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Word for Today:  July 31

God wants to encourage you today.

He wants to build you up in your most Holy Faith…  He wants to strengthen you and help you and deliver you.  He wants you to be blessed.  He wants you to know that He is able to set you free from every snare and every devil and every fiery trial.  He speaks to you by His Word and through the Anointing and assures you that He has everything under control.

We have a lot going for us.  We are blessed and well provided for.  We live in abundance and suffer no lack.  We are God’s People and we are a special people…  God calls us “Peculiar”… “Set Apart”… “A Holy Nation”… “His Children”… “His Husbandry”… “His Garden”… “His Temple”…

We are blessed with an abundance of His Word…  Yet, many are hurting and wondering and wishing… some are doubting and even more are struggling with apparent impossible situations and trying circumstances.   If this is you…. hold on!

God wants you to be delivered.  God wants you to be free.   God wants you overcoming, ruling and reigning in life.  Deliverance is for you.  God is for you.  The Word is for you.

And God is Able!

The sower soweth the word. Mark 4:14  

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. Mark 4:15  

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; Mark 4:16  

And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. Mark 4:17 

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,   Mark 4:18   

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.  Mark 4:19  

And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.  Mark 4:20   

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1Pet. 1:23   

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matt. 4:4           

Jesus tells us that the Word is the Seed

Now the parable is this:  The seed is the word of God.   Luke 8:11   

If the Word is the Seed then the Seed is alive.   The Seed is ripe and ready to produce.  The Seed has heaven-potential in it.  Whatever is in Heaven is in the Word. The Seed of Heaven is the Word of God.  There is life in the Seed.  There is healing in the Seed.  There is deliverance in the Seed.  There is prosperity in the Seed.  There is peace in the Seed.  There is joy in the Seed.  There is victory in the Seed. 

   When the Word Seed is planted in good ground, watered and protected, it will produce exactly what God produces.  There are no restrictions in the Seed… nothing is held back that is good.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield:  the Lord will give grace and glory:  no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly…  

Psa 84:11    

          The SEED is OK.  Nothing is wrong with the Seed.  The Seed is perfect and the Seed is complete.  The Seed will grow and mature and produce fruit IF the proper conditions are met.  God’s Purpose is in the Seed.  God’s Will is in the Seed.  God’s Power is in the Seed. 

Just as all the intricate characteristics of any plant are in the seed of that plant, so are all the intricate plans and purposes for YOU in the Seed of God. 

There are two things we need to know:

          1.  What does God want the Seed to grow?

2.  What will it take to for the Seed to grow what God wants it to grow?

FIRST:  God wants to grow the Kingdom 

He wants the Kingdom of Heaven to grow on earth. 

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hollowed be Thy Name;  Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, in EARTH as it is in HEAVEN…   Mat 6:9-10

Jesus prayed this prayer.  It is a “model” prayer he gave us and should be a pattern for the way we pray. God wants to Grow Heaven on Earth. He wants to grow Heaven’s provisions on earth, He wants to grow Heaven’s qualities on earth and He wants to grow Heaven’s purpose on earth. 

This crop will not grow unless it grows in and though people. The people this crop is to grow through is the Church.  We (the Church) are God’s hope and dream for His crop production and His ultimate harvest. 

SECOND:  It will take the Seed (the Word of God) to grow what God wants to grow 

The entire purpose and plan of God is contained in His Seed.  In order for it to grow and mature and produce, several things have to happen:

1.  The Seed has to be SOWN  

In the parable of the sower in Mark chapter four there is an interesting word that is translated sow.  It is spiro  and it is derived from a primitive Greek verb which means “to draw out.”  

The Bible concept of sowing is DRAWING OUT or PULLING OUT what God has PUT IN.   

Therefore, it does not mean just to scatter or throw out or to cast out, rather the primary meaning is to DRAW OUT or PULL OUT. 

In order for the Seed of God to produce, the ground must PULL OUT of it what GOD has PUT IN IT. Paul tells the Philippians to “work out your own salvation…” (2:12b)  And this is the idea of “working out” or “pulling out” what God has put in.  In order to SOW the SEED the GROUND has an important responsibility.   It must PULL OUT what God has put in. 

          You are the Ground.   I am the Ground.  We are the Ground. The ground determines the harvest potential of the Seed of God.  The ground determines what the Seed will produce.  In order to pull the Kingdom of Heaven out of  the Seed of God, the ground has an awesome responsibility. 

According the parable, there are four kinds of ground.  (1) Way side ground.  (2) Stony ground.  (3) Ground with thorns, and (4) good Ground. 

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.    Mark 4:15   

Way side ground ignores the Seed  

It is sown, but it is ignored. Because it is sown and ignored,  Satan comes at once and steals it. 

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;   Hebr. 2:3   

          Unfortunately, many people in the Body of Christ are guilty of ignoring the Word… the Seed of God.  They often cast it aside.  At times they make light of it.  Many fail to see the importance of it.  Sometimes they allow this Life-Providing, Need-Meeting, Sin-Forgiving, Sickness-Healing, devil-Defeating, SEED to remain unplanted and unproductive.  And sadly, some do not really care.

