dickbraswell

For though we walk in the  flesh,we do not warafter the flesh: 2Cor. 10:3  

For the weapons of our warfareare not carnal, but through God to the pulling downof strong holds  2Cor. 10:4   

Casting) imaginations,  and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge  of God, and bringing into captivity every to the obedience  of Christ; 2Cor. 10:5  

Proper equipment to accomplish a purpose is very important.  Every athlete needs the proper equipment if he is going to be a champion.  Football players.  Golfers.  Baseball players.  Those who play tennis.  Runners.  Basketball players.  Those who play soccer.  Boxers and weight-lifters.  Every athlete who wins has to have good, functioning and efficient equipment in order to do so.   

 God has equipped every Believer with adequate and efficient resources to overcome the devil and live in absolute victory; to live and not die.   

If you are saved you have this equipment. 

If you are walking in the Spirit, you are aware of this equipment. 

If you are Baptized in the Holy Ghost, you should know how to use this equipment. 

This specialized spiritual equipment is, in fact, powerful weapons that are “mighty through God” to the “pulling down” of “strongholds.”  If you are born again, you have these weapons.   They all are adequate and they all efficient; they are all good and they all work.   Here are some of them:

• Faith.
• The Word.
• The Gospel.
• Prayer.
• Speaking in Tongues.
• Singing in the Spirit.
• Praying in the Spirit.
• Worshipping
• Fasting.
• Love.
• Forgiveness.

          However, there is an “ultimate weapon” in the arsenal God has given us.   It is a weapon of mass destruction (as far as the devil is concerned).  It is this subject that we want to explore as we continue our study of how to live and not die. 

          This ultimate weapon is a secret weapon.  It is an advantage that every born again believer has and can use that will put the enemy to flight and cause his defeat every time.  It always works.  It never fails. 

Let’s discover what it by examining a passage of Scripture in the Old Testament and discovering the miracle victory that it wrought in the face of an impossible situation.

It came to pass after this… 

It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.  2Chr. 20:1  

Notice that this impossible came to pass “after this..”  What is the “after this”?  If you will note, Jehoshaphat, one of the few Godly kings in the history of the Kingdom of Judah, had launched a campaign to destroy the “groves” which were in reality, altars to false gods, and had determined to seek God with all his heart. 

Every major attack begins and intensifies after some great spiritual victory.  When we win, we must not relax.  In the time of victory, we cannot afford to ease up on our faith.   The most critical time to pray and seek God and hold steady is when all is going well.

Others beside the Ammonites came against Jehoshaphat…

It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat.    2 Chron 20: 1 ¶ 

          Who are the children of Moab, Ammon and the “others” that came with them to fight against Jehoshaphat? Jehoshaphat was king of Judah for 25 years and was one of the best, most pious, and prosperous kings.    The “others” were  enemies of God that had been spared by Judah’s disobedience and had now united in a massive effort to destroy everything and all things that represented God. 

          Every sin that is not confessed and every act of disobedience will unite one day and rise up in defiance of the God Who lives in us.  They will surround our faith and plan attacks on our Christian commitment.  These “little foxes”  (Song 2:15) that spoil the vines will grow in number until they become a life-threat to us, our seed and our need.

When God commands us to destroy the enemy, we had best destroy the enemy.  When God says for us to do that thing that seems so “hard” He is doing it so that we will be protected in the days ahead.  The enemies that seem to surround us could very well be sins and carnal situations that we have not dealt with and forsaken.      

Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitudeagainst thee from beyond the sea…  2Chr. 20:2 

          Some came and told Jesohaphat the bad news.  They were bearers of bad news.  Seems like there are always messengers who are anxious to bring bad news.  Bad news travels faster than good news.  Unspiritual individuals had rather convey bad news than good news.  Times have not changed all that much, have they?  The ones who bring the distressing news usually do nothing to help ease the pain.  They will more than likely embellish the bad news and make it worse than it actually is.   They will make the bad worse.  They will exaggerate the negative and minimize the positive.  “Some came and told…” 

Our test is how we react to the bad news that is told us.    Our response to those “things which come against us” will reveal our level of faith and trust in God. 

 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.  2Chr. 20:3  

And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.  2Chr. 20:4

          The king did some right things and he did some wrong things.  He probably did more that was right than we would do under similar circumstances. 

          First, he feared.  If this “fear” is considered “reverence” then it’s OK.  But if it is the “afraid” and “terrorified” kind of fear then it is bad.  If  “reverential” fear can make us seek the face of God, then that will cancel the devil’s intention to destroy us.  

          Second, the devil lost because the king not only set himself to seek the face of God, he proclaimed a fast throughout the entire nation.  He was motivated to seek God and to seek God before all else.  The whole nation of Judah came together to seek God.  Can you see just how the strategy of the devil backfired on him?  Satan came to destroy but instead, every city in the entire nation began to seek God. The devil is really a dummy.

And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,  2Chr. 20:5  

          The King was not ashamed.  He knew he needed God and he was not too timid to tell the whole world.  He swallowed his kingly pride.  He understood that if God did not intervene, then, all would be lost.  He stood in the presence of the entire nation and prayed a prayer seeking God’s help.

If only our leaders of this hour would do this!   If national leaders of today would do what Jehoshaphat did, we would see Great Awakenings all over the earth.  It may well be that some desperate catastrophic condition could develop on a global scale.  We need to pray that if and when that might happen, our leaders will seek God, repent and turn again to the moral and spiritual standard of the Word of God. 

Listen to the king’s prayer:

 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and  rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?    2Chr. 20:6    

            The king acknowledges the sovereignty of God.  Jesus prayed this way and He told us to pray this way as well.  “Our Father, Who art in heaven…”   Respect for and reverence of Jehovah God is the hallmark of a righteous nation.   Ps 9:17  The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. The result of “forgetting God” on a national level is that the forgetful nation will be turned into hell (a place of exhile). 

Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel,  and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend forever? 2Chr. 20:7  

And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 2Chr. 20:8  

If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. 2Chr. 20:9  

The King reminded God of His help in the past of His commitment of promised deliverance whenever the need arose.  In the presence of God, when people who are afflicted cry out, He will hear and help.

And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; 2Chr. 20:10  

Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. 2Chr. 20:11  

The time  has come!   It has arrived!  It is time for God to come on the scene and fulfill His Word.  The enemy comes to “reward” with death, destruction and captivity.  This is certainly not the inheritance of the saints.  Our inheritance is life, protection and deliverance. 

O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. 2Chr. 20:12  

“God will you keep Your Word?  God will you honor Your Name?  God will you defend the helpless and judge the ungodly?  We have no help but You.  You are our Defense.  You are our Salvation.  You are our Deliverer.  We do not really know what to do, but our eyes are upon You and we are seeking Your face.”  Folks, this is the kind of praying that gets results!  

In the time of seeking God, the Spirit of the Lord “Came Upon” one of the preachers and he began to prophecy.

And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 2Chr. 20:13  

Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; 2Chr. 20:14  

And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2Chr. 20:15  

          The Word of the Lord which came to Jahaziel was a word of great encouragement. And this is generally what any “word” that comes from God is… it is encouraging and edifying.  The people were told:

          1.  Be not afraid.

          2.  Be not dismayed (discouraged).

          3.  Do not let this reason (great multitude) distress  you.

          4.  The Battle is not yours, but the Lord’s.

Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 2Chr. 20:16  

Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. 2Chr. 20:17  

          The best defense in our spiritual warfare is a good offense.  Our aggressiveness will send shock waves through hell and startle and strike fear in the heart of our enemy.  Judah was told to “Go down against them” even though they were greatly outnumbered and out equipped.  To attack when the “odds” are stacked against us is a demonstration of Great Faith.   Such raw and radical faith will assure us that we won’t even have to fight.  God will do the fighting for us.  The battle will be His and the victory will be ours.  Hallelujah! 

 Judah was again assured: “stand still and you will see the Salvation of the Lord.”

                   1.  Do not be afraid

                   2.  Do not be dismayed (discouraged).

                   3.  The Lord will be with you.

And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. 2Chr. 20:18  

          True Worship is a type of warfare.  Jesus called those who worship in spirit and in truth True Worshippers.  

 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. Joh 4:23   

The devil cannot stand against true worshippers and true worship.  If we really want put Satan on the run, we just need to begin worshipping God in spirit and in truth.    As we sincerely turn our attention to God in adoration and true worship, we  can’t help but focus on His ability and not ours. 

And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.2Chr. 20:19  

          Genuine Praise is a type of warfare.  Praise is the “exciting” side of true worship.  As we  “noise abroad” our exuberance and joy and thanks to God,  the depression, fear and anxiety of the pressing situation diminishes.  When the enemy “comes in” just have a personal “praise service” with God.  Put on some lively praise music… sing some praise choruses… rehearse some praise psalms….  Praise pays by scattering our enemy and putting him to flight. 

…Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.2Chron 20:20

Believing in the Lord is faith.  It is trusting God in the face of failure and defeat.  It is standing on the Word when all else has failed.  It is the one thing we can do that is guaranteed to “please God” because the Word declares that “without faith it is impossible to please Him…”  (Heb 11:6)

          Our faith causes us to be “established.”  The particular word used here is associated with being “parented” much like the experience of a tiny baby being nursed by its mother.  There can be no place more confident and safe than that of an infant being held in its mother’s arms and being given nourishment and strength at her breast.  This is what faith does for us when we face impossible situations and formidable conflicts. 

