Soaring Upward

By Janell Bryant Laughlin

SOARING UPWARD was written because of a dream, In the dream some words were spoken to me from the Lord. He said he was going to “enlarge” my territory. As I began seeking the Lord about the dream, he began to enlarge (enlighten) me with his word. I realized that the dream had a “spiritual” meaning, and not a “natural” meaning. God began revealing himself to me in a greater measure, and caused me to soar in heavenly places in the spirit. He began to enlarge my territory (from within). A greater understanding of the Word of God began to take place in my mind. As I began writing, God began to “add” or “expand” the knowledge of the Word.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781973697077

Janell Bryant Laughlin

She is an inspired writer of the truth by meditating and spending time in the presence of God, and ministers to your spirit without condemnation. Her words come not from man’s teaching, but what God has taught her. Her words are inspirational, enlightening, and compelling. Most importantly, they are anointed.

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Copyright © 2020 Janell Bryant Laughlin.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used with permission.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-9706-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-9705-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-9707-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020913179

WestBow Press rev. date: 7/17/2020

Contents

A Clear Conscience

A Famine For Hearing

A Friend of Jesus

A Heart of Stone

A New Covenant

A Single Eye

A Shadow Boxer

A Kernel of Wheat

Abiding in The Vine

An Open Door

Cave of Adullam

Esteeming Others Better

Gird Up The Loins Of Your Mind

Haughtiness

He Speaks So Little Of Himself

I Shall Enlarge Your Territory

In The Morning

Iron Sharpens Iron

Issac Sowed In A Famine

Jesus Was All Meekness

Jesus Was Our Sin-Offering

John The Forerunner Of Christ

Mount Up On Eagles’ Wings

No Good Thing Will He Withhold

Not Guilty In Christ Jesus

Naomi Tasted Bitterness

Pressing On

Speak Lord

Strife Begets Strife

Stay On Course

The True Church

The Devoted Ananias

The Fruit Of The Spirit

The Hidden Manna

The Power Of The Tongue

The Prayer Of Jabez

Walking By Faith

Where Are The Joints

Wisdom Of God

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A Clear Conscience

I always felt it was important to keep a clear conscience before God and all men. Paul said, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day (Acts 23:1 KJV). I believe that was the secret of his survival - striving to keep a clear conscience toward God (and all men). You could say he exercised himself to do this for he said, "I exercise myself to always have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward men (Acts 24:16 KJV). He knew in doing this, he’d have confidence before God (and his heart would not condemn him). And he also knew if he did not keep a clear conscience before God, it meant a loss of confidence in approaching God. A scripture from 1 John 3:21 (KJV) says, Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. Our consciences are like monitors within telling us if something is not right, for He will reprove (or convict) us in our hearts. If something is displeasing to the Holy Spirit, we will feel uneasy and will feel a restraint – a tug on our heart. But if it is okay to do a thing, we will feel a peace, and freedom in it. So simple! Our consciences will approve righteousness or reprove sin."

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A Famine For Hearing

T o hear a Word (from the Lord) in Samuel’s day was precious. It was precious because it was rarely given by God. There was a scarcity for a Word (from the Lord). There was no open vision! So that means that the heavens were closed, so whenever God gave a Word, it was cherished and appreciated. The Lord in that day came through Samuel the prophet! Great value was placed on the Word (of the Lord) for guidance or instructions regarding the will of God.

In Amos 8:11 (KJV) the bible says, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor for a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. A famine, not for natural bread or water, but rather for hearing words of the Lord. Many will travel far just to hear a word (or sermon) with words of the Lord, but they will be disappointed, for there will be a famine, a drought, a shortage of divine revelation from God. We need the direct Word of the Lord. The famine in the land is for hearing a direct word from the Lord - what thus saith the Lord.

