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Acts 8:12 - "But when they believed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ as Philip preached it, they were baptized, both men and women." A popular belief among Christians is that God wants to use us to help people see their sins and give them the choice of whether or not to receive Jesus. If we look more closely at what the Bible really declares as Jesus' message, we will have a plumb line to see just how off track we have veered with this sort of thinking. Jesus states clearly in John 16:8 that the Holy Spirit will come and convict the world of guilt in regard to sin. God's task is to convict people of sin, and ours is to love people. "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). And when we do love people, and also love one another, they will know that we are true followers of Jesus (John 13:35). When we use guilt-inducing methods to communicate Jesus' message, people usually respond by erecting walls and closing their minds to what we are saying. On the contrary, if we treat people in a kind and loving way, they generally tend to be very open and their walls recede. It is not for us to bring them to repentance; that's the Holy Spirits domain, and He accomplishes it much better than we ever could! Affirmations: IN MINISTERING TO NON-BELIEVERS I SEEK TO UNDERSTAND THEIR VALUES AND PERCEIVED NEEDS, AND AS MUCH OF THEIR BACKGROUND AND FRAME OF REFERENCE AS I CAN; THEN I WILL KNOW BETTER HOW TO RELATE TO THEM AND LEAD THEM TO CHRIST WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT. I REALIZE THAT EVERY HUMAN BEING NOT ONLY WANTS BUT NEEDS TO BE IN THE ABUNDANT LIFE HERE AND NOW. Isaiah 53:3 - "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not." Affirmation: I OVERCOME REJECTION BECAUSE MY VISION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN APPROVAL. "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." - 1 Corinthians 2:12 God is ready to bring a new understanding of the knowledge -- His Spirit desires that you would call out, you would decree His awesomeness, you would claim, and then revelation will come – with knowledge.you By meditating and declaring how awesome He is in your place, and know that wherever you go so does He. Wherever He leads you, He goes before you, and He goes behind you. Know that you cannot escape His presence but you carry His presence. He wants you not only transformed, but wants you to be performing the fruit bearing good works that He has set before you (your CALLING in Christ), and it will be through the power of the Gospel coming through you. And as you let the power of the Gospel come through you, then you will be the Gospel spilling out, good news spilled, for it will come spilling out of you; for it has been placed in you, not only for yourself but for others. Ask for revelation -- give Him a platform for manifestation, for He chooses to declare His own glory through you. And in this, a hungry, dying world will come to the revelation that not only is He alive and well, but that they are His, and He longs to be theirs. "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:" - 1 Corinthians 2:4 ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Matthew 16:19 - "Whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." God has always wanted to release truth to His people, backed by the Word, of things that are found in heaven but have no earthly parallel. Jesus said: "If I have told you of earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you of heavenly things?" (John 3:12)have He was expressing a desire to reveal things to us about what's happening in the spiritual realm that have no corresponding earthly picture. Isaiah 9:7 - "Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end........." As His government increases in the earth, the Church will receive more and more revelation as we are engulfed in His glory. Affirmations: I COME INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE FATHER TO RELEASE ME INTO THE THINGS HE HAS PREDESTINED ME FOR SINCE BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD. I HUNGER FOR AND RECEIVE REVELATION AS PART OF MY EVERYDAY LIFE. THAT REVELATION WILL HELP ME CARRY OUT MY EARTHLY ASSIGNMENTS WITH GREATER PRECISION AND WISDOM. John 1:1,14 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." Observation: IN MY LIFE GOD'S WORD BECOMES FLESH -- MY FLESH! "I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how He will answer my complaint. Then the Lord said to me, 'Write My answer plainly on tablets"....... - Habakkuk 2:1,2 We stand at our appointed posts as watchmen, ready for anything. We get away from external distractions, as Jesus did when he withdrew before dawn to isolated locations (see Mark 1:35). Quieting our internal noise, we watch to see what God may want to say: "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). When we hear something, we do something—write it down, pray from it, sound an alarm—whatever is appropriate. It is also easier to hear God's voice when you are performing automatic, mindless tasks such as driving the car, showering, exercising, washing the dishes or cleaning the house, especially if you are quietly praising God at the same time. He is more eager to speak to you than you are to hear from Him. