Are you connected to the Body of Christ?

A clique (pronounced /ˈkliːk/, also /ˈklɪk/ (U.S.)) is an exclusive group of people who share common interests, views, purposes, patterns of behavior, or ethnicity.[1] A clique as a reference group can be either normative or comparative. Membership in a clique is typically exclusive, and qualifications for membership may be social or essential to the nature of the clique. (Info taken from Wikipedia)

On yesterday evening Father placed within my heart to pray & intercede for every person who has ever been rejected, separated, pushed aside or discounted by people who said that they had no value when it  came to ministry in the Kingdom of God. As I prayed my heart went back to all of the times when I have personally been cast out so to speak from people who rejected me because I did not fit into their mold or way of doing things because I was seen as different or peculiar. This past Sunday my Apostle and Pastor taught an awesome message  about people who have been thrown into a pit by other people. I rejoiced because I had been there in that place many times before, too many to even name.

Looking back over the 30 years that I have worked in ministry (from singing in the youth choir at age 15 to serving at a local Nashville nursing home) I have seen many cliques formed. When cliques are in full operation, you will begin to see an increase in wounded and rejected people within the church because the sole purpose of a clique is separation.  If you are part of a ministry group and you begin to notice that mini-sub groups are being formed within that ministry where only a select few are offered admittance than you are seeing a clique in action. Mind you, I am not talking about cell groups or ministry within a church setting, because these are bilibical (see Acts 2) What is on the heart of the Father today is concern for those who operate or participate in the gathering of cliques within the Body of Christ. These are not biblical nor do they serve or benefit a  kingdom purpose.

The Body of Christ was officially established in the book of Acts chapter 2 when those assembled in the upper room were together in one place and on one accord. In Acts 2: 42-47, it details how the body of believers operated. ^"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." They were blessed beyond measure because they were connected to the Body of Christ.

So if you find yourself connected to a sub-group within the body of Christ and it's sole purpose is to scatter and not gather then you are operating contrary to true kingdom purpose. The word of God in Luke 11:23 says "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters."

Know that God loves each and every one of his children and He is not a respector of persons. His desire to have relationship and fellowship with all of His children including the ones who have been cast to the side and rejected. Ask the Lord to forgive, heal and restore you on today if you have taken part in any cliques, know that He is waiting with out stretched loving arms to receive you back into the fold.

Blessings

Arnita L. Fields

Don't prematurely jump off the Potter's Wheel

Isaiah 64:8

Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Never underestimate where you are even at this present moment in life. Each of us are exactly where we need to be as GOD continues to refine us and smooth out the rough edges in every area of our lives. He is making us ready for the new divine assignments which will help to usher in not only a greater depth of His glory but the huge harvest of souls awaiting His touch through our obedience.

GOD has a plan, but are we willing to see it through to the end? God is making us all ready, so you are not alone. All around you is a room full of harden clay awaiting their turn on the Potter's wheel so that they too can be properly & uniquely prepared for every good work. So relax, reach up and grab hold of the Potter's hand, let Him shape and mold you into that very special vessel He has purposed you to be.

Blessings!

Arnita L. Fields 

Prayer of Salvation

If after reading this devotional and you have a desire to know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please pray the following prayer:

I repent of all of my sins and right now I do confess that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for the remission of my sins. I believe that Jesus died and was buried and rose again, and is now seated at the right hand of God in Heaven. I receive Him now as Lord of my life and I now commit to serve him for the rest of my days.

It’s in Jesus name I do pray, Amen

If you have just prayed this prayer and want more information about beginning your new life as a Christian, please call or write us, we will be happy to send you a free booklet.

A Poetic View

PO BOX 754301

Memphis, TN 38175

Keeping up with the Joneses or staying in step with the Holy Spirit

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Galations 6:8

Growing up as a child, I often heard stories from my maternal grandmother about people she knew who were only concerned about keeping up with what others had or what others did and how they would work to compete to see who had better in the end.  Time after time they would come to her porch and call out for Mama Vie, telling her that they needed to talk with her about something. Many times, I would hear her on the phone telling them not to get caught up in buying this or that and not being able to afford it all in the end.  Still there were many times that many would come to ask her for money to help them pay bills and she would give it to them with a stern warning for them to be more discerning the next time.

