Tag Archives: God

Beyond the Veil: In the Prayer Closet | Embracing an Intimate Relationship with God

Posted on by yolandaberry
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 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; Phil 4:6

During any time of the day, we have access to communicate with God through prayer. Oftentimes, life gets busy. Life gets hectic. We deal with distractions, and we lose our focus on Biblical practices such as reading the Bible, worshipping and prayer.

We make commitments to watching or participating in the latest sports activities, attending the biggest events and concerts, following the latest trends but do not feel the urgency to dedicate time to the Lord.

The Lord is always available to us. We have a direct connection to Him. We don’t have to worry about drop calls, static or a battery that needs to be charged. We don’t have to go through special protocols to gain His attention. He neither slumbers nor sleeps. Psalm 121:3-4 When we draw closer to the Lord, He reveals Himself to us in many ways.

Call unto me and I will answer thee and show you great and mighty things that you do not know of.

Jer 33:3

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The Roadmap to Tapping into the Realms of the Spirit

The Outer Court

In the Old Testament, the tabernacle in Jerusalem had three specific areas dedicated for prayer.

The outer court was the gathering area where everyone came to offer thanksgiving to God. It was the location where cleansing of sin and confessions took place, however the Israelites were not permitted to go into the inner court. It was off limits to those who were not established as a higher priest.

the tabernacle

Photo Credit: Pixabay

In comparison, the outer court, in our Christian lifestyle, resembles the religious practices, traditions and rituals where the average person sends prayer requests of petition to God, but they do not experience the presence of the Lord. They may believe God but have never experienced the presence and miracles of God. They may have repented for their sins, but they lack connection and relationship with the Lord. They may attend church but it’s only a religious practice. Their prayer life consists of asking God for help or for material things, but their prayer life doesn’t go much further than petition.

The Inner Court

The inner court was accessible to the worshippers who offered sacrifice and burned incense to the Lord. It is where the table, showbread and incense were located. This area was reserved for praising God which drew the Lord closer. It was a sacrificial praise of worship. There was a curtain or veil that hung as a partition which divided the room from the most sacred area of the tabernacle. This area was reserved only for the high priests of Jerusalem.

In relation to the inner court, in our walk with the Lord, we offer praise and thanksgiving. We have a need to seek and develop a deeper relationship with the Lord. You may have a desire to get baptized or develop a desire for fasting to draw closer to the Lord.

The Holy of Holies

The Holy of Holies was the most sacred area of the tabernacle. This was the area where the ark of the covenant was located. On Yom Kippur, which is also known as the Day of Atonement, the high priest would burn incense and offer animal blood sacrifices upon the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant to atone for sins. This area was in the deepest section of the tabernacle. The veil was torn after the resurrection of Jesus which means Jesus has lifted the veil of separation that allows every born-again believer to have access to the presence of God and receive revelation of the realms of His Spirit.

As you continue to seek the Lord in prayer, continue to grow spiritually through studying and reading the Word, living Holy, and applying Biblical principles to every area of your life, you will experience the presence of the Lord and gain access to a higher spiritual realm.

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defiles the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

1 Corth 3:16-17

Prayer

Lord, Jesus we thank you for your guidance and protection. May our heart and mind be open to your plan, purpose and will for our lives. We diligently seek you with our whole heart and purge us from all temptations of sin. Draw us closer to you. May we hear your voice and walk in your ways in everything we do and every place we go. Let us dance before you in praise for in your presence is fullness of joy. May we lay down in precious rest wrapped in your peace and safety as we sleep. May we walk with wisdom and discernment with the Holy Spirit leading the way. Keep us from all harm and heal us from all sickness and disease. We receive the Blood of Redemption that washes us clean of all infirmities. We rejoice in your healing and wholeness of our mind, body and spirit. We thank you for another day and for the blessings that rest upon our lives.

In Jesus Mighty Name.

Amen and Amen.

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Additional Bible References | Digging Deeper into the Word

Just click the links below for direct access to the scriptures on Bible Gateway.

