dickbraswell

Word for Today:  February 7

Count the cost;  pay the price

Elisha paid the price.  He met the condition.  He did what he had to do in order to receive his Anointing.  To get His Double Portion.

And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.   2Ki 2:9

I believe you want it, too.  Because this is the one most important thing in your life.  Whatever it takes, commit to do.  Forgetting those things that are behind, and reaching forth to those things that are before… do whatever is necessary.

In order to experience continual anointing…Repent of sin.  Get rid of wrong attitudes.  Get rid of the “content with what I’ve got” mode of living.  Get rid of criticism.  Get rid of jealousy and envy.    Get rid of greed.  Get rid of bitterness and sarcasm.  Get rid of lust and loose morals.  Get rid of connections that pull you down.  Get rid of unbelief.

There are more than likely only one or two main obstacles that stand between you and your Anointing.  So, you know what you must do.  Do it.

Put it behind you.  Put it under your feet.  Put it out of the way.

Nothing is worth missing the Anointing

Word for Today:  February 6

You are empowered to reproduce the Kingdom of God on earth.

You have the power to overcome… you have the power to live right… Talk Right… Act Right… and Be Right…  The one thing needful in every person’s life is the dynamic working of God’s power.

There are some things you want to change, some things you want to start and some things you want to stop but you will not be able to without God’s power operating in your life.

The Word declares that every believer has God’s Power (energy) working in them.  (Eph 3:20)  This means that he Believer has:

• POWER over sin
• POWER over being timid.
• POWER over being sick.
• POWER over wrong attitudes.
• POWER over the desires and appetites of your flesh and mind.
• POWER over the curse of poverty.
• POWER over your thought life.
• POWER over fear and anxiety.
• POWER over your hurt feelings and bruised spirit.
• POWER over depression and worry.
• POWER over the devil and demons.

God has imparted His power to you. It is God Power. Heaven Power.  Resurrection Power. Healing Power. Ruling Power.  Reigning Power. Overcoming Power.   You have it and it is in you now.

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

Old things are passed away (weakness, failure, sickness, disease, poverty, etc.) and “behold, ALL things are become NEW!”

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

You have it.  You can do it.  Nothing shall be impossible to you.

Joshua 14:7-12

Caleb:  “mad dog” in Hebrew (“raging with canine madness”)

Joshua 14

7  Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.

8  Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

9  And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.

10  And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

11  As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

12  Now therefore give me this mountain…

• Caleb was one of the 12 spies Moses sent to search the land in the second year after the Exodus. He and Joshua were the only two of the 12 who encouraged the people to go up and possess the land. The other 10 were fearful, intimidated, cowards, and unbelievers.  They believed only what they saw.  Joshua and Caleb believed what God said.   

• Caleb’s mountain was inhabited by Giants (Anakim) and had been for centuries.

• The last notice we have of Caleb is when (being then eighty-five years of age) he came to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, after the people had gained possession of the land, and reminded him of the promise Moses had made to him. And now he is claiming the giant-infested mountain Moses had promised him.

• He’s 85 years old.  He’s past the age of successful warfare.  The army would laugh if he tried to enlist.  He’s an old man.  With gray hair and baggy skin.   At least on the outside.  But inside he’s vigorous and bristling with surging youth and strength and aspiration.  His 85 year-old bag of skin is holding a 25 year old man inside who is mad.  Mad as all get-out.  Mad and determined.  And fearless.  Just like a dog “ranging with canine madness…” (That’s the meaning of his name in Hebrew)  He had the spirit of a MAD DOG.   

 Your destiny will be decided in this meeting.   What you do or don’t do will determine your future.  This is not just “a meeting” it is “the meeting.”  You have a choice to make.   I cannot relate nor articulate the importance of these next few minutes. 

Look at me.  This 81 year old skin of mine is holding a 25 year old man inside.  My mind is possessed, my youth is restored, my resolve is maxed out and I’m taking my Mountain.

I absolutely unequivocally refuse to:

• Think like an old man
• Look like an old man
• Act like an old man
• Dress like an old man
• Do what old men do
• Go where old men go
• Talk like old men talk
• Walk like old men walk
• Expect what old men expect
• Believe what old men believe

• There are records to be set
• Standards to be established
• Places to go
• Things to do 
• Messages to be preached
• Books to be written
• Nations to be reached 
• A world to be changed
• A God to be honored
• A church to be revived
• A country to be awakened
• A calling to be completed

1.  Caleb Saw it   (had a dream) (Old men dream dreams and young men see visions)

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions… Joe 2:28 

God had birthed in him an impossible dream.  His life took on new direction, new passion, and new resolve.  It was burned into his spirit like a hot branding iron.  He could not escape it.  (When God called me to preach) My friends and my relatives said, “I know Dick, this thing he’s doing will last about 6 months and then He’ll give it up.”  Well, la-de-da…  It’s lasted, not six months but 60 years.  My friends are forgotten and my relatives are dead.  But I’m HERE and STILL AT IT!   Caleb could not resist His Dream.  He could not forget it.  He SAW IT with his EYE of FAITH…. With the same kind of eyes Joshua and Caleb had at Kadesh Barnea.  Joshua saw the Promised Land and Caleb saw his promised mountain.  Remember we walk by faith and not by sight. 

