I’ve been talking about the connection between revival, repentance, and forgiveness. I believe that’s what’s necessary to usher in a revival in our nation.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21
Is this verse true? Can evil be overcome with good? The answer is a resounding YES! The principles of forgiveness bring victory over evil. Look at the example of Scripture.
In the early church of Jerusalem thousands of people a month were being saved. Jesus was being preached. Also during this time the apostles were arrested and brought before the religious leaders for questioning.
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
Acts 4:18
This was the outcome of their meeting. Does it sound familiar to you? It should. This is the attitude of society in the United States today. They tell us that we can do whatever we want – just don’t mention Jesus.
What was the response of the church in Jerusalem to this kind of attitude? Did they go out and preach some more? Hold a Jesus concert? Put a referendum on the ballot? Absolutely not.
They called a prayer meeting. This is what they brought before the Lord at that time.
“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
Acts 4:29-30
Considering that they were told not to use the name of Jesus, here’s their request. First, they asked for boldness. Then they asked for healings, miraculous signs and wonders. But the important point was that they wanted them accomplished in the name of Jesus.
They didn’t just want to preach in His name, they wanted the world to see the power of the name of Jesus. This is the forgiveness principle at work – it’s the power to arrest and destroy sin. It’s all done by the power of the Spirit.
That brings me back to the verse I first started with at the beginning of this series.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
Do we want our land healed? Then sin must be forgiven – removed – arrested and destroyed. The only way this will happen is for the church to get on our knees. There needs to be intercession made for our nation.
Not praying for a better president or leaders. Not praying for new laws. We must cry out God to give us the boldness to speak His Word. We must intercede for the Lord to send miracles, healings, signs and wonders. All of this so that the name of Jesus can break sin.
After all, it’s so much easier to win the lost if the battle is won first in the heavens.
Questions: Why is it so hard to get people to intercede for our nation? Are you willing to pay the price for revival?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: boldness, Christ, forgiveness, healing, Holy Spirit, intercession, Jesus, miracles, name of Jesus, overcome evil with good, power, power of God, power of the spirit, pray for revival, repentance, revival, revival in America, victory
I’m posting about the different kinds of soil that Jesus said was contained in our hearts. Today’s is about someone with very good soil. It produced bountifully. The problem was that it wasn’t producing fruit.
Instead, it raised a great crop of thorns and thistles. Then the few good plants that sprung up were choked out before they produced anything.
Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Mark 4:18-19
These believers get further along than the other groups. They believe the Word and actually let it take root in their lives. Their problem is that they let other things grow right along next to it.
The first plant Jesus mentions is the distractions of this age, in the original Greek. What a description of the modern Christian – DISTRACTED! It’s not that we’ve turned our backs on God. On the contrary, we want God’s best – His Word and His grace. The trouble is that we want the world’s best right along with it. We’re getting distracted by the things of the world.
Right along with that is the delusion of wealth. When we think of wealth, it tricks us into believing that it can supply all of our needs. The truth is that wealth can only obtain material possessions.
Wealth can never satisfy the longing of our souls. If it could, you would never hear of a wealthy person committing suicide. The thing we need to put into perspective is that only the things that come from the Word of God are truly able to fulfill our lives.
The third plant that grows next to the Word is simply desires. What the verse implies is that this is a desire for the things that were given up in order to follow after God. When we start looking back at these things with longing in our hearts, it’s a sure road to failure.
Please understand that it’s not doing the former things that causes the trouble, it’s the desire to do it.
The biggest thing that the Christians of this generation need to realize is that you can’t have it all, no matter what any televangelist will tell you. You can’t have the power of God manifest in you, as well as everything your flesh desires.
It’s a well-known principle of farming. When weeds and valuable crops are allowed to grow in the same space, it’s the weeds that will win out every time.
We’re so quick to blame God.
“Oh God, I planted the Word. Why is there no harvest? Why have you failed me?”
I’m here to inform you, it wasn’t God who failed. Everything grew as God ordained it to. It was the weeds in your life that choked out the Word before it was able to produce fruit in you. That’s why there was no harvest.
Question: How are you keeping your heart free from weeds?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: are you distracted, Christ, delusion, desires, distracted, distractions, flesh, good soil, harvest, heart, Jesus, parable, power of God, thistles, thorns, unfruitful, wealth, weeds, word of God
I want to wrap up my posts on fasting with some practical advice for those who are just starting out.