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Matthew 16:19 - "Whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." God has always wanted to release truth to His people, backed by the Word, of things that are found in heaven but have no earthly parallel. Jesus said: "If I have told you of earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you of heavenly things?" (John 3:12)have He was expressing a desire to reveal things to us about what's happening in the spiritual realm that have no corresponding earthly picture. Isaiah 9:7 - "Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end........." As His government increases in the earth, the Church will receive more and more revelation as we are engulfed in His glory. Affirmations: I COME INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE FATHER TO RELEASE ME INTO THE THINGS HE HAS PREDESTINED ME FOR SINCE BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD. I HUNGER FOR AND RECEIVE REVELATION AS PART OF MY EVERYDAY LIFE. THAT REVELATION WILL HELP ME CARRY OUT MY EARTHLY ASSIGNMENTS WITH GREATER PRECISION AND WISDOM. John 1:1,14 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." Observation: IN MY LIFE GOD'S WORD BECOMES FLESH -- MY FLESH! "I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how He will answer my complaint. Then the Lord said to me, 'Write My answer plainly on tablets"....... - Habakkuk 2:1,2 We stand at our appointed posts as watchmen, ready for anything. We get away from external distractions, as Jesus did when he withdrew before dawn to isolated locations (see Mark 1:35). Quieting our internal noise, we watch to see what God may want to say: "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). When we hear something, we do something—write it down, pray from it, sound an alarm—whatever is appropriate. It is also easier to hear God's voice when you are performing automatic, mindless tasks such as driving the car, showering, exercising, washing the dishes or cleaning the house, especially if you are quietly praising God at the same time. He is more eager to speak to you than you are to hear from Him. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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John 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches......apart from Me you can do nothing." We were born to consult God to find out His purpose for our lives so that we can discover our vision. Revelation 1:8 - "I am the Alpha and the Omega." God is not only the Author of our vision but also our continuing Support as we progress toward its fulfillment. Prayer is what keeps us connected to the Vision-Giver. Prayer is where we receive the ability to continue the fight. Isaiah 40:31 - "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." When you have been pressed, criticized, and opposed, you can become weak in faith. When people attack your dream, you go to God. You don't try to explain and give an answer for everything because you can't explain anything to critics. Their motives are already contaminated, and they'll use your words against you. Through prayer, God encourages us to get back out in the fight of faith. Psalm 27:1 - "The Lord is my light and my salvation - who shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?" Affirmations: SINCE I STAY CONNECTED TO GOD FOR THE RENEWAL OF MY PURPOSE, FAITH, AND STRENGTH - I WILL BE ABLE TO PERSEVERE TO VICTORY. I BASE MY PRAYERS ON GOD'S WORD TO BRING ME THROUGH DIFFICULTIES AND GIVE ME THE VICTORY THAT IS MINE. I STAY IN TOUCH WITH GOD SO THAT I AM NOURISHED IN BOTH LIFE AND VISION. "But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD's victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!" - 2 Chronicles 20:17 God is the God of the breakthrough, but He uses our hands if you do your part, He will do His. Breakthrough happens when we take the first offensive step against the barriers in our life. Breakthrough happens when we say, "I m going to trust that God is going to supernaturally do the impossible." There is no progress without resistance: There is a spiritual battle over your breakthrough. We can only win the battle in the spirit. Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared to believe that something inside of them was superior to their circumstances. His name is Jesus. The voice of God is the master key to your supernatural breakthrough. Hear it and speak it. Agree with the decree. