As we leave 2019 and enter 2020 I pray prayers of Deliverance for all of us. There is baggage that we no longer need to carry anymore. Jesus delivered us from all the fear, grief, worry, anxiety, sickness and shame at Calvary. I for one am young to “Let it Go” this season!
I don’t have to carry fear around. I can use my faith and choose to trust God. He will surround me with Songs of Deliverance!
You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah – Psalm 32:7
God is my refuge and hiding place. I do not need to fear the future. God is with me. He is more than able to keep me safe.
I trust my God to protect my family as well. God is able to keep those we have committed to Him!
I can pray God’s Word and watch as He fulfills it. He promised that His Word would not return to Him void, but it would accomplish that which He set it out to do.
Jesus has come to bring life and life more abundantly. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I can cancel the plans of the Enemy by speaking the Word out loud over myself and my family.
I have been chosen and set apart by the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Christ in me is my hope of glory. I have received a deposit of my inheritance, the Holy Spirit.
My future is secure because it is not based on me, but on what Christ has already accomplished. Nothing can take me from His hand!
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.My Father,who has giventhemto Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatchthemout of My Father’s hand.I andMyFather are one
– John 10:27-30
The same power that rose Jesus Christ from the dead lives in me. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of my faith. He who began a good work in me will complete it until the end!
I pray God’s Word will Deliver you from all things this Season. Let us walk as free men and women in 2020 because He who the Son sets free is free indeed!
Have you ever seen a Swordsmith forge a new sword? I love those old Medieval movies that show that. The Swordsmith takes that piece of metal and sticks it in the fire and then folds it over again and again repeating the process many times. The blade is shaped and sharpened by the Swordsmith. He takes it in his hand and sticks it into the fire and then beats on to make it sharper and more beautiful. All the impurities of the metal are burned off in the fire. Then, when it is red hot, the Swordsmith takes the new sword and quenches it in water, all to harden the blade. There is steam everywhere and the sword is born. The sword was forged in the fire.
I looked up the meaning of “forged” (but not like a check, lol):
1. make or shape (a metal object) by heating it in a fire or furnace and beating or hammering it. More synonyms – hammer out, beat into, shape, found, cast, mold, model
2. create (a relationship or new conditions). “the two women forged a close bond” More synonyms: build, build up, construct, form, create, establish, set up, put together
I like swords. They are used in battle. They are beautiful and magnificant. They are sharp – sharper than a knife. The Word of God is like that:
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. – Hebrews 4:12-13 NKJV
In the Bible, God shares that His Word is our Sword and it is used in battle:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. – Ephesians 6:10-20NKJV
So just like a warrior holds his sword to defeat his enemies, we are to hold the WORD OF GOD as our sword.
It is God’s Word that will defeat the enemies in our lives, not our own swords or our own effort.
What if we spoke to the enemies in our lives – whether sickness, disease, poverty, lack, depression, etc. and spoke the Word of God to them? Would we then see our enemies sliced and diced and dead?
What if it meant going through the fire first?
For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. – Psalm 66″ 10 NKJV
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.If anyone’s work which he has built on itendures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. – 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 NKJV
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. – 1 Peter 1: 3-9 NKJV
Would you do it? Like those 3 boys, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – would you go in the furnace in order not to bow to the idols or false kings in this world? Remember, Jesus is there with you in that furnace. And you will come out and not even smell like smoke.
It wasn’t until after the boys went through the fire that the king and all of his followers bowed to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego…that’s when the revival took place, after the fire. The reviaval and the promotion came AFTER the fire:
Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel[g] and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon. – Daniel 3: 28-30NKJV
The Shepherd Savior
“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion,” Says the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.
And it shall come to pass in all the land,” Says the Lord, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it:
I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ” – Zechariah 13:7-9 NKJV
When facing a trial or battle, the one thing that I have found to be my best weapon is the Word of God. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do NOT see yet. I have to exercise my faith and speak the Word of God over my situation.
Yes, I have been battling sickness and infirmity for the last year. The Drs keep ordering test after test and keep adding things to my chart for a diagnosis. (You can read about it here – Living Through a Season of Infirmity) But they are not God. God’s Word says I am HEALED already. I have to apply God’s Word to my body, just like I have to apply the ointment to my body and take the medicine the Dr. gave me. God’s word will NOT return to Him void. It WILL accomplish that which it was set out to do! Speak it out! Our bodies may be our mountains, and they respond to our own voice. God promised that mountains would move when we SPEAK to them. Say Gods’ Word out loud, let your body hear it – and then watch and see what God does!
