ATH Ministries - The Christian Ministry led by Dr. Antonio T. Hurt

For My Good

Antonio Hurt — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 00:56:39 +0000

Things that I’ve gone through in life

I thought were too hard for me, for me to bear
The enemy tried sometimes, to make me feel just like

God did not care
But I remember reading in God’s Word

Where He said He wouldn’t put more on me than I could bear

Yes, Jesus cares, and all that I’ve endured was only for my good.

Now I know it was for good, but for His Glory
For my good, yes it was, but for His Glory
For my good, all that I’ve endured, but God gets the Glory…LaShun Pace

Our troubles and struggles are not designed to glorify US. They are designed to teach, grow, and increase us in the Spirit. However, it is through our troubles that God is…or can be…glorified in our lives.

GOD IS NOT GLORIFIED BY, NOR DOES HE GLORY IN, our pain and suffering. There’s is not a person in the world who will look upon your suffering, loss, or hardship and say, ”I want that.” Rather, He is glorified by the way that we go through; not just in the outcome or testimony, as we would like to think. But, in the actual going through.

Suffering and hardship are inevitable. Life happens to everyone; in the Kingdom or not. (…for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matt 5:45). But you should know that there are many who will be encouraged…maybe even drawn to Christ…by your attitude and endurance in the midst of.

Whether or not your challenges are used for your good, and whether or not God will be glorified in your life, are both up to you. You decide.

Are You Expecting It?

Antonio Hurt — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 04:17:59 +0000

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the LORD hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. Acts 12:5-16

These folks were praying for Peter’s release, but when he showed up at their door, they didn’t believe it was him. They were praying apparently because it was the thing to do. Obviously, they weren’t waiting for God to do it. Not only that, but when the servant girl came back and said Peter was there, no one believed her either. After she insisted it was him, they then conceded that “maybe” it was an angel. However, still no one got up and looked.

What have you prayed for that you feel God has not answered? Are you praying expecting it to happen? It matters not the words you use or how eloquent you are. It only matters that you earnestly expect an answer. When you expect an answer you are telling God “I trust you”. Expectation has to be the core of your prayer. When you expect it to happen, your faith is huge! Why even pray otherwise?

You have to expect God to answer your prayers. Many of you may have the answer to your prayer knocking at the door right now. You hear the knock, but you think it’s something else or it’s for someone else. If you’re the one praying then you need to answer the door because you should be expecting something.

Keep At It!

Antonio Hurt — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:21:26 +0000

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Isaiah 62:6-7 KJV

Unemployment is stretching on, and people are struggling financially. Marriages and relationships are under pressure because of finances. Children are stressed out because of the tension, and everybody is cranky cause it summertime and you’re broke, cooped up, bored, and hot! But, you can’t give up now, Saints. You’ve got to pray, people. Pray!

As tired and aggravated and frustrated as you may be in the midst of your various situations, now is not the time to go on vacation from prayer. You must keep at it. Stop and take a breather if you have to, but don’t rest too long; and, don’t let God rest either. You need to remind God everyday of the word that He’s released over you, and expect everyday that it will come to pass!

The enemy would like to convince you that you’re wasting your time and nothing is going to change, but that is a lie. It’s already changing. Walls are coming down in the spirit. God has promised blessing, favor, and restoration to a faithful remnant. Your job is to remain on the walls, crying out to Him until He’s done exactly what He said; making YOU a praise in the earth!

Don’t Stop Now!

Antonio Hurt — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 22:32:26 +0000

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. Psalm 138:7-8 KJV

The phrase “by any means necessary” was made popular by Malcolm X in the 1960’s, spoken in regard to black Americans securing their rights to be respected and treated as human beings. It’s a phrase that many believers have heard and said many times throughout our lives. Anytime we feel threatened, or as if we’re treated unfairly, or believe that anybody or anything dear to us in trouble, we get ready real fast to shut some stuff down…by any means necessary.

