He Stedfastly Set His Face

Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

Luke 9:52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and eentered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

Luke 9:53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

Luke 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

Luke 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

Luke 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

Luke 9:57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

Luke 9:58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Luke 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

Luke 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Luk 9:61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.





"Stedfastly set means to set fast. To turn resolutely in a certain direction."





G4741 στηρίζω stērizō stedfastly set

stay-rid'-zo

From a presumed derivative of G2476 (like G4731); to set fast, that is, (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm: - fix, (e-) stablish, stedfastly set, strengthen.



"There has to come a time in your life, my life, in everyone's life who truly belong to God! The time must come when I am as Christ! Stedfastly set! That I set fast! That I turn resolutely in a certain direction! And that direction is Christ! What He has called me to be! What He's called me to do! There is no other direction to go in other than Christ! Christ the solid Rock I stand! All other ground is sinking sand! I belong to God! I must be stedfastly set!"



What made Him stedfast?



Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.





"Our stedfastness comes through Christ, the joy of the Lord is our strength!"



So many can't be stedfast today because they've lost the joy of the Lord!



This world will rob you of everything that God wants to put into you, if you aren't stedfastly set!



"Jesus knew that there was a cross awaiting Him in Jerusalem, but the joy was set before Him!"



What is set before you today?



Jesus set His face to go, are you going or are you staying?



Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

Jude 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.



Jesus hasn't called me to debate or argue what He said to those I meet!

He's called me to go before His face! He's sending me with a message! "Make ready for Him!" Jesus is coming!



He's about to be received up! Luke 9:51 the time was come that he should be received up.



His face in toward Jerusalem and there is a cross that He's going to have to take up, He'll have to be nailed to that cross! His life will be given on that cross and He'll die there.



But there is the joy that is set before Him that makes it all worth it!



"This joy that I have, Jesus says to you and me today! It's yours! I give unto you and no man, no circumstance, no world, no nothing____can take it away from you__if you are stedfastly set in Me! " Hallelujah!



So first, I must be stedfastly set.



1Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.



"If I am stedfastly set, I can be sent by the Lord."

Luke 9:52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went,

G649 sent ἀποστέλλω apostellō

ap-os-tel'-lo

From G575 and G4724; set apart, that is, (by implication) to send out (properly on a mission) literally or figuratively: - put in, send (away, forth, out), set [at liberty].



The Lord sets you apart, He sends you out! The Lord does this sending by the authority that He has within Himself! And we must realize that we must come under His authority!

We just don't go! He sends and then we go! The disciples never went without being sent!



2Sa 18:19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.

2Sa 18:20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.

2Sa 18:21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

2Sa 18:22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?

2Sa 18:23 But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.

2Sa 18:24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

2Sa 18:25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.

2Sa 18:26 And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.

2Sa 18:27 And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.

2Sa 18:28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.

2Sa 18:29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.

2Sa 18:30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

2Sa 18:31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.

2Sa 18:32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.

2Sa 18:33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!



"If we haven't been sent with the message from God, we don't need to go. "



Ahimaaz wanted to run to the king and bear tidings. Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day.



Joab said to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

Ahimaaz said again to Joab: Let me run after Cushi. And Joab said: Why do you want to run, you don't have any tidings to give. Ahimaaz continued to say: Let me run. And Joab said unto him, Run. And run he did, and overtook the runner with th message and when he got to the king, he had no message and had to stand still until the runner with the message got to the king.



The tidings were as we read: Sa 18:31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.

2Sa 18:32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.

2Sa 18:33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

"David did all he could do to spare his son's death. But God spared not His only begotten Son to go to the cross. He turned His face away as He took upon Himself our sins. And God the Father would not look upon our sins until His Son's blood would be applied. Jesus would cry out on the cross: "My God, My God, Why hast Thou forsaken me?"



"But if we belong to Jesus, He will send us before His face!"



Luke 9:52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

Luke 9:53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.



You and I are His messengers! A messenger has a message!

Our message is "Make ready for Him!"



We don't have to call down fire from heaven to destroy a life!



That would be contrary to the message that we have been given to tell! Jesus said I am come that they might have life! John. 10:10



The people of the village of the Samaritans didn't receive Him because that they saw on His face that He was just passing by, His face was stedfastly set! To go to Jerusalem!



"They didn't know that by the message that had already been given to them was enough, if only they would have received it from His messengers."