Matt 6:33

Psalm 100:4

Psalm 100:2

John 4:22-24

Psalm 42:1-2

Matt 6:9-13

Heb 4:16

Matt 6:6-7

2 Chron 3:16-17

Exodus 26:33

Matt 27:50-51

Exodus 27:16

John 14:6

Psalm 91

Psalm 84:10

Psalm 84:2

Exodus 27

Matt 7:7-9

Phil 4:6

Psalm 119:2

1 John 5:14

Jer 29:13-14

Resurrected Power: When Dead Things Come to Life

Posted on by yolandaberry
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tulips, flowers, spring

We have officially entered a new season and new year. We are in a midst of Winter which is always a tough time of year for me. I don’t like cold weather because it cuts me to the bone, plus the memories of shoveling waist high snow drifts during blistery snowstorms while frozen icicles formed on my eyelashes that crunched every time I blinked my eyes.

winter trees snow

Hibernation and the postcard view was the only part I truly enjoyed but overall, winter reminds me of lifeless things. Autumn leaves fall and dry up, trees are bare and naked. The darkness and gloom of a grey skyline in the middle of the day turns jet black before you even leave work. Winter reminds me of the dead things until the transformation of Spring arrives adorning cherry blossoms, violet and tulips with a welcoming, cheerful sunrise and peaceful sunset. It is where everything dead instantly comes back to life once again.

Just like in nature where dead things are rebirthed, there is a resurrection in life. The Lord will breathe on everything that feels lifeless – discouragement, lack of enthusiasm or motivation, weakness, or stagnation. The Lord imparts new life by the breath of His Spirit.

7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Gen 2:7

22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22

The Resurrection of Christ

The birth of Christ and the Resurrection are the most miraculous events that existed. Through birth, a Savior was born and brought peace to the world and through death and the resurrection Jesus saved us from our sins and gave us eternal life.


“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Rom 10:9-13

The Resurrection of the Dead

In Ezekiel, there was a valley of dead bones. God said, “Can these bones live?” Immediately the dry bones came alive. Ezekiel 37

It was through the Power of God, Lazurus was raised from the dead.

40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

John 11:40-44

It was through the Power of God, that a twelve-year-old girl was raised from the dead.

35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

Mark 5:35-43

Many people may not believe this is possible but if you do not believe in the Lord resurrecting the dead than you do not believe in Jesus’ resurrection. Your faith is worthless and ineffective, and you are still in your sins. Your hope is lifeless. Life is fruitless and full of vanity.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corth 2:13-14

The Resurrection of the Body

It’s difficult to comprehend and grasp spiritual life because we live in an earthly body and everything that we experience is tangible. We have fleshly desires and do not want to control the flesh or abide by the obedience of God. However, when you receive understanding and revelation of the Lord, you will desire to live for God. It is the fruit of building a relationship with Him.

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matt 16:24-26

We will one day transcend from a physical world to a spiritual one so while we are still here, we should bury all the dead things in our lives – bad relationships, sour memories, bad habits and attitudes , wrong mindsets, and tainted emotions like bitterness, jealousy, anger, hatred, lust, fear, worry, anxiety, etc. so we can grow and nurture the things that give us life, joy and peace.

Not all flesh is the same. People have one kind of flesh and animals have another, birds and fish have another. There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 1 Corth 15:39-40

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. 1 Corth 15:44-49

Our Final Victory

 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So, when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corth 15:44-54

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Additional Bible References

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Corth 5:8

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Rev 21:8

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38

Five Modern Lessons from the Birth of Jesus: Applying the Nativity Story to Today’s Challenges

Posted on by yolandaberry
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The birth of Jesus is painted like a sweet, fairytale Christmas story but in reality it was harsh, brutal series of events. The Christmas story is far from a glamourous one.

From the day of conception, Joseph contemplated the pregnancy of Mary until an angel appeared to him and told him not to fear. He was instructed to marry a virgin who would give birth to Jesus. The Messiah who would save the world from sin.

Mary, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was also afraid until an angel appeared and told her, “Fear not.” Joseph wondered how he would explain this miraculous conception to the community. Can you imagine the amount of pressure Joseph was under? So he took Mary and hid her away from the judgement and scrutiny of the public.

