The Forgiven Will Forgive

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32

Do you remember, as kids, when an adult would force us to have this kind of conversation?

“Go ahead. Say you’re sorry”

“I’m sorry.”

“See? They said they’re sorry. What do you have to say?”

“It’s okay. I forgive you.”

“Good. Now, hug. And go back to playing.”

I’ll admit it wasn’t the best way to teach us sincere remorse or forgiveness, but as time passed, we’d get over it and go back to playing together as if nothing had happened.

That strategy won’t really work for adults. We’ve all been deeply wounded by the broken promises, hurtful words, and irreversible actions of other people. We might be able to utter the phrase, “I forgive you”, but deep down, we know we haven’t fully healed.

But do we need to heal in order to forgive? What if the act of forgiveness – the intentional surrender of our pain and our offender’s heart to the Lord – what if that’s part of our healing?

It took me over ten years to forgive someone who hurt me deeply. Every year I’d replay how much that person had hurt me, all their broken promises, their words that fell flat, their selfish actions that left me feeling abandoned. It wasn’t until a friend helped me realize that I was living in bondage to this hurt. I wasn’t giving it to the Lord. I wanted to hold on to that resentment because I didn’t know how to let it go.

Jesus asked His Father to forgive the people because they did not know what they were doing. He hung there on the cross, taking all the punishment we deserved on Himself, and entrusted His Father to empower Him to do so. That’s what you and I need to do. Paul reminds us of that in today’s passage. There’s no other way to truly forgive apart from the Holy Spirit.

For all the wrong they’ve done to you, Christ has forgiven them. For all the wrong you’ve done, Christ has forgiven you. Now, it’s your turn.

Father God, Thank You for forgiving my sins. I trust in Jesus today. Thank You because You no longer hold my sins against me and You look at me with Jesus’ righteousness. You ask me to forgive the same way You forgive but I have a hard time. Holy Spirit, please give me the power to forgive _________ for what they did to me. I pray that __________ would be reconciled to You. Help me to let go of any resentment and attitudes that I am holding on to that do not glorify You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Treat Them Better Than How They Treat You!

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” – Psalm 145:8 

You and I cannot pour from empty cups.

I think it’s essential for us to realize that when we lack compassion for others, it’s often because we have not fully grasped the vast mercy of our God.

I’m usually pretty hard on myself. I put a lot of pressure on myself, I have my own foot on my throat nine times out of ten and maybe you do too. I expect myself to be perfect, and I am peeved with myself when I fail to live up to my expectations. And it’s when I find myself in those valleys that I look up and realize that my God doesn’t feel the same way I do.

He is gracious – He treats us much better than we deserve. He is merciful – He spares us from what we do deserve. He is slow to anger – He doesn’t react or get easily irritated. He is compassionate – He looks on us, knowing we are sinful humans that need a savior. And that’s why He sent us Jesus.

When you and I are confronted with the immeasurable grace of our compassionate Father, a God who has provided us a way to be reconciled to Him despite our willful, constant rebellion against Him, it changes the way we look at ourselves.

The second commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves is impossible if we don’t believe that Jesus loves us in the same way. That’s the only way we can have compassion toward people who hurt us, who are different from us, whom we would rather not have anything to do with.

I pray that you live out of a deep understanding and gratitude for the compassion God has toward you – and that through the Holy Spirit, it permeates throughout your life and overflows to everyone you encounter today and every day.

Lord Jesus, I thank You that You are not like me. I can have a short temper, I can get easily irritated, and I don’t always show compassion to those around me, especially people who have offended me. Forgive me for having a hard heart toward people. Help me to better understand the unconditional love that You have for me so I can live it out to those around me. I pray that people might know that I am Your child because of my compassion. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Challenge…

Pay attention when you are hard on yourself. Ask yourself, how does God see me right now? Replace those thoughts with truths from God’s Word. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you look at others the same way.

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Evangelism Education and Empowerment

 “Mission 3:16: The World and Whosoever”

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

The Vision: To educate and empower effective evangelism.

The Mission: To emphasize and encourage strategic soul winning.

The Strategy: To offer lectures on effective evangelism.

• Partners and Scholars register: isom@itsthehope.org
• Receive Zoom link from House Media Team.
• Featured plenary courses and lecturers:

Tuesday – Pastor May L. Henderson

 Evangelism and Scriptures – How To Shape The Message

Wednesday – Bishop Sean Teal, Th.D.

