Are you connected with God, or are you disconnected? There is great strength in being connected, but the devil makes you weak when you’re disconnected. God created man to be connected with Him; it was never His plan for man to be disconnected. Man and woman were to have lived for trillions of years in perfection just like God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness (Genesis 1:26). God gave man two feet so he could walk like He walks. He also gave him two hands to work with and a miniature brain like unto His. God never intended for man and woman to struggle for anything they needed or to have to go to school for years to learn. Adam named all the animals God created, and he never went to school to learn how to do it; that knowledge was God-given. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof (Genesis 2:19).

The Lord delighted in making Adam and Eve, and He enjoyed them so much that He would come down to walk and talk with them. They were His son and daughter, and He intended for them to bring forth many sons and daughters—that was God’s glorious plan. This Earth would have been paradise, but they sinned and sold out to the devil; and their sin brought God’s curse down upon the Earth, upon the animals and upon the whole human race.

Man Has Free Choice

God let me know that He didn’t look into the future to see if Adam and Eve would fail. He had wanted man and woman to trust Him, so He knew that He would also have to trust them; and He works the same way today. When people go to the altar to get saved, God doesn’t look into their future to see if they’re going to continue to live right and serve Him. God only looks into the future of those who ask Him to.

If you really want God to guide your tomorrows, you must ask Him to. I ask Him to do that for me, and I trust Him to do that as I walk hand-in-hand with Him. We have that privilege through Jesus Christ; He’s the One who made it possible. So many people who don’t let God direct them will blame God for things that are really caused by their sin, self or the devil. God wants to walk with His people; but for thousands of years, He could walk with only a very few.

Noah Was Connected

Noah was the only one who was connected with God at the time when the world was filled with nothing but evil, and God had decided to destroy everybody. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them (Genesis 6:5-7).

We find it the same today with most people on Earth—their every thought is a wicked one. People live in such fear, but the Lord let us know that this time would come. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come (II Timothy 3:1). Perilous times are dangerous times, and there’s danger everywhere you look today.

In the midst of all the wickedness, Noah was connected with Heaven. Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD (Genesis 6:8). You will always find grace when you’re connected with Heaven. Divine love, divine faith, divine healing and divine miracles are always available to you. When you’re connected with God, all Heaven will be yours because Jesus brought it with Him when He came down to Earth.

Noah and his family, just eight souls, stayed connected with God; but they had to pay a great price. The Lord brought it to my mind that they had no life of their own for 120 years. They had no friends or relatives who would show them any love; everybody was an enemy, and they had to stay to themselves. The Lord didn’t even let the couples have any babies while they were building the ark or during the time they were in the ark. He didn’t want to take a chance on any sin contaminating any of them; they had to be completely separated.

Don’t Disconnect

When you’re connected with God, you have it all; but when you’re disconnected, you’re in the hands of the devil, and you could drop into hell at any time. Just one thread of life keeps you alive, and that thread could be clipped in a moment. The Lord told Belshazzar through the prophet Daniel, The God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified…Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting (Daniel 5:23,27). Belshazzar died that same night because he would not honor God.

Belshazzar knew better because God had warned him through his grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar, whom God had made to be like an animal for seven years. The Lord had taken the heart of a man out of his bosom and had replaced it with the heart of a beast. That’s what God had to do to humble him. There fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation (Daniel 4:31-34).

Nebuchadnezzar had finally humbled himself before God, but Belshazzar never did. That just proves that no matter what God does with some people, they will still rise up to embrace the wickedness of the devil and walk hand-in-hand with him. Then he leads them astray to satisfy every lust of the flesh.

Jesus Brought the Connection

Are you really born again? Many people say they’re going to Heaven, but no one can go there unless they are first connected with Heaven at Calvary while they’re still here on Earth. Then Calvary puts them on the right path. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:13,14). You have to first enter the strait gate to find the narrow road, and then you have to stay on that road for the rest of your journey.

We’re all born disconnected outside of Eden, and the only way to be reconnected is through the Cross of Calvary and the blood of Jesus. Then you can be born new in the image of God, and you will be connected with God just like the first Adam and the first Eve. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).

Man’s sin put a wall between him and his God for thousands of years; but Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came and tore down that wall. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us (Ephesians 2:14). Jesus connected us with His Father; then He told us that God was now our Father, too, when He taught us to pray, Our Father which art in heaven (Matthew 6:9).

Jesus came to make us sons and daughters of God. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons [or daughters] of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12). We have to get rid of our old selves so Jesus can make us brand new. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace (Ephesians 2:15).