Jesus came to their village as He said by the messengers and that is where we must leave it!



"We are to just deliver the message given to us by the Lord."



If we are faithful to God, if we are stedfastly set to go. Jesus will send us before His face.



Luke 9:53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

Luk 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

Luke 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

Luke 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.



"Do you know what manner of spirit you are?"



John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.



John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

John 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

John 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

John 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

John 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

John 16:16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.





"We must know that we have been born of the Spirit of the Living God!"



Jesus had His face stedfastly set toward the will of the Father!



We must have our face stedfastly set to the will of the Father!





"Follow Jesus in the Bible after He stedfastly sets His face to go to Jerusalem."



Luke 9: 51 He set His face to go to Jerusalem.

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,





Luke 13:22 He journeyed toward Jerusalem.

And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.



Luke 13:31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.



"His face was stedfastly set to go to Jerusalem!"





Luk 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Luke 13:33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

Luke 13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.



Luke 19:11 "He was nigh Jerusalem"

And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.



"All through the cities, towns, and villages where Jesus would come, He was conveying a message from God the Father through those that He would send before His face!"



It all came down to how Jesus was received that determined what would happen in their lives.



"How we receive Him determines what happens in our lives!"



He stedfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem!



People didn't receive Him because He stedfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem!

They didn't know that He was going for the Samaritans!

He was going for the blind!

He was going for those steeped in their religious traditions!

His face was stedfastly set to go to the cross!



"How do you see Jesus?"



Luke 19:12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

Luke 19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

Luke 19:14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

Luke 19:15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

Luke 19:16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

Luke 19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

Luke 19:18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

Luke 19:19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

Luke 19:20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

Luke 19:21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

Luke 19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

Luke 19:23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

Luke 19:24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

Luke 19:25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

Luke 19:26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

Luke 19:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

Luke 19:28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.



The first two servants were faithful with that which their Lord had intrusted them with. They were not afraid of their Lord but out of their reverence to their Lord, they feared him and served him, and obeyed Him.



But the last didn't really know his master. He only knew his master as to what he thought of him. One who is rough and owns it all, and will get me if I lose the little that he has given me!



The others didn't call their Lord an austere man! They called Him Lord!



What do you call Him today?





Blind Bartimaeus called Him Lord!





Mar 10:51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

Mar 10:52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.



"He healed this man that was blind after He called Him Lord!"



His face was stedfastly set to go to Jerusalem!



But He stood still, and commanded that the blind to be called unto Him. Jesus healed him!



"I said, Jesus healed a blind man that called Him Lord!"



Then Jesus still had the look of Calvary in His eyes!



The joy was still set before Him!



The cross was still before Him!



He came to the temple and cleansed it again before He went to the cross!



My house is a house of prayer! Jesus said!



We are His house! Where are all of the prayer warrior in God's house?



He went to the cross, He suffered on that cross, He died on that cross!



But on the third day! God raised Him from the dead! He's alive!



"He's going to have to upbraid His servants again in this hour because of our unbelief!"



Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.





"Are you stedfastly set in Christ to do the Father's will today?"









"And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."

Jesus Message to His Church

Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
24:50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
24:53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

I. The Message (Jesus gave the message.)
a. Christ must suffer and die.
b. Christ must rise from the dead.
c. Repentance and remission of sins through Christ must be the first thing all nations should hear.
d. Repentance must begin at Jerusalem.
e. Repentance must be preached by the witnesses of Christ.

II. The Promise for Power to deliver the Message. (Jesus gave the Promise of Power.)
a. I send the Promise of the Father upon you.
b. Don't try to take this Message by fleshly means!
c. Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem. (Why? Because Jerusalem is the beginning point!) Jerusalem also represents the beginning of the Church and also represents each of us as an individual Believer. God must come into us first! Jesus said of us: "Ye are a city set upon a hill! A city with power flowing to it! That city must be hooked up to the power of God! It must not be experiencing power failure!

TARRY! WAIT! AT THE PLACE WHERE THE LORD SAID TO TARRY!

Tarry_Jesus said! But He added the word UNTIL! Ye be endued with power from on high!

Stay there until the Promise comes!

Don't leave there with a theory! "Well,this is what Jesus said__ No! You stay there until that Promise of the Holy Ghost falls upon you and you know "Thus saith the Lord!"!

III. The Response to Jesus' Message and His Promise.
Luk 24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
Luk 24:53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
"Waiting with joy?"