Do you have your Word ready?
Do you have the promises of God that apply to your situation?
That is your sword. Here are some of the promises of God I am using to build my faith and receive my healing.
God’s Word for Sickness:
And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you. – Deuteronomy 7:15
He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. – Psalm 107:20
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise. – Jeremiah 17:14
For I will restore health to you And heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: “This is Zion; No one seeks her.” – Jeremiah 30:17
But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31
that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. – Acts 10:37-38
Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. – Luke 9:1
And He said to them, “Go into all the worldand preach the gospel to every creature.He who believes and is baptized will be saved;but he who does not believe will be condemned.And thesesigns will follow those who believe:In My name they will cast out demons;they will speak with new tongues;they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them;they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” – Mark 16:15-18
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. – Psalm 34:19
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10
So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. – Exodus 23:25
Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. – Isaiah 53:4-5
It has been a season of infirmity for me these past 7 months. I truly don’t know how I am still here. It must be the prayers of my friends that are bringing me to Jesus. Their prayers are making the difference. Let me elaborarte.
It started in July 2018, a simple ringing in my ear that would not go away. My Dr. sent me to the Audiologist. The Dr. ordered an MRI of my head. He wanted to rule out Brain Cancer. They did their tests and said I had Tinnitus – no brain cancer, thank you Jesus! There was nothing else they could do. Take more vitamin B he said.
Then in September I took a training job at work. It was a promotion, trial period of 3 weeks. I didn’t realize I would be on my feet for the whole time. I loved the job, however my legs went numb from the knees down with stabbing pain in my feet. When they asked me to stay on, I had to refuse due to this medical condition.
I went to my Dr, she referred me to the Neurologist. I did the most painful test ever – where they stick needles in your legs and shoot electricity through them to measure the nerve response. Diagnosis was Peripheral Neoruopathy in both legs. And again, nothing they could do but put me on meds.
I went back to my regular Dr. and she ordered an MRI of my spine now. It was more bad news – Degenerative Disc Disease and Spinal Stenosis (pinched nerves to both legs). They referred me to the Spine Clinic for pain. I saw that Dr. and I have an epidural with steroids scheduled for next week. Hopefully this will work.
In the meantime, my legs started shaking uncontrollably from the waist down. My Dr. has referred me back to Neurology to test for MS in February. Come on, really? I have been off work since November 2018 on FMLA and Short Term Disability. There have been many days I did not even want to get out of bed. I wake up 2-4 times per night due to the pain in my back and legs. I want my life back.
Also, had a breast exam in December – guess what – they found 2 lumps. Seriously? I had to go back for a second time and have an ultrasound – both lumps were benign, thank you Jesus!
Yes, it has been a season of infirmity for Ms. D. I know that God is able to heal, and I am patiently waiting for my healing. I thank my friends for lowering me through the roof of this pain and into the arms of Jesus for my healing. If it were not for their prayers, I don’t know how I would survive. Thank you and God bless you all!
This season of infirmity can get up and leave in Jesus Name! I am sick of it! Let the power of the Lord be present to heal!
Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic
Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.
When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
Saturday mornings I usually stay in my jammies until at least noon. It’s a great way to de-stress and just be. It’s a good time to clean house and listen to music. My Saturday playlist? The Kirk Franklin Radio station from Pandora. Yep, it was a Black Gospel Saturday morning for me!
Every once in a while you hear that song that melts your heart. This Saturday it was “My Life is in Your Hands” by God’s Property. I heard it and the tears just came. Guess I needed to let it out. You know, we try and be strong and make it through on our own. That doesn’t work out so well usually. Then God puts a song on your playlist and you lose it. That was me on Saturday morning.
It’s been a long few months. There have been many including myself who are fighting battles. Sometimes when you are in the front line you get hit by one of Satan’s Arrows. It happens. But what do we do about it?
This verse teached me that when I get hit by one of those arrows from the wicked one, I need to do one thing STAND.
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” – Ephesians 6:14-20 NKJV
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13
STAND on the promises that God gave us. He PROMISED to HEAL. He promised to BLESS. He promised to never leave us nor forsake me. He promised to DELIVER us. The LORD wil fight for us!
