however he sees fit. I want to hear our Pastors and preachers broken and anointed more than ever by what they have heard and learned of our Magnificent Lord for he will give the sower seed to sow. But why should he give good seed to the sower if the field is not prepared to receive? If it's only going to be neglected and wasted? Oh, God, forgive me for I have been guilty of these things....but you are opening my eyes, and it's for a reason. What a gift.

Saints, there is a grief in my heart, and I know it is from God's heart. It's time for a change. I'm sick of where I've been, tired of where I am, and excited about where he's taking me. It's time to stop dragging my feet and being afraid. God give me more of Jesus. Form Him in Me, for he is my wisdom, my compassion, my light, my love, my backbone. Boldness. Power. Grace. Kindness. Gentleness. Holiness............Righteousness. Lord, how great thou art-be great in me. You said greater things than these shall ye do because I go to my Father. Here I am Lord. Teach me how to minister to your heart. To wait in your presence, to hunger ever more for your presence and instruction are my life. That's where he's taking me. That's where I want to go.

If the house is filled with his presence, and led by His Spirit, and the people are obedient, souls will be saved. He can trust us enough to draw them in. Just like he drew the animals to the ark so Noah could care for them with the provision he had gathered to sustain them all during the flood, if we fill up on his word, seek his face, and fast and pray, and are prepared for his service, he will send them in who have need of him. Our husbands, our sons, our daughters, neighbors. Co-workers. We don't have to leave them here. We can be used of God to make a difference! I know I am not the only one he is dealing with about these things! But I'm so glad he's dealing....it's an answered prayer. Let us teach our children. Let us present ourselves daily to the Lord as we are instructed in Rom_12:1-2. I am striving to do just that. I thank him for the ever increasing hunger for his word. He is such a good God. Let us as his people prepare ourselves for his visitation. Let us hunger after him and seek after him, and be ready so he can send his glory and souls will be added to his kingdom. If we have the life of Christ flowing unhindered through us, the natural result of his life will be new sons and daughters born unto the King! But we have to be prepared, and ready for his use. Sanctified. Set apart for his service. Bright shining lights with plenty of oil in our lamps and our vessels.

Eze 38:7 Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.

Amo 4:12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

Amo 4:13 For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.

When he looks at me, I him to see his own reflection..........................inside and out....

Be Still and Know

I'd just like to encourage everyone today and share something God has comforted my heart with this day. I opened my Bible this morning and I went to Psalm 46, longing for comfort and consolation. I carefully read the whole chapter. This verse stood out to me:

Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Sit still before the Lord, quiet your mind, your thoughts, ignore your feelings, and anything else bothering you. Be quiet, be still and understand He is God, He knows it all, He has it all under control, and no matter how dark things look, how much darker things will get, He WILL BE EXALTED. And that's all that really matters-for He alone is the answer to every problem and every need.

As I read that verse, a cry rose up inside me, Oh, Lord, be exalted in me, above all that I am or that is in me that is not like You. Be exalted above and in me, Lord.

I'd never looked at that verse in that manner before. But I know, He meant what He said, and He will be exalted, not only among the heathen, but in and above us, His people. Our greatest need is to tarry in His presence, until we are infused with His life, which is the light of men. To come daily before Him, and dive into His Word, seeking the leadership of our Teacher, the Holy Spirit and eat His Word. It's time to seek the Lord, church, like we never have before.

Why Flesh Must Be Crucified

Complete Notes Here

In these times we desperately long for hope, and comfort, and help as we see things in our world, in our country spiral out of control. Gross darkness covers the land, covers the minds and eyes of men and women. How desperately we need the glorious light of the Gospel of Christ to shine through His people, through chosen, sanctified vessels.

Gen 6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

Gen 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

There is an important distinction here. The men referred to in verse 1 is human beings. But in verse 2, the word for sons means a builder of the family name. The men, descendants of the line of Cain, had wives, and had daughters. But there was another family, the sons of God. They were descendants from the godly line of Seth. This verse implies up to this point, there had been a separation. The sons of God turned from marriage to godly women, daughters of Seth's lineage, to the daughters of the world. Why? Because they saw the daughters of the world were beautiful, pleasing to the eye. Just as Eve, when tempted to disobey God, saw the fruit of the forbidden tree was pleasing to the eye, and would make one wise, according to the serpent, so now, the sons of God were distracted by the beauty of the daughters of men. They took for themselves wives which they chose. God was left out of this decision. Key words here: they took for self. They were drifting away from God, drawn away by their own lust. The word fair also means they were pleasant, and agreeable. How that plays on the desire of self for that which is pleasing, stimulating, entertaining, and yet not demanding. Look at verse 2 again, carefully-that which was OF GOD got its eyes on that which was OF MEN. It went downhill from there.

