When the anointing and the presences of God is ushered in ,when the hearts of the Saints are focused on God, spiritual and ready to receive all that He has in store. Also when you can surrender your heart with your hands and bow before His throne of grace, no music has to be played, but rather, the power of God is manifested through the sincere reverence of the believer. The presence of God is ushered in when the anointing spreads like fire through the sanctuary and the burdens of your brethren can be felt through their tears. When the beat of the drum and the serenity of the music, bring peace to your spirit and satisfaction to your soul. That is true worship.
As Servants, we are joined together with Him. We are an integral part of Him! He is an integral part of us! It is a marriage, a union, a pounding together of molecule into molecule until separation is impossible. It is an eternal bonding of two personalities into one, with neither losing their identity. God the Father always retains His identity and so does Christ. All that the Father is the Son is, and all that the Son is the Father is. They are one!
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
(I Corinthians 12:13)
Excerpt from 'Going to the Heavens to get Your Blessings' by Dr. Brenda Jefferson. Order your copy today by calling 813.229.6805.
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Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews11:1) Faith is not religion. Many times people say, "We have our faith." What they mean by this is that they have their religious ideas and doctrines, traditions, and ways of doing things passed down through the generations. Don't you try to change them. This is not the Biblical idea of faith.
Faith is not mental assent. It is not agreeing with your mind, "Yes that is true." Many professing Christians believe mentally that the Bible is the Word of God. However, this faith does not change the way they live. It is not a faith that can save (James 2:14). What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? Even demons have that kind of faith. They know and believe that God exists - and they tremble. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble (James 2:19). They have no loving confidence in God.
Faith is not a way to manipulate God. It is not a power by which we make God do what WE want when otherwise He would be unwilling to do that thing. It is not a kind of magic through which we make God into our servant!
Faith is often mistaken for "hope." Hope is a feeling and often relates to the future. Faith, however, takes the promise as done NOW. Many people have hope and are anxiously looking for results, but they lack the settled confidence and present assurance which faith has.
In the general sense of the word, to have faith is to believe in something or someone; to fully trust; to be so confident that you base your actions on what you believe. To have faith is to be fully convinced of the truthfulness and reliability of that in which you believe. Faith in God then, is having the kind of trust and confidence in God and in Christ that leads you to commit your whole soul to Him as Savior ( Justifier, Cleanser, Healer, and Deliverer)and Lord (Master, King). The New International Version's translation says, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1 NIV). The Kings James Version of the Bible says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1).
Faith is a spiritual substance. When spiritual substance exists within you, it communicates to you a certain inner knowing that the thing you are hoping for is certainly established, even before you see any material evidence that it has happened. Romans 4:17 states "As it is written: I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed - the God "who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were."
Faith in God must be from the heart. It is not merely intellectual. Remember, it is spiritual and not from the natural mind. "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation"(Romans 10:10). Faith causes you to know in your heart before you see with your eyes. "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Faith is a spiritual force. Faith in God is a response to God's Word which moves God to act upon His Word. Jesus said in Mark 11:23, "For verily I say to you, whoever SAYS to this mountain, 'Be removed and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but BELIEVES that those things he SAYS will be done, he will HAVE whatever he SAYS." Words mixed with the real, pure faith can and will move mountains or any other problems that we face.
Remember, the woman with the issue of blood could have cared less what others may have thought of her. Many may have told her like Job's wife told him, "Curse God and die!" She was not going to give up until she had found the help she was seeking. Unlike many Christians today, everybody wants a quick fix to their situation. Instant foods, drive up windows and technology have caused many to expect everything to be right NOW! They say, "Right now God! Come right now God! Do it right now, God." So many times I have heard people pray this type of prayer. It's not that God can't come right now; for He is still working miracles, but you may not have touched Him the right way to activate that kind of response needed from the Lord. Well, that's another chapter by itself. Nevertheless, let me just say this. Your natural mind can not move God. It takes humbling yourselves, prayer, seeking God's face and turning from your wicked ways. Then and only then, God says He will hear from heaven and heal the land. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14). What is your land today? Do you need a healing? Don't you know, God can do anything but fail?