"We don't have time to wait on the Lord today, much less, wait with joy!"

But we see a picture of a few Believers right after the crucifixtion of Christ being given the Promise of an enduement of Power from on high by the Resurrected Lord! They're told to tarry in the city of Jerusalem!

At the cross death came to all their hopes in their thinking. And they would have had no hope unless that "God raised Him from the dead!"

What joy! Hallelujah! Jesus is alive!

He bought my soul__and is here before me__giving me the Promise of the Father! But I must wait! Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem!

For fourty days Jesus shows Himself to Believers after His Resurrection. The Bible said to as many as five hundred brethren at once on an occasion.

As Jesus led them out on the 40th day that He would be received up into heaven, His first emphasis was not on the doing but on the waitng or tarrying for the Promise of Power! Then and only then the works would come!

Luke 24:50 says: and he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them.

Jesus' last 40 days with his disciples wasn't a 40 day list from the "Purpose Driven Church."

No! Jesus message was still the same before the cross. That if you are going to come after Me, you must deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Me! You can't remain the same!

He didn't give them 40 days to strategize to defeat the devil. No! He broke every power and hold of the devil on His cross! All that holds you was broken! You must take up your cross and follow Him!

Now! He's giving a commandment! Not a suggestion! A commandment to His disciples to tarry__in the city of Jerusalem for the Promise of Power to proclaim liberty to those still held captive by their sins.

It was time to go into heaven and as He led them out as far as to Bethany, (it's fitting if you think about as far as He led them was to Bethany, the town Lazarus lived and became sick and died! A city where hope was gone for his two sisters, Mary and Martha. It had been 4 days!"If you'd only been here Jesus, our brother would not have died!"

John 11:25 Jesus said: "I am the Resurection and the Life, he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live!"

John 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Yes! They believed it with joy! They believed what Jesus said!

I believe Lazarus, Mary, and Martha were present in that company!

Now He's about to be received into heaven, He lifts up His hands, an example you and I have from our Savior and Lord. At the last moment of being on planet earth, for coming here! He's alive!

He has revealed Himself to His disciples!
He's given them a commandment__tarry!
He goes as far as the city of Bethany that reminds them all that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life!

The dead can hear His voice and live!

And the Living can fulfill His purpose!

He blesses them and is carried up into heaven!

The disciples response.

They didn't forget the Promise!


They worshipped Him as long as they could see Him until He became just as a jot or a tittle and then disappeared but they continued to worship Him when the visible became invisible again!

Just because they couldn't see Him didn't alter their worship of Him!

They had been blessed by Him!
They had been given a command to tarry!
They had been given the Promise of the Father!

They worshipped Him!
They returned to Jerusalem not with sadness, wondering how everything is gonna work itself out. No! All that was settled at the cross! Jesus paid it all!!

They returned with great joy to Jerusalem!
They didn't come setting dates when the Promise would come! No! They returned with great joy knowing that they had been given the Promise of Power and they must tarry! Wait for the Promise!
They didn't know when it would come but they knew it would come__and it would be soon!

Most of the people in the church today needs to stop its doing and begin to tarry before the Lord in prayer! Stop trying to invent the church! Get shut in with God! Pray with all that is within you for Jesus Christ to baptize you in the Holy Ghost and with Fire!

Act 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

It won't take the Lord long if you are willing and obedient to tarry!

The First Church prayed until and the Last Church must pray until! We are the same Church!

That Promise and Command was enough!
They returned to where Jesus said to go with great joy and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God which is a picture of what the Holy Ghost would do when He moved into His New Temple____His people!

He would continually be in the Temple__praising and blessing God!

Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

As the "Early Church" tarried upon the Lord to send the promise, they were all filled with the Spirit and spoke with other tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance!

They were saved and waiting for the Promise of the Father! As obedient children they tarried until! They were all filled and began to be that witness unto Christ!

A true Holy Ghost baptized person will witness the Life of Christ!

"All forms of life will manifest itself."

There are certain things about all forms of life that let you know what kind of life it is.

Hogs grunt...............ducks fly..............chickens cluck.

"And Holy Ghost filled people worship God and witness Jesus!"

That's what they did after they were filled!

May God fill you with that hunger and thirst after righteousness!

Let His Church go forth and be the Church filled with power and walking like Jesus! Amen!

"Who were you named after?"