When Jesus was speaking to the disciples, he spoke these words: Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that HEAR shall live (John 5:25 KJV). He wasn’t talking about a time in the future, but telling them that life was standing in front of them now. Now Is was standing right in front of them. Reckon yourselves dead (in Christ) and listen for His voice. And when you hear his voice, you shall live. My prayer this morning: Lord, may I hear the voice of the Spirit, and may all the other voices in the land vanish into thin air! Your voice Lord is always life-giving so when we hear your voice, we shall live!

A change of order took place! The heavens were opened unto Jesus. It happened when John baptized Jesus. And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him (Matthew 3:16 KJV). Spiritual insight was opened unto Jesus.

In Revelation 4:1 (KJV) John said, After this I looked, and behold a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Jesus is now speaking to us, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it" (Revelation.3:8 KJV). We can now go through the door which is Jesus. He opened it for us. By believing on his name you shall be saved. Simply believe. He now speaks not to just a few but to a many-membered body, the body of Christ.

Jesus said in John 10:27 (KJV) that My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. We begin to recognize His voice by spending time with Him. We must abide in Christ, as a branch that abides in the Vine. We are the branch and Jesus is the Vine.

The voice of the Lord can now be heard - not with the physical outward ear alone, but with the spiritual inner ear of the Spirit. Jesus made this possible. He opened the windows of heaven for us. So we can now come boldly to the throne of God and talk with Him. Our spirit communes with His Spirit. We can commune with him anytime of the day, especially in the morning when all other voices are still and quiet. In the silence, He can be heard! We can talk with Him and He with us and tell us on our heart what to do (or not do). We need to listen (to hear) what the Spirit of the Lord is saying in this present day. If we listen, we will hear a sound – a Word of the Lord.

David tells us in Psalms 46:10 (KJV) to Be still and know that I am God. If we begin to be still long enough, we will begin to recognize his voice when He speaks. That way you will know Him when He speaks and a stranger you will not follow. In John 10:3 (KJV) it says, To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. Being still we learn to recognize his voice, and are able to tune all other voices out. Speak Lord, I’m listening.

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A Friend of Jesus

M any times in life we find ourselves in circumstances that are beyond our control. The Lord told us that He maketh the sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:45 KJV). Sometimes bad things happen to seemingly good people. When we are faced with mountains we cannot seem to climb, we have a friend we can go to in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (KJV) has some of the most comforting words, Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need. So let us hold fast our profession (confession)!

Isn’t it wonderful and comforting to know that we have the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords on our side. As David said, The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (Psalms 118:6 AMP). Yes, if the Lord is on my side, then who can be against me!

Jesus told us some beautiful words in John 15:14 (KJV) You are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you.

In the middle eastern culture during the time of Jesus, a friend meant much more than a close acquaintance. At that time, a friend of the king would always have access to the throne room, and would always have the liberty to approach the king whenever he desired. He would need no special invitation to come into the king’s presence. Even the queen had to have an invitation from the king to enter the throne room.

We are a blessed people. We can come boldly to the throne of grace (as a friend) whenever we have a need. The King of Kings tells us the door is always open any time of the day or night. No special invitation needed. You are his friend.

There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother as the scripture says. That friend is Jesus Christ!

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A Heart of Stone

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26 NIV).

A heart of stone is a cold heart or a hard heart. It’s a heart that is hard and bitter. This kind of heart is not easily softened. It is an unyielded heart – a person who prefers walking in darkness rather than light. They detest being around others that walk in Light – those who walk in the Spirit. They are stony hearts, hard and rebellious. They will go so far as mock those walking in obedience to God. But God can change that stony heart and make it into a heart of flesh. In other words, he can make it new. He can change your stony heart into a tender heart, a yielded heart, a heart that is always sensitive to the Spirit of God and is quick to repent as David in the bible. A heart that can feel, a warm and loving heart. He can put a right spirit within you. From a hard heart to a tender, soft, and pliable one. A heart that at the slightest temptation to sin, will be quick to flee, for this heart knows the consequences of sin.

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A New Covenant

T he prophet Jeremiah prophesied that a New Covenant