Chapter 2: Moving Into Your Wealthy Place in God
There are keys to your wealthy place in God but you have to choose the right key and follow the right instructions. So often, we miss God and what He is doing in our lives because we are always viewing prosperity as money. Your wealthy place or prosperity can be your health, the Word of God, your children's salvation or your husband's deliverance.
"Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place." (Psalm 66:12)
It does not matter what you have gone through in life, get ready for a change! there is no more time for pity parties, worrying about how your bills are going to be paid, living in poverty, and depressed. Follow God's instruction whole-heartedly and birth what you need into action. The Bible says that faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
Faith is taking God at His word. It is true that our faith is in God, but we do not properly know the God we should believe in or know how to believe in Him unless He tells us in His word. This is why Paul says in Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God". Faith is full confidence in God's word. FAITH accepts God's word (His promises and His warnings) as FACT and acts accordingly. Since there are many evidences that the word of God is true, that is not a blind leap of faith. It is rather an intelligent, holy reaction to the wondrous Words of God.
Faith comes by continually hearing God's Word. When you confess (speak) God's Word out loud you are planting God's incorruptible seed in your heart (spirit). In time, God's Word will take root in your spirit (heart) and produce a plentiful harvest of all God's blessings and promises in your life.
Hear the instructions of the Lord and you will prosper.
Proverbs 4:13
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
Proverbs 5:23
He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
Proverbs 8:10
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Proverbs 10:17
He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
Proverbs 13:18
Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
I have come to know God. When you know Him, your desires will be set to please Him. When you know Him, you will know His likes and dislikes. He delights in righteous living. Every time I read each Proverb, it offers fresh instruction for my life and the lives of those in my family. Best of all, there is always a benefit attached to obeying each teaching and/or command. As one example of the powerful instructions in Proverbs, I draw your attention to Chapter 3. As you take this chapter to heart, you will discover ways to teach your children how to live righteously, so that your household will be revived and blessed by the Lord!
Fresh Instructions in Righteousness from Provers 3
* Proverbs 3:1-2
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Instruction: Members of our family should always hold the teachings of the Lord close to their hearts, whether they are taught by their parents, or others who are spiritually wise about the things of God.
Blessing: The Lord's commands, if obeyed, will prolong life and bring prosperity.
* Proverbs 3:3-4
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Instruction: You should love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength and always be faithful to His commands by carefully placing them in your heart.
Blessing: You will win favor and a good name in the sight of both God and man. As Christians, a good reputation is important for demonstrating the character of Christ and winning the lost.
* Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Instruction: Trust the Lord with everything in you. Don't try to do things in your own flesh and with your own understanding. It's important to recognize when it is time to stop doing things your own way and start doing them God's way.
Blessing: When you acknowledge Him in every area of your life, God will make every path straight - sometimes we take many turns and twist and waste precious kingdom time because we don't follow this simple instruction.
* Proverbs 3:7-8
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Instruction: When you think you are wise, you are being prideful and foolish.
Blessing: When you revere the Lord and shut out every thought or activity of the devil, then you will have a healthy mind, body, and spirit!
Expect something from the Lord because He will hasten His Word to perform it for you. David wrote in Psalms 57:2, "I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me". The three Hebrew boys expected God to come through for them. They had made a lifestyle out of getting to know God and His promises. They knew that God would save them. They just spoke in agreement with God's Word and had enough faith in their heart to believe that what they said would come true. They had His Word on it!
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To purchase your copy of "A Time of Refreshing" by Dr. Brenda Jefferson, please visit http://www.dlcctampa.com/ today!
The following is an excerpt from the Daughters of Abraham meeting notes. To take part in these inspirational meetings focused on teaching the men and women of God, please join the Sons and Daughters of Abraham every first Monday of the month @ 7pm (Deeper Life Christian Church, 3300 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, FL 33603 / Church Office: 813.229.6805)
Lesson One: Afflictions, Discipline, Chastisement and Trials
Not all afflictions are for specific sins. God often sends afflictions to purify and strengthen our faith, for His glory. So, why do we usually think that God is punishing us (or neglecting us) when we are afflicted? Affliction is very useful and profitable to God's people. It has a way o f humbling you in the midst of adversity, brings a meek and lowly spirit, causes you to fall on your knees and pray; as well as becoming more watchful. Afflictions will make you seek the Lord.