“And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvationof the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” – Exodus 14:13-14 NKJV
Standing with you my friends. Here’s the song that melted my heart yesterday:
My Life is in Your Hands by God’s Property
You don’t have to worry
And don’t you be afraid
Joy comes in the morning
Troubles they don’t last always
For there’s a friend in Jesus
Who will wipe your tears away
And if your heart is broken
Just lift your hands and say
Oh
I know that I can make it
I know that I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands
With Jesus I can take it
With Him I know I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands
So when your tests and trials
They seem to get you down
And all your friends and loved ones
Are nowhere to be found
Remember there’s a friend in Jesus
Who will wipe your tears away
And if you heart is broken
Just lift your hands and say
Oh
I know that I can make it
I know that I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands
With Jesus I can take it
With Him I know I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands
There is peace in salvation. There is peace in Jesus. There is forgiveness and rest in the Lord. But, may I be so bold – now what? We have been transferred from the Kingdom of Darkness and brought into the Kingdom of Light. Can I ask, “What do we do now?”
“For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the forgiveness of our sins [and the cancellation of sins’ penalty.” “- Colossians 1:13-14 AMP
That is my saga. My Pastor challenged us today. He said, “Don’t stop.” Two simple words that rocked me in the spirit. Don’t stop Diana. God is not done yet. There is a battle to be fought, souls to be won, and new life to be given.
“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” -Phillipains 1;6 NKJV
There are those who have been taken captive by the Enemy’s lies and have believed the Liar. They are suffering, hopeless, and think that nobody cares or sees. That is not true. We are still here in the Kingdom and if God did it for us, He will bring them hope as well. God is no respecter of persons. He is not willing that any should perish.
God has raised us up Body of Christ for such a time as this. We are the light of the world and can grab them back from the edge of the cliff. We see and we hear their cries. We can step out with the compassion of Christ and make a difference.
Get up, look up, and don’t stop. God is not finished yet. He has raised you up for such a time as this!
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” – Jude 1:20-23 NKJV
There is Power in Praise. God inhabits the praise of His people. The Lord reminds us that when we are feeling down or discouraged or hopeless, we do have a rememdy. We can CHOOSE to put on the Garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
For me, this means that no matter how I feel, I put on my praise. God is more than able to shake off illness, sickneess, discouragement, and depression. When I praise Him – He goes to work and defeats my enemies!
Remember the Israelites? When they s came to the promised land God gave them they marched Jerico around 7 days. 7 days without saying a word. Just march around the city. They saw those walls, they heard the people laughing at them and mocking them I am sure. They didn’t fight back. They just did what God told them. And then, on the 7th day:
“So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.”- Joshua 6:20
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. – Hebrews 11:30
Today, I speak to the mountains of depression, cancer, illness, lack and command them to fall down. Like my husband reminded us today, “If it didn’t want to bow, it shouldn’t have given us a name – because now it has to bow!” We know a NAME that is above ALL NAMES – JESUS!
“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be 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.Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. “- Mark 11:23-24
“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24
If you need some tunes, here are the newest ones our Church, Janesville Apostolic Ministry are going to learn! Come on, crank it up and put on some PRAISE!
This world is not all there is. There is a whole new realm of reality. The Heavenlies. Here is where the angels and demons fight. Our prayers and worship can invade this place, and move mountains!
As children of the King of Kings, we have been made new and adopted into a new Kingdom. Our prayers have power. Our worship changes the atmosphere. – not because of what we do or how we do it, but because of WHO we belong to – Jesus. It’s His Power, His Authority, and His Word that brings the victory. He had the victory at the Cross of Calvary. We have the privilidge and honor to bring His kingdom from Heaven to Earth and stand by His Word, enforce His Word, and watch His Word set captives free!
When we align ourselves with God, we enter the fight. Yes, there really is a war going on – and we are the Soldiers of God’s Army bringing His light into the darkeness to rescue the captives and set free those who have been bruised and broken. Spiritual Warfare is God’s way of setting prisoners free!