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Genesis 1:26 - "Let us make man in our image,in our likeness." The word "image" refers to moral and spiritual character, while the phrase "in our likeness" means "to function like." In other words, we were created to live according to the nature of God and to function as He functions in the world. The Bible is very clear that "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6). If you try to function in any other way than faith, you will malfunction. That is why worry is ungodly and fear makes your vision short-circuit. You were never meant to be afraid. Affirmation: I APPREHEND THE LIFE OF FAITH AND PRESS TOWARDS THE DREAMS GOD MEANT FOR ME TO ATTAIN. l Chronicles 14:2 - "And David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel." David had been anointed king by the prophet Samuel when he was just a teenager. He'd known for years that someday he'd rule over Israel. Yet somehow, it hadn't really sunk in. Finally it dawned on him - he was actually king! At that moment, being king ceased to be something David had only thought about. It became something he really was. He could see himself king. Affirmations: I STEP OVER THE LINE FROM TRYING TO BELIEVE TO ACTUALLY KNOWING BY DWELLING ON THE WORD OF GOD. I READ ABOUT IT AND THINK ABOUT IT. I PRACTICE SEEING MYSELF THROUGH THE EYES OF THE WORD UNTIL THE REALITY OF MY ROYALTY IN CHRIST RISES UP IN ME! Psalm 92:10 - "But my horn (emblem of excessive strength and stately grace) You have exalted like that of a wild ox; I am anointed with Fresh OIL!" AMP We can live in the Fresh Anointing that brings strength to strength living in these times! The greater the challenges that arise to confront us – The greater the favor, grace, and power the Lord releases to and through us. Where once certain types of circumstances or settings intimidated you or where rejection beat you down - You discover the empowering infusion of Christ in you. And you feel and know that you are ready for whatever the Lord calls you to do. This is a place of the supernatural empowerment of grace to function in what He is releasing for you. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Psalm 115:16 - "The heavens are the heavens of the Lord; but the earth He has given to the sons of men." The Lord requires the cooperation of men to move on the earth. This is why, even though the Lord knows what we need before we ask Him, He requires that we ask before He moves on the earth. When He demonstrates His kingdom and the powers of heaven to the earth, He does it through men. The Lord could have parted the Red Sea without Moses, but not without violating His own principles of authority. He could have brought down fire on the prophets of Baal with Elijah, but that is not the way He does things on the earth. He gave authority over the earth to men, which is why even the Son of God, Jesus, continually referred to Himself as the Son of Man. He had to come as a man to retake the authority over the earth that had been lost by man's transgression and subsequent subservience to Satan. God ordained that man should rule over the earth and the coming of His kingdom will, therefore, restore man's authority over the earth, to those who worship and obey Him. Affirmations: SINCE I AM IN CHRIST I AM IN ANOTHER REALITY AND ANOTHER LIFE ALTOGETHER. I EXPERIENCE HEAVEN NOW, AND LIVE A LIFE THAT DEMONSTRATES THE REALITY OF HEAVEN ON THIS EARTH. I AM CALLED TO WALK THE EARTH, DO GOOD ON THE EARTH, AND TO DO IT WITH POWER THAT IS NOT OF THIS EARTH. John 14:12 - "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father." Psalm 91:1 - "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." OBSERVATION: When I fail to enter the Secret Place, my pride and self-sufficiency have been documented. Revelation 22:2: "In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." If you are in a season where you feel extremely restless, it could be that God is preparing your heart for transition. You may feel this way because even though you are still dwelling in your present season, God is declaring new things in your heart, which will give you courage to step out of the old and into the new FRUIT BEARING SEASON. God often transitions your heart before He transitions your circumstances. The Refiner's fire comes upon the hearts of God's children to burn away the chaff of orphanship, therefore revealing refined sons and daughters. He is realigning our These winds are going to begin to also fan into flames the fire that God has placed in our hearts.vision and direction, or bringing shifts within our heart as He brings fresh order. God is blowing His winds of change so that the leaves of the Tree of Life will bring healing to the nations.circumstances, ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Nehemiah 4:6 - "So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart." Passion is stamina that says "I'm going to go after this, no matter what happens. If I have to wait ten years, I'm going to get it." Passionate people are those who have discovered something more important than