Fasting has a cumulative effect over time. Don’t just try fasting once and expect to become “Faith Man.” Step by step it decreases the pull your flesh has over your life. It allows the faith that you have to exert a greater influence.
You need to know your body’s limitations. There are some people who need to take a cautious approach. These are people who are on certain medications or have medical conditions (such as diabetes) that require you to have food at regular intervals. If you are one such person, then you need to consult with your doctor before starting a fast. Tell them that you desire to fast for spiritual reasons and ask if there is a way to do so safely.
Remember that fasting is not a religious exercise, but a spiritual encounter. God, who knows your heart, will release His power in you. If you have to eat something with your medication, then look at the food as a part of your medicine. It will not detract from your fast because your faith is in Christ.
There are side effects from caffeine. If you are addicted to caffeine (which means that you regularly drink coffee, tea, or soda with caffeine in it) it’s possible that you will get moderate to severe headaches during your fast. These headaches are the symptom of withdrawal from caffeine. This can be avoided if you continue to drink something with caffeine in it on your fasting day.
There are side effects from sugar. If sugar is a regular part of your diet, then you will experience hunger pains. That’s your body’s normal reaction to a withdrawal from sugar. Just be aware of that and let it run its course.
Drink large amounts of water while you’re fasting. In this way you will get some health benefits as well as the spiritual.
Just make the decision and start fasting. I believe that every Christian should be fasting at least one day a week with some kind of extended fast once a year. You might ask, “Can’t I just use more self-control over the flesh to keep it down?” Sure you can; it is possible. It’s also possible to build a house without the use of any power tools, but there are not many people who would want to do it that way.
God has given us some supernatural “power tools” to strengthen us spiritually. We’re being foolish if we ignore them.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
Acts 13:2-3
Here is a good example of fasting at work. The church leaders were in the midst of a time of fasting and prayer. They were able to hear the voice of the Lord and obey quickly. I believe that this is one of the secrets to the power that the early church possessed, and that we need in our generation.
Questions: If you fast regularly, how often do you fast? If not, has this series encouraged you to try it?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: advice, caffeine, cumulative effect, decision, diabetes, faith, fast, fasting, fasting advice, fasting and prayer, power of God, practical advice, practical side of fasting, religious exercise, spiritual encounter, spiritual fast, sugar, the flesh, voice of the Lord, water
My last post talked about positioning yourself to flow in God’s power. It all comes down to the truth that agreement with Christ is the place of power. Do we always agree with Him? Or do we make excuses?
“You can’t know God’s will for certain.” “He may not want to heal.” After all it can’t be our fault. We feel there’s nothing wrong on our end so it must be God’s decision not to manifest His power.
In some cases we’re more like the Pharisees than we want to admit. Jesus explained their problem to them. I believe that it’s our problem as well. We need to hear the Lord, and meditate on His words.
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
John 5:39-40
Many believers spend a great deal of time pursuing the study of Scripture. There are radio and cable channels devoted to the study of the Word of God 24/7.
Just like Jesus said to the Pharisees, many of us think that by them we possess life and power. We believe that if we just know the Word enough, it will increase our faith to the point where nothing will be impossible for us.
The Scripture is given to testify about Christ. It was NOT given to grant us access to power or life. Jesus Christ is the grand focus of the Word. It’s IN HIM that we have power and life.
Our problem is that we refuse to go to Christ to have access to power and life. Jesus said, “I have come that you would have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) Power rests solely in Christ. If we don’t abide in Christ, then we don’t have access to the power.
The very Scriptures that we recite, confess, and memorize are telling us who Christ is and what He’s done. This should cause us to run to Him. Instead, we embrace the Word and think that it will give us power. It’s so much easier to live for ourselves and quote promises, then to abide in Christ. That requires spiritual effort, and we like to look for the shortcuts.
This is the instant generation. We want everything now without any waiting. By constantly using our credit cards we will give away our future for a momentary pleasure. We have to have everything now.
Well, this is something that’s impossible to get instantly. It requires the work of an intimate relationship with God. Power flows from Christ to us if we’ll do what it takes to position ourselves to receive it. It’s time for the church to wake up and view relationship with Christ as the priority of the hour.