          Not only does our faith establish us but when we believe the prophets God sends into our lives, we are guaranteed prosperity.  We cannot lose for winning.  Every spiritual battle is a win-win situation when we trust and rely on God.   

And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD;for his mercy endureth for ever. 2Chr. 20:21  

The Believer’s Ultimate Weapon is Praise

It is a weapon of mass destruction.  It is invincible and fail-safe.  It is more powerful than armies.  Praise precedes the sword.  Praise is more powerful than the sword.  Praise goes before the army.  Praise prepares the way for victory.

And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushmentsagainst the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 2Chr. 20:22  

For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them:and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. 2Chr. 20:23  

          Praise causes the enemy to self destruct.  In the fierceness of the fight, praise will make Satan turn on himself.  It confuses the devil.  It confounds demons.  It startles the powers of darkness.  It reveals just how dumb and stupid and weak the devil is.  

And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. 2Chr. 20:24  

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee.  Psa 91:7 

 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Psa 91:8 

And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.2Chr. 20:25  

          The spoils of a successful spiritual victory are always superabundant.

  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Eph 3:20    

In Jehoshaphat’s case, they reaped riches in such abundance it took them three whole days to haul all the stuff away.  

          This account of supernatural victory is just an example of what can be accomplished when we turn in total abandonment to God and the promises of His Word.  All seemed lost in Jehoshaphat’s day.  But the darkest day of satanic threat was turned into one of the brightest days of victory for the God-fearing king of Judah. 

And the neat thing about all of this is that what God did for this helpless leader of Judah He will do for you and me.  God is no respecter of persons and what He does for one trusting individual, He will do for any trusting individual. 

           Let’s activate our Ultimate Spiritual Weapon.  Let’s go before the fighters and the warriors singing and shouting and dancing and rejoicing.  Let’s praise the Lord.  Let’s “stand still” and “see” what God will do when we Praise in times of great trial.  This Ultimate Weapon will, when used, guarantee that we will live and not die.  Hallelujah.

Word for Today:  October 30

Behold Jesus as a Perfect Man

ALL the miracles that Jesus performed while He was on earth were performed by a Human Being Full of the Holy Ghost and Power.  What He did… we can do.  What He accomplished as a Man, we can accomplish as men and women full of the Holy Ghost and living in that anointing.

He spoke to storms and they stopped.  He spit and made mud from it, put it on blind eyes and they were opened.  He confronted demon powers and they feared and trembled and begged for mercy.  He touched crippled and broken bodies and they were made whole.   He spoke healing to the sick and diseased and they were healed.  He received sinners and had mercy on the guilty.  He loved the unlovable and had compassion on the masses.  He raised the dead… cleansed lepers… resisted the devil… opened graves… interrupted funerals and restored the dead to their families…   He made wine out of water… friends out of enemies… peace out of confusion and torment… joy out of sadness and Heaven out of hell…  And then He told us that:

greater works than these shall ye do; because I go unto my Father… John 14:12.

Jesus is our Example.  Jesus is our Pattern.  Jesus is the guarantee that we can overcome the devil and take dominion over the powers of darkness.

What He did… we can do

My God shall supply all your needaccording to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus…  Phil 4:19

           Name your need.  Every need has a name.  Name yours right now.  Say what it is.   Say it out loud.  Tell yourself what it is.  Tell God what it is (even though He already knows).  Then tell the devil God is going to meet that need. 

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us…  Eph 3:20

Confess.  Confess means to say.  To confess something we say it  and we say it with conviction and authority.

Confess:

• God is Able.   
• God is Able to Do.   
• God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly. 
• God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly Above.   
• God is Able to Do Exceedingly Abundantly Above All that I Ask.   
• God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly Above All that I Ask or Think.  
• God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly Above All that I Ask or Think According to the POWER.
• God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly Above All that I Ask or Think according to the POWER that WORKS.
• God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly Above All that I Ask or Think according to the POWER that WORKS in ME. 

And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? 2Kgs. 7:3  

If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. 2Kgs. 7:4  

And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there. 2Kgs. 7:5  

For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. 2Kgs. 7:6  

            Why sit we here till we die?  Why do we do the same things over and over and foolishly expect them to change?

          If we are not making positive changes, things (your situations or circumstances) will never improve.  If we are not moving (doing something) we are sliding back.  If we are not pressing on, we are retreating.  If we are not spiritually ahead of where we were last week, we are dying and not living.

          We need to discover what it means to “press through” in order to live and not die.  We need to discover what it means to press through to get to Jesus.  When we make it “through” to Jesus, we will move into living and not dying. 

          There will always be obstacles and barriers to prevent us from getting close to Jesus…. Satan will see to that.  Are we willing to “press through” and to persist until we break into the very presence of Jesus? 

And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken [it] up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. Mark 2:4

When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. Mark 5:27

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? Mark 5:30

And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. Lu 19:3

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Php 3:14

I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. Lu 11:8

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. Gen 32:24

And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. Gen. 32:25 

 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Gen. 32:26 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter.  Dan 3:16 

 If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king. Dan 3:17 

But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Dan 3:18 

          Remember the 4 faithful ones who carried the man sick with palsy to where Jesus was? They could not enter the house nor get close to Jesus because of the “press” but they did not stop.  They pressed through.

          Remember the woman with an issue of blood?   She would not be stopped.  She would not be denied.  She persisted… she was determined… she took great risks… but she “pressed through” and got to Jesus and touched Him.

          Remember Zacchaeus?  He was the little man who was hidden in the crowds.  He wanted to see Jesus but he couldn’t because of the hindrances… he was small of stature and the crowds were great.  But he “pressed through” and climbed a sycamore tree and saw Jesus.  When he did, Jesus went home with him.  

          Remember Jacob?   He refused to let go or turn loose  until the angel blessed him.   He held on.  He would not turn loose.  He persisted.  He pressed through.

          Remember Paul? In the midst of the deadly storm he determined to press through to the promise rather than consider the problem.   He said, “I believe God.”

And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. Acts 27:22  

For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Acts 27:23  

Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Acts 27:24  

Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Acts 27:25  

          I am determined to press through.  I am determined to hold on.  I am determined to believe God.  I have set my face like flint to seek Jesus and to know Jesus as I have never known Him in my life.  How about you?   Are you set in your mind and determined in your will to PRESS THROUGH? 

          How do we get God’s supply to our need (Phil 4:19)?   He surely has it.  And He wants to give it to us.  How do we get it?  Our quest to live and not die begins with our willingness to Press Through.

          God has the supply to meet our need.  Kingdom principles in operation will draw from God’s supply and satisfy our need.  The Bible is our operation Manual.  It is alive with God’s power and will provide the answer we are seeking. 

          There is a Kingdom Keythat will unlock the door to God’s Supply and channel that supply to our Need.  We can boldly and confidently confess: 

Our God whom we serve is Able to Deliver us.   Dan 3:17

          God wants us to prosper in everything we set our hand to.  He wants us to live and not die.  God wants us well, full of wisdom, overcoming worry, prospering, living in complete deliverance from all Satan’s snares and temptations, strong in mind and body, mature and complete and perfect.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2Pet. 3:9  

          God has resources to get us where He wants us.  He has the ABILITY to get us where He wants us and to give us what He wants us to have. It is obvious that we cannot make it on our own… We need God!  That is why many are failing in certain areas of their lives right now.  They need God and they need to press through.  

          There are many instances in the Bible where people  pressed through to God.    Now, if they can, we can.  God is no respecter of persons.  If they did, we should.  If they received, we can receive.  God has not changed nor has Satan.  The same Word that defeated the devil then still works and will work for us.  Today.  Now. 

          Mark chapter 5 is our text. 

• In this chapter, Jesus conquered demons, disease and death. 

• The man from Gadara who was full of demons got delivered. 

• The woman with the issue of blood got healed of her disease.

• The daughter of the synagogue ruler who was sick and died was raised from the dead. 

The woman with an issue of blood is our example. 

She had a serious need 

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, Mark 5:25 

And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, Mark 5:26 

          Her need was not a new need.  Her problem had existed for a long time.  She had been sick for 12 years.  During these 12 years the Scripture tells us that she suffered.  She was vexed and tormented by this persistent problem.   That is what the does.  He comes to steal, to kill and to destroy.  His mission is to keep you from living and make you die. 

          She not only suffered physically, but she spent all she had.  She was sick and dying and she was broke.  She had been sick and that sickness had used up all her financial resources.  She had spent all she had and was still sick. 

          Not only was she sick and broke and she never got any better… instead she grew worse and worse.  She was caught up in a hopeless and futile and fatal of circumstances.  This is just the kind of case Jesus specializes in resolving. 

          Is this like you?  Have you been vexed and tormented for years by the enemy?  Has he robbed from you and made you miserable?  Have you wearied in your warfare with him?  Does it seem like he will never quit or let up or ease up?  Have you suffered at the hand of Satan?  Have you done all you knew to do and yet you got worse?   Spent all you had and yet was nothing bettered? 

