Inside Beauty Inspires
Inside Beauty Inspires takes on real life experiences and introduces the Word of God to help believers to navigate peaks and valleys fearlessly. Real, raw, & relevant, Inside Beauty Inspires seeks to unleash a fresh anointing in the atmosphere. Our goal is to connect our listeners to “the plug”, Christ Jesus, a savior who has paid the price for all of our sins and wants nothing more than to see His children win!
Inside Beauty Inspires
Embracing Faith Amid Life's Storms: Reflecting on Divine Promises, Israel's Lessons, and the Power of Spiritual Renewal
What happens when life's unpredictable storms meet the steadfast light of faith? Join me as we journey through the profound highs and lows of September, a month filled with natural calamities and personal challenges. Together, we'll uncover how seeking God amid turmoil can transform our perception of these experiences. By embracing each day as a divine gift, we learn to recognize the unchanging presence and promises of God. Through captivating devotional insights, this episode serves as a wake-up call to live in the moment, glorifying God with our precious time.
Explore the timeless lessons from the biblical narrative of the Israelites' demand for a king. Discover the perils of ignoring divine counsel, as the Israelites did, leading to turmoil under King Saul's reign. We reflect on the relevance of these choices in our modern lives, urging us to heed God's guidance rather than succumbing to worldly desires. This chapter is a reminder of the consequences of disregarding divine wisdom and serves as a call to align our decisions with God's will.
Our journey continues with an examination of themes of despair, hope, and restoration in the books of Lamentations and Ezekiel. We'll reflect on the sorrow of Judah's destruction and the promise of future renewal, much like the challenges and spiritual transformations we face today. From heart transformation to the choice between blessings and curses in Deuteronomy, this episode offers a poignant exploration of faith's transformative power. Concluding with a heartfelt prayer for South Carolina, we embrace the promise of prosperity and divine intervention, encouraging listeners to center their lives around faith.
New, new, new, everything new, new, new, new, new, new, everything new. I'm ready to go. Hello, hello, it is Stephanie and you are now listening in to Inside Beauty Inspires, where we motivate, encourage and inspire through biblical principles. I have missed you guys extremely.
Speaker 1:I took the month of September off and I am so happy to be back in the studio. Let's do a recap. First and foremost, listen. We have really went through some crazy things. Well, september will always be a month to remember.
Speaker 1:I have made this declaration on the prayer call with the ladies of ISI. I definitely want to shout out the ladies of ISI, we get up each and every morning seeking God's face. We've been doing it for the past seven years and I love these women, these ladies of God, so very much. But we've been talking about September and God told me at the very beginning of September that this would be a September to remember. And boy was it not. Did it not go out with a bang?
Speaker 1:The end of the week, the last week of September, we all faced some highs and some lows, power outages, trees being uprooted, a hurricane. I mean, everyone was affected, the have and the have nots, and that's just life, right. But I'm here to give you the good news. What is the good news? The good news is that Jesus is King and he is the reason for the season. Why did I take it there? Because so many times people don't understand that God is trying to wake us up. Yes, I said it, he is waking his children up. Now let me pause for a moment, because there was some high moments and there was some low moments in September, and I remember all of these high moments. You see, I asked the Lord to allow our prayer group and my friends and family to taste and see how good life gets when you do life with God. Oh yes, life tastes amazing when you do life with God, but so many people have never had that taste and let me just say it is an acquired taste. You have to seek his face in order to taste and see how good life gets, how good God is, and when you start to seek his face, you will start to see him. You know the month of September.
Speaker 1:So many things have been exposed, not just the roots of trees, but you know, in the media, so many things have been talked about. We have this presidential election coming up, we have P Diddy being exposed, we have Hollywood. You know things are coming out about what's been going on behind the scenes, so many things. Do we not believe that God is trying to get our attention? I'm here to say it, he's trying, he is. I'm not even going to say he's trying to get our attention at this point, here to say it, he's trying, he is. I'm not even going to say he's trying to get our attention at this point, because there are so many people affected by this storm that we just had oh my gosh, lights out, and I have to literally say lights out. There was so many people left without power for four days, three days, seven days, and there's still people without power today. God is speaking Now. I picked up this devotional, just picked it up. Seven days and there's still people without power today. God is speaking Now.
Speaker 1:I picked up this devotional, just picked it up, you know, wasn't sure if I was going to use it or not, but I got to read to you what this devotional says. It says today, use every chance you have for doing good, because these are evil times. Ephesians 5, 16,. 24 hours really isn't much time. Take out the time we spend sleeping and we're left with maybe 16 hours each day for productivity, enjoyment and building our relationship with the Lord, but how many hours out of our days do we spend being overly concerned about the future or analyzing days gone by? If we could see the minutes that add up to hours over our lifetimes that have been spent in anxious thoughts and worry, we would probably be ashamed.