life itself. Jesus told His disciples, "Whoever does not persevere and carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:27) Affirmations: I REALIZE THAT GIVING UP FALSE VISIONS AND AMBITIONS FOR MY GENUINE VISION IS THE PATH TO TRUE LIFE. I AM HUNGRY FOR MY VISION I NEED PASSION TO FULFILL MY VISION. I NEED PURPOSE TO PRODUCE PASSION Matthew 16:25 - "For whoever is bent on saving his life(his comfort and security here) shall lose it (eternal life); and whoever loses his life (his comfort and security here) for My sake shall find it (life everlasting)." Romans 11:29 - "For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. (He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace, or to whom He sends His call.)" The Holy Spirit, the very Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, lives in us, making it impossible for us to be content with what we can only see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. Our hearts know there is much more to life than what we perceive with our senses; we are spiritually agitated by the lack of connection with the realm of the supernatural. Written into the spiritual DNA of every believer is an appetite for the impossible that cannot be ignored or wished away. end nothing satisfies the heart of the Christian like seeing so-called impossibilities bow their knees to the name of Jesus. Anything less that this is abnormal and unfulfilling. Affirmations: BAD TEACHING AND DISAPPOINTMENT HAVE ROBBED ME LONG ENOUGH OF THIS REALITY. I REALIZE THAT THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN LIFE BEGINS WITH THE REALIZATION THAT WE WERE PUT HERE TO DO THE WILL OF GOD ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. Luke 11:2 - "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." In Psalm 27:8 David said, "When You said, 'Seek My face' my heart said, 'Thy face, Lord, I will seek.'" God is saying to you, "Seek My face." What is your response? Is it like David's? Are you saying, "Thy face God, I will seek." Or are you saying, "When I get caught up at work, or when things slow down a bit..."? The time is NOW and by next month "this time" may have passed. Seek Him now, while He can be found, as the Scripture says (Isaiah 55:6). Acting in the spirit of sacrifice He will come to you and His reward will be with Him: Wherever His presence is, healing is. Wherever His presence is, restoration is. Wherever His presence is, peace is. Wherever His presence is, prosperity is. We WILL See the Goodness of God Psalm 27 ends with "I would have lost heart if I had not believed I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13 Seeing the goodness of God – here, in our life – is the fruit of intimacy with God; it is part of the reward. Seek Him now. Seek His face and see His Goodness. Can you sense His desire for time with you? ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Exodus 4:2-4 - "And the Lord said to him, What is that in your hand? And he said, A rod. And He said, Cast it on the ground. And he did so and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the Lord said to Moses, Put forth your hand and take it by the tail. And he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand." Moses' rod became a serpent. A serpent was the symbol of royal and cultic powers. A serpent was placed on the crown of every Pharaoh because it was the mark of sovereignty. God was showing Moses that He was going to give him authority. One of the Egyptians' gods was a serpent and God was clearly showing Moses He would give him power over their gods. Many Christians today never utilize their rod, leaving the wonders that God put in their hands unused. In order to step in the dunamis (power) lifestyle, sometimes we have got to throw down some things (past history, good or bad) that we have previously leaned upon. God has given us the privilege to witness the restoration of what the devil has stolen from people. As we step out, we see that restoration of people's peace, health, freedom, and their very lives await us. Affirmations: SINCE I FOLLOW CHRIST, I AM AN AMBASSADOR OF THE ENTIRE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE SPIRIT REALM TO TURN A DEAF EAR TO ME WHEN I KNOW THE POWER OF MY WORDS. WHEN I KNOW THE SPIRITUAL POWER WITHIN ME, THE SPIRIT REALM ALWAYS HEARS. Psalm 40:17 - "But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art, my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God." It is clear that king David was very rich, so far as worldly goods are concerned. The eyes of his inner man were not set on earthly wealth, so it was as though he really was poor -- poor in spirit, as the Lord would have us. Matthew 5:3 - "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven." Galatians 6:7,8 - "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Observation: He has revealed the endless crop of boredom I will harvest when I base my life on pleasure-seeking instead of sowing acts of