We must see it until we see it.  SEE IT until we SEE IT.  Where are you going?  What do you intend to do with your life?  What will remain here on earth as your testimony to the Power and Greatness of God after you are dead? 

Are you looking at the giants that now inhabit your mountain?  Are you seeing retreat instead of attack?  Are you seeing run instead of charge?  Are you seeing loss instead of gain?  Are you seeing failure instead of success?  “IF God be for us who can be against us?”

• What you aspire you can acquire.
• What you see is what you get. 
• What you dream you can become.

2.  Caleb Wanted it  

He was driven to seek something bigger and better

Are you tired of the same old same old?  Do you long for a new beginning?  Are you looking for a way out and a way up?  Are you ready for a move from the mediocre?  Just how desperate are you for a change of direction in your life and ministry?  

Do you plan on staying where you are right now?   Or are you determined to GO to the place God has prepared for you?  Are you going to continue to live on the level of normality or are you going drive out the giants and take your Mountain?

The trouble is most of us have become comfortable and complacent.  We have all our ducks in a row.  Life has become an interstate highway and we are running on cruise control.   Most of what we do is cookie-cutter stuff.  Over and over.  Again and again.  Same thing week in and week out, year in and year out.  And we are stuck.  Wallowing in monotony.  A prisoner of the normal.  The natural.  Ruled by facts instead of faith.  Living a life and locked in a ministry marked by Lackluster.   

It is time for a game changer.     Do you feel it?  Do you have a stirring in your spirit right now?  Are ready?  Will you move out?  Will you take your mountain?

Actually, Life has no limits.  Your ministry has no limits.  Opportunity does not have an expiration date.    Every door is open and every light is green.  The time is right and God is waiting on you to seize the moment.    

The time to move out, move on and move up is NOW.

RIGHT NOW.  THIS MOMENT.  IN THIS HOUSE and in THIS MEETING.    NOW is the accepted time.  

Did you know it is never the “right time” as far as the devil is concerned?     How do we know it is the right time?  How can we know that this is the moment?  I’ll tell you how you can know.  Because the Word says so and because you “feel” it.  Some are frightened with “feelings” but the only people who don’t have “feelings” are DEAD PEOPLE.  Your spirit is being stirred right now.  The Word of God and the Will of God is presenting themselves to you as I speak.  God is making His move and tonight it is your move.    

If you are only focused staying where you are, you will miss all the excitement of living life with the volume turned wide open.    God designed life and ministry to be exciting.  He is not the Author of dull.  

Recently I posted on FaceBook “how to have and exciting life.”   It went something like this:

• Dream impossible dreams
• Stay up a creek without a paddle
• Get out on a limb
• Stay at the end of your rope  
• Live between a rock and a hard place
• Bust the lid off of your box
• Be radical for God
• Stay on the very edge of total disaster
• Refuse to go with the flow  
• Resist the temptation to be normal
• Never give up, never quit, never back down
• Sing.  Shout.  Dance.  Run.  Yell and cuss the devil.

OK.  Where does that put us tonight?    We are either settled in and hunkered down in the doldrums and dullness of a mundane life or we are on the prowl for better stuff.  We are either sitting or climbing.  We are either piddling in mud puddles swimming with tadpoles or we are among the big fish out in the deep.  We are stuck or we are moving on with God.  We are hunkered in the valley or we are driving out giants and taking our mountain.

God has a bright, exciting, and intense future for every one of us.  

Jer 29:11  I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. (The Message)  What kind of future are you hoping for??

That tells it like it is.  That tells it like God wants it to be.  That tells it like God has planned it for us.

3.  Caleb Believed God

“Behold I have set before thee an open door and no man can shut it”  Rev 3:8

Real Bible Faith is a faith that never takes “no” for an answer.  Bible Faith is Activated Faith.  Bible Faith is a faith that “takes.”  It is not Reactive…. It is Proactive.  It is not Defensive… it is Offensive.    Most believers are operating in defensive and reactive faith.  Some are operating in Passive faith.   Passive Faith is just that… passive.  It is inactive.  It accepts things as they are and it is content to leave things unchanged.  Aggressive Faith is a Faith that makes things happen.

It reaches out into nothing and holds on until nothing becomes something.  It TAKES things.  It MOVES things.  It CHANGES things. 