Question: Are you willing to wait in God’s presence rather than seek for instant success?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: abide, abide in Christ, Agreement, agreement with Christ, Christ, confess, confession, excuses, healing, in Christ, Jesus, life, manifestation, memorize, position, positioning, power, power is agreement with Christ, power of God, promises, recite, relationship, Scripture, study, testify, testify to Christ, word of God
I’ve been posting about how Christ walked and ministered in the power of God. It’s all about how He positioned Himself to receive it.
A good example of this is found in a parable that the Lord told to His disciples. We usually call it the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax-collector. They were both in the temple praying next to each other. The Lord lets us in on what they were saying.
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”
Luke 18:11-12
We read this, but we don’t take it to heart. We know how it ends and who the Lord commends. But do we really listen to the prayer of the Pharisee. If we look closely at it, it sounds like a prayer that a modern Christian would offer up, filled with good confessions.
“I thank you that I’m the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath. I thank you that because I tithe you will rebuke the devourer and open the windows of heaven so that I cannot contain your blessing.”
His prayer was filled with good confessions and it was all true. He was different than the tax-collector. He did fast and tithe. The problem was that he had no power.
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Luke 18:13
Which prayer produced life changing power? Christ was clear about it.
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:14
It’s obvious, from the Lord’s perspective, that the person who dealt with relationship tapped into God’s power. The Pharisee was focused on self. The tax-collector was dealing with that which separated him from God.
Is the power of God about what I’ve done or what the Holy Spirit wants to accomplish in and through me? When I go before God, my telling Him what I’ve done doesn’t impress Him. It will never move Him to work through me.
It’s only as I work on my relationship with Christ that I’ll see the changes necessary. If you want to flow in the power of God, then your relationship with Him is the positioning agent. It’s not about what you’ve done, but what He is able to do in you.
Questions: How well are you positioned for the move of the Holy Spirit? What do you need to do to make it better?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: Christ, good confessions, Jesus, life changing, ministry, Pharisee, position, positioned to receive spiritual power, power, power of God, power of the spirit, pray, prayer, praying, publican, receive, relationship, self, sinner, spiritual power, tax-collector
In my last post I talked about how Christ ministered on a different level than the Pharisees. The power of God flowed out of Him without His control. In the case of the woman with the issue of blood, it was even without the Lord’s knowledge.
Now that’s a definite problem for us in modern day Christianity. We want control. We want to be able to turn it on and off. We want people to know who the power came from.
It seems to me that God wants us to be a hose, and we want to be a faucet. This brings my mind back to a post I wrote months ago. It was about II Timothy 3:5.
This was the verse in which Paul warned us that in the last days there would be those who had a form of godliness but denied the power. If you remember, the Greek word for deny was a-rheo – not flowing.
So many people want to control instead of flow. We cannot have that kind of attitude and be greatly used by God. We must see ourselves as a channel of the Lord’s power, and not a container.
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases…
Luke 9:1
This is the next logical step in this line of thinking. Because the power of God flows, it can be given and received. Jesus was able to give the disciples power because it flowed through Him. This is good news for us also, because we have the same Holy Spirit living in us that Jesus had within Him.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
What a great verse! Power is given by the Holy Spirit and we can receive it. This seems a little too simple for our liking. We try to make it so complicated. So we have come up with all kinds of laws, disciplines, steps, and rituals that we say are necessary in order to walk in this power.
We have placed tithing, confession, and a whole host of other requirements in people’s path. But the truth of the matter is that I must abide in Christ. Then the power will flow through the Holy Spirit to me if I’m in a position to receive it. It’s actually all about positioning ourselves correctly. That’s what a majority of my blog is about.
I’m trying to get the church to reposition itself for revival. That’s where we need to be. In a position to receive the power of the Holy Spirit the same way that Christ did. Then, the world will see the difference and be drawn to the Lord. After all, it’s all about Him, not us.
Question: How would our church look different if we ministered like Jesus?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: Christ, church, control, disciplines, flow, flow in power, flow in the Spirit, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit within us, in control, Jesus, laws, out of control, position, power, power of God, revival, rituals, steps, submitted to Christ, walking in power
I have posted about what happened when the most powerful user of the law (Satan) attacked the most powerful user of the Holy Spirit (Christ). The battle wasn’t even close.