          Have you seen no improvement and experienced no relief in spite of your efforts?  Are you worse and not better? Are you dying and not living?    Then you are at the right place at the right time! .  Today is your Day of Deliverance.  Your need will be supplied according to God’s Riches in Glory by and through Christ Jesus.  Your “nothing better, growing worse”  situation is just about over.  You will be better and you will not grow worse.  You will live and not die! 

She heard about Jesus   

When she had heard of Jesus…   Mark 5:27 

           This woman had heard about Jesus.  Now just what do you think she had heard?  Did she hear that the “day of miracles is over”?  Did she hear that in this “dispensation” healing did not work?  Did she hear that the “supernatural” has no place in modern, structured, organized churches?  Did she hear that the “gifts of the Holy Ghost” and “tongues” were not for today? Did she hear that parts of the Bible are really just embellished stories that are not true?   

           What do you think that she heard?  I’ll tell you exactly what she heard: She heard that Jesus was healing the sick and raising the dead and casing out devils.  She heard and knew that Jesus had the supply for her need.  She heard that Jesus could and would make her live and keep her from dying. 

           If she had heard all this negative stuff that most people are hearing in their churches today, she would have a hard time believing.  She would have been religious, but she would have been wrong.  She would have been “theologically correct” but she would have died and not lived.

          What have you heard about Jesus?   What you hear about Jesus should determine where you go to church.  Because where you go to church will determine what you hear about Jesus.  If the Gospel is limited and restrained and watered-down where you go to church, you will not get what you need from God and God will not get what He wants from you and you will die and not live. 

She risked her life to get close to Jesus 

She came in the press behind, and touched his garment  Mark 5:27

          She actually risked her life to get where Jesus was.  In her day and according to the Law of Moses, she was ceremonially “unclean” because of her issue of blood and was subject to being stoned to death if she was caught out in public.  The Law required her to remain in seclusion because she was considered “unclean” and “impure.”  But, she counted the cost, made her decision and moved out in faith.  She faced certain and horrific death if she were caught… but she determined to get to where Jesus was.  She gave her all.  She pressed through. She risked her life. 

          Some today cannot risk a ball game or a fishing trip;  a television program; a vacation or game of golf to get where Jesus is. Some will not risk religion or tradition or custom or denomination to get where Jesus is.  Others refuse to risk comfort, convenience and time and effort.  No wonder we have trouble getting what Jesus has for us. 

          This woman ventured out.  She launched out.  She pressed through.  She believed, trusted, risked her life and in great desperation, set her course to get her need met and receive her healing.  She did not wait until later or for a more convenient set of circumstances… she moved in the midst of great risk because she knew Jesus had her answer.  

          Do you believe Jesus has your answer today?  Yes or no? Are you willing to take some risks in order to get through to Jesus?  Is your reputation more important than your need?  Are your so called “friends” more important to you than receiving the answer to your dilemma?   Are your relatives standing in your way?  Are they preventing you from launching out and venturing out and moving on with God?  What reason do you have for waiting until some other time than right now?

          Some are being held back and restrained and hindered because they are afraid of what others will think or say if they risk all in order to gain Jesus.  We need to learn from this desperate, needy, dying woman… she risked everything and lost nothing but her sickness… her critical need.     She pressed through and received exactly what she needed; her deliverance from death.   

She was determined to get to Jesus   

She came in the press behind, and touched his garment.  Mark 5:27 

The word “press” in this verse comes from the Greek word meaning “riot.”  There was actually  a “riot” going on around Jesus, yet this woman was determined to press through in order to get to Jesus.  She would not be denied!  She would not give up because of a difficult situation. She did not quit in the face of an impossibility.    She was not discouraged and she did not back down… she ignored “reason” and made up her mind to get her answer; she refused defeat and delay. 

          She was desperate and she was determined.  She knew Jesus had her answer.  She refused to allow Satan to prevent her from getting what was rightfully hers.  Now, what “riot” is hindering you?  What difficulty or impossibility has made you give up and quit?  Are you not willing to come through the “press” in order to touch Jesus?  How desperate are you to live and not die? Pressing through is never easy and it is never convenient.  It always demands commitment, determination and boldness.

          The magnitude of the problem did not hinder the woman.  The impossibility of the situation did not prevent her from keeping on!  The “riot” was not big enough to keep her away from Jesus.  If you will come through the press (fight through every difficulty) you can touch Jesus, too.    Demon forces will fight you.  Satanic powers will resist you.  Hell will rise up against you.  Will you come through the press?  Jesus is here now… one touch and you will live and not die.

She received what she believed   

And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. Mark 5:29 

          (1) She believed that JESUS could heal her and would heal her.  She believed in spite of what others said or thought or did.  She risked her life to get where Jesus was.  She knew her healing depended on what she did with what she believed. 

          (2) She made a powerful verbal faith-confession.  “If I may only touch His clothes, I SHALL be whole.”   Notice her faith:  “I shall be (not may be or hope to be or one day will be) but I shall be WHOLE.”  (“whole” here is the Greek sozo which is the all-inclusive word for “salvation”:  it means be delivered… be healed… be saved… be protected… be prospered… be preserved).

          (3) She did what she confessed.  She said and then she did.  Her faith was followed with action.   Faith without works is dead  (Jas 2:20) or “faith without corresponding action is no good…”  She acted on what she believed.

          (4) She received what she believed.  “And straightway (immediately) the fountain of her blood (unchecked for 12 years) was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.”   

God knows when a believer presses through     

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? Mark 5:30 

          Jesus knew that “virtue” (dunamis: miraculous, wonder-working power) had “gone out of Him”…   Many were touching Him but only ONE touched him in faith.  The faith touch is a “different touch.”  It is the “faith touch” that pleases God.  He delights in His children pressing through to touch Him.  He knows when it happens and He delights in it.

           “Without Faith it is impossible to please Him.”  How long has it been since you pressed through to God?  Would you like to receive His power today?  Would you like for His supply to meet your need today?  You can come to Him but you might have to come through the press of things around you.   One touch will change your life and set you free.  Don’t be discouraged or dismayed or afraid.   Right now press through and touch Jesus.   You will be made whole…. just like this courageous woman with an issue of blood and you will live and not die.    

Word for Today:  October 29

There is only one fool-proof evidence of the New Birth.

Jesus gave this criteria to us in His Word.  This is the one most important characteristic of the Christian Walk.  Nothing is more important than this.  This one demand and one command is basic.  Jesus talked about it more than anything else and He demonstrated it more perfectly than any other message of His earthly ministry.  He longed to see it in His disciples and He knew that it would be the basis for the New Testament Church.  If the Church is to BE what Jesus died for it to be and if the Church is to DO what He died for it to do, then this one thing is absolutely necessary.

I am convinced that this is the greatest need in this hour.  It is a need for the Church and it is a need for all Evangelical Ministries.  It is perhaps the greatest need in your life as a Believer.  It is not impossible.  It is possible.  It is necessary.  It is vital.  It is fundamental to the continuation of the Gospel on earth.

Jesus called this a “new commandment.”  A new commandment I give unto you…  (John 13:34)  He knew that He was soon to depart and He wanted so desperately for His followers to be adequately equipped to continue His Ministry on earth.  He did not emphasize theology.  He did not emphasize education.  He did not emphasize experience or ability.  He brought attention to the one thing that will guarantee the continued success of the Gospel Message.

He also stated that this would be the one qualifying characteristic that would cause the world to know how we stand with God.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples… (John 13:35)   BY THIS….

This is the one thing that will tell the world where you stand with God.  And this is the greatest thing needed in the world today.

That thing is LOVE

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Php 2:5 

That ye be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled… II Thes 2:2

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2Cor. 10:5

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Heb12: 1

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.   Heb12:2 

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.  Heb12:3 

          In Hebrews chapter 12, the Christian walk is compared to an athletic race.  The crowds are present.  The stadium is full.  The course is before us.  We must win.  We will win.  Second place will not do.  The success of our calling is at stake and nothing short of championship will do.  WE MUST WIN. 

          There are obstacles and hindrances on the track.  There are many opportunities to fail and not finish our course.  There are many distractions along the way.  There are opportunities to quit and accept defeat.  To give in to fatigue or weariness or weakness will cause our opponent to get ahead.  It will cause  us to lose the race.  We were born again to win and WE MUST WIN.

          Every Believer is in this race.  You are in this race.  You will run or you will give up.  You will win or you will lose.  Every believer is on the track… and so is the devil our adversary and opponent. 

Notice:

There is a Great Cloud of Witnesses surrounding us 

          They are watching and they are cheering. They are pulling for us. They have gone before us; they have finished the race and they are winners.  They know what is before us and they know the challenges we will face.  They also know that we can win.  They have won and they know we can win.  They are on our side.  They want us to win.  They are in heaven’s grand stand and they are cheering for us.  They watch and they observe… Our victory is important to them.

We are to lay aside hindrances or weights that will keep us from doing our best

          Runners who win strip off their outer garments in order to lighten their  load so they can use all their energy and strength in running the race.  Anything that will keep us from running fast must be put off.  If it is flab… it has to be taken off.  If it is unnecessary weights… they must be thrown off.  In our spiritual race, if it is a defective mind condition… our mind must be renewed.  In order to be a champion, our mind needs to be convinced that we can win.  It needs to think “I am going to win.”  It needs to believe “Nobody on this track is faster than I am.”  It needs to resolve “I am not stopping until I am number one…” It needs to visualize… “I can see that championship trophy on the shelf in my den…”

We are to Run with Patience        

          We are to run bearing up under every pressure and difficulty.  If we run with patience, then patience is running alongside of us.     Patience is willing to wait for the proper time to “make our move.”  Patience gives us assurance because it is not moved by the immediate.  Patience means that we are assured of victory regardless of how the race appears because God is with us and God never fails.