It’s funny though that we don’t move as quickly, as radically, or even with the same mentality in regard to our spiritual rights, liberty, and inheritance. We are so unwilling to endure for the promises of God that it’s ridiculous. We are so afraid of and opposed to any kind of discomfort associated with spiritual growth and promotion, we’ll turn and run before it’s even time to fight.

Instead of facing our demons and dealing with the spirits that have plagued our lives, we turn to food, shopping, alcohol, fornication, and all kinds of addictive and destructive behaviors to numb us because it’s too hard, and we just want the pain to stop. The only problem is, the knee-jerk reaction we have to stop our pain also stops the process of healing and deliverance; which in turn, interrupts and places a hold on our promotion in the spirit realm.

Saints, it’s time to stop running from your issues and trying to stop your pain. Pain is inescapable in this life, so within pain God places purpose. That purpose is to bring you to the birthing of your new life; the life to which you were called in Him. He didn’t strengthen you to survive abuse and neglect and low self-esteem and poverty and divorce and depression and death just to have it hover over and oppress you, and you shouldn’t be willing to allow all the hell you’ve been through to go unrewarded. However, you have to choose the life, the position, the power, and the authority that God has for you; then, go get it…by any means necessary!

Father, I know that through my struggles, my suffering, my challenges, and my pain You are doing a great work, and I want it to be done. Finish what You’ve started in me, God. Don’t stop now! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A New Name

Antonio Hurt — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 01:10:51 +0000

And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken. Isaiah 62:2, 12

We’ve gone through many seasons of our lives called liars, thieves, whores, sluts, pimps, tricks, dead, depressed, lazy, broke, no good…You name it, and most of us have answered to it. Many even made a point to try to live up to the names we were called; so much so, that we still carry them today.

Well, people of God, that season has come to a close. Our enemies and friends alike are going to soon see, and have to acknowledge, the undeniable righteousness and glory of God resting upon our lives; and we’ll be given brand new names straight from God’s mouth! Not only will we be known as holy, redeemed and the delight of the Lord; but, there will soon arise even from these authors, business owners, CEOs, wealthy, prosperous, lenders, leaders, and ministers of our God!

You need to begin to shake your spirit right now and release whatever your auntie, big momma and cousin ‘nem called you in the past, because God is giving YOU a new name!

I Move, You Move

Antonio Hurt — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:41:36 +0000

God doesn’t expect you to know it all, that’s His job. You don’t even have to understand for that matter. Revelation will come. He only requires that you be willing and obedient.

Don’t Get Caught Slippin!

Antonio Hurt — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:10:13 +0000

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8 KJV

Lions are very careful and deliberate in choosing their victims. They prey primarily upon the immature, the isolated and the weak. Though we are all in various phases of our walks and levels of understanding, this season has been one of the roughest ever. The Body has been nearly beaten into submission, and most of you are beat up, worn down and hiding out. You’re tired of talking, tired of fighting and tired of being tired.

Guess what? The enemy is looking for you. He’s so looking for you! Weary, alone and just trying to get some rest. And for the few of you who have had about two good days of peace and revelation and let your guard down; oh, he wants you, too. He loves a good, struggling believer fresh off a mini victory!

This is not the time to hide, quit or get comfortable. You need to keep your eyes and ears open at all times, and keep your spirit guarded. The enemy wants to take you down, but he won’t eat you all at once. His first bite will be sudden and unexpected (usually causing fear, frustration or anger), but superficial; just enough to immobilize you (get you distracted and off task). It’s not until he’s got you shaken that you get dragged to his den where he can really go to work on you!

Watch and pray. He’s looking for you. Don’t get caught slippin!

Praise It Out!

Antonio Hurt — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:54:30 +0000

Psalm 34

In tough times we often struggle with the truth of our facts. We are consumed with our personal situations and caught up in our emotions. Though we know that God is all and Jesus is Lord, some of us still have a hard time shaking the feelings of heaviness, sadness, depression and despair; so much so that the spirits become tangible and magnified in our homes.

