Thursday, June 13, 2013

As I learn more about my Prophetic Gift



As I learn more about my prophetic gift and how it coincides with my dance ministry I always find useful information that helps me in this journey. I am amazed at the things that are happening as dancers begin to go deeper in their walk with God and as they minister in dance. In my opinion, praise dancers not only have the ability or the gift to dance, but they also have other gifts within them. I am noticing that many liturgical dancers have a prophetic gift. This prophetic gift is often used to convey a message as they go forth in dance ministry.  

Either they will see a certain movement that gives a message or they will hear what God is saying and present that message in their dance. 

Here are 7 key questions that will help dancers prepare for ministry:


1. Is it my desire to fulfill my flesh (my selfish needs) or do I desire to fulfill the desire of Christ? This question is very important as liturgical dancers are in front of many, and receive accolades for their ministry. A dancers' ego must not go against the purpose of dance ministry, which is to glory the Heavenly Father through the expression of praise and worship. 



2. How much of me will people see versus how much of Christ and His glory will the people see? If those that are watching you minister cannot see Christ in you as you dance then our human characteristics have gotten in the way of HIS glory. This ought not to happen. 



3. Does my costume or attire bring attention to me, or the Christ in me? This is a good question to ask. I have had the opportunity to dance in the secular world. NO, I wasn't in any music videos; however, I have danced on stage to secular music. I wasn't thinking about praising and worship God. I was totally thinking about getting my choreography correct. My attire did not express the holiness of God. In fact, I wore short dresses most of the time with my arms and back showing. There were other times where I wore a tight body suit that showed everything. My point is, if I was to wear any of these costumes while ministering through dance, I would be sat down. I would not be allowed to dance before that congregation or any other congregation once word got out about my attire. As I danced in the secular arena, my wardrobe was made to fit the choreography and the message of that particular dance. The same goes with liturgical dance. Both male and females must be in modest liturgical dance clothing so that it will not draw lust that unfortunately exist in a lot of people. Here is a tip: men are visual, therefore it is important that women praise dancers take special attention in choosing garments that will not lead the eyes of men to stray on the woman's anatomy. And trust me, they will do it. 



4. Have I really talked to God about what He wants to accomplish through my ministry? If you ever want to know what anyone thinks about your dance ministry ask God. He is the most important person to ask. He will let you know if you have accomplished his purpose in your dance ministry. It is advisable to prayerfully ask for His direction with each choreography or movement and decisions about engagements. . 



5. Does my choreography/movements point to Christ and His message of the gospel? Dance is an unspoken language. You can say so many things through your movement; and if you are not careful you can say the wrong thing. Think about it. What kind of movement would someone do if they were in a club? What kind of movement would someone do if they want to entice someone? What kind of movement would someone do if they were worshiping the Almighty God? Choreography has the power to bring you into praise and lead you into sin. Your choreography is body language so watch what you say. 



6. Am I free enough for the Holy Spirit to consume me, so that the anointing will come forth to destroy the yoke off others? Being free to dance is about the absence of fear of failure, fear of people watching you, fear of man, and fear of letting go. It is also about the absence of anything that will hinder your spiritual walk. The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in an unclean vessel; therefore, in order for Him to consume you, you must be consecrated.



7. Is the anointing on my gift strong enough to break yokes, and get people freed, healed, and delivered? This type of anointing can happen as quickly or slowly as you like. What I mean is the sooner you surrender everything to the Lord, the faster he will entrust you with the anointing to be able to see these types of manifestations.

To the Anointed by God, To work in the Kingdom of God


To the Anoited by God, To work in the Kingdom of God

The enemy is only attracted to FULLY ANOINTED VESSELS, he usually ignores empty ones.But remember with God on your side, nobody can stop you! People will judge you, and condemn your words... your actions are never fairly measured out, your feelings and yes, even your motives are taken out of character, but God who knowns your heart and your ways, and will never judge you according to man's thoughts or comments. But, He will step in to make intercessions for them who sincerely desired to please Him, and walk according to His will and serve His Son Jesus Christ