We are to Look to Jesus as we run

          What the runner focuses on (looks at) will keep him moving directly toward the goal… the finish line.  Distractions will delay the victory and could cause defeat. 

          Jesus is the GOAL and the FINISH LINE.  He is the VICTOR’S CIRCLE.  We stay ahead when we focus on Him.  We will win as long as we LOOK to HIM. 

We are to Consider Him when we get tired and weary and are tempted to quit

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Heb 12:3 

          The Believer’s greatest temptation is to give up and give in.  Fatigue will attack us.  Weariness will want us to slow down, to rest, and even quit.  In times of great stress and trial and crisis… when it seems that all has failed… we are tempted to faint in our minds. 

          The way to fix our mind… our “fainting” mind… our “shaken” mind… our “weary” mind is by “considering Jesus.”   To “consider” is to “think about” and to “ponder”; to “contemplate.”    The next verse (4) tells us that we have not gotten to the point where we actually “shed blood” over our stressed out condition. 

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Heb 12: 4

When we think about the suffering, the torture, the humiliation Jesus endured, we really have no right to complain.  Or to give out.  Or to give up.  Or to quit. 

What “kind” of mind did Jesus have?

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Php 2:5 

 Jesus knew Who He was   

          He knew why He left heaven.  He knew what He came to earth to accomplish.  There was never any doubt in His mind as to Who He was or what He was here on earth for. He had a single mind.  He knew He was the Son of God.   He knew what He was born to do and His mind was set on accom­plishing His mission. 

          Believers need to know who they are.  What does the Bible say about us?  Who has God made us to be and what have we been birthed into through the Redemptive Work of Jesus?  When we receive a revelation of who we are, we can begin to think like Jesus thinks.  When we think like Jesus we are positioned to do what He did.  Jesus tells us that we are capable of doing “greater works” than even He accomplished. 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. Joh 14:12 

Check out who the Bible says we are and what the Bible says we can do:

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12   

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil. 4:13    

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Gal. 2:20  

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Matt. 28:18  

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ,(by grace ye are saved;) Eph. 2:5    

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Eph. 2:6  

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2Cor. 5:21    

Satan is the father of all liars.  Notice what he will try to do by lying to us:        

• He will cause us to doubt in our mind. 
• He will make us wonder if we are really saved.
• He will tell us that we are so messed up that we can never please God. 
• H will convince us that we are the worse person alive. 
• He will make us feel like a hypocrite. 
• He will cause us to think that all this Holy Ghost stuff is foolishness.
• He will make us consider just how ridiculous it is to speak in tongues and to dance before God and to experience the joy of the Holy Ghost. 
• He will constantly remind us that intelligent people…educated people… cultured people…. well-balanced people… would not be caught dead in a Spirit-Filled Church. 
• He will attempt to make us reason and “think through” this Pentecostalism stuff. 
• He wants you to back off and backslide because he knows that the TRUTH will defeat him. 

The Truthwill make us free.  And the truth is that we are Flesh and Bone and Blood with GOD inside of us.  That is what the Bible says about us.    

Jesus knew His Father

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3  

          He was intimate with Him.  He knew His Will and He knew His heart.  He was in agreement with His Father.  He talked with Him and He loved Him and He had continual fellowship with Him.  Jesus knew His Father. 

What does it mean to “know” God? 

It means much more than religion has taught us.  It means more than most preachers and teachers have told us.  It means more than praying.  It means more than joining a church.  It means more than walking down an aisle and shaking a preacher’s hand.  It means more than being baptized. 

• Knowing God is not knowing about God. 
• Knowing God is not understanding the works of God. 
• Knowing God is not belonging to a church. 
• Knowing God is not being religious. 
• Knowing God is not even being “spiritual.” 
• Knowing God is not being good, kind, sweet or generous. 
• Knowing God is not knowing the Bible. 
• Knowing God is not being holy.
• Knowing God is not being righteous.
• Knowing God is not having a good testimony.
• Knowing God is not being an official in the church.
• Knowing God is not doing good works.
• Knowing God is not praying or giving or being faithful to some church.

          Jesus said that some who think that they KNOW God do not know Him at all.

Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matt. 7:21   

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Matt. 7:22  

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matt. 7:23  

          The majority of Christians today are in a superficial and shallow relationship with God.  Charismatics can be in that majority.  Full-Gospel people can be in that majority.  Spiritual people can be in that majority.  Most believers are merely acquainted with God.  Few are deeply intimate with God.   Living with Him in an intimate, close, personal, private, relationship, is knowing God. 

The word know appears 464 times in the Old Testament and 299 times in the New Testament.  In some places it implies a surface relationship and in others it implies a deep, personal, intimate, loving relationship.  Some forms of this word are so intimate that it is used to describe the loving, passionate, Scriptural sexual relationship that is shared between husband and wife in marriage. 

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; Phil. 3:10  

          As outstanding as the Apostle Paul was, he had a longing to “know Him.”  He authored more than two-thirds of the New Testament and is considered one of the most educated and dedicated Christians of all time… yet, his heart’s desire was to really know God. 

Jesus knew the Word 

          He knew the Word because He is the Living Word!  He was familiar with God’s plan and purpose for Israel and for the Gentiles.  He knew what God said about Him.  He knew what the Word declared regarding His death, burial and resurrection.  He was no doubter.  He was a believer.  He knew the Word.  Jesus spoke the Word.  Jesus thought the Word.  Jesus used the Word as a weapon against the devil.

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. Hebr. 10:35  

          Jesus had confidence in the Word.  He trusted in the Word.  He relied on the Word.  He depended on the Word.

          Jesus released the Word from His heart of faith and when He did miracles hap­pened.  The sick were healed.  The blind received their sight.  The lame walked.  Those who were demon pos­sessed were set free.  The powers of na­ture obeyed the Word that Jesus spoke.  Jesus knew the Word. 

Jesus knew what He could do

          He was certain and sure of His author­ity.  Jesus knew He had power over all the power of the enemy.  He never doubted what He could do and He was not afraid to do it.  Jesus knew what He could do and He knew the limitations of the devil.  He knew about spiritual warfare and He knew He could win every conflict and conquer every de­mon. 

Jesus had a winning mental­ity 

          He had no fear.  In His mind, He never considered defeat.  He never gave in to worry or fear or anxiety.  Even in the times of great con­tradictions, He maintained His win­ning mentality.  Even before and dur­ing the crucifixion, He never conceded to defeat.  He exercised victory over death by willingly giving up the spirit of life.

 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Luke 23:46    

 No man taketh it (my life) from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I re­ceived of my Father. John 10:18 

Jesus had Faith

He lived by Faith and He walked by Faith. 

He used His faith to pay His taxes. 

Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.   Matt. 17:27   

          He used His Faith to stop a storm. 

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  Mark 4:39   

           He used His Faith to see what was not and to call things that were not as though they were.  Jesus had a mind that was filled with the Word.

          He used His faith to raise the dead.  

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.   John 11:44   And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. John 11:43  

          He used His faith to heal the sick: 

And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. Matt. 8:14   

And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

Matt. 8:15  

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: Matt. 8:16  

He used His Faith to cast out devils:

 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. Mark 9:25  

And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. Mark 5:12

And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. Mark 5:13  

          How amazing that the Bible tells us to have the mind of Christ!  Even more amazing is the fact that you and I can literally have His mind!  The acquisition of this kind of mind is really up to us… it is our responsibility. 

          Notice Paul says “Let” this mind be in you….  The understood subject of this statement is “you.”  Because only “you” can “let” it happen.  It is a command.  It is a possibility.  It is an imperative… if we are to succeed in living and not dying.

Word for Today:  October 28

Has God ever come to rescue you in the past?

Has He ever gotten there in the “nick of time?”  Just consider the many times He has reached down and picked you up.  Held your hand.  Helped you to your feet again.   Remembering the Faithfulness of God in the past is a great deterrent to discouragement and despair in the present.  IF God was there then, He is there now.  If God was able then, He is able now.

Are you ready for deliverance?  Have you come to the place of casting all your care on Him?  Will you “give up” with your own efforts and trust God Totally?

An experienced mountain climber got caught on the face of a mountain.  He had fallen and dropped to the very end of his life line.  It was dark.  It was beginning to snow and a blizzard was approaching.  He hung on in the blinding snow and in the dark.  He knew he could not survive the night exposed on the mountain side.  He was not really praying man, but he began to pray:  “Dear God, please help me.  Tell me what I must do to be delivered.  Speak to my heart and give me some direction… if you don’t I’m going to die.”

The voice of God spoke to him and said:  “Let Go.”  The climber refused because he was afraid.  He was convinced that if he turned loose he would fall thousands of feet to his death.

They found him the next day hanging on the end of the safety line… frozen to death.  One foot below his dangling feet was a ledge… a ledge large enough for him to find refuge from the storm and deliverance from certain death.

Let Go.  Trust God.