Gen 6:4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

I have heard people preach this as fallen angels mating with the daughters of men and producing a line of giants. That is simply not true. First of all, you have to understand at this time, as is now, there is two families on this earth, two lines of descendants. One was the godly line of Seth, the sons of God. The other was the descendants of Cain, whom Scripture warns us was of that wicked one. So you basically have the family of God and the family of Satan on this earth. Now, Jesus said in the Gospels the angels neither marry, nor are given in marriage. I know Scripture mentions in Job how the sons of God came before the throne and Satan came with them. This Scripture has been misunderstood. This is an illustration of how the enemy tries to fight us when we come before God's throne in prayer. He comes with accusation, looking to defeat our prayers before they get prayed. Thank GOD for the blood of Jesus! It's simply not true that angels cohabited with women. God said everything would produce after its own kind.

Luk 20:34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

Luk 20:35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

Luk 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

And if you still need more proof, consider this nail in the coffin of that lie:

Heb 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

Heb 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

Answer? NONE. Never have the angels been called sons of God. Period. Only Christ and those in whom He lives. So back to verse 4.. there were giants in the earth in those days. In the Hebrew, (H5303) the word is nephiyl, where the word "nephilim" comes from. In the KJV it's translated as "giants" but a better translation would be "bully" or "tyrant". My interlinear Bible translates this as 'distinguished ones'.

Consider that we are talking about the mixture of a godly, or spiritual line of people with a rebellious, carnal line of people. The flesh will always try to bully and rule over the Spirit. Remember Jacob and Esau, struggling in Rebekah's womb? Remember David and Saul? These are two prime examples of the struggle with the flesh and Spirit. Remember Ishmael and Isaac? What did Paul say?

Gal 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

When you mix the spiritual with the flesh you get a tyrant, a bully, who wants to rule over that which is Godly. It's an abomination to God.

Just like in the millennium when Christ will rule on the earth for a thousand years, and the lion will lay down with the lamb, on this ark, the predators, subdued by the presence of the Holy Spirit will not prey on the other animals or Noah's family. He is able to subdue all things to Himself (Php 3:21).

Gen 7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

The call came, an invitation, a command, spoken by God. "Come in here." The Holy Spirit was already in there, waiting on Noah and his family. His abiding presence would maintain order in that ark for the duration of this voyage. There was a door on the side of that ark. It was so big that it also served as a ramp for the animals and the people to walk up to enter in the ark itself. That door had to be huge, big enough that Noah and his family could not open or close it. It was a prepared place of safety. We have to understand, when the Lord said, Come, and Noah went, as he walked up that Door to get into that ark, he was now dead to the world as it was and alive to God. He knew everything on the outside of that ark would be destroyed. Why?

Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whore mongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

This is all that is left when truth and light are finally and forever rejected. This is where darkness will lead you. On the outside, and ultimately, with no way back in. The Holy Spirit knew where everything went in that ark. He kept everything in order. He went out and gathered the animals and led them in to safety. Only one man was found righteous in the earth and his family was spared as well. While that ark was being constructed, many animals played on it. Many people came to see it. Noah warned the people of the judgment to come. Flesh is governed by sight and feelings. They saw no judgment, year after year. Those who might have considered his gospel, who might have at first believed it, grew skeptical and would not listen. When the rain came, the animals that had played on the ark ran for cover in the wrong direction.

God waited, after all this time of preparation, He still waited seven more days. Anyone could have come and been saved. No one did, because no one else was saved. God shut that door. (Joh_10:9) Jesus is the Way in for us. Many are playing games in church, with God now. When the rain started, I'm sure it was destructive. It wasn't just some normal rain that started and kept raining until the waters began to rise. No, the Bible said the fountains, the source of the water, in the abyss, the same abyss mentioned in Gen_1:2, were broken up and the windows of heaven were open. The water was pouring down from the sky, it was being forced up from the earth, there was massive cracking of the earth's crust, water flowing like a raging river of massive proportions, washing away everything. Tsunamis must have been unimaginably high as the fountains of the deep were broken up and opened, shoving this water up and out. I believe people had time to see it coming, to know they should have listened to Noah, but it was too late to repent. Their babies perished, they perished, everything perished that was outside that ark.