goodness and love for a harvest of eternal life. Luke 21:31 - "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you." Affirmations: I ASK THE LORD TO PROPEL ME INTO THE NEXT LEVEL OF MY GROWTH AND DESTINY. I AM DETERMINED THAT I WILL COOPERATE WITH HIM. Matthew 5:6 - "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Luke 10:38-40 - "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"' Many people have their own ideas about what they want to do for God, and this is why they keep drifting off in the wrong direction. It is easy to become preoccupied in doing things for God rather than doing what God has specifically told us to do. Nowhere in the story does it say that Jesus was hungry. It says just that Martha went about preparing food for Jesus. God doesn't want us to start anything, including doing good works for Him, until we consult Him. This is because He doesn't want us to work "for" Him, but "with" Him in partnership. We are God's fellow workers or workers together with Him. 2 Corinthians 6:1 - "Laboring together as God's fellow workers with Him then, we beg of you not to receive the grace of God in vain." Affirmations: WHEN GOD REVEALS TO ME THE ASSIGNMENT THAT I WAS BORN TO FULFILL, I PRIORITIZE MY LIFE IN KEEPING WITH THAT VISION. I DECIDE HOW MANY OF THE THINGS THAT I AM CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN ARE BENEFICIAL TO MY DREAM. THERE ARE SOME GOOD PEOPLE IN MY LIFE WHO ARE "BAD" FOR ME BECAUSE THEY'RE DISTRACTING ME FROM GOING WHERE I WANT TO GO. THERE ARE SOME GOOD BOOKS IN MY HOUSE THAT ARE WRONG FOR ME BECAUSE THEY TAKE MY FOCUS OFF MY GOAL. MY VISION PROTECTS ME FROM BEING MISGUIDED BY GOOD ALTERNATIVES - IT ALLOWS ME TO SAY NO TO LESSER OPPORTUNITIES, EVEN IF THERE ARE CERTAIN BENEFITS TO THEM. "He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, "O Lord God, You know." - Ezekiel 37:3 NASB This scripture asks the question, "...can these bones become living people again?" The word living does not only mean to come back to life after being physically dead, it also applies to brokenness, a dying dream, a losing struggle, and times of hopelessness and despair in any area of our lives. To live means to be refreshed, rejuvenated, revived, or to be given the promise of life. It also means to be restored or renewed—or simply to be made whole again. Just as the wind breathed new life into the dry bones from the Ezekiel passage, God wants to resurrect our spirits as well. He wants to welcome us into His living presence and impart that same resurrection life to us, breathing new life into the dead places in our lives. And while some may come along and say, "God can't use us," God is saying otherwise. "Therefore, prophesy and say unto them, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O My people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel." - Ezekiel 37:12 Micah 2:13 - “The breaker goes up before them; They break out, pass through the gate and go out by it. So their king goes on before them, And the LORD at their head.” God, the breaker, goes before us and breaks open the way. Something compels God into action to open those gates -- faith coupled with obedience. Faith opens the gate of heaven. When heaven’s gate opens, what is in heaven comes down to earth: health, boldness, peace, love, grace, glory, revelation, strategy and all the rest of the kingdom of God. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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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 THE PEACE IN OUR LIFE. JESUS IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE, AND IF WE ARE WALKING CLOSE TO HIM THERE WILL BE A PEACE IN OUR LIFE THAT EXCEEDS ANYTHING THAT CAN BE KNOWN IN THIS WORLD WITHOUT HIM. Things for Me to Consider: IF THERE IS LACK OF PEACE IN MY LIFE, THEN I HAVE DRIFTED FROM HIM. WHAT HAS COME INTO MY LIFE THAT HAS BEGUN TO ECLIPSE MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM? 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 - "We realize that being "at home" in the body means that to some extent we are "away" from the Lord, for we have to live by trusting Him without seeing Him. We are so sure of this that we would really rather be "away" from the body and be "at home" with the Lord." Things for Me to Consider: AM I MORE COMFORTABLE WALKING BY FAITH THAN BY WHAT I SEE? AM I BECOMING MORE AT HOME IN THE HEAVENLY REALM THAN IN THE NATURAL? WHERE IS MY HOME? WHEN I THINK OF HOME, WHERE DO I THINK OF FIRST? 