The Faithfulness of God and Confidence in His Word has been the driving Force for 60 years of ministry in my life.  When Pat and I did not know what to do or where to go or how to minister, the God always had the answer for us.  The foundation of our ministry has been the initiative to believe God and Trust His Word and to take it to the whole World.

It was prophesied nearly 53 years ago that the small congregation of dirt farmers and factory workers that composed Lott Road Baptist Church (eight miles from Eight Mile) was commissioned by the Holy Spirit to take the Word to the World.  At last count, Life Church now has ministry in 17 nations many of them with churches that were planted, Bible schools , seminaries and degree offering colleges that have been established.  GOD IS AWESOME.

Now… what had God promised you?  What has God instructed you to do?  Where has God told you to go? 

4.  Caleb never quit

• Two thirds of the church left.  (Two thirds of 150 leaves 50)  But we did not quit.
• We were kicked out of our denomination and thrown under the bus.  But we did not quit.
• We got ripped off by crooked contactors and were left deep in debt.  But we did not quit.
• We were conned by out of state bankers who were criminals.   But we did not quit.
• We were threatened with foreclosure by those we were in debt to.  But we did not quit.
• We got half through building Faith Academy and ran out of money.  But we did not quit.
• We faced imminent financial failure with a 4.5 million dollar debt we could not pay.  But we did not quit.
• Two years ago, I signed the check that paid the last bill and set the ministry free of debt…

If there is any lesson I have learned and learned well, it is the fact that we never quit.  No matter what.  No matter who.  No matter when.

 Now, just where does this leave you right now?

What are you going to do?  Where are you going to go?  What are you going to acquire?

Stay stuck?  Stay sad?  Stay bored?  Stay discouraged?   Stay in your cookie-cutter same old, same old kind of life?  Or will you Move Out into a Mountain-conquering and mountain-possessing life?

Right now you have a challenge facing you.  You have a decision to make.  And you will make it one way or the other.  You can decide to stay like you are and where you are or you can decide to kick it up a notch, pick up your stuff and TAKE YOUR MOUNTAIN.  Breaking the Limits comes out of a personal decision you and you alone can and will make.   

And not deciding is really deciding.  No decision is really a decision.   No response is a response.

My challenge to you is do not wait.  Do not stay where you.  The opportunity is NOW.  The time for you to take your mountain is NOW.     

Do it

Word for Today:  February 5

You are empowered to reproduce the Kingdom of God on earth.

You have the power to overcome… you have the power to live right… Talk Right… Act Right… and Be Right…  The one thing needful in every person’s life is the dynamic working of God’s power.

There are some things you want to change, some things you want to start and some things you want to stop but you will not be able to without God’s power operating in your life.

The Word declares that every believer has God’s Power (energy) working in them.  (Eph 3:20)  This means that he Believer has:

• POWER over sin
• POWER over being timid.
• POWER over being sick.
• POWER over wrong attitudes.
• POWER over the desires and appetites of your flesh and mind.
• POWER over the curse of poverty.
• POWER over your thought life.
• POWER over fear and anxiety.
• POWER over your hurt feelings and bruised spirit.
• POWER over depression and worry.
• POWER over the devil and demons.

God has imparted His power to you. It is God Power. Heaven Power.  Resurrection Power. Healing Power. Ruling Power.  Reigning Power. Overcoming Power.   You have it and it is in you now.

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

Old things are passed away (weakness, failure, sickness, disease, poverty, etc.) and “behold, ALL things are become NEW!”

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

You have it.  You can do it.  Nothing shall be impossible to you.

Word for Today:  February 4

The part of the Word that you believe and act on is the part of the Word that will work for you.

• When you believe, receive and act on the saving part, you get saved.
• When you believe, receive and act on the healing part, you receive healing.
• When you believe, receive and act on the delivering part, you get delivered.
• When you believe, receive and act on the prosperity part, you get prosperity.

Transforming, delivering and miracle-working Power is imputed into every believer at the time of his conversion.  You do not “grow into the Power” you receive it as a free gift immediately at the time of your salvation.  The idea of being “weak” and “immature” is not an excuse.  Jesus said that the “least” in the Kingdom is “greater than John the Baptist…” (Mt 11:11)

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

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.  Mark 9:23

If you can believe, then you can receive

Joshua Chapter 6

Jericho was a fortified city.  It stood in the way of the Will of God.  It was a hindrance to the plan and purpose for God’s People.  It was a problem that HAD TO BE DEALT WITH.  Jericho demanded a CONFRONTATION. 

Joshua could not “wish” it away nor could he pretend that it wasn’t there.  It was a walled city.  The wall had a main gate.  The city was ruled over by a king and it was protected by mighty men of valor (6:2). 

Joshua was raised up to lead God’s people into the promised land.  Jericho had to be conquered before progress could continue.  satan always has “walled” cities and “fortifications” and “hindrances”  and “challenges” to threaten and discourage the church. 