Since then, God has been preparing and gathering a people and placing them in the family of God where they will be preserved in Christ, our Ark of safety. Many are called, but few are chosen. The Holy Spirit is in this world, gathering out a people, as the call goes out. The message is being carried world wide. He's drawing, convicting, reproving, comforting, instructing, preparing people, placing those who yield to His call, and work, in this body of Christ, our Ark. These are the blood bought, blood washed, Spirit filled vessels. He is instructing them, you are no longer of this world. This world is not your home. You are not your own. You have been bought, purchased with the blood of the King, and you must say goodbye to this world and its ways. You must live the life of Another, now, and you must separate yourself from the ways and influences of this world. You must not partake of that which is unclean. You were in darkness, but I have brought you into the light, and shown you Truth. I am your Life. I am the only Way. Follow Me. You must die to everything you were, and everything you thought you wanted. Let My life be your life.

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

These who are in the Ark of safety now must be as dead to the world as Noah was when he took his family and went on that ark. Flesh, the carnal desires of self to rule and make its own way, do its own thing, must be crucified. This is the ground of the enemy, he exploits and operates in that ground of the natural man. It must be cut off. All that holds us to this world must be cut off. There must be a separation. Only what is hid in Christ will survive. Just as God's Holy Spirit subdued the predators in that ark to preserve the life of Noah and his family, and the other animals, so when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, when He lives in us, He can subdue our carnal nature, our flesh, that would prey on the life of the Spirit in us. Nothing of this world, or self will be allowed in this ark. We have to make the choice to let it go.

Warfare on the Saints--BH Clendennen

Source for this post:
Prayer For BH Clendennen

The Word "Prophecy" in the NT Greek (G4394) means a discourse emanating from divine inspiration (the Mind of God which the Holy Spirit alone knows) and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; especially by foretelling future events. This is only done by the ONE who knows future events-the Holy Spirit of God who will use a crucified, sanctified vessel who lives only for the honor and pleasure of God, to speak to His church. (Joh 16:13) I believe this is why the attack has come on Pastor Clendennen. And God will be glorified and honored somehow in this. HE is our victory.

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

n 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory th

Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

2Co 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Follow Up Mesesage

Follow Up Message From Pastor Clendennen, 10/28/09

When God Sees Darkness

In studying this, I have seen two things. One, when God sees darkness, He speaks into it, and His Word is light, His Word can create order in the midst of chaos. It can fill an empty, dark place. But there is another kind of darkness, and this kind, has already refused His light and is under judgment.




When God Sees Darkness -

Concerning Pastor Clendennen's Health Condition

This entry is to bring attention to this beloved man of God in an hour of his great trial. We would ask you to remember him sincerely in your prayers. These links are to video messages from Pastor Clendennen, posted on Youtube. You can also see them on this blog.


An Urgent Message From Pastor Clendennen




Health Announcement By Pastor Clendennen Oct 4, 2009 at His Home Church



Health Announcement Part 2 By Pastor Clendennen

BH Clendennen On the Web/Prayer Request

Please pray for Pastor BH Clendennen. He was diagnosed Oct 2, 2009 with cancer. His office verified the doctors had told him it is in his lymph nodes, his lungs, colon, liver and kidneys. We are believing God for another miraculous healing of this beloved man of God. It is my understanding he is not going to pursue medical treatment. We believe this to be an attack of the enemy against a man of God and his message, which he has preached faithfully for the past 56 years. I believe the devil thinks if he can smite Pastor Clendennen, he can cast doubt in the minds of those who have heard the truth he preaches, and attempt to discredit the message he has carried to just about every where in this world with the School of Christ the past 16 years. In these last days, when the devil is attempting to sift the minds and hearts of God's people, he will use this to try to discredit the man and his message and cast doubt in the people's minds. Do not believe it! God is faithful. He allowed Job to be afflicted by the enemy because He knew Job would be faithful in his affliction, God would have this testimony written in the OT which reveals how the enemy comes against God's people through other people, often those closest to us, and through tragedy and adverse circumstances, physically, emotionally, financially, any way possible. Please join us as we stand in prayer for him, his family, and the School of Christ ministry. Below, I have listed the links where I have found Pastor Clendennen's preaching on the internet. They are free downloads. Thank you,
Kathleen