Speaker 1:Today is a gift. There has never been another like it, and no matter how you feel or how your days feel joyful, adventurous or relaxed, simple or challenging you will never get this time back. Once it's gone, rejoice in it. Therefore, ask God how he would have you. Use the limited hours to best glorify him and enjoy the gift of today. Lord, I do not want to waste the time you have given me by worrying about things in my past and my future. Help me take hold of today with enthusiasm and give you my best.
Speaker 1:If that is not a word, I don't know what is. Listen, you have a chance. We all have a fighting chance. If you're listening to the sound of my voice, god is still on the throne. Jesus is. You have a chance. We all have a fighting chance. If you're listening to the sound of my voice, god is still on the throne. Jesus is still on the throne. God is still who he says he is. His word will not return void. The more we seek his face, the more we find him when we seek him with all of our hearts. That's just one of the words given on today. See, the more that we get into it, he's going to show himself mighty.
Speaker 1:I think that this was so necessary. I thank you, holy Spirit, for opening up this page to this book, because it gives me another message here to give to the people. It gives me another message. It says but how many hours out of our days do we spend overly concerned about the future? Let me ask this question how many hours out of a day do we spend seeking God's face? Yes, it gave me an opportunity to speak on seeking his face, because here's the bottom line people, god is speaking. He's saying wake up, wake up.
Speaker 1:Trees were uprooted. You know Trees were uprooted. You know I sent this message to my family this week because the Spirit of the Lord came upon me and gave me a word, and so this was the word that I shared with them, and I want to share this word with you guys as well. God is faithful. I definitely feel like this is a message. God is uprooting things that have been there too long. It's hearts he's after.
Speaker 1:I have been studying the word and what I can tell you and what I can say is that that Bible, this Bible, is real and what we are witnessing is written. What we are witnessing is written. Now notice, I said it's hearts he is after. Yes, everyone, it heart's he's after. Let's talk about heart postures for a moment, because one thing I want you to understand is that you know I get excited about this word. I really really do.
Speaker 1:I get excited about some of the stories that are in the Bible. You know, the truth of the matter is my people perish for lack of knowledge. That's the truest statement, because when you don't know, you don't know David. Everybody knows the story of David and Goliath. Everybody knows the story of Saul and how Saul was after David and how Saul was the king during this time. How could David be a man after God's own heart? What does that even look like?
Speaker 1:I'm going to read this book that I actually just opened it up to, and it says Israel's first king, saul, did some good things but ultimately made terrible decisions that led to his downfall. Initially, he offered a sacrifice without God's approval. Then he spared the Amalekites, king and best livestock, disobeying God's order to destroy them all. Finally, he lied to Samuel, god's prophet, about what he had done. That's when God decided to replace Saul. The Lord has sought for himself a man after his own heart. Samuel declared, and the Lord has commanded him to be captain over his people. Because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you, let me just pause for a moment and say obedience is better than sacrifice. And you do know where that came from First Samuel 15. To be exact, I believe it's in first Samuel 15, if not first Samuel 14. But first Samuel is the prophet.
Speaker 1:This is a book about a prophet. This book about this prophet is speaking about the people. They wanted a king, they wanted someone to lead them, and so they appointed Saul. Now, as they appointed Saul, this was not God's elect. And let me just say that it was not God's elect. It was the people's elect. But they decided to go with this man because the people wanted them. But it did not come without warning. It did not come without warning. As a matter of fact, y'all I got, y'all gonna make me do it. First Samuel. Let's go to this book. I just got to tell you how, how these things happen. You know, it's amazing. Again, the more that we get into the word, it's amazing how much you find out when you start seeking God's face. When you start seeking God's face, that's first Samuel. So let's say here, let's see, let me go here First, samuel.
Speaker 1:First Samuel starts off with Hannah's prayer and Hannah prayed and prayed to the Lord. And I'm not reading this verbatim, I'm just giving you guys a synopsis. Samuel was an answer to a prayer, okay, the people needed someone to lead them and Hannah was without child. And Hannah prayed to God and God sent her Samuel. Samuel was a prophet sent by the Lord and she dedicated him back to the Lord. So it was Samuel that was able to tell the people of that day about Saul Okay, about Saul. And they didn't really tell them about Saul. What they did was they saw a man. And you know, here it is First Samuel 8.
Speaker 1:As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. Joel and Abijah, his oldest son, he'll court in Beersheba. But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money, they accepted bribes and perverted justice. Don't get it twisted, you know these were his sons, okay. Twisted, you know these were his sons, okay. So it says finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss that matter with Samuel. Look, they told him you are now old and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us, like all the other nations have.
Speaker 1:Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. Samuel went to the Lord for guidance. Let me pause right there. Do you take it to the Lord in prayer? Do you consult the Lord? This is something that we're learning the more we seek his face. It says do everything they say. Now listen. This is what God said to Samuel. So what does Samuel do? Samuel warns them.
Speaker 1:So Samuel passed on the Lord's warning to the people who were asking him for a king. This is how a king will reign over you, samuel said. The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots, his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. Some will be generals and captains in his army. Some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. The king will take your daughters from you, force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. He will take away the best of your fields, vineyards and olive groves, give them to his own officials. He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkey for his own use. He will demand a tenth of your flocks and you will be his slaves. When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king. You are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.
