dickbraswell

John 10:

¹⁰The 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.

            There are only two kinds of people on earth.  And I do not mean Men and Women.  They are people who are Alive and those who are Dead.  You can be Dead before you are dead.  If you are Alive you know it.  If you are

Dead you know it.  The devil is the merchant of death.  Jesus came that we might be Alive. 

            The ultimate purpose and mission of the devil is to kill and destroy.  The devil deals in death and destruction.  Jesus gives LIFE and deals in RESTORATION.  All problems and attacks are designed by satan to kill us and destroy us.  The devil wants death and destruction to take us over.  Jesus wants Life and Restoration to take us over.   How did Jesus deal with death?  The Bible says He conquered death, hell and the grave.  If He conquered them, they are still conquered.   Jesus never has to re-do what He has already done.  His work is complete and perfect.  He has “finished” it (as we heard last week: Jesus did not say “to be continued” on the Cross, He said “it is finished.”)  We need to deal with death just like Jesus dealt with it.

Relate the story of Lazarus.

Lazarus = “whom God helps”

I.  Every Attack is an OPPORTUNITY.  

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

            Jesus “heard” the bad report.  Faith comes by hearing and doubt also comes by hearing.  Unbelief can be stimulated by hearing.  Distress can come by hearing.  Fear can be initiated by hearing.  What are you hearing?  Whatever you are hearing will either build your faith are add to your unbelief.  Jesus determined to be NOT MOVED by what He heard. 

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

            “It’s not over.  It’s not final.  It’s not what it’s going to be.  God is working.  I am waiting.  I am believing.  I am standing.  I am speaking.  I am prophesying.  What I say agrees with God and because of this, the devil (and all his works) will have to move aside.” 

            Sickness is an opportunity. Adversity is an opportunity.  Every impossibility is an opportunity.  Your fiery trial is an opportunity.  Our fiery trial is an opportunity.  An opportunity for us to exercise our faith.  An opportunity for us to get into the Word and find out what God is saying.  An opportunity to turn tragedy into testimony.  God is the Master at giving us Beauty for ashes.  (Isa 61:3).  When we see our “death” situation in this light, we will be encouraged to say the same thing Jesus said: “This thing is not unto death…. it is an opportunity for God to show Himself strong in my behalf and to give me a powerful testimony of His Faithfulness.”

            We are all faced with “Lazarus” attacks.  What we do, how we act during such situations will demonstrate just how deep we are in God.   We can say what others are saying.  We can agree with what the Facts are.  We can accept the “inevitable” or we can Prophesy to the situation.  God has called you into His Kingdom and given you the power to create with your mouth the things that are in the will of God.  Speak the Word!

            Our fiery trial… our graveyard tribulation… our Red Sea and our Furnace heated seven times its capacity… our den of Lions and our Goliath…  all these are only opportunities for God to get Glory and for us to experience a miracle.  Jesus knew that impossibilities are opportunities for God to Show Himself Strong in behalf of those who would DARE to BELIEVE!

II. When under pressure:  Don’t Change your Plans.  

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

            The devil wants us to change directions… especially if we are in the will of God.  If we are on the way to where God wants us, then satan and all the forces of darkness are aligned to make us change our plans.  Remember how satan tried to stop Jesus on the Sea of Galilee with the great storm before He made it to the other side?  Here, Jesus was in the Flow of God and was not willing to change His direction just because He received bad news.  Jesus stayed.  Sometimes it is hard to Stay.  When we hear of pressing needs and powerful attacks, we are tempted to run ahead of God.  Remember… the Battle is the Lord’s and the Victory is ours. 

            Satan is the author of all bad news.  Bad news is demonic.  Bad news is a fiery dart of the enemy.  Bad news is satan’s attempt to get you to change your plans and alter your direction.  Bad news tends to make us worry.  Worry is fear.  Fear has torment.  Fear does not come out of a “sound mind” but rather is  the is product of a double mind.  When we are receivers of bad news, keep we must keep our eyes on our objective… we cannot allow discouragement, worry, fear or distractions to make us change our plans about Who we believe and What we believe.   

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

            How many times do we want Jesus to “hurry up?”  Our need presses us to prompt Jesus to hurry to our rescue.  However, God has a time.  And His time is the RIGHT TIME.  Things are happening in the realm of the spirit that we cannot see and if we could, we would not understand.  God is working.  satan is fighting.  We are waiting.  While we wait, He is working in our behalf.  If He is not hurrying, He has a reason.  Jesus needed to remain where He was in order that God would get all the glory for the miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection. 

            Remember, when you are in the Will of God, you do not have to change your plans when satan attacks and emergencies arise.   Hold steady.  Do not panic.  Do not change your plans because of demonic emergencies. 

III.  Nothing is FINAL when Jesus is Present. 

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

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

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

So many times our attitude is like that of Thomas:  “Let us also go, that we may die with him…”   (Verse 16).  Nothing is FIXED in the world system.   Not even death!  Jesus is the Great Changer.   He changes things.  When it seems totally final and nothing more can be done… when death looms and defeat is at hand and all hope is gone… Nothing is FINAL when Jesus is present.  If He can raise Lazarus from the dead, He is more than Able to resurrect our dead hopes and dreams.  