What is affliction? Affliction is a state of pain, great suffering and distress due to adversity, hard knocks, or hardship. It is a condition of suffering or distress due to ill health problems: a state in which you are unable to function normally and without pain. Affliction is tribulation with an annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event happening in your life.
Afflictions can either make you or break you. God allows afflictions for the benefit of the believer and not to tear them down. The bible says that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). He will not allow more to come upon His children than they are able to bear. When a farmer does not till his land it will produce weeds everywhere. The land has to be pruned and trimmed to bring forth a good harvest. If God did not allow afflictions to come into our lives, our hearts would over-run with unruly spiritual weeds, therefore He has to manage our growth through sanctified trial and test; afflictions.
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 1:6-7)
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. (John 9:1-3)
Jesus says that every branch that bears fruit He purges, so it can bring forth more fruit. So there is a purpose behind affliction. In a similar analogy, no gold or silver can be finely wrought without first being purified with fire. No blue diamond will be able to come to the earth's surface unless it is tried by volcanic fire. The extreme pressures that are afflicted upon blue diamonds cause them to be rare and special. If you are going to answer the call as a true Daughter of Abraham, gird up your loins because there is going to be extensive fire that you will go through. Even elegant houses that are being built have to have their stones chiseled with hammers and sledgehammers to smooth them out. If we are going to be vessels of honor in the House of God, we haev to be melted in the furnace of affliction nor lively stones in the walls of New Jerusalem until the hand of God has beaten off our proud outgrowths and tumors with his own spiritual hammer and chisel.
The Bible speaks of two general types of affliction: judgment and purification. There is suffering that represents God's judgment on sin and suffering that brings about our purifying as we identify with Christ. Judgment (affliction) on sinners is designed to punish them, while the second type of affliction is designed to perfect us and prepare us for greater service in God's kingdom. Our attitude through all afflictions should be the same. Don't change your expression or your Spirit. Keep the same affirmations in your heart.
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;" (Romans 5:1-3)
But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. Psalm 4:3
God sets us apart for His glory; for building His kingdom. In spite of all I had gone through, I always had a passion for the church house and helping His people. I had suffered at the hands of too many people and I needed a release in my life. I cried out to the Lord and He heard me cry.
One thing I have found out over the years is that it has to be the right cry. When God looks into your heart, what does He see? Are you holding on to things which cause offense to Him? Are you seeking Him with your whole heart? Can you be presented blameless before the Father? These are very important factors to consider when trying to reach God. I wanted God so bad I was determined to not stop calling on His name until He came to visit me.
I can remember getting prepared to preach one evening; I was seeking the Lord in my room. As I called on the name of the Lord, I asked Him to visit me. I wanted to know that He was with me and called me to do this work. I cried and prayed until suddenly, the room was filled with a cloudy midst. I knew that the Lord had stepped down into my room to touch me. I knew without a doubt that He heard my cry. I began to flip around the room and experienced the presence of the Lord like never before.
Everything began to open up to me. My eyes were illuminated and the scriptures became so easy. When I came out, members noticed that I was wounded and wanted to take me to the hospital. I didn't know I had torn my leg during my encounter with the Lord. The hospital could wait! All I wanted to do was preach the Word right then. I was on fire and I knew God had a word in me for the people.
When we yield our members for God's use, He promises to hear us when we call. Calling on the name of the Lord requires that you position your mind to serve Him and not just make a request of Him. Servants go the extra mile; voluntarily. It's a desire from within to do all you can do in the House of God.
For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. Psalm 5:12
God desires to surround us like a shield with His favor. The Lord is His people's security perimeter. The favor of God shields me; therefore, no sickness or disease can live in my body. Deuteronomy 7:15 says, And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee. Wealth and riches are in my house because I am empowered with God's anointing and favor to draw wealth.
