The Stickman's Understanding...

  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh,  despise dominion,  and speak evil of dignities. -Jude 1:8 Good morning and Happy Monday… We have been doing a study series on the book of Jude and surely we are in the days of apostasy.  Several phrases jump out that are easily attributable and identifiable in todays world. On today let’s look at what it means to despise dominion.  We are Stewards of the earth. That said we are to dominate. Dominate is always seen as a negative connotation, so let’s get a more accurate meaning.  To dominate is to lead, guide, making impactful decisions. This is not to say decisions are made in a vacuum, without input or advice, but the final decision rests with the one assigned dominion.  Dominion and dominate are not similar in spelling by chance but are based in the same origin. One who has dominion, dominates.  We have been assigned dominion and if we dispute it we are despising it. Tomorrow let’s go deep...

  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: -Matthew 28:19 God bless you and TGIF! The mantra of the church is expressed above. Of all the things done in the name of Christ, nothing would matter for the doer or the receiver if in all the doing Christ hasn’t been fully accepted.  This is the purpose of all we should do. Our hearts desire has to be to first lead others to Christ. Then thereafter we must live a godly life on purpose but in sincerity.  We must be very careful that distraction in the world and even in the church doesn’t cause this primary mission to become bleary in our vision.  Go fellowship this weekend, we all need it.  God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at drschaefferinterceding@yahoo.com You can give to Interceding Christian Center (ICC) using our cash app $intercedingcc

  Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. -Psalms 26:2 God bless and tremendous Thursday to you. The scripture above is one attributed to David. In it his heart is poured out to the Lord asking for a godly examination.  Beloved the cleansing provided by the Lord can not be compared to nothing within the scope of human ability or even understanding.  David in his desire to remove anything that would come between his relationship with the Lord invited the Lord to audit him.  Knowing and understanding are not always the same. I know that the heart beats but understanding of how it does is not mine. On the real I know the Lord loves me, but given my sin I do not understand why?    If you approach the Lord with a sincere heart asking for an examination, audit or search, He will and it only serves to make you closer to Him. God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at drschaefferinterceding@yaho...

  Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them. -Exodus 26:1 God bless and happy hump day! The scripture above introduces us to some very specific instructions for constructing the Tabernacle and the articles therein.  Not just the material was specified, but the exact measurements, the colors, the aesthetics and more.  The Lord assigned project management to Moses and provided him a skilled team and instructed Moses to gather supplies, skilled laborers and construct things based on His specific instructions.  What Moses did was to follow the instructions without deviation! Oh if we would catch ahold of the importance of following instructions… Self would have had Moses using a different type of wood, a cheaper metal and the lower of the bids for craft work. Though he had a role and the delegated authority, Moses followed the instructions.  P...

  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. -Hebrews 11:3 God bless you and Terrific Tuesday. Faith is a principal thing with the Lord! The scripture above references the narrative of creation and indicates all things were created void of doubt and saturated with faith.  The Bible in its entirety is a story of great love and how faith created and maintains the object of God’s love ovation, mankind.  God wants us to emulate His faith. First our faith has to come into agreement with our understanding that all things were created by Him in faith.  If you are void of faith you are limited in the blessings. I believe with all my heart that He wants us to “form” our world and manage His resources with faith.  “Use in faith what you see, speak in faith things that should be and be all that the Lord designed us to be.”   God bless you and command your day!!! You...

  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; -Hebrews 1:1-2 God bless you and happy Monday! Beloved if you ever wondered if we are in the last days or is it something “old folks” said to keep us in line.  Please wonder no more. The Lord described the last days in depth (Matthew 24) and how many will fall away with cold hearts.  The same God who spoke then is speaking now. Please pay attention… God is trying to tell you something!!! In His infinite grace God is speaking to us using prophecy. Events are unfolding before our eyes. The things that blinded those of old are being applied with the greatest Intensity ever via social media.  We are being guilted into accepting abominable things based on the sins of our fathers. Beloved wake up, repent, forgive. operate in love not vengeance, tru...

  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: -Matthew 25:3 “Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning” Good morning and TGIF.    As a young lad, several centuries ago, I learned the song above.  The song references being ready for Christ return and while you wait, keep burning. But how can you burn without a combustible element such as oil?  The foolish will have lamps with no oil and being empty, no fire can be sustained.  And empty of oil is a metaphorical indication that includes low oil. An empty lamp with a wick will make the noise all empty things make, but no matter the amount of noise, no matter the rattling, the dry wick if set ablaze will be consumed and when done, the flame goes out.  To be the light on the side of the hill we must continue to burn, but we will not burn without oil.  Our oil is prayer, study, and meditation. With each prayer we drill, each study, each fast and meditation, we drill. God provides th...

