Be Not Afraid!

Habakkuk Chapter Three 


Although the fig tree shall not blossom,

Neither shall fruit be on the vines;

The labor of the olive shall fail,

And the fields shall yield no food;

The flock shall be cut off from the fold,

And there shall be no herd in the stalls:

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The LORD God is my strength,

And he will make my feet like deer's feet,

And he will make me walk upon my high places.


     Recently I've been hearing a lot of people talking about the end of the world and I've seen fear spreading like wildfire. These things are normal for people of the world but I've been seeing Christians who are so afraid and wondering what to do. So today I want to take time to encourage you to stop just a minute and think about what's really going on here.

     I know you can sense that we are living in what people call the end times. We see all the signs that Jesus and the prophets spoke of in scripture coming to pass. But these are not end times. These are beginning times. We are beginning to see the scripture fulfilled. We are beginning to see the kingdom of God formed in the earth. We are seeing God's plan come to pass in the earth.

     So why are we afraid? I think it's because we spend too much time listening with our ears and not our hearts. If you will just take time every day to listen to what Jesus is speaking into your heart then you will find a calm assurance that no matter how the storm rages you will be safe in His care. He is more than able to keep us safe and protect us from whatever comes.

     I'm not saying that bad things will not happen. I'm saying that we have a mighty God who is more than able to deliver us from all harm and keep us safe. It's time we people of faith stood up and declared the salvation that we have in our God and become a place of safety where others can run to in this troubled time. The world needs a safe place to run to and that place should be the church.

     Take a deep breath my brothers and sisters. You are beloved of your Father. You have His love, his protection and He even sent His Spirit to dwell in us to keep us safe. How much more protection do we need? Remember in Matthew chapter ten that Jesus said that even the hairs of our head are numbered? He loves us so much that He even cares for the smallest details.

     We can rest in the security of His love. He promised that He would never leave us or forsake us. He is with us no matter what the New Year brings. He will take care of us regardless of the situation of the world. Just as it says in the scripture written above; it does not matter if the whole world system fails. He will feed us. Just like Habakkuk. I will rejoice in my God. He will deliver me. He always has and He always will.

     So, please my friends. Let go of the fear. Rejoice in the hope of our soon returning King. It won't be long until He returns and makes all things right. He's got His eye on you to watch over you and keep you safe. You can trust Him. He will deliver you.

     In closing this blog I would like to remind you of a few things:

Though the flood destroyed the world the righteous had a boat in Noah's day and we have a much better boat today in Christ.

Abraham left a prosperous place and followed God into the wilderness where he became the richest of all.

The children of Israel were in Egypt when the plagues fell on Egypt. They had faith in the blood of a lamb and were safe. We should have more faith in the perfect Lamb of God to keep us safe also.

God fed millions with manna from heaven when they were in a wilderness between Egypt and the Promised Land where there was no food. He provided them water and sheltered them with himself from the heat and from the cold.

He brought them safely through the sea while all the armies of Pharaoh drowned.

Daniel went through the lion's den and came out safe and sound.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego went through the fiery furnace and came out without as much as the smell of smoke.

God sent Elijah to a brook and had the ravens bring him food during the famine.

     Now look back at your own life and remember how many times He has rescued you and kept you from harm. He never fails and he never changes. His love for you is unchanging and He will be with you no matter what you are facing. Besides, what's the worst the world can do? Threaten us with heaven?

Isaiah Chapter forty one verse ten

Fear thou not; for I am with thee:

Be not dismayed; for I am thy God:

I will strengthen thee;

Yea, I will help thee;

Yea, I will uphold thee

With the right hand of my righteousness.


I hope you are encouraged by these words.

Until next time,

Grow Rich in His Grace,

I love you all,

michael

For more information please visit our website at:

michaelottministries.org 

Back To Our Roots

Ephesians Chapter 3

14.For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
15.Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16.That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17.That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 
18.May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 
19.And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. 
20. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 
21.Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 


     What a message! I love these verses! God and love are inseparable. The scriptures don’t just tell us that God loves us, they tell us that He is Love. You can't separate the two.

     As I was reading and studying these verses several things occurred to me. Beginning in verse fourteen it says that we are all God's family and share His name. Whether we are still on earth or in heaven we are all one family. I pray that this message will take the church by storm and maybe we can get past these walls that separate us and become one family again. You see in God's family there are no cousins, only brothers and sisters. We all share the same Father and were adopted into His family and became full brothers and sisters to His first born son Jesus.

     Verse sixteen says the He will strengthen us with might by His Spirit in the inner man. That's the real part of us. The flesh we wear is just the vehicle we drive while on the earth. The real us is the reborn spirit person you became when you received Jesus and he gave you a new spirit. 

     As we are strengthened by His Spirit the more of the character of Jesus we have dwelling in us. Then the scriptures go on to say that we can be rooted or grounded in Love. The way to put your roots into God is to put them into love. If every word we said and every act we did was rooted and grounded in the love it would change the world.

     If we let the Spirit of God strengthen us we are not just getting stronger. What we are doing is letting Him build a dwelling place for Jesus inside us. A place built in love where He can live comfortably within us. In the Old Testament they built a temple and God moved in. Since the resurrection all things are different. God moves in and then builds you into a temple from the inside out. His Spirit strengthens you so you can contain more of Him.

     So what is the purpose of all this building? Verse nineteen says it so we can know His love and be filled with the fullness of God himself. You see the God kind of love can’t be experienced in its fullness from the outside. He loves us so much that He can't stand being that far away from us. Outside is just too far away. He wants to be inside us so we can really be one. To be filled with the fullness of God is to be filled with His love. Once we are full of His love we can't help but share it with others. That is the purpose of this writing. I want you to experience what I have with God. I want Him to dwell in you also.

     Verse twenty says the God is able to do exceedingly; abundantly above all we can ask or think according to the power that works within us. I'm sure you are like me and want to have God answer your prayers above what you prayed for. It sounds almost too good to be true that everything we could need is inside us.

     So what is this power? It's our born again spirit that has been strengthened by the Holy Spirit and rooted and grounded in Love. So that means that we have our roots in the love of God and are grounded which means that we have our foundation built on love. When we become love on the inside then we will act like love on the outside. When all of our prayers are based on love and rooted and grounded in love then God will answer far above the things that we pray for. When love becomes the purpose of our lives then the power of God will spring forth from the inside of us and change the world.

     If we want to be stronger on the outside we have to let Him strengthen us on the inside. Then we will get to the purpose seen in verse twenty one where the glory of Jesus will be in the church.

     So I hope you will surrender to His Spirit today and ask Him to strengthen us inside and build a dwelling place for Jesus inside us. A place of love and power. Let's be rooted and grounded in His love and let His love be the purpose for all we say or do. Let's be filled with the fullness of God so we can reach out to the world and tell them how much He loves them.

I hope you are encouraged by these words.

Until next time,

Grow Rich in His Grace,

I love you all,

michael

For more information please visit our website at:

michaelottministries.org

Ask and You Shall Receive

Luke Chapter Eleven

9: And I say unto you Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you 

10: For every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened 

11: If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father will he give him a stone or if he ask a fish will he for a fish give him a serpent 

12: Or if he shall ask an egg will he offer him a scorpion 

13: If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him. 