A TRUE WORSHIPER:trials & tribulations No.1



In the eyes of a Dancer

(Words of Encouragement) The higher you get in God, the deeper, the closer, the more intimate you are with God, it seems like the more you worship and praise God.The more the enemy throws at you! The devil knows if he can distract you , he can get your mind off praising God.(The devil is a LIAR)But I dare you to keep your mind on God! Continue to pray, sometimes it takes us to fast,seek the face of the Lord daily.No matter what comes your way, do what God asks you to do. Have that obedient spirit, no matter how much YOU think it can't be done by SELF,If God said it, then it can be done! God has put it in you for a reason,he has equip you for the purpose. BELIEVE in the WORD of the LORD, God is the truth. Use your faith, FAITH can get you a long way in life. REMEMBER Abram,before God changed his name to Abraham(Genesis 17:3-5).  Genesis 12:1-3 is The PROMISE, but Abraham had to make up in his mind(THE CHOICE) that he was going to STAND on the WORD of the LORD.(Genesis 12:4) He did not look at his current state, but he walked by FAITH and NOT BY SIGHT. Looking pass what your going through right now, walking in Faith believing the Word of God.Praising your way out of the situation, activates the THE PROMISE, THE WORD spoken over your life! So my sister, my brother be encouraged! God has not forgotten about you, it's only a TEST! With God you can pass it, only BELIEVE and you will RECEIVE! You can't have a TESTIMONY without a TEST! God loves you,be blessed!

FAITH- Daily Bread

 
 
 
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Inspiration

God  is good, I have a praise on  the inside....I love God with all my heart and soul! And nothing can get in the way of our Love,he has done so much for me! He has protected me from all evil,keeping me in perfect peace with my mind stayed on Him! I just want to say thank you Lord, you are my everything! You are my First love,you saved me washed me clean,with your precious blood!!

Saturday, May 25, 2013

68 Bible Verses on Worship and Dance Before The Lord, May 25, 2013

 Article provided by
Ronsheika Cuyler
Staff Writer
Faith Hope Charity Dance Ministries, Inc.
May 25, 2013




  • Exodus 15:19-21
For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the
sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hathtriumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.


68 Bible Verses on Worship and Dance Before The Lord, May 25, 2013

Peace in the middle of the storm

God's Peace in the middle of it all(Psalm 46:10)Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God helps me through this Christian walk. God will give you peace, real PEACE in the midst of any trial or tribulation. In the midst of your storm God(the Holy Spirit) will bring comfort to you when you feel like giving up(throwing in the towel). God will use scripture, an individual(words of encouragement) through a pastor's sermon. When you fast,pray, and trust God he will bring you through your troubles.

Written by Ronsheika Cuyler President/Founder of F.H.C.D.M.

Lift up the name of Jesus(Psalm 146:1,2)




Lift up the name of Jesus(Psalm 146:1,2) Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! While I live I will praise the LORD! I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.Even when the devil is throwing things at us from different directions. We have to praise God any how! We have to remember ;We are going through with ;God on our side. And if God is for us, who can be against us?The spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard....on our behalf,we are his children. No one, not even the devil can stop what God has spoken over our lives. God's ;word is true. Be encouraged. there's no testimony without a TEST!!Written by Ronsheika Cuyler President/Founder of F.H.C.D.M.

Avodah(Worship,work) Hebrew word


Avodah (worship,work)Is the transliteration of the Hebrew word for worship and work.The root word means to work or to serve. The cluster of words derived from the root give us insight into the nature of both worship and work.Worship of the true God in Messiah Jesus through the Holy Spirit and in truth is hard work. It demands expenditure of energy. Worship is not mere campfire singing. It requires focus and concentration of our faculties. t;Be still, and know that I am God; (Psalm 46:10*).Worship requires an inner humbling, a surrender of self-will, a repentance of sin, and trust. It requires cultivating the presence of God. It ascribes to Him the supreme value of who He is and acknowledges His worthiness (worth-ship) in words, deeds, and posture. Worship is hard work. Work (labor, enterprise, exertion) is always serving. For the worshiper of God, the believer in Jesus, it is serving God. "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus; (Colossians 3:17).Work is an essential part and expression of our humanness. It is not, as some mistakenly assume, a result of the Fall. Work was part of Adam and Eve;s activity in Eden before they sinned. They were to ; the Garden;and take care of it; (Genesis 2:15). Work is an expression of the creativity inherent in human nature made in the ;image of God.; After all, God is continually working, as Jesus pointed out;My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working; (John 5:17).Worship has priority over work, yet true worship is hard work. Work can be a form of worship, and the work of worship has priority over all other work.;Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain; (1 Corinthians 15:58). remember, Night is coming, when no one can work (John 9:4).

