Author: newbeginninginternational.net

Sherry Edwards Mackey Founder of New Beginning Christian Ministries International since February 1990. Authors “Catch Of the Day” a prophetic word in season revealing the heart and mind of God. The gospel must be preached and “published” throughout the whole world before the coming of the Lord. We believe we will witness the greatest out pouring of revival the world has ever seen, empowering many with Holy Ghost Fire causing the great end time harvest to be gathered in.

Following the Footsteps of the Master

You don’t hear of washing feet much anymore, but that humble act can transform us and make us realize again, we are but servants of the Most High God and to each other.

I remember going to Rome back in the early 80’s on the train with some friends.

We ended up at The Vatican and toured through there, and it is so old and so much to see, and it is hard to take it all in.

There was something that I noticed . I don’t believe in worshipping saints or praying to them. But while in line there was a statue of a patron saint, the exact one I don’t recall but it escapes me, but what I did recall was that all the people who walked by that statue rubbed its feet, some kissed and others used a rosary, and many did the cross movement thing they do on their chest.

What noticed oddly, that the metal statues’ feet were rubbed away, because so many people had rubbed the statues’ feet.

SEM-23-9-12-rubbing-toes They had rubbed for so many centuries that it distorted what were the feet. I thought, how many people had touched that statue and had enough faith to rub the feet of a patron saint in hopes that saint might hear them?

It came to my mind tonight how often we have such great and precious promises, and we have the option to minister to one another’s feet, not after some dead saint, but a person who is alive that represents Christ to this world.

How beautiful are the feet of them that bring great news and great tidings!

I have washed the feet of the saints and it was a beautiful and humble act, because I made myself familiar with those feet who bring good news and good tidings to where their feet take them.

It was those feet I identified with — and the good news of the Salvation in Christ they carry.

All alone in Christ I place my trust and hope. Not in rubbing a statue in history, but the Christ who created history and is alive and well in His people the Church!

I identify my life with REAL people who go into their world and make a REAL difference.

You don’t hear of washing feet much anymore, but that humble act can transform us and make us realize again, we are but servants of the Most High God and to each other.

Nowadays instead of humility, you see those who vie for that attention to rub shoulders with those who have a reputation and put their confidence in what are human vessels of popularity, which can be the sin of idolatry.

Anyone or anything we put before The LORD is an idol. We can put husband or wife before God, or children and we can put certain people who are popular before God.

No man deserves worship except THE SON OF MAN, JESUS CHRIST. Christ will always lead us in humility to wash and serve the saints’ feet; or those we identify with.

Not a statue, and idol, organization, a Church or person but washing and serving the saints of God whom CHRIST is living in forever more.

Jesus told Thomas to look at the nail scars, to prove that He was the Christ the Son of the living God, and Jesus acknowledged Thomas unbelief.

Thank God, when we struggle with unbelief, that He shows us in His Mercy and Grace, His Kindness is toward us and those who love Him from a pure heart even when we are weak.

In all humility and honesty, I have learned over the years of service to Christ and His body, that the more I learn, the less I know.

God always wants us to go deeper no matter how old we are, there is much more to learn. (Matthew 21:16)

Discipleship is supposed to be an ongoing process in our life and in a body of believers. If the body has become stagnant and you do not see the need for discipleship or to seek out new believers, there is a danger with such people and such Churches.

In any body of water there must be an entrance and exit and constant flow of water for a healthy ongoing body.

Never was the early Church to remain the same. There are many reasons for going to Church — or an assembly.

In The Book of Acts, the Church was always changing and growing, and that is the way it is to be now, not stagnant, with only a few dedicated people who are going through the motions.

Has your life and Church become stagnant?

Is there fresh life flow coming from there — or a stagnant stench of the flesh with no fresh life flow?

God wants to awaken and revive The Church. And guess what? Judgment must first come to The House of God.

Once we received Jesus as LORD, that was not the end beloved. We must understand that we met and found our Savior and LORD! Now He wants us to know Him intimately.

The LORD wants us to desire Him in a healthy relationship and fellowship — and not just words and acts to pretend before the other people, by going through the motions.