     I've read these scriptures and heard them preached so many times especially by people who use God's promises to ask for things that we don't really need. Most times they are even taken out of context and people try to use them as a blank check to get anything they want. I must admit I was guilty of this myself before I was established in God's love and realized that as a true Christian it is never supposed to be about me, but about my neighbors and the lost.

     To prove this point I'd like to go back a few scriptures and let you see the whole story behind these verses. Let's start with verse five.

5: And he said unto them Which of you shall have a friend and shall go unto him at midnight and say unto him Friend lend me three loaves 

6: For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me and I have nothing to set before him. 

7: And he from within shall answer and say Trouble me not the door is now shut and my children are with me in bed. I cannot rise and give thee. 

8: I say unto you though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. 

     This is the key. The person in this story was not asking for himself. He had a friend come from a journey and he had nothing to set before him to eat. It didn't matter that he himself had no food in the house. You notice it was midnight and if there was no food in the house so this man probably went to sleep hungry. His hunger was not important but when his friend came and he was hungry, something had to be done.

     The word importunity used here means that you are asking and refusing to take no for an answer. Of course that's where we should be when it comes to the welfare of others. We as a church need to quit being so greedy and start caring more for the troubles of others and not our own. James chapter five verse sixteen says it this way:

Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

     Notice it says pray for each other. I have a feeling the reason we don't see many answered prayers is because we are too busy praying for ourselves and not for others. James said that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. This righteous man is not praying for himself but for others. That's the way we should do it. We should fervently pray for each other. We should do just as we read above in Luke, we should be asking, seeking and knocking but not for ourselves. The scriptures plainly said that our Father will give us what we need and He knows how to give good gifts to His children.

     Here is another clue. We must be just like this man in the parable. We must approach God in faith in respect and honor knowing that it is His will to give us what we need for whomever we are praying for and we should set ourselves so that we will keep pressing in until we get our answer. I believe that we will begin to walk in these things. This is true Christianity and I believe that Jesus is working in us to bring us to where He is, so that we may truly walk in love like He did. He will bring us to the point that we would even lay down our lives for each other.

     We know that God is greater than the friend in this story because he knows our needs in advance and has what we need already waiting so that when we pray for others he answers right away. We also know that God never sleeps or slumbers so we can go to him anytime day or night.

     There is also a double meaning to this parable just like there is in most parables that Jesus taught. We need to stay full of the bread of heaven and always have something in our house to feed the spiritually hungered. We need to ask, seek and knock and be continually filled with the Holy Spirit every day. He's the good gift that was taught in this parable. We should always have plenty of His presence ready to serve to all who are hungry.

     I encourage you today. Let's pray for each other, I'm praying for you, will you pray for me? I'll ask, seek and knock each day on your behalf that our Father will pour out his greatest blessings on you. Will you do the same for me?

     I want to thank all of you who read these words that I write. It encourages me so much to see how many are reading these posts on the website. I really do appreciate it and I am thankful for all the kind comments and the re-posting. Thanks again for all your kindness and may you always have bread in your house for anyone who is hungry.

Until next time,

Grow rich in His grace,

I love you all,

Michael

For more information please visit our website at:

michaelottministries.org

Daily Bread

Matthew Chapter 6

Verses 9-13

After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

And the glory, forever. Amen. 

     Today I want to share a revelation about these scriptures. As I was meditating on them yesterday the Lord started putting different scriptures together as He often does. What got my attention was when He asked me a question about daily bread. I've heard many teachings on this and many think it has to do with daily food and I can’t argue that but I know that the bible says many things that are both physical and spiritual.

     The first passage that came to me while I was thinking of these things was the teaching in Matthew Chapter fifteen where it says:

21: Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22:And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23: But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying; Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24: But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25: Then came she and worshiped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26: But he answered and said, it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27: And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28: Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. 

     Now the thing I saw here was that the children’s bread was the delivering of the woman’s daughter and actually wasn't even the bread but just the crumbs. Just the crumbs delivered her daughter and made her whole. Now if this was that powerful to a woman without any covenant with God, how much more is it available to us now when we are sons and daughters of God and now that salvation is not just of the Jews any longer but freely given to all regardless of race, gender or nationality. As the scripture says there is no more Jew or gentile, bond or free, male or female.

     So we know this bread He spoke of was not just physical bread but healing, deliverance and restoration and its available daily just as he said to ask. That being said, it’s still not just that but it is much more as we see in Matthew chapter 26.

26: And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is (my body). 27: And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28: For this is (my blood) of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins 

    We know that Jesus is the bread that came down from heaven and He even said so in the book of John chapter 6 verse 35.

     So now to keep it short, here is the main thing He showed me in this time of meditation. Jesus is the true bread from heaven and we know that He said man should not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. The bible makes it plain that Jesus is also the word of God and that is even His name.

     So here is what we should do: We go to him every day in prayer and ask for our daily bread which is not just physical bread but more revelation of Jesus. We should be getting more and more of Him each day. The way we grow stronger and become who we are supposed to be in Him is by partaking of Him every day and yet there is even more. Let’s read in John chapter six verses 5-14.

5: When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat? 

6: And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7: Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 

8: One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9: There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 

10: And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 

11: And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12: When they were filled, he said unto his disciples; Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 

13: Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 

14: Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, this is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 

     This was a great miracle, there were five thousand men not counting the women and children which may have pushed this number of people fed up way past ten thousand, but we know that all the miracles Jesus did were because He loved and had compassion and also to teach us something. You notice that Jesus took the bread and gave thanks and then He gave to His disciples to distribute it? That’s the pattern He was trying to teach me in my time of meditation.

     We should go to Heaven in prayer every day and ask our Father for more of the revelation of Jesus which is our daily bread. Then when we receive our daily bread we should give thanks and give out to as many people as we can feed in a day’s time. We as sons and daughters of God have the right to partake of the children’s bread which is everything that comes with salvation such as healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out the devil, prosperity and fellowship with our Father. We are to take this bread and feed the nations.

     So what happens when we do? Not only do we bring more people into the kingdom but we have twelve baskets left. God is not a God of barely enough but of more than enough.

     So here is my plan. I’m going to pray every day and ask my Father for my daily bread and I’m going to give thanks for it and share it with as many people who will eat it with me. I’m going to take it to the hungry and oppressed, to the saved and unsaved. I’m going to give it freely just like I received it and hope you will do the same. There is a hungry world out there that needs to be touched by the Love of God and needs to be filled with the bread of life who is our Lord Jesus Christ.

     So, if you are hungry maybe you should spend some time in prayer with your Father and let him give you this bread.

     I speak blessings upon all of you who read these words. I pray for you each and every day and I pray that every need you have is met and every desire God puts into your heart comes to pass. May you always have baskets full of God’s goodness and blessing.

I hope you are encouraged by these words.

Until next time,

Grow rich in His Grace,

I love you all,

michael

For more information please visit our website at:

michaelottministries.org

Embracing the Light

First John Chapter One

1: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

 2:(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 

3:That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 

4: And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5: This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 

6: If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 

7: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

8: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

10: If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

     I love John's writings. It seems the disciple who was closer to Jesus than them all knew the very heart of God. After all, while all the other disciples were busy doing other things John spent his time with his head on Jesus' chest listening to his heart. It makes me wonder what Jesus taught him privately in whispers that the others never heard. So it's in his writings that I found myself today meditating about walking in the light and embracing the light.