He’s Always There

The thief cometh not, but for to steal,  and to kill, and to destroy:  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10  

          There are only two kinds of people on earth.  And I do not mean men and women.  They are either Alive people or Dead people.  You can be dead before you are dead.  If you are Alive you know it.  If you are  Dead you know it.  The devil is the mer­chant of death.  Jesus is the Giver of life.      

          The ultimate purpose and mission of the devil is to steal, kill and destroy; we find this out in John 10:10.  The devil deals in death and destruction.  Jesus gives LIFE and brings RESTORATION.   All problems and at­tacks are designed by Satan to steal your goods, take your life, and destroy you and anything and everything you have.   The devil wants death and destruc­tion to overtake you. 

On the contrary, Jesus wants Life and Restoration to overtake you.   How did Jesus deal with death?  The Bible says He conquered death, hell and the grave.  Because He did, they are still conquered.  If we can see and understand how Jesus dealt with death, we can deal with it the same way.   

“Death” comes in many forms.  It is more than dying a natural death and becoming a corpse.  Death can come into a marriage.  Death can come into a business.  Death can come in the form of sickness and disease.  Death can come into a family, a relationship or any situation in the human experience. 

As we consider how Jesus dealt with death, we can learn some valuable lessons that can bring a resurrection into any “death” experience we may be facing. 

Let’s look at how Jesus dealt with the death of His friend Lazarus.

Every Death Attack is an Opportunity  

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. John 11:4  

          Jesus “heard” the bad report that His friend Lazarus had died.  We know that faith comes by hearing but doubt also comes by hearing.  Unbelief can be birthed and nourished  by hearing bad news.  Distress can come by hearing a bad report.   Fear can be initiated by hearing negative things.   What are you hearing?  Whatever you are hearing will either build your faith are add to your unbelief.  Jesus determined not to be moved or influenced  by what He heard. 

          Then, Jesus declared with His mouth what the situation was going to be.  He took the opportunity to prophesy what was going to be because he knew the will of God in the matter.   Jesus “heard” and then He “said.”  What He heard did not alter what He said.  He re­fused to give in to the sense realm by be­lieving the opinions of men. 

          “It’s not over.  It’s not final.  It’s not what it’s going to be.  God is working.  I am waiting.  I am believing.  I am speak­ing.  I am prophesying.  What I say is in agreement with God and because of this, the devil (and all his works) will have to move aside.”  This kind of thinking and speaking comes out of a mind that is renewed by the Word and a faith that is founded on the Word.

          Jesus saw sickness is an opportunity.  He even saw death as an opportunity.  In the believer’s life, every impossibility is an opportunity.  Your fiery trial is an opportunity for you to exercise your faith,  to get into the Word and find out what God says.  It is an opportu­nity to turn tragedy into testimony. 

When you see your “death” situation in this light, you will be encouraged to say the same thing Jesus said: “This thing is not unto death…. it is not the end….it is an opportunity for God to show Himself strong in my behalf and to give me a powerful testimony of His Faithfulness.”

          We are all faced with “Lazarus” at­tacks.  What we do and how we act in the midst of such situations will demonstrate just how deep we are in God.   We can say what others are saying.  We can agree with what the facts are.  We can accept the “inevitable” or we can prophesy to the situation.  God has called us into His Kingdom and given us the power to cre­ate with our words the things that are in the will of God.    

          Your fiery trial… your graveyard tribulation… your Red Sea and your furnace heated seven times over… your den of lions and your Goliath…  all these are opportunities for God to get glory and for you to experience a miracle.  Jesus knew that impossibilities are oppor­tunities for God to show Himself strong in behalf of those who would DARE to BELIEVE!

When under pressure:  Don’t Change your Plans 

When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.   John 11:6   

          The devil wants you to change di­rections… especially if you are in the will of God.  If you are on the way to where God wants you, then Satan and all the forces of darkness are aligned to make you change your direction and alter your plans. 

Remember how the devil tried to stop Jesus on the Sea of Galilee with the great storm before He made it to the other side?   Here, as He considered the Lazarus situation, Jesus was in the flow of God and was not willing to change His direction just because He re­ceived some bad news.  Jesus stayed.  Sometimes it is hard to stay.  Staying can be standing still.  When we hear of pressing needs and powerful at­tacks, we are tempted to run ahead of God.  Remember… the Battle is the Lord’s but the victory is ours. 

          Satan is the author of all bad news.  Bad news is demonic.  Bad news is a fiery dart of the enemy.  Bad news is Satan’s at­tempt to get you to change your plans and alter your direction.  When you are the receiver of bad news, keep your eyes on your objective… do not allow discour­agement, worry, fear or distractions to make you change your plans in your walk of faith. 

          Job was a man who was a servant of the Most High God.  He had some bad news brought to him… over and over again.  On the very heels of one messen­ger, another would come until it seemed that Job could not stand any more.  And yet “in all of this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly…”  It was the devil attempting to change the course of Jobs life.  Learn from the Life of Jesus…. do not allow demonic pressure to change your faith position. 

          How many times have we wanted Jesus to “hurry up?”  Our need presses us to prompt Jesus to hurry to our rescue.  However, God has a time.  He has a schedule.  And His time is the always the RIGHT TIME.  During tough times, we need to remember that things are happen­ing in the realm of the spirit we can­not see. 

God is working.  The devil is fighting.  We are waiting.  And while we wait, He is working in our behalf.  If He is not hurrying, He has a reason.  Jesus needed to remain where He was in order for God to get the glory for the mira­cle of Lazarus’ resurrection. 

          Remember, when you are in the will of God, you do not have to change your plans when Satan attacks and emer­gencies arise.   Hold steady.  Do not panic.  Stay on your course.  Do not change your plans because of de­monic emergencies. 

Nothing is FINAL when Jesus is Present

Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.  John 11:14  

          Nothing can be more final than death.  Death means it’s over.  Death means it’s done.   When you are dead…. you are dead!  It’s over!  It’s finished!  It’s done!  UNLESS Jesus is there!  Listen:

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.   1Cor. 15:26  

          So many times our attitude is like that of Thomas:  “Let us also go, that we may die with him…”   (John 11:16). Thomas was reflecting the normal attitude of most people when they are facing a death situation;  “Oh, well, it’s over.  No need to keep on.  It’s finished.”   However, nothing is FIXED or “set in concrete” in the world system.   Not even death!  Jesus is the Great Changer.   He changes things.  When it seems totally fi­nal and nothing more can be done… when death looms and defeat is at hand and all hope is gone… Nothing is FINAL when Jesus is present.  If He can raise Lazarus from the dead, He is more than able to resurrect your dead hopes and dreams and aspirations.       

          Both Mary and Martha fell into the trap of the “If Syndrome.”

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.  John 11:21  

Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him,  Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.  John 11:32  

          You cannot afford to live in the land of IF.  “If I had just done this… ”  “If I had just said this…”  “If I had tried harder…”  “If ” moves you into the place of legalism and performance-based faith.   IF is not Grace.  IF is works.  IF will short circuit the will of God.  It does not matter who or what you are, what you have done, or what your need may be… all you need is JESUS.  He will erase all your “Ifs”  and  deliver you from your negative thinking. 

Don’t Yield to Religious Thinking

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.   John 11:24  

          Every time you are faced with an impossibility, Religion will attempt to rise up and “explain” the situation.  Religion attempts to make the Word of God agree with the death situation you are experi­encing instead of making the death situa­tion agree with the Word of God.   Religion is dead doctrine.  Religion is self-righteous pride and arrogance.  Religion is form and tradition and legalistic law.  Religion is a heavy burden.  Religion works with the devil to keep you in death.  Religion is deception.  Christianity is not Religion… it is LIFE.    Read Matthew 23 to see what Jesus said about Religion.

          Religion will help the devil kill you and destroy you.  Pious platitudes that look way into the future for pie in the sky by and by will not help you in the NOW.  Most of what Religion taught us about God had nothing to do with the present.  It was either history or Heaven.  God is a God of the NOW.  And Jesus is a Jesus of TODAY.   

Don’t Be Moved by the Opinions of Men

And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?  John 11:37  

          What people think and say has nothing to do with what the Word says unless they are thinking with a renewed mind.   All the opinions of men will not heal the sick or raise the dead.  What you say and what you think is worthless unless your WORDS and your THOUGHTS agree with the WORD OF GOD.  

Most who are so quick to give advice and counsel know little or nothing of the power of God.  The ones looking on the death scene Jesus faced, saw the grave and the grieving family and began to murmur.  Skeptics always murmur.  Doubters and unbelievers are always looking for REASONS.  God is not a rea­soning God and He does not operate REASONABLY…  He is a FAITH GOD and He operates in the SUPERNATURAL.  

Attempt the Impossible

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.  John 11:39  

          Jesus “went too far.”  He crossed over the line.  He “lost it.”  When you begin to roll away grave stones from impossible situations, the devil and all his helpers will accuse you of going too far.  “You can’t be serious.”  “You really don’t mean that.”  “Do you realize what you are doing?”  “What will people say?”  “What will my relatives think?”    

 If you never attempt the impossible you will never get a miracle.  When you refuse to roll away the stone, you accept defeat and limit God and stop all miracles from happening.  What stone will you roll away today?  What stinking corpse of impossibility will you drag out, uncover and present to God?

 You will never  get a resurrection if you refuse to roll away the stone.  This is your initial act of faith and it is this very act that moves heaven in your behalf.