Jesus brought divine peace. And [Jesus] came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh (Ephesians 2:17). The Jews were nigh to God; they were His chosen people, but most of them wouldn’t accept Jesus Christ. As Gentiles, we were far away from God; but Jesus came for everybody—Jews and Gentiles alike—and the Gentiles eventually did begin to accept Jesus Christ. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father (Ephesians 2:18).

Divine Power Will Flow

You can make no room for doubt when you’re connected with Heaven. If you plug an iron or a hair dryer into an electrical socket, the power will flow so you can use it. In the same way, we’re connected with the source of our power, Heaven; and we can use that power through the Holy Ghost who lives and dwells on the inside of us.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19). We have everything we need, spiritually speaking, when we’re connected with God. We have power to defeat the devil and power to live free from all sin. We have power to receive and pass on the joy of the Lord and power to use the Gospel and watch it work. We have power to cast out devils and power that will flow through us to heal the sick and to enable miracles to take place.

Paul had this power. Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power (Ephesians 3:7). Paul knew where his power to preach came from. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:8,9).

There was a time when Paul had been disconnected from Heaven and had put many Christians to death. He had been a Pharisee, and the Lord hated the ways of the Pharisees because they were hypocrites; but everything changed when Paul became connected with God.

The Gift of Salvation

Prayer, fasting and living in the Word will keep you connected with God so you will have everything you need and learn to lean on Jesus completely. Noah and his family had learned to lean on God, and they never grumbled or complained. They were too busy building the ark; and when they were finished, God watched over them and protected them. Today, Jesus is our ark; and we haven’t had to work for any of what He has provided for us.

The Bible tells us that our salvation doesn’t come by works but through faith in God. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8,9). We don’t have to wait 120 years for our salvation; we can be connected with Heaven in a moment of time. Our sins can be washed away, and we can be made brand-new creatures.

I was made brand new the night I was saved. I went to church one way and left a completely new person. I was so strangely and wonderfully different that I had to get used to myself. I was living in God’s presence, and I was changed! I wanted to be with God every moment I possibly could. I wanted to be in His Word and learn everything I could about the Gospel message that He had brought. That Gospel had saved my soul and washed all my sins away, and it had brought me the baptism of the Holy Ghost just like on the Day of Pentecost.

I became full of divine power, divine love and divine grace. The nine fruits of the Spirit were produced by the Holy Ghost in my innermost being, and they were manifested in my life daily. My soul had been made pure and clean, and I had plugged into Heaven and allowed the Lord to make an Eden on the inside of me. It will be the same for everyone who is really born new. They will stop all of their sinning, get rid of all deceit and lying and overcome the weaknesses of the flesh.

Children of God must be holy like God Himself. The Bible says, Be ye holy; for I am holy (I Peter 1:16). God called us to His holiness; and without that holiness, no man will see the Lord. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

You Must Please God

In the years after the Flood, many of Noah’s seed went the wrong way; and man became disconnected once again. God has had such a hard time with people both before and after Calvary, and He’s still having trouble with them today. At one point, He did find a man who was just like the first Adam—Enoch. And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him (Genesis 5:24). Enoch honored God, and God loved him so much that He took him to Heaven to be with Him. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God (Hebrews 11:5).

What courage, strength, power and love Enoch must have had to be able to overcome his whole family. It seems that no one else in his family had pleased God or the Bible would have mentioned them, but Enoch had pleased God. The Lord would come down to walk and talk with him; and today, the Lord still wants to come down to walk and talk with His little lambs and to guide them in His ways. He speaks to us through His Holy Word, through the Holy Spirit and through signs, wonders, miracles and healings. He speaks to us in so many different ways when we’re His believers.

Jesus Will Come

Many people are not connected, and they’re not looking for Jesus to come; but those who are connected will be looking for Him. They will see the end-time signs daily, both bad and good. The Lord said that when we see all these things coming to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh (Luke 21:28).

Jesus is now at the door and just about ready to step over the threshold; so if I were you, I wouldn’t close my eyes for one night without being full of the Holy Ghost. It’s going to take that power to change us when Christ appears. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (I Corinthians 15:51,52).

Only those who are connected will go when the Rapture takes place while those who are disconnected will be spewed into the Tribulation Period. The devil battles some of you in your minds about making the Rapture; but you don’t have to be afraid if you live holy, are full of the Spirit of God and stay connected. However, you need to worry if you’re disconnected because that means you’re disobedient and in a lukewarm condition, and you’re not following the Lord.