     We spend so much time these days criticizing the evil in the world and focusing on all the darkness around us. We are wasting time looking at our faults and weaknesses. Our very lives become unfruitful because we can't see past ourselves and walk in what God has planned for us to do.

     I believe that God has a better way of fighting the darkness. It's called embracing the light. The scriptures listed above tell us that if we walk in the light as He is in the light then we have fellowship with him. Isn't it obvious that He knows that there is darkness in our lives? He understands what we are walking in and that we are in a dark world. Instead of focusing on the sin, the scriptures say that if we just admit that sin is in our lives and walk in His light that His blood will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The only way to put out the dark is to turn on the light.

     Verse 5 says that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we abide in Him we abide in this light and His light will drive all darkness from our lives. That's the only way we'll ever prevail over the sin in our lives. We will never win the battle with sin by fighting the sin. We will only win when we admit the sin is there and walk in the light. This lets the power of His light drive the evil from our lives.

     So now comes the big question. How do we walk in this light? The answer is found in Chapter 2 in these verses beginning with verse 8.

8: Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 

9: He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10: He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11: But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 

     Could it really be that simple? After all the years we've tried all the doom and gloom and crying and begging and fasting and praying to get sin out of our lives; Could it be as simple as loving your brother? But that's what it says doesn't it? He that loveth his brother abideth in the light and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

     Isn't that just like our loving Father? He made it simple for his children to walk in light by walking in love with each other. What an awesome and wise Father we have! We can embrace Him and embrace the light by walking in love with each other. As we embrace the light and walk in love then all the darkness will begin to flee from our lives. The blood of Jesus will cleanse us of all unrighteousness and bring us into perfect fellowship with our Father and with Jesus our Lord. Oh the riches of His grace and His love!

     So now I send out this to all who will hear. Let's love one another and put aside our petty differences. Let's walk in love and in the light and we can all walk in perfect fellowship with heaven. What a glorious church we are going to be when we learn to love each other!

I hope you find encouragement in these words.

Until next time,

Grow rich in His grace,

I love you all,

michael

For more information please visit our website at:

michaelottministries.org

Father's Love

     A few days ago I was overlooking a lake in Texas while praying. I often go to this place to worship and to write and pray. While in worship I heard the voice of my Father and He told me to write down what I hear. I took out my laptop computer and He spoke to me the following words:

     My son, now you are beginning to understand my ways. You have begun to know the truth about me. All I do is an act of my love. You will know my great love as you focus on it and give room for it in your life. It will overtake your life and my kindness toward you will take you to places that are not possible to reach without my grace.

     You will begin to learn to release my love to others in the realm of healing and deliverance and teaching, once you know that I am love. Look at my son Jesus, he is and was the exact representation of me. Look at all he did while on earth, it was an act of love also. Healing the sick, feeding the hungry, raising the dead are all acts of love. It is all because of love.

     Love is the hiding place of my power. You have searched for power to heal, deliver and set people free and now you have found the source of my power. My Spirit is Love also and to sow to the spirit is sowing to love. Do all you do as an act of love and let me love others through you: I am the source of all love!

     Look at everything you do in your day and start doing only those things that bring forth love. I told you that you would know the truth and the truth would make you free. This is the truth. I love each and every person on the planet. I love all beings and all creatures. Everything created was created in love but you see what happens when people and angelic beings walk away from my love and try to do things in their own power. See how far they fall? See what happens when men replace my love with a bunch of rules and regulations? It frustrates my grace and makes the ones that I love run from me instead of to me.

     I made it simple for you. Love is the key to all things. This is a process that you will learn over the next few weeks. Start seeing people as objects of my love and not as your friends or enemies.

     Start changing the forces of your life by being rooted and grounded in my love. I told you that you could be rooted and grounded in my love and your foundation would be secure. This is why people fall away because they aren't secure in my love for them. There are no conditions on my love. Remember I said that this is love, not that you loved me but I love you? That is the basis of all things.

     Now let’s talk about prosperity. You have to see it as a gift of my grace and love. If you do one thing to earn it then it's not grace. Grace only requires one thing. It is accessed by faith. Faith is the doorway into grace and grace provides salvation in all areas of your life. It will make you healthy and rich enough to have plenty to share with others. You receive all things concerning prosperity the same way you received salvation and my Spirit: You receive them by believing in me and believing my love will take care of you.

     Remember by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourself it is my free gift. Saved means healed, delivered, prospered and blessed to be a blessing to others. Faith to access the grace was my gift also that's why I gave every man, woman and child the measure of faith. The measure is the same for all. This one measure of faith can be used to access the realm of my grace and love and you can walk in the blessings on earth as they are in heaven. You can have all the things on earth as you have in heaven.

     Take the faith that I gave you and believe that I love you and am prospering you and healing you and delivering you. Know that I love you so much that I have l freely given you all things. You don't have to pay for any of it. Just think about it. If I gave you a new spirit with eternal life and I gave you of my Spirit and I forgave all your sins for free why would I charge you for prosperity? Would that make any sense? If you came to a banquet and they said all that you can eat is free except the potatoes and you'll have to work for those. Would that make any sense?

     Remember the garden was made before Adam. Salvation was paid for long before you were even born. That's why I said strait is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life. It's only as wide as my son Jesus. People can't get beyond their own pride and let me love them freely. They try to make their own way and there will be no way that brings glory to anyone except Jesus. All the blessing of life and all that you will receive will be because of his accomplishment and not yours.

     So stop struggling and let me love you. Accept my grace for prosperity as a gift of my love and teach others to let me love them. Watch what happens over the next few days as you grasp this teaching and watch my provision pour into your life. You are on a path of blessings and you will see all things that were lost restored into your life.

     You will walk in health and blessings and love and you will know that my love is being poured out into your life. Not by your own works but by what was accomplished long before you arrived. The Lamb of God was slain before the foundation of the world. A way of blessing and prosperity was in place long before you arrived.

     Think about this: People talk about how wonderful heaven is and about all the things they will have when they get there. My love has already seated you here. I told you that you were seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. So now you see that your blessings come from your true kingdom and that kingdom is within you because the king is within you.

     I made it so simple that all that call upon my name will be saved. Religion wants you to work for it. I want to give it to you freely without charge. The problem with men is the same from the beginning. It is pride. They want to feel like they have done some great thing and are deserving of reward. It is not of reward it is of grace.

     I told you that the love of money is the root of all evil. The problem is that people love the provision and not the provider. Once you truly have hold of the provider the provision will flow without being hindered. You will learn more as you spend time listening to my voice. My words will flow freely to you the more you practice hearing these words that I speak to you. I love teaching my sons and daughters. I wish more of them would come aside and listen to my teaching.

     I love speaking to you this way. This is the word that Peter spoke of when he said he didn't want to leave the word of God to wait tables. He didn't want to leave my voice to do anything else. He didn't want to talk about anything else and was wrapped up in me and my voice. He would spend all day in prayer listening to my voice and on his way home he would be full of my power and they would lay the sick in the streets to be healed. He would walk by and the presence that was on him would heal the sick.  It was when he left this teaching that he began to slip into error. He got away from the voice of my grace and slipped back under the law.