Jesus told us that we (the Church) would be enabled and empowered to charge the gates of hell and they would not be able to prevail against us.  There are many gates that need to be opened so that the captives can be set free.  Hell’s gates hold in prison many blessings God intends for the Church.  It is our job… the churches job…  to charge hell’s gates and force them open so that those things and those people held in bondage and captivity can be released.  We have the keys of the kingdom.  Jesus told us that theses keys will open and shut.  They will open things that need opening and they will shut things that need to be shut. 

The Apostle Paul tells us that though we live in the flesh we do not “war” after the flesh or like the flesh wars.  He reminds us that our (the Believer’s) weapons are not carnal or fleshly, but “mighty through God” to the pulling down of strongholds… fortresses… enemy emplacements.  These weapons will enable us to cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.  They will cause us to bring every thought into captivity and make it bow its knee to Jesus. 

Taking enemy territory is possible but it is demanding.  It is costly.  Most today would just as soon let the devil have the stuff rather than pay the price to get it back.  Warfare is not easy.  It is costly.  But it can invade enemy territory and reclaim and recapture what satan has stolen.   God is preparing his “Green Berets” and his “Commandos” and “swat teams” today. 

There are real Jerichos out there and their walls must come down.  The spoils are waiting for the ones who will be violent enough to get them. 

I see several lessons in the way Joshua conquered Jericho:

1. He listened to God in spite of impossible odds.  And the LORD said unto Joshua…  Josh. 6:2         

The Lord said to Joshua, “I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor…”  

And the Lord said. 

That’s enough! Nothing else is needed!  If God said it nothing more needs to be said.  The Lord said to Joshua, “I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor…”  

It is important that you listen to God.  Joshua did not look at the impossibility… he was not moved by Jericho’s fortifications or the intimidating threats of the enemy.  Are you listening to what God says or you listening to the shouts and threats of the enemy?  What do you think the warriors looking over the wall of Jericho did?  They intimidated, and they threatened, and they challenged and they ridiculed.  They laughed and they mocked and they took refuge in their fortification.  Are you listening to the enemy or are you listening to God?  Joshua listened to God.  

Now…  What has God told you?  What has God spoken to you?   What has He said to you about your future?  About your family?  Your marriage?  Your job?  Your ministry?  What direction have you received from the Lord?  What revelation have you gotten from the Word?  Are you hearing what God says or are you listening to the noise and threats of the enemy?  

If God has spoken to you, that’s enough.  That’s all you need.  You heard what God said and so did the devil.  When you believe God and act on what He has said, no enemy can stand before you and no Walled Jericho can stop the plans God has for you.  It’s not time to fight. 

It’s time to shout

2.  He obeyed what God told Him to do.  (6:6).  He did not question the “unreasonable” and the “unnatural” instructions God gave him.  They did not make sense.  They defied all the principles of warfare.  Who ever heard of fighting with trumpets and the shouts of the people?  No arrows.  No spears.  No horses and no chariots.  Nothing ordinary.  Nothing sensible.  Nothing they have ever done in the past.  A new thing.  Change.  Transition.  God is speaking… are you listening?  Obedience is essential.  Disobedience or partial obedience is disastrous.  Only obeying God will tear down the wall and release withheld blessings.

When believers (and especially pastors) obey God, they are often misunderstood.  We march to the beat of a different drummer.  The sound of the trumpet that calls us to battle is not the noise and din and the pandemonium and the cacophony of the cosmos.  We are fine tuned to God’s frequency.  His voice is loud and clear.  No static and no interference.  What He says, we do.  Asking no questions and relying on no reason.  Just God.  But enough.  And more than enough.

You are probably in the Will of God if:

• You  need money and lots of it
• You are in the middle of a mess
• You  need a miracle… right now
• You don’t  know every detail about what you are doing
• You are fighting through afflictions of all kinds
• You are dissatisfied where you are and with what you have
• Nobody is happy with what you are doing
• You’re  on the raw edge of disaster
• You   challenges and  dead-lines
• You don’t have everything under control
• Your relatives  think you’re crazy
• You are   attempting to accomplish the impossible
• You are  doing the unreasonable the unpredictable and the unusual
• You are  in over your head
• You don’t have a plan B
• You  make waves, create controversy, or draw lines in the sand
• You are  kicking over sacred cows and embarrassing your loved ones
• You are not religious, reverent, and calm and quiet
• You are not held captive by the predictable
• You are not in control
• You are not focused on making everybody love you
• You are not content with where you are
• You have unrealized goals and unreachable accomplishments
• You are not understood by everybody
• You won’t  tolerate that which is morally questionable
• You are not “Religiously correct”
• You are not more concerned about your image than your integrity