Friday, May 24, 2013

God exhorts His people time after time

God exhorts His people time after time
In the Holy Scriptures, God exhorts His people time and time again to worship Him in the dance. He
told them the following through King David in Psalm 149:2-3: “Let Israel rejoice before Him who
made her, let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name in the dance.”
Again, in Psalm 150:4 we read: “Praise Him with the timbrel and dance.” The ancient Israelites
obeyed the Word of the Lord. They danced at every joyous occasion. There were ritual dances,
harvest dances, wedding dances, dances for warfare, victory dances, even dances at the digging
of wells (Numbers 21:17). In Judges 21:19-23 we are told that the maidens of ancient Israel went
up to Shiloh each year for the Lord’s Feast to “dance in dances” (la-CHUL-bim-cho-LOT) before
the Lord. Whenever Israel won in battle, dance was a primary expression of gratitude to the Lord
and a testimony to other nations that the God of Israel was the true God. I Samuel 18:6 shows us
an example of this type of dancing: “and it came to pass as they came, when David was returned
from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and
dancing, to meet King Saul, with tabret, with joy and with instruments of music.”

In Judges Chapter 11, we see an example of a dance of hospitality or greeting as Jepthah’s
daughter welcomed her father home. The procession, as a primary type of Hebrew dance, was a
part of major festivals such as Passover. Pilgrims were led up to Jerusalem by flutes and pipes and
timbrels played by the women. They danced as they made their way to Zion (Isaiah 30:25). Some
of the Old Testament prophets experienced ecstatic dance as part of the intimacy of their
relationship with God. In I Samuel 10:5, for example, Samuel tells a newly anointed King Saul that
he would meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place. They would be preceded
by a psaltery, a tabret, a pipe, and a harp. In Hebrew, there is little doubt that the prophets were
dancing in some sort of enraptured way. Join us as we learn how to dance with the Lover of our
souls!

Inspirational Words-" Give it to God, you can't handle it"


"Give it to God, you can't handle it"
Why are you going in circles, constantly trying to work your problems out on
your own? Why are you fighting flesh with spirit?( Ephesians 6:12) lets us know
what to fight. Get  on your knees and pray to God, ask Him to fight for us in the
spirit. It's better that way, if God allowed it to happen it's a reason for it. The
trying of our faith, your faith is no limits. God is pleased when we operate in
faith,because without it,it's impossible to please Him. #Enduring Faith

Written by Ronsheika Cuyler President/Founder of F.H.C.D.M.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Daily Bread-Deuteronomy 7:13-16

 Daily Bread
(Deuteronomy 7:13-16) And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land which He swore to your fathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock. And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and  will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you. Also you shall destroy all the peoples whom the LORD  your God delivers over to you; your eye shall have no pity on them; nor shall you serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you.


We are in a Spiritual warfare...

 We are in a spiritual Warfare

(Walking in the Spirit) Galatians 5:16-18 (The whole armor of God) Ephesians 6:12,13-20 Praying and fasting plays an important role in this spiritual warfare we are in daily. Seeking the face of God,reading the Bible(spirit food) will strengthen your inner man, to stand in these last and evil days. When you have forces of evil coming at you from different angles. The closer you are to God the more protected you will be from evil.

Why is praise and worship important?

 Praise & Worship
 It's required us, to praise and worship God regardless of our current state. Worshiping God from the heart is being intimate with Him. Showing your love for God is pleasing in His sight. We can praise our way out of situations, trials and tribulations. Praise also protects the word of God on the inside of us. That's why the devil wants to steal our praise. So continue to worship and praise God,and watch how things begin to manifest. That very thing you've been praying and seeking God for will come to pass. Because you held on and stood on the word of the LORD.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

No Matter how BIG the Storm is...

