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Word for Today:  October 20

Jesus’ self-emptying.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Even death and the grave

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

The Revelation of the Authority of the Believer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FIRST:  What Authority is

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SECOND:  Who has Authority       

God gave it but Adam lost it.

Adam sinned and forfeited it.

When Adam lost it, Satan got it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What does this Redemption do for the believer?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here is what AUTHORITY does for the be­liever:

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

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

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

Word for Today:  October 19

Your choice to live and not die must be made in the present.

It cannot be made in the past and it cannot be made in the future… it must be made in the present.    Once you choose you set the entire course of your life.  Your life begins to flow in the direction of your choice.  When you choose to live things pertaining to life begin to happen all around you.  When you choose to give in and give up, you begin to die and things of death begin to happen all around you.

Your choosing life will affect your family and your future.  It will save or destroy.  It will bring health or cause disease.  Your choice to live will change circumstances and situations.

As you choose daily to live and not die you determine your daily Spiritual and Physical Welfare.  You will win when you choose life.  You will lose when you choose death.  These are choices you make on a daily and hourly basis.  People who are constantly sad, frustrated, depressed, despondent, anxious, hurt, angry and impatient are experiencing all these negative forces simply because they refused to choose life.

Have you wondered how some people seem to always be happy and full of joy?  Have you wished that you could be the same way?  You can, too.

Because it is up to you.

It is a matter of choice.

Your Choice

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:  Deut 30:19

          As we noted earlier in this book, the Word is important.  Nothing on earth has the power that the Word of God has.  We who are born again have access to this miracle-working, life-changing power.   This is a present-day reality.  God has spoken and continues to speak to us through His Word.  His Word has the anoint­ing to accomplish what God desires.  Those who believe have access to that anointing… that miracle-working power in the Word of God.

          If we live to the fullest poten­tial of God’s plan, we will do so only through the Word.  The Word is able.  The Word is adequate.  The Word is enough.  The Word will tell us what is to come and will prepare us for it.  The Word will get us strong and keep us strong.  The Word will drive out sick­ness, disease, infirmity and weakness;  the Word will keep us well, keep us whole, de­liver us, and keep us in pros­perity.  The Word will convict us and chasten us.  It will cut off the ex­cess and expose the unnec­essary.  It will starve our doubts and feed our faith.  It will make us ready to meet Jesus.  It will give us life and life more abundant.

          The anointing of the Holy Spirit is on the Word.   That anointing is the miracle-working power of God.    Whatever we are taught from the Word is what we can have faith to receive.  Our success level will never exceed our Word level.  When the Word is given priority, the anointing is present.  As we plug into the Word with our faith, (act on the Word) the miracle-working power of God is released.   That anointing has the power and the ability to break every yoke that Satan places on the believer.  

And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.  Isa 10:27  .

          Nothing is as important to us as getting the Word to work in our life.  There has been a famine of the Word in the earth and the whole world has suffered immeasurably as a result of this famine. 

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: Amos 8:11

          The cost of this famine has been and is devastating.  It has cost us prosperity, health, healing, healthy and lasting marriages, godly homes and families, peace and holy living.  We have paid by witnessing a moral decline that is unmatched in human history.  Our country is staggering and falling because the Word of God has been ignored, removed by liberal politicians and forbidden in public institutions.  Every attempt to heal this hemorrhage of immorality and wickedness by natural, humanistic means has failed.  Education has failed.  Culture has failed.  Religion has failed. Humanism has failed.  Self-effort has failed.  Money has failed.  The only solution to the spiraling decline of our nation is a genuine return to the Word of God.

          Satan attempted to stop the Word in the Garden of Eden.  All through Old Testament history there are indications of demonic attempts to pervert and prevent the Word of God.  Satan  tried to stop the Word by having Jesus crucified.  He tried to stop the Word in the times of the Roman Empire through great persecution and the martyrdom of courageous Christians.  He tried to stop the Word in the dark ages by locking it up in monasteries and keeping it unpublished and written in a language that only a few could read.  Next, he tried to stop the Word after the Reformation by causing carnal men to develop dead doctrines, creeds, traditions and man-made religion.  Intellectualism, the age of reason, and humanism followed and became the limiting forces of restraining the Word.