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

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

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

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

IV. Don’t Yield to Religious Thinking. 

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

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

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

V. Don’t Be Moved by the Opinions of Men.

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

            What people think has nothing to do with what the Word Says.  All the opinions of men will not heal the sick or raise the dead.  What you say and what you think is worthless unless your WORDS and your THOUGHTS line up with the WORD OF GOD.   Most who are so quick to give  advice and counsel know little or nothing of the Power of God.  The ones looking on, seeing the grave and the grieving family, began to murmur.  Skeptics always murmur.  Doubters and Unbelievers are always looking for REASONS.  God is not a rea­soning God and He does not operate REASONABLE… He is a FAITH GOD and He operates in the SUPERNATURAL.  

VI.  Attempt the Impossible.  

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

            Jesus “went too far.”  When you begin to ROLLAWAY STONES from IM­POSSIBLE SITUATIONS, satan and all his helpers will accuse of GOING TOO FAR.  “You can’t be serious.”  “You really don’t mean that.”  “Do you realize what you are doing?”  “What will people say?”  “What will my relatives think?”  DO IT.  If you never ATTEMPT the IMPOSSIBLE you will never get a MIRACLE.  When you refuse to ROLL AWAY THE STONE you accept DEFEAT, LIMIT GOD, and STOP ALL MIRACLES from happening.  What stone will you roll away today?  What stinking corpse of impossibility will you UNCOVER and present to GOD?  YOU WILL NEVER get a RESURRECTION if you REFUSE TO ROLL AWAY THE STONE.  This is your INITIAL ACT OF FAITH and it is this ACT that Moves Heaven in your behalf.

VII. Pray Right.

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

            Refuse to Pray in doubt and unbelief.  “If it is Thy will” praying will never get a miracle or experience a resurrection.   If you do not know how to Pray the Word, you better never roll away the stone.  Jesus knew (1) What God’s Will was  (2) How to Pray in God’s Will  (3) How to Pray in Great Faith.  He was SURE of HIS POSITION in GOD.  He KNEW WHO HE WAS and what GOD had promised to do for Him.  He did not beg.  He did not plead.  He did not an­guish.  HE THANKED GOD.  

VIII. Speak Faith Boldly.

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

            I get great comfort from this verse.  If Jesus “cried with a loud voice” I guess it’s OK for me to preach with a loud voice.   He boldly and specifi­cally spoke out and called for a miracle.  He “got what He said!”  Remember Mark 11:23?  “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall SAY unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAITH…”   Roll away the stone and SPEAK TO YOUR IMPOSSIBILITY.   

 IX. Get Free.  

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

            Get free and stay free.  Do not get entangled again with the yoke of bondage that kept you bound.  Tear off the grave clothes and let the NEW LIFE come forth.  Refuse to stay in the graveyard dressed like the dead.  Get Up.  Get Out. Get Free.  Stay Free.

Word for Today:  November 27

What really happened at Calvary?

We have read about the Crucifixion, heard sermons on the Crucifixion, studied about the Crucifixion, but in reality very few know and understand what happen on the Cross.  What we believe about the Cross will determine the depth of our Revelation of Jesus.

Justice had decreed that sinful man must pay the penalty for his transgression.  The Human Race stood guilty of spiritual high treason before God.  Man had turned away from God and embraced the devil.  However, the human race was impotent, helpless and incapable of meeting the demands of justice.

“I owed a debt I could not pay,

He paid a Price He did not owe,

I needed Someone just to wash my sins away,

And now I sing a brand new song:  Amazing Grace!

Christ Jesus paid the Price that I could never pay!”

And so out of the Heart of God comes the solution to the human problem.  Jesus steps forward and declares:  “Here am I, send Me…”  And so toward the Cross He goes.

Calvary is center stage for the entire human race.  What happened there is the pivotal point of all history.  Calvary is more than the death of Jesus at the hand of His enemies.  Calvary is more than the suffering and horror of such inhumanity and torture.

• Calvary involves Jesus and it involves God.
• It involves man and it involves sin.
• It involves time and it involves eternity.
• It is the place of a divine Exchange

Here, Jesus became what man is in order than man can become what Jesus is.

“God made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him…”  II Cor. 5:21

What a Deal

“Behold the Lamb of God…”  John 1:29

                Behold is an exclamation.  Similar to “LOOK!  LOOK!  LOOK!”

                Lamb of God:  Fixes the Jewish mind on the Atoning work of the

                                                  Passover Lamb of the OT

“Consider Him that endured…”  Heb 12:3

                Consider means to see the Sum Total.  Look at all that God provides      through His Son Jesus.

                Endured is to bear up under pressure.  It means to be resolved and       unmovable

“Looking unto Jesus…”   Heb 12:2

                Looking is to turn away from one thing and to gaze intently on another

                The idea is to look away from the agony of the race and stare at Jesus

“Who Endured the Cross…”  Heb 12:2

                Endured is to bear up under pressure.  To remain.  To Resolve to Stay.

“For the JOY that was set before Him…”  Heb 12:2

                Joy is cheerfulness, delight, gladness. 

“Fainting” has been and still is a major weakness of the NT church.  Faint means to become weary, to grow tired, to become progressively fatigued until one gives out or gives up. 

“Resisted unto blood…”  The scene shifts from the race to the boxing ring.  The idea is “you have not shed any of your blood resisting sin…”  Defending yourself.  Why should you be weary?  Why should you give in to a faint heart?  Just look at Jesus.  Consider Him.  See the contradiction He endured and yet did not weaken or wear out.