Speaker 1:But the people refuse to listen to Samuel's warning. Yep, I got to speak it, y'all I got to speak it, giving it to me. But the people refuse to listen to Samuel's warning. Even so, we still want a king, they said. We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.
Speaker 1:So Samuel repeated to the Lord what the people had said. And the Lord replied do as they say and give them a king. Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home. This was not God's elect, this was the people's elect. God. Let these people know during this time they're not, it's not you, it's me. They're not rejecting you, they're rejecting me.
Speaker 1:I want people to understand. When you get into this word, you're going to see it for yourself from the beginning of time Now. From the beginning of time Now, god is speaking to Samuel about Moses. He didn't say Moses' name, but Moses is the one who led the children out of Egypt. God sent Moses and said Moses said God said, I have heard your cry and he told Pharaoh to let his people go. Pharaoh made it so hard, he did not listen. It's like all hell had to break loose to get his attention. Have you ever been in your life and had anything break Like all hell is breaking loose and God is just trying to get your attention? Well, that's why I'm telling you, if y'all don't pay attention, if you don't hear nothing else I say today, understand. He's saying wake up. He's trying to get our attention.
Speaker 1:Okay, it is written, but what the people did not heed the warning. This is what it say verbatim. It says this verbatim. Where is it? Verse nine, first, samuel, samuel 8, verse 19.
Speaker 1:But the people refused to listen to Samuel's warning. Y'all, it's important to listen to God's elect. I want to say this, and I have to say how I feel it because you know I haven't been here since September. I didn't come in September at all, right, so the last I was in here was August, september. Now we're in October. October God is going to show himself mighty in the land of the living and we're still going through the residues of the things that happened in the month of September. Understand what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:God gives warning before destruction. He shows up and he tells us and he speaks to us, but we don't listen. Why? Because we lean to our own understanding. The Bible says he has the foolishness of this world and the things that he has, the, the, the wisdom of this world in the foolish things of this world, the things that people think is foolish, may actually be wisdom, may actually have some wisdom to it, the people that got elected. But the problem is we won't listen. We won't listen, but God did something innocent in this chapter. He said give the people what they want. Give them what they want want. But it did not come without warning. So you see, it says here, that's it says here finally, and and you heard what I read prior to this so I wanted to make sure that you guys understood why God wanted to replace Saul. Saul would not listen to what the Lord said. And well, let me back up. Saul did not listen to Samuel because Samuel gave him instructions from the Lord said. Well, let me back up. Saul did not listen to Samuel because Samuel gave him instructions from the Lord.
Speaker 1:God uses human beings to give his messages. Okay, there are prophets and prophetess, evangelists, priests, preachers, teachers. Okay, he does this. It's been written since the beginning of time, but people choose what they listen to. It says here the Lord has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be captain over his people. Because you have not kept? Because because Saul had not kept the word of the Lord.
Speaker 1:It says as it turns out, david would also make a number of poor decisions as well, just like us, and some of them had disastrous consequences for him, his family and his nation. But in spite of his many weaknesses, david truly loved God. When he failed, he acknowledged his guilt, confessed his sin and always returned to the Lord. I'm giving you that message today. Why? Why am I giving you that message on today? Because it's time to turn back to the Lord. Now let's talk about it for a moment here because I've been in the book of Ezekiel and I've been in the book of Jeremiah and we came out of Jeremiah and let me just say it was some attacks. It was Jeremiah had to go in.
Speaker 1:He's known as the weeping prophet. He had to tell these people what was about to go down because they would not listen to the Lord. They didn't follow what the Lord had asked of them. See, in the book of Deuteronomy 28, he gave us declarations and decrees, right, he said blessings and curses, life and death, and you get to choose. And he lists a number. Well, he lists a number of blessings, but he lists a multitude of curses and a lot of us today don't realize that we're living in that curse.
Speaker 1:It's been written since the beginning of time. But see, we perish for lack of knowledge and we're not seeking his face. So how are we supposed to know? We go to church on Sunday and that's it. It requires seeking him. The Bible says those who seek me will find me when they seek me with all their hearts. This is not a game, it's real. The more we get into it, the more we see. So just to kind of just give you guys just a little bit about.
Speaker 1:What I've been learning is that, you know, god spoke to Jeremiah and Jeremiah felt like he was too young to do what the says the Lord. It's in the book of Jeremiah 1. Okay, he said I'm too young. God said no, you must go and do what I tell you and say what I say. So when God is what tag you're it? When God chooses you, you've been chosen since the beginning of time. When it's time for you to execute, ain't nothing going to stand in the way. You can choose not to, but you'll go through hell and high water until he gets you to do exactly what he called you to do, because the call is without repentance. This is what you're called to do. Jeremiah had to do this and he was known as the weeping prophet. Why was he known as the weeping prophet? To me, he was known as the weeping prophet because it broke his heart.