If we have a relationship , so that we continually learn about our precious Lord and Savior, we have only just begun our journey with Him.

If we received His free gift of Salvation that isn’t the end of growth, it is only the beginning!

Never in this life and experience do we ever attain that we have no more need for growth.

One of the main agendas of the enemy is to keep us too busy in competition with our idols! The enemy is sure to send all sorts of distractions and hindrances to keep us from our life source and then we are headed for becoming stagnant instead of finding Him daily in the secret place of His presence of refreshing.

For truly times of refreshing come from The Presence of The LORD.

As the days become more wicked, TAKE TIME — not Make Time — for prayer and intimacy with God. If you have to shave off all your obligations for a while to find him again, then do it.

Dear reader, each of us are so diverse in many ways. We start off thinking we really know ourselves, our purpose, our plans, our zeal, and what “we” will do in and for the church! We especially act out the play in the presence of others.

God is not looking for what you do in front of those you’re impressed with or those impressed with you.

Being gifted has nothing to do with the outward appearance, mannerism, or attitude.

Do we remember how the disciples were arguing over who would be the greatest in The Kingdom?

They were vying for attention as to who would be the greatest in The Kingdom — and it is still happening today beloved. And everyone is flip flopping in the stench of stagnation with no true growth that comes from a stream in and a stream out.

Service and servanthood are always Christ’s way of acting out His teaching to us His disciples. And He was the one who showed us how it was done.

Then as disciples, our ongoing learning is the lessons of discipline in the continual walk of Service and Faith.

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

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Being Attractive

Regardless of our path in life, “we attract something to us!” But that attraction can carry with it a heavy cost! It can bring a blessing or cursing.

Regardless of our path in life, “we attract something to us!” But that attraction can carry with it a heavy cost! It can bring a blessing or cursing.

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live, and that you may love the LORD your God, obey Him, and hold fast to Him. For He is your life, and He will prolong your life in the land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 BSB

Our lives are like a door. Picture yourself as a door and realize that we should keep that door closed and locked, because we don’t want just anyone to gain access into every part of our lives.

Our life has many internal doors within that have consequences, and we all have a door with skeletons in our closets; a place where things of our past are kept that we would rather not have.

Our outer body is wasting away day by day, but regardless it is our home on this earth, but it has a very real door that we decide when to open it.

We must also be careful how we adorn our outer body/ door and how we present ourselves to our sphere of influence. Sometimes a presentation can speak louder than words, and it can make or break us in any situation.

Try to visualize and see people as doors. I am doing that a lot lately, because I know behind every door can be many things both good and evil.

You can love the external part of your life and others too, but we must be careful. If we look close enough there will be indicators of what spirit is at work.

Not just anyone has faith, and the way things are nowadays, we must try diligently to become and remain sensitive to The Holy Spirit.

God’s Word is creative and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword. When we come into agreement with God’s Word and live by it, it will help create and bring God’s order and help into situations that need godly answers.

You can learn a lot about people by how they speak their words. Most people live and die living a superficial life.

Many have gone the wide way that leads to destruction and living by the flesh, or the outer man never gets deep internally.

The outer life is so temporary, and we should never make decisions based on the flesh. The place within us that is meant to be occupied by God, many try to stuff that place with imitations, but it never ultimately brings peace.

People who are lost find this life will be as good as it gets. However, there is pleasure with sin for a season, but the cost is eternity. But like Paul, if this life is as good as it gets, I would be of all most miserable.

Believers, God’s Word has every answer we need in this life, but we must decide if we will base ourselves by God’s Word or the flesh. Nothing good dwells in the flesh but when we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior, His Word is eternal, and heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s Word will NEVER pass away.

His Word is forever settled in heaven! Do you need a matter settled? Seek God in His Word!

None of us have been perfect in our lives and in trying to live like we do, is to be a hypocrite. That is not the witness I want to have.

When it comes to life and how to minister to the lost sinner, we need to look at our perfect example of outreach, which is Jesus Christ.

For those who have been forgiven of much, love much! (Luke 7:47)

Our sphere of influence is found everywhere we go and everywhere our feet take us. (Joshua 1:3) However, we must be readied by our own personal time with Jesus.