Considering Jesus is the greatest motive for perseverance.  This is the ONE thing that made the early Church indestructible.  They Looked at and Considered Jesus.  And because of this they were literally invincible.  Nothing could by “any means” hurt or destroy them.  They Persevered!!

In the first century and a half more than five million Christians were martyred.  Slaughtered.  Murdered.  Slain.  Butchered.  The atrocities these saints suffered put the Hitler Holocaust in the shadows.   The confession that caused their death is the declaration we have over this pulpit:   JESUS IS LORD.  To confess Jesus as Lord meant to deny the lordship of Caesar.  To refuse to call Caesar lord was an invitation to martyrdom.   

                Stephen was stoned to death.

                Philip was brutally scourged, imprisoned and finally crucified

                Matthew was hacked to death with a cleaver

                James at 94 was stoned and beaten to death… his head crushed with a

                                fullers’ club

                Andrew was crucified

                Matthias was stoned and then beheaded

                Mark was dragged to death by a Mob through the streets of Alexandria

                Peter was crucified head down

                Paul had his head cut off

                Jude was crucified

                Bartholomew was scourged and crucified

                Thomas was thrust through with a lance until he died

                Luke was hanged from an olive tree

                Simon was crucified

In the Light of such Determination and Commitment, the Christian Community of this century pales in comparison.  To call Jesus Lord is to make Jesus Lord.  To make Jesus Lord is to Do what Jesus says.

To BEHOLD Jesus.  His Majesty.  His Deity.  His Eternity.  His Glory.  To see (consider) Where He WAS and to discover (consider) What HE BECAME.  To Observe (consider) WHO HE IS.

What YOU say concerning Him does not determine Who He Is.  What you say concerning Him determines Who He Is TO YOU.

The Pre-Existence of Jesus

Jesus existed with God before Creation.  “In the beginning (arche) was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…”

Jesus did not “come to be” He has always been!!  He calls Himself “Alpha and Omega”  the “First and the Last”.  He was with the Father in Creation:  “In the beginning Gods (Elohim: a plural noun connected with a singular verb) created…” (Gen 1).  “Let US make man in OUR image…”  (Gen 1:26)  The Gospel of John declares that Jesus is the Agent of Creation… “all things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made…”

Seventeen times in the Gospel of John it is declared that Jesus was sent forth from the Father and came to the earth and that He again left the earth and went unto the Father.

Jesus in the Old Testament

Jesus was present in the OT

Jesus is described as the “Angel of the Lord and the Holy One of Israel” 

He appears many times in the OT and is seen as the Captain of the Host.  The Lord of Glory.  The Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

He is the Sun of God that rises with healing in His wings.

He is the Serpent of Brass that delivers from death 

He is Typified and Symbolized by the animal skins that covered the nakedness of Adam and Eve,

the Water that came from the Rock,

Manna that came from heaven,

the Ark that Noah built,

the Tabernacle in the Wilderness,

the Sacrificial Ram substituted by Abraham for Isaac,

the OT High Priesthood,

The Passover Lamb,

The Ark of the Covenant,

Jonah in the Fish,

David’s Throne,

Solomon’s Wisdom,

Job’s Redeemer,

Kinsman Redeemer in the Book of Ruth,

Hosea’s Forgiveness,

Elijah’s Ascension into heaven, 

Joshua as Israel’s Deliverer

The Fourth Man in the Fiery Furnace

He was Prophesied by:

                God in Gen 3  “I will put enmity between thee and the woman…”

                Isaiah  “For unto us a child is born…”  9:6-7; 7:14 “a virgin…”

                Joel  “I will restore…”

                Micah   “But thou, Bethlehem…”  5:2

                Daniel  Chapter 9 and the vision of weeks

                Hosea  Chapter 6  “in the third day He shall raise us up…”

                Zechariah  (The BRANCH)

                the Psalmist  Psalm 22  “My God why has thou forsaken me?”

Jesus the Incarnation of God

“When the fulness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman..”  Gal 4:4

The Interbiblical Period:

Five hundred years without a revelation from God.  Dead religion.  Form but no fire.  Legalism and Law and condemnation and death.  No miracles.  No visitation from God.  Sick remained sick.  Lame remained lame.  Burdened remained burdened.  

Rome became a world power.  One language became the language of the people:  Greek.   For the first time, revelation could be communicated on a world-wide basis.  The most beautiful, flexible, expressive language the world had ever known…  The PLAN OF GOD to communicate the Gospel.

Rome had conquered and united under a single government all the Mediterranean empires.  Roads were built, shipping lanes developed and the stage was set for the appearance of the MESSIAH.

Phil 2:7-11:

“But made Himself of no reputation (ekenosen from Kenosis: to make empty, to make of no effect) and took upon Him the form (morphe: outward appearance) of a servant (doulos: slave) and was made (lambano: took upon Himself) in the likeness (homoioma: resemblance) of men:

And being found in fashion (schema: outward appearance.  The word was used of a king who exchanges his royal robe for sackcloth) as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross…”

EMMANUEL:  God with us

Word for Today:  November 26

Forgetting and Moving on.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;   Eph 1:7

Believers are forgiven.  Not “going to be” but “already are.” God does not look on our sin.  When He looks on us, He can only see a Reflection of Himself.  He is never displeased with us.  Because He can never be displeased with Jesus.  And we are right now, this moment “in this world” as He is in heaven.

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.  I John 4:17.