No matter how BIG your storms are in Life, God is always in Control!! So don't worry about how BIG the storm is,tell the storm how BIG your God is!!
Words of Encouragement

Daily Bread-Isaiah 49:13-16






Daily Bread





Isaiah 49:13-16

13 Shout for joy, you heavens;
    rejoice, you earth;
    burst into song, you mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people
    and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
14 But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me,
    the Lord has forgotten me.”
15 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
    and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
    I will not forget you!
16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
    your walls are ever before me.

Jesus Christ the Way...

Jesus Christ is the only way to gain salvation, the only way to heaven, the only way to the Father. 

 Acts 4:10-12 let it be know to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

Monday, May 20, 2013

Worship Him, because of who he is...

Worship Him in Spirit and in truth

In this life, we must learn how to worship God. In-spite of our day to day obstacles,we have to give God the glory due to His name! We have to use praise as an action figure,letting God know that no matter what, I will worship & praise you, not because of  what I know you can do.But because of who you are! We don't have to know how to dance, sing, or play an instrument to worship & praise God.As long as it's from the pure,holy and from the heart, he is pleased with what you offer up to him. So dance,sing, play an instrument, from your heart to God, we are not on this earth to please people, but we are here to please God. No one has a HEAVEN or HELL  to put us in! So praise & worship Him  alone, he is your God!

Daily Bread-1 Peter 4:1-6

Daily Bread
(Christ's Sufferings and ours) 1 Peter 4:1-6{NKJV} Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard  to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.


To the Anoited by God, To work in the Kingdom of God

The enemy is only attracted to FULLY ANOINTED VESSELS, he usually ignores empty ones.But remember with God on your side, nobody can stop you! People will judge you, and condemn your words... your actions are never fairly measured out, your feelings and yes, even your motives are taken out of character, but God who knowns your heart and your ways, and will never judge you according to man's thoughts or comments. But, He will step in to make intercessions for them who sincerely desired to please Him, and walk according to His will and serve His Son Jesus Christ

Words of Encouragement...

Build your life on things that will last! Don’t let the devil put a period where God placed a comma. No matter what you’ve lost in the past, God will sustain you. His love is unconditional. Use the three secret weapons: faith, hope and charity.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

I have a Pressing in my Spirit....




Do you have a pressing in your spirit?
Do you feel like no matter what I'm going through now,there's better days ahead?
Do you sometimes want to give up,but your inner man want let you?
Do you have thoughts of walking off from everything,giving up?


Well, let me encourage you today...let's go to the Word

Joshua 1:9 (New International Version)  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Deuteronomy  31:6 (International Standard Version)  Be strong and courageous. Don't fear or tremble before them, because the LORD your God will be the one who keeps on walking with you—he won't leave you or abandon you."

Ephesians 6:10 (International Standard Version) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Psalm 28:7  (International Standard Version) The Lord is my strength and my shield;my heart trusts in him, and he helps me My heart leaps for joy,and with my song I praise him.

Psalm 71:16   (International Standard Version) I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;  I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.

Isaiah 40:31 (International Standard Version) but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

1Corinthians  9:24  (International Standard Version)  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Hebrews 12:1  (International Standard Version) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

Zechariah 4:6  (International Standard Version) So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

2 Timothy  1:7 (International Standard Version) For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Psalm 18:32  (International Standard Version) It is God who arms me with strength
    and keeps my way secure.
    

