Anthony Wade Ministries

Before I gave my life to The Lord Jesus Christ, I encountered a person who used to frequent a bar called, Lo’s Club, in my hometown. This person’s nickname was Shorty. He would on numerous occasions get intoxicated. What was so unique about Shorty was that he would get drunk and start preaching. A period of time went by during which I had received The Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I was in my hometown on a weekend and I saw Shorty on a street corner. He was drunk! I was in my motor vehicle at the time I saw Shorty, and yes he was preaching. This time it was obvious that Shorty had urinated on himself. I call it “pissy drunk.”

When I saw him, “Holy Spirit” said something to me I have never forgotten. He said, “Don’t you judge that man!” He “The Holy Spirit,” explained to me if I had been through what that man has been through, I might be the same way. This reminds me of what Jesus said about judging.

Matthew 7:1-5 (NASB)

{1} “Do not judge lest you be judged. {2} “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. {3} “And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? {4} “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? {5}”You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

It is a given that many times we don’t have a clue what others have gone, or are going through. It is vitally important that we don’t judge things from an outward appearance. All to often, life has kicked people around so much and so hard they end up in a survival mode. The activity they choose is with a survival mental attitude. They are doing their best to make it. If we walked a mile in their shoes, we would do the same or something similar. The old expression is don’t judge a book by it’s cover. — AWM

Copyright © 2010 Anthony N. Wade Ministries — All Rights Reserved. No part of this teaching may be rewritten or reproduced without the written approval from the author.

WEB SITE: www.anthonywadeministries.com
EMAIL: hgflow@gmail.com

“I decree that in this season of life, I will not be left out. I am included in the outpouring of God’s Favor and Miraculous Provision. Something is turning loose deep inside me and will manifest in the natural, not many days from now. This is my season to build a Memorial unto God for His Glory. I shall decree a thing and it shall be established in the Name of Jesus.”

Job 22:27-28 (KJV)

{27} Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.

{28} Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

{13} No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

The backdrop of 1st Corinthians 10:13, is that the Apostle Paul was encouraging the Corinthians to stand strong in their walk with the Lord. The first thing that we must understand is that temptations, tests, and trials do not come from God. It is a sad commentary but many God fearing people believe that God is the one who sends temptations, tests and trials our way. God has been blamed for many tragedies, and He has had nothing to do with them.

Many God fearing people consistently blame God for the death of a child, or the premature death of a loved one. God gets blamed for car wrecks, sickness and disease, bad weather etc. Even insurance companies have categorized natural disasters as “Acts of God.”

It is amazing to me how many believers forget a very pertinent verse in John 10:10.

John 10:10 (KJV)

{10} The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

If it is stealing, killing and destroying, you can rest assure that it is not from God. Other verses we can stand on is in Matthew.

Matthew 6:10-13 (NIV)

{10} Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

{11} Give us today our daily bread. {12} Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors {13} And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

AS IT IS IN HEAVEN:

Jesus taught the disciples to pray in conjunction with how things are in Heaven. I submit to you that there is no sickness in heaven. There is no poverty in heaven. There are no adverse conditions in heaven. Even so, some well meaning Christians tell us that we have those adverse and ugly things because they are permitted by God to teach us something. If sickness
is the will of God, why do so many run to the medicine cabinet to get rid of God’s will? If God was the author of it, why don’t they try to keep it, instead of getting rid of it? If sickness and disease were from God where did He get it?

What kind of Father is our God? Is He the kind of Father that is considered good ????one that brings up His children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? Or is He a Father that abuses His children? Our concept of God as our Father is going to affect and rule our entire life. It is going to have an influence on every interpretation of the Word of God. A good father never breaks a child’s leg or arm to punish him or her. Neither does he cause them to be broken up in an accident. Nor does a good father give his son or daughter a disease. Christians must be spiritually sharp. Not only are we to withstand satans attacks, but we must also cling to constant vigilance and use of the armor, of prayer and of spiritual warfare. Our adversary is not God, but the enemy of our soul.

Whom is the devil seeking? He is looking for the person who breaks the safety rules, violates the speed limit, and lets up on feeding on the Word of God etc. Why? They open the door to the devils attack. They are letting down their shield of faith, which gives the enemies darts the opportunity to get through to them (Ephesians 4:27).

“WHAT KIND OF FATHER IS OUR GOD?”