  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the  conviction  of things not seen.            -Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) Good morning and tremendous Thursday to you. The ESV uses the word conviction where the KJV says evidence. I prefer evidence but could not your evidence be shown by your conviction? If we stand up in words when an injustice has been done, it is based on our convictions. If we pursue a given course in life because we are convinced it is the best moral choice, it’s our conviction. If we refuse to do certain things it is because of convictions.  Our convictions are the evidence of our faith. What you are convicted on or in you serve that conviction. James said showing your faith by your works, your conviction will have you doing work…Today show your evidence by your convictions.  God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at drschaefferinterceding@yahoo.com You can giv...

  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. -Hebrews 11:1 God bless you and happy hump day.    Easily one scripture that most know is shown above and as recognized as it is, it is just as often misquoted and misunderstood.  While meditating I pulled this scripture up in the KJV, alongside the ESV.  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.            -ESV The ESV gives us clarity calling substance by the word assurance. The word assurance is like faith and like substance.  These are not physical, though tangible, no one can stuff faith in their pocket, pack it in their suit case, purchase it at a store.    Faith is also not what you look forward to in the future, forwarding looking is hope.   Hope is the extension of your faith for a future date. Faith is not something that you store up to pull it out at a time when it is ne...

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. -Mark 4:39 Good morning and Terrific Tuesday to you. The scripture above is found in a story of the disciples who were early in their walk with Christ, but having seen great healing their faith should have been more abounding.  I believe the Lord was offended because of their fear but more because they didn’t think to rebuke the storm themselves.  The Lord spoke to the competing elements each vying to disrupt the peace of the disciples and placed them under subjection. Often the enemy will throw multiple things into our calm to cause a storm in our peace.  Jesus exerted His divine authority over them when all it took was dominion authority (our dominion authority). His divine authority has given us the dominion authority in the earth and all on the earth is subject to it.  The authority was stolen for a time period until Christ paid the cost, r...

  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. -Psalms 46:10 Good morning and happy Monday. Ever thought of what it means to stand still in God? A few years ago a very popular song said “After you have done all you can, stand.”  Some may have missed the song encouraged you to first exercise your dominion authority and wait on God. Many times we stand still in pity, stand still in sin and say we are waiting on and standing still in Him.  The scripture above does not take away our responsibility to have faith nor diminishes our dominion mandate to have work with our faith.  The second part of the scripture speaks of how if you are faithful and live in Him, watch how He is lifted up among unbelievers who see your love, diligence, and faith!  God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at: drschaefferinterceding@yahoo.com You can give to Interceding Christian Cent...

  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. -Colossians 3:15 God bless you and TGIF. The scripture above states it is important what rules in your heart. It all goes back to thought life, whatever you think on is what will enter your heart.  Whether it be hate, hope, uncertainty, faith, fear, courage, peace or discord, if your thoughts center on any of those things, the same enters, shapes and rules your heart.  If you want peace to be in your heart think on it. Not just any peace but God’s peace, His peace is based in position.  When He identified Himself to Moses as I am, or when He began to speak things into existence, these things were done with Godly assurance and hence in peace.  That same peace is what had Christ asleep as the storm raged and the same had Him to confidently quiet the storm. He even used the word peace to get natures attention and be still to not allow it to rage afterwar...

  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. -John 14:27 God bless you and Tremendous Thursday. Peace is a gift and a commandment and peace was the topic of one of the last conversations Jesus had with His disciples before the cross.  Peace was so important that it earned a slice of the precious little time. Previously I have written about natural peace as compared to spiritual peace.  Adding to those thoughts our spiritual peace supersedes natural peace and if we are at peace in our spirit then natural peace is a result.  The Lord knowing the fret of the disciples and even our future fret wants us to not look at our peace from afar, but He wants us to embrace, bask in and live our peace.  God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at drschaefferinterceding@yahoo.com You can give to Interceding Christian Center...

  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. -Isaiah 26:3 God bless you and welcome to hump day!    Just how does peace surpass understanding? A quick thought could be when your understanding becomes Faith you understand peace.  True peace far exceeds in the natural a truce, a bargaining agreement or a treaty. Those things are contractual in nature and depends on the life, honesty and willingness of the opposing parties having stated, situational    or even equal footing.  But our peace is covenant and covenants are not quid pro quo (fair days work = fair days pay). The scripture above a explains how focus determines peace.  Your focus increases your faith while providing greater understanding and that understanding gives godly joy and…that peace.  God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at: drschaefferinterceding@yahoo.com You can give to I...