          Today, the Word has been removed from our educational institutions.  It has been banned in public gathering places and forbidden by unbelieving judges and atheistic sectors of our society.  The classrooms of higher education make evolution and natural selection a god and the Big Bang the answer to all of creation.  Today the authenticity and accuracy of the Scriptures are major issues in main line denominations.   Is the Bible really the Word of God?  This is the question Satan has planted in the minds and hearts of many leading church leaders and denominations.  The Truth has been abdicated concerning the Biblical meaning and definition of Marriage and the Biblical condemnation of homosexuality.   Recent surveys found that only eight out of ten seminary students believe in God and that only four out of ten believe in miracles. 

          However, many dedicated believers in this dark hour have determined to do something regarding this famine in our land. And I am one of them!  God is with us!  God is for us!  Jesus is Lord! (and there’s nothing the devil can do about this!)  The Holy Ghost is active and available and the Church of the Living God is invincible! Ho Logos ton theon!    The Word is food and sustenance (living Bread and living Water) for our spirit man and the Word is our reason and purpose for living!   And the Word will never leave us nor forsake us.  The Word never fails! 

What the Word is

          The Word is power.  The Word is alive. The Word is sharp.  The Word is sufficient.  The Word is adequate.  The Word is enough.  The Word is complete.  The Word is finished.  The Word is heaven’s standard and earth’s manual of operation. 

          The Word is life.  It is the very opposite of death, weakness, sickness, oppression, depression, possession and darkness.  The Word is the source, sustainer and fulfillment of life.  Without the Word inside of us, we are dead and not alive.  We are reduced to a biological, pulsating, breathing, moving piece of meat!   Without the Word we have absolutely no purpose, no plan and no reason for existence.  The Word is the difference between living and dying.

          The Word is the Way.  It is the Way to know God.  It is the Way to receive Jesus.  It is the Way to receive the Baptism in the Holy Ghost.  It is the Way to drive out devils.  It is the Way to heaven.  It is the Way to healing, wholeness and health.  It is the Way to marital happiness and harmony.  It is the Way to save your children and build a strong and loving family.               

          The Word is eternal, changeless, flawless, absolute, accurate and filled with power.  The Word is Heaven’s standard for Kingdom living.  It is the Standard by which everything else in Heaven and on earth is measured.  “What do you think about the economy?”  What do you think about the Middle East situation?”  What do you think about the political posture of our country?”  “What do you think about radical Islam and the terrorist situation?”  “What do you think about the future?”

 It does not matter what you think or what I think or what anybody thinks.  The only thing that matters is what the Word of God declares!  

          What we think comes out of our sense knowledge.  Our senses can lie to us and are constantly influenced by our external circumstances and surroundings.  To live by our senses is to be carnally (fleshly) minded and according to the Bible to be carnally minded is death.  

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Ro 8:6 

          The Word is creative.  It produces (1) faith, (2) the New Birth (3) Spiritual growth and development (4) a renewed mind (5) victory over the devil (6) Christ-likeness.  It births Churches and missionaries and mission projects.  The Word is Seed and what we sow, we grow.  When we sow the Word we produce exponentially what the Word produces. 

What the Word does

          The Word reveals.  It reveals:  (1) God the Father. (2) Jesus the Son.  (3) The Holy Ghost.  (4) The Purpose and Plan of God.  (5) The Future.  (6) The secret of success in this life and the next.  (7) The Will of God.  (8) The Way out.  (9) The Way in.  (10) The Way up, and  (11) the Way over.

          The Word reveals the Person and Work of Jesus Christ.  It is the perfect revelation of God; His person, His character, His nature and His works.  It reveals the miracle of Creation and the Will and eternal purpose of God in and through Creation.  