     It's the same with many that I call to spread the great news of my gospel. They get hold of a truth and start getting so busy building their ministry that they leave me behind and stop hearing my voice. This grieves my Spirit because he feels like an artist without a canvas, a musician without an instrument or a shepherd with no sheep.

     Let your ministry flow out of these times we spend together. Start adding these to your blog and letting others read them. When they see the relationship we have they will seek their own relationship with me. My greatest desire is to spend one on one time with each of my children. That is the most important thing to teach them. Tell them of the times we share and tell them there is room for all of them to come to me and learn.

     Remember what I told you last week. Most of what you know about your earthly Dad was what your older siblings tell you. He was sick and nowhere near the man that he used to be when you were old enough to know him. Now which is better? To hear stories about your Dad or to know him? See what I mean? Nothing can replace relationship. It's the basis of my love.

     Remember John Chapter seventeen. I want to be in you and you in me. I want it to be Father, Son, Spirit and sons and daughters all in a family all sharing time with each other and enjoying each other's company. I love it when we all get together and I really love time spent with each of you individually. The blood of Jesus and the working of my Spirit have made us one already but one of us keeps running away, and it’s not me. Teach my children to spend time with me.

     You come away with me and I'll take care of your needs. Remember I told you that I was self-sufficient in all things but one. My love was too great not to share with family. My love for family is the reason for all I do.

     Jesus knew my heart. He knew how much I loved him before the genesis of mankind. He knew my heart longed for more children. He knew that my love was too great to be contained in one place and we needed many dwelling places in which to store the power of my love. That's why He created mankind.

     He wanted brothers and sisters to know the love of a Father the way he does. He is so much the exact replication of me that He would create mankind just to give my heart a place to rest its love. He knew of my love for him and he wanted to make many more in our image; in the image of love.

     That is also why my Spirit came with fire and with tongues all could understand. He wanted you all to know that He is excited to be here and wants the whole world to know regardless of what language they speak that they are loved. He came to bring my love and my life to every people, tribe and tongue.

     See the gospel as family my son. Know that I am building a family that will walk through eternity in love and fellowship with each other. You have had a taste of this in this age, and know that just like each one in your family is precious to you and the group as a whole is pure joy. Imagine that times a billion. That's my heart my son and here’s my plan: To raise a family that I can love and show my goodness to for eternity. Remember I said that I would gather all things together in one in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth? That’s my plan.

     In the ages to come you will have a physical family and spiritual family all in one. I have had angels working with and protecting your family for generations. They long to be a part of your family and in the age to come they will be. Just as your family adopts people into it that aren't even kin, you will do the same with angels in the age to come. As I said I will gather all things in one in a family called Christ.

     There is so much glory to be revealed in the ages to come. I created eternity just to show people how much I love them. My love can’t be fully expressed in just one age. It will never end. It has no bounds or limits. It's eternal love. I loved you a million eons ago when you were still a vision in my heart and I'll love you the same a million eons from now when we walk together in my glory.

     Settle it in your heart and in the hearts of all who read these words. I am in love with you and will always be in love with you. The difference between those who spend eternity with me and those who are lost is the acceptance of my love for them. My love and my grace are free and free to all. It's what you do with my gift that counts.

     Many will receive the gift of my son and enjoy my eternal blessings and others will turn away my free gift and be lost. The gifts are freely given. It is the act of believing that I love you and want you to have the blessings of my salvation that brings the blessings into your life.

     It's really simple. You asked Jesus to come into your heart and you were born again. Anything else you need is just as simple. Just ask me in faith, knowing that I love you and want you to have it. Knowing that you don't have to earn it and it comes with no conditions. It is my free gift.

     Remember my gifts and callings are without repentance. I am never sorry I gave a gift even if people misuse it. Your receiving it only depends on your faith in my love. How much you get depends on how much of my love you are willing to accept. Didn't I say have faith in me? Didn't I say that I am love? So have faith in my love.

     Now you see why the early church preached the good news. It really is freedom from your own self and from bondage of religion. Religion says if I do this then God will do that. The gospel says. God already did it all and now I just need to receive it. Religion says “there is wood for a fire and provisions in the field if you will work for it you will eat.” The gospel says “come and dine. I have prepared a place for you. Eat until you are full.”

     Don't think that I'm encouraging laziness that's not the point. The point is that all is free and freely you receive so freely give. Once you receive my grace the love that flows from you will accomplish more for the kingdom. You will become a distributor of my grace and even though it requires physical activity it will not be a work but a joy. Think about fishing. It requires work but it’s fun if you are catching. Learning to fish with love as the bait will guarantee a great catch.

     You will find more joy in giving out of my abundance than you will of receiving it. That's why it's better to give than receive. To eat an ice cream cone is wonderful, but to buy one for a child who can't afford it is joy unspeakable.

     Here is the key. You don't work to get my love you have my love and my provision already, so the works that you do are my works that were built into your journey before you got here. They are finished works. You can rest from your own labor and instead of doing works you can bear fruit. Then the hungry and sick and needy can receive of me through you.

     Remember the purpose of a plant is to bring forth more of its own kind. If you plant a tomato it will bring forth more tomatoes and even more seeds to form more plants. Remember I said I would give seed to the sower and bread for food? Think about plants for a moment. They give fruit for food and seeds for more plants all in one. That's the way my gospel is. It can cause you to bear fruit and plant seeds in others at the same time.

     That's how my kingdom grows. You receive the incorruptible seed and it grows in you and you become bread and seed at the same time. It will produce after its own kind and the words you speak will plant that seed in others until the whole earth is seeded with my gospel.

     Now, let’s take a look at it from a provision standpoint. The garden was bearing fruit before man was made. There was bread for food and seeds to sow before I put Adam in the garden. People have it backwards today. I gave first. Not you. I gave first and that’s the order for eternity.

     Get the process in the right order. People think they have to give something to get something and then they can give more away. The truth is what they need to do is receive from me first; and they will get provision for their own lives and good things to give away in the process.

     Always know that I give first. I blessed the bread and gave the disciples to distribute. They didn't act first. I did. Here is the simple process. I give, you receive. As you receive bread for your food you also receive seed to sow. Don’t ever sow to get. Sow in love. You don’t sow to get you receive to get, you sow because you love. Only give because you love.

     Think about this scripture. Everyone knows it but not many understand it: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but should have everlasting life. I gave first. I always give first. Do you remember in the vision I gave you that I made the fish before the fisherman, the grass before the cow, and the Savior before the sinner? Remember I said that Jesus was the first of all?

     It's not giving that gets you eternal life. It's receiving. Believing in my Son Jesus is what brings life. Now put this in everything you do. Receive life and give out of the life you receive. You don't receive by giving you give after you receive. I said freely you have received so freely give. I want to drive this point home. You receive, you give, you receive and you give. Not the other way around.

     Now let’s get back to that scripture. I loved so I gave. Give because you love and for no other reason. Don't let getting be the reason you give. Let love be the reason you give. Giving to get cheapens your gift.

     Which would you rather hear a friend say? I'm buying you lunch because God will give me a hundred lunches? Or, I'm buying you lunch because I love you and treasure you and want to spend time with you?

     See how silly this whole doctrine of giving to receive is? It has taken the church captive and it didn't come from me. I give you salvation, riches and blessings because I love you and for no other reason. You are changed by my love and you give to others because you love them. Giving to get changes an act of love from a beautiful thing to an investment or transaction. How sad it is to build a relationship based on money.