 Evangelism and Structures – How To Build The Ministry

Thursday – Evangelist Tony Adams

 Evangelism and Strategies – How To Reach The Masses

SEMINAR SCHEDULE

6:15pm – 6:33pm – Setting The Atmosphere

6:33pm– Scripture and Prayer- ISOM Moderator

Greetings and Goals – Dr. Sean Teal, Provost 

6:45pm – Lecture with Q & A

7:45pm-Closing Points and Prayer – Dr. Sean Teal, Provost

If you were blessed by this session of ISOM, please be sure to register with ISOM. Request your annual registration. Don’t miss any more updates or upcoming events. isom@itsthehope.org

Declare The Decree!

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee (Psalm 2:7). You have a father and you have a family. You have a decree concerning your destiny. You must declare the decree! Say about yourself what God has said about you.

God hears me and will rescue me! “My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me. Fear and trembling have beset me… I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He rescues me unharmed…” (Psalm 55:4-5, 16-18).

God is mighty to save! “Never again will you fear any harm… The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing” (Zeph. 3:15, 17)

God is for me! God loves me and I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus! “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? …Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?… No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:31-32, 35-37)

God is with me to help me! “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble!” (Psalm 46:1).

God will keep me safe! “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? … For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling!” (Psalm 27:1,5).

God is my healer and my rescuer! “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave” (Psalm 107:19-20).

God is my deliverer! “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” (Psalm 50:15).

God is my restorer and will refresh me by His Spirit. “To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear” (Isaiah 28:12).

Defiant Confidence

Psalm 27 invites us to wonder what life could look like if fear ceased to dominate. 

Psalm 27 encourages us to live boldly, courageously, and powerfully. Our faith doesn’t remove us from intimidating situations. This psalm acknowledges that reality in the first two verses, envisioning a terrifying scenario where “evildoers assail me to devour my flesh”and “war rise up against me.” Having faith does not mean avoiding reality. Faith, instead, addresses intimidating circumstances with defiant confidence in God. After describing a host of imposing realities, the psalmist pushes back in verse 3, saying, “Yet I will be confident.” 

The defiant confidence of the psalmist is attainable for each of us. To the full extent of our ability, we can push back, with God-soaked conviction, against opposition in our life. Yes, social distancing can take a toll. Yes, screen fatigue is real. Yes, shouldering long hours at work—or even looking for work in the first place—can be taxing. But, like the psalmist, we can be defiantly confident. God is our shelter and our hiding place. We overcome fear by approaching every situation as an opportunity to lean on God as our light who brings direction, our salvation who brings us safety, and our stronghold who protects us when we’re vulnerable. 

With defiant confidence, I charge each of us to wait on the Lord today. “Be strong and let your heart take courage,” for together, we will see the goodness of God in the land of the living. 

Cultivating a justice imagination requires defiant confidence. Defiant confidence confronts intimidating circumstances. It replaces our fears about what might go wrong with the convictions of what might go right if we take courageous action. 

Breathe in, then exhale deeply. As you breathe, ask yourself what defiant confidence means for you. After several breaths, write down one or two sentences about what it would look like for you to walk unapologetically, knowing that God is your light and salvation.

 tonydegruy@comcast.net

The House Is In Prayer

The 4th Year Prayer Guide

Bishop Sean Teal, Th.D. © 2023

Every success is a prayer success! This year’s celebration as a church is a praise to God for four years of full-time ministry. We are a wonder! The House is a work of the Holy Spirit. To God we give all the glory!

The love of Jesus and the power of prayer is what we offer the world and the lost. The House is uniquely anointed for this moment and for this ministry. We are an apostolic assignment.

Forward and onward we have many opportunities and challenges. We have a plethora of possibilities. We are anointed with an advantage. We are a gift to the Body of Christ. We are sent! We are sent into the world as ambassadors of Jesus. We are intercessors.

The House is in need of more powerful and prevailing prayer. The apostolic assignment must be an answer to prayer. Every apostolic assignment is launched from prayer. Intercessors are essential! 

We are dealing with modern modes of ministry that are being incubated in a carnal culture. Spiritual immaturity is the norm in most churches. Lovelessness and prayerlessness in church must be countered.  Prayer and the ministry of The Word needs a revival and renewal in The Body of Christ.

We have committed ourselves to the prophetic vision of Isaiah 56:7. This is what Jesus wants for The House (Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:49). We are called to be connected to His calling!