 Because many are careless, Satan comes and steals their healing, their prosperity, their joy, their strength, their hope and their protection.  Absolutely nothing is wrong with the Seed.  The problem is always with the ground.

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;   Mark 4:16   

And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.   Mark 4:17   

Stony ground can’t stand any pressure 

The Seed is gladly received, but before it can pull out what God has put in, when pressure and opposition arise, it just gives up and quits.  When pressures, temptations, trials and contradictions happen, they forget what is in the Seed and begin to look instead at what is outside the Seed. 

They often look at the impossibilities, the obstacles, the sicknesses and the failures of others.   Thousands today have quit or compromised because of the pressure and stress Satan has caused in their Christian walk.

God does not create trials and temptations and circumstances and “situations,”  rather, they are orchestrated by the devil and their purpose is to make you give up and quit.  Stony ground is shallow.  Stony ground is “touchy-feely.”  Stony ground is immature.  Stony ground is self-centered.  Stony ground is easily offended.  Stony ground is emotion-driven and often lives by feelings, by assumptions and by suppositions.

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, Mark 4:18   

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.    Mark 4:19   

Ground with thorns is choked on materialism 

Before it can pull out what God has put in, it gets hooked on and addicted to the world system.  The glitter and glamour of riches and security,  the lust of the flesh and the desire for recognition take precedent over pulling out what God has put in. 

The Kingdom harvest is choked and stunted and it becomes unfruitful because of the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, and the desire for money and material things. 

And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.   Mark 4:20  

Good ground hears and receives the Seed of God  

Hears: (akouo) to hear with understanding;  

Receives:(parad-ekhomahee) to receive near; to delight in.  

Interestingly, in the case of the stony ground, the word “receive” is lambano  which means to take casually. 

When you hear with the understanding and delight greatly in the truth of the Seed you are on the way to producing a Kingdom Harvest!

          Now, how do you reap your harvest?  Reaping your harvest involves five principles: 

          1.  Sowing the Seed.

          2.  Protecting the Seed that is sown.

          3.  Watering the Seed that is sown.

          4.  Waiting for the Seed that is sown to grow.

          5.  Harvesting what the Seed that is sown produces.

First, you MUST SOW    

You will never reap anything if you do not sow something.  Something must be sown, if you are ever going to reap.  No sowing means no reaping.  No reaping means no harvest.  No harvest means no life.  The first thing we must learn to do is sow.

You have to know to sow.  If you do not know you will not sow.  If you know you will sow!   And what you sow is what you will grow.  And what you grow you will reap. 

Be not deceived; God is not mocked (ridiculed): for whatsoever a man soweth (draws out) that shall he also reap…  Gal 6:7  

When you sow the Word, you reap what the Word produces. 

Remember what the seed is

The Seed of God is the Word of God.  God was the First Sower and He operates by the sowing principle.  God sowed the Seed (His Word) and as a result, He reaped a Creation. 

God drew out of His Seed the sun, the moon, the stars… all of Creation.  God sowed His Word and Created.  God sowed His Word and Man came into being. 

And God SAID, Let us make man in our image…  Gen 1:26

God sowed His Word (Jesus) and reaped a Family.  Jesus is the Word.  Therefore Jesus is the SEED.  And God DREW OUT OF JESUS a New Creation.  A Holy Family.  A Royal Priesthood.  An invincible, undefeatable and unstoppable Church.    

          How do you sow?   What do you sow?

You sow the same way God sows and you sow the same thing God sows.

  God sows by saying.  And God says His Word.  SOWING  begins by SAYING.  Saying is WORDS.  Saying  is the fruit of the tongue.   You plant your dreams and plan your harvest by what you say (sow) with your mouth!   

 A man shall be satisfied (filled to satisfaction, have plenty of, have enough, filled to the fullest) with good by the fruit of his mouth…  Pro 12:14 

A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth…  Pro 13:2 

A fools mouth is his destruction and his lips are the snare of his soul..   Pro 18:7 

A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth: and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled… Pro 18:20   

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it (death or life) shall eat the fruit thereof…  Pro 18:21   

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles… Pro 21:23

          How do we protect what we plant?  How can we safeguard the ground that the Seed of God is in?  What can we do to guarantee an abundant harvest?  Here are some suggestions:

          1.  You protect what you plant by Surrounding yourself with solid, Word teaching and ministry.

You don’t need to be around false teachers and false teaching.   Get as much of the true Word as you can get.  Stay in church.  Stay in a good church.  Go to Bible class and small group Bible teachings.  Be in the every service.  Listen to good teaching on CDs and watch Bible Centered television channels.  Play worship music in your home or on your automobile audio system.     

          2.  You protect what you plant by Personal Intimacy with the Father. 

Seeking God protects the Word Seed that you plant.   If  you want to “find God” and fellowship with Him, you are going to have to seek Him.