3. He commanded everybody to keep their mouth shut until God tells them what to say. 

(6:10).  James mentions that the man that “offends not in word is a perfect man” (James 3:2).  He says that the “tongue is a world (system) of iniquity” and it can “defile the whole body and set on fire the course of nature…” 

God had a good reason when He told Israel to keep quiet until He told them what to say.  Your mouth can keep your Jericho Walls from falling down.  Words of doubt and words of fear and words of criticism will keep your goods walled up and your deliverance from coming.  There are no “short cuts” to victory.  We have survived the era of “quick fix solutions” and “band-aid” theology.  Our glib confessions and our memorized “guaranteed” formulas have come and they have gone (thank God!) and we are now ready to shut up so that we can hear God.  Most of our listening has been done with our mouths.  “Faith comes by Hearing” not by much saying.  Joshua was right when he commanded the people to keep their mouths shut until God told them what to say.  We need to heed this admonition. 

We have so often been snared by the words we speak and hung by the talk of our tongue.  Israel was not to talk the problem or the method of warfare or the seriousness of the situation.  They were to SHUT UP until God told them to SHOUT.  Set a watch over your lips.  Guard your tongue as you would guard a wild animal.  It is capable of setting on fire the course of nature and opening a Pandora’s Box of Iniquity.  Only say what God tells you to say.

4.  Victory did not come until the 7th. Day.  (6:15).  I’m sure many would like to have the victory on the first circuit.  If it was 5 miles around the city, I’m sure many were ready to quit the first day.  But then there was the second. Another 5 miles.    And the third.  Another 5 miles.  The fourth.  Another 5 miles.  Fifth.  Another 5 miles.  And the sixth.  Another 5 miles.  How many grew weary in the process?  This has been a 30 mile ordeal.  After all, how much does God expect of me anyhow?  How many had a “better idea”?  Who had a “new revelation”?   And now it is the Sabbath and 7 times around… that’s 35 more miles.  A total of 65 miles.  No wonder others had a “better idea” or a “higher revelation”… Obedience means sacrifice.  No Cross means no Crown.  No diligence yields no victory.  Many have grown weary and have tired along the way when VICTORY DAY is AT HAND.  Hallelujah.

5.  The Shout came before the Walls fell down.

Josh. 6:16   And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city. 

Your walls are coming down.  Your victory is on the way.  Your diligence will be rewarded.  Your purpose will be fulfilled.  It is time.  This is your day.  This is your defining moment.

Shout and Give Glory to God

Word for Today:  February 3

The Word of God is

Perfect and complete.   It is from God and it tells us about God.  It was written by individuals who lived thousands of years ago.  These individuals were inspired by God and they recorded exactly what God told them to write. This record has been preserved by the Holy Spirit and the Power of God through the centuries and we have it today… it is called the Bible and it is the Word of God.

It is more than just a book.  It is more than just an historical record.  It is more than literature.  It is the very Word of God and it is alive and full of Power.

It tells us about God.  It reveals the Nature of God.  It uncovers the mystery concerning God.

It tells us that God made Man in His own image

It tells us that man sinned against God.

It tells us that God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to die in behalf of man and because of man’s sin.

It tells us that all men everywhere can be forgiven of their sin and restored to God through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The Bible, the Word of God, tells us how to live.  It tells us how we can live life abundantly.  It tells us how we can overcome hardships and change circumstances.     It tells us how to be happy and filled with joy in times of sadness and depression.  It guarantees us that we can win over any situation in life that is bad.

The Bible, the Word of God, tells us how to be well and not sick.  It tells us how to be healed from sickness and disease and infirmity.  It tells us how to overcome any adversity.

This is why you and I need to know the Word of God.  The Word of God is TRUTH and TRUTH has more power than FACTS.

When we know the Truth and do the Truth, the Truth will make us free.  John 8:32

The Word is GOD written down

Word for Today:  February 2

Never lose confidence in the work that God began in you.

Being confident (peitho; inward certainty) of this very thing, that He (God) which hath begun a good work in you will perform it (epiteleo; fulfill completely), until the day of Jesus Christ… Phil 1:6

You are Called, Selected, Elected and Chosen.  You are important and you are loved.  God has begun a work in you and He will complete it.  You are not what you were but you are not what you are going to be.

Always expect every situation to turn around for your good.

For I know that this (situation, circumstance, defeat, etc.) shall turn to my salvation, (Soteria; rescue, safety, deliverance, health) through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ… (Phil 1:19)

The battle is not yours… it is the LORD’S and He always wins.  Anytime, every time and all the time.

Never allow satan to intimidate you.

And in nothing terrified  (pturo:  to frighten, to scare) by your adversaries…Phil 1: 28

Where there is no fear there is no devil.  Perfect love “casteth out fear” and “fear hath torment” and “torment” is exactly where the devil lives.

Stay humble before God and expect Him to exalt you in due season.