Daily Bread-Jeremiah 33:3




Daily Bread
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Daily Bread-Hebrews 11:1



Daily Bread
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Daily Bread-Psalm 78:4


Daily Bread
We will not hide them from their children,Telling to generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

Friday, May 10, 2013

In the Eyes of a Dancer

 A TRUE WORSHIPER:trials & tribulations No.1

(Words of Encouragement) The higher you get in God, the deeper, the closer, the more intimate you are with God, it seems like the more you worship and praise God.The more the enemy throws at you! The devil knows if he can distract you , he can get your mind off praising God.(The devil is a LIAR)But I dare you to keep your mind on God! Continue to pray, sometimes it takes us to fast,seek the face of the Lord daily.No matter what comes your way, do what God asks you to do. Have that obedient spirit, no matter how much YOU think it can't be done by SELF,If God said it, then it can be done! God has put it in you for a reason,he has equip you for the purpose. BELIEVE in the WORD of the LORD, God is the truth. Use your faith, FAITH can get you a long way in life. REMEMBER Abram,before God changed his name to Abraham(Genesis 17:3-5).  Genesis 12:1-3 is The PROMISE, but Abraham had to make up in his mind(THE CHOICE) that he was going to STAND on the WORD of the LORD.(Genesis 12:4) He did not look at his current state, but he walked by FAITH and NOT BY SIGHT. Looking pass what your going through right now, walking in Faith believing the Word of God.Praising your way out of the situation, activates the THE PROMISE, THE WORD spoken over your life! So my sister, my brother be encouraged! God has not forgotten about you, it's only a TEST! With God you can pass it, only BELIEVE and you will RECEIVE! You can't have a TESTIMONY without a TEST! God loves you,be blessed!

Daily Bread-Psalms 19:14


Daily Bread

Psalms 19:14 - Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Daily Bread-Psalm 84:2

Psalm 84:2 My soul longeth,yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD:my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Do we believe that we are BORN TO PRAISE God?

 the Bible says:

Psalm 44:8  O God, we give glory to you all day long    and constantly praise your name. 
 John 4: 24  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Encouragement for today...

 

 Proverb 3:6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own  understanding 

 We must move when God say move, Stop when He saids STOP. God will direct our steps through dance ministry.

MISSION STATEMENT:
“I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever, with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generation.” Psalm 89:1

41 Bible Verses on Worshiping God

 Psalm 150:1-6 ESV

Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! ...

 John 4:23,24 ESV

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

  Colossians 3:16 ESV

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

  Hebrews 13:15 ESV

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

  John 4:23 ESV

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

  1 John 1:3 ESV

That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

  Ephesians 5:19 ESV 

Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

  Hebrews 1:6 ESV

And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God's angels worship him.”

  James 5:13 ESV

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

  Romans 12:1 ESV 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

  Matthew 15:9 ESV 

In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

  Exodus 20:5  ESV

You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,

  Revelation 22:9 ESV

But he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

  Acts 20:35 ESV

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

  Matthew 4:8-10 ESV

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

  Matthew 16: 24 ESV

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

  2John 1:9 ESV

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

  Hebrews 1:14 ESV

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

  Colossians 2:14 ESV

By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

  Acts 16: 25 ESV

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

  Matthew 5:12 ESV

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

  Exodus 20:4 ESV

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

 Revelation 7:1-17 ESV

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, ...

  Ephesians 3:10 ESV

So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

  Exodus 20:1-26 ESV

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, ...

  Hebrews 10:1-4 ESV

For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

  Acts 17:2 ESV

And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

  John 4:20 ESV

Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”

  Revelation 12:9 ESV

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

  Jude 1:6 ESV

And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—

 Colossians 2:16-17 ESV

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

  Colossians 2:14-17 ESV

By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

  1 Corinthians 4:9 ESV

For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.

  Matthew 16:18 ESV 

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

   Matthew 5:17 ESV 

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

  Job 2:1 ESV 

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord.

  Leviticus 19:19 ESV 

“You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind. You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor shall you wear a garment of cloth made of two kinds of material.

 Genesis 1:2 ESV 

The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

  1 Peter 5:8 ESV 

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

  John 4:21 ESV

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.

  Matthew 8:2 ESV 

And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

  Job1:6   ESV

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.