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.   Jer. 29:13 

          When you spend quality time with God you will safeguard the Word in your heart.  Practice the presence of God.  In addition to your scheduled “prayer” or “devotion” or “quiet” time, stay in communion with the Father all the time.  Paul admonishes all believes to “pray without ceasing.” 

Talk with Him.  Practice His continual presence. Pray in the Spirit. Instead of talking with yourself, talk with the Holy Spirit.  Let your natural man consider His presence by your side as you go through your normal daily routines.  Let Him “sit” with you.  Walk with you.  Ride with you.  See Him with you all the time in whatever you do.  Carry on personal conversations with Him.  Communicate with Him.  This is personal intimacy… be as personal with Him as you are with any close friend… or as close with you as a family member.  Practice His Presence with you all the time in every situation and in all circumstances.   

          3.  You protect what you plant by Continually Speaking the Word. 

Saying what God says keeps the Word Seed safe.  When you say the Word you are literally agreeing with God.  When you agree with God you are able to walk with Him.  As you walk with God the Word Seed is protected.

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?  Amos 3:3   

          4.  You protect what you plant by Keeping your Mind Renewed by the Word and by casting down “ imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.”  

Right thinking protects the Seed.  Right thinking is Word thinking.  Don’t get caught up in a day-dream-imaginary world. Get out of fantasy land.  Your mind is always active.  It never shuts down.  Keep it focused on God stuff.  Get some Word CDs and listen to them as you sleep at night.  Keep your mind submerged in the Word.  This will protect the Seed.

          5.  You protect what you plant by being Aggressive and militant… by standing your ground. 

Don’t be a wimp.  Don’t be a push-over.  Don’t be easy on the devil.  Don’t wait for demons to show up… go after them. You do not need to be defensive be on the offensive.   Refuse to be ashamed.  Don’t be in the “silent majority” be in the “out-spoken minority.”  The more you stand up the braver you will become. 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.   Rom. 1:16 

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  Matt. 10:32 

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,  Acts 4:29  

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.  Phil. 1:20  

          6.  You protect what you plant by “observing to do all that is written therein (the Word)…” 

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.  Josh. 1:7   

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  Josh. 1:8 

          Obeying God’s Word protects the Seed.   Doing the Word is living the Word.  Keeping the Word is obeying the Word.  The most important thing you can do to insure that the Seed is protected and that it grows and produces is that you DO WHAT IT SAYS. 

7.  You protect what you plantby Believing the Crop is coming in!   

Believing is expecting something good to happen.  It is knowing that God will honor His Word.  Knowing is the substance of things hoped for.  It is knowing you have the crop (and acting like it!) before you have it!

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.  Mark 11:23   

          8.  You protect what you plant by Being Diligent and Persistent. 

Remember the woman with the issue of blood? Diligence is determination.  Persisting is keeping on keeping on.  Refusing to quit or back down or ease up no matter what the difficulty may be protects the Word Seed.  Constantly confess: “I will not quit.  I will not stop. I will not give up.  I will not ease up.  I will not grow weary and faint.  I will fight until I win.”  Be stubborn and hard-headed about going on with God.  Don’t allow the flak from the devil deter you.  Press on toward the mark for prize of the high calling of God.

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

Mark 5:25-29

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,   

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

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

For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

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

          9.  You protect what you plant by Praying in the Spirit. 

Praying in Tongues safeguards the Seed.  This is your special gift from God to help you build up your faith and to keep you strong.

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,   Jude 20   

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.  1Cor. 14:15  

          Praying in the Spirit is correct praying, accurate praying and effective praying.  You can pray in tongues anytime, anywhere and no matter what is going on around you.   Your mind is not involved.  It is your recreated human spirit that will be talking to God with utterances that cannot be understood by the natural man. 

          10.  You protect what you plant by Rejoicing in God,  through heart-felt worship and praise and by keeping a thankful heart. 

Singing, rejoicing, worshipping, praising, dancing, shouting, making a joyful noise unto the Lord… all these are ways to keep the seed safe and secure.     There is freedom where the Spirit of the Lord is.  God’s Presence induces joy unspeakable and filled with glory.

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.   Neh. 8:10 

Your crop can be increased  

God wants it increased.  You need it to increase.  The world waits to see the increase.  Going into all the world with the Gospel demands an increase. 

God provides the Seed.  You provide the ground.  It is your responsibility to “draw out” of the seed what God has put in the seed.  You can increase your crop or you can decrease your crop.  You can make it grow or you can make it stop. 

The increase is up to you.  Knowing and understanding the Seed Principle is necessary to increase your crop.  Not hearing only, but seeing what you hear and doing what you hear will increase your crop.  When you work the Word (Seed) the Word (Seed) will work for you.  If you do nothing with what you hear you will receive nothing at harvest time. 

When your crop is increased there will be ENOUGH to go around.  There will be no lack and no shortage.