(Jesus) made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant…. He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death… Phil 2: 7-8

The example Jesus set for us is awesome.  He literally became what we are in order for us to become Who He is.

Never let go of God’s Word… no matter how impossible things seem.

Holding  (Epecho: to pay attention to; to retain) forth the Word of Life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain neither labored in vain…  Phil 2: 16

God keeps His Word.  God honors His covenant.  God fulfills His promises.  God does what He says He will do.  You can trust His Word.

Never hang on to your past.  Keep reaching forward.

I c0unt not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before… Phil 3:13

Be Confident

Word for Today:  February 1

Demonstrate satan’s Defeat

 And having spoiled principalities and powers, He (Jesus) made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it…  Col. 2:15

God is a God of demonstration.

He is a God of power, authority and might.

He operates in great success and triumph.

We are called to demonstrate satan’s defeat…  satan is the illegitimate and illegal ruler of this world…  he is a defeated enemy.  he is a liar and a cheat.  he is a bigot and an intimidator.  he barks but Jesus has removed his bite.

We have been given Power over the devil and his demons.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils…  Mark 16:17

satan gets his power from ignorant Believers.  he cannot do what we will not allow him do.  We have been called into the kingdom to demonstrate satan’s defeat.  We have been saved to make an open show of satan’s limitations and to parade him before the world in an open display of his powerlessness.

We can do it because Jesus did.  Jesus destroyed the works of darkness once and for all.

satan’s defeat can be demonstrated daily by every believing believer.

he roars like a lion, but he’s toothless

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

John 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

 As a result of current events and those that will surely happen in the future, what should we do as Believers?  How can we cope with such uncertainty with confidence and peace of mind?  What must we do to adjust to the changing world scene?  Is there a remedy for such stress and insecurity?  I believe there is.  I know there is.  Let’s take a look at what the Word says and what the Founders of our Christian Faith did in situations similar to those we are facing today.

This is a time in the history of the human race that Believers must Believe God.  Jesus emphasized the need to be ready in the parables He taught.  In His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24 and 25) when He preached on the Mount of Olives He told us to watch, to be ready, to be prepared, to be faithful.     In light of current events and what seems to be approaching on the world scene, the need to Believe God is absolutely necessary for survival. 

We need to learn How to Believe God before the time of crisis.  It can be antsy to wait until the Storm has hit before we know how to Believe God.  It’s too late to pray when the crisis comes.  And if you do not know how to believe God, it’s too late to learn when you are in the middle of a situation.  The prudent thing to do is to learn how to believe God and be ready when the crisis comes. 

Paul openly declared that he believed God while he was standing on the deck of a sinking ship.  But…. Paul had ample opportunity to Learn how to Believe God before his shipwreck experience in Acts 27.  He stood on the Word for his deliverance many times.

2 Cor 11:

24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches

The time to exercise faith is before the crisis comes.  The time to learn how to believe is before the storm hits.   We can build up ourselves in Holy Faith so that when the unexpected happens we will have a reserve of faith laid up to draw from.  Like money in the bank.  When the bill comes due, there is something in the bank to pay the bill with. 

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

In Paul’s experience he had testified that he was READY.  Ready for whatever might come and for whatever might happen.  He was Ready. 

Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

What Believing God is not:  (All these are good, but they do not qualify as believing God)

Praying…. You can be a prayer warrior and still not believe God.  How you pray and what you say reveals if you are believing God or not.

Speaking in Tongues… all the wonderful gifts of the Holy Ghost are exciting and beneficial, but you can exercise any or all of them and still not Believe God.

Attending Church…  It’s great to attend church… to not “forsake the assembling of ourselves together”   but you can still have a crowd of people attending church who don’t know how to believe God.

Singing… Great singing and great music can be performed by talented individuals who do not believe God.  Participating in the joy of praise and the exuberance of dancing before the Lord is not necessarily believing God.

Worshiping…  can be engaged in without believing God.

Preaching…. Can be exercised by those who are not believing God and heard and accepted by others who are not believing God

Testifying… May be offered by some who have received great miracles, but who still are not believing God.

Witnessing…  Telling others of your experiences with God and your blessings from God is not necessarily believing God.

Intercession…  May be long and loud without really believing God

Reading the Bible… is good, but you can read the Bible and not believe God

What Believing God is:

Believing God is a conscious and determined act of the human will to:

1.  Trust wholly and unreservedly in God.

            2.  Rely on God.

            3.  Place confidence in God.

            4.  Absolutely and totally depend on God.

            5.  Fully surrender and yield to God.

• Unquestionably expect what God says to come to pass… to really happen.

I’m sure we all understand the importance of believing God.   We need to be able to believe God.  The question is… How Do we Believe God?   How can we learn to Believe God?   This is the heart of our message today.