Pray Right

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.  John 11:41  

          Notice how Jesus prayed.  He refused to pray in doubt and unbe­lief.  “If it be Thy will” praying will never get a miracle or experience a resurrec­tion.  If you know the Word you know the Will!    If you do not know how to pray the Word, you better never roll away the stone. 

Jesus knew (1) What God’s will was,  (2) How to pray in agreement with God’s will, and  (3) How to pray in great faith.  He was sure of His position in God.  He knew who He was and what God had promised to do for Him.  He did not beg.  He did not plead.  He did not an­guish.  He thanked God.  

Speak Faith Boldly

And when he thus had spo­ken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.   John 11:43  

          I get great comfort from this verse.  If Jesus “cried with a loud voice” I guess it’s OK for me to preach with a loud voice.   He boldly and specifi­cally spoke out and called for a miracle.  He “got what He said!”  Remember Mark 11:23?   

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall SAY unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAITH…   

It’s time for you to roll away the stone and speak (loudly) to your situation! 

Get Free

And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave­clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. John 11:44   

          Loose yourself.  Cast off those grave clothes.  Walk out of your tomb.  Get free and stay free.  Do not get entangled again with the yoke of bondage that kept you bound.  Tear off the grave clothes and let new life come forth.  Refuse to stay in the graveyard dressed like the dead, looking like the dead and smelling like the dead.    Get Up.  Get Out. Get Free.  Stay Free.

          This is how Jesus dealt with death.  Since the Word says
“as He is so are we in this world…” we can deal with our death situations just like Jesus did with His. 

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.   1Jo 4:17  

Word for Today:  October 27

Jesus’ self-emptying.

(Jesus) Who existing in the Form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation (Kenoo) and took upon Him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross…  Phil. 2:6-8

Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call His name Immanuel…  Isa. 7:13

The Kenosis of Jesus is a Foundation Truth that many have failed to grasp.  Kenosis or “self-emptying” simply declares that Jesus willingly “emptied” Himself of His God Characteristics and condescended to the stature and state of a man… a human being… born of a woman… and came to earth to live and die as part of God’s Plan to Redeem Man from Adam’s failure.

Jesus laid down and left in heaven certain characteristics and privileges He exercised as God.  He willingly emptied Himself of His God Form… His God Power… His God Knowledge… His Eternal Life.  He became subject to sickness, disease, death, failure, sin and any and all human liabilities and limitations imposed by Adam’s sin and failure.  The Scripture tells us that:

He was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin… (Heb. 4:15)

Jesus willingly and obediently subjected Himself to the possibility of sin and the possibility of failure when He put off His God Characteristics and took on Himself the form and limitations of humanity.

But He was Victor over temptation.  He was Victor over sin.  He was Victor over every human weakness.  He was Victor over all…

Even death and the grave

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:   Mat 7:24

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  Mat 7:25

 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side Mark 4:35  

And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship And there were also with him other little ships Mark 4:36  

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full   Mark 4:37  

And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? Mark 4:38  

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm  Mark 4:39  

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?  Mark 4:40  

And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?  Mark 4:41  

The Purpose of Storms

            Storms arise and winds blow in the process of spiritual growth and ministry.  When you determine to obey God and be a blessing to His Kingdom, you will usually find yourself in the midst of a raging storm.     

           Storms challenge your faith and will often put you into confusion.    You may not be able to see God, hear from God or feel His presence.   You will be tempted to give in to confusion and ask foolish questions such as, “Why me?” or  “What did I do wrong?” or “Why is God punishing me?” 

            Actually, the storms in life are caused by the devil. They are devices to stop you from getting to the place God has prepared for you.   The devil is the prince of the power of the air and will pervert the forces of nature and anything else he can in order to kill, steal and destroy.  God does not cause storms.  If God causes storms then Jesus was guilty of rebuking Him in Mark chapter 4.   

           Storms in your life do not mean that God is not with you.  On the contrary, they are proof that He is with you and  He has a miracle coming your way.   Storms are not punishments or chas­tenings put on you by God… God will not create problems and difficulties in your life in order to “teach you something!”  

What Storms Are 

          Storms are circumstances and situations.   Storms are problems.  Storms are crises.  Storms are hindrances and delays and disappointments.  Storms are situations that plague us and harass us and attempt to destroy us.  Storms are tribulations and trials.  Storms are sicknesses and physical attacks. Storms are family conflicts and marriage troubles.  Storms are difficulties and impossibilities in the work place. Storms are addictions and habits that keep us in bondage.  Storms are demonic. Storms are satanic. 

          Storms will sink your ship if you do not know how to endure and overcome them.

Where Storms Come From and What Causes Them

Storms are caused by the devil.  This is a fact you must always remember.  They are demonic attacks.  They are designed to do what the devil wants to do.  He wants to kill you, to steal your goods, and to completely destroy you.  Storms are planned and birthed in hell.  They are individually designed for you personally by the devil and his demons.  They are intended to keep you as far away from God and God’s Purpose as possible.  

          The moment you decide to go to the “other side” (Mk 4:35) which is the place God has prepared for you , the devil will create a storm to stop you and sink your ship.  It goes sort of like this: you hear the voice of God… His call and His command… (this is point A) and you start out toward point B (the place where God wants you),  then on the way,  you run into a STORM.

Some of the most committed and dedicated New Testament personalities were at times caught in a storm. 

The disciples were in a small boat in the middle of the sea when they were caught in a storm.  Jesus came to them walking on the water.  (John 6)

The apostle Paul was on the way to Rome and the ship he was on was destroyed in a great storm.  (Acts 27)

Storms can cause:

Discouragement and despair. 

Storms can cause us to give up and go down with the ship.  They make us tired and weary.  They tempt us to blame God and get mad at Him.  They can destroy our peace and mess with our minds.  They can make us sick and frustrate us.  They usually put unbearable pressure on us.  Storms can strain our marriage and hurt our home. Storms can separate us from friends and destroy relationships.  Storms can keep us out of the Will of God. 

Here are some common errors believers make while they are in the midst of a storm:

          (1) Some will use their own efforts to “bail out the boat” and try to keep it afloat.  However, all human effort is futile and the arm of flesh al­ways fails.  Storms are supernatural and cannot be overcome by natural means.  All our natural reasonings and efforts are futile and useless in overcoming storms.

(2) Some will look at the storm and try to size it up and figure it out. They usually end up asking:  “How long?”  “How strong?”  “What’s wrong?”  You will never overcome a storm by studying it or analyzing it. 

          “I wonder how long this will last?”  “Look how much rain is falling and see how strong the wind is blowing….just look at the size of those waves.  My, my, my see how dark it is getting… this is the worst storm I have ever seen.  I don’t think I can survive this one!”  This kind of thinking and speaking will keep you in the storm and could sink your ship.

          (3) Some will concede to defeat immedi­ately.  Remember what the disciples said?  “Carest thou not that we perish?” (Mk 4:38)   Nobody said that every storm was AUTOMATICALLY FATAL.  The devil’s greatest lie to you is that every storm you encounter will sink your ship.  Storms do not have to sink us,  in fact, their energy can be harnessed by our faith and used to get us across to the other side.

          If you are in the midst of a storm, what are you going to do?  If you are on the way to where God really wants you, are you going to let the devil sink your boat? 

What you do in the midst of the storm reveals what manner of man (or woman) you really are (Mk 4: 41). 

          How many of you right now are facing the violence of a STORM in your life?  What are you going to do?  How do you intend to handle the situa­tion?  Are you going down with the ship?  Or will you survive the Storm?

Notice our Text:

And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.  Mark 4:35  

          It was time to do something.God may be prompting you to move on to the “other side”.  Time to pack up and leave the place of “do nothing” and get to the place God has prepared for you.  In this case,it was time for the disciples to move.  It was late in the day.  Night was at hand.  

          The best way and shortest way and quickest way to get through a storm is directly through it.  Fearing it will not work.  Dreading it will not work.  Worrying about it won’t work.  Putting it off will not work.  Going around it won’t work.,  Your decision to move on and face the storm is the beginning of victory.     

          In every journey of life, Jesus wants us to go with Him.  Jesus said “Let us.” He did not say, “Let Me” or “You go by yourself.”  He said “Let US.”  He is ready today to take you WITH HIM to the place He has prepared for you.  Remember, He is in your boat and committed to go with you… no matter what you encounter on your way.

          Jesus knows that there is a miracle waiting “on the other side…”  (Remember the demon           possessed man who got free of the devil in Mark chapter 5?)  That’s what is going to happen to those who survive the storm and make it to the other side….  There is a miracle there waiting for them.  

And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.   Mark 4:36  

          Jesus wants us to be a part of your inner cir­cle.  Notice He sent the multitudes away.  He wants to be near you and with you.  He wants you to know that He is there for YOU.   He cares for YOU.  He loves YOU.  You are extremely important and special to Him.  You are not a statistic or a faceless number in the masses but a very unique individual who He has saved and redeemed and brought into His Family. 

          Jesus wants us to “Take Him” just like He is.  He was already in the boat.  He did not step out, or move out or change boats.  He wants us to take Him right where He is, not like we make Him.  Not like religion makes Him.  Not like the world makes Him. Not like unbelievers make Him.  But “Like He is…”(and He is Who and What the Bible says He is!)