God will remember your sin no more.  They are not just “covered” but He has removed all your sin as far as the east is from the west.   (Not from the North to the South… these both have beginning and ending points… there are no beginnings or endings from East and West).   He does not remember them.  He has forgotten them.  So should you.

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.  Psa 103: 12

Brethren, I count 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

So, forget your failures and move on

I want to lay out some Certainties in an uncertain World.  Some unmovable principles in a time of shaking and flux.  When things change, what can we hold on to that is unchangeable? 

I believe God want us to be established and steady.  He has given us all that we need to equip us in a crazy and crumbling world.  In the past, His presence and His word has held those who trusted in Him.  In the face of death and danger, they were strong and courageous.  They did not flinch. They did not retreat.  They did not whimper and complain.  They were strengthened by His Presence and by His Word.

Hebrews 7:

²⁴But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

²⁵Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

2Cor 1:

²⁰For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

²¹Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

²²Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

2Cor 5:

¹For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

²For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

³If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

⁴For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

⁵Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

⁶Therefore we are always confident….

Eph 1:

 

¹³In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

¹⁴Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Some things we can be certain about:

1. God is still God and always will be (He is in control)

His Nature.  His Character.  His Will.

He will do what He says He will do

He will always be who He says He is

• His Word is absolute and is totally reliable

Matthew 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

His Word Reveals:  God’s feelings.  God’s purpose.  What to expect in the future. 

• Jesus loves us and always will

What can separate us from the love of God?

Romans 8:

³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

³⁶As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

³⁷Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

³⁹Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

• The Church is the safest place to be in times of trouble

¹⁸And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

• The Brotherhood of Believers provides comfort in times of strife

1 Thessalonians 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

• The Truth will make us Free (from all things the devil has or does)

³¹Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; ³²And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

You can be certain  that God is for you and not against you.  He loves you and always will.  He is with you and will never fail you or leave you.  He understands your pain, your sorrow, and your weaknesses.  He wants you.  He has made provision for you.  He has given you Grace innumerable times in the past.  He will be your Fortress.  Your Protection.  Your Solid Foundation.  Your Assurance in times of uncertainty.  He is your Friend.  Your Father.  Your Redeemer.  Your Help in time of Need. 

He will see you through and keep you in spite of any circumstance or situation.

TRUST HIM

Word for Today:  November 24

The Kingdom

“Religious” thinking (this is always a big problem) has removed the Kingdom from where it really is to where we think it is.  When we think of “heaven” we think “far away.”  We think “eternity.”  We think “after we die.”  We think “sometime in the future.”

The devil sees to it that we think wrong about the Kingdom and where it is.  Because he knows that when we find out the Truth, he is doomed.

The Kingdom is in (or within) every believer.   If you are a believer, the Kingdom is inside of you.  Jesus said the Kingdom of God is “within” or “inside” of you.

Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within (entos:  within, inside) you.”  Luke 17:21

Now, just what is in the Kingdom?   What is there?  What is inside of you?

• Life
• Health
• Peace
• Joy
• Power
• Success
• Prosperity
• Boldness
• Love
• Faith
• Forgiveness
• Patience
• Strength
• Soundness of mind

In fact “all things that pertain to life and godliness” are in you. (2Pet 1:3)   It is all there.  It is inside of every believer.  It came at the time of your conversion.  It is the Kingdom of God and it has come.  It is the Answer to the prayer Jesus prayed in Matthew chapter 6.  It will function when you let it.

All Kingdom resources are in you.

Faith brings them out

Word for Today:  November 23

Jesus’ self-emptying.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Even death and the grave

Phil. 1:6   Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:  

Rom. 8:28   And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Eph. 3:11   According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

 prothesis {proth’-es-is}

1) a setting forth of a thing, placing of it in view.

2) a purpose

Eph. 5:17   Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

thelema {thel’-ay-mah}

1) what one wishes or has determined shall be done

   1a) of the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ

   1b) of what God wishes to be done by us

       1b1) commands, precepts

2) will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure

1Tim. 2:3 -4  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Jer. 1:5   Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Jer. 29:11   For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

There is an “obvious” Will that we know from what the Bible says.  There is a Will that is “not so obvious” that comes from our Relationship with Jesus.

It is not on what we spend the greatest amount of time that molds us the most, but whatever exerts the most power over us.  The disciple who abides in Jesus is the will of God, and what appears to be his free choices are actually God’s foreordained decrees.

                                                                                          Oswald Chambers

What is your Destination?     Where are you headed?  What direction are you traveling in?  What is the fulfilled objective of your life? 

            God has a purpose.  God has a Will.  God’s Purpose is your Destination… your Reason for Being Born.   God’s Will is how you get there… how you accomplish it.    Everything God does He does “on purpose” and “for a purpose.”  Nothing that God has ever done was done “by accident.”  God has a Plan and God has a Purpose.  We are in His unfolding Plan.  This earth is in His unfolding Plan.  This church is in His unfolding Plan.  YOU are in His unfolding Plan. The Purpose of God WILL TAKE  PLACE.    No man can stop it.  No demon can stop it.  No nation can stop it.  No government can stop it.  The devil can’t stop it.  Hell cannot stop it.  It WILL HAPPEN.   You must be convinced that God has an ETERNAL PURPOSE for YOU..  When you discover exactly what that purpose is, and it becomes a REVELATION to you..  Hallelujah..