FIRST…   I really cannot fully believe in something or Someone I know little about.  The first step in learning how to believe God is to learn as much as we can about Him.  Not just to Know about Him, but to Know Him.  Knowing Him is more than being acquainted with Him.  Knowing Him is more than knowing about Him.  Let’s take a little True or False test:

Question number one: Is God Good?   T or F.  If He is good, How do we know He is Good?  What makes Him Good?  Why can we rely on, trust in and depend on His goodness?  Has He proven His goodness to us?   How?   Can we trust Him to be good in every situation and at all times… no matter what?   Even if we are unfaithful?  Even if we sin?  Even if we are in doubt and fear and unbelief?   Is God good when I am bad?  Does He ever change from His goodness?   Will He be good tomorrow?  Is He good even when things are bad?   Do you really Believe that God Good all the time?  The Nature and Character of God defines His goodness.  Our understanding of God and His Nature is revealed in several ways:

            God’s Nature is revealed in Creation

God’s Nature is revealed in History… His intervention in the affairs of men

            God’s Nature is revealed in His Word

            God’s Nature is revealed in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ

These are the primary ways we have to know the Character and Nature of God.  

Question number two:  Does God Honor and Keep His Word?  T or F.    Does He do what He says He will do?  Even when situations seem to contradict His Word, do I still believe… anyway?   How can we know He keeps His Word?  What proof do we have that God actually does what He says He will do? 

1. Fulfilled Prophecies… History.  The rising and falling of Nations
2. The resulting promises that are fulfilled as we Obey His Word
3. Supernatural impartation when we receive Revelation

Testimonies of the faithful….

SECOND…   I cannot fully Believe unless I come into an understanding of what God has Done for me.  Are you saved?  Are you Born Again?  Are you Redeemed?  Then just what does this mean?   It means everything if you understand the TENSE of your REDEMPTION.

Galatians 3:13  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:  

The redemptive work planned and executed by God through His Son Jesus Christ has been done.  It is accomplished.  It is finished.  Nothing more is (or can be) done.  It is a Perfect and Complete supernatural act.  It has been finished and it still is finished.   Everything that ever needs to be done to make us free and keep us free has already been done.  We have been delivered from the curse.  The curse has been canceled in our behalf.  What is the curse?  Sickness.  Therefore, We are the well resisting sickness.  

Poverty. We are the rich resisting poverty. 

Bondage.  We are the delivered resisting bondage.  

Terror.  We are the Protected resisting terror.  

Fear.  We are the Secure resisting fear and worry.

Death.  We are the Living resisting death in all its forms.

THIRD…  If I am to Believe God, I need to know what His Will is.  What is the Will of God?   What is His Plan?  What has He purposed for me?  Jesus prayed for the will of God to be done on earth as it (the will of God) is being done in heaven.  The will of God is the same thing that a last will and testament is here on earth.  The Will is what God has provided for His Children.  It is what He has left for His heirs.  The Will of God is the Word of God… the composite of Truth that provides revelation and knowledge to those who belong to Him.  The level of  “all things possible” living must come from a revelation of His Will… which is His Word.  What it is.  What is says.  What it promises.  How it works.  Why it works.  To have an understanding of the Will of God opens the door for one to Believe God… because you will know what you can Believe God for….

FOURTH…  What part of me is capable of really believing God?    The Bible speaks of “believing with the heart…” Paul writes in Romans 10:9… 

“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…” What is believing “with the heart”?     Understanding the fact that man is a Spirit, who has a Soul and who lives in a Body in essential in comprehending the things of God and being able to believe God. 

“But the natural (psuchikos) man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually (pneumatikos) discerned…” 1 Cor 2:14

• The body feels  (the natural man…. The 5 senses)
• The mind thinks (reasons… the natural, unrenewed mind)
• The Spirit believes  (The heart.  The inner man.  The Real You)

Now… which of the above is really capable of Believing God?  Not the body.  Not the unrenewed mind.   But…the recreated Human Spirit which is made in the Image of God and is partaker of the Divine Nature….

2Pet 1:

⁴Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers (a partner, an associate, a companion, a comrade, a sharer) of the divine nature,

So then, “BELIEVING” with the heart originates in the Will (mind) as a conscious and determined act, and explodes out of the Recreated Human Spirit as a Revelation.

Our main problem is a mind problem.  The mind tends to believe and act on what the senses tell it.  This is called “sense knowledge.”  When what we do is dictated by sense knowledge, we are living in and on the natural, carnal level.  The Word tells us that  “to be carnally minded is death, but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace…”  (Romans 8:6)  “Death” has many first cousins.  Worry is one.  Fear is another.  Then comes anxiety, dread, stress, unrest, sickness, poverty, bondage, terror, unstable marriages, messed up kids, fractured and broken relationships.  Death has many facets.  Sense knowledge invites death into our lives and hinders our Spirit from believing God.  This is why Paul tells us that it is important for us to “renew” our minds. 