          The Word Creates.  It has created all that is and all that has been and continues to create the expansion of the stellar heavens.  Science declares that the creation is still in the process of being created… and it is being created and expanded at the speed of light.  The Word is “holding together” all things (planets, suns, moons, stars, galaxies, etc.) that exist.

And he (Jesus Christ the Living Word)  is before all things, and by him all things consist. Col 1:17 

           The Word creates the new birth, healing and health, wealth and prosperity, sustaining strength and continuing energy, youth, rest and refreshment, quickness of mind and creative thoughts and ideas. 

          The Word is presently working and producing in the life of every born again believer.  By and through the Word:

          (1) We live  and function in great confidence and assurance.  We know that God is for us and that we are born again to win.  We are assured through the Word that God will never leave us nor forsake us and that nothing can separate us from His great love.  (Rom 8:38-39)

          (2) We enjoy boldness in believing for big things and dreaming big dreams.  We understand by the Word that nothing is impossible and no obstacle it too great and no problem is too difficult.  Circumstances literally become stepping stones and hardships become opportunities.

          (3)  We walk in truth instead of facts.  We make facts submit to truth and line up with and agree with the Word of God.

          (4)  Worry, fear, panic, depression, anxiety, impatience… all these become strangers to us.  We live in the peace of God that works rest and comfort to our spirit, soul and body.  We never have any excuse for bad days or emotional “lows”… we live a conquering and overcoming life through the Word of God. 

          (5) We possess wisdom and revelation.  We do not waste time in “trial and error” situations, we operate with the Mind of Christ and in the Wisdom of God.  We do not live in the “just in case” mode, instead we live in the “so what!” mode.

How we activate the Word to work for us

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Word for Today:  October 17

Practically every situation on the world scene today is indicative of death, decay and defeat.

Fear prevails.  War threatens.  Terror rules.  Starvation and deprivation are the norm for two-thirds of the earth’s population.  There is NO HOPE in the natural.  Even at life’s best, death is only a heart-beat… a single breath away.  Cemeteries and funeral homes and hospitals and morgues are a constant reminder of the relentless pursuit of death.  Death is the counterpart of life in the world system and it is constantly overtaking the living.

But there is a way to live and keep from dying.

The Bible says that we can Choose Life and Refuse death.

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you Life and Death blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may LIVE…   (Deut 30:19).

To choose Life and refuse Death is to Choose God and refuse the devil.

For He (God) is thy life and the length of thy days… (Verse 20).

Now, since people had rather live than die how can they do it?  Had you rather live than die?  Then it’s up to you.

Most think they can do nothing about life and nothing about death, but the Bible says that you have the privilege of Choosing which one you want…  The Bible says that we have a choice in the matter.  As a matter of fact, it gives us a simple multiple choice test.  Then, God is so anxious for you to get it right, He tells you which answer to choose!

When you choose to live you also choose for your seed to live.  When you choose to die you also choose for your seed to die.

God has bestowed awesome power in you.  He has given you the power and authority to choose.  What you choose and accept is what will come to pass.  What you refuse and resist is what will go away.  This is a Divine Principle set forth in the Word.

What choice will you make today?

          Faith really does work.  However, we need to un­derstand some basic principles about the Spiritual world and the Natural world.  Faith is a spiritual force.  It works first in the spiritual world before it is manifested in the natural world.  Let me attempt to explain.

          There are, right now, two separate and dis­tinct worlds in existence and they are existing simultaneously.  They are real.  They exist side by side and they exist now.  The one world we are most familiar with is the natural world.  This is the world that we see.  This is the world that relates to our five physical senses.  This world is easy to believe and re­late to because we can see it, feel it, hear it, smell it and taste it.  It is the natural world. 