            Paul writes concerning the Eternal Purpose of God in the Book of Ephesians.  Remember, God has never had but ONE PURPOSE.  That purpose has been and still is an ETERNAL PURPOSE.  While most of the world is caught up in the temporal and the transient and the carnal and the natural… God is looking at the ETERNAL, the SPIRITUAL and the SUPERNATURAL.   All Creation is anxiously awaiting the fulfillment of the Eternal Purpose of God.  Angels and spirit beings and heaven is anxiously awaiting the fulfillment of the Eternal Purpose of God. 

            I want to know God’s purpose for me. 

            I want you to know God’s purpose for you. 

            I want to know God’s Purpose for this church.

            We were born for a purpose and we were brought into the Kingdom for a purpose.  We are alive today and we are here today for a purpose.  You  are in this church for a purpose.  You are where you are spiritually for a purpose.  You will discover this truth if you will listen closely to this teaching.  You will know it and you will rejoice in it BECAUSE IT IS GOOD.  It is better than you can imagine.  And it is happening NOW.   When you discover God’s Purpose you can purpose to do the same thing.  This places you in agreement with God.  When you are in agreement with God you are automatically in disagreement with the devil.  When your purpose is the same as God’s purpose you have all the POWER OF HEAVEN with you..  When your purpose is the same as God’s purpose, you are hooked up to heaven and plugged into Miracle Power.  You are, in effect, walking with God.  When you walk with God you are in agreement with Him and when you are in agreement with Him you can “ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you..”   This keeps you in the place of authority and power and control.  It gives you strength to do what needs to be done.  This is exactly what Paul meant when he said:  “now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us.”  The “power that worketh in us” is the Power of Heaven that is released when we walk in agreement with the Will of God.

            There are four areas we want to explore.  We want to explore and discover (1) God’s Eternal Purpose for Man, (2) God’s Eternal Purpose for the Church, (3) God’s Eternal Purpose for the Earth and (4) God’s Eternal Purpose for Eternity. 

            God’s purpose is like a road map.  We are born at point “A” and God wants us to arrive at point “B.”  Point “B” represents God’s Purpose for us.  Point “A” is where we start.  The Way to get from Point “A” to Point “B” is the Will of God.  We know that the shortest and quickest route from point A to point B is a straight line.  If we flow in the Wll of God, this is always the route we take.  However, most of us do not always flow in the will of God.  We get distracted.  We get sidetracked.  We get off course.  Often we just get lost on the way.  (diagram)   

I.  God’s Will for YOU.

            God’s heart has never changed.  His heart has always been inclined toward man.  It is now and it always has been.  Man was originally created in order that God might have a family.  God wanted companionship.  God wanted fellowship.  God wanted relationship.  God wants to be loved more than He wants to be God.  God wanted to have a family to love and to bless and to keep unto Himself.   God wants to have children that will reciprocate His love.  God is Love, God loves and God wants to be loved..  Do you realize that God made the heavens solely for the benefit of earth? Do you know that God made the earth solely for the benefit of man?  Can you believe that God created all animal life and plant life solely for the benefit of man?  Everything and all things that God created by His power,  were and are created for the benefit of man.     And God made man for Himself.   All of creation is designed to sustain human life.  Scientists are now beginning to recognize that the entire universe has been created and calibrated to support and sustain human life. The original Plan God had is still the same.  It is the Eternal Purpose of God for man.  Even though Satan entered and Adam sinned and death was brought into the earth, God has Eternally Purposed for Man to be His Own.  The Bible says that “God is not willing that any should perish  (lose, be defeated, be lost),  but that all should come to repentance…”     Now, how does man come into the family of God?  Man becomes a child of God only through the NEW BIRTH.  Therefore, we may conclude that God’s Eternal Purpose for man is FIRST that man might be Saved. 

            God’s Will is for you to BE SAVED.    God wants the entire human race to be birthed into His family.  God purposes for man to be SAVED.   POTENTIALLY the entire human race (both born and unborn) were redeemed from sin when Jesus died on the cross.   What is involved in salvation?  God has a part and man has a part.  God’s part is called REGENERATION and man’s part is called REPENTANCE.  When we repent of our sin and believe in our heart that Jesus is Messiah and when we openly and unashamedly confess our heart-belief, we are BORN AGAIN.  God impregnated us (natural man)with His Life and we are made Supernatural men..  God’s Life comes into us along with all of God’s Characteristics and we become the Sons of God..  “But as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the Sons of God…”  John 1:12.  God’s Life comes into you, God’s Power comes into you, God’s Authority comes into you, God’s Love comes into you, God’s Faith comes into you, God’s Very Nature comes into you…. You are made “in the image” of God..  And you conform to the Image of Jesus Christ, God’s First-Begotten… 

Hallelujah..

            God’s Will is for you to receive the  Baptism of the Holy Ghost.   This never was supposed to be an “option” for the Believer.  It is a command..  “Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit…”  Gal. 5:18. 

The first Believers were Baptized in the Holy Spirit. 

The Early Church was Baptized in the Holy Spirit. 

John the Baptist was Filled with the Holy Ghost in his mother’s womb. 

The Spirit of God came down from heaven in the form of a dove and Filled Jesus at His water Baptism. 

Paul was Baptized in the Holy Ghost when Ananias laid hands on him. 

When Peter preached to the household of Cornelius the Word declares: “While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word, and they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God…”  Acts 10:44-46.