M-F 5 am, 9 am, 2:30 pm EST 30 minute Video Broadcast

School of Christ Iceland Broadcast

School of Christ YouTube Channel

School of Christ on Acts America TV 24/7

School of Christ International Media Downloads

Living Waters Church Media Downloads

Victory Temple Church, AL Camp Meeting Downloads

First Pentecostal Church, London, KY Media Downloads

Berea Evangelistic Church, Berea KY Media Downloads

Paw Creek Ministries, Charlotte, NC Media Downloads

Pastor Clendennen Video Sermons at Solid Rock Church, Monroe, OH

SOC Video Messages on the Cross

Video Message: Soldiers, 2009 SOC Goldsboro, NC

School of Christ Prison Ministry

Playing Church

Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

I can not play church and expect to stand when the shaking gets so bad everything that can be shaken will be. The Bible says God is angry with sin and the wicked every day. God loves His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. But you only have to look as far as Calvary to see a public display that reveals the depth of God's hatred for sin. Christ was the only One who could bear such wrath. How can people look at the cross and see the suffering of our Savior there and willfully continue in sin? We have no excuse. He showed us his hatred for sin in what His Son bore. Do not believe the doctrine of devils that you cannot live above sin. You do not have to sin everyday. The Bible says Sin shall NOT have dominion over you (Rom 6:14). Why? Because He destroyed the works of the devil at the cross (1 John 3:8). The only way a devil can work in your life if is if you choose not to believe and accept the Lord and His Truth. He said you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32) Jesus Christ is the Truth, the Way and the Life. I pray you will be blessed, but more I pray you will be convicted and provoked to draw closer to Jesus Christ, Who Alone is our Hope of Glory. I ask you, those who are the church and I ask myself: when the Lord turns His fiery eyes toward me, and you, does He see compassion and mercy in our heart for the lost He died for ? Does He see us on our face asking for that which we lack so we can better serve Him? Or does He see us wasting time, with idle chit chat, in front of the TV, or on the phone, or computer, doing meaningless things to pass the time? Has He heard the words "I'm bored" out of our mouth or heart, when there is so much to be done in His kingdom? Has He heard that come out of our mouths and then looked around at the suffering of this world, and the lost and hurting who need to know about Him and looked with a grieved heart at the selfishness of one who thinks they belong to Him but don't? All all around us are lost and dying world who desperately need to see a manifestation of HIM in those who say we belong to Him. When He comes, and I must stand before the most powerful presence and the most pure holiness in existence, past or present, and give account, what can I possibly say? Did I not show reverence in His house and cause others, by my example not to fear Him? Did I go my own way and try to do it my own way at the expense of the cross and its demands? Church, what say you? I would rather face this now than then, while there is still time to change things, wouldn't you?

Confessing Jesus Christ

Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before myFather which is in heaven.

Most people think to deny the Lord is to do as Peter did, deny you know Him. The Lord stirred this Scripture up in my Spirit and showed me that it's much more. If I confess Him with my mouth, but deny Him the right to be Lord-i.e., director, instructor, and controller of my life, which He alone holds in His hand, then I deny Him. If I refuse His Lordship, and refuse to deny my flesh it's carnal ways and wants in favor of the rightful and reasonable demands of the Lord Jesus Christ through the power of His Holy Spirit, then I deny Him. I am not to deny Him at any time. I am not to deny Him quality time. I am not to deny Him the use of my vessel. I am not to deny Him when He stirs me up to pray. I am not to deny Him when He deals with me about something. I am not to deny Him anything. I am not to contradict Him or His Word by the way I live my life. It is to be HIM that lives in me in control, not me, myself and I.

Whatever He deals with us about, we need to be willing to deny ourselves but never Him. He has requirements of the vessel He dwells in, and uses. We must yield to the Holy Spirit and let Him make us what the Lord wants us to be. We must be willing to lay our lives down a living sacrifice for the use of the Master. IF we refuse, we deny Him.

Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which isin heaven.

Biblical Circumcision

The Bible mentions circumcision many times in both the Old and New Testaments. One of my favorite Bible Verses mentions this word, and I've prayed this verse back to God for years now, and I have never really understood what I was praying-nor thought until now to search it out.