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;” Isaiah 61:1
10 Quotes on Spiritual Warfare
“The nature of the enemy’s warfare in your life is to cause you to become discouraged and to cast away your confidence. Not that you would necessarily discard your salvation, but you could give up your hope of God’s deliverance. The enemy wants to numb you into a coping kind of Christianity that has given up hope of seeing God’s resurrection power.” ― Bob Sorge, Glory: When Heaven Invades Earth
“If you are a Christ follower, the evil one is after you. When you signed on for Christ, you enlisted in a great war. You became a combatant in a titanic battle for spiritual dominion that has been going on since before Adam and Eve. The enemy has marked you for annihilation, and his demonic armies are aiming their big guns right at your heart. Satan wants you to stumble and fall. He wants your failure to cause others to think that Christianity is empty of meaning and powerless to change lives. If he can tempt you to forget whose side you’re on just for a moment… if Satan can get you to forget your commitment to holiness for just that moment, he may bring down not only you, but others who are watching you. It’s a serious thing to be a follower of Jesus. We must find ourselves in a state of constant dependency on him. We must ask God for his strength to overcome the evil one and resist such temptations.” ― Michael W. Smith
“I believe that the attacks on your life have much more to do with who you might be in the future than who you have been in the past.” ― Lisa Bevere, Girls with Swords: Why Women Need to Fight Spiritual Battles
“Whatever your station or position in life, there is always room for improvement, enhancement, and perfection. I say this with a great sense of humility. Regardless of what you are enjoying at the moment, the Lord says that he has something better for you! No matter what you have achieved, attained, or accomplished in this world, there are more challenges and blessings ahead. God says that you have stayed long enough on this mountain. It is time to press forward to take more territories and receive more trophies.” ― Pedro Okoro, Crushing the Devil: Your Guide to Spiritual Warfare and Victory in Christ
“The devil takes his victories,” the man replied, “wherever men of God lose heart, and leave the field to him.” ― Orson Scott Card, Seventh Son
“Prayer is picking a fight with the Enemy. It’s spiritual warfare. Intercession transports us from the sidelines to the front lines without going anywhere. And that is where the battle is won or lost. Prayer is the difference between us fighting for God and God fighting for us. But we can’t just hit our knees. We also have to take a step, take a stand. And when we do, we never know what God will do next.” ― Mark Batterson, All In: You Are One Decision Away From a Totally Different Life
“We do well to be reminded that the devil hates a praying leader and a praying church. When we begin to pray, we pick a fight with the devil at a whole new level. Yet, our calling is to be praying menaces to the enemy.” ― Daniel Henderson, Old Paths, New Power: Awakening Your Church through Prayer and the Ministry of the Word
“If you are paralyzed by your past, if Satan is destroying your gifts and your calling by his incessant replaying of old tapes, you’re actually being hit by a double whammy. The original damage in the past is one thing – but now you’re letting yourself be hurt and sidetracked again by the memory of what happened… We should not be ignorant of Satan’s devices, and these ugly memories are one of the main weapons in his arsenal.” ― Jim Cymbala, Fresh Faith: What Happens When Real Faith Ignites God’s People
“Don’t attempt to fight the enemy in your own strength. You will experience burnout, and you will fail. Don’t even think about it! The key is to engage in spiritual warfare God’s way. And that is by resting in him and fighting from victory, not for victory!” ― Pedro Okoro, The Ultimate Guide to Spiritual Warfare: Learn to Fight from Victory, Not for Victory!
“God isn’t asking you to fight the devil. He is asking you to simply uphold or sustain the victory won by Jesus at Calvary and enforce his authority over the devil. You’re like the traffic warden who raises his hand and the vehicles stop. They don’t stop because he can physically bring the vehicles to a halt, but because he is representing and upholding the authority of the state.” ― Pedro Okoro, The Ultimate Guide to Spiritual Warfare: Learn to Fight from Victory, Not for Victory!
Recently we have been asking the question of why our current churches don’t display the same power as the early Acts churches did. Are we wimpy Christians? That’s not what the Word says. God says the same power that dwells in Jesus dwells in us.
Then why the lack of power?
Why the absence of miracles?
In researching this, there are many trains of thought out there. Some say we don’t pray enough. Some say we don’t fast enough. Some say we are not obedient enough. It goes on and on. Here are my thoughts, random as they may be.
Perhaps we have been too busy feeding our flesh to respond to God’s power. Let’s face it, we are human. Our flesh likes to be fed. Tell me a feel good message with what I can do, throw in a little emotion to get me worked up for an hour. Yeah, that sounds cozy. And so it goes, from week to week. No challenges, no goals, no vision, just feel good messages. It’s draining, and the church is asleep. I’m talking to me first here. We are lazy, me included.