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is the PURPOSE of God for every Believer.  Any church or any denomination or any preacher or any teacher or any pastor who refuses to teach this truth is guilty of violating the PURPOSE of GOD.  Every Believer needs the baptism.  It is essential for effective Spiritual Warfare.  It is essential for tapping into Heaven’s Power.  It is essential for effective praying.  It is essential for moving into the Supernatural…. It is the Purpose of God for every Believer to be Baptized in the Holy Ghost.  Hallelujah.

            God’s Will is for you to live in Divine Health.  God wants you healed.  If you are sick, you are out of the will of God.  It is the purpose and intent of Almighty God that you get healed, stay healed and walk in Divine Health.  Sickness is not the will of God.  God does not put sickness on anybody.  God does not use sickness to teach you a lesson. God never stoops to employ satan’s tactics and methods to bring any of His Children “in line.”  Just as God purposes for you to be free from sin’s condemnation and guilt and judgment, He also purposes for you to be healed of all sicknesses, diseases and infirmities.  Listen to Isaiah 53: 5:  “But He (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed…”  This Purpose of God for you is restated in I Peter 2:24: “Who His own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed…”  God wants you well.  God has sent His Word to heal you and he has brought you to this place so that you might discover that this is His Divine Purpose for you and your seed.  Hallelujah.

            God’s Will is for you to be Free from Sin’s Control.  You need to know that God wants you to live free from sin’s dominion.  It is His purpose for you to totally free from anything and all things that satan designs against you.  The Bible declares that “sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace…”  Romans 6:14.  You do not have to live under the control and dominion of the devil.  If he is manipulating you and your family and your marriage and your finances and your mind and emotions, you are missing the Purpose of God for you.  Jesus has defeated the devil once and for all and you do not have to sin.  You do not have to live controlled by the devil or the devices of the devil.  Jesus came to set you free and He did.  If you have gone back into bondage, I have good news for you…  you do not have to stay there.  You can, with God’s help and by the Promise of His Word, be FREE right now.   And you can stay free once you get free.  God’s Purpose for you is for you to be free from sin’s control and dominion…. will you purpose to agree with God’s purpose?  Then do it NOW.

            God’s Will is for you to PROSPER .   This means that God wants you to be in charge.  For you to be living in and walking in success and prosperity.   It is God’s Will for every believer to walk in the high places of the earth. 

You were born into a Kingdom of success and power.  You have been given all the information you need to live in success and prosperity. 

            You have been challenged to move into the dimension of the Kingdom of God where you are the head and not the tail… above and not beneath… strong and not weak…. well and not sick… glad and not sad…  rich and not poor… where you live the life of a Conqueror.  God wants you taking back what satan has stolen.  God wants you treading on the head of the serpent.  God wants you to kill your giant and move into your promised land.   God purposes that you Live…  no matter who you are, where you are, how old you are, how educated you are…. it is written in the changeless and eternal Word that God has plans for your success and prosperity.  God want to use you to finance Kingdom Work.  God wants to showcase you as the blessed because of your obedience.  It is the Purpose of God for every Believer to live in and enjoy heaven’s blessings on earth.  Do you want this?  Are you willing to line your life up with the Word of God?  Will you walk in obedience to His commands?  Can you crucify your flesh and renew your mind and control your tongue?  Say YES..  Then DO IT..  Hallelujah..

            It is God’s Will for you and me take the Gospel of the Kingdom to the Nations of the earth.  The final command and commission Jesus gave to the Church was the command and commission to take the Gospel to the nations of the earth.  While we have been looking at communities and cities and states with our vision for evangelism… God looks at the Whole World… the Nations of the earth… the kindreds, and tongues, and nations… the islands of the sea and the peoples of this planet.  Some may grow weary of our continual emphasis on missions.  It has been brought to my attention that a few feel that we might be top-heavy with our vision for the Russian People and our commitment to go and teach and preach and plant churches over there.   I must remind you that when our mission vision dries up and our attention is focused on us and ours and me and mine and this church only, we are violating the Eternal Purpose of God.  If you want to live in Divine Providence and Protection and Favor, you must have the heart of God for the Nations of the earth.  God has raised up this ministry to seed the Word into the World… this was spoken to my heart over twenty years ago when we were in the throes of conflict over the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit…. God promised me that this church would one day touch the entire world with the Word of God.  He promised me that He had set before us an “open door” and no man, movement, demon or devil would ever be able to close it..  He has honored this Word to me and it is presently being fulfilled… we have not entered into the fullest measure of fulfillment yet, but we are on the way..  Hallelujah..  Therefore, if you desire the continued blessings of God and Favor of God on you and us… then agree with His Eternal Purpose to take the Gospel to the Nations of the Earth….

            It is God’s Will for you and me to Pull Down the strongholds of the devil and take back what he has stolen.  You and I have been royally ripped off by hell.  We have lived in ignorance.  We have been poisoned by false teaching.  We have been blinded by religion.  We have been lied to, spied on, deceived, tricked, ripped off and almost ruined by the powers of darkness.  We did not know any better.  We thought what was happening to us was the “Will of God”… We did not understand Spiritual Warfare and we did not know about the Authority of every Believer.  But we know now..  We are prepared and we are equipped.  We are strong and we are mad.  It is time to attack.  The devil has been like Saddam Hussein… he has thumbed his nose at us, he has taunted us and teased us,  he has invaded sacred territory and with great belligerence ridiculed the church, the Bible, Believers and the Holy Ghost. 