     Remember as I told you before, in that day when men's works are tried in the fire only the things done in love will remain. I am love and I am a consuming fire. Only love can walk through the fire. My fire refines you; not because I do not accept you the way you are. I love you just like you are, but because I love you I am changing you for your benefit and not mine.

     Know that my love for you is eternal. Meditate on my love and open your heart to receive all of my love. There is a depth to my love that you have not even imagined. There was a bloody cross to prove my love for you. Wasn't it enough? I have freely given all things to my children. You are my inheritance and all things are your inheritance. All free to you because of the payment of Jesus. He paid for the sins of the whole world and for all blessings for the children of the kingdom. There is no debt left to pay. He is the good man I spoke of through the prophet who said that a good man lays up an inheritance for his children’s children.

     Don’t be offended when those who don’t understand this teaching come against you. Tradition is a hard thing to overcome even if it’s in error. The money changers have been in the church a long, long time. There is a lot of pride involved. Remember to love those who persecute you. Love them and teach them and remember they are ensnared and need mercy and not judgment. Pray for those who don’t understand. Don’t be concerned by those who say you are crazy. People said Jesus was crazy too. Don’t forget to love them my son. Just because they are wrong doesn't stop my love for them. My love for them is endless just as it is for you.

     I love this time of teaching you my son. Please keep coming away with me to hear my voice. You are learning many things and are a good student. There's nothing I love better than spending time teaching my sons and daughters while we fellowship together.

     Come away with me later my son and we'll discuss this more. I love you. 

     I want to encourage you all to take time and get away with Dad. He has many things to speak to each of you. All He needs is a little time. He wants to communicate with each of you so very much. It only takes a little time to learn His voice. It is such unspeakable joy to hear his voice and to have Him teach you. Please don't neglect such a great part of salvation. Jesus paid the ultimate price for you to be able to see, and hear and to know of His love. Please don't squander His unspeakable gift. He longs for your fellowship and He loves you with all of his heart. 

     I hope you are encouraged by these words.

Until next time,

Grow Rich in His Grace,

I love you all,

michael

For more information please visit our website at:

michaelottministries.org

Father's Voice

     Some mornings I awake to the sound of the birds singing and the beautiful light of a new day and a new start, but this was not one of those mornings. It was much better. I awoke to the voice of my Heavenly Father lovingly saying "Wake up my son!" I have some things to share with you.

     As usual, I didn't want to miss a word so I quickly started my computer so I could write down His instruction. He spoke for quite a while and some of what He said was personal and some He told me to publish later but I am happy to share what I can with you.

     As I said in an earlier post, He doesn't give me these things because I'm some special messenger or prophet. It's really much simpler than that. He speaks to those who will listen.

     I encourage all my brothers and sisters to take time out to hear His voice. Father is not pushy, if you feel a gentle calling to get up and pray in the early morning hours then you are hearing His voice also. If you feel like you need to just get somewhere quiet for a little while that means you are hearing His voice. It's not some super-spiritual thing. It's just a loving Dad talking to his kids. Take time to listen. It's the most wonderful feeling in the world to be in His presence listening to His voice. Please excuse my rambling and the important words, the ones He spoke are below.

     My son, seek me early in the predawn hours. I will give you a vision and an outline for the day ahead. I will show you what needs to be done that day so we can get things done and still have time to spend together.

     I am not limited. I want both your fellowship and the carrying out of my will. I am trying to bring my sons and daughters into a place of rest from their labor. The problem is that they are trying to do too many things and not the things I have for them to walk in.

     When Jesus walked the earth He walked in fellowship with me and His ministry was the outpouring of the relationship we shared. He didn't do miracles to make me happy. He made me happy with his fellowship and so I poured the miracles out from there.

     There is so much more power available to you than that which you are walking in. I want to be able to spend time with you and shorten the work load and make it easier for you. Remember; you rule from a throne where you are seated with me. Do you remember what I wrote to you in the book of Ephesians that you are seated with me in heavenly places? It's that sitting down with me that gives you the power to reign with me. Come away with me each day and let me heal you from all the stresses of life. Let me renew your light in my presence and you will find rest for your soul.

     I know you are concerned about the things of the kingdom but come to the king first. Seek me for I am the king of the kingdom. If you have me then you have found the kingdom. I have conquered your enemies already. You can rule over them from the power of my presence. Be not afraid for I am with you and will never leave you. You can have it either way. I can be with you in trouble or you can be with me in victory. It’s your choice.

     It's all a matter of perspective. Where your mind dwells is where you live. If you dwell on the things of the Spirit as you were instructed, you will reign from this place of Spirit. If you dwell on the problems of the world then I have to come and dwell there with you, for I promised not to leave you.

     So choose where you will establish your dwelling. Remember I said you were in the world but not of the world. You are my ambassador. Your physical location is earth but your seat of power is in heaven. Come away with me and I will show you easier ways of releasing the healing and wisdom that I have given you to release.

     Most of my church does things the hard way. It's easier to rule from my Spirit. You can walk in works or you can prosper in grace. I will bless the works of your hands. If your work is to manually dig all day long to make a living that is honorable and I will bless it, or if you choose to make attending to worship and walking with me your life’s work then I will bless that too.

     Servants have no choice but to work all day in the heat. Sons come in and out and oversee the works of my hands. Remember I put Adam in charge of the works of my hands not the works of his. The works were finished and he was to rule over them. Learn this key. The works are done. Rule over them. I gave Adam a voice not a shovel. Servants toil to bring forth fruit from the earth. Sons speak and the fruit appears.

     Remember how the disciples fished all night and caught nothing but at Jesus’ command they cast the nets on the other side and caught many? Jesus told Peter to throw in a hook and when he threw in the first hook and brought up both food and money. See how easy that is?

     It was never my will for men to be slaves. I am a God of plenty and built the earth to supply abundantly all people need. The earth is man's slave but man has become the slave of the earth. Things are upside down. Turn them over and around with your faith filled words.

     Teach my people to rule over the works of my hands by using the same principle. Keep pressing in to me for these greater things that you are seeking. I want things to be like they are supposed to be. I want to walk with all my sons and daughters in the cool of the day. I didn't create the world to be a burden. I created it to be a meeting place for me and my children.

     If you can stretch this far then hear this: I created earth to be the playground for my children. Keep stretching the bounds of your faith and let me show you heavenly things. All I've shown you this far is earthly things. I am willing to take you higher if you are willing to go. All things are possible to those who believe but to those who don't believe even the simplest things are impossible. Believe and doubt not.

     Take every thought captive. The key to ruling your world starts with your mind. Until you understand that the mind is the last battleground that the enemy fights you on. I overcame the enemy in the heavenly and earthly realm. When are you going to run that snake completely out of your garden? You can't allow him even visitation rights into your mind.

     Declare your mind and your imagination to be holy ground. Did not I say that the last enemy to be defeated was death? Did I not also say to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace? So if you are willing to find that place where no darkness exists in your mind, then you can know my ways and walk totally in the light and you can see me face to face.

     The darkness of the human mind is the veil that hides me. Purify your mind from all evil. Let your mind be filled with my light and my love. When you come to the point that you are incapable of thinking evil of anyone, then there will be no darkness within you. There is a clear path to walking with me in the fullness I planned. It's laid out for you plainly in scripture but it comes down to ruling your own mind.

