There's nothing worth more, that will ever come close nothing can compare, You're our living hope
Your Presence Lord
I've tasted and seen, of the sweetest of Loves
Where my heart becomes free, and my shame is undone
In Your Presence Lord
Holy Spirit You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your Glory God is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your Presence Lord
Let us become more aware of Your Presence
Let us experience the Glory of Your Goodness
(Jesus Culture / Holy Spirit)
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
"If my People"
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."(2 Chronicles 7:14)
"If my People" We have the power to change the world!! Every time the people of God acknowledged their need of God's forgiveness, He healed their land. In this passage of scripture, "land" refers to all things that involve us, the people of God. God cares about everything that involves us from A to Z. "Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance."(Ezra 8:21). If we the church believe this scripture and apply it to our lives, it will completely change our future. We are facing overwhelming challenges, insurmountable burdens and a demonic force that is trying to destroy our nation, The United States of America!! We live in a great country that allows us freedoms that other parts of the world doesn't know they exist. On a trip to a third world country, that is anything but Christian, I had the very enlightening experience of watching the Communist Party (socialism) marching in the streets!!! I know we were told that systems of thought like communism is dead but it is more alive today than ever, trying to destroy our public and personal opportunity to be successful. As I watched "The hammer and sickle communist flag", being carried by hundreds, maybe thousands in a parade, I couldn't believe my eyes. The streets were filled with poor lost hungry people marching for a philosophy of life that takes everything you own under the illusion that all things will be distributed equally by the smart people that think for us!! Question, "Should a man that is lazy and won't work, be given part of your hard earned money?", not according to the Bible!! "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."(2 Thessalonians 3:10) Our government is taking us back from whence we came, overworked, overtaxed and supporting a group of people that would not work if you melted a job and poured it on them. We need to repent of our sins, turn from our wicked ways, ask God to restore our foundation of righteousness, work ethic and take our country back!! BTW, this is a biblical truth, not a political statement.
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
"If my People" We have the power to change the world!! Every time the people of God acknowledged their need of God's forgiveness, He healed their land. In this passage of scripture, "land" refers to all things that involve us, the people of God. God cares about everything that involves us from A to Z. "Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance."(Ezra 8:21). If we the church believe this scripture and apply it to our lives, it will completely change our future. We are facing overwhelming challenges, insurmountable burdens and a demonic force that is trying to destroy our nation, The United States of America!! We live in a great country that allows us freedoms that other parts of the world doesn't know they exist. On a trip to a third world country, that is anything but Christian, I had the very enlightening experience of watching the Communist Party (socialism) marching in the streets!!! I know we were told that systems of thought like communism is dead but it is more alive today than ever, trying to destroy our public and personal opportunity to be successful. As I watched "The hammer and sickle communist flag", being carried by hundreds, maybe thousands in a parade, I couldn't believe my eyes. The streets were filled with poor lost hungry people marching for a philosophy of life that takes everything you own under the illusion that all things will be distributed equally by the smart people that think for us!! Question, "Should a man that is lazy and won't work, be given part of your hard earned money?", not according to the Bible!! "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."(2 Thessalonians 3:10) Our government is taking us back from whence we came, overworked, overtaxed and supporting a group of people that would not work if you melted a job and poured it on them. We need to repent of our sins, turn from our wicked ways, ask God to restore our foundation of righteousness, work ethic and take our country back!! BTW, this is a biblical truth, not a political statement.
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
It can be done!!
What are you facing? Has it been in your life, your path, your thoughts a long time? How long? When David was anointed King of all Israel, his first task at hand was to rid Zion of the Jebusites. King Saul had tolerated the Jebusites his entire reign as King of Israel. They were accustomed to living on God's real estate because King Saul had no confidence in his office and did not use his power to destroy the strongholds in his country. He was King for forty years but in name only because he let the enemy put down roots in the land of Israel. Saul had made no attempt at removing the Jebusites nor establishing the Ark of the Covenant to its rightful place!! The Ark had been taken years earlier by the Philistines then a few months later they returned it back to Israel. The Ark in the Old Covenant represented the Glory and Presence of Almighty God!!
"And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain." (1Samuel 4:11 KJV)
But God had a Prophet named Samuel anoint a teenage boy to become King that understood what it meant to be a servant of the most High God!! When David became King he was told he couldn't take Mount Zion because the people had got used to living without the Presence of God!! They pretended to serve and worship but how can you worship without the Glory of God? David did not listen to all the voices that told him, "you can't get rid of the Jebusites", we've grown accustom to living with them looking down on us. "You can live with them too, they said", You can't do this because their too strong, they said"!
"Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David." (2 Samuel 5:7 KJV)
You can do what they say can't be done because they are not you and if you put your trust in God, it can be done!!!
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
"And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain." (1Samuel 4:11 KJV)
But God had a Prophet named Samuel anoint a teenage boy to become King that understood what it meant to be a servant of the most High God!! When David became King he was told he couldn't take Mount Zion because the people had got used to living without the Presence of God!! They pretended to serve and worship but how can you worship without the Glory of God? David did not listen to all the voices that told him, "you can't get rid of the Jebusites", we've grown accustom to living with them looking down on us. "You can live with them too, they said", You can't do this because their too strong, they said"!
"Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David." (2 Samuel 5:7 KJV)
You can do what they say can't be done because they are not you and if you put your trust in God, it can be done!!!
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
"External Religion"
" Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess."(Matthew 23:24-25)
"The Outside" In Matthew 23, Jesus openly confronts the legalistic leaders of His day and He hit the nail on the head!! You cannot fix the inside by cleaning the outside. Legalism is when you apply rules to your life that give you the false hope of becoming accepted by God. The reason that it is a FALSE HOPE is because the only thing that can change your life is the application of TRUTH! The reason Jesus was so blunt to the Pharisees is because their man made rules were destroying the lives of innocent people. The Apostle Paul was still pushing the envelope of truth in Galatians when he said that the false teachers of legalism should be accursed. "Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."(Galations 1:7-8) Legalism would take days to explain, that is if it can be explained. The difficulty with trying to explain legalism is that the rules keep changing with each cultural change or with each new generation. At its core, legalism basically has a twofold purpose; (1) To give hope of appeasing God by applying man made rules to external man. (Which is completely void of the Grace of God and will not change the inner man nor appease God). (2) The second purpose for legalism is to give the preachers that control people through the "fear of breaking the rules" a sense of power over their flocks. "For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may GLORY IN YOUR FLESH. "(Galations 6:13)
Be Advised!! You cannot get out of legalism by simply reversing the "rules" or living a "different lifestyle." Legalism is a product of human nature combined with the popular religion of the day and the only way out is by a "Revelation of Grace"! So many people have tried to get out of legalism by trying to bring things back into their lives that they had quit doing because it was against the rules of their religious organization. Legalism is trying to please God with the actions of the flesh and cannot be reversed by more actions of the flesh. The only way to be free is to "know the truth" and in this matter, it's the truth of how the Holy Spirit works in a Christian's Life. Serving God is a matter of the heart, in any culture or in any denomination. It will take a while but you really can be free!!
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
"The Outside" In Matthew 23, Jesus openly confronts the legalistic leaders of His day and He hit the nail on the head!! You cannot fix the inside by cleaning the outside. Legalism is when you apply rules to your life that give you the false hope of becoming accepted by God. The reason that it is a FALSE HOPE is because the only thing that can change your life is the application of TRUTH! The reason Jesus was so blunt to the Pharisees is because their man made rules were destroying the lives of innocent people. The Apostle Paul was still pushing the envelope of truth in Galatians when he said that the false teachers of legalism should be accursed. "Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."(Galations 1:7-8) Legalism would take days to explain, that is if it can be explained. The difficulty with trying to explain legalism is that the rules keep changing with each cultural change or with each new generation. At its core, legalism basically has a twofold purpose; (1) To give hope of appeasing God by applying man made rules to external man. (Which is completely void of the Grace of God and will not change the inner man nor appease God). (2) The second purpose for legalism is to give the preachers that control people through the "fear of breaking the rules" a sense of power over their flocks. "For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may GLORY IN YOUR FLESH. "(Galations 6:13)
Be Advised!! You cannot get out of legalism by simply reversing the "rules" or living a "different lifestyle." Legalism is a product of human nature combined with the popular religion of the day and the only way out is by a "Revelation of Grace"! So many people have tried to get out of legalism by trying to bring things back into their lives that they had quit doing because it was against the rules of their religious organization. Legalism is trying to please God with the actions of the flesh and cannot be reversed by more actions of the flesh. The only way to be free is to "know the truth" and in this matter, it's the truth of how the Holy Spirit works in a Christian's Life. Serving God is a matter of the heart, in any culture or in any denomination. It will take a while but you really can be free!!
