Being shrewd as you build

If you're new to the Lord or you're getting your spiritual life back in order, be careful who you share your joy and excitement with, because not everyone is going to be happy for you and some will even try to hinder your growth. Building or re-building your life with God does have an aspect of privacy to it. It's vitally important that we spread the good news of Jesus and His kingdom, but until you get a solid foundation under you, it's wise to limit how much comes out of your mouth. Many new believers or those returning to a sanctified life, tend to be overly excited to the point where they draw the enemy to them, who will do all he can to stop the growth, including coming to you as an angel of light. We see this in Israel's history as the Jews prepared to rebuild the Temple of God in Jerusalem.

Ezra 3:12-13 and Ezra 4:1-2 show this truth.

But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away. 

When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, “Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.” - Ezra 3:12-13 - 4:1-2.

How to prepare to minister healing

A number of believers have asked me over the years how I prepare before going to minister healing. Sometimes I will pray for a few minutes at home before heading out, but that's combined with a lifestyle of prayer. I don't pray for hours everyday, but I do pray throughout the day, everyday. I can do nothing without Him and I've noticed the positive effects of prayer, even before heading out to minister. The bible shares several accounts of prayer before ministering healing, including when Paul was on the Island of Malta.

Acts 28:7-8 shows this truth.

There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. - Acts 28:7-8

Marriage speaks of unity

The reason why a man and a woman become one in marriage is because they were made that way in the garden and the Father's plan has always been unity in Christ.

“Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” - Genesis 2:22-24

Are you a vessel for honor

Many ministers teach about power and authority and how they are yours if you know your identity in Christ. It seems as if the phrase, "know your identity" has taken on a definition that bypasses the whole sanctification process. Sanctification and rightly dividing the word of truth has been replaced with the words, "just believe". The danger of this teaching is that there's some truth to it. Yes, we must, "just believe." However, the word, "believe" has been watered down. The bible doesn't water down words. Make no mistake about it, there is a process and you have a responsibility.

2Timothy 2:20-21 show us this truth.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. - 2Timothy 2:20-21.

Mini CBC road trip

Ahava and I will be doing a mini Cardboard Box Church road trip in July starting at Stan Debro's home in Hudson, Ohio. If you're in the area, contact me or Stan Debro for details. The house meeting will be at Stan and Amy's home on Thursday, July 20th, 2017 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM and Cardboard Box Church on the streets will be on Friday the 21st from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. I'm in the process of making a bigger Cardboard Box Church that we can actually go into. I figured out how to make a bigger CBC that's stable. It will prove to be fun and exciting. Cardboard Box Church is church. Stay tuned for the schedule of more CBC meetings in the two weeks following these dates. There will probably be 3 or 4 more meetings in the northeast, including one in Moncton, Canada, which is east of the state of Maine.
Stan Debro email - me@standebro.com
Tom's email - cardboardboxchurch@gmail.com

Ephesians 4:11-13 shows us the purpose of the church

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. - Ephesians 4:11-13

Thrones, Powers, Rulers and Authorities

When the bible refers to thrones, powers, rulers and authorities, it's in the context of evil forces. These evil forces, or spirits, are allowed to exist in the presence of mankind for God's purpose of teaching man the difference between good and evil and giving those who love Jesus the power to overcome them. Adam and Eve chose to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and ever since then, man has had to battle these evil spirits. It's hard to understand the futile thinking of such evil forces, because even they have their existence in Christ. They're not redeemed by the blood of the lamb, but nevertheless, only exist because of Him. It's important to know that these evil spirits were not made evil, but rather rebelled against God and became evil.

Colossians 1:16-17 show us this truth.

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. - Colossians 1:16-17

Boldness

Many believers have shared with me that they lack boldness. They've asked me to pray for them for boldness because they truly do have a heart to share the gospel with the lost. Indeed, we can ask God for this because the scripture tells us we can. Acts 4:29 says that the disciples prayed and asked for boldness. Their prayer was answered and they got boldness. However, there's a qualifier to this. If you go back to Acts 4:13, you'll see that it takes more than just asking for boldness. You need to spend time with Jesus. Faith without works is dead.