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

The purpose of the increase is to reach the World with the Word.  Jesus called the Church to preach the Gospel to all nations.  This will require an increase in our crop.  It will take more money.  It will take more material.  It will take more personnel.  It will take more prayer.  It will take more commitment.  It will take more determination.  It will take MORE. 

We have some, but we can have MORE.  We have a little, but we can have ENOUGH!  Jesus can take your small seed and produce a big crop!  Jesus can take a little and make a lot out of it!    He took two fishes and five loaves and fed 5000 with 12 baskets of leftovers!  He is the Same today!!

Little is much when God is in it

          Labor not for wealth or fame

There’s a crown and you can win it

                             If you go in Jesus’ Name[1]

Here are some suggestions on how to increase your crop:

Water what you plant with the Word  

Water it with the uncompromised Word…the infallible Word…the Inerrant Word…the  inspired Word.  The ground of your heart needs watering.  Watering will keep it soft and make it easy for the seed to break through.  Watering it will release the in-born nutrients in the ground that will cause the seed to grow strong and healthy. 

Once your dream is planted, you keep it nourished and watered with the Word.  Saturate your mind and your body with the Word.  Get in the Word.  Stay in the Word. 

See what you plant before it comes up 

The farmer will look at the package containing the seed he plans to sow.  The seed package has a picture of a healthy, fully matured, producing plant on it.  That is the goal the farmer is shooting for…. a healthy, fully matured, producing and reproducing plant.

When he plants the little seed, he can already see in his heart what the healthy, fully matured producing plant looks like.  He sees hundreds of them. Thousands of them. They are all lined up in neat rows and they are unrestrained and unrestricted… no fungus, no bugs, no imperfections, no weeds….. he sees the PERFECT FINISHED product IN HIS HEART. 

To increase your crop SEE what you SOW.  See it in the completed, God-created form!  See it finished and complete.  See it with your eye of faith. 

Take heed (blepo:  to see)   what you hear, with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you; and to you that hear shall more be given.  For he that hath (the Word) to him shall be given; and he that hath not (the Word), from him shall be taken even that which he hath…  And He said, So is the kingdom of God…    Mark 4:24-26    

Here the Word tells us to “see” what we “hear.”

We are told to walk by Faith (believing) and not by Sight (reasoning).  When we walk by Faith, we see the finished product with our Faith Eyes …  We see it just like God created it to be!  

Be willing to wait  

You don’t have to hurry the seed.  The production time is programmed in and it is just as dependable as God is dependable.  Waiting for your crop to come up will develop your patience and James reminds us to let

…patience have her perfect work, that we may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing…   James 1:4  

This is the probably the hardest thing to do in crop production.  It is not too hard to plant.  It is not too hard to water.  It is not too hard to expect a harvest…But it is next to impossible to wait, with patience, until God will produce in us the “wanting nothing” condition! 

You will be tempted to dig the seed up every day to see “if anything” has happened.  This is your carnal, reasoning man over-riding your Spirit Man and trying to get you to depend on “sight” instead of faith!   God HAS SAID that we would:

reap in due season IF we faint not… Gal 6:9

In Hebrews the Word declares:

 For consider Him (Jesus)  that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds…  Hebrews 12:3 

 “Contradiction” here is anything that appears to disagree with God’s Promise.  It is the “high thing” that exalts itself against God that Paul writes to the Corinthians about (2Cor 10:5).   The contradictions are what cause our patience to waver.  The things that seem to make God and His Word out to be a lie are the things that attack our patience.

Rejoice in the answer before it comes

 “IT is finished!”   It is done.  It is settled.  It is established.  It is MINE!   How would you react if your crop came in today?  What would you do if your miracle manifested right here at this moment?  Would you be quiet?  Would you be still?  Would you be unmoved?  How would you act if your crop came in today?

I believe you would show some outward emotion and response.  I believe you would rejoice and praise God with total abandonment!  You might even go so far as to shout and run and dance.  Possibly your reaction would be like the one you would have if your favorite team won the national championship. 

So…. Go ahead and rejoice in God RIGHT NOW just as if your harvest has come in and your dream has come true!  

---

[1] Words and Music: Katie L. Suffield, 1924

Word for today:  July 30

Faith’s potential.

What you do with your faith determines what happens to your faith.  If you use it, it increases.  If you don’t use it, it decreases.  Use it or lose it.   Faith demands action.  Faith demands risk.

Faith is a creative Force.  The Faith of God is the Force behind all creation.  Faith is a “first-order” force.  God is a Faith God.  We are commanded to have the “God-kind” of Faith.    Mark 11:22

“Have Faith of God.”  You have the same kind of Faith that God has.  Faith is a Divine Attribute of God.  When you and I got Born Again, we received an impartation of the very Nature and Character of God into our Recreated Human Spirit.  When we were Regenerated, we were “RE-GENED…”  God Supernaturally changed and altered the Genetic Mapping of our human nature.  He “imputed” His Faith into us.  NOW… we have the Faith of God.