Speaker 1:These people paid Jeremiah no attention. Even his assistants went to one of the towns I'm not going to tell you, I'm not going to go into it in depth, I'm just giving y'all a synopsis. But even his assistants went into one of the town, wrote down everything Jeremiah told him to say, told him to go give this, uh, the scroll over to this. This king and the king threw it in the fire Like it was worse, like it wouldn't, like it didn't mean anything.
Speaker 1:Do you not know today, in the 21st century, that's how we treat God's word? Do you not know today, in the 21st century, that's how we treat God's word? I got to call it out Y'all. I'm sorry, but I got to keep it a G and the end of the day, we act like this word is not powerful. We act like this word is not the meat and the potatoes to our life. You want to know why? Because when they tell our own understanding, there's a whole facade. You got blessings and you got cursed, and the Bible says that Satan appears as an angel of light. So it looks very similar, but it's nothing like the real thing. The more you get into it, the more you see. Now, that was Jeremiah and it went down in a major way. I mean, I'm talking about matter of fact. I have this book right here with me. I'm going to read a little bit of it. Okay, it just kind of gives you a little bit about, tells you a little bit about the book of jeremiah.
Speaker 1:The book of jeremiah is a book of judgment, wrath and weeping. It was written in 626 to 582 bc by the prophet jeremiah. The purpose of the book of Jeremiah was to warn the people of destruction and to remind them of their sin in hopes of bringing them to repentance. Jeremiah brings a message of judgment against the people of Judah. He hopes that heartfelt repentance by God's people will deter God's wrath. Jeremiah's call and message of judgment, warnings of disaster and exile, new covenant and restoration and the fall of Jerusalem. Now, in Jeremiah, the Messiah is foretold as the righteous branch from the line of David. As the Passover meal on the night Jesus was betrayed, he took the cup and referenced Jeremiah 31, 31, saying this cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for you. Jesus' death and resurrection instituted the new covenant. Jeremiah prophesied what's one of the verses that everybody knows about Jeremiah Jeremiah 29, 11, for I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future. Do you believe it's true? I'm here to tell you that it is. That it is. Now we went from Jeremiah to the book of Lamentations and then Ezekiel. Now let's just kind of give a synopsis of what we've been learning on the prayer call.
Speaker 1:Lamentations was also written by Jeremiah and it was to express the despair of the people of Judah over the loss of their land, city and temple. Lamentations is an eyewitness account of the destruction of Jerusalem. The grief expressed in these poems revealed deep regret and desire for restoration of God's people. The outline of this book is very short Sorrow of captives, anger with Jerusalem, hope and mercy, punishment and restoration. So where is Christ to be found in this book? In the pain and suffering itself. The language of verses 2 through 3. I'm sorry, verses 2, chapter 2, verses 15 and 16 and chapter 3, verse 15. He has filled me with bitter herbs and given me gal to drink. Appears at the cross there. They offer Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gal. God knows our suffering. The language of lamentations expresses Christ's anguish and sorrow over sin and his terrible price. The verse to remember out of Lamentations is his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. That's Lamentations, chapter three, verses 22 and 23.
Speaker 1:Now today, excited to get into the book of Daniel on the prayer call. We finished the book of Ezekiel to get into the book of Daniel on the prayer call. We finished the book of Ezekiel and I don't find it strange that we we that we finished the book of Ezekiel today and that God had me reading the book of Jeremiah prior to this storm. Now, ezekiel was just like date, not just like Jeremiah, in a sense, because he was a prophet.
Speaker 1:This book was written by the prophet Ezekiel, and the purpose of Ezekiel was to call God's people in exile to be faithful to God, who is still among them. The spirit of the Lord is here. Hear me by the spirit of the Lord. We are all facing, whether you have or have not. The spirit of the Lord is here. Hear me by the spirit of the Lord. We are all facing. Whether you have or have not, everybody is in the same boat. We're all experiencing similar things. People were not without light, no power. That means their food ruined. The grocery stores had no groceries. Gas stations had no gas. God is getting our attention and telling us to wake up. Now.
Speaker 1:The book of Ezekiel asks a crucial question Is God present with us or has he abandoned us? Is God present with us or has he abandoned us? Through prophecies and visions, ezekiel communicates God's message that if the exiles were to walk humbly with God, then God's presence with them would be a source of peace, life and future restoration. Let me say that again Peace, life and future restoration. We just came out this book and let me just speak and say this it was so many things that went on in this book that scared me straight. I got to keep it a G. Ezekiel was a prophet and God showed him things that he had not shown anyone else. Okay, some of the most important energies that Jesus used to explain his ministry to his disciples comes from the book of Ezekiel as well. Jesus is the true temple, the shepherd, the king and the source of the living water. Ezekiel speaking to the people about the future Okay, the verse to remember in Ezekiel is I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.
Speaker 1:I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Now people are perishing because of their heart issues. I got to say it and I got to keep it honest. That's the problem. You want to know what needs to change? It's people's hearts. Yes, it's true, and it even speaks of it in the book of Deuteronomy. Okay, he speaks to his children. But he also knew that his children was going to do what they wanted to do. Yes, he did. He knew that they were going to do what they wanted to do.