We have a 30 Day Prayer Guide for 3o days!  You can pray daily for The House! 

Pray one point every day for thirty (30) days.

For your FREE copy info@itsthehope.org

The Principles of Firstfruits

The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God… (Exodus 23:19).

This scripture is a statute. A “statute” in The Bible usually refers to a certain genre of The Written Word of God. Other words like “commandments”, “decrees”, “ordinances”, “precepts” or “laws” describe different genres of God’s Word.

A “statute” is a strategy for success. In its original etymology it is a picture of a doctor handing a patient a prescription. What is written is now a strategy for success, healing and well-being.

Firstfruits is a strategy for success. It is not a commandment like the tithe (Malachi 3:8-12). The first fruit does not test us or prove God. The first fruit is a divine strategy that gives the believer the opportunity to experience exponential increase in things material and financial. Honor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thine increase. So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine (Proverbs 3:9-10).

The tithe is all about integrity. The offerings are all about investment. The firstfruits is all about increase! There is a level of financial blessing, riches and wealth that cannot be obtained by the believer without the practice of the firstfruits. Think of that! 

The pattern, protocol, promise, practice and place of firstfruits are all revealed according to this short and simple statute recorded in the patterns and practices of The Tabernacle. The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God… (Exodus 23:19). 

The first commentary is upon the pattern of the firstfruits. The pattern is too simple. “The first…”. The pattern is “God first!”. See Matthew 6:33.  This is at the core of  kingdom living. You are not even kingdom conscious until you are God-first focused. Does God come first is the most pertinent point? Where is God’s place in your faith? Family? Finances?

The second commentary is upon the protocol of the firstfruits. “The first of the firstfruits” sets the order. Order is God’s strategy for increase. The first fruit protocol is to bring the prototype. The statute of the firstfruits directs God’s people to bring the best of their first. Firstfruits is bringing the first of your best so that your best will be blessed. Upon the return home by the worshiper and the harvester there was an expectation that the harvest still in the field would be just like the harvest that he put in the hands of the priest. And the first of all the firstfruits of all kinds, and every offering of all kinds from all your offerings, shall belong to the priests. You shall also give to the priests the first of your dough, that a blessing may rest on your house (Ezekiel 44:30).

The third commentary is upon the promise of the firstfruits. “Of thy land” is referring to the Promised Land. Their harvest was a promise. What they gathered was a grace. What they had at harvest time was because of a covenant that had nothing, yet everything, to do with them. They prospered on a promise. They reaped because God kept His word. Out of this grace and gratitude they brought God their first and best. All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee (Numbers 18:12).

The fourth commentary is upon the practice of the firstfruits. “Thou shalt bring”. The firstfruits is not only spiritual and financial; it is also very personal. Bringing the firstfruits is a ministry to your ministry. Your priest, pastor and prophet are recipients of the firstfruits. You are personally connected to the anointing, life and ministry of the one who receives your first fruits. Your gift makes room for you and joins you into partnership with your man or woman of God. Now if the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches (Romans 11:16). 

The fifth and final commentary is upon the place of the firstfruits.  “Into the house of the LORD thy God”. The “house of the LORD thy God” is the house of prayer (Isaiah 56:7, Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46). The house of prayer is the place where God receives tithes, offerings and firstfruits. “Burnt offerings and sacrifices” are offerings that represent your best and your first. And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered (Nehemiah 12:44).

Fasting and The Soul

“Why have we fasted, but You have not seen?  We have denied ourselves, but You haven’t noticed!  (Isaiah 58:3)(CSB).

They fasted and expected God to pay attention to their fasting. They denied themselves and expected God to take notice. They had an understanding and an expectation about fasting that every new creation believer needs to grasp. 

“We have fasted”. “We have afflicted our soul”. Fasting afflicts the soul. Fasting is not about food. The aim of fasting is not to lose pounds, detox or to sponsor a hunger strike before God. Fasting is for the soul.

The soul is the seat of intentions, passions and emotions. The soul hosts the human mind, will and emotions. What we think, what we desire and what we feel have their space and place in the soul. 

Most Christians are “carnal”.  In the way the Apostle Paul describes and defines being carnal it comes out to being self-centered and soul-controlled (see I Corinthians 3, Romans 8). When we are self-centered we are allowing our fallen flesh to dominate our decisions. When we are soul-controlled we are allowing our minds, wills and emotions to be dominated by any influence other than the Word of God and Holy Spirit.   