Spending time with God in prayer and in the Word is not an option. If we are not sensitive in the Spirit realm, we cannot help anyone.

We must be disciplined to be a true disciple, and communication with the Holy Spirit is a two-way conversation.

Both prayer and getting quiet enough to listen to The Holy Spirit. For only then can the Holy Spirit lead and guide us into all truth. (John 16:13)

Jesus Christ attracted a lot of people, both good, bad, and bad spirits. Jesus went to where the hurt people were, and people were also attracted to Him.

There are some very hurt people that we come across, and to live as if we have attained perfection in the flesh is to lie.

We are supposed to press in towards the mark of the high calling in Christ. (Philippians 3:14-15) However, we are to meet people where they are.

I find that Jesus’ example wasn’t to wait on them to come to the synagogue, but He went out to find the lost sheep.

There are a lot of people who wouldn’t darken the door of a Church, because our methods are not as Jesus’ methods. He came to seek and save the lost.

Paul stated, “I became all things to all men that I might save some.” That doesn’t mean Jesus and Paul did what the people did, they did not sin and partake in sin, but reached out to them that they might win them. (1 Corinthians 9:22)

We are to take up our Cross and follow Christ, but living in God’s Kingdom on this earth is a process, because our flesh isn’t glorified and will never be in the realm of the flesh.

Also, our soul is complex, it’s the part of us that makes us unique. The soul is made up of the mind, will, intellect and emotions. These things are where the battle truly lies, in the mind.

The battlefield of the mind is something we learn to choose as we allow our mind to become the mind of Christ.

However, it is a daily process as well that we can grow into as we grow in grace through consuming the Word of God daily.

Salvation is not going to an altar or wherever you speak the words, and you say you’re saved and even get baptized.

That could be part of a true conversion, but we must speak plainly; If a person is truly converted and saved there will eventually be evidence of the change outwardly.

The proof of our new beginning in Christ is that we learn to follow Him and that means discipleship in disciplined training and having a consistent prayer and Bible study life. Faith without works is dead.

Even in the church there are all types of Christians having all sorts of past that affect their presence and futures.

Being new in Christ for example, we hear the words that say the new has come and the old is gone! T hat is true for the Spirit and soul, but the soul and the flesh of a person is always under construction in this life.

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

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Approval and God’s Recommendation

The one thing that is settled in my life is that I belong to Christ and regardless of what may come, my past, present and future are up to God.

The one thing that is settled in my life is that I belong to Christ and regardless of what may come, my past, present and future are up to God.

He is the Author and Finisher of my Faith, and He will keep me in perfect and constant peace because my mind is stayed on him.

As an author, God is writing your story of how you will and have glorified Him amid untold obstacles and despairing even for life itself.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

So don’t respond to those who don’t see your worth. Don’t face a person seeking their approval or even their love.

Not all have Faith, and many are jealous. Pray for them.

The one who sees within is the one who approves of you, so you have an inside job to learn to be still and quiet going only on His lead.

“Be still in the presence of the LORD and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” Psalm 37:7

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.” Psalm 62:5-6

Let the people talk, let them whisper and say whatever, because it only makes our heels dig deeper, which pushes Jesus higher! We decrease — and He increases!

Press in and continue to press forward regardless of those who don’t approve of you.

You are approved by God and He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith.

There are those who are in the midst of the assembly who judge and say you don’t qualify.

There are many who would discredit you, and judge, but didn’t they do that to Jesus when He lived on the earth? You are in good company!

What reputation are you looking for?

Be honest, who are you trying to please or make an impression on?

Because if our motives are not pure it is a dead work. We are supposed to be dead to the flesh and arise in the newness of life.

“Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life.” Romans 6:4

When we are dead to this world’s system and religion’s view, it produces growth in spiritual fortitude.

Fortitude enables people to endure adversity through prayer, keeping the Faith, working hands on in helping others to steady their feet and to help bring balance even if no one approves of them.

When we have God’s Approval, who cares what others say when we have a close walk with our Lord Jesus Christ?