Speaker 1:You know, I've always been told by the Lord. Nobody's told me this, but, god, stephanie, you're something like a heart surgeon. You're something like a heart surgeon. I'm like Dad. Why you call me a heart surgeon? Because you get to the heart of things. So you know many of you that may know me, those that don't know me I'm a makeup artist at heart. I do lashes and makeup and I still and I do fitness training, all three combined.
Speaker 1:But the best and the most important piece of that puzzle is that I center it around God. See, the name of my company is Inside Beauty Inspires right, which is what I'm doing on air. But I have a little slogan that goes with that and it says changing hearts and not minds. Changing hearts and not minds, because your mind race and think on things all day, every day, and you got to be careful with your heart because it's deceit. But when you allow the word of God to penetrate your heart, enter into your heart, things change. The Bible says guard your heart, for out of it flows to issues of life. Now there are a lot of bitter people walking around here, a lot of mean spirited people, angry, upset, jealous, mocking and won't listen, and they don't even understand where it's coming from. But I'm here to explain it. They have heart issues. These are heart issues.
Speaker 1:Childhood trauma happens in people's lives and when these things happen in our lives, we put up a wall and we don't want to let nobody in, even the ones that God sends into our lives to give us a word, even the ones that God sends into our lives to show us a different way of looking at things. We lean to our own understanding, so much that we cannot hear past what's going on around us, and God hasn't opened our eyes to see. By the way, he's the one that's blinding. He's the one that's blinding and he's the one that's opening. Listen, it says Ezekiel was one of the many people carried off to Babylon after the evasion in Jerusalem that took place in Jeremiah. Though the people of Judah were now living in captivity, ezekiel preached of God's promise to one day restore their nation. Yes, god had judged the people of Judah, but he would also forgive them and bring them back to their homeland, and this is very true.
Speaker 1:Now I just read it. He let them people know I got to show y'all who I am. It says you see people be playing in God's face and don't think he's real. And then he has a way that's mighty sweet. He has no problem showing you I am who I said I am because you know. Again, the more that you get into this word, the more that you read it, he said, then they will know that I am the Lord.
Speaker 1:After everything he told these prophets. He said and then they will know that I am the Lord. Now we look around us. Y'all, I know. Y'all know that nobody do this but God's wrath. This was God's word, this was the Lord's work. Who pulls trees up by the root? That was the force of the Lord. Who sends rain? That was the father's work. He did it back then too. Y'all, it's in the Bible. So when we act like this word isn't real, what do you think? What side of the fence do we think that we're going to be standing on the blessed side or the cursed side?
Speaker 1:Well, let's just go revisit it for a second here. Why not? Why not? Let's go to Deuteronomy, so I can tell you exactly what Deuteronomy, what he was talking about in the book of Deuteronomy. See, god wants to get our attention and here's the thing you got to get it one way or another, and he has absolutely no problem.
Speaker 1:Moses everybody know who Moses was. Moses walked the people across the Red Sea. Moses didn't feel confident to do what God asked him to do. Pause, let me just go ahead and intersect here. A lot of times we don't Okay, because if you really are called by the Lord, you ain't just jumping up and saying, hey, look at me, because you know why. Because you're going to held accountable. You're going to be held accountable for everything. You don't want to mess up, you don't want to get it wrong. Sometimes you feel a little fearful when it comes down to God calling your name. But listen, every prophet that he called that felt the same way. Every last one of them and we know this was Moses at child. Moses was an infant. We heard the story about Moses from being an infant to dying. We see his life story. There's another man that we see from the beginning to the end. There's a couple of them, but one that's sticking out to me Deuteronomy was Moses'.
Speaker 1:Final message the purpose of the book of Deuteronomy is to remind those who were into the promised land what God expects from them. After 40 years in the wilderness, the people arrived in Moab, at the border of the promised land. The book of Deuteronomy is a series of speeches Moses gave on the plains of Moab to challenge the younger generation to find their identity and purpose in their covenant with God, with who, god, our dad? Now Deuteronomy 28. Let's just go there. I got to y'all because I'm led and fed by the spirit of the Lord. I had my own agenda up to what I was thinking about reading, which I'm still going to touch on it, but the spirit of the Lord is here.
Speaker 1:If you fully Deuteronomy 28, if you fully obey the Lord, your God, and carefully keep all his commands that I'm giving you today, the Lord, your God, will set you high above all the nations of the world. You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord, your God. So he lists all of the blessings your towns and fields will be blessed. Your children and your crops will be blessed. The offsprings of your herds and flocks will be blessed. Your fruit baskets and bed boards will be blessed. Wherever you go, whatever you do, you will be blessed. The Lord will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter you from seven. They will scatter in seven. The Lord will guarantee a blessing on everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain. The Lord, your God, will bless you in the land he is giving you.