Our souls need to be afflicted. The word “afflicted” means to be lowered, abased, brought under, made subordinate to another’s power. Fasting has a spiritual goal. It is designed to lower, abase, bring under, and make subordinate our minds, wills and emotions to the Spirit of God and the Word of God.

The Greek word picture associated with the word “fast” is the picture of someone withdrawing their hand. When one did not take or receive food it was a fast. When one would abstain from eating and consuming they were withdrawing from the table and from their own appetite. 

Fasting is withdrawing your hand. This is what humility looks like. See I Peter 5:6-7. Fasting is confessing that you need to take your hands off of someone or something. Your “hands on approach” for everyone and everything may be your presumption. Do you always have the best thought, best desire or the best feel for a person or situation?

Fasting, just like prayer, is the admission and acknowledgment that you need God to help you. Fasting is more about denying your ego, than about missing a few meals. Fasting is surrendering, yielding and giving up your own ideas, desires and feelings so that you can fully obtain, observe and obey the will of God for your life.

The House Prayer Party Protocol

“Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer:”… (Isaiah 56:7). The LORD wants your house to become His house. The LORD’s House is JOYFUL! It is joyful because it is prayerful. If you are ready to receive or restore joy into your house, home and family The House Prayer Party is where you can begin. Join US!

• Saturdays, 6:00pm – 6:33pm – Set The Atmosphere
• 6:33pm – Scripture Reading (Matthew 18:18-20)
• Opening Prayer  – Psalm 111

The Prayer Leader will pray in accord with Psalm 111.

• Welcome by Prayer Party Moderator

Prayer Moderators maintain a joyful and spiritual flow. 

• Prayer Exhortation – This is a reminder of a promise in Holy Scripture.

• What’s Your Name?- Prayer Partners

This is the Roll Call. Using “icebreakers” to  initiate Roll Call. 

• What’s Your Promise? – Prayer Partners

Every participant is asked to come on with a Scripture promise that has encouraged them and can encourage others.

• What’s Your Praise?- Prayer Partners

This is an opportunity for any participant to share their testimony of an answered prayer.

• What’s Your Prayer? –  Prayer Partners

This is the opportunity for any participant to state the thing that they are believing for or need God to help them achieve.

• Intercessory Prayer

The Intercessor will lead the Prayer Party. (15 minutes)

1. Prayer for The Ministries.
2. Prayer for The Members.
3. Prayer for The Morning Glory.

• Final Call – Prayer Moderator

The Prayer Moderator closes with announcements for the upcoming week(s).

Bishop Sean Teal, Visionary

http://www.PrayerEverywhere.org

The House Church Network

The 20:20 Vision with Bishop Sean Teal

House of Prayer Everywhere International

“I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house” (Acts 20:20).

This is our “tipping point”! In the earliest days of launching The House of Prayer Everywhere Church (Oakland, CA) I introduced this term to our leaders. We even read Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell together as a group. The idea of a tipping point is the phenomenon of critical mass. It is when some fact, reality or perception changes in such a profound way that nothing will ever again be the same. It is the point of no return.

The decades of decline in church attention and worship attendance has been brought to a tipping point by the pandemic. The social detachments and distances it has created has pushed people further away from traditional or conventional church life. The social media culture has become the platform and portal of choice. This generation of church goers would rather stay in than to show up. We have become home-bound and home-based with home businesses. This is our time to engage the New Testament model for expanding and empowering house churches.

We will begin to study the New Testament examples and principles that formed and founded house churches in the Book of Acts and throughout the Pauline Epistles. I urge every believer and member of a local church to join The House at Precepts Bible Study Wednesdays @ 6:33pm FB Live. Bishop Sean Teal will teach and train all attendees for the launching of the 20:20 Vision.

Five Easy Reasons For House Churches

1. Helps foster personal and spiritual relationships (Acts 2:46). 
2. Offers opportunities for prayer and pastoral care (Acts 12:12). 
3. Unites members with the vision of The Church (Acts 5:42). 
4. Serves as a FRANgelism opportunity (Acts 16:31-34).
5. Encourages the ministry of spiritual gifts (Acts 21:8-10).

Matthew 18:20 – For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Acts 2:42 – And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:46 – And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Acts 5:42 – And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Romans 16:5 – Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

1 Corinthians 16:19 – The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

Colossians 4:15 – Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

Philemon 1:2 – And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house:

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