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:7 God bless you and Terrific Tuesday to you.  What is the peace of God? Most count His peace ever so slightly in reference to facing challenges in relationships, but it is so much more.  God’s peace is provided in our faith. His peace doesn’t allow us to walk in fear and removes our tendency to question our standing in Him.  His peace allows you to face anything and fully embrace a Romans 8:28 mantra (All things work together…).  Abraham had peace when asked to sacrifice Isaac by saying God will provides and afterward saying God does provide.  Peace never comes unless you have faith because it is a by product of a long term relationship and a life lived under the shadow of God.  On this day increase in faith so that your peace defies your understanding and that of everybody you encounter. God bless you and command your day!!! Your com...

Yea For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. -Romans 8:18 God bless you and happy Monday! Another wonderful day and as blessed as we are of the Lord, the scripture above weighs on each of us.  The choice to live holy comes at a price, but as Paul states the price is minimal. Especially when compared to the blessings to come based on what is a minute’ sacrifice.  The word reckoning is a Hebrew/Greek reference used in accounting, it means to compare, to balance both sides of an account.  Paul while attempting to balance the account found on one side what seemed insurmountable until he looked at the reward on the other side.  He found that the return was so much more than was invested. In like manner this applies to us and we are blessed to be recipients daily of such grace. Simply, living saved will draw persecution (2 Timothy 3:12), but rest assured it is not worth or worthy to be...

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. -2 Timothy 3:5 God bless and believe it or not TGIF. Nothing is more a displeasure to the Lord than not serving Him with your all.   In everyday life we see many who serve at their own pleasure and not as the Lord would have them. Politics, Professional Sports, Entertainment, business, clergy and general life.  Those who use the name of the Lord when it is convenient and no one will be offended, are the same who if called to pray in a public setting omit His name.  Having a form of godliness is revealed by your acts of or lack of faith, love, humility and more.  Those that deny the power will never change. Denying love says God can’t cause you to love, doubting is denying that with God all things are possible, as well as holding on to grudges, un-forgiveness and being vengeful.  Yes in everyday life in the world as well as in the body of Christ we see forms of that deny the divi...

  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. -2 Timothy 3:5 God bless you and tremendous Thursday to you. Some scriptures are so wonderfully written that they immediately provide encouragement, joy, inner peace and even hope.  The Apostle Paul wrote numerous scriptures that are known to stir up both Saint and sinner.    For the Saint it resonates and spurs them into active belief but for sinners, if it does not effect real change, then the words are just ear tickling, a short handled spoon that doesn’t stir the deep part of the glass.  The former sorcerer Simeon had a form but denied the power thinking the Holy Ghost could be purchased.  It is not the interesting or fascinating truths of the word of God, but the believed, practiced and adhered word of God that delivers, destroys yolks and heals.  On tomorrow let’s look at modern day examples.  Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at: drschaefferi...

  When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. -Proverbs 16:7 Good morning and happy hump day!I recall once being the victim of a blessing, wrought by the hands of someone who I had considered my enemy.  Truth be told I’ve often had enemy provided blessings befall me. Though I am referring to them as enemies of mine, it is not me whom they despise. The Lord expressed it to Samuel as “It is not you who they are rejecting, but Me”.  If you stand for the Lord, the world system surely will reject you. Stand.    You will be called intolerant, bigoted, homophobic, hateful, ignorant and more, but still stand. The key to being blessed is ensuring you love truth and stand in love. If you stand in love and truth in due season your reaping comes, and the Lord often allows it to come by the hand of those who hated your testimony.  They will bring in abundant blessing and become literally your foot stool and they may not like yo...

  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all uncleanness. -Matthew 23:27 God bless you and Terrific Tuesday. As I write this I am listening to a sermon on the book of Jude and this scripture, which I’ve known hit me hard.  The reference transcends the group and the individuals of the group and speaks of    cathedrals, sanctuaries, and other places designated for worship on the signs outside, but not in the heart of members therein.  The dressed up Christian as well as the beautiful marbled or brick building denotes how beautiful the exterior but how rancid the interior.  This happens when we join the church but are not converted nor are we attempting to embrace the change that comes when we fully accept and grow in the truth of the gospel.  Paul seemed to have addressed those who are Christian in name only calling t...

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. -Proverbs 3:6 God bless you and happy Monday…Bold statement on this morning is…I am not always right, I am not always faithful, and I often depend upon self. And because of these failures, I am subject to walking the wrong path.  Not many will own up to their failures, but a righteous man is not defined by his failures, but by his repentance. A just man is only called such because of his willingness to seek the heart of God, repent and further to get back in line.   The grace of God is all encompassing which allows Him to see us in our human frailties and not condemn us in our sin, giving respite extensively.  Therefore we are called to trust…trust when we understand, trust when we do not understand, follow when we do not know the way, and even when we think we know the way.  If we put everything into perspecti...