Speaker 1:If you obey the commands of the Lord, your God, and walk in his ways, the Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he swore he would do. Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people claimed by the Lord and they will stand in awe of you. People claimed by the Lord, and they will stand in all of you. The Lord will give you prosperity in the land he swore to give your ancestors to give you, blessing you with many children, numerous livestock and abundant crops. The Lord will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them. If you listen to these commands of the Lord, your God, that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top, never at the bottom. You must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today, nor follow after other gods and worship them. That's the listing of, for the blessings of the Lord.
Speaker 1:Now, I'm not going to read all of this in its totality, okay, because it's a lot. However, I'm just going to give you a little bit of some of the curses, and whenever you get a chance, I would love for you to go to the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 28, and read it in its entirety, so that you can get the fullness of this message. But if you refuse to listen to the Lord, your God, and do not obey all the commands and decrees I'm giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you. Your towns and fields will be cursed. Your fruit basket and bed boards will be cursed. Your children and your crops will be cursed. The offspring of your herds and flocks will be cursed. Wherever you go, whatever you do, you will be cursed. The Lord himself, not Satan, the Lord himself, will send on you Curses, confusion and frustration in everything you do until, at last, you are completely destroyed for doing evil and abandoning me. The Lord will afflict you with diseases until none of you are left in the land that you are about to enter and occupy. The Lord will strike you with wasting, diseases, fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, and with blight and mildew. These disasters will pursue you until you die.
Speaker 1:Now I'm reading the New Living Translation verse. Ok, just let you guys know, it is Deuteronomy, chapter 28. I'm just going to, I'm going to just scroll down a little bit to read a little. Here it is, let's see. You will watch. This is Deuteronomy 28, 32. You will watch as your sons and daughters are taken away as slaves. Your heart will break for them, but you won't be able to help them. A foreign nation you never heard about will eat the crops you worked so hard to grow. You will suffer under constant oppression and harsh treatment. You will go mad because of all of the tragedies you see around you. You will go mad because of all the tragedies you see around you. It says the Lord will exile you and your king to a nation unknown to you and your ancestors. There, in exile, you will worship gods of wood and stone. You will become an object of horror, ridicule and mock Among all the nations to which the Lord sends you. You will plant much but harvest little, for locusts will eat your crops. You will plant vineyards and care for them, but you will not drink the wine or eat.
Speaker 1:The? Verse 45,. If you refuse to listen to the Lord, your God, and obey the commands and decrees he has given you, all these curses will pursue and overtake you until you are destroyed. God has given us the word. It is in the book, verse 47. If you do not serve the Lord, your God, with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received, you will serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send you against, who will sin against you. You will be left hungry, thirsty, naked and lacking in everything. Thirsty, naked and lacking in everything, the Lord will put an iron yoke on your neck, oppressing you harshly until he has destroyed you. Do you hear the words that are coming out of my mouth?
Speaker 1:This is what's written in this Bible. Okay, but when you're not reading and you're not studying it, how will you know? It says here, verse 51,. Its armies will devour your livestock's crops and you will be destroyed. They will leave you no grain, new wine, oil of oil, calves, lambs, and you will starve to death. They will attack your cities until all the fortified walls in your land, the walls you trusted to protect you are knocked down. Walls in your land, the walls you trusted to protect you, are knocked down. So many things y'all. So many things, so many things, so many things. And here's the things. When you start to read it and when you get a chance to go and read it for yourself, you're going to be like you know, this was written from the very beginning of time, and from the very beginning of time God has given us the choice.
Speaker 1:Let's go to Deuteronomy 30. In the future, when you experience all these blessings and curses I have listed for you, and when you are living among the nations to which the Lord, your God, has exiled, you, take to heart all these instructions. If, at that time, you and your children return to the Lord, your God, and if you obey with all your heart and all your soul all the commands I have given you today, then the Lord, your God, will restore your fortunes. He will have mercy on you and gather you back from all the nations where he has scattered you, even though you are banished to the ends of the earth. The Lord, your God will gather you from there and bring you back again. The Lord, your God will return you to the land that belonged to your ancestors and you will possess that land again. Then he will make you even more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors. The Lord, your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live. The Lord, your God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on all those who hate and persecute you. Then you will again obey the Lord and keep all his commands that I am giving you today. The Lord, your God will then make you successful in everything you do.
Speaker 1:This was written book of instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul, this command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you. It is not beyond your reach. It is not kept in heaven so distant that you must ask who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey it. It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey it. No, the message is very close at hand. It is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it. Now, listen, and I'm talking to you listeners. Listen.
Speaker 1:Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster, for I command you this day to love the Lord, your God, and to keep his commands, decrees and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord, your God, will bless you in the land you are about to enter and occupy. But if your hearts, hearts, y'all hearts turn away and refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. He calls on the angels of the air and on the people of the earth To witness the choice that you make. And then he turns around and says oh, that you would choose life so that you and your descendants might live. You can make this choice by loving the Lord, your God, obeying him and committing yourselves firmly to him. This is the key to your life. This is the key to your life If you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, isaac and Jacob.