Growing up in a family with six children, did not afford me the opportunity to have all of the latest fashions of the 70’s. But I always had clean clothes and freshly braided hair. My parents made sure that we had a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs and shoes on our feet even if they were the buddies from the community J. L. Marcus stores. 

What I learned back then was the value and importance of family. Like spending time playing with my younger siblings and dreaming about our future. Or what we did as a family on Saturday mornings, by getting up cleaning up the house and then sitting down for a family meeting before we watched our Saturday afternoon movies. I remember my mama would facilitate our meetings and ask us if we had any issues or concerns that we wanted to discuss with her or to solve an issue with another sibling.  She was teaching us back then how to keep a clear line of communication open with family as well as others. She taught us values and how to use our life and talents for good. Mama was also teaching us also that putting in quality time with family was most precious than anything that money could ever buy. She was teaching us things that would help to bless our lives in the long run.

These childhood experiences both taught me something and that is how the scripture above ties in with this devotional. On one hand, I can spend my whole life working to spend everything I have on trying to live a life to impress people by keeping up with the Joneses. Or on the other hand, I can use the available resources and gifts that I have by pouring into others those things which will help them to mature and grow to become who God created and purposed for them to be in Him. 

Body of Christ, we have a choice to make today, will we continue to keep up with the Joneses or will we make the leap of faith to stay in step with the Holy Spirit? Which one of these roads would you chose?  The one that leads to destruction or the one that leads to eternal life?  Make the choice to truly live life today; and we 'll leave a light on for you.

 Prayer of Salvation

If after reading this devotional you have a desire to know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please pray the following prayer:

  

I repent of all of my sins and right now I do confess that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for the remission of my sins. I believe that Jesus died and was buried and rose again, and is now seated at the right hand of God in Heaven. I receive Him now as Lord of my life and I now commit to serve him for the rest of my days. It’s in Jesus name I do pray, Amen

If you have just prayed this prayer and want more information about beginning your new life as a Christian, please call or write us, we will be happy to send you a free booklet.

A Poetic View

PO BOX 754301

Memphis, TN 38175

RELEASE

Release all of the things you have carried over the last seven months of this year. God is ready to perform His word concerning your life if only you release, let go and relinquish your control. God is a God of freedom and liberty and His desire is for His children to be free from all that hinders them. Open your hand, relax your hold and release it completely to God. Then you will see the miraculous, then you will see the evidence, then you will see your victory when you release everything to God.

New, New, New!

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

As I sit here at my desk closing out old writing projects from seasons past, I know in my spirit that God is ready to bring forth something new into my life. As in previous years, whenever I am led to closeout writing projects or to clean and organize my desk files or boxes that the old must go in order for the new to come forth.

The seventh month of 2011 is officially coming to a close in less than 18 hours and already my mind has become focused on the second half of this year. There is a mighty huge harvest coming not only for my own household but also for those within the household of faith.

In this last season of “just enough” I have been a good steward over the monies earned through my job, as well as tithing and sowing seed off of every book sale made. But despite having just enough to do the necessary minimal, God has yet to continue to provide and to meet every basic need of my household.

As this fresh new season begins to spring forth, bringing with it all that God has purposed, my spirit begins to leap for joy because the old is now past and has been dealt with in so many ways, from physically to emotionally. The time has now come for me to open my arms wide to embrace and receive all of the new that has come. May you also embrace the new, new, new that God is making available for you too.

In closing, I would like to share with you a poem I wrote in the spring of 2000 upon waking up on the morning of a brand new season for my life.  The poem is entitled, It’s Morning.”

Enjoy, Blessings!

It’s Morning

It’s Morning! It’s Morning! Oh the new mercies I see.

It’s Morning! It’s Morning! A brand new day for me.

It’s Morning! It’s Morning! Oh how bright the sun does shine.

It’s Morning! It’s Morning! I have a renewed peace of mind.

It’s Morning! It’s Morning! I will praise the Lord.

It’s Morning! It’s Morning! In Him I adore.

It’s Morning! It’s Morning! He has set me free.

It’s Morning! It’s Morning! From the hand of the enemy.

It’s Morning! It’s Morning!

© Arnita L. Fields 2000 (from the poetry book, Rescued, Restored, Renewed & Revived, published in 2006)

RUN VISION! RUN!

And then God answered: "Write this.
Write what you see.
Write it out in big block letters
so that it can be read on the run.
This vision-message is a witness
pointing to what's coming.
It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait!
And it doesn't lie.
If it seems slow in coming, wait.
It's on its way. It will come right on time.