Remember the ten virgins. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps (Matthew 25:1-4). Jesus said that the foolish virgins were disconnected when the Bridegroom appeared and the cry went forth, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him (Matthew 25:6). They didn’t have the oil they needed.

The oil represented the Holy Ghost; and when you’re connected with Heaven, our source of power, you will be full of the Holy Ghost. Don’t let the devil make you think that you can’t receive Him because the Lord said He’d give the Holy Ghost to those who obey Him. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him (Acts 5:32).

You must have total obedience to stay connected with God, and that means you’re completely obedient in everything every day. Without that obedience, you’ll disconnect yourself; and you won’t have the power you need to overcome the devil. You’ll be defeated, saith the Lord.

Abraham Was Connected with God

Abraham was connected with God, and the Lord promised to make him the father of many nations through the holy seed, Isaac. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee…As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her (Genesis 17:5,15,16).

With great patience, Abraham waited twenty-five years for that promise to be fulfilled; but he made it because he was connected with the One who had made the promise, and he believed. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God (Romans 4:18-20).

Both Abraham and Sarah had passed the age of bearing children, and people would have laughed at them for thinking they could still have a baby; but when God makes a promise, it will happen if you stay connected. For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass (Ezekiel 12:25). This holds true for God’s prophets as well; so if someone gives a prophecy that doesn’t come to pass, then he’s not a prophet of God. The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him (Jeremiah 28:9).

A Great Test of Faith

After Abraham’s promise was fulfilled, his faith was tested. The Lord told him to take Isaac, the promised seed, to Mount Moriah and offer him up as a sacrifice. And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham…Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose up early in the morning…and went unto the place of which God had told him (Genesis 22:1-3).

Abraham must have felt terrible to be on his way to offer Isaac as a burnt offering before the Lord. However, he knew that God’s promise of many nations was still good and that if he slayed Isaac, God would immediately raise him from the dead. Abraham had the faith that they would come back down the mountain together. The Bible is full of types and shadows; and Abraham was a type of God the Father, and Isaac was a type of Jesus.

And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me (Genesis 22:9-12). Little Isaac lay on the altar; and when Abraham drew back the knife, the angel cried out, Abraham, Abraham! He had to call Abraham more than once to get him to stop.

The Bible tells us that, spiritually, Abraham had gone through with the sacrifice; he had offered up Isaac. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure (Hebrews 11:17-19). How could Abraham have done such a thing?—Because he was connected, and he is the father of the faithful yet today. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham (Galatians 3:6,7).

Joseph Lived with God

Joseph was so connected with God that he was a type of Jesus, and he endured much in his life. And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh…Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt (Genesis 37:26-28).

Joseph served as a slave; and later, false accusations sent him to prison. And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison (Genesis 39:20,21). Through all of his trials, God had a plan for Joseph; He was going to make him the savior of his people.

Joseph stayed connected and eventually did rise up to be second in power in Egypt. Then he was able to save his entire family. And Joseph said unto his brethren…I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance (Genesis 45:4-7).

Joseph remained connected all of his life and even told the people what to do with his bones. God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence (Genesis 50:25). And the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him (Exodus 13:18,19).

Joseph had great humility. He rose up to live for God, and he stayed connected even though he may not have understood everything that was happening to him. We don’t always have to understand as long as we can hold the Lord’s hand. Jesus made it possible for us to do that every day.

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely (Revelation 22:17). Whosoever will can be connected with the Father on the throne. It’s so simple that even a child can be connected with God.

Moses and Jacob Were Connected

Moses was another one who stayed connected with God, and God used him in a mighty way. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned (Hebrews 11:23-29).

When Jacob finally decided to get connected with God, he was really blessed! And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed (Genesis 32:24-26,28).

Being Connected Makes You a Winner

Gideon would never have won the great battle for the Lord if he had not been connected. The LORD said unto him [Gideon], Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand. But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host…And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host. So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch…And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled (Judges 7:9-11,13,14,19-21).

Only when you’re connected to God is He able to reason with you no matter what the circumstances are.

Divine Connection Brings Power

Mighty Samson was born connected, and he had such power from God that he was able to kill a lion with his bare hands. Behold, a young lion roared against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand (Judges 14:5,6). Samson had the power to kill a thousand soldiers with the jawbone of an animal. And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith (Judges 15:15).

Later, Samson became disconnected because he was consumed by the lust of the flesh. He sold out to Delilah, and he paid a great price for his sin. He did finally get reconnected with God; and then he requested of the Lord, “Let me die with your enemies.” Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport. And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life (Judges 16:27-30).