I don't really know who I was named after by my parents other than my last name which is Gulledge.




I can't think of any of my uncles or grand-parents or any other kin by the name Gary or by the name Wayne.



But for whatever reason my Daddy and Mama named me Gary Wayne Gulledge. I never wanted to change my name because it was given to me by my parents that I love.



Think about your given name just a moment, no matter what it looks like written or what it sounds like said; it belongs to you, it was given to you by those that loved you. It's a good name because it was given.



Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.



They shall call His name Jesus! His name means Jehovah-saved!



God chose to name is Son, "Jesus."



I really don't know who I was named after other than my last name. But I know that God named me after His Son, Jesus! I have been named after the name above all other names. That at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord to the glory of the Father!

• There is no weapon that is formed that can prosper against that name!

• Nothing shall separate us from the love of God that is in that name!

• Nothing shall by any means harm us because of that name!



"I have been given a name victorious over death, hell, and the grave!"



That name represents me and I have been given authority to represent that name to the uttermost part of the earth!



All that is in God is in that name! The name of Jesus! Devils still tremble at His name!



The sinner is saved through that name!

The sick are made well through that name! The lame walk, the blind see, and the dead are raised to life through that name!



And the poor and neglected and needy have the gospel of Christ preached to them through that name!



There is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved!



I've been named after that name! The name of Jesus Christ! I am in Christ and Christ is in me! Hallelujah! What a name God has given to us!



"Who were you named after?

“A Picture of Mixture in the Church Today.”

Nehemiah 13:23-24




In those days also I saw Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:



And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.



God’s chosen people had gone outside of God’s prescribed way and made relationships with those that rejected them bread and water when God was bringing them into the land of promise.



They were to be a separated people unto God. When God called Abram (Abraham) out of Mesopotamia, God began first by calling a man out to separate himself from where he was to the place where God would show him, Abram had nothing but a promise from God and God who is faithful to His’ word.



The scripture above in Nehemiah chapter 13:23-24, is a type or a picture out of a real Old Testament account of how God’s people through their own disobedience to God’s word caused them the ruin of many lives and ultimately the ruin of their nation which brought them into captivity by the heathen (unbelievers) nations around them.



These that had married these wives outside of God’s way had children born that spoke the voice of the heathen. They knew nothing of language of the chosen people of God. They had become the influence to those that married them instead of being the influence of God to them.



This is a picture of what has happen in the churches today! Now this is not about any man who is washed in the blood of Jesus Christ who has married any woman washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, God blesses these two people, regardless of who they are.



This shows us how when we take the world into His’ Church we are asking for trouble. Who is the Church? Washed in the Blood of Jesus Christ believers are!



Who’s building the Church? Jesus is! Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18



We’ve got people today that know all about the world, they can tell everything about all the idols or icons of this world have attained to but they won’t pray, they don’t get into God’s word. They really don’t love God because Jesus said: If you love Me you will keep My sayings. John 14:21

They really don’t love Jesus! They say “I love Jesus,” But they don’t love Him! How can you say that? I can say it simply by their life, it’s speak so much louder than all the “I love Jesus” we can say! Jesus said: Matthew 14:23-24 When our flesh leads us and we follow, we can be certain that God will not be glorified and there will be lasting consequences!



Nehemiah separated the people in his day for God. And now, we are to separate ourselves unto God from the world, flesh, and the devil by as God’s people, walk as dear children. Ephesians 5:1-21



“That’s the Church that Jesus is building and the gates of hell can’t come into it or prevail against it!”

The only way that any can enter in is through the Cross of Christ and that means certain death to those that choose to do so!



But praise God! He raises us up when we are willing to die!



God forbid if I preach any message other than the Cross!

The Real Picture

Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.




The picture that you are seeing might be that you have come into an assembly of people that you feel comfortable with and there is that desire to be a part and do things to show your worthiness of their fellowship.



The picture you are seeing is that if I try hard enough you can become like them. You can learn to say what they are saying and you can fit in.



The picture you are seeing if you have a talent, musical, singing, or ability to catch people's attention, you will concentrate your time and effort to avail yourself into becoming the best at it.



The problem with so many people who are seeing that picture is that they are always on the outside looking in!



"All of the above are legitimate works that glorify God. But are we seeing the "Real Picture."



As Paul the Apostle wrote from prison in Rome awaiting his execution, he wrote: "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. "



Paul was seeing the "Real Picture."