The Late Adam Clark put it this way: God will not allow you to be tried above the strength He gives you; but as the trial comes, He will provide you with sufficient strength to resist it; as the trial comes in, He will make your way out. He will, with the temptation, test, or trial, make the deliverance, or way out. The tempter is never permitted to block up our way, without the providence of God making a way through the wall. God never makes a breach in his otherwise impregnable fortification. Should an upright soul get into difficulties and straits, he may rest assured that there is a way out, as there was a way in; and that the trial shall never be above the strength that God shall give him to overcome it. -AWM

Copyright © 2010 Anthony N. Wade Ministries ~ All Rights Reserved. This teaching may not be rewritten or reproduced without the written approval of the author.
EMAIL: hgflow@gmail.com

Real Bible humility is not a belittling of oneself, but an exalting or praising of others; especially God the Father and The Lord Jesus Christ. A humble person focuses more on others than themselves. Biblical humility is an acknowledgment that by ourselves we are inadequate — without dignity and worthless. However, in Christ we have infinite worth and self-esteem. If you really knew who you were, you wouldn’t take the opportunity to bring down another. Bringing down others only proves that you are not very confident in what God has wrought in you. Someone once said that “You have to be little, to belittle and he who throws dirt looses ground.”

We need to look for the opportunities to esteem others better than ourselves. To esteem someone else means to have a high regard and respect of someone else. It is to value, prize, appreciate and admire someone other than yourself.

The book of Philippians really brings this to light:

Philippians 2:1-4 NKJV

{1} Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any
fellowship (communion) of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

{2} fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

{3} Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

{4} Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

What an awesome command. The golden verse that I want to center this message on is Vs: 3. How are we to esteem others? — better than ourselves. Now, Holy Spirit would not direct us to do something that we don’t have the ability to do. We have the ability to esteem others better than ourselves. It is imperative that we drop a self-centered view of things and embrace a Christ-centered view. That is what Jesus did in His sacrifice for mankind. He had a high estimation of us, before He went to the Cross, and rose triumphant over death, hell and the grave.

Esteeming others better than ourselves, actually speaks more about us, than the other person. If we are doing this verse — it is a display of the attitude that we have toward ourselves. Our attitude towards our self, will find its expression in esteeming others better. Esteeming others better than ourselves is a clue that you love you
(Mark 12:30-31).

Esteeming others better, is the only way of knowing we have a healthy fellowship with God the Father and The Lord Jesus Christ. If we don’t esteem others better, then chances are we really don’t have a high estimation of ourselves — nor do we have a vibrant fellowship with God the Father. Another way of esteeming others is also preferring one another.

Romans 12:9-10 The Message

{9-10} Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; practice playing second fiddle.

Most of us have heard the old saying that practice makes perfect. Well, there is no such thing as a perfect person; but there are many people in the Body of Christ, who are mature. One of the qualities that prepared them for maturation was the attitude and the practice of playing second fiddle. All too often, we are only looking out for numero uno. If that kind of mindset dominates our life — we will be disappointed. Deep inside we will be looking for, and desiring more — but it simply won’t come. Why? Because we have the cart before the horse so to speak. Esteeming others better, preferring one another and playing second fiddle is a sure way to achieve what we are looking for in life. In preferring our brother and sister before us, we are positioning our self for promotion.

Most of us want to be promoted and acknowledged for who we are as a person, yet the promotion cannot come our way until we have consistently practiced playing second fiddle. Another way of playing second fiddle is ridding yourself of any reputation. This is exactly what The Lord Jesus Christ did for us. It is His example that we are to follow. Christ esteemed us, so that we could have an awesome opinion of one another. Following His example is positioning us for promotion.

HOW ARE WE TO ESTEEM OTHERS? — BETTER THAN OURSELVES.

Philippians 2:5-11 NKJV

{5} Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

{6} who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

{7} but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men.

{8} And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death of the cross.

{9} Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name,

{10} that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in Heaven, and of those on earth, and those under the earth,

{11} and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father.

What an awesome privilege and responsibility we have. Esteem others better — and you will never ever regret it. In fact, we are at our best when we are giving to others. For God so loved, that He Gave. He gave us His Best, so we could have the rest. Let’s Esteem Others Better. By preferring our brother and sister before us, we are positioning ourself for promotion. -AWM

Copyright (C) Anthony N. Wade Ministries 2010 ~ ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No portion of this publication may be rewritten or reproduced without the written approval of the author.

1 Thessalonians 4:10b -12 New American Standard

{10b} But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,

{11} And to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you,

{12} So that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.

What an awesome admonition from “The Holy Ghost.” A number of years ago He instructed me to really begin to live verse eleven. In other words I was to become intimate with that verse to the point of making it a part of my everyday life. That command from “God The Holy Ghost,” still holds tried and true for me today.

To study to be quiet connotes a deeper, more faithful relationship with “Holy Spirit.” To study to be quiet also means that you are silent enough to be teachable. In other words you have fasted from your opinion on any given subject. You have developed enough to let others influence the conversation.