However, there is also an­other world, just and real and just as vital as the natu­ral world.  It is the spiritual world.  It is more difficult for us to understand and relate to because it is unseen.  It does not relate to our physical senses.  It is invisible and spiri­tual.  But just be­cause we cannot see it does not mean it is “not there.”  We cannot see air, but we know it is pre­sent.  Electricity is invisible (apart from lightning) but we know it is real.  We cannot “see” many of the suns, moons, stars, planets and galaxies that are in our uni­verse, but we know they are there and they are real.   We cannot see our brain or our heart or our mind or our internal physical organs, but we know they are there because we are alive and functioning. Therefore, just because we can­not “see” something does not mean that it is not “there.” 

The Bible tells us about things that are in­visible.

For the invisible things of him from the cre­ation of the world are clearly seen, being under­stood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without ex­cuse: Rom. 1:20   

Who is the image of the invisible God, the first­born of every creature: Col. 1:15  

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and in­visible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: Col. 1:16   

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisi­ble, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1Tim. 1:17    

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

          The spiritual world is just as real as the natural world.  Physical forces and physical beings work in and relate to the natural world.  Spiritual forces and spiritual beings work in and relate to the spiritual world.  Faith is one of the spiritual forces that works in the unseen spiritual world.   Here are some interesting verses that of­ten cause trouble for the Believer:

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Matt. 18:19    

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Matt. 21:22    

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glori­fied in the Son. John 14:13  

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 14:14  

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7  

And in that day ye shall ask me noth­ing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. John 16:23  

          May be we have “asked” and nothing seemed to happen.  We may have even “asked in Jesus’ Name” and still nothing appears to have happened.  Did you ever sin­cerely “ask in prayer, believing” and still got “no answer?”  Perhaps the Word abides in us as far as we can tell, and when we pray, no answer seems to come.   What is wrong?  What is the matter?  What is the hold-up? 

Look at it this way:

          We did get an answer.  We just cannot “see” it yet.  It was just as God said it would be in His Word.  The thing we need to understand is that the answer came in the spiritual world.  This is the world we cannot “see” into.  But it is real.   It is just as real as the natural world.  Now, what we must do is see it with our “faith eyes.”  Remember what the Bible says about “walking by faith?”

For we walk by faith, not by sight:  2Cor. 5:7    

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. 2Cor. 4:18   

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Heb. 11:1   

          We need to be totally convinced that it (the an­swer that is presently in the spiritual world) is “on the way” to being manifested in the physical world.   We do not need to keep on pray­ing about it and asking for it be­cause we do not “see it” in the natural world with our natural eyes.  The Bible thing to do is to thank God for the answer and praise God for the answer even before you ex­peri­ence it in this world.  It really is on the way.  When will it get here?  Remember the delay Daniel’s prayer had because of the conflict in the heaven­lies?

Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to under­stand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. Dan. 10:12   

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia with­stood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Dan. 10:13  

          Actually, three things are happening as we wait for our answer.

First, God is working. 

He never puts us on “hold.”  He hears and He begins to work in our be­half.  We may not know it or be aware of it, but He is doing things and moving things and working things out in the spiritual realm that will answer our prayer and mani­fest our miracle.  Thank Him for actively “processing” your case.  Give Him time to get it done.  Do not blame Him for not hear­ing.  He always hears.  He never slum­bers or sleeps.  His ear is always inclined toward us and our in­terces­sion.

Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, there­fore will I call upon him as long as I live. Ps. 116:2    

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall nei­ther slumber nor sleep. Ps. 121:4  

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Isa. 65:24   

Second, Satan is fighting.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Eph. 6:11  

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph. 6:12   

          The powers of darkness are warring against our an­swer.  They will fight, complicate, hold up and hinder in any way possible just to keep us from receiving our an­swer.  Just as the Prince of Persia withstood Daniel’s prayer, so will these same prin­cipalities and powers with­stand our praying, our asking and our believing.  But that does not mean that God has not heard and that He has not an­swered our asking.  Satan is fighting.  demons are warring.  Principalities and powers are resisting and complicating and hindering.  But we have power over all the powers of the devil.  Therefore, we can bind and we can loose and we can keep on be­lieving.