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
Legalism/Another Gospel
"For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."(2 Corinthians 11:4)
"another gospel" Legalism is powerful because its at the core of human nature. We see it in Adam's behavior in the garden and there were no churches or religious organizations. You may ask, "How do I know if I'm of a legalistic mindset"? Ask yourself a few questions. (1) Am I constrained by the love of Jesus or am I driven by guilt and fear of breaking the rules? The church you attend, are you adapting to the lifestyle they have taught you or are you growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ? I recall one church that was actually so steeped in legalism that they actually had TV funerals, ceremonies pronouncing death to the evil electronic boxes that had destroyed their lives. After their realization of this ignorance they went out bought BIG TV's and watched EVERYTHING that came on, regardless of its content. If you are in the process of being delivered from the clutches of religion, please be aware that the Bible is your only source of truth. Since Jesus said, "You cannot put new wine into old bottles", you must have a complete mental transformation. "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."(Romans 12:2) If you think that legalism is about TV's, clothing styles, hair styles, then you have no idea the evil that you are dealing with.....
Legalism is a fear based relationship with a denomination, church or religious group. Christianity is a faith based relationship with Jesus Christ!! According to the Apostle Paul there are those in the "ministry" that are preaching "another gospel" that births "another spirit"! It comes down to, are you following man made rules that you assume are in the Bible because someone said they were or are you following God's Word? "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision."(Phillippians 3:2) In this passage Paul refers to legalistic preachers as "dogs" because they devour! The word "concision" means to mutilate ones flesh to try an impress God. Do you have an inner spiritual relationship with God or is it external in nature? "Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."(2 Corinthians 3:6)
Spiritual life comes from Jesus, not religious activities.
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
"another gospel" Legalism is powerful because its at the core of human nature. We see it in Adam's behavior in the garden and there were no churches or religious organizations. You may ask, "How do I know if I'm of a legalistic mindset"? Ask yourself a few questions. (1) Am I constrained by the love of Jesus or am I driven by guilt and fear of breaking the rules? The church you attend, are you adapting to the lifestyle they have taught you or are you growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ? I recall one church that was actually so steeped in legalism that they actually had TV funerals, ceremonies pronouncing death to the evil electronic boxes that had destroyed their lives. After their realization of this ignorance they went out bought BIG TV's and watched EVERYTHING that came on, regardless of its content. If you are in the process of being delivered from the clutches of religion, please be aware that the Bible is your only source of truth. Since Jesus said, "You cannot put new wine into old bottles", you must have a complete mental transformation. "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."(Romans 12:2) If you think that legalism is about TV's, clothing styles, hair styles, then you have no idea the evil that you are dealing with.....
Legalism is a fear based relationship with a denomination, church or religious group. Christianity is a faith based relationship with Jesus Christ!! According to the Apostle Paul there are those in the "ministry" that are preaching "another gospel" that births "another spirit"! It comes down to, are you following man made rules that you assume are in the Bible because someone said they were or are you following God's Word? "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision."(Phillippians 3:2) In this passage Paul refers to legalistic preachers as "dogs" because they devour! The word "concision" means to mutilate ones flesh to try an impress God. Do you have an inner spiritual relationship with God or is it external in nature? "Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."(2 Corinthians 3:6)
Spiritual life comes from Jesus, not religious activities.
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
Believe, Receive and Achieve!!!
If you are a dreamer, your dream is most likely bigger than you are but you serve a God that is bigger than you and your dream!!! He can afford it so dream big, pray big and believe big!!!
"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."(Matthew 19:26)
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
The Hiding Place...
The earth is filled with trouble but God has made provision for us in the "time of trouble"! The Bible never tells us that the journey of faith is without trouble, in fact, it says just the opposite. We are in this world but are not of this world.
The Just shall live by Faith and we walk by Faith, not by sight. Peter makes it clear in his writings that our Faith will be tried by fire. The fire burns away the flesh that our Spirit man can shine through the darkness of this world!! Notice what David says about trouble on this earth;
"For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock."(Psalm 27:5)
Trouble can make us weary, depressed, disillusioned, down and out in every way!! If your trouble seems to come to stay, in time your friends will start dropping off your train, one by one, it will come down to you and God!! In the "time of trouble" trust God to hide you and set you up on the ROCK!!! Go to the Word of God, read it, believe it, receive it and God will take you through the fire without you being burned and through the water but you will not drown!!!
