"Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you." -Zechariah 9:12
There are those who have been faithful, standing upon the promises of the Father. They have contended for and have walked in obedience toward the things that God has called them to, even though it seems as though war has broken out against them -- they are experiencing extreme heartache and despair. "Though an army besiege me my heart will not fear; though
John 5:39 - "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me." THIS SAYS CLEARLY THAT REVELATION IS MEANT TO BRING US INTO AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD, AND IF IT DOESN'T, IT ONLY MAKES US MORE RELIGIOUS.
RENEWING THE MIND IS NOT MERELY READING WORDS ON A PAGE AND HAVING A MOMENT OF REVELATION ABOUT A PARTICULAR VERSE. RENEWAL COMES AS REVELATION THAT LEADS YOU INTO A NEW EXPERIENCE WITH GOD.
MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE AT TIMES EMBRACED A ROU
Mark 4:14,20 - "The sower sows the Word. And those sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the Word and receive and accept and welcome it and bear fruit - some thirty times as much as was sown, some sixty times as much, and some even a hundred times as much." JESUS DIDN'T SPEND TIME TRYING TO GET MEN OUT OF POVERTY. HE GOT THE POVERTY OUT OF THEM AND THEY DID THE REST.
IF CHRIST WERE HERE TODAY, HE WOULDN'T MOVE PEOPLE OUT OF THE SLUMS....HE'D SIMPLY GET THE SLUMS OUT OF THEM. THEIR NEW I
Matthew 4:17 - "From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, 'Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" RENEWING THE MIND BEGINS WITH REPENTANCE. THAT IS THE GATEWAY TO RETURN TO OUR ORIGINAL ASSIGNMENT ON EARTH.
"RE" MEANS TO GO BACK - IE. GO BACK TO GOD'S PERSPECTIVE ON REALITY. AND IN THAT PERSPECTIVE THERE IS A RENEWAL, A REFORMATION THAT AFFECTS OUR INTELLECT, OUR EMOTIONS, AND EVERY PART OF OUR LIVES.
WHEN THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF CARNALITY, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN O
When we walk in a lifestyle of evangelism, the supernatural and the encounters that go with it will naturally be a part of our everyday walk. We won't have to think about the "where and how" of sharing the love of Jesus with people – they will naturally find us!
The key to the results you want to see is allowing evangelism to become who you are instead of simply what you do. Not everyone is called to the office of an Evangelist, but every Believer shares the Good News! This can be an
Luke 4:18,19 - "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me; He has sent me to announce good news to the poor, to proclaim release for prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to let the broken victims go free, to proclaim the year of the lord's favor." Jesus' concern for mankind was applauded. His Humility was revered, but it was the anointing that released the supernatural. And it was the supernatural invasion of God Himself that was rejected by the religious leaders.
John 14:14,15 - "(Yes) I will grant (I Myself will do for you) whatever you shall ask in My Name. If you (really) love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands."
DO LIKE THE RICH YOUNG RULER, WE KNOW SOMETHING IS MISSING IN US. WE ASK THE MASTER, "WHAT STILL
HOW IS IT THAT THIS PROMISE IS NOT FULFILLED FOR US? WHY IS IT THAT SUCH GREAT ANTICIPATION RESULTS IN SUCH A SMALL RETURN?I
LACK?"
JESUS WILL NOT SPONTANEOUSLY ANSWER OUR REQUESTS UNTIL WE INSTINCTIVELY OBEY HIS. OBEDIENCE TO HI
John 14:12 - "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."
JESUS' LIFE WAS A MODEL OF WHAT MANKIND COULD BECOME IF IT WERE IN RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER. THIS MEANT THAT EVERY TRUE BELIEVER WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE REALM OF LIFE THAT JESUS LIVED IN. JESUS CAME AS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. HE THEN PASSED THE BATON TO US ANNOUNCING THAT WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." - 1 Peter 1:3
The Lord is redefining His Church and calling them out of a place of stagnancy and redundancy into a place of passion.
Have you ever felt as if you were running around in circles, going through churchy motions but getting nowhere? When we lose sight of His Kingdom, our lives c
Colossians 2:9,10 - "For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form (giving complete expression of the divine nature). And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life, (in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - and reach full spiritual stature). And He is the Head of all rule and authority. " FAITH IS UNLIMITED. WHY? BECAUSE ITS SOURCE IS UNLIMITED.
THE LAWS OF FAITH ARE SURE, STEADFAST AND AS UNCHANG
"Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:31
Eagles love the storm. The eagle uses the storm's wind to lift it higher. Once it finds the wind of the storm, the eagles use the raging storm to lift him above the clouds. We can use the storms of life to rise to greater heights. Achievers relish challenges and use them profitably.
The Word
John 15:7 - "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you." TO ABIDE IN HIM IS TO LIVE IN CEASELESS FUSION WITH HIS PASSIONS. IT IS HIS LIFE, HIS VIRTUE, HIS WISDOM AND HIS SPIRIT WHICH SUSTAIN US. WE BECOME PERFECTLY WEAK, UNABLE TO RESIST HIM. LIKE THE SON'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER, SO WE DO NOTHING FROM OUR OWN INITIATIVE UNLESS IT IS SOMETHING WE SEE HIM DO. Affirmations: I AM CONSTRAINED AND GUIDED BY HIS VOICE. I AM SURRENDERED AND
Philippians 3:10 - "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death." FOR HIS SAKE, WE CANNOT CONTENT OURSELVES MERELY WITH GOOD WORKS. ULTIMATELY, WE WILL DISCOVER THAT STUDY AND CHURCH ATTENDANCE ARE BUT FORMS THAT HAVE NO SATISFACTION IN AND OF THEMSELVES.