Just as you received certain biological and genetic characteristics from your earthly parents at the time of your physical birth, your also received certain Spiritual and Supernatural characteristics from your Heavenly Father at the time of your Spiritual Birth.  You look like your parents.  You have personal and emotional characteristics like your parents.  The color of your eyes.  The color of your hair.  Your physical size.  The way you walk.  The way are physically built.  Your size.

All these were built into you… mapped by the genetic structures of your parents… and passed on to you at the time of your physical birth.  If all these intricate and miraculous physical attributes were placed in you when you were born, what about the wonderful supernatural characteristics that were imputed into your recreated human spirit at the time of your Spiritual Birth…  When you were Born Again?

If the faith of God is behind all creation, (and it most certainly is) and if you and I have the same kind of faith, (and we most certainly do) then we have access to the most awesome force known in the universe.

That is a Spiritual Reality

All things are possible to him that believeth…  Mk 9:23

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!

Word for Today:  July 29

There are two kinds of faith.

First, there is Natural Faith and secondly, there is Supernatural Faith.

Natural Faith is based on what we see (our senses) and Supernatural Faith is based on what God Says.  Thomas exercised natural faith.  He would not believe (have faith) unless he saw the evidence.  He heard that Jesus was alive, but he refused to believe it unless he actually saw Him.  This is natural faith.

Abraham, on the other hand, exercised supernatural faith.  Abraham determined to believe (have faith) regardless of what he saw or felt.  His “senses” were not consulted.  He chose to Believe God.

Most believers are living in the realm of natural faith.   They tend to believe only what they can see.  They are subject to their senses and are dependent on natural facts.  Natural faith operates only in the realm of the visible, the sensible and the factual.

Other believers have determined to live in the realm of supernatural faith.  They can and do believe things that they cannot see.  They are not bound to the sense realm.  They are able to move beyond the natural and physical into the realm of the supernatural and spiritual.

They live by Truth instead of Facts

Fight (agonizomai:  to struggle, to compete for a prize, to con­tend with an adversary, to en­deavor to accomplish something:  fight, labor fer­vently, strive) the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed (homologeo:  to as­sent, to covenant, to acknowl­edge, to confess, to give thanks) a good profession before many wit­nesses.   I Tim 6:12.

          The Christian walk is warfare.  It is a spiritual battle and it is fought with spiritual weapons.  The Apostle Paul calls this warfare the “good fight of faith.”

Fight the good fight of faith… 1Tim 6:12

Some­times this fight does not seem very “good.” In fact, most of the time we think of this fight as terrible, extremely difficult and painfully stressful.    

          We do not have to wait long following our conversion to find out that the devil hates Christians.  Most of us have had little experience concerning real spiritual battles until after we become believers.  However, the victory is always worth the fight.  Without the fight, there is no victory.  Without warfare, there are no spoils.  Without conflict, there is no crown.   Without a test, there is no testimony. 

Joshua and David were fighters.  Jesus was a fighter. Paul was a fighter.  The Apostles were fighters.  All Bible heroes were courageous warriors.

 The essence of New Testament Chris­tianity is conflict and conquering.  Believers who win are believers who know about spiritual warfare and who are aggressive in the pursuit of victory.  This is the main theme of this study.   Fight­ing the Good Fight of faith is being aggressive, ac­tive and offen­sive.  We will not win if we are pas­sive, neu­tral or defensive.   

          Since we are aware that the time is short and Jesus will soon re­turn, what must we do in the mean time?  We must fight the good fight of faith!  This is the hour for a mili­tant Church.  This is the hour for boldness and bravery.   

          For centuries, the church has been passively licking her wounds.   We have been quiet, calm and cool.  We have been silent and permis­sive.  We have been ignored and ridiculed.  We have been submissive and neutral.  Through this study, I am calling all saints to come to Attention!  I am sounding the battle cry.   It is time to fight and it is time to win.  The victory is ours! 

          The only fight we are called on to fight is the good fight of faith.  It is a good fight because we win and it is good because it is the kind of warfare that pleases God. 

 Without faith it is impossible to please Him…   Heb 11:6

If it pleases God, it is good.  It pleases God because the faith fight is al­ways a winning fight. We never lose when we successfully fight the faith fight.  If we fight the worry fight or the fear fight we will lose.  If we fight the reasoning fight, we will lose.  If we fight the works fight we will lose.  If we fight the feelings fight we will lose.  If we fight the sight fight, we will lose.  But, if we fight the FAITH FIGHT we will win!  And this is good because it pleases God.  

The Reason for the War

Satan is the reason for the war

 He has al­ways opposed God, God’s work and God’s peo­ple.  He hates God, he hates the Bible, he hates God’s children and He really hates the Church.    His purpose is to kill, steal and de­stroy.  He is a mur­derer, a liar, a deceiver, a destroyer, a thief, a tor­mentor and He is the source of all sick­ness, disease, death, poverty and bondage. 