          There are many other “ships” that can try to take you where you want to go.  But be sure you get in the ship Jesus is in.  There is the religious boat.  There is the denomination boat.  There is the performance boat… the good works boat.  There is the “feeling” boat.  The program and method boat.  There is the tradition boat.  There is the man-pleasing boat.  Many boats are out there, but Jesus is in only one of them.  And the one He is in is the right one.  Be sure you get in His boat. 

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.   Mark 4:37  

          Storms “arise…”  In other words, they start small and get bigger… much bigger.   They start as a gentle gust, but develop into a raging fury.  Gusts don’t hurt.  Breezes won’t matter. However, the fury can kill. The longer they last the stronger they get.  When they are left alone they grow.  They rage.  They rip and tear and destroy.  They cause terror and fear. They kill, steal and destroy. 

          The storm buffeted the ship… the very place where Jesus was.  He was in the ship with the disciples.  Where is Jesus now?  He is IN THE BELIEVER.  The fury of hell continually rages against every believer, but Jesus is right there and He will never leave you nor forsake you. It is your physical and mental man that is being shaken and buffeted.  You can “feel” it and “see” it and “sense” it.  However, Jesus in inside.    He is the Power that “worketh” in us.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,  Eph 3:20  

          The raging waves began to spill over into the ship.  When the outside gets on the inside, un­less a miracle happens, the ship will sink.  All natural reasoning and thinking is what is on the outside.  When the fury of carnal thinking, intellect  and believing that’s outside gets inside, unless God comes to our rescue, we will not survive.

          Notice, the ship got full (Mk 4:37).  Your ship may be full.  The outside may have gotten inside.  But remember, Jesus is in the ship with you and God is going to come to your rescue.    Renew your mind.  Start thinking right. .  Believe right.  Talk right.  And don’t panic.

And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?   Mark 4:38  

          Jesus was not alarmed.  He refused to be affected by the storm the devil created.   Satan was no problem to Him.  Nothing Satan can do or could do was any danger to Him.  And nothing the devil does can harm you IF you think like Jesus, believe like Jesus and talk like Jesus. 

“Nothing shall by any means hurt you…”  Luke 10:19

          He was in the “hinder part” of the ship.  That is where the rudder is located.  He was at the place of choosing the direction of the ship and He was asleep and oblivious to the storm.  No worries.  No fears.  No problems.  No danger.  He was at rest.

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.   Hebr. 4:9  

          He was calm but His followers were in a frenzy.  They were hysterical.  They were filled with fear.  The disciples were convinced that they were going to die.  They even said so.  “Don’t you care?  We are in serious trouble.  We are going to die.”   (Mk 4:38)  We need to set a watch over out tongue when we are in the storm.  It’s much better to confess what you want than to talk about what you see. 

          To accuse Jesus of not caring is to call Him the opposite of Who He really is.  What you say is what you get.  What you believe is what will happen.  What you fear is what will come upon you.

For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.    Job 3:25  

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.    Mark 4:39   

          Jesus got up and then He spoke up.  He spoke up because His faith was up.  His faith was up because He knew the Word. To rebuke means “to admonish or charge sharply.”  He rebuked the wind.  (This was the cause of the waves.  You need to speak to the CAUSE of your storm not the RESULT of it). He “said” to the sea.  “Said” means com­manded.  As you exercise your authority as a believer, you can command things to happen with the words of your mouth.    

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?    Mark 4:40  

          Jesus dealt with the imminent danger, and then He turned to His disciples.  “What’s wrong?” “What’s the matter?”  “Why are you so afraid?”  “Why have you decided to die?”  “What made you give up?”  “Don’t you know WHO is WITH YOU?”  That is exactly what He is saying today to those caught in a storm. 

          “Why are you so empty of faith?”  “Did the seriousness of the situation limit your ability to believe?”  Jesus wanted to know why they were afraid and why they had no faith.  What an in­dictment!  We have no right to complain about what we permit.

And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?    Mark 4:41  

          How amazing!  They were even afraid of their deliverance!    They were afraid of the wind.  They were afraid of the waves.  They were afraid of the sea.  Then they were even afraid of Jesus!   No won­der He rebuked them for  having no faith!

          Then they began talking to one another.  They did not talk to Jesus, they talked to one an­other.  When you talk to one another, you usually talk facts and not faith.  Most of the time facts are embellished and exaggerated and truth is either ignored or denied.    When you talk to Jesus, fear will decrease and faith will increase.

          Unless YOU KNOW what manner of Man Jesus is (possess a genuine revelation of His Person and Work) you will always find yourself in disturbances and storms and threatening situa­tions. 

          He commanded the wind and the sea.  Why should not the wind and sea obey Him?  He created them.  His Word brought the wind and the sea into being. Natural creation can hear.    Jesus spoke to things that did not have “ears” but the things He spoke to heard what He said.   The wind and the sea will always obey Him because they recognize His Voice.  They were created by that Voice.  When they hear His voice they say,  “It’s that Word again…”  That Word is The Word.  The Word  has power over all creation.  Because God has given us the Power to become the sons of God (John 1:12) we, too, can exercise the miracle-working power of the Word.  We can speak and declare that Word in faith.  And when we do, all creation will obey our voice as well.

          Storms can be threatening.  Storms can be frightening.  Storms can be fatal.  Storms can be destructive.  Storms can change things.  But, when dealt with just like Jesus dealt with this storm, they can be turned into blessings.

          Here are some suggestions for you when you find yourself in a storm:

Be Calm

And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow  (38)

          We need to be like Jesus.  Jesus never suffered fromfear, panic, anxiety or nervous tension.  He was never stressed out.  He was calm, cool and collected.  In this case, He was asleep in the storm.     He was at rest and in rest.  He was totally covered by His confidence in God.

          At times of great stress and crisis, my children slept right through some of the greatest storms of my life. They were as­sured that I had everything under control and that I would be able see take care of them and protect them from any danger.     

          Your storm can give rise to reason and doubt as you look at it and give in to it.  When reason begins to function the next step ispanic and despair.  David said that God “prepared a table before him in the midst of his enemies…”  The Word says that we are to roll all our cares over on Him because He cares for us (1Pet 5:7).  If God is our Father, and He is, then He will take care of us and see us through.  Every time.   In every storm.  In every crisis. 

Speak the Word

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still.   ( 39)

          The Word spoken in faith and prayed in faith always produces peace. In this storm, Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the sea… There is a time to pray and there is a time to arise and speak the Word.  Faith-filled words will make the natural submit to the spiritual. 

          If “no-faith” which is what the dis­ciples had (“how is it that ye have no faith…?”) yields to the destructive power of storms then faith (which is what Jesus had) makes the de­structive power of storms submit to the power of God.    

          You cannot speak the Wordif you do not know the Word.   And you cannot act on the Wordif you do not believe the Word.  In the beginning, words that were full of God’s faith released God’s power and brought cre­ation into existence.     God’s Word spoken and prayed in faith will move mountains and stop storms.

Don’t be Afraid

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful?  (40)

          The one thing that will negate faith is fear.  As a matter of fact, fear is the opposite of faith.  Where fear is faith is not.  The disciples were consumed with fear because they were moved by what they saw.  They were “walking by sight” and not by faith.

          Jesus refused to listen to what they were saying about the storm.  Their words were confessions of their lack of faith.  As they talked about the wind and the waves; about sinking and dying, Jesus spoke words that were confessions of His faith.  And His Words had more authority and more power than the wind and waves of the storm. 

          Jesus knew Who He was and what He could do.  When we know who we are and what we can do, it won’t be hard to speak to storms and talk to “situations.”

Exercise Your Authority   

What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?   (41)

          When we consider just “what manner of Man” Jesus is, we will be reminded of what manner of man we are.  

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.  1Jo 4:17 

          Jesus said that you and I would do evengreater works than He did because He was going to the Father  (John 14:12).  When He returned to the Father, the Holy Spirit was released into the earth, and the Church on earth was given power to function in God’s place. If we can believe, He tells us that all things are possible to us.  (Mark 9:23)

          God has given believers the ability, power and authority to do what He says they can do.  “I can’t” is a cop out and denies everything God says His children can do.  No matter what your situation may be, you can overcome it because God says you can!  It has absolutely nothing to do with how difficult or impossible it may be or how violent and relentless your storm is.

          Do you realize you are actually a misfit on earth?   When you are born again you are supernaturally made to live and function by heaven’s laws and principles.  You have God power, God life and God authority.   You can survive any and every storm.  You can conquer your storm.  And you will be enabled and empowered to get to the place God wants you to be.  

          You can rejoice and be glad be­cause the winds of your storm will be captured and contained by God and be used to  drive you to the other side!  Right to the place He has prepared for you and where He wants you to be.  

I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me…   Phil 4:13

          You can walk through the fire and walk on the water… defy devils and cast out demons… witness with power and preach with effective­ness… possess the wisdom of God and have the mind of Christ.  You can be whole and healed and delivered.  You can live your life filled with all the fullness of God!

You can survive your storm because God says you can!

When you feel like Quitting

          There will be times in your Christian Life when you will just feel like quitting.  You will get tired and weary and impatient.  You will begin to wonder if it is really worth it all.  Discouragement will move in and the devil will be­gin to make you tempting offers and alterna­tives. 