• Nothing in his upbringing, nothing that he had attained by his own efforts compared with what he saw in the pictue he was seeing.

• Paul has truly died but yet he was truly more alive than he could ever be!

• He was seeing the "Real Picture."



Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.



For Paul, the picture he was seeing was all Jesus or it was all of the devil! It was Christ living and Paul dying!



And the grace of God that Paul refused to frustrate or to cause this grace of God to be of no power in his life was that he knew that from the "Real Picture " that he was seeing, he saw himself crucified with Christ, but Christ living in him! Christ by the Holy Spirit teaching him.



Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.





The Real Picture



I saw my sin___upon that old tree.

I saw His' love___and mercy for me.

I saw His' pain, and His' agony.

I saw the price that He paid for me.

I saw the real,

picture of Calvary.



"I pray that the picture you are seeing is the "Real Picture."



"I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless, I live!"

The Prayer of One Who Has Really Been to the Cross.

Don't do God any favors by just saying you accept Him. If the Spirit of God is drawing you, then you can come to God honest and broken over your sin and Christ will cleanse you and come into your body that God ordained to be the temple of the Living God.




Affirmation that I'm in Christ.

"Father God, I am in You by Christ alone! Nothing of my own doing! I rest in Your work at the cross of Your Son, Jesus Christ by His blood!" Thank You for forgiving me, a wretched and sinful person that I am. Thank You for accepting me!, not that I'm accepting You. I believe Your word concerning my life, that you have bought me back, I belong to You! My life, all of it is Yours." In Jesus name. A-men.

Communion With The Father

Communion koinōnia


koy-nohn-ee'-ah

From G2844; partnership, that is, (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction: - (to) communicate (-ation), communion, (contri-), distribution, fellowship.



Luke 15:1-32



Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. Luke 15:1

(Then) drew near. (When did they draw near?)



When these sinners and publicans saw JESUS! When they saw a man that was unlike all the other religious leaders.



They saw a man that walked all of the talk that He was saying!



They saw a man that was in "Constant Communion" with God the Father!



Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.



"God's purpose is that we have "Constant Communion" with Him."



When we (the Church) decide to get back to living in constant communion with the Father, (then) the sinners will draw near!



Jesus was in "Constant Communion" with the Father.



"When seeking God's Communion becomes the priority in our life His presence will be found near us!"



Then one lost sheep will be more important in finding than those ninety nine that are safe. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. Luke 15:6



When that soul that is lost, regardless of who they may be, burdens our heart with the same burden that caused Christ to endure the cross despising the shame! But for the joy that was set before Him, He endure the cross! Hebrews 12:2



Just as the person who went out and found the sheep that was lost was able to find that sheep because Jesus said: "Seek and ye shall find." There was that joy set before that person who was seeking that which was lost, upon finding he returned with joy and saying to all his friends and neighbors: "Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep that was lost!"



God, Move us with compassion to find the lost!



Then we will light the candle of the Word of God!

Then we will sweep the house!

Then we will seek diligently until we find that part that's missing! And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Luke 15:8



Then we will be able to watch a son or a daughter go from us, knowing as long as we have that "Constant Communion" God is working His way in those we love according to His plan for His glory. "Continual prayer keeps us!"



That "Constant Communion with the Father gives us diligence. The ability to wait upon the Lord. Constant Communion with the Father gives us His heart towards others.



A heart that is perfect. (mature)

A heart that is longsuffering.

A heart that is merciful.

A heart that moves with compassion.

A heart that has unlimited love!



(RIGHT NOW!) We are one of the two that we see in the first part of Luke chapter fifteen.



We are looking for___or we are being looked for!



We are finding that one that has lost his or her way__or we are being found by someone who is in "Constant Communion" with the Father!



We find ourselves carrying someone upon our shoulders rejoicing because God has given us directions to find someone because of our "Communion with the Father__or we are being carried on someone's shoulders who has compassion of the Father and have come to us when we have lost it!



"That's true Communion with the Father!"



"When we realize that God's will for every child of God is that we have "Constant Communion" with our Father in Heaven we will know that something is missing. That "Good Part" that Mary chose and could not be taken away from her!."



"When you realize that "Good Part" is missing."



• You will light a candle! (The Word of God!)

• You will be begin to get into God's Word with the greatest desire to know the Father!