I want more. I’m tired of the same old routine. There has to be more! I don’t know about you, but I am ready for a Holy Ghost Revival!
In my reading this morning God brought me here;
You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s master stroke, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway.
God’s Spirit and God’s power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God’s power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else. – 1 Corinthians 2:1-3 MSG
Perhaps we are not seeing the power of God because we are too busy feeding our flesh with mental and emotional footwork and not responding to God’s power. Maybe we are selfish and make it all about us, when it’s really all about God.
How do we change?
How do we stop feeding our flesh and respond to the Spirit?
Maybe, we should get off the stage, get off the platform and let God lead. Maybe we should let go of our plans and programs. Of course that would mean giving up control. Let’s face it, we like to be in charge. We like to control things – even our services. We think that if we have it all planned out we will know exactly what will happen.
But isn’t that how we got into this mess?
And how can God display His power and miracles among us if we are too busy to even respond to Him when He is already there in our midst?
Let’s face it, nobody likes being ignored, especially if you’re the King of Kings.
Lord, let us let go of our agendas. Let us come together and watch and hear what You have done in our midst.
“Take Action Perhaps you have seen the movie Gladiator and remember hearing General Maximus shout, “Stay together! As one!” and you saw the victories that strategy brought. It’s no secret that the most effective military strategy is divide and conquer. Jesus knew this well and taught that a house divided against itself cannot stand (see Matthew 12:25). When the body of Christ is divided in its loyalties to Christ, it is weakened as a whole. This means that one of the greatest things you can do for the worldwide impact of the church is to live your own life wholly devoted to Jesus’s cause. This means dedicating all your regular, everyday activities to God as worship to Him. God wants your whole life, not just your Sunday mornings. If you are not living your entire life—work, family, hobbies, etc.—as worship to God, repent today. Ask Jesus to give you vision for what a lifestyle of worship looks like in your life. Write down what He shows or tells you and ask God’s Spirit to fill you afresh as you dedicate yourself fully to Him. 4 Contagious Kryptonite The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church.”
In Ephesians 6 all of the weapons we have at our disposal are forward facing as Johns says. Our backs are exposed. Have you ever seen the movie Gladiator? The men move together as one unit. They protect each other. They cover each other’s backs.
And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
Ephesians 6:10-13 MSG
Perhaps we are not displaying the power of God in our services because instead of covering each other’s backs and fighting like Gladiators we are too busy stabbing our fellow brothers and sisters in the back.
“The loyalty of the Soldier is proved in battle.” – Martin Luther
“Spiritual warfare is very real. There is a furious, fierce, and ferocious battle raging in the realm of the spirit between the forces of God and the forces of evil. Warfare happens every day, all the time. Whether you believe it or not, you are in a battlefield. You are in warfare.” – Pedro Okoro
“Our tent is pitched not in a paradise, but on a field of battle.” LE Maxwell
“The nature of the enemy’s warfare in your life is to cause you to become discouraged and to cast away your confidence. Not that you would necessarily discard your salvation, but you could give up your hope of God’s deliverance. The enemy wants to numb you into a coping kind of Christianity that has given up hope of seeing God’s resurrection power.” – Bob Sorge
“Revival is no more a miracle than a crop of wheat. Revival comes from heaven when heroic souls enter the conflict determined to win or die—or if need be, to win and die! “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”” – Charles Finney
“If you are paralyzed by your past, if Satan is destroying your gifts and your calling by his incessant replaying of old tapes, you’re actually being hit by a double whammy. The original damage in the past is one thing – but now you’re letting yourself be hurt and sidetracked again by the memory of what happened… We should not be ignorant of Satan’s devices, and these ugly memories are one of the main weapons in his arsenal.” – Jim Cymbala
“Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection. Success, popularity, and power can indeed present a great temptation, but their seductive quality often comes from the way they are part of the much larger temptation to self-rejection. When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity, and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions. The real trap, however, is self-rejection. As soon as someone accuses me or criticizes me, as soon as I am rejected, left alone, or abandoned, I find myself thinking, “Well, that proves once again that I am a nobody.” … [My dark side says,] I am no good… I deserve to be pushed aside, forgotten, rejected, and abandoned. Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the “Beloved.” Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.” – Henry JM Nouwen
“Temptation is not his (Satan’s) strongest weapon. Despair is.” – Dennis Garvin
“I believe that the attacks on your life have much more to do with who you might be in the future than who you have been in the past.” – Lisa Bevere
“God isn’t asking you to fight the devil. He is asking you to simply uphold or sustain the victory won by Jesus at Calvary and enforce his authority over the devil. You’re like the traffic warden who raises his hand and the vehicles stop. They don’t stop because he can physically bring the vehicles to a halt, but because he is representing and upholding the authority of the state.” – Pedro Okoro
The Whole Armor of God
” Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
Yes, there are times to fight. Fight for what is right, for what is true, fight for what God said could be done here on Earth. But our fights as a Christian aren’t like the movies. We don’t fight evil with guns, or knives, or weapons. The weapons of our warfare are not of this world. The battles are not even with the people of this world. It’s a spirit thing.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 AMP
For though we walk in the flesh as mortal men, we are not carrying on our spiritual warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man.