Samson pulled down the temple on all those people who were mocking God, and he killed more at his death than he had during his entire life. When Samson was connected, he was really a powerful force to reckon with; and God’s children today are people to be reckoned with. When you’re connected with God, all the power and greatness of Heaven flow your way.

Hezekiah Had a Perfect Heart

King Hezekiah had fifteen more years added to his life because he was connected with God. The Lord had told Hezekiah to set his house in order and get ready to die. But Hezekiah already had his house in order; so instead, he turned his face to the wall and said, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight (II Kings 20:3).

Hezekiah did have a perfect heart; so the Lord said, I will add unto thy days fifteen years (II Kings 20:6). A perfect heart is one that is connected with the heart of God, one that beats in rhythm with God’s heart. Adam and Eve had that heartbeat before they sinned, and everyone who goes to Calvary receives that heartbeat; and if you’re obedient to the Lord, you can keep it.

The sisters of Lazarus were connected with Heaven or Lazarus could never have been resurrected. Jesus told them to only believe and they would not have to wait for Resurrection Day for Lazarus to come forth. I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die (John 11:25,26). Jesus gave Lazarus victory over the grave.

No Reality in God

If you’re not connected today, you can be through the Old Rugged Cross; but if you die disconnected, hell will be your destiny. How terrible it will be for you to lose your soul when you know the truth. Since the beginning, God’s message for man has been, The soul that sinneth, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:4). People who are disconnected don’t believe that. They may think they’re just committing little no-harm sins; but all sins are harmful, and any willful sin will send a soul to hell.

Being disconnected makes you prone to bitterness and disobedience. You won’t have real faith in God or lean on His everlasting arm, and you’ll become a failure just like Adam and Eve did. The world may not think that because they see things only through the spirit of the flesh. To them, being wealthy and famous means a person is a success; but fame won’t take you to Heaven. You can only get there through the blood.

Jesus is the One who brought us back in connection with the Father. Jesus reached out to us with one nail-riven hand; and with the other one in the Father’s hand, He brought us together. What love, what grace and what goodness became ours! What wonderful, spiritual fruits became available to each and every one of us who would accept them.

People are looking everywhere for peace and happiness in this old world, but they can’t find them. Some even commit suicide because they’re not connected with the great Creator who made them. They’re not connected with the promises or the power of God; and they don’t have real happiness, joy or peace. Only those who are connected can have Heaven’s peace. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

Have the Joy of the Lord

These are trying times, and the Bible tells us about men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth (Luke 21:26). But we don’t have to be afraid. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (II Timothy 1:7). This mind connects us with the joy of Heaven, the great joy we received when we were made new through the blood of Jesus Christ. This joy makes us clap our hands and praise God. We don’t sing the songs of the world; we make melody in our hearts to the Lord. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:18,19).

I was raised in a home with Heaven’s joy. Our family would gather together on our porch, and our songs of praise would ring out through the night. Those were great times. At the time, my older brother was unsaved; but he’d sing right along with us. Later, he did get right with the Lord; and he’s in Heaven today. Thank God!

If you’re always depressed, you have to get connected with the throne of God. When you’re on your way to Heaven, you won’t look down and worry about everything or doubt that God really loves you and cares about you. If He didn’t, He never would have paid such a high price to be your connection.

There is so much to gain from being connected with God. When you live a holy life, God will walk with you; and He will speak to you again and again through His Word. The Holy Spirit will always encourage you, teach you and anoint you to go forward with great strength, love and power.

Jesus, Our Example

Because it was God’s plan for man to always be connected to his God, He is to be our source of power. Without Him, you won’t have the power to overcome evil or the devil because Jesus is the One who brought that power for all to use. He said, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen (Matthew 28:18-20).

Jesus brought divinity, and He showed us how to stay connected with Heaven all the time. He showed us how to be a member of the family of God, how to be completely separated from the world and how to live free from all sin. Jesus didn’t use any more divine power than what is offered to us today, and He taught us how to fast so we can use that power. Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:1-4).

The Pharisees and Sadducees fasted and prayed long prayers, but Jesus said they were just putting on a big show. If you don’t do it in the love and in the Spirit of God, you’re just going hungry. When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward (Matthew 6:5). Jesus told them that Heaven despised them. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell (Matthew 23:33)?