Deu 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.


God established this as a symbol of consecration to Himself. It was the cutting off of excess flesh. (Rom_13:14) God commanded Abraham at 99 to do this, and all the males in his camp, including 13 year old Ishmael was circumcised. This had to hurt badly at their mature ages. To purposely inflict that kind of pain on one's self to obey God speaks of great love and devotion. It also speaks volumes about Abraham's confidence in God as opposed to confidence in himself when he did this. The extra flesh was cut off as a sign of consecration and dependence on God. The Bible also mentions uncircumcised ears, lips, and hearts. It was a sign of purity, of cleanness. (Isa_52:1)

We have to undergo a spiritual circumcision, and it is a very painful process. I am learning this in my walk with the Lord. This is a process where our hearts are circumcised. It's called sanctification. It's where we are separated from the unclean, and truly consecrated to God, where spiritual impurities are removed, and corrupt desires rooted in our human natures become extinct as we die to self and deny their expression. We need the Holy Ghost to take us through this process, to work this out in us. He will show us how any confidence in our own selves will lead to failure. He will show us things hidden in our hearts that will horrify us for we do not know they are there on a conscious level. Because we truly love and desire to serve God, because we long for holiness and purity, to be like the Lord, when we see these things and come to the full realization that there truly is nothing good in us except Him, it is a painful thing to face. He shows us this progressively-not all at once. We could not bear it. If we are not careful it will cause us to despair. We must keep looking to Jesus for HE alone is the Author and Finisher of our faith.

For Paul to say "He is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter" (Rom_2:29) meant someone who was not depending on their own merit or righteousness, but Jesus Christ, who has been made our righteousness, and who has had their heart purified, a spiritual, not carnal Christian. This is a work of the Spirit-not flesh. When God ordained the Passover, on the eve of the exodus from Egypt, He told Moses that when a stranger traveled with the people, and would keep the passover to the Lord, he had to be circumcised and all his males. No uncircumcised person shall eat the passover. (Exo_12:48) What does that mean to the New Testament church? Our Passover is the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. He was the Word of God made flesh. "Except you eat My flesh (My Word) and drink My blood, (My Holy Spirit) you have no life in you." Joh_6:53.

He is the Light of God and has no fellowship with darkness. And no person who is trusting in their own righteousness, confident in their own ability, and not separating themselves from the unclean can eat this Word of God, which is the Word of Life. The natural man receiveth not the things of God-to him it is foolishness. They cannot accept or absorb the truths of God. They cannot be partakers at the Lord's table of fellowship lest they be born again and determine to allow the Word and Spirit of God to separate them from that which is unclean and rooted in self-dependency. I'm learning Biblical circumcision then is refusing to be confident in our ability, but rather seeking and trusting God's ability-which is His Holy Spirit, and being wary of ourselves knowing that no flesh can glory in His presence or accomplish His will. It also means purifying or perfecting something-such as our hearts, our vision, our hearing, our speech. The fear of the Lord keeps wise men from doing evil. Love for Him restrains us from doing evil. But His power and His life in us is what makes us holy. To have His life we must reject all this born of self, and natural human strength. I have failed myself, but He never has. Glory to God!

Let the fire fall..

2Ch 7:14 If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.


Glory Come Down-Jason Upton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrXhXVNACMw

Have Mercy on Us, Oh, Lord, For We Have Sinned!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7d2GFbp-pc
Lord, Have Mercy-awesome song.. please watch this..

Regardless what was said and claimed about the Brownsville Revival, this song speaks volumes about our need to repent before a Holy God..He gave us His Son, His BEST and we have given Him so little back..as a result the world is perishing, and Christ isn't being made real or being allowed to live in and through us as He should and as He longs to. The land He wants to heal is His Church...