     People keep begging me for more, but believe me I've given all I have already. It's up to you to walk in what I've already accomplished. Remember, I gave my only begotten son? What does that mean? It's not that He was my only son, He created all things and all things exist by and in Him. He was and is everything to me so I gave my all. I didn't have any more to give. But now I have already freely given you all things but you have to take them out of the storehouse by faith and use them. Didn't I say that it’s by faith and patience that you lay hold of the promises?

     Why must you do things the hard way my beloved? You are breaking rocks with a hammer when there are explosives available to you; take them by faith and use them. You can move mountains with faith words or you can keep chipping away at them with your hammer. I give you free choice which tools you choose.

     Wake up my son and know who you are. You have already received your inheritance. Remember, Jesus ruled the earth in the body He was in. If you reckon yourselves to be dead unto sin I can quicken the dead body that you are wearing now and make it alive, but the only way to be transfigured is by the renewing of your mind. It's the last obstacle.

     Your mind is the last enemy to be put down. Just remember it is by the Spirit that you overcome it. Fill your mind with my wonders and my words and you will not leave room for anything else.

     Thoughts are the seeds that leave your mind and are planted in your heart. Then from your heart these things are spoken out though your words and are planted into your world. That's why it's so important to win the battle in your mind. Overcome evil with good. Plant good things into your mind and you will change your heart and then you will change your words and then you will change your world.

     Do you remember in Romans I said to be transformed by the renewing of your mind? To be transformed means to be changed from one thing into something completely different. Here is another clue my son; to be transformed is the same meaning as Jesus was transfigured.

     Just as I had my beloved Paul write in his letter to the Corinthian church: take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. I know that seems difficult but with the help of my Spirit it will become much easier. All I need you to do is start and I'll empower you to finish. 

     So remember today my son that you are in my love, and don't forget to come away with me to spend time today. I love visiting with you and you are my favorite, just like all your brothers and sisters. Each of you is my favorite. With you this seems impossible but with me it’s easy.

     I love you all with all I have. I created eternity just so I'd have time to spend with you all. Remember to walk in love and pray for peace. 


     So there it is my family. I hope to share the rest with you later as He permits. As always I hope you are encouraged by these words.

Until next time,

Grow rich in HIS grace,

I love you all,

michael

For more information please visit our website at:

michaelottministries.org

For the Birds

Matthew Chapter Six

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

     What an Awesome statement! In these days when finances are stretched so thin and all the news seems to be bad isn't it so wonderful to know that our Father is still in heaven and still has plenty. It is in this frame of mind that I want to make a few comments:

     We read this scripture so much but we don't really consider what this scripture says. We never really take time to study the fowls of the air and watch what they do every day. I am about to tell you a story that will make many of you who don't know God personally or haven't experienced his wisdom and humor think I've lost my mind.

     One morning I was awakened at daybreak by a bird singing. She had a nest in a tree right outside my window. Her song was so beautiful that I got out of bed and looked out of my window and my heart started singing with her.

     I could see that she had some eggs in the nest that she had built. While she kept singing I told the Lord that her song was beautiful and thanked Him for letting me start my day with her song. His voice then broke through the singing and in my heart I heard him ask me a question. He said "What is she singing about?" I said "Lord I guess she's just chirping because that's what birds do." Then He said to me, "Son is that what you really think? Do you think that beautiful song is just random sounds of chirping and has no meaning?"

     All of a sudden I realized that I had been terribly wrong. I knew in my heart that He asked me this question so I would ask Him a question. So I said "Lord what is she saying?" Instantly my understanding was opened and He let me hear what she was singing. As I began to understand her song I fell to my knees weeping and asking His forgiveness for being so hardhearted. This is the song I heard her sing:

The air is full of the fragrance of spring.

What wonderful joy His presence brings.

Each day there is plenty, I lack nothing at all.

He'll help me to fly and catch me if I fall.

While I slept so warm in my nest,

I knew in my heart today would be blessed.

I never purposely planted a single seed

But He has provided all that I need.

Soon my babies will be born in the nest.

I can't wait to tell them of how we are blessed.

Blessed by Jesus our creator and King.

Together we'll worship as I teach them to sing.


     Now I wonder how many of you are still reading this story and how many of you who know me are already thumbing through the yellow pages trying to find me some professional help. I know it sounds far out. But the bible is full of stories that seem far out.

     So for those of you who are still reading we'll move on. We as a church have been so deceived all these years by people who tell us that our provision is based on what we do and how hard we work. I'm telling you that that's not God's way.

     The scripture says that while we were yet sinners that God loved us and gave His only Son to save us. The scripture also says in the book of Romans chapter eight verse thirty two:

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all,

How shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

     Don't be afraid. Father loves us. He didn't just give His only Son. The bible tells us that Jesus created all things and by him all things exist and that everything that was ever created both visible and invisible was created by Him. So He already gave us all things when He gave us His only Son. It was all He had to give and He loved us so much that He didn't even hesitate. Remember, we read above that we are worth way more than the fowls of the air.

 So here's my point. All we have or will ever gain in this life is all because of His love for us and not according to what we can do. Our value to Him is not based on our performance but based on His unchanging love. Isn't that Amazing?

     I know that we have all been taught we are blessed by our giving but that doesn't hold up to the scripture. We are blessed by His giving. I am blessed because He loves me and for no other reason. I give because I'm blessed and not to get blessed.

     My Father loves me so He gave His only Son, so now as I receive all He gave to me, His love takes over my life and I give because I love and for no other reason. Giving for any other reason is wrong. We are in God's heart and He is in ours, so we give out of a loving heart because of who we are in him and not because we might get something in return.

     So now I can give freely because I know that I'm not giving anything that wasn't given to me. He becomes the source for all things in my life and the more I know Him as provider the less I need to hang on to.

     So now back to my bird story. I sat for over an hour watching that bird and listening to her song. Over the next few days I was blessed to watch her babies hatch and she taught them to sing and then to fly. I moved away but I know that in the woods of east Texas there is a beautiful bird who God used to teach me the secret to His kingdom.

     So today I'm asking you to take a moment and consider how much more your Father loves you than the birds. For them He sent berries and bugs and worms and nests but for you He sent His only beloved Son.

     Rest in His love and know that He will care for you. He gave you eternal life and whatever situation you are enduring now is just temporary. He will never leave you or forsake you and He has already made a way to take care of you. Don't be afraid. It's all according to His free gift and not according to your giving or your abilities. It's all about Him and His great love. Receive His love and provision and be blessed.

I hope you are encouraged by these words.

Until next time,

Grow Rich in His Grace,

I love you all,

michael

For more information please visit our website at:

michaelottministries.org

Forget and Remember

     As I sat down today to write I had a subject that I wanted to share with you all and I was ready to put it into print and watch the wisdom leap from the page. Not that I consider myself wise, for the scriptures say that God takes the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. So I realized that I must be most confounding to all of you who are full of wisdom. I would much rather be God's fool than the world's wisest man.

     Anyway, that’s enough rambling. So as I began to write I asked the Lord, “What I should write to your people? What would you like to say to your people today? What is the most urgent message you would like to publish today?” Then in His loving, kind voice He spoke these words into my heart.

Forget your cares and problems but remember I love you.

Forget that there is trouble all around but remember that I am with you.