Acts 4:13 shows us this truth.

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. - Acts 4:13

A divine dissatisfaction

In the past I've had the feeling of a divine dissatisfaction in me because of wanting more of the Lord. To know Him more and to see His mighty hand in a greater way than I have already seen it. I thought this feeling was healthy, but recently the Holy Spirit corrected me. No one in the Lord Jesus Christ should have a divine dissatisfaction, but rather a total joy and contentment in all circumstances. A divine dissatisfaction is carnal. It produces striving instead of rest. It produces competitiveness instead of a cheering on of what the Lord is doing in all the body of Christ.

Psalm 37:4 is one of the many verses that show this truth.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. - Psalm 37:4

The Law and the Prophets

The Old Testament is composed of the teachings of Moses and the prophets. The men and women of Old Testament times laid a foundation of God's word that enables us to reach Jews and Gentiles with the gospel in a much easier way than we realize. God revealed himself to the world through the Jewish people in order to prepare the world for the arrival of Jesus Christ. This is why it's important to thoroughly know the Old Testament.

John 4:34-38 shows us this truth.

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” - John 4:34-38.

The fear of the Lord

Knowing your identity in Christ is very important because it will help you to have confidence when ministering to the needs of people. Knowing your identity means knowing what Jesus has provided for you. It's knowing that there's great power in you. However, the foundation of this truth is the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord will move you to want to know the word of God and to walk according to that word.

Isaiah 33:5-6 shows us this truth.

The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with his justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. - Isaiah 33:5-6

Giving to the poor can keep you healthy

What? How can giving to the poor keep me healthy? There are many people that need physical and mental healing and oftentimes they're neglecting to exercise all the righteousness of the Kingdom of God. The righteousness of the Kingdom means hearing and obeying the word of God.

Luke 11:37-41 shows us this truth.

And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. - Luke 11:37-41

That's amazing! All things are made clean to me? That sounds like the Spirit of God will protect me from harmful foods, drinks, toxins, poisons, viruses, infections and so on...

Discerning who's ready to receive

I endeavor to always discern who's ready to receive based on recognizing the presence of the Spirit's power or on recognizing those who are humble and receiving the message. Over the years, I've noticed that some ministers don't like this type of approach because they think I'm rejecting some people. Christians that do this will sometimes site Luke 10 where Jesus sends out 72 disciples with power to heal the sick and cast out demons. Those 72 disciples returned with joy because they had great success healing people and casting out demons. The insinuation by those who teach this is that everyone received, but that's not true. A closer look at the whole context of Luke 10 shows us that the disciples ministered to those who welcomed them. Those who were proud were warned of destruction.

Luke 10:8-12

“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. - Luke 10:8-12

Deep calls unto deep

If you've been working hard and not seeing the results you'd expect or desire, get with Jesus and go deeper with Him. If you know people who go deep with Jesus and you see fruit in their lives, partner with them and you'll be blessed as they're blessed. This is God's order. It cultivates unity, productivity, direction, purpose, vision and excitement.

Luke 5:4-6 shows us this truth.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. - Luke 5:4-6

Testing the spirits

Unclean spirits can attach themselves to people for a number of reasons. One reason in particular may not be considered too often by believers. It's important to be diligent concerning who your teachers are. An unclean spirit can attach to you because you've received wrong teaching that you thought was correct.

2Corinthians 11:1-4 shows us this truth.

I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. - 2Corinthians 11:1-4

Cardboard Box Church

Tom Fischer received a vision from a prophet of cardboard & duct tape falling from Heaven.

Tom Fischer took the vision and ran with it. A miniature church was made from cardboard & duct tape. Cardboard Box Church's first stop was the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina where Tom & his wife Ahava Sarah Fischer are based. 

www.cardboardboxchurch.com

*Watch LIVE displays of the Gospel preached with power on the streets & at Cardboard Box Church!
 www.youtube.com/mrtomff7