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and what­soever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.   Matt. 16:19    

Third, our patience is being developed. 

This is probably the hardest part.  Waiting.  Waiting without get­ting discouraged and disappointed.  Refusing to get mad at God or to blame God or to doubt His Word… all these are very hard to do if we do not see immediate results to our praying and be­lieving. 

But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Rom. 8:25   

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Hebr. 10:36   

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James 1:3  

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:4  

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who pros­pereth in his way, be­cause of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Ps. 37:7  

          Here are some things we can do while we wait:

          We can understand that our waiting is developing pa­tience: (hupomone “cheerfulness, en­durance, con­stancy”).  According to James we should count this “all joy” (Jas 1:2)

          Hold on to hope.  Hope believes that better things are on the way.  Hope knows that changes for the better on coming soon.  Hope is optimistic and expectant. 

          Know that God is faithful (trustworthy).  God will honor His Word.  God will al­ways perform what He Promises.  “God is faith­ful…”  is the Magna Charta  of the New Testament Church.  He will not fail us.  He will not forsake us.  He will show up and deliver us in time and at the right time.  

The Bible is a record of God’s faithfulness.  “In the full­ness of time…”  There is a “time” set aside for every pur­pose and every answer.  Do not frustrate God’s Grace by getting impatient.  Impatience has birthed many Ishmaels.  Taking over before God gets through can be disastrous.  Let “patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect (teleos: com­plete, full grown) and entire (complete in every part, perfectly sound, whole), wanting nothing…”  (James 1:4)

          There is a way of escape.   God is faithful.

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

He will not allow us to be tempted more than we can stand.  But with every temptation, He will also make a Way of escape.  Remember, Jesus said:  “I am the Way…”  (Jn 14:6)

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the en­emy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19  

          Nothing shall by any means hurt us.  No evil shall come near the place we dwell…

Because God is faithful!

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

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

Remember the Word.  Recall  the Word.  Rehearse the Word.  Exercise it like you exercise your mus­cles.  Use it.  Let it rise up out of your spirit.  Temper the Word with aggressiveness.  Be offen­sive and attack your hard situation with the Revelation God gives you in His Word.  “It is writ­ten…”  “God says…”  “The Word declares…”  “God, you said…”  “Father, You promised…”   Say the Word and say it out loud so that God can hear it and you can hear it and your situation can hear it and the devil and demons can hear it. 

          Quit worrying.  At least 99% of the things we worry about never happen.  Settle in your heart that ev­erything is really all right.  Remember… “All is well.”  Satan exaggerates and intensi­fies and magnifies the negative.  God is in control.  The devil is a liar.  So whatever he tells us, the very op­posite is the truth.   If  he says you are going to lose, then the truth is you are going to win.  If he says you are going to fail, then the truth is you are going to succeed.  If he says you are terminally ill, then the truth is you are going to live and not die.  

          Worship Jesus.  Seek Jesus… not the answer to your problem.  The more we worship Him the less we think about our problem.  Sing.  Pray.  Bow before Him.  Pray in the Spirit.  Prophesy to your­self.  Worship God.

Word for Today:  October 16

It is important to know Who you are, What you have, What you can do and Why you can do it.

The devil constantly tempts us to doubt.  he wants us to doubt who we are (he tried to get Jesus to doubt Who He was) or to wonder who we are or to be ignorant of who we are.

As long as we are not sure of our position in Christ, our Authority and our Faith will not work.  We cannot receive and achieve if we are confused, conflicted or uncertain about what God says concerning who we are, what we have, what we can do and why we can do it.

God has raised up strong Word Churches and anointed preachers in order to instruct His people about their privileges, their powers and their Rights which are revealed in the Word.

Anointed Leaders are set in the Body as master craftsmen to build us up in the Word.  We are “God’s Building” and they are Holy Ghost Craftsmen equipped with the Proper Building Materials to make us strong in the Lord and in the Power of His might.