Forget all your failures but remember that in me you have purpose and destiny.

Forget all your anger and frustration but remember to love all who offend you.

Forget what it's like to be lonely but remember I live inside you.

Forget that you have weaknesses but remember that my grace is sufficient.

Forget how to hold a grudge but remember how to forgive.

Forget how to be discouraged but remember how to rejoice.

Forget how to cry in sorrow but remember laughter is the language of heaven.

Forget guilt and confusion but remember

There’s a cross between where you have been and where you are going. 

I hope you are encouraged by these words.

Until next time,

Grow rich in His grace,

I love you all,

michael

For more information please visit our website at:

michaelottministries.org

From Your Father

     This was given to me on March 18, 2011 while in prayer for someone. As I was praying the Lord spoke to my heart and asked me to write it down and send it to them. So I did, but later as I read it I realized that much of it pertained to me also. We know that God gives things to each of His children but expects us to share with each other. For the sake of keeping the person to whom it was written anonymous some parts were deleted from this writing but most of it is completely intact. I hope maybe you can also profit from His gracious words. 

Below are the gracious words that He spoke:

     I have longed for the day when I could be your father and you could completely surrender to me, when I could have your heart and your trust. When I could show you of my great love for you and how with great love and affection and care I formed you in your mother's womb. I have longed to show you how I laid out a plan for your life. It is a good plan full of joy and purpose and gifting. It is a plan that will give you reward in heaven and blessings for eternity. Real blessings are laid up in the next age. All the blessings in this age such as money and prestige are all just temporary. I love you too much to let you go into eternity without treasure laid up here.

     There is a day coming when all the works of all people are tried in my fire. In my scriptures in first Corinthians chapter three it is explained how all the works of mankind will be tried in the fire in that day. Only those deeds with eternal purpose and done in love will receive reward. All others will be burned with fire. Even though my people will be saved their whole life's purpose will be burned up and that's not the plan I have for you. I want you to go to sleep each night knowing that today you helped build the eternal Kingdom. I will give you the rest you desire and the blessings of my presence.

     You have been so afraid that if you surrendered to me I would make you do something you are not comfortable with. Afraid that you might be put into positions that you are embarrassed about. I want you to know that all I want is all of you. I want much better things for you than you want for yourself.

     You have fought so hard to hold on to things that have no real meaning. Please trust me and let me build a life in you that is full of joy. All the things that you have lost and the things that you will give up for my kingdom and purpose will be restored. Remember what I said in Mark chapter ten?

     Then Peter began to say unto him, lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
     It's the things you are grasping on to that are drowning you. Like a person carrying a stone through the river. If you are going to come to the top you have to let go of that stone and climb up on the Rock. You have built your life upon shifting sand and the only way I could repair it is to tear it down to the foundation and rebuild it upon the true Rock. If you will let me I will build you the life that you can live. Not full of burdens and worries but full of life and faith.

     Let me paint this picture in your heart. I want you to behold this image until you are changed into it. Every day I want you to quit seeing yourself in the mirror and start seeing me in you. I live in you and have my life inside you. You are not limited to what is inside your natural talents and abilities. You have unlimited resources inside of you. These things reside in your true being, which is your spirit.

     Your spirit is born of me and is one with me. It's the only part of you that is real and eternal. Your body is the earth suit that makes you able to touch and make contact with natural things. It will come under the power of my Spirit if you will subject it to me. If you will surrender your body to my Spirit I will heal and change it and cause your health to spring forth.

     Here is another key. You've been thinking and wondering about the Garden of Eden. This garden is in your spirit. Your spirit you received when you were born again is the part of you that is born of me. As you begin to look into your spirit you will see me and know that we have a meeting place there.

     Your spirit is like your body. It has eyes, ears, fingers, a nose, a voice and a mind. You can start living in a consciousness of me by looking into the mind of your spirit. Your natural mind can be taught to be still and focus on the mind of your spirit. The way to do this is to be conscious of every thought and imagination. Don’t let worry or fear live in it. Cast it out in my name. When you start to imagine bad things cast them down. Replace your thoughts with my promises and you will be changed. Soon you will be able to visit me anytime you like by looking inside your heart or spirit. That is our meeting place. That is our garden.

     The very first thing you have to do is forgive yourself. You have to know that my blood is more than enough to wash away all sin. You must not condemn yourself for anything. You also need to know that you can make a new start right where you are today by meeting me in the spirit. When you pray in the Spirit the Holy Spirit is giving your spirit a language of prayer. This prayer opens the channel or the portal of heaven so that you can become one with me.

     Doesn't this sound better than the struggles you've been in? Which would you rather have, a job that you hate full of strife and contention or fellowship with heaven? I'm not asking you to preach to millions of people or to do things outside of who you are. I'm asking you for a relationship where you can speak with me face to face.

     I want to show you the blessings that are yours for eternity. I want you to know the love a Father who knows how to love. Who loves you exactly as you are but wants to change you for your benefit not mine. I want you to know you are loved for who you are and not for what you can do.

     Our relationship is not based on performance. It's based on blood. I love you not for what you do but because you are mine. I have many other things to tell you but I want to tell you in the garden where we meet. Soon if you choose you shall walk with me in peace and I shall reveal my ways and my heart to you. But this is your choice.

     Ask of me and I'll give you the stars of heaven for your inheritance. Please, I ask of you because my great love for you knows no end. You know now how it feels to lose fellowship with your child. I feel the same way about you. I am longing for your fellowship. Please say yes to me and let me turn your broken life into eternal spring. Forget the cares of this world and let me lavish you with my grace. I am calling my beloved. Will you answer? 

I hope you find encouragement in these words,

Until next time,

Grow rich in His grace,

I love you all,

michael

For more information please visit our website at:

michaelottministries.org

Giant Killers

     First Samuel Chapter 17 tells the story of David and Goliath. For forty days this giant had terrorized the army of Israel and mocked them every day challenging them to a fight. All the soldiers were terrified of him and would not go to fight him. After all, this giant was almost ten feet tall and wore over a hundred pounds of armor, and his spear weighed more than fifteen pounds. He was a monster for sure. Every day he cursed the army of Israel and called them out but all were too afraid to face him alone.

     Then along comes David. A shepherd boy whose father Jesse had sent him to the army camp to take his older brothers food and to check on their well-being  When he got to their camp he heard the giant run his big mouth and taunt everyone. He asked one of the soldiers what would be the reward for killing this giant. They told him the king would treat him nicely and reward him with wealth and even the king's daughter for a bride. He asked again another soldier told him the same story.

     David's older brothers feared for his life and told him that he didn't belong there and he needed to go back and tend to the sheep. But David was not afraid. He had already fought a lion and a bear to protect his father's sheep and he knew that God would deliver this giant into his hands also.

     David got permission from the king to face this giant. Although the king didn't believe David could win, he was desperate to try anything to get rid of this giant. The king tried fitting his on armor onto David and to give him his own weapons but they wouldn't fit, so the shepherd boy went out with his staff and five smooth stones from the riverbed and a sling.

     While the giant spewed filth from his mouth at David and taunted him, David ran toward the giant with all his might. He told the giant that he was coming for him in the name of the Lord and was going to cut off his head and feed him to the scavengers! As he ran he launched one stone from his sling and hit the giant right in the middle of his forehead. The giant fell with a thud and the army cheered. The rest of the giant’s cohorts scattered and the army of Israel pursued and defeated them.