Praise Dance

Praise dance (also known as liturgical dance or worship dance) is a form of worship that seeks to articulate the word and spirit of God through the body. According to the New York Times, praise dance is a popular part of church services across the country. While it is considered controversial in some Christian circles, praise dance is considered an expression of joy by others. Is praise dance right for you and your worship service? Read on to learn more about the art of praise dance and it's role in the world of Christian praise and worship. Dancing was used in ancient times to express joy and thankfulness to the Lord. The tradition carried on for many years, until it was forced out of the Christian church by the Reformation. In the 20th century, praise dance began to re-enter praise and worship services. Praise dance can be diverse, including traditional or modern ballet, lyrical and hip-hop dancing. It is performed to praise music. Dances can be spontaneous or choreographed, involving an individual or a group of dancers.Praise dance is increasing in popularity each year. More dance schools are offering classes in praise dance, while more professional praise dance companies are emerging. Cities throughout the United Sates are establishing groups where religious dancers from all religions are welcome to express themselves.


Daily Bread-Philippians 4:13

Daily Bread
Philippians 4: 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.


Thursday, May 2, 2013

Worship and Warfare

 WORSHIP AND WARFARE
 
All worship dance should be glorifying to God, and lead anyone watching to a greater depth in worship. As well as choreographed "presentation" pieces we can worship Jesus by just dancing freely as led by the Spirit. If this is a new experience, try dancing to some worship music at home whilst on your own. Advise Christian dancers to make sure they have the agreement of their church leaders for what they are doing(Hebrews13:17).
 
We must listen to the Holy Spirit and do exactly what He tells us, even if we don't understand why. (John15:4 & Proverbs 3 :5-6). Praise and worship are powerful spiritual weapons against the powers of darkness. Christian dance ministries are prime targets for spiritual attack, which may come in many forms such as illness, discord, mechanical failures and opposition. Intercessory prayer is needed for a dance group! 
 

 
 
II Chronicles 20:1-30 Most Christians think of worship as something we do as we come together on Sunday morning. We've learned that worship helps us endure trials and empowers us for witnessing. However did you know that worship aids us in spiritual warfare as well? The worship and praise of Almighty God gives us victory over the enemy.In the Old Testament, the people of God learned that worship and warfare went hand in hand. Over and over we read of situations in which the people failed to worship God with their whole hearts. As a result their enemies defeated them. However, when they repented and truly worshiped God, He always gave them victory. They could not win a war without sincere worship.Paul and Silas won the victory by singing in the depth of the Philippian prison and were freed by an earthquake. Jonah worshiped God in the belly of the great fish and was spewed up onto the shore. Worship brings victory! Truly, worship and spiritual warfare go hand in hand.


I. Worship and Warfare: An Old Testament Example.
    A. Background information.


      1. Jehoshaphat was the 4th King of the Southern Kingdom, Judah.
        a. His name means "Jehovah judges."
        b. He was the son of the godly King Asa.
        c. Asa died and Jehoshaphat was about 35 years-old when he ascended his father's throne.
        d. He reigned for 25 years (875-850 b.c.).
        e. 2 Chronicles 22:9 describes his character as one who "sought the LORD with all his heart."


      2. Early in his reign, we see that "his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord."

      3. He sent men throughout Judah to teach God's Word, and as a result of his efforts, the fear of the Lord fell upon all the nations around Judah, and there was peace.

      4. God blessed Jehoshaphat because he did His will.

      5. Chapter 18 describes Jehoshaphat's downfall.
        a. In verse one tells us that he joined up with Ahab.
        b. Ahab was the despicable king of Israel who was married to Jezebel.
        c. He was an idolater who hated the one true God.
        d. Jehoshaphat married this man's daughter and through this relationship, Jehoshaphat was led astray.
        e. Later on Jehoshaphat repented of trusting in Ahab and went back to seeking the Lord.

    B. A Kingdom in a Desperate Situation (20:1-4).


      1. After a period of peace and spiritual renewal, the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Syrians and others mounted a major assault on Jerusalem.


      2. V.3 says plainly "Jehoshaphat feared."
        a. There is nothing wrong with being afraid.
        b. He knew he couldn't defeat his enemies on his own.
        c. However this time he didn't seek an alliance with man.
        d. He "set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah."
      3. The people of the kingdom "gathered together to ask help from the Lord."
        a. They came "from all the cities of Judah" and they came "to seek the Lord."
        b. There is nothing better when you are in trouble than gathering believers together to pray and worship God.
        c. Too many times seeking the Lord is our last resort.
        d. It should be our first thought!