The word of the Lord is: Praise it out!

Of those who are struggling and can still get a prayer out, only a small percentage of those prayers are prayed in faith and expectation, so there is no praise with it. You may be tapping into a place and going up high in your prayer and feeling good right after, but find that your good “feeling” is short-lived. Prayer alone is difficult because rarely are the results of prayer immediate, leaving the perception that it doesn’t work. Well, we know that faithful, righteous prayer does work…always. But, prayer and praise works better… and faster!

Let me encourage you today to allow your praise to pick up where your petitions leave off, as if they’re already done; because even while you’re waiting, God is good. You need to consistently focus on the TRUTH of God’s character and His word rather than the FACTS of your reality, and give God praise. This will shift your spirit and the atmosphere. Praise it out!

What Are You Praying?

Antonio Hurt — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:36:46 +0000

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned. Nehemiah 1:1-6 KJV

This scripture illustrates the perfect posture of prayer; a picture of true intercession…one that most intercessors never get to. What makes it so great is the fact that though Nehemiah was still living in exile, he was living in the palace and serving in the position of cupbearer to the Persian king. To be a cupbearer was to be a trusted individual; therefore, you can safely assume that Nehemiah had a measure of rank and favor with the king. Translation: he was comfortable!

Now, truthfully, most of us don’t pray for ourselves when we’re comfortable. We certainly don’t waste much time praying for others. Then, to pray for others and include ourselves because we know we’re just as messed up as they are? That’s unheard of, but that’s exactly what Nehemiah did.

Even though he was not living in Jerusalem suffering as his brethren were, or even witnessing their suffering for that matter, they were still his brethren whom he obviously loved. Just hearing of their conditions immediately stopped him in his tracks and caused him to weep, mourn, fast and pray before God. And to top it all off, when he prayed, he repented and prayed for them, including himself, as a people. None of that out of sight out of mind foolishness, or that, “Dang. That’s messed up. They shootin bad. Lord help ’em” crap that church people do.

Too many of us misunderstand, and at times take for granted, the intercessor authority because somehow we see ourselves as being above those who need us to pray. When the truth of the matter is, we all need prayer (and repentance) throughout our lives and our walks with Christ. Whether we’re messing up or we’re under enemy attack, we will never be exempt from trouble. God often uses the very people and situations that we’re moved to pray for to show us ourselves. We must work harder to remember that.

Speak It!

Antonio Hurt — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:08:35 +0000

Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. Jeremiah 1:17 KJV

In the midst of a seemingly never-ending recession, homes continue to foreclose, businesses are still shutting down and even churches are barely hanging on. People are struggling just as much spiritually as economically, and everybody appears to be on lock down…starting with their jaws. Apparently, adverse conditions make it difficult to speak.

Oh, there is still plenty to talk about. Folk are still gossiping, lying and complaining about their problems. The problem is nobody’s saying what God is saying. Somehow, God has taken a back seat to the economy, and unless He’s prophetically releasing lottery numbers, people aren’t listening for or speaking forth the word.

This is what you need to understand. The word of breakthrough you’re waiting for is in your mouth, but it’s coming behind the word God gave you for people. Because you can’t see how speaking what God is saying is going to help your personal situation, you’re not moving your body, your mouth or anything else. Not only are you not speaking the word, but many of you want to avoid people all together…hiding out in your houses, in isolation, praying for change to find you so you can come out talking about the goodness of Jesus.

Yes, it’s a difficult time. This one thing I know! But, regardless of the many ups and downs of our lives and circumstances, Jesus is still Lord, and God’s plans for His people haven’t changed. If you were called, chosen or gifted before the flood, you still are; and, there is still work to do. And believe it or not, it takes precedence over you!

Pull yourself together, get up out of your stuff and say everything God is telling you to say; to whomever He tells you to say it. Until you do, you’ll be incarcerated by your circumstances and put to shame before the very ones you don’t even wish to see.