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

          Satan is the head of a kingdom called the kingdom of darkness. He is the prince and power over all demons.  His kingdom is the rea­son for the war.  He was expelled from heaven and now is the god of this present world-sys­tem.  He plotted the betrayal and crucifixion of Jesus and attempted to steal human­ity away from God the Father.  Sa­tan and his kingdom are the rea­sons for the war.

This present age is the reason for the war 

As time approaches for the return of Jesus for His Church, the powers of darkness will in­ten­sify their op­position and warfare.  Never in the history of mankind has there been such an in­crease in opposition to the Kingdom of God.  War has been declared by the devil and no one is im­mune from his attack.  He is desperate because he knows that his time is short.  He is espe­cially targeting those who are the champions of God.  He attempts to discourage, disappoint, cause doubt, exhaust and wear out all Believers.  This present age and the nearness of the return of Je­sus are the reasons for the war.

The phenomenal growth of the New Tes­tament Church is the reason for the war 

There are more Believers today than at any time in his­tory.  The Word is covering this earth as the waters cover the sea.  There is a “going forth” of the Gospel to all nations and kindreds and tongues and peo­ples.  The Islands of the sea and the nations of the world are all being ex­posed to the life-changing, sin-forgiving, soul-saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.   In a time when many denominations are ex­periencing declines in member­ship and conver­sions, churches that honor God, preach and teach the Word and embrace the Power of the Holy Spirit, are experienc­ing phe­nomenal growth. 

With more than 580 million adherents (growing by 19 million per year and 54,000 per day), the Pentecostal/charismatic movement has become, in just 100 years, the fastest growing and most globally diverse expression of worldwide Christianity.  At the current rate of growth, some researchers predict there will be 1 billion Pentecostals by 2025, most located in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.[1]

According to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, in 2010 there were 2.18 billion Christians in the world, nearly a third of the global population.   In 1958 it was estimated that there were 12 million Pentecostals in the world.  By 1977 this number had grown to 60 mil­lion.  Today this number has grown to an as­tonishing 600 mil­lion Pentecostals and Charis­matics world-wide!  

The fact that God is “pouring out His Spirit” on all flesh and birthing new believers and churches is the rea­son for the war.  As God increases His Kingdom, Satan intensifies his warfare.  But remember, where sin abounded, Grace did much more abound (Rom 5:20).

The nearness of your Victory is the reason for the war.

As your break-through gets close, the battle increases.  The approaching victory that is coming to you is the reason for the war.  In more than a half-century of preaching, I have never seen so many in the Body of Christ so sav­agely and viciously attacked.     

The war has not abated and the attacks have not slackened.  Your conflict is proof that victory is close.  In the life of Jesus, the nearer He came to victory, the greater was His oppo­sition. 

Just before He began His miracle-working public ministry, He was violently opposed by the devil.  At the conclusion of a 40 day fast, Satan came personally to Him and tempted Him.  He was opposed by His race, His family, His friends and His followers.  He was be­trayed and forsaken and crucified just before His resurrection.  The close­ness of your victory is the reason for the war. 

Be encour­aged!

---

[1] Grant McClung, “Pentecostals: The Sequal.” Christianity Today, April, 2006

Word for Today:  July 28

There will be times in our Christian Experience when it seems like nothing is happening

However, waiting is not bad.  Not if we understand what is taking place in the realm of the Spirit.  When we PRAY and BELIEVE, powerful spiritual forces are released.  These forces are invisible but they are REAL.  They work and they produce.  While we wait, we can win.  We do not have to get discouraged, or depressed or frustrated.

We can discover facets of God’s Grace and Tender Mercies that we never knew existed if we WAIT IN FAITH.

You will reap in due season (there is an APPOINTED TIME set BY GOD for your answer!), if you faint (to relax or become exhausted) not… Gal 6:9

While we wait, there are some things we can do to strengthen our Faith Position.  Waiting does not mean “doing nothing”.  “Resting” in God does not mean idleness or laziness.

While we wait can know that:

• God is Working
• satan is Resisting
• Patience is developing
• The Answer is Coming

And God is with us

          We begin by deciding to do something about our problems and refuse to continue to let issues rule and govern our living.   We decide to move out of negative situations and we refuse to remain complacent, static and stuck.  We understand that things will not change is we do not change.

          We make a determination to believe the Word…. no matter what!

          We strive to continually apply Word Truth to every situation and circumstance in our lives.

          We absolutely refuse to accept anything that does not agree with what the Word says about us as children of God.  Anything that does not agree with the Word (Truth) is a Lie and has its origin in the demonic kingdom of darkness.  We are to “put away”  (ap-ot-eeth’-ay-mee: to cast off) lying (the lie) and speak nothing but truth.  (Eph 4:25)

          We will stay in a place (church) where the Word of God is honored, esteemed and taught in all its fullness.  We will commit to a body of believers where there is anointed  Word teaching, Word preaching and fellowship around the Word. 

          We will take advantage of every opportunity to get the Word in us.  We will read it, listen to it, watch it, sing it, pray it, meditate it, post it in our home, in our automobile, our office, our work place and keep it before our eyes at all times. 