I say, satan has gravely miscalculated and is now about to be put in his place by a Company of Believers who have had enough..  Enough is enough..  It is time to stop standing still… it is time to attack.  Let’s charge into satan’s territory and take back what he has illegally taken from you and from me and from the church..  It is the Eternal Purpose of God for the Church to give the devil hell..  The command to attack has been given and it is a command that will not be ignored or disobeyed..  Hallelujah..

Word for Today:  November 21

Behold His Glory.

but we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed (transformed) into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord… 2 Cor. 3:18

Most are tired of the rigors or religion.  Many are frustrated with the shallowness and emptiness of methods, formulas, and quick-fix programs.  Some have become disillusioned and disappointed by the merchandising and man-management of the Gospel.

Often, Preachers become Spiritual Super Stars and ministries become Kingdoms that cater to the carnal.  Where are the Prophets?  Where are the Elijahs and the John the Baptists?  Where are the Pauls and the Silas’ and the Stephens and the Mary Magdalenes?  Where is the Simple and Straight forward presentation of Gospel of Christ which is the Power of God unto Deliverance?

We can worship ministries.  We can worship methods.  We can worship ministers.  We can worship music.  We can worship Praise.  We can even worship worship.  I want to Worship Jesus.  I want to Behold Him and His glory.  (John 1:14)

Let’s minimize the methods and maximize the Master

          God’s heart has never changed.

His heart has al­ways been inclined toward man.  It is now and it always has been.  Man  was originally created in order for God to have a family.  God wanted companionship.  God wanted fellowship.  God wanted relationship.  God wanted a family so that He can love them and care for them. God wanted to have a family to love and to bless and to keep unto Himself.   God wants to have children that will re­cipro­cate His love.  God is Love, God loves and God wants to be loved. 

Do you realize that God made the heavens solely for the benefit of earth? Do you know that God made the earth solely for the benefit of man?  Can you believe that God created all ani­mal life and plant life solely for our benefit?  Everything and all things that God cre­ated by His power,  were and are created for the benefit of man.     And God made man for Himself.  

All of creation is designed to sustain human life.  Scientists are now be­ginning to recognize that the entire universe has been created and calibrated to support and sustain human life. The original Plan God had is still the same.  It is the Eternal Purpose of God for man.  Even though Satan en­tered and Adam sinned and death was brought into the earth, God has Eternally Purposed for Man to be His Own.  The Bible says that “God is not willing that any should perish  (lose, be defeated, be lost),  but that all should come to repentance…”  2 Peter 3:9.   

Now, how does man come into the family of God?  Man becomes a child of God only through the NEW BIRTH.  Therefore, we may conclude that God’s Eternal Purpose for man is FIRST that man might be Saved. 

God’s Eternal Purpose is for every man to be Born Again   

God wants the entire human race to be birthed into His family.  God purposes for man to be saved.   Potentially, the entire human race (both born and un­born) was redeemed from sin when Jesus died on the cross.  

What is in­volved in salvation?  God has a part and man has a part.  God’s part is called REGENERATION and man’s part is called REPENTANCE.  When we re­pent of our sin and believe in our heart that Jesus Christ is Lord and then when we openly and unashamedly confess our heart-be­lief, we are BORN AGAIN. 

That 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. Ro 10:9 

At the precise time of our New Birth, God impregnates us with His Life and we are given eternal life. God’s Life comes into us along with all of God’s Characteristics and we become the Sons of God.

But as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the Sons of God… John 1:12. 

God’s Life comes into us, His Power comes into us, His Authority comes into us, His Love comes into us, His Faith comes into us, and His Very Nature comes into us.  We are instantly made “in the image” of God.  We  are conformed to the Image of Jesus Christ, God’s First-Begotten.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did pre­destinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Rom. 8:29   

God’s Eternal Purpose is that Every Man enjoy Divine Health 

God wants us healed.  God wants us well.  If we are sick, we are outside the will of God.  It is the purpose and intent of Almighty God that we get healed, stay healed and walk in Divine Health. 

Sickness is not the will of God.  God does not put sickness on any­body.  God does not use sickness to teach us a lesson. God never employs Satan’s tactics and methods to bring any of His Children “in line.”  Just as God purposes for us to be free from sin’s condemna­tion and guilt and judgment, He also purposes for us to be healed of all sicknesses, diseases and in­firmities.

          Listen to Isaiah 53: 5:  But He (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniq­uities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed… 

This Eternal Purpose of God for us is restated in I Peter 2:24: Who His own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed…

God wants us well.  God has sent His Word to heal us and he has brought us where we are so that we might discover that His Divine Purpose for us and our seed is that we might be whole.

God’s Eternal Purpose is for all Believers to re­ceive the  Baptism in the Holy Ghost   

This never was intended to be an “option” for the Believer.  It was and is a command.

Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit…   Gal. 5:18.

          The first Believers were Baptized in the Holy Spirit. 

          The Early Church was Baptized in the Holy Spirit. 

          John the Baptist was Filled with the Holy Ghost in his mother’s womb. 

          The Spirit of God came down from heaven in the form of a dove and filled Jesus at His water Baptism. 

Paul was Baptized in the Holy Ghost when Ananias laid hands on him.  When Peter preached to the household of Cornelius the Word declares:

While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word, and they of the cir­cumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God…  Acts 10:44-46. 

          The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is the Eternal Purpose of God for every Believer.  Any church or any denomination or any preacher or any teacher or any pas­tor who refuses or neglects to teach this truth is guilty of violating the ETERNAL PURPOSE of GOD. 