They are Called and Sent by God for our instruction, our enlightenment and our inspiration.  They are God-appointed “explainers” and “exhorters” to inform us and give us insight and revelation regarding what God says concerning:

• Who we are
• What we have
• What we can do and
• Why we can do it

Knowing this gives us a winning advantage over every attack of the enemy.

Faith is believing and believing is faith

There is an interesting Greek word used in the New Testament to de­fine faith.  If we really want to understand what faith is, it is necessary for us to look at the original language that is used to describe and explain it.  228 times of the 245 times “faith” is translated in the New Testament, this par­ticular Greek word is used.  It is pistis. And it means “con­viction of the truth of anything; believing.”   It means trust.  Confidence.  Assurance.  The word “believe” and “faith” come from the same Greek root and can be used interchangeably in the New Testament without corrupting the intended mean­ing of the term. 

Faith is a Gift from God

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it (faith)  is the gift of God:    Eph. 2:8   

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of him­self more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Rom. 12:3  

          God gives us the gift of faith when we get born again.  When we were saved God made us partakers of His divine Nature.

Whereby are given unto us exceed­ing great and precious promises: that by these ye might be par­takers of the divine nature, having es­caped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2Pet. 1:4   

          God imparted to us His very Nature at the time of our new birth and part of that divine Nature is the God-kind of faith.  Faith is an at­tribute of God.  Just as we received certain biological and genetic contributions from our parents when we were born naturally, we received certain Godly characteristics when we were born supernaturally.   We are   “re-gened” with God-characteristics at the time of our “regeneration.”  God birthed miracle-working and miracle-producing faith in us .  You have faith.  I have faith.  We have faith.  It is a gift from God to us.  It is the God-kind of faith.  It is supernatural and it will work miracles.

          Faith is believing God with corresponding action.  Faith is acting on the Word of God.  Faith is believing that God really means what He says.  Faith is the key to receiv­ing from God and Faith is the only way to please Him.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must be­lieve that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb. 11:6  

          According to the Word, if we are saved, we have faith. God has given us this gift (Eph 2:8) and we have “the measure

of faith.” (Rom 12:3)

How much is a “measure” of faith?  It is enough.  Our measure of faith is enough.  It was enough to get us saved and that is the greatest mir­acle in all of creation.  If it was enough to get us saved it is surely enough to get us healed.  Or delivered.  Or made free.   Or anything else God has for us.  

Faith believes that God is a rewarder.  A rewarder is a giver.  The Biblical perspective of faith sees God as a good God.  As a loving God.  As a giving God.  As a father God.  God does not do bad things and the devil does not do good things. 

          Jesus said that if we had faith like a grain of mustard seed, we could speak to mountains and they would move and that nothing would be im­possible to us.

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matt. 17:20  

          Notice that Jesus said “if we had faith AS a mustard seed.”  He is not talking about quantity.  He is talking about quality.   In other words, Jesus is encouraging us to have faith like a mustard seed has faith.   What kind of faith does a mustard seed have? 

What is “mustard-seed” faith?  What kind of faith will it take for us to be able to speak to mountains and command them to be moved out of the way?   What kind of faith will it take for us to move into the “nothing shall be impossible to you” place?  It is to have the same kind of faith that the mustard seed has.  The mustard seed KNOWS that it is going to be a tree.  It may not look like one, appear to be one, or even resemble one.  But the mustard seed knows that it is, in reality, a tree. 

Because it knows that it is a tree, it acts like it is one… even before it is fully mani­fested.  Mustard-seed faith calls things that be not as though they already are.   And then, it acts on the reality of the Promise of God.  That is the kind of faith Jesus en­courages us to have.  Faith like the faith of a mustard seed.

How Faith is Developed

          Faith can be and needs to be developed.  According to the Bible, there are different kinds of faith.

          Great faith.