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  John 1:1

The Revelation of the Authority of the Believer

Then he called his twelve disciples to­gether, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. Luke 9:1  

And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. Luke 9:2   

          What will it take for the Church to get rid of itswimp, weak, weenie spirit? Much of the world sees the church as a congregation of sissies and weaklings.  We have projected the image of a bunch of winless wimps with no backbone and less courage.  It is time for this to change. 

We are fac­ing the most monumental challenges in the history of the church.  We are standing at the threshold of glori­ous vic­tories.  We were born for such a time as this.  And we do have a destiny.  However, to the unbe­liever, the limited-be­liever, the backslidden and the worldly, the church still has the stigma of being weak, tasteless, insipid, and unimportant.  You and I have given this impression be­cause, in reality, we have felt this way. 

We have been led to believe that there is not a whole lot that we can do about the way things are.  We have been encouraged to just wait and see.  We have been told that things will get better, by and by.  We have bought into the lie that “what will be, will be” and we have believed it and acted like it.  So we have projected the image of being a bunch of wimps that can’t do anything. This is a lie and it is time for the truth to come forth. 

          God has given every believer authority.  We have it whether we know it or not.  It is there whether we exer­cise it or not.  It is available regard­less of how we feel or how big our problems may be.  The Revelation of Authority is essential if one is to Reign in Life.    We will never act like a winner unless we know we have the power inside to win.  We will never become an aggres­sive Christian un­less we know we have the Authority to support our ag­gressiveness. 

Here we will look at what Authority is and who has it. 

FIRST:  What Authority is

          Authority is power. Authority is ability.  Authority is force. Authority is right.  As we con­sider this subject, we must look at three words:  (1) Authority (2) Power and (3) Dominion. 

There are two words in the New Testament that are used to describe the authority of the believer.  One is the word for Power (dunamis) and the other is the word for Authority (exousia). 

Dunamis means:  strength, ability, power, might.  It means inher­ent power, or power that re­sides in a thing by virtue of its very nature.  It means power which a person exerts and puts forth.  It means the power to perform miracles.  It refers to the Power of God, the Power of the Holy Spirit and the Power that God puts into the believer.  

Ye shall receive POWER (dunamis) after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you..   Acts 1:8. 

          Exousia means:  ability, privilege, force, ca­pacity, compe­tency, freedom, influence, liberty, right, strength.  It means the right to do something.  It means power to rule.  It means delegated au­thor­ity. 

 But as many as re­ceived Him, to them gave He power (exousia) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name…  John 1:12.

          When you combine Dunamis (Ability) with Exousia (Right) you have Dominion. 

So God created man in His own image, in the im­age of God created He him; male and female cre­ated He them.  And God blessed them and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and re­plen­ish the earth, and subdue it: and have DOMINION over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth…   Genesis 1:27. 

          Dominion (Heb: radah) means to tread down, to subju­gate, to crumble, to prevail against, to over­take, to reign and to rule.  We can have Ability without Right and still be a wimp.  We can have Right without Ability and still be a wimp.   It takes Ability coupled with Right to equal Dominion.  In the beginningGod gave Adam Dominion.

          The extent of Adam’s authority was awe­some.  God gave Adam complete control and ruler­ship over all life-forms on earth.  God gave Adam jurisdiction and control over everything on earth…. over the plants and animals…. over the forces of nature, over the crea­tures in the sea and all the an­imals and insects on earth. 

God gave Adam do­minion over his own body… he was not subject to weakness, sickness, sin or death.  He had a perfect mind, a perfect heart, a perfect spirit.  He was in control of his emotions and his de­sires.  He was the offspring of God, filled with the life of God and en­dued with the power and authority of God. He was a perfect man, living on a perfect earth exercising complete control and dominion over all things.  God was Number One and Adam was number two. 

 Thou madest him (Adam) to have do­minion over the works of thy hands;  thou hast put all things under his feet…   Psalm 8:6. 

SECOND:  Who has Authority       

          God gave it but Adam lost it.

Adam sinned and forfeited it.

When Adam lost it, Satan got it.

Satan kept it until Jesus came from heaven and took it back.  Jesus de­feated the devil and took do­minion away from him.  When Jesus completed His Work of Redemption, He gave Dominion back to those who are sons and daughters of the Most High God.  And now we are seated with Him in the Heavenlies.  Glory to God.  

But God, who is rich in mercy for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved) and hath raised up to­gether, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus… Eph 2:5-6.   

…Because as He is, so are we in this world… 1 John 4:17.   

          Jesus re­gained everything (and even more) that Adam lost in the Fall.  God did more in and through Christ than Satan did in and through Adam.   Jesus, through His Miraculous Birth, Sinless life, Supernatural Ministry, Vicarious Death, Descent into hell, Glorious Resurrection, Awesome Ascension, GOT US THE VICTORY. 

Death where is your sting?  Grave where is your victory?  Satan, where is your do­main?  Hell, where are your spoils?  JESUS Redeemed what Satan stole and He made it possible  for every be­liever to REIGN IN LIFE.

