Dale Cresap's blog

Have you ever heard of someone being severely injured in an accident and taking the time to tidy up their appearance before allowing themselves to be treated by the paramedics? This is obviously absurd, yet how many people insist on putting on a favorable outward appearance before coming to me for healing? The medical people who respond to save your life know that your internal processes are more important than the superficial ones and respond accordingly. I am the great physician and know just what you need to be restored. I work from your innermost being outward so when you look healthy you really are healthy. The only thing you can do to assist is to come to me without delay.

Are you more accepting of attractive articulate people who present themselves well than of those who do not? I am not a respecter of persons, and you should not be either. A person’s message should be judged on its own merits. That way you are judging the content of the message rather than the character or appearance of the messenger. I can speak to you through a messenger who is a mess. Are you willing to receive it? He who is seeking the truth is hungry and thirsty for knowledge and insight. This motivation drives him to look beyond his familiar surroundings and favorite people. I promise that if you seek you will find, but you may have to search far and wide.

Have you considered how much of my ministry took place at events where food was involved? I fed the multitudes but there was also a wedding feast, a lesson for Mary and Martha, and even fish for breakfast by the sea after my resurrection among many more. Does this imply that food has a deep spiritual connection? No, but it is a part of everyday life, and I used these occasions to join the natural and the spiritual. The moral of the story is that your spiritual life should not be a separate entity from the rest of your life. The two should be fully integrated together that your whole life should be a spiritual life. Do this in remembrance of me.

Does it ever seem to you that you don’t get anything without prayer? I promise to send rain and sun on the just and on the unjust alike, so unbelievers get their blessings without the effort that you put into fervent prayer. Does this seem like an advantage for them? To think this way is to misunderstand relationship and the purpose of prayer. It is more about knowing me and being conformed to my will and purpose for you than for getting what you want. I’ve already promised to provide that. If it seems like you get nothing without prayer realize that through prayer you get all things including the wealth of my Kingdom that even the wealthy in  this world cannot comprehend.

I use the imagery of a body with members to describe myself and my church. The emphasis is that every member supplies something essential. Neither body parts nor believers operate in isolation. Each will die if separated from the whole. Do you think of the whole as being your local church? But I said that there was only one body, with myself as the head. The concept can and should be extended to my church as a single entity. Is your church connected to other churches, even those outside the same denomination and tradition? Your adversary works hard to prevent this, but these unusual alliances open doors for the power of my Spirit to move.

I’m leaving town for a few days and will resume messages when I get back. 

You know that salvation is a free gift by my grace, but you also read in my word about counting the cost to follow me. This occurs after salvation and you have been taught that it will cost you everything. Does this cause you to look at your house and vehicle and realize they belong to me? Does this become a stressful exercise as you inventory all your possessions? Yet it doesn’t stop there, for you have some intangible things. Following me will cost you your reputation and independence, even as I made myself of no reputation and did only what I saw the Father doing. Unless a grain of wheat dies it abides alone. Lay down your life for me that you may truly live. 

You know how important forgiveness is in the Christian faith. You delight and rejoice that I have forgiven your sins. You know that I expect you to forgive others in turn. When they come to you and ask your forgiveness you grant it even if you have been deeply hurt. How do you deal with those who need forgiveness from you but do not seek it? You cannot ignore this situation, but you can’t insist that they seek it from you. Determine in your heart to grant them forgiveness. Make this as deliberate as if they were contrite before you on bended knee and I will release your burden and heal you. This is a transaction in the spirit realm. Do you wonder how it is completed for them with unsought forgiveness granted? Leave that to me. I will be pleased with your obedience. 

I promised an abundant life to my followers. Do you think this is easily attainable for the wealthy, who can afford anything they want, buying conveniences and indulgences and hiring others to do mundane drudgery that they may have their own time free for whatever they wish? Yet my promise of an abundant life is for rich and poor alike. Have you not seen rich people who aimless and adrift despite their wealth, without purpose and direction in life? Have you not seen poor people who are rich in faith, with a sense of mission and destiny, having a life full of opportunities and accomplishments? A man’s life does not consist of the extent of his possessions. Those who lay up treasure in heaven have abundant lives in this world as well.

Do you think of risk takers as gamblers and find this behavior to be inconsistent with the values of your fellow church members? Yet isn’t there an element of risk in your obedience in following me? Peter asked me to bid him to come to me across the water and I did. Wasn’t this a guarantee that he would be safe? Yet he still had to get out of the boat. Casino gambling is a negative counterpart to obedient faith and a misapplication of belief. Peter was eager to volunteer to take a risk. I want my people to follow the same example that they may do exploits of faith by their obedience.