Jesus was connected with Heaven when He prayed, and He taught us to pray the same way. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always (John 11:41,42). Some of you waste a lot of time trying to get your prayers through because you don’t believe that the Lord always hears you. I pray at all hours of the night and day, and I know God hears every word I speak. The Lord will wake me up again and again in the early morning hours to pray for this great outreach or for someone in need.

Stay Connected through Faith

Being connected with God and staying that way takes great faith. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews reveals the very nature and the fruits of faith. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). You won’t always see immediate answers to your prayers, but you will see them later if you believe through faith.

You can’t please the Lord without faith. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6). When you come to God, you must believe that He answers prayer and that He rewards those who seek and trust in Him.

The early Christians were full of faith and power, and their rewards were great! Who through [divine] faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens [the enemies of God]. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection (Hebrews 11:33-35). These Christians were all connected in a great way through divine faith.

And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) (Hebrews 11:36-38). Where are these Christians today?—In Heaven because they were worthy. Where are the ones who persecuted and killed them?—In hell where they’ve been for hundreds of years.

You Must Accept the Holy Ghost

If you’re connected today, you must walk and talk with God every day. You must stay connected through fastings and studying the Word, and you must never get enough of God. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6). Go on to the Upper Room and be filled with the good Holy Ghost, power from On High, and let the divine teacher move in to live with you.

When you have the real baptism of the Holy Ghost, you won’t speak in tongues at will. You will have what they received on the Day of Pentecost, And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4). Many people have fought speaking in tongues and declared it was of the devil, but they’ll never get to Heaven unless they repent.

Whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come (Matthew 12:32).

I know of one preacher who had said to his congregation, “Speaking in tongues came from hell, and it’s going back there.” When he said that, the Spirit of God left him. About two years later, he had confessed to another pastor I knew saying, “I was down on my knees crying out to God this morning, and the Lord told me I’d have to come here and make right what I said or I’d never feel His Spirit again.” He had even agreed to go before that pastor’s congregation and admit that he had been wrong. If that preacher had not listened to God at that point, he would have blasphemed forevermore.

Set Your Record Straight

Even as a sinner, I never wanted to have to make restitution for things I had done wrong. There were things I just couldn’t do when I was growing up because I wouldn’t feel right about it. Later, God told me that the angel of the Lord was in the room when I was born and that the angel had followed me wherever I went. There were things I would have done if the angel had not been there. When I would think about stealing something, a voice would speak to me and say, “If you take that, you’ll have to make it right later.” Remember what Zacchaeus said when the Lord told him to come down out of a tree: The half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold (Luke 19:8). When Zacchaeus had finished, the Lord said, “I’m going home with you.”

Many people have told the Lord that they would make restitution; but when they don’t follow through on it, God can’t bless them. People may wonder why they’re not being blessed or prospering, but the Bible tells you why—you haven’t made things right.

You must yield to the fruit of self-control because when you’re disconnected, you’ll lose your temper and shame and disgrace yourself. But when you connect with God, all of that leaves you. When you really go to Calvary and become a new creature in Christ Jesus, you’ll have divine self-control. The Holy Spirit is your teacher and guide, and He will give you patience as you yield to Him.

If you don’t yield to the Holy Spirit when you do something wrong, the Bible says that you no longer belong to God. But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons (Hebrews 12:8).

Be Like Jesus

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Tribulations will come in this life, but they bring patience. We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience (Romans 5:3). Patience brings a gentle spirit, not a haughty one. When you’re connected, you won’t grumble and complain; you’ll be looking to Jesus daily. He will be your first love; and you’ll be a living, walking epistle.

You must show goodness to others. The Psalmist said, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever (Psalm 23:6). You must act and talk like Jesus and do good to those who are unkind to you if you want to have a chance of bringing them in. But when you’re disconnected, you won’t resemble God or the working of the Holy Spirit at all. God can’t use your eyes, your ears, your hands or your feet when you’re like that. The devil uses them to do things and go places that God never would approve of.

If you don’t have peace, joy and happiness today, you’re not connected with Heaven. I have lots of laughter, and it’s real. I don’t have to have anyone around but the Lord to make me happy. He is my first love, and I can talk to Him at all hours of the day and night because I’m plugged into the throne of God. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

The divine blood has made us so nigh to Heaven that we can kneel before God the Father on His throne any time. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13). When you’re grouchy, resentful and rebellious, you won’t want to come into His presence because your spirit and your heartbeat won’t match His.

You Must Honor God

Heaven is your source of power, but you have to be plugged in to have it. When you have that power, you can pray for people, and they will get healed; and you can help others find answers to their problems. You’ll lift people up instead of knocking them down. You’ll assure them that they’ll be all right because real love is like that.