When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Matt. 8:10  

When Jesus heard these things, he mar­velled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Luke 7:9  

          Little faith.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Matt. 6:30  

And he saith unto them, Why are ye f fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and re­buked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. Matt. 8:26   

Matt. 14:31   And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among your­selves, because ye have brought no bread? Matt. 16:8   

If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? Luke 12:28  

          No faith.

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

Limited faith.

And he did not many mighty works there be­cause of their unbelief. Matt. 13:58   

And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. Mark 6:5  

And he marvelled because of their unbe­lief.  Mark 6:6   

          Polluted faith.

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Hebr. 4:2   

          Shipwrecked faith.

Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made ship­wreck: 1Tim. 1:19  

          Great faith needs to be exercised in order to stay great faith.    Little faith needs to be developed into great faith.  No faith should be re­pented of and changed into great faith.  Limited faith needs to get out of compromise and away from doubt. Polluted faith needs to be puri­fied by the Word.  Shipwrecked faith needs to be repaired and protected. 

          Primarily, faith is developed by Hearing the Word of God. 

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom. 10:17  

Hearing (Akoe) means more than being aware of sound.  Hearing in this context means un­derstanding.  It also implies corresponding action.  Once the Word is heard, according to the Bible meaning of “hear” it is followed by corresponding action. 

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?   James 2:20     

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.  James 2:26  

          So, when the Word is heard (acted on, fol­lowed by corresponding action) it develops faith.  Faith is devel­oped by hearing the Word of God.  As we “hear” the Word of God in this book, and then determine to do something about what we hear that will get our mind, our mouth and our body in agreement with the Word, our faith will grow.  As our faith grows it stimulates more faith.  Faith in operation begets more faith.  Like begets like.

          Where there is an abundance of the Word, there is an abundance of faith.  Where there is an abundance of faith miracles happen.  Where there is an abundance of faith, signs and wonders follow the ministry of the Word.  No Word means no faith.  Little Word means little faith.  Weak Word means weak faith.  Much Word means great faith.  Faith is proportionate to hearing, believing and do­ing the Word.

Word for Today:  October 15

Faith and facts.

Truth, which is activated by Faith, is more powerful than Facts.  Facts 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 are making a decision to live by Faith.  By trusting God.  Living by Revelation.  By the Rhema Word.  By understanding.  By KNOWING.

This enables us to discern the difference between the Truth and Facts.  When facts contradict Truth we disregard the facts and choose to believe the Truth.  And we continue to believe the Truth until the Truth becomes a fact.

Faith creates facts

Word for Today:  October 14

In the past our concept of God has often been limited and incorrect.

We have been led to believe that God is mad and mean.  We have often lived in great fear and anxiety because we were told that God was going to get even…  He has been presented as a God of Judgment and a God of revenge and great wrath.

At the same time we were told how unworthy and sinful we were and, as a result, we lived under continual condemnation.  The main message from the pulpit was fear oriented and it continually emphasized how hot hell is and how endless eternity is.   Thank God, times have changed…  Our level of Revelation has greatly increased and we have discovered the true nature of God.

• God is a Giver. God is a Giver because He is a Lover.
• God us a Lover because He is a Father.
• God does not Kill, murder, take away, hinder, hurt, test, try, make sick, give cancer, cause poverty, or “get even.”
• God is Good. He loves, gives, multiplies, heals, delivers, makes free, provides riches, fixes, helps, strengthens, provides, protects…  and on and on we could go.  And we could never exhaust the wealth of blessings God has for those who love Him.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1Co 2:9

It’s the devil that kills, steals, destroys, hinders, hurts, binds, subtracts, crushes, takes your money, your happiness, your joy, and your peace.

A simple test to find out where all the stuff than happens to you comes from.  I offer this simple yet accurate criteria:

The devil can’t do good things and God doesn’t do bad things.

Therefore:  If it’s GOOD it is God.  If it’s BAD it is the devil.

Theology 101