We who are born again are spiritually the 'seed of Abraham' and as such are entitled to the full benefits of that promise God made to us. It is essential for us to fully understand what that included. Then we must appropriate that promise and begin living in it.
Favor is something done or granted out of goodwill, rather than from justice or for renumeration; a kind act: It is excessive kindness or unfair partiality; preferential treatment. There is nobody or nothing that can defeat us when we have a personal relationship with Jesus. He defends us from all our enemies and the situations that come against us. Even in the midst of turmoil and conflict, we can shout for joy. The Bible says that we are to shout for joy because He defends us.
Philippians 2:5
Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus.
You may not see it right now but I am trying to take you some place. It's called 'heavenly places in Christ'. In order to get where God wants to take you, the mind of the Christian has to be transformed. This is why the scripture tells us in Romans 12:2 to be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds. It takes a renewing of the mind to begin to move toward heavenly places. Philippians 2:5 also says to us, Let this mind be in you; which was also in Christ Jesus. Look at the word 'let' which we take so lightly. It may be one of the most powerful words in the English language. 'Let' sends the connotation that you allow or permit something
to take place. It is something you posses and have total domain or control over. In order to 'let' something you have to release it and submit yourself willingly. Now you have been empowered to make a freewill choice. You literally choose to have the mind of Christ or not.
God desires that we submit ourselves willingly to receive his mind. The mind of Christ is the spiritual mind. This mind moves and functions by the Word of God. Whatever God says, it obeys. The spiritual mind causes us to step out of a natural state of being into heavenly places. It does not rationalize with itself but rather becomes subject to the spirit of Christ.
If the woman with the issue of blood had given up and followed her natural mind, she would never have responded to the news that a man named Jesus was coming her way. She had heard over the years that he was the Master Physician and that he was known for healing all manner of disease. Remember now, this is the same woman who's faith had taken her for twelve years, from doctor to doctor, seeking a cure for her condition. She definitely was not about to give up now, especially with a man whom she'd heard had laid hands on blinded eyes and they received their sight. This is a man who had just walked on the water and commanded a raging sea to be at peace. What manner of man is this, she must have thought, who could cast out Legions from a man that made his dwelling among the tombs? Surely if he can do these things, he doesn't have to touch me, but if I can just touch the hem of his garment, I believe I SHALL be made whole. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Think about this woman. How was she going to get what she wanted from God? She knew that she couldn't just stay on earth, but she had to come up to a spiritual level in her mind. Even though over a period of twelve years she had spent all of her money on physicians, she decided to go to this man and it wouldn't cost her a dime. But it was going to cost her something. When she opened her mouth, it cost her faith to believe that God could and would heal her body. The scripture says in Mark 5:24 that much people followed Jesus on this day and thronged him. Thronged means crowded together in great numbers. Therefore there must have been an overwhelming crowd. Nevertheless, the woman pressed her way through the crowd to touch Jesus. You see, your natural mind will not let you press your way to be blessed. She knew that she had no more natural resources and this thing had become a life or death situation. She thought, I've got to touch Jesus! Due to the greatness of the crowd, it took determination and desperation for this woman to press through the mass of people just to simply touch Jesus. Let's deal with this natural mind for a minute. The scripture teaches us, those who were once the old man (of the flesh), that in repentance, when we accepted Christ we became a new man (spiritual) in Christ. Paul says in Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. This gives understanding to being born from above, out of the old man of sin (the flesh) and into the new (spiritual) man.
Scripture continues in teaching of the natural (old man) and the spiritual (new man), that we have a natural mind of the body, yet also a spiritual mind of the heart. It is in the regard to the new spiritual man that we learn concerning both our heart and mind. The babe in Christ, someone just coming to the Lord, still has their natural body and mind. For this reason scripture says we are to renew our minds from things of this world and elevate our minds to spiritual and heavenly places.
The natural mind is in rebellion to the Spirit of God as in Philippians 3:19. "Their mind is on earthly things." Also we may begin to understand Romans 12:1-2: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by renewing of your mind." To this end we are instructed in Romans 8:6, "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God..." Remember, the heavenly or spiritual mind is always in a state of order, always enlightened by the Lord. On the other hand, our natural mind is ever out of order. The whole purpose of our life on earth is to cooperate with the Lord in bringing our natural mind back into order with the Spirit of God. In this way heavenly thoughts will exist and come forth from us, thus allowing God's blessing to openly flow in abundance and rest upon us.