          The faith walk is not an easy walk. According to Jesus,  the way into life is narrow and straight and only a few will find it.   Sometimes, the way out seems to be just to quit; to follow the path of least resistance. To forget it.  To retreat.  To back down.  You see, it is always easier to cop out than it is to cope.  The greatest temptation any believer faces is the temptation to quit. When you begin to listen to and follow your feelings and your reasoning sets in, the option to quit may look like the best thing for you to do.

          The pressure and stress of maintaining your victory may build to the point of breaking.  Situations and circumstances may de­velop that will press you beyond measure and push you “over the edge.”  Now, how are believers to handle such situations?  What are we to do when we feel like quitting?  Where can we go to get some “relief?”  Is there a way out when we are at the breaking point?  What are our alterna­tives?

 You can Quit  

          This is probably the easiest to do and it is always a temptation when things really get tough.  It is the simplest and of­fers the least resistance.  But anybody can quit.  You can quit.  We can quit.  Many have quit.  And others will quit.  What about you?  Has the devil “got your number?”  What will it take to make you quit?  How much more “can you stand?”  Is quitting a real temptation for you in your situation at this time in your life?  I am sure some reading this right now are at the “giving up” and “quitting” stage.

You can compromise  

           Satan may be saying to you “if you will back off, I will back off!”  “If you will ease up, I will ease up…”  “If you will compromise, I’ll give you some relief.”  You can back down and ease up and let off.  You can stop and get stuck where you are.  You can re­treat and give up ground that you have fought for and won.  Compromise is an alternative.  But it is costly. You can slip back and fall back and go back.   

You can give in to self-pity 

          You can compare yourself with others and get mad at God.  You can become jealous and envious and get discouraged.  Often you will feel that nobody really cares anyway.  You can begin to wonder about the wicked being blessed and you can get jealous and pout.  You can play on the sympathy of others and complain and murmur.   The pity demons will inoculate you with their lethargy and they will constantly tell you how pitiful you are and how others should patronize you and cater to you.  

OR… you can turn your problems into Opportunities to trust God! 

          You can make your “situations” a test track for the Word of God.  You can stand and sing and shout and refuse to accept defeat.  You can endure and count it all joy when you come into temptations and trials.  You can see every impossible situation as an op­portunity to defeat the devil.  You do not have to quit!

          OK… so you have decided not to quit.  You have decided not to compromise.  You have de­cided not to feel sorry for yourself.  You have decided to quit complaining and murmuring.  You have de­cided to turn your problems into Opportunities to trust God… NOW:  HOW do you do it?

          FIRST…. Understand that you are not the only believer facing a tough situation.  There are literally thousands of other saints who have not bowed their knee to Baal in the thick of the battle!  The very fact that you are tempted to quit is a good sign.  If you are not facing any resistance, it is obvious you are headed in the wrong direction.  No resistance means you are doing nothing for the Kingdom of God. 

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.    Ps. 34:19  

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.   1Cor. 10:13  

          SECOND... never expect your faith walk to be easy.  You have not chosen an easy way of life!  To live by the Word is the most disciplined life a man or woman can know.  All the forces of darkness are set in array against you… demon powers have zeroed in on you because you have become a threat to them. You should recognize that your “situation” is really a conformation that you are headed in the right direction.  So, begin to rejoice and be glad!

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

          THIRD... You should review your contract with God.  Look it over.  If you do, you will see that there is no provi­sion for quitting in it.  When you got saved, you made a Life Commitment to God with no strings attached.  There were no “what ifs” or “just in cases” or other conditional clauses in the Contract.  God did His part.  Jesus did His part.  The Holy Ghost did His part.  The Salvation Contract calls for you to do your part.  You are expected to ENDURE.  You are required to STAND and not WAVER.  You are bound by your Contract with God not to QUIT no matter what. 

… but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Matt. 10:22

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Hebr. 12:3  

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.   Eph. 6:13  

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  Ps. 91:1  

          FOURTH... Remember your victories in the past.  See how God delivered you from the “hand of the lion and the hand of the bear…”  That is what David did as he faced the uncircumcised heathen giant.  Remember and relive the many victories in your past Christian Life. 

          I can remember the numerous times God came to our rescue in situations when there seemed to be no way out.  In over a half century of preaching, teaching and pastoring, I can attest to the faithfulness of God and the power of His Word.  He provided deliverance in times of financial crisis, attacks of sicknesses and health difficulties, times when we had to totally trust Him for food and sustenance.  Every time… not just sometime, but every time, He was there and carried us through and gave us victory over the devil.  I can only praise Him now as I remember those wonderful times of confidence and trust, knowing that with God all things are possible and that in all seasons and situations He will never leave us nor forsake us.  

          We have endured dishonest building contractors and thieving con men.  We have maintained our honesty and refused to bow to criticism.  We have lived down lies and resisted the devil and watched him run.  We have held our head high we have bowed our knee to no man and we have refused to compromise our convictions.  And we won.  We are still winning.  The Word will always win.  And God will never fail.

          If you are considering quitting, stop right now and remember your past victories!

          FIFTH… You need to repent for even considering quitting.  It is a sin and an affront to your faith to even give any thought about giving up and going back. 

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 2Pet. 2:20  

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.   2Pet. 2:21    

But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.  2Pet. 2:22  

          In fact, you do not have the RIGHT to quit.   You can­not legally cancel your commitment to God.  You are bound by your promise and the integrity of your word.  If you have quit, REPENT and come back.  If you are consid­ering quitting REPENT and stop considering it.  Quitters are apostates.  Quitters are backsliders.  Quitters are losers.  Quitters are cowards.   The Bible calls quitters those who “fall away.”

They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.  Lu 8:13 

          SIXTH… Rededicate your efforts to keep on keeping on.  Renew your mind so that you can think right in the middle of your tight situa­tion.  If you allow your situation to dictate how you think and how you feel you will surely fail and you will more than likely quit.  If you allow your mind to be re­newed by the Word of God you will think like God thinks and you will know that quitting is not an option.  

          Notice, God did not quit.  Jesus did not quit.  The Holy Ghost did not quit.  The Word did not quit.  Aren’t you glad they didn’t?  Why don’t you decide to be a non-con­formist?  Be a misfit in the declining culture of the world.  Don’t conform to the world and the world system.  Be a Word radical.  Determine to be different.  Don’t yield to the pressures and allow them to make you back down.  Resist all temptations to give in.  Make your boldest confession in the midst of your darkest trial. 

          You do not have to be like everybody else.  Trying to be like others in order to please men is foolish.  Say this with me right now:

“Jesus, forgive me for even considering quitting.  I repent of the sin of turning back and slowing down and backing down and giving up.  I vow this day to never quit!  I will stand and I will not yield to the pressures of satanic powers.  I decide today to keep on keeping on… no matter what.  I will not be moved.!  Hallelujah.” 

          Be as persistent as the three Hebrew Children:  “I will not bow I will not bend… go ahead and heat the furnace and throw us in… God will deliver us out of the fire and out of your hand, devil.!”  (See Daniel Chapter 3)

          Be as unwavering as David when he faced his giant with a sling and a stone and the assurance that God was with him…. (we all have our giants to face, don’t we?)  Remember… your “situations” are not defying you… they are defying the Lord God Who lives inside of you!

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 1Sam. 17:45  

This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.  1Sam. 17:46  

And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands. 1Sam. 17:47  

 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2Chr. 20:15  

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. Isa. 54:17  

          AND  THEN…  Rejoice and praise God for the Victory even before it comes.  Know you “got it” before you “get it.”  Sing and shout.  Leap and dance.  Run and jump.  Rejoice and praise God right where you are before you see any signs of relief.  Get some banners and flags.  Paint some posters.  Hang out some ribbons.  Declare and advertise your victory before you get it.  Buy a billboard. Let the world know.  Shout it from the housetop! 

          Demonstrate to show God that you are committed to winning and overcoming.  You can never embarrass God with your faith.  (You may embarrass your friends and family, but not God!)  Persist.  Press through.  Stretch.  See your victory with the eyes of your spirit.  See it so real that you can shout about it.  Sincere, heart-felt praise al­ways precedes victory.  (2 Chron 20:20-21)… Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.   Jos 6:16

Word for Today:  October 26

_{God is with you.     What more can you ask?}

 _{If God be for us, who can be against us?  Rom 8:31}

_{The Lord is on my side; I will not fear…” Psa 118:6} 

_{If God is with us what can we fear?  Is anything too hard for God?  Is any devil bigger than God?  Is any sickness impossible for God?  Is any financial situation too bad for God to fix?  Is any marriage out of range for God?  NO!  God is with you.  God will not leave you.  God will not forsake you.  God is in you and He is more than enough!} 

_{No enemy can stand in your way.     No need to fear or be timid.  God says that no man (demon, devil, situation, circumstance, etc.) can stand before you (if they cannot stand, then they have to bow!)  all the days of your life.  How long?  All the days of your life! When you are young and when you are old.  When you are strong and when you are weak.  When you feel bad and when you feel good.} 

_{Nothing and nobody can stand in your way.  When you are in pursuit of God and God’s will for you… nothing can stop you.  When you choose to live and refuse to die, when you choose Truth and refuse the lie… you connect with God and nothing can stand before you.} 

_{Hell has to move over}