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." (Isaiah 43:2)
David experienced times of trouble just like us but he also learned the secret of strength in God which surpasses anything we will ever find within ourselves!!!
"I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." (Psalms 27:13)
God's Goodness is also in the earth, ask for it, believe for it and by Faith look for it because it is on its way to you NOW!!! GOD IS GOOD....that's all....
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
The Just shall live by Faith and we walk by Faith, not by sight. Peter makes it clear in his writings that our Faith will be tried by fire. The fire burns away the flesh that our Spirit man can shine through the darkness of this world!! Notice what David says about trouble on this earth;
"For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock."(Psalm 27:5)
Trouble can make us weary, depressed, disillusioned, down and out in every way!! If your trouble seems to come to stay, in time your friends will start dropping off your train, one by one, it will come down to you and God!! In the "time of trouble" trust God to hide you and set you up on the ROCK!!! Go to the Word of God, read it, believe it, receive it and God will take you through the fire without you being burned and through the water but you will not drown!!!
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." (Isaiah 43:2)
David experienced times of trouble just like us but he also learned the secret of strength in God which surpasses anything we will ever find within ourselves!!!
"I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." (Psalms 27:13)
God's Goodness is also in the earth, ask for it, believe for it and by Faith look for it because it is on its way to you NOW!!! GOD IS GOOD....that's all....
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
Walk with the Wise....
There is an old saying, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer". PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS, it should only be done by trained professionals that doesn't know any better!! "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."(Proverbs 13:20)
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
Quit condemning yourself!!!!
Please do not trade your past for your future. If you are obsessed with your past failures, you have no future!! "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before;"(Phillipians 3:13). Whatever you are haunted by in your past, confess it, put it under the Blood of Jesus Christ because He nailed it to the Cross for you so you could walk down the street with your head held up and the freedom of forgiveness in your life!!! Let it go and get ready for God to take you places you never dreamed existed!!! "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Romans 8:1 KJV
God loves you enough that He sent His Son to die for you that you would not be condemned but that you might have eternal life and eternal life started the day you met Jesus!!!
"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:17 KJV
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
God can make it happen for you!!!
"For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I WILL CAUSE the remnant of this people to possess all these things."(Zechariah 8:12)
"I WILL CAUSE" If you are criticized by your peers, it is usually because you have succeeded where they failed. There is one thing for sure, people will forgive you for anything but being successful and happy. They are miserable and won't be happy until you are miserable. Please don't allow the negative people around you to cause you to feel guilty because God has Blessed you so much that you can be a Blessing."Thou shalt be blessed above all people;"(Deuteronomy 7:14). If you will obey the VOICE of God, He will bless you beyond measure!! ";so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong."(Zechariah 8:13)
If you need the planets to line up in your life, always remember, God created the universe!!
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
God can make it happen for you!!!
"For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I WILL CAUSE the remnant of this people to possess all these things."(Zechariah 8:12)
"I WILL CAUSE" If you are criticized by your peers, it is usually because you have succeeded where they failed. There is one thing for sure, people will forgive you for anything but being successful and happy. They are miserable and won't be happy until you are miserable. Please don't allow the negative people around you to cause you to feel guilty because God has Blessed you so much that you can be a Blessing."Thou shalt be blessed above all people;"(Deuteronomy 7:14). If you will obey the VOICE of God, He will bless you beyond measure!! ";so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong."(Zechariah 8:13)
If you need the planets to line up in your life, always remember, God created the universe!!
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
"Politically Correct"
Two words that have become a catch phrase by which people are defined is the phrase "politically correct". If you are not "politically correct" then you are accused of being a bigot, hater, racist, etc... Just for the record, I never set out to win a popularity contest so I'm probably not going to be defined as "Politically Correct"! However I'm not mad at anyone, I don't hate anyone and I try to express the Love of God to all men. I am a human, I make mistakes, I have regrets but I have been saved and endeavoring to preach the Truth of the Gospel since 1982. My lovely wife, Kari and I were married on August 15, 1981. We had no idea how God was going to turn our worlds upside down, put us together as one and call us into the ministry of preaching the Truth of God's Word!! Truth is the only thing that will make you free but you must know Truth first and that is why God calls preachers to preach. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"(Romans 10:13-14 KJV). We need to be honest with ourselves and with God, we are in trouble in our country, our schools, our homes and our churches are only as strong as our homes!! We desperately need the heavens to open and God to pour out His Spirit on us today!!! "Get hungry or die empty!"
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
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