OUR PLEASURE WILL BE FOUND NOT IN THE MECHANICS OF SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES, BUT THAT THESE DISCIPLINES BRING US CLOSER TO THE ALMIGHTY.
WE HAVE SATISFIED
Matthew 22:14 - "For many are called but few are chosen."
The words "appointed" and "chosen" are used synonymously in the new testament.
Many are called. How Many? Everyone who has heard the Gospel message to be exact!
Why are only a few appointed? Because only a few will forsake all their own desires, securities, lust for money, hindering relationships, etc. to fulfill the call upon their lives. Affirmations: I SEEK GOD FOR MY DESTINY, AND DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF THE HEAVENLY VISION
Matthew 4:1 - "Jesus was the led away by the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted by the devil."
THE WORD "TEMPTED" ACTUALLY MEANS "TESTED OR PROVEN IN ADVERSITY." BEFORE JESUS WAS LED TO DO WONDERS, HE WAS LED TO DO BATTLE.
THE FATHER PROVED THE CHARACTER OF HIS SON THROUGH CONFLICT. IT IS IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE THAT WHAT GOD HAS TAUGHT US IS TESTED.
LIFE CONSISTS OF LEARNING LESSONS AND PASSING TESTS. THE INTEGRITY OF GOD REQUIRES THAT OUR LEARNING NOT BE MERE HEAD KNOWLEDGE, B
Matthew 3:7 - "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, 'O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?'" WHAT THE PHARISEES MOST FEARED WAS THAT JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS NOT PROCLAIMING ANY VALUE IN THEIR ROLES; IN ESSENCE, JOHN'S MESSAGE DETHRONED ANY REAL AUTHORITY TO BE HAD IN RELIGIOUS IDENTITIES.
JESUS TOOK IT ONE STEP FURTHER. BUILDING ON JOHN'S FOUNDATION, HE SAID THINGS LIKE: "IF YOUR ARE TO BE GREAT IN THE K
Matthew 14:29,31 - "Come!" answered Jesus............ "You of little faith, he said, "why did you doubt?" WE SHOULD REPENT OF CARRYING THE IMAGE OF A SAVIOR WHO FAILS TO CONFRONT OUR SIN OR CHALLENGE OUR UNBELIEF. FOR SUCH IS A FALSE IMAGE OF GOD. IF WE WOULD GENUINELY KNOW HIM, WE MUST ACCEPT THIS TRUTH:
JESUS CHRIST IS IRREVOCABLY COMMITTED TO OUR COMPLETE TRANSFORMATION! HE KNOWS THAT WHATEVER WE SETTLE FOR SPIRITUALLY WILL BE FAR SHORT OF HIS PROVISION. THUS, HE COMPELS US TOWARD DIFFICUL
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2
We are all running the race of faith in our Christian life. The Lord
Matthew 10:37 - "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."
If we do not love God more than our mates, we will not love our mates as much as we should. Our relationship to God was created first and must always remain first.
Many try to find the fulfillment that they can only find in their relationship to God through their mates, or others, and even those in the church. Usually this will lead t
Isaiah 43:1-3 - "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you: and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." TROUBLES AND AFFLICTIONS ARE OFTEN AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR TRANSFORMATION; AS THEY COMPEL US TOWARD GOD, HE COMPELS US TOWARD CHANGE. EVER MIN
"I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well..." - 1 Timothy 1:18.
Many people have thanked God for their word at the time of receiving it but have had them stored away and have forgotten them. It is time to pull your prophetic words out and use them! They will get you through the time of enemy onslaught. THE ATMOSPHERE SHIFTS AS PROMISES ARE DECREED There is great breakthrough available no
1 Corinthians9:24,26 - "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fit I, not as one that beateth the air." WHEN YOU'VE GOT THE WORD OF GOD HIDDEN ON THE INSIDE OF YOU AND THAT WORD IS WORKING MIGHTILY IN YOU, YOU'RE NOT AFRAID OF THE DEVIL. Affirmations: I AM NOT AFRAID OF DEVILS, DEMONS, SICKNESS, DISEASE, POVERTY, OR ANYTHING!
I AM NOT AFRAID OF THE REPORTS THAT COME VIA THE
Ephesians 2:17-19 - "And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household." IN 2 CORINTHIANS 13:5 WE ARE EXHORTED TO "TEST YOURSELVES TO SEE IF YOU ARE IN THE FAITH; EXAMINE YOURSELVES!"
ONE OF THE PRIMARY TESTS OF WHETHER WE ARE CONTINUING ON THE PATH OF LIFE IS BY
1 Kings 19:10 - And he said, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, torn down Thine altars and Killed Thy prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." MUCH OF ELIJAH'S DISCOURAGEMENT CAME FROM THE FALSE EXPECTATIONS HE HAD PLACED UPON HIMSELF. IN HIS DEJECTION, ALONE AND HURTING, ELIJAH WITHDREW INTO A CAVE.
FOR US, SELF-PITY CAN ALSO BE A "CAVE," A DARK HOLE OF LONELINESS AND PAIN,
Ephesians 3:19 AMP - "[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!"
From deep inside your inner man springs a heartfelt prayer—that you will be filled with the amazing love of Ch