It was wonderful to be raised with a mom and dad and two sisters who stayed plugged into God. When it was time for family prayer, we’d quit whatever we were doing and gather together. Dad would open the Holy Book and read just a few verses of scripture. He had great wisdom in knowing not to read too much because we were only children. Then those who wanted to would get down to pray, and they would pray out loud. I loved to hear their prayers.

I try to encourage mothers and fathers to pray out loud in their homes so their children can hear; this is the voice of experience speaking. Many times, I’d come home and hear Mom, Dad or one of my two oldest sisters calling my name in prayer saying, “God, save Ernest.” They may not have known I was listening, but I could never get away from those words.

One day, those words took hold; and I found the Gospel light. I found love, peace and unspeakable joy. I found grace and forgiveness, and I no longer had a guilty conscience before man or God. I was absolutely free!

Don’t Wait Too Long

You must get connected before it’s too late. I will never forget a young girl I knew who had been out on a Saturday night drinking spree when she was instantly killed in an automobile accident. She had always said that she wanted to be buried close to the railroad tracks so she could hear the trains go by, and she was buried according to her request; but she doesn’t hear the trains go by because her soul is in hell. I wish somebody could have gotten to her and rescued her. It’s awful to know that she died without God!

When I think about lost souls being in hell, it helps me to go on when I am worn out or feeling weak. I may have worked for many hours; but when I think about those I have known who died without hope and without God, it keeps me moving on.

I had a good buddy growing up, and we never had a harsh word between us; but when we moved away, he went his way and I went mine. Later, he became an alcoholic, and I was told that he died without God. I had always thought so much of him, and it’s terrible to know that he is in hell and that I’ll never see him in Heaven.

Get Connected with God

If you’re not connected today, it’s time to change. If Jesus would come today, you’d be left. If you were to die tonight, hell would be your destiny; and you can’t take that chance. But when you’re connected with Heaven, it’s so close that one more step could put you on Glory Avenue; it’s that simple.

What’s keeping you from being connected? Is it alcohol, drugs, lying or stealing? Is it bitterness, disobedience or holding grudges? Is it satisfying the lust of the flesh? Whatever the reason, is it worth losing your soul? Jesus said, For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul (Mark 8:36)?

So many people are disconnected from God, but now is the time to get connected. Jesus, our Second Adam, made it possible; so say this prayer: Oh, God, I’m disconnected and walking in the night without your love and power; but I want to be connected with you. I want your salvation; I want your Holy Ghost power, and I want the fruits of the Spirit. I want your love, your grace, your peace and your happiness. I’m so sorry that I haven’t been connected with you or served you, and I beg for your forgiveness. I’m so sorry, Lord, and you said that you would forgive me if I would just ask. I’m asking, and I believe you. I believe the blood of Jesus washes away all of my sins. Come into my heart, Jesus! Come on in!

If you meant that prayer, you’re connected just as I was. I poured out my heart to God one Sunday night, and I’ve stayed connected for all of these years. You must stay connected, too, through prayer, Bible fasting and living in the Word of God. Then go on to the Upper Room as the Spirit bids you and be baptized in the Holy Ghost. That gift is available to you because you’ve come out of the darkness, and you have the light shining within. Never willfully sin against God or you will disconnect; the light will go out, and it may never come on again.

Being Connected Brings Miracles

If you’re connected, you can now have a miracle or a healing. The doctors may only give you a few more days to live, but the Lord can give you many more years. He’s done that so many times for people I’ve prayed for. You can be healed of any deadly disease including HIV/AIDS, cancer, heart trouble, lung trouble, leprosy, strokes and diabetes. Even if you’ve been bedfast for years, you can be made well. Jesus is the healer, so look to Him right now. If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9:23).

Lord, I bring the people to you now. They have connected with you and with your healing power and miracles. They have really plugged into your greatness, and the healing virtue is flowing. Heal! in the blood name of Jesus. Heal! in the all-powerful, blood name!

I feel the power of God going all through me as I say that word heal. Do you feel His power and His presence? His presence heals. The Bible says that wherever Jesus was the power of the Lord was present to heal them (Luke 5:17). His presence is right there where you are to heal you. Watch yourself get well; but you must give Him all of the honor, the praise and the glory. I’m not the healer; I’m just God’s believer, and I’m believing for you to receive a miracle.

Please write and tell me what happened to you today, and here is my address: Rev. Ernest Angley, Ernest Angley Ministries, 2690 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223.

God bless you.