He should be our total focus and we need to ask Him what He thinks, because what He thinks has eternal value and he has our best interests at heart.

We have got to count it all loss, for the exceeding greatness of His Power in us!

Let people think and say what they may! YOU be free to be who you are!

Maybe people will think we are too much, too radical and they want to tone us down. I can only do what I see The Father do. So, who cares what people think or say, I talk to him anyway.

Currently, with all sorts of devices, when you learn to talk to God everywhere you go, people may think you have Bluetooth on and are having a conversation with another person.

I am talking about having a greater awareness of God everywhere we go, so we should be aware of everything we do in secret and in public, because God sees it all and The LORD loves when we learn to walk in The Spirit and pray without ceasing.

It is glorious to learn how to walk in the Spirit, and with that great awareness of his presence without pretense.

The more I seek HIM the more I find HIM, and I wouldn’t trade anything in this world for what I have with The LORD!

I walk down the aisles with Him in continual fellowship and there are people everywhere. It is when you are out and about in your sphere of influence is where your divine appointments are made by God.

You will feel that inner prompting to connect to someone in your heart. The Holy Spirit leads with the flow and being prompted by loving them, so that we can share that Love that covers a multitude of sin and iniquity.

If you are going to be effective in Christ, part of the deal will be suffering rejection.

God gives everyone a free will and choice. Even God won’t go against someone’s choice. So, we scatter seeds, but we know God will give the increase in His season.

Scattering seeds is powerful so don’t decline due to rejection, because someone may receive them.

Beloved, I have long passed a point of NO return. He is my source, my strength, my quest; I am enamored with him, and I cannot get enough.

He is my everything and I have dedicated my life to ministry to Him first! He takes pleasure from us and enjoys our time in intimacy.

I have learned over the years to be mindful of God’s Guidance and Direction, because there is always work to do, but if God has not led you to it you will burn out.

That is why you must pray for God’s Will and Direction in all things. Just because there is a need doesn’t mean we meet that need. We must be led by The Spirit in all ways.

It is a great honor in humility that He longs to dwell with us and communicate. We should live for every inspired word both in the Word of God and in prayer and to hear His voice so clear!

I pray that maybe someone who reads this, will be inspired and sparked into a flame that never grows dim again.

LORD, store your lovingkindness within, so that repentance and assurance abounds through us. We will be sure to give God all the Glory, Honor, and Praise — in Jesus’ Name!

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

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The Seriousness of A True Servants Heart

For every earnest seeker of The LORD and His Word, must learn that the higher we seemingly go in man’s eyes, the lower we go in humility as a servant.

For every earnest seeker of The LORD and His Word, must learn that the higher we seemingly go in man’s eyes, the lower we go in humility as a servant.

Our perfect example in The Bible is Jesus Christ our Savior and LORD.

For example, I have experienced the intimacy and special love for the brethren by following Christ’s example in washing the feet of the believers.

The times I experienced foot washing, I was so blessed by God to wash those feet! Those people I love, and I know, I so identified with those feet who bring good news and good tidings.

It is really a wonderful spiritual event and I found that sitting there having my feet washed was a lot harder to receive than to give.

It demolished all my pride and boy did the tears flow as I prayed for those precious feet and received in all humility.

Jesus himself took off his robe and took the basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet. Everything that Jesus did has an eternal lesson even today.

“So, He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him.
He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him.
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”
Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”
For He knew who would betray Him. That is why He said, “Not all of you are clean.”
When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am. So, if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you. Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”” John 13:4-17 BSB

The older and more mature I get in The LORD, the less I know!

There is so much value in having godly relationships that you are accountable to. There will always be much more to learn, and we will never gain all knowledge or know everything.

If we did, we wouldn’t need to rely on the Holy Ghost or on the body of Christ.

If someone says they know the whole Bible and understand it all, we need to run, run, run away from them.

We must depend on The Holy Ghost no matter how mature we think we are for confirmed instructions. As time continues forward, it will be very necessary to know those who labor among us! (1 Thessalonians 5:12-18)

Bible scholars all fight for knowing their truth. But if you look at most godly examples in The Bible, many if not all people who were chosen or called to lead God’s people, there was a long seasoning process.