• You will allow the Holy Spirit by the Word of God, "Sweep the house!"

• You will be willing to allow God to make it dusty!



"It may be uncomfortable at first, but it will yield to peaceable fruit of righteousness in you!"



I must be willing to say:



• "Holy Ghost__ "Sweep my house!"

• Hold that lighted candle of Your Word closer to my life!

• Search from one end of my house to the other end!

• Find that part, that "Good Part" that is missing in my life!



"I believe God is talking to those that do know Him but have lost the first love of His presence, something is missing!"



John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Jesus at the well. To start and finish.



But now as you are sweeping *(seeking God) the house *(you) all of a sudden realize that the piece isn't really missing!



As you find to your amazement, it is still in the house! (I will never leave you nor forsake you!)



It's still in the house! You've just had your house filled with things that clutter over the important, that "Good Part!"



That good thing__keep by the Holy Ghost! Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. 2 Timothy 1:13-14 "Communion with the Father."



He that has begun a good work in you! Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Philippians 1:6 As God's Holy Spirit is given complete access to clean our house, we will find "Constant Communion" with the Father.



"We must simply give the Holy Ghost the keys!"



• Give Him the keys! Give Jesus the keys!

• The keys to the front door!

• The keys to the back door!

• The keys to the side door!

• Give Him the key to all the doors that controls what comes in and what goes out! Give Him the keys!

• To all the doors inside your house! Give Him the keys!

• Every closet! Every room! The basement! Give Him the keys!



"After all the sweeping!"

"After all the Guiding!"

"After all of the diligence that God requires in our seeking His Communion, we will take on the attributes of the Heavenly Father!"





At the last part of Luke chapter fifteen, we see a father of two sons.



The Bible all through talks about two sons. The number of two is found through the Word of God many times.



• Remember, the two sons that the man had that one said he would go where his father said to go but didn't go. And the other son said that he wouldn't go but afterwards repented of changed his mind and went where his father said.

• Cain and Abel

• Male and female

• Issac and Ishmaiel

• Jacob and Esau

• Joshua and Caleb

• Jew and Gentile

• Jesus and the Father (One)



And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. John 17:11



Jesus' desire and prayer to the Father is that we may be one with the Father! That we have that "Constant Communion."



Both sons aren't satisfied where they are.



The younger son voices his request to his father. As we read his actions are disasterous.





The father in Luke 15:11-32 had wihout doubt, had his share of looking for and being looked for in his own growing up.



"Young people are always looking for ___ or hoping someone is looking for them."



God the Father is looking for you, young people!



"But fathers are hard to understand sometimes."

They are older.

They come across as to direct.

They don't understand today's generation.



"Those are attributes that we sometimes give to our fathers and they may be true at times.



As I look back, I thought those things at times about my father. When I was told by my Daddy not to ride my mini-bike on the main highways in my little town of Irondale, Alabama.



But as I look back as I stand here and see all sides of the picture, I see a father that had his faults but he had a desire to fellowship with His Father in Heaven. That desire for that fellowship, "Constant Communion" caused him to put limits and required expectations in us to become what God wanted us to be!



"Both sons were unhappy in their father's house."



The younger son left because he wanted to see the world and lost it all.



He wanted his money and he wanted it now!



The oldest son was unhappy because he stayed. He was always doing but didn't take the time to really know his father.



I believe this father was able to show both of his sons the heart of God the Father in his response to both sons at the end of this story in Luke 15.



"That the Father is willing to give to His children that ask."



"Those that have a clear (true) vision of their Father."



"How to you see God the Father today?"



Is He one that only gives or is He the One that makes?



To the younger at first He was the One that gives and lets him make his own choices.



But the younger found out it wasn't about how much his father could give but it was how much power, grace, and ability his father had to make him into what he needed to be!





To the elder son at first he, from what we see in scripture, he saw his relationship as a "make it relationship."



It was all business to him, keeping the name going on but it was more to his father than his sons having his name.



He found out that his father did want him to succeed in this life and be responsible.



But he found out that his father wanted him to know that in all the doing, it is to come out of relationship to him!



"Communion with the Father"



That's what God wants from us today!



All the doing, all the ability to do, all the sacrifice that we are able to make will come from that "Communion with the Father."



If you need to come and restore that "Communion with the Father" Come.

Wake up! And stand in the gap!

Matthew 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.


Matthew 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Matthew 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trim their lamps.