Romans 12:

²And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

FIFTHLY….  How can Believing God change things in the Natural World?

Believing God is a Spiritual Thing.  It originates as a conscious act of the human will and literally explodes out of the Recreated Human Spirit as Revelation… but how does all this relate to my need?  To my storm?  To my sinking ship? 

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

How do we get God’s Abundant Supply to my Constant Need? 

We need to understand the Natural World as it relates to and exists with (along side of) the Spiritual World.  Most people do not realize that there are literally two Worlds existing (in the present) side by side.  One is the Natural World (the world we can see and touch and taste and hear and feel).  The visible, natural, physical world.  This is the world we live in.  The world that our mind (soul) and our body relates to.  This world is easy to perceive because it relates to our reasoning… our senses… our sight.   It can be experienced and understood by the natural faculties of man.  However, the “natural” man cannot receive (understand) the things of the Spirit of God because they are “spiritually discerned…” they relate to the Other World…The Spiritual World. 

1 Corinthians 2:14  But the natural man  (psuchikos) receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthinans 2:15  But he that is spiritual (pneumatikos)  judgeth (investigates, examines, searches and discerns) all things, (as to whether they are Truth or Fact…)  

Believing God begins in the Spirit and manifests in the Natural.  It effects change in the Natural World because it is REALITY in the Spiritual. World.  What we make as a determined and conscious act of our human will starts things happening.  When It (our believing) explodes as a Revelation coming out of our Spirit, it produces change in the physical, natural world.  The Spirit of God and the Truth of His Word are always more Powerful in operation than the natural and physical facts that are happening all around us.

The Word talks about seeing the Invisible….

Hebrews 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

The Word tells us that we walk by faith and not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Walking by sight is living in and by the principles that operate in the natural world.  Walking by Faith is living in and by the principles that operate in the Spiritual World.  If there is a natural world that operates by Facts there is also a Spiritual World that operates by Truth. 

The Word says that we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen….

2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Jesus told us that we would know the Truth and the Truth would make us Free.

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 How does one come to know the Truth?  Listen:

John 8:31 ¶ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

John 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Truth, which is activated by Faith, is more powerful than Facts that are activated by reason.   Faith was present before Facts existed.  Faith gave birth to facts.  The Faith of God produced the Fact of Creation.  Faith always takes precedence over facts.  Truth has more power than Facts.  When the Word (Truth) is mixed with Faith it becomes Revelation.  It becomes Wisdom.  It becomes the primary force that functions in the Spiritual World.  Truth is Spiritual.  Facts are natural.  Truth is “unseen” Facts are “seen.”  Truth is understood by Faith, Facts are understood by Reason.  Truth is the functioning force in the unseen Spiritual World; Facts are the functioning force in the visible Natural World.  What we believe and how we believe determines which “World” we live in. 

When we Believe with the Heart… we choose to live by Faith.  We live by Revelation.  By the Rhema Word.  By understanding.  By KNOWING.  Then we are enabled to discern the difference between the Truth and the Facts.  When facts contradict Truth then we choose to believe the Truth.  And we continue to believe the Truth until the Truth becomes a fact.

Review:

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

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2Timothy 1:12 …for I know whom I have believed, (“faithed”) and am persuaded (fully confident and totally convinced) that he is able (has the power) to keep (from being snatched away) that which I have committed (deposited) unto him against that day.

What Believing God is not:  (All these are good, but they do not qualify as believing God)

Praying….  Speaking in Tongues…  Attending Church… Singing… Worshiping…   Preaching….    Testifying…    Witnessing…   Intercession…   Reading the Bible… 

What Believing God is:

Believing God is a conscious and determined act of the human will to:

1.  Trust wholly and unreservedly in God.

            2.  Rely on God.

            3.  Place confidence in God.

            4.  Absolutely and totally depend on God.

• Fully surrender and yield to God.
• To Unquestionably expect what God says to come to pass… to     KNOW that it will really happen.

FIRST…   I really cannot fully believe in something or Someone I know little about.  The first step in learning how to believe God is to learn as much as we can about Him.  Is He Good?  Does He keep His Word?

SECOND…   I cannot fully Believe unless I come into an understanding of what God has Done for me.  I must be convinced of the TENSE of my Redemption.

Galatians 3:13 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:    

THIRD…  If I am to Believe God, I need to know what His Will is. 

FOURTH…  What part of me is capable of really believing God?    The Bible speaks of “believing with the heart…”  (Spirit –  Soul – Body)

FIFTH….  How does Believing God relate to the Natural World?   Believing God is a Spiritual Thing.  It originates as a conscious act of the human will and literally explodes out of the Recreated Human Spirit as Revelation… but how does all this relate to my need?  To my storm?  To my sinking ship?  We need to understand the Natural World as it relates to and exists with (along side of) the Spiritual World.