2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (KJV)

2Ch 7:14 If my own people will humbly pray and turn back to me and stop sinning, then I will answer them from heaven. I will forgive them and make their land fertile once again. (CEV)

2Ch 7:14 If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. (AMP0

It's God's Joy to Deliver You

When He had a people in the earth, called Israel, they were led to Egypt during a time a famine. After that, the generations of these people were born into Egypt, through no fault of their own. That's just where they lived. It was a land of idolatry, a land where they were oppressed and heavily burdened by the Egyptians. They suffered plenty under the Egyptian rule. God did not want His people to remain in Egypt. He had something and somewhere better for them. He had a bountiful land, full of plenty, already prepared for them by other, pagan nations whom would be thrown out for their great sins and refusal to repent. God looked and watched over this land, called Canaan. In order to get His people to want to leave the land of Egypt, because human nature never wants to leave where it is comfortable and has its needs met, He had to turn the heart of the Egyptians against His people. (Psa_105:25) He did not want His people to have to suffer so greatly, but He knew the demonic influence that was rampant in Egypt with their sorceries, and the multitude of idols, would infect His people and ultimately destroy them. Indeed, by the time He brought them out, many carried small figures of Egyptian idols with them. He had to let it get hard in Egypt before they would remember Him and cry to Him for deliverance so He could intervene and rescue them. He will not force Himself into our lives, but He knows how to cause us to cry out for the help He knows we need.

Israel was a weak and enslaved nation. They had been in Egypt 430 years. Much of that time had been spent under bondage and harsh abuse. When God came down to set His people free, He began by launching an assault against the most prominent of Egypt's idols. He started with the Nile River, because the Egyptians believed it was the center of the world and the origin of the world's beginning. They also believed the soul of the dead had to cross the Nile before it could enter the kingdom of the dead. God turned the Nile River to blood for 7 days. The fish died. He sent plagues of frogs, flies, lice, locusts, and He sent plagues of sores on man and beast, but none in Goshen, where His people Israel were. He sent hail and flaming fire in the land. (Psa 105:32) He sent darkness so great for three days no one went out in Egypt but there was light in Goshen, in the homes of His people, Israel. He took the firstborn both of animal and human, in Egypt. This combination of plagues and catastrophes destroyed this nation of Egypt. In one last final judgment, He destroyed Egypt's army in the Red Sea.

When He brought His people out of Egypt, they were not poor anymore, nor were they sick or feeble. God once again turned the hearts of the Egyptians to have compassion on His people and they gave the Israelites jewelry, gold, and silver and whatever else they needed for their journey. Egypt was glad to see them go. Egypt was destroyed. He showed His people the gods of Egypt were powerless to protect or defend anyone. He showed the world the Pharaoh was not god.

He led His people in the form of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He led them through a desert wilderness. When they got hungry, He sent manna from heaven, and quail. When they got thirsty, He took care of it. Remember, He had to supply for over three million people in a wilderness where there were no stores, only the meager provision they brought out with them, which was gone in three days' time.

Psa 105:41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
Psa 105:42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
Psa 105:43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:

What really stands out to me here are three important things. They were traveling through rough terrain. If you have Google earth, I suggest you open it, and pinpoint Egypt. Then use the application to head toward the Red Sea, and then on into the Sinai Peninsula. It is harsh, mountainous territory in places. They were carrying tents, leading their animals and their children, and they were on foot. This was a rigorous journey. But there were places where the ground was level and wide enough for three million people to camp. They got thirsty, He opens a Rock and pours out enough water to satisfy millions, including both human and animal. Is not Jesus Christ, our Lord, the Rock that followed them in the wilderness? (1Co_10:4) He had made a promise to Abraham and He remembered it. He kept it. He brought them out of Egypt with joy and gladness! Does not the Bible say there is joy in heaven when one sinner repents? (Luk_15:10) As you consider their journey to freedom, to the promised land, remember it is much like our own Christian journey. He brings us out of sin and darkness, into His marvelous light. He gives us His Holy Spirit, by which we are born again. Suddenly, there is a new life inside us. War breaks out, for this new life is contrary to the old, human nature. We have part of God's nature in us and it doesn't agree-ever- with human nature. He starts us on a journey, and at times it gets difficult, the way is straight and narrow. He has to strip us, like Israel, of confidence in our self, of worldly ways of thinking and behaving, as He is in the process of creating in us the image of His Son. He wants to make us like Jesus. He takes us through His Word, teaching us as we follow Him through those pages, revealing things in our heart to us that are unlike Him. At times, He allows difficult situations in our lives to cause these things He knows are hidden in our hearts to come to the surface. He has to allow us to be tested so we know what we are made of. When we see what He knows is there, that is unlike Him, then our job is to repent so He can cleanse and forgive us.