Now I want to relate how Jesus lived and taught about power on a daily basis. The last thing I want is to be in error, trying to defeat the devil on his level. I want to face each battle from a position of strength in the Holy Spirit.
In order to understand this truth, we’ll look at the differences between the Pharisees and Jesus. It’s no secret that the Pharisees walked in the power of the law. But…they were powerless in the spirit, so they were usually jealous of Jesus’ power.
All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!”
Luke 4:36
When Jesus ministered, the people saw something different. He wasn’t like the Pharisees who simply made excuses why people were sick or poor. They would point out people’s sin as the answer for everything. With Jesus, it was a whole different way of ministry.
…and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
Luke 6:19
The people could see the power of God at work through the Lord. It got to the point where they were not even asking Him to touch them any more. They were trying to touch Him. Power was flowing, issuing out, all around Him. They simply had to put their faith in Him to receive this life transforming flow. And that’s exactly what it was – a flow of power.
That’s because power is like a liquid. If the channel is clear, it will move like a river from one person to another. It was for this reason that a woman tried it later on in the Gospel of Luke. As He was with the crowd, suddenly Jesus stopped and turned around.
But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.
Luke 8:46-47
As I was meditating upon these verses, a very interesting question popped up in my mind. In both Luke 6:19 and Luke 8:46-47 power was flowing out of the Lord. The question is, was Jesus “controlling” the power? According to the verses above, He was not consciously deciding who to pray for. The people were touching Him and the power of God was healing them. He was simply the avenue through which the Holy Spirit worked.
Questions: Do you want to be used of God in this way? Are you willing to walk the same road of relationship with the Father that Jesus walked?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: Christ, divine healing, faith, flow of power, healing, Holy Spirit, issue of blood, Jesus, law, life transforming, like Jesus, like the pharisees, Pharisees, power, power of God, strength in the Holy Spirit
I have been posting about how Christ was tempted in the wilderness. By the power of the Holy Spirit, He overcame all the assaults of the enemy. But there’s more to the story than just the devil’s defeat.
When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
Luke 4:13-14
The story goes on. After the devil had done everything he knew to do, he was finished. The enemy had totally drained his battery. He had to leave for a while to recharge.
Jesus, on the other hand, didn’t miss a beat. He’d been fasting in the wilderness for 40 days. Then the Lord experienced a spiritual battle the likes of which we’ve never seen in our lives.
Was He drained? Did he have to recuperate? Absolutely not! Jesus Christ came out of the wilderness experience just as powerful as when He entered 40 days before.
We need to walk in this kind of power. But in order to do this we must let go of our reliance upon the promises and start acting like spiritual adults. We need to truly tap into the full potential of the power of the Holy Spirit who is at work within us.
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
Ephesians 3:16
Without a doubt, this is the key – the Holy Spirit living within us. Being led by the Spirit is the earmark of a son. We must remain in Christ if we are to access this potential. Christ is our example.
I don’t know why we’ve turned it around and made it all about us. As if we have the power to change anything. We think that if we find the right promise or confess the right Scripture verse, then a miracle will happen. Maybe if we put together the correct formula of words in a prayer the power will manifest.
What’s the secret of how Christ consistently walked in the power of the Spirit? It wasn’t confessions or formulas. It was the time He spend remaining in the Father’s presence. He prayed, He listened, and He obeyed.
It’s time for us to learn this lesson. We need to stop looking for an easy way to tap into the Spirit while continuing to live for ourselves. I need to submit to the Lord’s agenda for my life. Time in the presence of God is the only thing that will bring about this transformation.
Question: What would have to change in order for you to spend more time in the Lord’s presence?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: Christ, continuing in power, devil's defeat, Father's presence, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit within us, Jesus, listen, obey, power, power of God, power of the Holy Spirit, pray, promises, remain in Christ, spiritual adults, time, transformation
I’m posting about how Christ walked in the power of God. In my last one I started talking about His time in the wilderness as He faced the devil.
It’s now the end of the Lord’s forty day fast. I can only imagine how the Lord was feeling at the end of this time. But at this point it’s over; He could eat now, according to the rules of fasting.