God has a place prepared for you but the natural mind just won't let you get there. YOUR mind will not let you! The power of having faith and believing in God is that you can't stay in your natural mind. You have to come up a little higher from this earthly realm to the heavens to receive what God has in store for you. This woman of faith in our lesson persevered by "casting down imaginations" from her natural mind. That's what we have to do in order to reach Jesus in the Heavens. Your mind has to become His mind and that is only done through the Word of God and the power of the Holy Ghost.
Scripture teaches us that whatever you set your mind on indicates your spiritual condition. In other words, the thoughts of your mind flow out of your heart (Proverbs 25:7) and reveal the state of your soul. If your mind is set on the sinful nature and earthly things instead of heavenly things, then you are in spiritual death. Let's look at Romans 8:5,7: "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the spirit, the things of the spirit. For to be carnally minded is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."
As we continue to study the spiritual mind, the following scriptures will help you to understand God's plan for your life. You will see that God wants to bless you with heavenly things. Job 34:33 says, "Should it be according to thy mind, He will recompense it, whether thou refuse or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest." Romans 12:2 tells us, "And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."
If you want something from Jesus, you have to go and get it. Let your mind move from the natural realm to the spiritual realm. Go to the throne of God and receive what he has for you today!
When I look back over my life and realize how faithful God has been to me, I love to give Him praise. All of the Promises He has given me; He has kept and has never failed me. His promises are all I have to stand on. Without it, my head would be hung down and worried with circumstances. But because I know that God is not a man that he should lie, I rest in this assurance that He will always come through for me. Why? because, He is God all by himself.
He has begun a work in all of us and has given us His Word by which we should live. It is time out for living beneath the standards God has ordained for His people - His chosen ones. Something is wrong with the picture being portrayed in the church world today. Sure, there are things we have to suffer; but it is not the mind of Christ that we should defeated, depressed, oppressed and barely making it. It's time for a refreshing. It's time to take a complete examination of who and where we are in Christ. It's time to stand on His promises; no matter how the storms rise or the wind blows.
We serve a God that speaks to raging seas and commands them, Peace be still! If he can speak to the natural storms of this environment, don't you understand that the trials you face are but a small thing to him? He has given you the power to speak to the mountains and command them to be removed. So shall they fear the name of the Lord from from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. (Isaiah 59:19)
You are powerful people; if you would only believe. God promised me that by his stripes I am healed. When the enemy tried to take my life; I had a choice to believe the doctor's report or God's promise. They thought I was not going to make it; pain all through my body and every vital sign indicated that I was on my way out. The enemy came in trying to place a fear of dying inside me. I can remember my body being so weak and tired; but there was something about the Word of God that rose up in my spirit to remind me that He is my strength. I had to pull from the Word which was within me. Thank God I had something in me to rely on in my time of need. The scripture says in Isaiah 29:19, The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One Israel. No matter what you are going through; keep a song in your heart. Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One Of Israel (Isaiah 30:29)
You have to know who you serve and what God is to you. When you know who God is; nothing moves you. If your house is burning down, PRAISE THE LORD. Your child is acting out of control, PRAISE THE LORD! You need some money, PRAISE THE LORD. Your business is going down, PRAISE THE LORD.
Are you standing on the promises of God today? Let's look at the Word of the Lord concerning God's promise to His people. Isaiah 26:3 says, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
What is peace? Peace is the normal, non-warring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world. It is the state of mutual harmony between people or groups, especially in personal relations; freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety or obsession. Peace is tranquility; serenity, silence and stillness.
God has called His people to peace. Peace is to rest in God with the calm assurance that He has it all under control. To rest in the Lord is positioning yourself to become as a little child; totally dependent on a parent to care and provide for you. Without His peace; torment comes and will reign supremely in your life. Without His peace, confusion blocks your view of God's truth. Without His peace, worrying and fear causes doubt to smother your faith in God and your flesh operates from a natural realm instead of from the heavenly realm.