Why do we measure ourselves among ourselves? The Bible says those who measure themselves among themselves are not wise. (2 Corinthians 2:12)

God is a jealous God and His Spirit can be grieved and provoked. Over the years I have watched a pattern over and over; God will provoke a heart, to get us to react, then on to action, to get us to see our own heart of the matter.

It is not because The LORD doesn’t know what’s in our heart, but because he wants us to see our own heart!

Why do we hold on to petty jealousy, aggravation, and reasonings?

Why do we feel threatened, and why are we jealous?

We need to ask ourselves these questions.

What is God doing with us?

He tests our motives and will provoke a reaction to action to get to our heart issues. God has our best interests at heart.

He already knows the problem and what hinders us, but He wants us to see the problem! That we may not realize.

Once our heart issues are revealed, we repent and press forward to the high calling in Christ Jesus!

We must remember that Satan sends tribulation and trial, but God tests us in our strengths hoping for a greater outcome!

Jealousy and envy are evil and if continued can cause serious divisions among God’s people. Jealousy and envy will eat away at our bones and jealousy will destroy relationships! (Proverbs 14:20)

Did you know that bitterness can defile many?

Jealousy and envy are nothing to dabble with or put off, because the results left unchecked will cause division in the home, Church and in all relationships.

I have personally seen the results of jealousy and envy. I have watched it divide even after a clear leading from The LORD to repent!

In rebellion, I watched them turn away and I have seen marriages and many relationships ruined. It is so sad.

When The LORD reveals our sin and makes it plain, He expects us to be quick to repent. It is time to repent and turn away from the sin that so easily besets us. If the condition warrants it, there are ways to make amends if necessary.

IMPORTANT: If you cannot seem to get free of jealousy, envy, or division you need spiritual counsel and prayer for deliverance. It is so important to be accountable to those whom you trust so they can pray for you.

We are stronger together, not apart. Satan will try to keep us apart and isolated from each other.

Jealousy, envy, and division are destructive and deadly; look at Joseph’s brothers in how they treated him when they wanted to kill him but sold him instead into slavery. (Genesis 37:26).

The Bible says that envy, strife, confusion cause every evil work. (Study James chapter 3)

If you personally have experienced this, you need to remember that in the last days there will be false ministers in every form, even like Angels.

That is why we need to assemble ourselves together for strength because iron sharpens iron, and we need each other.

Just because someone serves and looks the part, but behind the scenes has no evidence of a growing prayer life and their fruits are rotten we need to take a deeper look.

We need to judge ourselves lest we be judged. We need to watch our own lives! Are we becoming more of a servant and loving to others in public? What about behind the scenes?

Yes, we all need to watch and pray about everyone and ask The LORD, if we are seeing facades and pretenses?

What are we witnessing behind the scenes? Are they spewing hatred out their mouth?

When they are not in front of anyone that matters to them, are they a totally different person?

We must understand that not only does God see us, but he also sees all and knows all! (1 Corinthians 11:30-32)

In a group setting and if sin presents itself, the one with the Spiritual knowledge is accountable to confront it and call it out and or leave.

Especially if the group are Christians. We are not supposed to even eat with those who say they are believers but practice lawlessness. (1 Corinthians 5:11-13)

We will fully know them by their fruits!

It can look like a duck, quack like a duck, and even waddle like a duck, but it can be a decoy! In these uncertain days ahead, we each need to be accountable and have relationships where people know us and love us.

If we were to see behind other doors, we would be shocked! They perform a good act, but the truth is not in the act, the act is behind the door and that is what God judges.

There are those who are insanely jealous but cover it up by doing “can you top this? ” For these, it is more of a competition in aggression instead of a person who is humble, broken, and lowly of heart.

Yes, we are to fear God and not man. However, there will be evidence to others in authority about a person’s integrity, honesty, loyalty, commitment, accountability, and all the fruits of the Spirit.

We are not to judge by the gifts either, only by the fruits. God will make room for his gifts.

“Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death,Jealousy as cruel as the grave; its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame.” Song of Solomon 8:6 NKJV

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

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