Speaker 1:I've read this before. I've given you this word, but it hit different because of where we are at today. People need to understand the Lord. His word will not return void. You know what I was coming in here to tell y'all. I was coming in here to give y'all the word on Matthew, chapter 3. Why? Because that's how I'm going to end this word that I'm giving you. I told y'all I was going to still talk about it. I told y'all I was going to still talk about it. But you see how God set it up. You see how God set it up and you know who I want to talk about. I want to talk about John the Baptist. Yes, I do. I want to talk about John the Baptist. Go with me to Matthew, chapter 3. Matthew, chapter 3. For those of you that follow along, this is the New Living Translation version, chapter 3. For those of you that follow along, this is the New Living Translation version.
Speaker 1:In those days, john the Baptist came to Judah in the wilderness and began preaching. His message was repent of your sins and turn to God, for the kingdom of heaven is near. The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said he is a voice shouting in the wilderness Prepare the way for the Lord's coming. Clear the roads for him. John's clothing were woven from coarse camel hair and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food, he ate locusts and wild animals. People from Jerusalem and from all of Judah and all over the Jordan Valley went to see and hear John, and when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. You brought of snakes, he exclaimed, who warned you to flee the coming wrath. Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don't just say to each other we're safe, for we are descendants of Abraham. That means nothing, for I tell you, god can create children of Abraham from these very stones.
Speaker 1:Even now, the acts of God's judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Y'all, I ain't even know I was going to read that, but it's in the. I'm just gonna keep going because I'm just. I hope this word is affecting you the way that it's affecting me, because the way it's affecting me, it lets me know. All right, heaps. Oh, it is verse 10, matthew 3.
Speaker 1:Verse 10 says even now, the acts of God's judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. We are walking around seeing roots of trees lifted up out the ground from a hurricane. Now, if God is not getting our attention, I don't know what is. I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am so much greater than I am not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the shaft from the wheat with his winery fort. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into the barns, but burning the shaft from the wheat with his winemaking fork, then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into the barns but burning the shaft with never ending fire.
Speaker 1:Then Jesus went to Galilee from the Jordan. Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan river to be baptized by John. Now listen at what John says. John reminds me a lot of us, cause I mean Jesus. Why is you trying to? Why you want me to baptize you? I need you to baptize me. This is what you, this is what John said, verse 14, but John tried to talk him out of it. I'm the one who needs to be baptized by you. He says so, why are you coming to see me? But Jesus said it should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires. So John agreed to baptize him At this baptism.
Speaker 1:As Jesus came up out the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him, and a voice from heaven said this is my dearly loved son, who brings me great joy. Now, for a moment here. I want to. I want to go back to I believe it's in Luke. I want to go to Luke one. I want to go to Luke one. I want to. I want to read Luke one, two, luke one, and it's talking about John the Baptist. That's why I want to go there. So I want to read Luke 1 to you Luke 1, and it's talking about John the Baptist. That's why I want to go there. So I want to make this point. I want to make this point.
Speaker 1:It says many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They use the eyewitnesses reports circulating among us from their early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Thephalus I don't know if I'm saying it, thephalus, so you can be certain of the truth in everything you were told. When Herod was king of Judah, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah and his wife, elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Don't miss it. I've mentioned both of those names already.
Speaker 1:Zachariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commands and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive and they were both very old. One day, zachariah was serving God in the temple for his order was on duty. That week, as was the custom of the priest, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside praying.
Speaker 1:While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him standing to the right of the incense altar. Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. But the angel said Don't be afraid, zechariah. God has heard your prayer. Your wife, elizabeth, will give you a son, son and you are to name him John. You will have great joy. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth and he will turn many Israelites to the Lord, their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly. This is what the angel said to Zachariah. This truly was John's dad.
Speaker 1:He had an encounter. Can you wrap your mind around this angel speaking to Zachariah about his son? But let's hear what Zachariah says. Zachariah said to the angel how can I be sure this will happen? I'm an old man now and my wife is also well along in years. Then the angel said I am Gabriel. I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news. I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news. But now, since you didn't believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born, for my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.
Speaker 1:Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zachariah to come out the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. And when he finally did come out, he couldn't speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary. When Zachariah's week of service in the temple was over, he returned home Soon. Afterwards. His wife Elizabeth became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. How kind the Lord is, she exclaimed. He has taken away my disgrace of having no children. Two different response to the very thing that was given. But wait, there's more.
Speaker 1:In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, god sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her too and said greetings, favored woman, the Lord is with you. Confused and disturbed, mary tried to think what the angel could mean. Don't be afraid, mary, the angel told her. Her, for you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus. And you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the son of the most high. The Lord will give him the throne Of his ancestor, david, and he will reign over Israel forever. His kingdom will never end. Mary asked the angel. But how can this happen? I'm a virgin. The angel replied. The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby will be born. So the baby to be born will be holy and he will be called the Son of God. What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant. In her old age, people used to say that she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month, for the word of God will never fail. Mary responded I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true. And then the angel left her.