He doesn't forget His promises, He watches over His Word to perform it. When He delivered His people, He brought them out of bondage with joy and gladness! Consider He knew these folks would be murmuring and complaining against Him shortly after their deliverance. He knew how badly they would fail. He knew the majority of them would refuse to enter into the land He had prepared for them. He had a place already prepared for them. Still, He delivered them with joy and gladness. Amazing. He knew He would have to judge some. He knew some of them would challenge His authority and perish. They had every opportunity just like the others to be free and blessed by Him had they trusted and obeyed.

Now, let's bring it home to our time, our lives. It is His joy to reach out His mighty hand from heaven and save and deliver sinners from the darkest pits of sin. He is glad to rescue them from their addictions, their habits, their bondage. In doing so, He shows the god of this world who is the devil, is powerless to prevent Him from saving them. But this is a journey impossible for human flesh to make on its own. We must have His power and His strength.

He opened the Rock, which is His Son, Jesus Christ, He is the One who John said would baptize us in the Holy Ghost. We are in a wilderness. It's a dry place, this world we live in. He promised He would send those who would obey Him, and tarry in His presence power from on high to live this life. He wants us to come. He wants us to pray, and believe Him. Faith is what you do about what you know is true. He's coming after a people that are His completely, not half hearted, not wishy washy, but completely sold out to Him. When He comes for His Bride, who only has eyes for Him, He will bring her forth with joy and gladness, as well. He's sent the Holy Ghost to prepare and empower her, He's provided all things that pertain to life and godliness. Everything we need is in Christ, and made available to us by the work and power of the Holy Ghost. But if we don't separate ourselves from the things of this world, from the influences of this world, and turn with all our heart to God, we will miss Him. He won't compete to be heard. We need a time of separation where we read nothing but the Bible, turn the TV and computer off, stay off the phone as much as possible, and limit our conversation with anyone except God, as much as we can. We need to fast our minds from these influences of the world, and separate ourselves and fast, and pray and seek God for the power He promised which is what it will take to overcome. We need to humble ourselves in this way, and just ask God, Lord, am I pleasing to you? What is it you want to deal with in my life? Examine me, Oh, Lord, see if there be any wicked way in me that needs to go. Search me, Father, because I want to be Yours, completely, and I don't want to stay here when You come.

Nothing is worth missing Him, folks. Nothing and no one. If we don't humble ourselves, and seek repent, and turn from our wicked ways, and pray for our families, our lost loved ones, who will? What are our wicked ways?

2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

He's not talking to the world, or sinners here, but His own people. Humble that self life that wants to make all the decisions but still call Me Lord. When we are acting independent of Him, acting without consulting Him, neglecting Him, walking in the flesh and not in the Spirit, it is wickedness. I was sitting in a meeting in London, KY two years ago, and Pastor BH Clendennen was preaching in this pentecostal church. These people seemed passionate, even the children were well behaved, and many had their hands in the air, praying and worshiping God, and it wasn't a show, either. I could see the sincerity on their little faces. You could feel the presence of God in this place as the Pastor preached that message "To Live is Christ, to Die is Gain". I'll never forget it. It was May 2, 2008. During that message, Pastor said "God said we need to get the worldliness out of the church". I looked around, all the ladies' hair was very long, their dresses long, I saw no one dressed inappropriately, none of them had make up on, or jewelry. It looked like an old fashioned, holiness believing, Pentecostal church congregation. The men were dressed as they should be, with neat hair cuts. There was a sense of reverence, and respect in this place. That statement he made just stood out to me, and in my mind, I whispered a question to the Lord. "What does he mean by that, Lord? This church doesn't look worldly at all." I was surprised when God answered me, in that still, small voice I've come to love. "Worldliness is when the church acts and does things without praying, without talking to Me first." I thought about that, about how we read the Bible, and often take it as we understand it, without digging in deep and praying and asking Him, Lord, am I getting this right? We say and do things without Him, we don't always ask His direction and leading through out our days, our lives, and we make our own decisions. We decide when to pray, when to read the Bible, and what to do, with very little input from God, yet we call Him Lord. This must change. How? Give ourselves to prayer and the Word and fast our minds from outside influences that would make it hard to hear what He has to say. We only get one shot at this, folks. He's coming soon. This world is getting darker and more wicked by the minute. We must have our own Word from God, now. We can't make it on what somebody else says. We need to hear from Him ourselves.