    C. A Nation humbled before God. (20:5-9)

      1. These verses describe a mighty worship service.

      2. Imagine our president leading us in national prayer.

      3. In front of the nation, King Jehoshaphat prayed and praised God for who He is, what He has done and the king knew He could do.

      4. The king's praise becomes a specific request. (20:10-12)
        a. In essence, he says, "We are absolutely dependent on You."
        b. Worship is an admission of dependence.

      5. Earlier, Jehoshaphat had depended on evil Ahab; now he's learned his lesson.

      6. He depends on no one but God.

    D. A Prophet with an Encouraging Message (20:14-17).

      1. In those days, God spoke to His people through the mouths of His prophets.

      2. Today He speaks through revealed Scripture.

      3. On that day, God answered the nation's prayers by speaking through a man named Jahaziel.

      4. God said, "Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's."

      5. Read v.16-17 again, Take our positions, but do not fight…God will take care of things.

    E. Victory through Worship. (20:18-24).

      1. Jehoshaphat "bowed his head with his face to the ground" and everyone "bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord."

      2. Then they "stood up to praise the Lord with voices loud and high."

      3. They "rose early in the morning" to go out to position themselves as God had commanded.

      4. Jehoshaphat inspired them by saying, "…Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." V20b

      5. He then "appointed singers unto the Lord and that should praise the beauty of holiness."

      6. What a mighty choir that must have been!

      7. Get this: "They went out before the army!" singing the refrain from Ps.136, "Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever."

      8. Worship was their only weapon!
        (2 Chr 20:22) "And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten."
      9. When they looked to see what God had done, all they saw were dead bodies…none escaped. (v24)

    F. The blessings of God. (20:25-30)

      1.Not only did He bring about victory, He allowed them to enjoy the spoils.

      2. There was so much, that it took them three days to gather it all up.

      3. They called that battlefield "The Valley of Berachah" which means "The Valley of Blessings."

      4. They marched back home "with joy for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies."

      5. This victory parade was replete with "stringed instruments, and harps and trumpets."

      6. All the other nations feared the Lord and God caused King Jehoshaphat's kingdom to be "quiet" and "gave him rest all around."
II. Worship and Warfare: NT Principle (2 Co 10:3-5)
    A. We are involved in a Great Spiritual War (v.3).

      1. It is spiritual not physical.
        (Eph 6:12) "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

    B. The Spiritual Battle cannot be won with Physical Weapons (v.4).
      (2 Cor 10:4) "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)"

    C. One of the Greatest Weapons in our Arsenal is Worship.
III. Worship and Warfare: Application.
    A. Worship focuses Us on the Lord.
      1. When we truly worship, we take "every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."

      2. We can't worship and be tempted to sin.

      3. We can't worship and lust.

      4. We can't worship and lie, hate, covet, gossip, cheat, etc…

    B. Worship brings about the Victory.
      1. It worked for Israel…

      2. It worked for Peter…

      3. It worked for Paul and Silas…

      4. It will work for us



      •  Are you struggling in your spiritual walk?
      • Do you feel that your enemies are about to overcome you?
      • Whatever our need…we need to worship.
      • Victory will come when we worship Christ!

Praise Dancer's Garments should be....



Praise dance is usually also called Liturgical dance. The dance is such a religious dance. By moving their body with music, dancers worship the God. Besides the movement and the music played, the most interesting thing from the dance is the costume which is designed to show off the body of the dancer.
That designed aims at highlighting the movements done by the dancer. So, it is not for deflecting people attention to the body. It is more just because the movement becomes the thing that the design is highlighted. Even though the dress is quite tight and can show off the silhouette of the body, other people are led to make them just focus on the message only.You must have little understanding about the dress now. Well, let us talk about the fabric. There are some fabrics usually used for praise dance dresses.
However, mostly people like polyester and nylon.