Speaker 1:A few days later, mary hurried to the hill country of Judah, to the towns where Zechariah was living. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary's greeting, elizabeth's child leaped within her and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary God has blessed you above all women. Your child is blessed. Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. I know you feel it. I know you feel what I'm saying. You are blessed because you believe that the Lord would do what he said. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said. Mary responded believed that the Lord would do what he said. Mary responded oh, how my soul praises the Lord, how my spirit rejoices in God, my savior, for he took notice of his lowly servant girl and from now on, all generations will be called. Blessed, for the mighty one is holy. He has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him, the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant, israel, and remember to be merciful, for he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.
Speaker 1:Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home, went back to her own home when it was time for the Elizabeth's baby to be born. She gave birth to a son and when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her. When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zachariah after his father, but Elizabeth said no, his name is John. What they exclaimed? There is no one in all your family by that name. So they used gestures to ask the baby's father what he wanted to name him. He motioned for a writing tablet and, to everyone's surprise, he wrote his name is John. Instantly Zachariah could speak again and began praising God.
Speaker 1:All fell upon the whole neighborhood and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judens Hills. Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked what will this child turn out to be? For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a very special way. Then his father, zachariah, was filled with the Holy spirit and gave this prophecy Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty savior from the Royal line of his servant, david, just as he promised through his Holy prophets long ago. Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hates us. He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant, the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. When we have been rescued from our enemies, so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness, as for as long as we live. And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the most high because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sin. Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us to give light to those who sit in darkness, in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.
Speaker 1:John grew up and became strong in spirit and he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel. God is speaking. I hope you have an ear to hear what that says. The Lord, god, is really speaking, y'all? Okay? I'm not John the Baptist. I'm Stephanie L Harrison, to be exact. I'm a prophetess ordained by the Lord and I'm here to give the word repent, turn, seek God's face while there is still today, because we don't know the day nor the hour of his return.
Speaker 1:But he is coming. He is coming and we don't know when. But when you look around you, you can see. All he wants is for you to seek him. All he wants is for you to get to know him. All he wants is for you to fellowship with, know him. All he wants is for you to fellowship with him. If you're not going to church, you don't have to go to church every day to get to know God. You can read your Bible every day to get to know him.
Speaker 1:Start in the book of Proverbs.
Speaker 1:It's a book of wisdom.
Speaker 1:This is a new month. God wants to show you something you've never seen before. But how can he show you if you're not in alignment? I want to leave you, guys with this word peace and prosperity to you, your family and everything you own. That's 1 Samuel 25, verse 6. And then, for those who listen to this word, whether it's at any time, this word will be available at any time. So when you need a word, he's going to speak. Say these things out loud, start to say them daily and watch God turn everything around in your life.
Speaker 1:I have all round prosperity prosperity in my spirit, prosperity in my soul, prosperity in my body. I have peace with prosperity. My life is one of complete prosperity. I prosper spiritually. The word of God is my daily delight. All around prosperity. That is the story of my life.
Speaker 1:I hope you guys have enjoyed this word today. God took over and I allowed it. I mean, I'm not going to stop him. He has a word and he's trying to get our attention, and that word is wake up. God wants to talk. I love you, ladies and gentlemen, so very much. I have an amazing day on purpose and always remember, without a shadow of a doubt, god knows your name. It's never what it looks like. God has a plan to prosper you, to give you a hope and a future. All you got to do is lean not to your own understanding. Ask the Lord to show you yourself, to show you your heart. I'm going to pray this out, heavenly Father.
Speaker 1:First and foremost, daddy, I want to say thank you for this day, thank you for life, health and strength. Thank you for waking us up each and every morning and starting us on our way. Heavenly Father, we have all experienced healing Helena. We've all experienced this wrath, this storm, this hurricane. You know. It uprooted and it disturbed all of our lives. God, the have and the have nots. But, heavenly Father, we hear that you're speaking to us in the midst of the storm. There's another storm that's coming.
Speaker 1:Daddy and Lord, I'm asking you right now, in the name of Jesus, that you cover the state of South Carolina, that you put a blanket over us. God, your will be done, but just cover us, god. Those that have an ear, let them hear what thus says the Lord. Lord, we ask for forgiveness of our sins. We ask that you come into our heart, renewing us a clean heart and a righteous mind, a mind that is stayed upon you. And, heavenly Father, we're asking you to show us ourselves.
Speaker 1:You say in the book of Jeremiah, 33, verse 3, to call to you that you will answer us and tell us things that we do not know, lord. Some of us don't know exactly what's going on right now, lord. Some of us don't know exactly what's going on right now, but I hear the Spirit of the Lord saying it's not what it looks like. It's not what it looks like, and I know that to be true. So, heavenly Father, I ask that you give everyone that's under the sound of my voice a peace that surpasses their own understanding. Strengthen them where they're weak, build them up where they're broken and, lord, do a new thing. Allow them to taste and see how good life gets when life is spent seeking you. I ask all these things in your son, jesus' name. Amen, amen. In Jesus' name, amen, ladies and gentlemen, you guys be blessed, peace. I'm ready to go, ready for more. I'm ready for new, like a straight out the store you already know. I'm ready to flow.