     David took the head of the giant back to Jerusalem but took the weapons of the giant back to his own tent. When the king learned what had happened he took David into his house from that day on.

     While studying this story some interesting comparisons came to me. There was another giant called sin and death that reigned over all our hearts and minds for thousands of years. It taunted us and terrorized us and left us helpless and afraid. No matter how we tried we couldn't fight it. We were helpless and hopeless and at the mercy of the giant.

     Then one day there came a shepherd. He didn't fight with spears and swords but with smooth stone like words. He told us he was going to fight a great battle with the giant and even though it might seem hopeless he would win this fight.

     He like David would fight for the sheep and would defeat the enemy. Even when it seemed hopeless and He had been in grave for three days, it still wasn't over. He arose in victory and slew the giant with a crushing blow to his head. Sin and death could reign over people no more.

     The giant called the devil was defeated and then The Shepherd was received into the King's house for what He had accomplished and even received the King's daughter(the church) for a bride.

    Now it's our turn. We all have giants in our lives that must be defeated. They have been terrorizing us for years. Just like David those who are around you won't believe that you will be able to slay the giant. They may be older and stronger than you and think that you are too weak, but God has a plan. He gave you a sling and a rock. The rock is the truth of God's word that is sharper than any two edged sword. It will cut the head off the giant you are facing and chase away his armies. Maybe your giant is sickness, poverty, fear, depression, anger or jealousy. They are no match for the truth.

     Others may see you as a weak sheep herder but God see's you as a giant killer. He knows you can defeat your giant. He's just waiting on you to discover it for yourself. You see you've already killed the lion and the bear. It's time to face your giant. Don’t forget, there is great reward for slaying your giant and the very weapons he tried to defeat you with will be trophies in your tent.

     So rise up today and slay whatever giant is in your path. Use the truth in the word and declare unto the giant how Great your God is and how you are going to take him down and saw off his head! Be bold and courageous! What are you waiting for Giant Killer?

I hope you are encouraged by these words.

Until next time,

Grow Rich in His Grace,

I love you all,

michael

For more information please visit our website at:

michaelottministries.org

Grace and Peace

Second Peter Chapter One verses two and three

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. 

     One thing that's for certain in these times that we are living in is that we need more grace and more peace. There are so many things today that are stealing our peace and frustrating the grace that God has poured into our lives.

     While I was meditating on these scriptures this morning I decided to stop and study these scriptures more closely. Sometimes we read through the scriptures so fast that we don't take time to listen to what they are really saying. We just fly right past great revelation on our way to finishing the chapter and moving on to the next one. How many of you are like me and are sometimes guilty of doing this? Put your hand down silly, I can’t see you from here. So let’s study and see just what revelation is hiding in plain sight in these verses.

     First of all grace and peace comes from knowing God our Father and Jesus our Lord. We will never find peace anywhere else. But these scriptures say more than that. The word knowing in this verse means to have a personal relationship with someone. Knowing about Jesus isn't enough: Knowing him personally is what counts.

     The only way to know someone personally is to spend time with them. Second hand knowledge won't work here. What your pastor knows about Jesus won't bring you any grace or peace unless you develop a relationship with Jesus and with the Father.

     Another word I really like in this verse is the word multiplied. It doesn't just mean a little. The root meaning of the word is to multiply to maximum capacity. Isn't that awesome?! How would you like your peace to be multiplied to maximum capacity? How would you like so much peace that you couldn't possibly handle any more?

     The word grace used in this context means the favor, kindness and blessing of God. How about that multiplied to maximum capacity?

     Next in verse three it says that God through his divine power has given us ALL things that pertain to life and Godliness through the knowledge of Him. Anything we could ever need to live this life and to become like God is given to us as we begin to know him. The more we get to know him the more these things are multiplied in our lives. It comes no other way.

     We can't get more like God by keeping rules or by doing deeds. It comes by bearing the fruit of a relationship with him. It's good to do good works and to read and study about him but nothing will replace the time spent just praying and talking to him like your best friend. The more time we spend with him the more we become like him. As we spend this precious time with him we begin to truly know him and not just know about him. As we do this grace and peace are multiplied to us. It is so awesome that we are rewarded by spending time with him and for spending time with him.

     Verse three also says that we are called to glory and virtue. These things will come as a result of knowing him. It's amazing that the King of Glory would share his glory with us and through us as we come to know him. His character and likeness rubs off on us as we spend time with him.

     Finally I will give you some practical advice on how to spend time with him. I've been doing some of these things and I am having the time of my life getting to really know him and to know his heart. I'm not saying that I have arrived at some great pinnacle of glory and virtue but I am saying that as I do these things I'm seeing more visions, getting more revelations and hearing His voice better than ever. I am finding more peace and his grace is flowing more freely in my life.

     Just remember these are things that I do and they are not the only way and certainly are not rules. We are each individual children and he communicates with us in different ways according to our personalities. So please build your own relationship with him and if you find some things that work great for you please email me and share what you have learned. Here are a few of mine.

1. See him inside you at all times. He doesn't have to come to you he only has to appear to you because he promised to never leave us or forsake us. He is always with us.

2. Make time to get away one on one. I used to think that I didn't have time but once I started making time then his grace took some things out of my life that were stealing my time with him. He'll do the same for you. Find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed. Spend a few moments worshiping him privately and telling him how much you love him, and then tell him about your dreams, your hurts, your worries and your fears and listen as his voice becomes clearer to you and his peace settles into your life. Don't forget sometimes he speaks with words and sometimes it's with a vision or dream or a knowing inside.

3. Save enough time to listen after you have told him your cares. Respectfully wait until he has time to communicate with you the answers. We sometimes ask a question and then don't wait for the answer. We wouldn't do that to a friend so why do we do him that way? Yes, I admit I've been guilty of that.

     As a side note, one time while in my favorite hiding place with him I asked him a question and he took several hours to answer. I asked why he took so long and he said that he wanted to spend time with me and if he knew that if he gave me the answer right away I would leave. It still hurts me that I treated him that way.

     So if you get your answer right away please don't hurt his feelings and leave quickly. Take some time to spend with him. Now when the answers come quickly I spend the rest of the time in worship or listening to him teaching me whatever he wants to talk about.

4. Be prepared to be taught. When He walked on earth in flesh they called him teacher because that's who He is. He also said that He sent the Holy Spirit to teach us. So bring a bible and a notebook or a laptop or whatever you keep notes on. All teachers love it when you take notes. It lets them know you are serious about what they are teaching.

5. Enjoy the journey. We are on an unending journey of discovery. For all eternity we will be learning of him and getting to know him. This won't end when we get to heaven. He is greater than time and so great that it would be impossible to ever learn all there is to know about him in one eternity; But the more we know him the more his grace and peace will be multiplied to us and the more his glory and virtue will appear in us.

     I encourage you to get to know the One true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent to save the world. Get to know the Holy Spirit whom He sent to teach us all things. Have a personal relationship with Him and become friends with Him. He gave his life not just to be your Lord and master but to be your friend. He really does love you that much.

I hope you are encouraged by these words.

Until next time,

Grow Rich in His Grace,

I love you all,

michael

For more information please visit our website at:

michaelottministries.org