From Humble Beginnings

Upon the time of delivery, Mary and Joseph traveled for three days on a donkey. Can you imagine being pregnant and traveling for three days on a donkey? They traveled from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, also known as Bethlehem. Luke 2:4

Once they arrived, they had no shelter. They were homeless. There were no hospital or midwife. There were no place to give birth except for a stable where animals resided. Can you imagine the unpleasant smell of herds of animals living in their quarters?

Deception of King Herod

King Herod inquired of the wise men to seek the location of Jesus so that he could come and worship him. The three wise men were led by a star directly to where Jesus was born. They fell down and worshiped the young child and offered gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Upon discerning the instructions within a dream, the three wise men departed in a different direction and did not provide details of where Jesus was born and avoided King Herod.

Escaping the Plans of Execution

After the wise men departed, an angel appeared in a dream and told Joseph to leave Bethlehem and to go to Egypt with Jesus and Mary because King Herod ordered and planned to slaughter all children under the age of two in Bethlehem. Matt 2:13-24

After King Herod died. Joseph received another dream directing him to leave Egypt and enter into Israel. Joseph was warned in another dream to move to Galilee and dwell in a city called Nazareth.

From Journey to Journey

In this timeline of events, there is so much that can be applied in our daily lives during these challenging times. The act of obedience, discernment, humility, grace, faith and courage have essential parts to play in the story of Jesus birth.

  1. Protection under Obedience

When we actively listen to God’s voice, He will lead us directly to where we need to be. It’s not by coincidence, accident, or luck. It’s a divine leading of the Holy Spirit. There is a divine covering of protection when you’re led by God whether by place, action, or deed. He will shield you in every circumstance that you encounter.

2. Discernment of Direction

With each act of obedience, you will receive discernment and direction. The decisions we make are much like a labyrinth with many different paths, decisions, choices and options but in the end when we follow the Lord, we will reach our destination and the designated place where the Lord desires us to be. We will also be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and have a desire to please Him more than people.

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jer 29:11

3. Gift of Humility

The precious gift of humility provides heart-felt appreciation, gratitude, and thanksgiving. When you go through the storms of life, you can understand the struggles, challenges, and obstacles you’re encountering and overcoming. You are humbled by your experiences, and you realize the cost and the Power of God working in your life. You understand that it’s not in your strength but in the strength of God.

4. Guided by Faith

Living by faith is not easy. Human tendencies want to know and experience the certainties of events that will unfold favor and comfort in our lives. Walking in faith is not a cake walk, but in reality we are living by faith everyday. It’s how we utilize our faith in difficult times to navigate through the pitfalls, setbacks, discouragement, heartache, loss and pain. Faith is a gift. It is an exercised skill granted by God. The level of faith is a gift which unwraps underlying fears and fills it with courage, strength, and power. You have greater access to unlock the secret things of God by operating in faith.

Call unto Him and He will answer thee and show you great and mighty things you do not know of.

Jer 33:3

When you tap into a deeper level of faith, you have no doubts or worry. You are building a stronger relationship with the Father who is unshakeable, unmovable and unstoppable. The Lord requires faith because He has need of you. When you tap into a deeper level of faith, you are limitless to the possibilities presented as mountains of obstacles that stand before you.

Faith is the evidence of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

Heb 11:1

5. Under God’s Grace

The grace of God is upon you during the most difficult seasons of your life. He will rest upon you with peace. He will be patient and gentle. The Lord is faithful. He is a loving God and cares for your well-being. He will extend His kindness and mercy upon you. God does not fail. He desires the best for you. He will strengthen and teach you. His hand is upon your life when you walk in obedience with the Lord. His hand is upon you when you fail, make mistakes or do wrong. He is a forgiving God. God does not lie. He will contend and fight your battles.

28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Acts 17:28

The five lessons from the Nativity provide helpful guidance on how to navigate through the rough terrain of life. Just like Joseph and Mary, who carried baby Jesus through the devasting attacks upon His life. They journeyed with miraculous protection, direction, and grace. Jesus, who saved the world through His gift of Salvation, provides an eternal hope for our future. Emmanuel, “God with us” surrounds us in this present moment despite the challenges, difficulties, distractions and obstacles that we face in today’s world.

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Bible References

Isaiah 9:6-7

Isaiah 7:14

Matt 1:19

Matt 2:7-12

Luke 2:1-20

Luke 1:30-33