Every Believer needs the bap­tism.  It is essen­tial for effective Spiritual Warfare.  It is essential for tapping into Heaven’s power.  It is essen­tial for ef­fective praying.  It is essential for moving into the supernatural…. It is the Eternal Purpose of God for every Believer to be Baptized in the Holy Ghost.

It is the Eternal Purpose of God for Every Believer to be Free from Sin’s Control 

We need to know that God wants us to live free from sin’s do­minion.  It is His pur­pose for us to totally free from anything and all things that Satan designs against us.  The Bible declares that  sin shall not have do­minion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace…   Romans 6:14. 

We do not have to live under the control and dominion of the devil.  If he is manipulating us and our family and our marriage and our finances and our mind and emo­tions, we are missing the Eternal Purpose of God for us.  Jesus has defeated the devil once and for all and we do not have to sin. 

We do not have to live controlled by the devil or the devices of the devil.  Jesus came to set us free and He did. If we have gone back into bondage, I have good news…. we do not have to stay there. We can, with God’s help and by the promise of His Word, be FREE right now.  And we can stay free once we get free. 

God’s Eternal Purpose for us is for us to be free from sin’s control and do­minion…. If you are tired of being controlled and manipulated by the devil, you can decide to do something about it.  When you are ready to be free, God has given you the power and authority to get free.  It’s not up to God… it’s up to you!

It is the Eternal Purpose of God for us to Reign in Life 

That is what this book is about.  This means that God purposes for you and me to be in charge…. for us to live in and walk in suc­cess and prosperity.   It is God’s Purpose for every believer to ride in the high places of the earth.

Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth…   Isa 58:14 

When we were born again, we were born into a Kingdom of success and power.  We have been given all the information (in the Word) we need to live in success and prosperity.  We have been challenged to move into the dimension of the Kingdom of God where we are the head and not the tail… above and not beneath… blessed and not cursed… strong and not weak…. well and not sick… glad and not sad…  rich and not poor… where we live the life of a Conqueror. 

God wants us taking back what Satan has stolen.  God wants us treading on the head of the serpent.  God wants us to kill our giant and move into our promised land. God pur­poses that we reign in life… no matter who we are, where we are, how old we are, how educated or uneducated we are…. it is written in the changeless and eternal Word that God has plans for our suc­cess and pros­perity. 

God wants to use us to finance Kingdom Work.  God wants to show­case us as the blessed because of our obedience.  It is the Eternal Purpose of God for every Believer to live in and en­joy heaven’s blessings on earth while they live and be­fore they die.   Do you want this?  Are you will­ing to line your life up with the Word of God? Will you walk in obedience to His commands? 

Can you and will you cru­cify your flesh and renew your mind and control your tongue?  Say YES.  Then DO IT.   And DO IT NOW. 

It is the Eternal Purpose of God that you and I take the Gospel of the Kingdom to the Nations of the earth  

The final command and commission Jesus gave the Church was the command to take the Gospel to the nations of the earth.  While we have been looking at communi­ties and cities and states with our vi­sion for evan­gelism… God looks at the Whole World… the Nations of the earth… the kindreds, and tongues, and peoples… the is­lands of the sea and the inhabitants of this planet. 

Some may grow weary of our con­tinual emphasis on missions.  It has been brought to my attention that a few feel that we might be top-heavy with our vision for Lost People in other lands and our commitment to go and teach and preach and plant churches in nations overseas.   I must re­mind you that when our mission vision dries up and our at­ten­tion is focused on us and ours and me and mine and this church only, we are violating the Eternal Purpose of God. 

If we want to live in Divine Providence and Protection and Favor, we must have the heart of God for the Nations of the earth.  God has raised us up to seed the Word into the World… this was spoken to my heart over fifty years ago when we were in the throes of conflict over the Baptism of the Holy Spirit…. God promised me that this church would one day touch the  world with the Word of God.  He promised me that He had set before us an “open door” and no man, move­ment, demon or devil would ever be able to close it. 

He has honored this Word to me and it is presently being ful­filled… we have not entered into the fullest measure of ful­fillment yet, but we are on the way.  Therefore, if you desire the continued blessings of God and Favor of God on you and us… then agree with His Eternal Purpose to take the Gospel to the Nations of the Earth.

It is the Eternal Purpose of God for you and me to pull  down the strongholds of the devil and take back what he has stolen 

In the past, you and I have been royally ripped off by the devil.  We have lived in igno­rance.  We have been poisoned by false teaching.  We have been blinded by reli­gion.  We have been lied to, spied on, deceived, tricked, ripped off and almost ruined by the powers of darkness.  We did not know any better.  We thought what was hap­pening to us was the “will of God”… We did not under­stand spiritual warfare and we did not know about the authority of every believer.  But we know now.  Thank God!   

We are prepared and we are equipped.  We are strong and we are mad.  We are ready to rumble.  It is time to attack.  The devil has thumbed his nose at us, he has taunted us and teased us,  he has invaded sa­cred territory and, with great belligerence, ridiculed the church, the Bible, Believers and the Holy Ghost. 

I say satan has gravely miscalculated and is now about to be put in his place by a Company of Believers who have had enough.  Enough is enough.  It is time to stop standing still… it is time to attack. 

Let’s charge into Satan’s territory and take back what he has illegally taken from you and from me and from the Church.  It is the Eternal Purpose of God for the Church to give the devil hell.  The command to attack has been given and it is a com­mand that will not be ig­nored and must not be dis­obeyed.