God is our peace! When the people of God learn to totally trust in Him; rely solely on Him for whatever is needed; peace is the gift rewarded for your mind being fixed on Him. As children of God, we cannot turn to the world to supply our needs. There has to be an alliance with God. "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth." (Psalms 121:1-2)
And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity. (Isaiah 33:24)
Even if you are not feeling your best, never let the devil know it. Wear a smile on your face and keep right on stepping. Don't wait on people to ask you, "how are you doing?", so you can begin pouring out complaint after complaint of what's wrong with you. You know, having a whining, pity party and wanting others to feel sorry for you. That's a setup from the pits of hell. When somebody does ask you, let your answer ring out, "I'm blessed!" The minute you give into your condition, you open a door for a manifestation of your words. Never forget that life and death is in the power of the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21) Speak life on your circumstances and ye shall live and not die!
For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. (Isaiah 41:13)
Fear [feer] n. - a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid; an emotion of alarm and agitation caused by the expectation or realization of danger; to feel anxious or apprehensive; to suspect; ground for dread
- Fear hides. We can't always put a name to what we are feeling.
- Fear has many names such as worry, dread, cares, anxieties, uneasiness, distress, out-of-peace, overly cautious, timidity.
- Fear is like a rash (measles or small pox). You don't get just one spot. They come in bunches.
- Fear is a tool of the enemy. It brings physical suffering, disease, mental anguish, distress. It can bring terror, panic and horror (extreme fear).
- Rather than going to God, we have a tendency to deal with fear by trusting in our own minds. Our flesh tries to comfort our soul.
- When our minds become agitated with fear our minds become distracted from "right" thoughts creating disorder and confusion.
- Satan will bring about fear to get our eyes off of God and pull us out of the peace of God, forcing us to rely on ourselves.
- Most people do not stand and confront their fear; they spend their entire life running.
Keep in mind that fear is the opposite of faith. The way to dispel fear is to draw close to God, spending time with Him, reading His Word and praying. God does not take fear lightly. Revelation 21:8 includes, "the fearful ones along with murderers, idolaters and liars - their inheritance is in the lake of fire". If we don't cast down the fearful thoughts and vain imaginations they will become a STRONGHOLD, which is a fortified place surrounded by walls. I know about the stronghold fear brings. I've been there. I was bound within, chains and shackles around my feet. I was afraid to even drive my car or look at people in their eyes. Have you ever known someone who was just afraid of everything? I had no peace within. I needed a touch from God because I knew He could help me.
Isaiah 43:2
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Those who rely on God's immediate assistance have no reason for sinking under adversity. The church will not be exempt from calamities and afflictions, but must maintain a constant warfare. In other words, "The Lord hath not redeemed you that you may enjoy pleasures and luxuries, or that thou may abandon yourself to ease and indolence, but rather that thou should be prepared for enduring every kind of evil".
By fire and water means that every kind of misery to which we are liable in this life; for we must contend not with calamities of one kind only, but with infinitely diversified calamities. At one time we must "pass through waters" and at another "through fire" (Psalm 66:12). In like manner James exhorts believers not to faint when they "fall into various temptations". My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (James 1:2). And, indeed, faith needs to be put to the trial in many ways; for it often happens that someone who has been victorious in one combat has been baffled by another kind of temptation. We are therefore tried by afflictions, but are at length delivered; we are baffled by the billows, but are not swallowed up; we are even scorched by the flames, but are not consumed. We have, indeed, the same feeling of pain as other men, but we are supported by the grace of God, and fortified by the spirit of patience, that we may not faint; and at length He will stretch out his hand and lift us up on high.
1 Peter 5:10
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
God has a purpose for each and every one of us to save souls. For people to be set free. This is how you establish the foundation needed to receive your overflow. You should have the thirst and desire to bring souls into the house of God. You have to put everything aside and find your true purpose as a functioning member in the body of Christ. What did God call you to do?