It’s interesting to see how the devil attacks Jesus. This is how most of our temptations are based. It will give us insight into how the enemy works against us as well.
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
Luke 4:3
Think about Jesus’ teaching. Specifically how He taught on prayer. In what we commonly call “The Lord’s Prayer,” He prayed, “Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11)
This prayer is a son praying to the Father. If you look closely at this line, it’s not a request. Jesus is assuming that daily bread is the right of a son. He doesn’t say that God promised it to Him. He simply lays claim to what He wants, knowing God’s provision for His sons.
I believe that Satan based his attack upon this prayer. However, the enemy worded it in the form of a promise. He said, “If you are The Son of God…” He challenged Jesus to prove it by claiming the promise for daily provision. The sad thing is that we would have taken the bait, and we do regularly. Then we say that the Holy Spirit told us to do it.
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Matthew 4:4
Jesus’ response is clear. The fast was over. It was perfectly in order for Him to eat. But that wasn’t the issue. Jesus wasn’t there in the wilderness for the purpose of eating. He was there to hear from the Father. In this verse, “word” is “rhema” in the Greek. It means the revealed Word of God.
Jesus was telling Satan, “I didn’t come here for bread; I came to hear a Word from the Father.” If the Lord wanted to eat, He could have brought food.
This is a classic strategy that Satan uses over and over again. Sadly, we continue to fall victim to it. We can be tempted to “over-claim” the promises.
In America we already have too much stuff and we believe God for more. It seems that Christians are always “trusting God” for bigger houses, better cars, and more toys. Then, we get discouraged when our “faith” doesn’t pay off.
I believe that it’s time for God’s people to grow up and act like mature sons and daughters of God – like Jesus.
Question: What should we be trusting God for?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: Christ, daily provision, devil, forty day fast, Jesus, Jesus walked above the promises, power of God, prayer, promises, promises of God, rhema, temptation, wilderness, word of God
Today I want to start a new series of posts about how Jesus walked in the power of God. But, before I do, I want to share a personal testimony about a trial I had to go through in order to receive this truth from the Lord.
Years ago, the church I pastored was running over a hundred on Sunday morning. The ministry was flourishing and my family was able to obtain a mortgage on our own house. It was a nice, little home on a quiet street – just what we always wanted.
Suddenly, the bottom dropped out. My wife lost her job. The mortgage payments doubled. Through a series of moves and other events, the congregation went down to about 30 people. To make a long story short, we went through a bankruptcy, lost the house, and now live in an apartment owned by my parents.
I don’t say all of this so you will feel bad for me. I don’t regret it. Many good things came out of it. One of them was a Word from God.
This was one of the lowest times of my life. On many occasions I cried out to God asking Him why this was happening to me. One day, while I was in this state, I distinctly heard the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart. He asked me what my problem was.
As I started asking Him why He allowed my finances to dry up, the Lord asked another question.
“Why should I provide for your finances?”
I was a little taken back by the question, but I was ready with my answers. I went through all the Scriptures I knew about the promises that God would supply my need. Malachi 3:10-12, II Corinthians 8-9, Philippians 4:19, and many others. These Scriptures were why I expected Him to bless my finances.
What the Holy Spirit asked next totally floored me.
“So you’re standing on the law to receive your financial blessing?”
I was speechless. I sat in silence for over an hour. I refused to believe that I was legalistic. But I had no other explanation.
I trusted the Scripture instead of the God of the Scripture. I was like the Pharisees that Jesus got upset at.
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
John 5:39-40
The Lord started showing me, on that day, that I had fallen victim to an epidemic in the church. Many believers are doing everything they can to fulfill the promises. They’re trying to work for the blessings of God. If you use the promises in this way, then you’re running on the power of the law. You’ll never reach the full potential God has for you.
In this new series I want to show how Christ operated – as one submitted to God and controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Question: What is your view on the promises of God?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: bankruptcy, Christ, church, financial blessing, God, heart, Holy Spirit speaking, Jesus, legalism, opened eyes to legalism, pastor, personal testimony, power, power of God, power of the Holy Spirit, promises, promises of God, Scriptures, standing
I’ve been talking about the connection between revival, repentance, and forgiveness. I believe that’s what’s necessary to usher in a revival in our nation.
The Spirit and the Word 