Years before I answered the call into the ministry verse eleven was brought to my attention. Little did I know that by embracing this verse it would save me from a lot of heartache, and hardship. Holy Spirit was showing me things to come (John 16:13). The more allegiance I have to verse eleven, the more God is able to work in my life.

We must understand that He knows our future better than we know our past. He is our rear guard (Isaiah 52:12; 58:8). He saw where I was going to be in my future and gave me the ability to overcome any, and every obstacle, that would hinder my development.

Now there are some things we will face by virtue of the fact that we have an enemy, and we will have to defeat the storms of life. Overcoming the storms of life is simply wrapping ourselves in, and around the Word of God and doing it (Luke 6:46-49; James 1:22).

“IT’S NOT THE STORMS OF LIFE THAT DEFEAT US… BUT WHAT WE DO IN MIDST OF THE STORMS, THAT DETERMINES THE OUTCOME.”

Psalm 57:4-6 NKJV

{4} My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

{5} Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.

{6} They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen.

Many can identify with this passage of scripture. At one time or another we have encountered people who used their, mouth’s and tongue’s against us. It was like a spear or an arrow intended to harm us –to do us in.

However, there is a key to the victory that David walked in. The same is appropriate for you and me. He exalted His God in the midst of an ugly and uncomfortable situation. He chose to let God take care of his enemies. He went about exalting God, instead of bellyaching and complaining about his enemies.

David knew what their intent was, but he didn’t let there intentions stop him from exalting the Lord his God. The pit that they prepared for David, they fell into themselves. Now, will you be the same as those who oppose you? Will you allow your tongue to become an arrow to shoot another person? Will you allow God to handle those who argue with and about you, or will you take matters into your own hands? Will you study to be quiet, or must you come to your own defense?

“WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR TONGUE TO SHOOT ARROWS AT ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL?”

STUDY TO ANSWER:

Proverbs 15:28 NKJV

{28} The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

Your mouth is tied to your heart. The righteous are commanded to study how he or she would answer any given matter. It’s from the abundance of your heart that our mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).

That is why it is imperative for us to study to be quiet. When we study to be quiet we are contemplating what is in the midst of our heart. Some people never have a clue what is in their heart until they shoot from the mouth. After they have unloaded their tongue and lips, their heart is exposed. Sometimes that is good, and other times it is not so good, depending on the subject under discussion.

By observing to be quiet you have the ability to locate your heart. When you locate your heart, you will have the ability to determine whether you want to release it from your mouth. All of this is a slow process.

Studying in the realm of being quiet, as well as in the arena of knowing how to answer, are vital components in our walk with God. This spills over into our relationships with others.

EVEN A FOOL:

Proverbs 17:27-28 Revised Standard Version

{27} He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

{28} Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

These two verses speak volumes to us concerning the importance of our studying to be quiet. First of all the person who controls his words retains knowledge. By restraining your words, the knowledge that you have is kept deep within you to be utilized at a later date; by others and yourself. This is not exactly easy, especially if you are one that is given to his or her opinion. Opinions are like belly buttons; everybody has one.

My friend, it takes an enormous amount of discipline to hold back what you think about any given subject. The latter part of this verse let’s us know that retraining your words puts you in the category of having a cool spirit, and being a man or a woman of understanding, that’s exciting. It is increasingly difficult to determine if a person is a fool; until he or she opens their mouth.

Verse twenty-eight goes on to tell us that the fool is considered wise by virtue of keeping silent; by being quiet. In my years as a traveling minister I encountered many types of people — men, women, and children. I have had the opportunity of staying with people in their homes. Much of what I learned about people and myself was by the interaction that I had with them. A great deal of the time I could tell what kind of pastor someone was by the words he or she would speak, or wouldn’t speak. If they were a person of few words, or one who chose their words carefully we were in store for a tremendous series of meetings.

On the other hand I could usually tell how the pastor and his wife got along by virtue of their words to one another. Sometimes the pastor was demanding, and demeaning to his wife, and she would crumble under his scrutiny. Other times, I could tell if a pastor’s wife was hard to please. She may be a beautiful woman on the outside, but her words made her very unattractive; unwise — a fool. I learned a lifetime of wisdom in those years as a guest in someone else’s home.

You find out how a person is in the confines of their home. Needless to say I learned a lot about what it means to study to be quiet. I learned that I must be willing to fast my opinions. Let’s face it, our words speak volumes about who we are, or who we are not. – AWM

Copyright © 2010 Anthony N. Wade Ministries –All Rights Reserved. No part of this teaching may be rewritten or reproduced without the written approval of the author. EMAIL:hgflow@gmail.com