          If we are Born Again, we have Authority.  We have Power.  We have Dominion.  Adam lost it but Jesus bought it back. He bought it back for us and He gave it to us.  Authority is not authority if it is not exercised.  We can have it and not use it.  We can have au­thority and still be a wimp Christian.  Most believ­ers do not exercise authority because they do not know they have it.  Some know they have it but still refuse to believe they can use it.  Satan respects, fears and trembles at the authority God has given us.  The Bible says we can re­sist the devil.   That  means we have au­thority over him.   We could not resist him if we did not have more power and more authority than he has. 

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7       

          The Authority of the Believer means that ev­ery be­liever has the ability and the right to exer­cise every privi­lege of Salvation, redeem every promise God has given, and take complete do­minion over all the powers of darkness that prevail in the earth. 

The Authority of the Believer gives every believer the ability and the right to accomplish the will of God in the earth.  The Authority of the Believer means that every Believer has the legal and lawful right to Reign in Life. 

          The Believer has Authority, Ability and Dominion because he is Redeemed.       

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:  Gal 3:13 

          Notice the tense of the preceding verse.  “Hath (past tense) redeemed us…” means that our redemption is a done deal.  It is not something that is to take place in the future but, rather, it is a Scriptural fact that our redemption is completed and is an established truth that is in effect in the Now.  “Redeemed” means “purchased out of slavery” and it implies that the believer has been delivered out of bondage and given  authority over his former master. 

What does this Redemption do for the believer?

          1.  It totally destroys the old nature (the old nature of Satan) and provides a New Nature (which is the Nature of God) and results in a New Creation.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  2Cor 5:17

          2.  It delivers the believer totally from the power, authority and dominion of Satan.

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:   Col 1:13 

          3.  It provides the believer with the ability to walk with God in perfect harmony, fellowship and communion.

          4.  Redemption makes it possible for our body to become the temple of the Holy Ghost and for God to actually take up residence inside us.

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  2 Cor 6:16 

          5.  It brings the believer into the realm of God’s Ability and God’s Authority where all things are possible.  It elevates man from the natural realm to the supernatural realm.

…ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Mat 17:20  …

          6.  Redemption meets all the needs of the believer; spirit, soul and body.  It provides the believer with a perfect spirit, a sound mind and a healthy body.

          Redemption is the fact that Jesus became sin for us (redeemed us), delivered us from sin’s power and sin’s control (gave us authority, power and dominion) over the devil, demons and the kingdom of darkness.

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.  2Co 5:21 

Here is what AUTHORITY does for the be­liever:

• It places the Believer in a position of success and vic­tory.
• It sets the Believer free from the control and power of sin.

• It gives the Believer a Nature like God.   It causes him to act  like God, talk like God, look like God, think like God and be like God.

• It  elevates the Believer above worry, fear, sick­ness, poverty, and de­feat.
• It provides the Believer with boldness to enter into the Holy of Holies and fellowship with the Father.  

Word for Today:  July 27

Impossible?

The challenge of the impossible is fuel for the Spirit-Filled Believer.  It is the place where we become personally acquainted with God and His Grace and His ability to supply every need.  It is a proving ground…. a proving ground for the Word, for our Faith and for the Integrity of God.

God speaks in the Book of Malachi and commands us to prove Him.

…prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.   Mal. 3:10-11

God is literally saying “I dare you.  I ‘double-dog’ dare you.  I dare you to try what I am saying and PROVE me.  Prove that My Word transcends every impossibility.  Prove that I will actually and factually do what I say that I will do.  Prove that My Word works.  Anytime. Every time.  All the time.  Prove that My Power will prevail.  Prove that with Me nothing shall be impossible for you.”

The challenge for us this day is to PROVE GOD… To believe God.  To act on what He promises.  To reveal to the world how Great He is.  To break away from our timidity, our insecurity and false humility… to break out of our box and soar to new heights in our Spiritual Walk.

What are you waiting for?

Word for Today:  July 26

The level of victory

The Level of Victory we are experiencing is directly proportional to the amount of Word that is active in our life.  This is a fixed equation.

• The amount of HEALING we have is equal to the amount of WORD that is ACTIVE in our life…
• The amount of PROSPERITY we have is equal to the amount of WORD that is ACTIVE in our life…
• The amount of PEACE we have is equal to the amount of WORD that is ACTIVE in our life…
• The amount of JOY we have is equal to the amount of WORD that is ACTIVE in our life…
• The amount of FAITH we have is equal to the amount of WORD that is ACTIVE in our life…
• The amount of OVERCOMING POWER we have is equal to the amount of WORD that is ACTIVE in our life…

All redemptive provisions work proportionately to the amount of Word that is active in us.

Whatever revelation we have from the Word is what we will have faith to act on and receive.   Revelation is important because this will determine our level of deliverance.

Knowledge is not enough.  Intellect will not do it.  Revelation is imperative to receiving and maintaining our deliverance.

Our success level will never exceed our WORD level