 That is because those two fabrics are easy to be maintained and washed. You do not need to spend much energy from that. Other fabrics you can use are spandex and chiffon. Spandex is chosen because the fabric is stretchable. Variety of colors is really large.The dancer can pick the foil or the matte one. A number of dancers prefer this fabric because it is water resistant. Another option that you can choose for the fabric of praise dance dresses is chiffon. It is chosen because this fabric is flowing. But, just remember that the fabric is used just for applications only like sheer sleeves. That is rarely used as a main material.
The fabrics used have been revealed. Let us land out discussion plane on the board of color. Actually, the original color of the dress is white. But, now it is more various. The dancer can even pick their favorite color for the dance. A different color attached on the dress is also sometimes accentuated. For instance, the white dress is completed with gold fabric at the center of the skirt. Now, there are some dancers even prefer pants rather than skirts. But, the pants should be loose and not tight of course.

Lessons for the Prophetic Dancer...It is Deeper than Dancing

As I learn more about my prophetic gift and how it coincides with my dance ministry I always find useful information that helps me in this journey. I am amazed at the things that are happening as dancers begin to go deeper in their walk with God and as they minister in dance. In my opinion, praise dancers not only have the ability or the gift to dance, but they also have other gifts within them. I am noticing that many liturgical dancers have a prophetic gift. This prophetic gift is often used to convey a message as they go forth in dance ministry.  

Either they will see a certain movement that gives a message or they will hear what God is saying and present that message in their dance. 

Here are 7 key questions that will help dancers prepare for ministry:


1. Is it my desire to fulfill my flesh (my selfish needs) or do I desire to fulfill the desire of Christ? This question is very important as liturgical dancers are in front of many, and receive accolades for their ministry. A dancers' ego must not go against the purpose of dance ministry, which is to glory the Heavenly Father through the expression of praise and worship. 

2. How much of me will people see versus how much of Christ and His glory will the people see? If those that are watching you minister cannot see Christ in you as you dance then our human characteristics have gotten in the way of HIS glory. This ought not to happen. 

3. Does my costume or attire bring attention to me, or the Christ in me? This is a good question to ask. I have had the opportunity to dance in the secular world. NO, I wasn't in any music videos; however, I have danced on stage to secular music. I wasn't thinking about praising and worship God. I was totally thinking about getting my choreography correct. My attire did not express the holiness of God. In fact, I wore short dresses most of the time with my arms and back showing. There were other times where I wore a tight body suit that showed everything. My point is, if I was to wear any of these costumes while ministering through dance, I would be sat down. I would not be allowed to dance before that congregation or any other congregation once word got out about my attire. As I danced in the secular arena, my wardrobe was made to fit the choreography and the message of that particular dance. The same goes with liturgical dance. Both male and females must be in modest liturgical dance clothing so that it will not draw lust that unfortunately exist in a lot of people. Here is a tip: men are visual, therefore it is important that women praise dancers take special attention in choosing garments that will not lead the eyes of men to stray on the woman's anatomy. And trust me, they will do it. 

4. Have I really talked to God about what He wants to accomplish through my ministry? If you ever want to know what anyone thinks about your dance ministry ask God. He is the most important person to ask. He will let you know if you have accomplished his purpose in your dance ministry. It is advisable to prayerfully ask for His direction with each choreography or movement and decisions about engagements. . 

5. Does my choreography/movements point to Christ and His message of the gospel? Dance is an unspoken language. You can say so many things through your movement; and if you are not careful you can say the wrong thing. Think about it. What kind of movement would someone do if they were in a club? What kind of movement would someone do if they want to entice someone? What kind of movement would someone do if they were worshiping the Almighty God? Choreography has the power to bring you into praise and lead you into sin. Your choreography is body language so watch what you say. 

6. Am I free enough for the Holy Spirit to consume me, so that the anointing will come forth to destroy the yoke off others? Being free to dance is about the absence of fear of failure, fear of people watching you, fear of man, and fear of letting go. It is also about the absence of anything that will hinder your spiritual walk. The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in an unclean vessel; therefore, in order for Him to consume you, you must be consecrated.

7. Is the anointing on my gift strong enough to break yokes, and get people freed, healed, and delivered? This type of anointing can happen as quickly or slowly as you like. What I mean is the sooner you surrender everything to the Lord, the faster he will entrust you with the anointing to be able to see these types of manifestations.