Don't let the enemy trick you into letting His House go to waste while you're worrying about yourself and what you’re going through. God didn’t bring you into His house just to sit by the way-side! He saw your potential to be a profit in His house and had the mercy and grace to save you. It shouldn't become a routine for you to sit in the house of God, that after a while, your soul gets contaminated and the thought of doing wrong just doesn’t bother you anymore. Sin should always convict you. Doing wrong should have no place in your life.
You need to keep the same love for people – Gods’ people. Whether you drove or walked to church this morning, someone passed by you. If you would have looked around hard enough, there would have been something inside of you that would have reminded you - wait a minute, God blessed me to get into His house, now let me help someone else get into His house.
When you are truly concerned about souls, then God will deliver you. Forget about yourself. It’s not about you, it’s about Jesus! He called you to save sinners. He died on the cross that we might have life (and have it more abundantly). Imagine how powerful and effective you could be in the body of Christ if you found and abided in your true purpose. The enemy also knows this and will set an attack against every step of the way, but you must make a resolution in your heart and mind that nothing will keep you from God's promise. It was not by mistake that God gave you the talents you currently possess. Search within yourself and ask, "How can I utilize the blessings God has already invested in me to help build God's House? What can I do to bring souls into the Church House?" And when you've found it, be not afraid of what any man can do unto you. Set your hands to the work! Repair the wall like Nehemiah did and do not be moved. If they want to talk about you, then let them talk! God has prepared blessings in your life that you can't even imagine and it's your time to stand up and receive everything He has promised.
Don't let the enemy trick you into letting His House go to waste while you're worrying about yourself and what you’re going through. God didn’t bring you into His house just to sit by the way-side! He saw your potential to be a profit in His house and had the mercy and grace to save you. It shouldn't become a routine for you to sit in the house of God, that after a while, your soul gets contaminated and the thought of doing wrong just doesn’t bother you anymore. Sin should always convict you. Doing wrong should have no place in your life.
You need to keep the same love for people – Gods’ people. Whether you drove or walked to church this morning, someone passed by you. If you would have looked around hard enough, there would have been something inside of you that would have reminded you - wait a minute, God blessed me to get into His house, now let me help someone else get into His house.
When you are truly concerned about souls, then God will deliver you. Forget about yourself. It’s not about you, it’s about Jesus! He called you to save sinners. He died on the cross that we might have life (and have it more abundantly). Imagine how powerful and effective you could be in the body of Christ if you found and abided in your true purpose. The enemy also knows this and will set an attack against every step of the way, but you must make a resolution in your heart and mind that nothing will keep you from God's promise. It was not by mistake that God gave you the talents you currently possess. Search within yourself and ask, "How can I utilize the blessings God has already invested in me to help build God's House? What can I do to bring souls into the Church House?" And when you've found it, be not afraid of what any man can do unto you. Set your hands to the work! Repair the wall like Nehemiah did and do not be moved. If they want to talk about you, then let them talk! God has prepared blessings in your life that you can't even imagine and it's your time to stand up and receive everything He has promised.
Hebrews 2:3
How shall we escape;
if we neglect so great salvation; which at the
first began to be spoken by the Lord,
and was confirmed unto us
by them that heard him
How shall we escape;
if we neglect so great salvation; which at the
first began to be spoken by the Lord,
and was confirmed unto us
by them that heard him
Perseverance is defined as a course of action, a purpose, a state of being inspite of difficulties, obstacles or discouragement. In perseverance, regarding your faith, you have to become dogmatic and fight until you get what you need from the Lord.
We have to understand that Abraham did not receive his answer overnight. In fact, it was 25 years from the time God had promised him a son that he actually received the promised child. By the time Isaac was born, Abraham was 100 years old, but he fought the good fight of faith and never doubted God.
Fighting the good fight of faith will repel your getting faint. It will keep you from getting tired in your Christian walk with the Lord. Certain characteristics follow those who grow weak and often is the result of lack of spiritual fuel; reading the bible regularly and an inconsistent prayer life. When this occurs, you will become too weak to fight. Secondly, when a person grows weary in well doing, he/she is forgetting their purpose. Never take your eyes off of the fulfillment of God's purpose for your life or else you will lose interest and motivation for believing God. Your eyes must remain on the vision for seeing the Word God has promised you comem to pass.