Matthew 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil: for our lamps are gone out.



Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.



God is about to find somebody that will stand in the gap!



God is about to hand-pick a people that are tired of the useless religious tactics that are powerless over what we are facing today!



Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.



These people of God will have incredible faith in God to be Christ in them in this society today that has gone mad!



Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria. And unto the uttermost part of the earth.



These will be endued with power by the Holy Ghost!



Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.



Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.



Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.



These will realize that in themselves they have no power but they realize that Jesus is touched by the feeling of our infirmities! They will come boldly to the throne of grace as Jesus calls them! Jesus will be manifested through them!



God is seeking somebody to stand in the gap! Will you?

Let no man deceive you with vain words.

Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

"Everyone talks likes they are expecting Christ to return, but most people are living like they don't believe He's coming!"

Just because the majority of so-called christians can't be distinguished from the worldly unbeliever doesn't make Gods Word void!

Jesus said: "Why call Me Lord, Lord and do not the things I say!"

Jesus is coming!   The condition you are in when He comes will determine where you will spend eternity!

Jesus said: Upon this rock, I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it! Matthew 16:18

But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto Me! Acts 1:8

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4

These words are a description of the true Church!

It's built by Jesus!

It's looking unto Jesus!

It's empowered to live by Jesus!

It's overcoming by Jesus!

It's not whining about what it has to give up! No! This Church loves not its life unto the death! The joy of Lord is its' strength!

It's misunderstood and ridiculed for its' faithful attitude to God! But it will unmistakedly go up at the sound of that trumpet at the rapture!

This true people of God love the Lord their God with all their heart , and with all their soul, and with all their mind!

They don't have to be begged, bribed, or bambooseled into being assembled at prayer meetings, at worship service, or Christian ministry to those in need!

They are connected to Christ!
They are committed to Christ!
They are controlled by Christ!

They are no longer their own___they have been bought with a price!
1Corintians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

"Let no man deceive you with vain words, you are not your own if you have truly been saved by the Blood!"

You are called to be separate! If you are not living a separated life from this world, then you must repent!

Exodus 12:7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
12:8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

First the Lamb had to be killed and then the Blood was to strike on both side posts and on the upper door post of the houses.

The Lamb was roasted with fire and was to be eaten with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs.

All of this represents Jesus and His sacrifice for us!

Jesus bought our deliverance with a great price! HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD!

Except ye eat My flesh and drink My blood, ye have no part with Me!

Exodus 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.

This is a picture of the true Church, that is washed in the Blood! In the midnight hour that Church doesn't want to be a part of this worldly system! At the same time its' testimony will ring true to the world around them!

Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

Let no man deceive you with vain words! As His people we must live godly!

I don't care if you are an Assembly of God, Baptist, Methodist, or Charismatic__you've got to stay in the house! Don't you be wandering around on the streets of Egypt at midnight! Morning is coming! The Rapture is about to take place! You'd better be looking for Jesus, eating Jesus, and doing what Jesus says!

Let no man deceive you with vain words! (Empty words)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Jesus is alive in this Church!

Let no man deceive you with vain words!

If you know you're not living right__repent! God has mercy for you! Then let Christ live through you!

If you love God and are saved__keep yourself in the love of God!

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Build yourselves on your most holy faith! Praying in the Holy Ghost! No Holy Ghost praying__no most holy faith!
You must be filled with the Spirit to stand in this hour! If you're not filled with the Spirit of God, the spirits of the world will deceive you!

Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Keep yourelves in the love of God! This love of God will cause you to live godly and cause you to serve Him expecting His mercy!


Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
That love of God will have the desire to please God in all that you do, yet it will have compassion toward others that will make a differance!

Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
You won't remain like so many are today that call themselves Christians, followers of Christ! And stand by having no concern for those that are about to fall into Hell! No! It's a fearful thing for you to see a soul falling into the hands of the living God! Pull them out! Pull them out! Pull them out! Crying, weeping, praying, holding on to them with all the mercy and grace that God will give you! You're not afraid of what people think of you__No! you are on a mission for God! To seek and to save! Hating the sin! But loving the sinner!

Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Don't be worried about falling when your are truly in the love of God! Just be about the Great Commission and Christ will keep you! Just give God glory, honor and praise with you whole life!

He will present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy! He will present us with a joy that exceeds all joy that we have ever experienced!

Let no man deceive you with vain words!

Jude 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.