Habakkuk 2

(The Message Bible)

During my time of intercession and prayer this morning, I began to pray over and cover the Godly visions (marriage, home, business & ministry) which God has given my husband and me over the 14 years we have been married. Although, we pray for God’s divine will for our lives daily, we had not prayed over the written visions daily. Today, as the written visions were brought to the forefront, I began to pray and to speak forth those things which the spirit led me to speak, I soon found myself truly visualizing what God has already planned to do in and through us. Next, I then began to lift up the written visions of others, some I have met and others I have yet to meet. I began to rejoice with joy because many of these visions will soon be coming to pass.

There has been a stirring in the spirit today concerning previously written God inspired visions and I am led to share with you that if you have a written vision the Father God has given you over the years, now is the time for you to take it off the shelf and go before the Lord in a time of prayer and intercession to pray as the spirit leads you. Whatever God has promised you, it is He who will bring it to pass because He is definitely well able to bless you in and at the appointed time.

Above all, I pray that your faith is renewed and increased as you take your God inspired vision and began to run with it again.

Blessings!

Relief from Spiritual Constipation

Galatians 5:1


It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Constipation usually occurs when there is not enough fiber in the diet or not enough water being taken in to soften the waste which needs to pass through the body. The use of certain medications and certain illnesses may also contribute to people becoming constipated.

Many may question how being spiritually constipated correlates with being constipated in the natural. But as you will see in a moment, what we experience in the natural (our bodies) very much parallel what we go through in the spirit.

If you have ever found yourself seriously constipated, you know how uncomfortable this feeling can be. Being constipated can sometimes cause abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss and even make you feel nauseous. When this happens an individual knows that it is way past time for them to seek relief. Being spiritual constipation works the same way, when your spirit is stopped up and you are unable to get a full release, you become stagnant in your spirit or dry so to speak. You may begin to experience pain down in your soul but can’t pinpoint the source of your discomfort. You will also find that you are unable to move forward because your stomach is so bloated that you are unable to move freely as you once were able to do. Lastly, you find yourself experiencing cramps which tend come and go even at some of the most inconvenient times.

So how do you spell relief? D-E-L-I-V-E-R-E-N-C-E!

Wondering what steps should you take to gaining deliverance from spiritual constipation and dryness? In the next few moments I will share with you the steps which Father God led me through as I personally gained freedom from a season of spiritual constipation.

1. First, ask the Holy Sprit to search your heart for any residue of unforgiveness from past hurts and or offences lingering down in the cracks and crevices.

2. Secondly, write down the names of those whom the Holy Spirit brings to your remembrance and then go down your list one name at a time to forgive and then release the person(s) completely.

3. Once you have completed your list, tear up or burn.

4. Next, take a moment to release God from anything negative you may feel in your heart towards Him.

5. Then spend some time in meditation and in study of the word.

6. Next, allow for the washing of the water of the word to rejuvenate your spirit through and through.

7. Set aside an appointed time to fellowship with the Father in worship and prayer.

8. Next, spend time listening for God’s wisdom/guidance on how you will need to proceed in your restored/refreshed state.

9. Spend some time in consecration weekly to maintain your new found deliverance.

10. Change your diet by adding in more fruits & vegetables. This is not only naturally but spiritually nourishing and it will help to keep your digestive tract clean.

What are some of the benefits from obtaining relief from spiritual constipation?

1. New found liberty in the spirit.

2. Closer fellowship with the Father, God.

3. More strategic prayer life.

4. Stronger foundation built upon the word of God.

5. Intensified Love walk.

6. Increased desire to walk in obedience to God’s commands.

7. Overflow of joy, peace & happiness.

Prayerfully this information has been of some benefit and you will now prayerfully consider taking what you have learned and make application to your life. Best wishes as you embark on your journey to gaining relief from spiritual constipation.

If you are in need of Jesus the Savior, you are welcome to pray the following prayer.

Prayer of Salvation

I repent of all of my sins and right now I do confess that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for the remission of my sins. I believe that Jesus died and was buried and rose again, and is now seated at the right hand of God in Heaven. I receive Him now as Lord of my life and I now commit to serve him for the rest of my days.

It’s in Jesus’ name I do pray, Amen.

If you have just prayed this prayer and want more information about beginning your new life as a Christian, please call or write us, we will be happy to send you a free booklet.