The weapons of our warfare are not physical weapons of flesh and blood.
Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, being ready to punish every act of disobedience, when your own obedience as a church is complete.
There are plenty of arguments that set themselves up against the Word of God. There are plenty of thoughts that set themselves up against the Word of God. There are plenty of vain philosophies that set themselves up that are contrary to the Word of God. What will you do with these? The fortresses of the world and the fortresses in our own minds. Believe them or reject them?
There is a battle going on – for your peace, your faith, and your loyalty.
Are you ready to fight God’s way for your mind and for your friends and families lives?
God’s Word says we ARE healed – by His stripes.
Are you ready to fight fight for that?
Will you March around that fortress for 6 days and on the 7thday shout for the victory?
The Israelites had to shout BEFORE the walls fell down. They had to praise God for the victory BEFORE it happened.
Praise and worship invites God into our “now”. Think of it as the door. Inviting God into our mess. Light in the darkness.
Our prayers are weapons. When we declare God’s Word the walls fall down. They defeat the enemy.
Our faith gives God room to work and bring Heaven down to Earth.
Our fasting kills our fleshy desires and feeds our spirit.
God said that HE would defeat our enemies. He crushed them at Calvary on a cross.
Are you ready to fight?
I am. I am sick of my friends and family getting pounded by the enemy. Enough is enough. God said it, that’s the Truth. I will STAND on the Word of God, march around those fortresses,and SHOUT and watch the LORD defeat my enemies!
One thing I have learned in my walk with God is that you must be prepared for resistance when God brings you to a Promised Land. Remember Joshua? He finally led the Israelites into the land that God promised. It was not empty. It was full of enemies. There was a battle that had to take place for God’s chosen people to enter. It was not just a show up and let’s move in kind of deal.
Let me share a personal story to show you what this looks like. I recently finished up my part time job at school. I applied for a summer job at a local company. They offered me full time with full benefits. Of course I said yes! I have not had a full time job with benefits in over 16 years!
Here is what my battle looked like:
3 days before my start date – the water heater in our home went out.
2 days before my start date – the gas stove started leaking and we had to turn it off.
1 day before my start date – the brakes went out on my truck.
The night before my start date – I was up for most of the night killing demons in my sleep.
My first day – the water heater still didn’t work and I took a cold bath.
My first day at lunch – one of my kids got in a fender bender. All is well but the car was ruled a total loss by the insurance company.
Expect a battle when God brings you to the promised land. Keep you peace. Greater is He who is in you than He who is in the world. Keep your peace. Stand on the Word. Stand on the promises of God. Watch God deliver you and your family. Keep your peace.
The results:
My husband and our Pastor fixed the brakes for $42.00!
My husband fixed the water heater with a new part. we now have hot water!
My husband bought the new hose for the gas stove, this too will be fixed!
And the car – we elected to keep the car and my daughter’s boyfriend has all the parts but one to repair it! Praise God!
Thank you Jesus! The Lord will deliver you, He promised!
God’s Word for You:
God’s Commission to Joshua After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:1-9 NKJV
My Prayer for You:
Dear Lord,
Please be with your people as they travel from the land of slavery and bondange into the promised land You promised them. Be with them as they stand before the Enemy and watch as You deliver them. Give us supernatural strength and resolve as we enter new territories. Let us lean on You and You alone as we conquer the land and possess the territory You have promised us, in Jesus Name.