We have to understand that Abraham did not receive his answer overnight. In fact, it was 25 years from the time God had promised him a son that he actually received the promised child. By the time Isaac was born, Abraham was 100 years old, but he fought the good fight of faith and never doubted God.
Fighting the good fight of faith will repel your getting faint. It will keep you from getting tired in your Christian walk with the Lord. Certain characteristics follow those who grow weak and often is the result of lack of spiritual fuel; reading the bible regularly and an inconsistent prayer life. When this occurs, you will become too weak to fight. Secondly, when a person grows weary in well doing, he/she is forgetting their purpose. Never take your eyes off of the fulfillment of God's purpose for your life or else you will lose interest and motivation for believing God. Your eyes must remain on the vision for seeing the Word God has promised you comem to pass.
Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no vision,
the people perish:
but he that keepeth the law,
happy is he.
God judges according to our hearts. The intent of our hearts must be pure when we are trusting God for something. We must boldly come before the throne of God, holding fast to our profession and not wavering.Leave the earthly mind and come uup to a heavenly mind. Don't be slothful in your praise, but rather, be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promise. When God made a promise to Abraham, He swore by himself and said, "Blessing I will bless thee, and multiply I will multiply thee". After he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. The two immutable things are God can do the impossible and God can't lie that he might have a strong consolation. God willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of His promise and to show it by an oath; that it was impossible for God to lie.
We might have a strong consolation which hope we have, as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast (Hebrews 6:19). You have to set a standard in your mind and anything that comes against the Word of God you will not accept it. Thoughts will come but you don't have to acept any thought that you don't want. If our hearts are pure when we go before God, He hears us and what we ask, we receive. Why? Because we keep His commandments and those things that are pleasing in His sight. We have to love one another as He gave us commandment and in Him we have His spirit that gives us agape love, that unconditional love because He is love.
Hereby we know He dwells in us, and we dwell in Him. And this is the confidence that we have in Him that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us. And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petition that we desired of Him. His desire is that we prosper and be in good health. His joy is to hear that His children walk in truth. when you hear the truth, you have to mix it with faith otherwise it does not work.
The following is an excerpt from my book, What Can be Created with Your Words: Wrapping Yourself in the Word of God. To read this book in its entirety, please contact me to place your order!-------------------------------------------------
You may be in a battle right now but you can win this battle by words.
1 Chronicles 5:18-22
The people of God, the sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war. And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab. And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him.
Our battles are not always from the devil. All battles are sent from God to try us? You see, for there fell down many slain because the war was of God. Not from the devil, nor man.
What can I create with my words?
I will acquaint myself with God through His word and then I will be at peace. Thereby good shall come unto me because I put His words in my heart. And because I have returned to the Almighty, I will be built up. I have put iniquity far from my tabernacles. Then God will lay up gold and silver for me. God shall be my defense and I shall have plenty of silver. I will look up to my God and pray unto Him and pay my vows. And then I will decree a thing and it shall be established unto me, and God’s Light shall shine on my pathway to get my blessing.
Job 22:21-30
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.
Program your Spirit man for success. Be careful of your words.
Proverbs 6:2
Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
Watch your words, don’t speak what you don’t want. Speak or program in your mind that, “What I say will come to pass”. You have to fill your heart and mind with faith words. God CAN… God WILL… God can do whatever you want Him to do. God will, yes, do anything you want him to do. Hold fast to your confession. So remember, don’t speak what you don’t want. Call things that be not as though they were. Hold fast to your confession. Do not speak contrary or foolish words. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Speak as if every word you say will come to pass. You can fill your heart and mouth with faith daily by voicing scriptural confessions.
You see God has given us revelations. The set time has come. The time for God’s favor is now. The mystery that was is no longer a mystery in Christ Jesus. We now understand God has revealed it to the Church. We the people of God are heirs and partaker of His Promise. In Christ, the riches of Christ. We have those riches in heavenly places. We have those promises through faith. We have to have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him. Our minds have to stay in heavenly places.
Colossians 3:1-2
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
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