2 Corinthians 4:18 -- "While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." We have two sets of ears and two sets of eyes. We have the "NATURAL SET" that we are born with, and we have a "SPIRITUAL SET" that is activated when we are born again. As we grow spiritually, we begin to see with our spiritual eyes and hear with our spiritual ears. John 5:19 - "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Luke 2:44,45 - "But supposing Him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him." Likewise, many of us have become so consumed with our battles that we fail to notice Jesus is not with us on our journey. Jesus' parents returned to where they had last seen Him; so also must we. To renew us, God is bringing us back to our most recent encounter with the living Christ. To reach our place of breakthrough, God is bringing us back to the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For My Prayerful Consideration: IS NOT INTIMACY WITH GOD THE VERY THING I HAVE NEGLECTED? AS I SIMPLY AND TRUTHFULLY EVALUATE, WITHOUT RATIONALIZATION, MY HEART'S CONDITION I AM DRAWN INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD. WHAT SEEMS TO ME LIKE A TIME OF DESOLATION IS MORE TRULY A TIME OF PREPARATION. GOD HAS PREPARED FOR ME A NEW BEGINNING. 2 Corinthians 11:3 - "But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ." Matthew 16:25 - "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose Following Him always leads to the cross. His triumph was the cross, and it is ours too. If we are in Christ we are to be dead to this world. It is impossible to offend a dead person. It is impossible for a dead person to feel rejected or abused. If this is true we can respond to any situation with God's love.it; but whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it." Luke 16:16 - "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." This realm of God’s Spirit does not come without “pressing” – without contending. The first thing about pressing is seeking. Pressing into it means there is a passionate pursuit of God in prayer. The word “to seek” means to diligently look for and search out earnestly until the object of the search is located. It is as crying out and hungering for the presence of God. AFFIRMATIONS: I press into and lay hold of the kingdom of heaven in an aggressive way. I have a burning heart of fiery witness and passion when it comes to exhorting others in their walk with God. I repent from trying to do God's will without abiding in His presence. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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His Love Is Your Beacon Of Hope - Meditations
Albert Finch posted a blog entry in Albert Finch Ministry
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 Christ; that His love will strengthen you and help you through the darkest nights of your battles. You are not alone, nor are you forgotten. In fact, He holds you ever so close. This amazing love will fill you with all you need, giving you an inner strength to lead you out of the deep, dark forest of confusion and bring you safely home. He is your Beacon of Hope! Are you ready to be flooded by His presence—to have your entire being completely saturated with the fullness of God? In His fullness He'll let you feel His tender mercies pouring over you. In that place you'll discover what it means to belong to Christ personally, and dwell in a place where His eyes actually penetrate the darkness of your heart and shatter its power over you. There's a whole ocean of His love for you to bask in. You find divine healing and blessed hope there as you bask in His fullness where He breathes new life into the broken pieces inside you, making you brand new! HE IS TAKING YOUR BROKEN PIECES Jesus Himself is inviting you into divine relationship, a sweeter communion where His tender affection is poured like a healing balm into all the wounded places of your heart. He takes the broken pieces in His hands and breathing new life into them so you can begin again. He wants you to become deeply rooted in His love and discover the extravagant dimensions of His heart for you. Reach out and take His hand—He's waiting for you even now. As you rest there fathom its depth and rise to the heights of His tender affection for you, filled to overflowing! Take His loving hands today for He is reaching for you even now! ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY -
James 4:6 - "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." If we are divided in our hearts from other churches, if we instinctively look down on other christians or if we are at all self-promoting in attitude, we are walking in pride. As such, the Spirit that stands to resist our endeavors is not demonic -- it's God. Affirmations: I WALK IN LOVE AND HUMILITY, I'M NOT TOUCHY, FRETFUL OR RESENTFUL!! WHEN I WALK, GOD WALKS. HIS HANDS ARE IN MY HANDS. I HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST. GOD IS NOT A MILLION MILES AWAY. HE'S INSIDE ME RIGHT NOW. HE'S MY FATHER AND I'M HIS VERY OWN SON. I'M A JOINT HEIR WITH JESUS AND MY BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST. I AM WALKING IN THE LIGHT OF HEAVEN ITSELF. John 14:2 - "In My Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you." Love is the inclination,strength, and power for the soul in making its way to God -- for love unites it with God. The more degrees of love it has, the more deeply it enters into God and centers itself in Him. A stronger love is a more unitive love, and we can understand in this manner the many dwelling places Jesus declared were in His Father's house. Song of Solomon 1:5 - "I am black, but lovely, daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon." THE CURTAINS OF SOLOMON REPRESENT YOUR HUMANITY WHICH CONCEALS THE WORD OF GOD MADE FLESH WITHIN YOU. HE HAS CAUSED YOU TO PARTAKE OF HIS BEAUTY; HE HAS CONCEALED HIS DIVINITY IN YOUR HUMANITY - YOU ARE AS BEAUTIFUL AS THE CURTAINS OF SOLOMON BECAUSE THE CROSS MAKES YOU LIKE YOUR BELOVED (JESUS). ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Psalm 42: 1,2 - "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?" A poverty of soul must eternally torment that believer who is satisfied merely to reason about eternal life, while remaining without the real possession and power of the indwelling Son of God manifest in his daily experience. If we are always reasoning, then we cannot cultivate the silence in which God speaks. Hunger for God is one of the greatest signs of life a person can have. We must press past intellectual awareness to hunger for heartfelt encounters that change and transform. OBSERVATION: RELIGIOUS FLESH IS CONVINCED THAT GROWTH IS MEASURED IN RELIGIOUS FACTS. TRUE SPIRITUALITY, HOWEVER, IS MEASURED IN THE DEPTH OF OUR HUNGER FOR GOD, WHERE OUR SOUL PANTS "FOR THE LIVING GOD" LIKE THE DEER PANTS AFTER WATER. 1 Timothy 5:21 - "Never be in a hurry about choosing a pastor; you may overlook his sins and it will look as if you approve of them. Be sure that you yourself stay away from all sin." Confessions: I CONFESS THAT MY CHARACTER, ATTITUDE, AND ACTIONS ARE BEING REFINED BY THE FIRE OF GOD IN MY LIFE. GOD IS CHANGING ME, TEACHING ME, AND PREPARING ME FOR GREATER RESPONSIBILITY. SO, TODAY I YIELD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT SO HE CAN DELVE DEEP INTO MY SOUL AND EXTRACT THOSE TRAITS THAT WOULD KEEP ME FROM THE BLESSINGS AND POSITIONS GOD WOULD LOVE TO GIVE ME! Song of Solomon 1:4 - "We will remember Your love more than wine; the upright love You." TRUE UPRIGHTNESS LEADS YOU TO LEAVE ALL THE WINE OF THE PLEASURES OF THE WORLD AND ALL THE ENJOYMENTS OF HEAVEN TO BE LOST IN GOD ALONE. HERE IS PURE AND PERFECT LOVE. FOR NONE BUT THE UPRIGHT CAN LOVE GOD AS HE DESERVES TO BE LOVED! ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Worldly hope is just a kind of wish. Whenever we see hope in the bible, it means there is an expectation. According to Mark 11:24, when we pray, we should believe we receive. We should expect -- not just desire -- that those things come to pass. You can have a truckload of desire and no expectation. Whatever you expect, you have faith to receive. And just as you are the one who's going to believe you receive, you are the one who's going to set your expectation level. Affirmations: ONCE I HAVE IDENTIFIED THOSE THINGS I REALLY DESIRE - THEN I EXPECT BIG - I LET MY HOPE SOAR! I SHALL HAVE THEM BECAUSE I BELIEVE (BASED ON GOD'S WORD) THAT I RECEIVE THEM. John 20:14-16 - She glanced over her shoulder and saw someone standing behind her. It was Jesus, but she didn't recognize him! "Why are you crying?" he asked her. "Whom are you looking for?" She thought He was the gardener. "Sir," she said, "if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will go and get Him." "Mary!" Jesus said. She turned toward Him. "Master!" she exclaimed. MARY LOOKED AT THE WORD. MARY HEARD THE WORD. BUT SHE DIDN'T KNOW THE WORD. MARY DIDN'T KNOW WHO IT WAS WHO STOOD BEFORE HER. BUT WHEN THE WORD BECAME PERSONAL TO HER, CALLING HER BY NAME, INSTANTLY, SHE RECOGNIZED HIM. Observation: AS I READ, STUDY, AND MEDITATE ON IT, THE WORD WILL SPEAK TO ME AND BECOME PERSONAL TO ME. Galatians 2:20, -- "I have been crucified with Christ nevertheless I live, the life I live, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Although the Scriptures said that no one has ever seen God, however Jesus said, "Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). Hebrews 1:3talks about the Son being the brightness of God's glory and the express image of His person. Colossians 2:9 talks about the fullness of deity living in Jesus in bodily form. If Jesus is the express image of the Father, then we must become the express image of the Son as He lives in us. There is no higher calling or aspiration than to walk in manifest oneness with Jesus as we live lives surrendered to Him. The beauty of His person, His love, humility, glory, and power is what the world longs to see and experience. What an honor that Heaven has bestowed on us to become one with the Master...this is a holy invitation that we must all do and heed! ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Hebrews 4:12,13 - "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 16:19, "I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN." THEN INLUKE 11:52 HE REBUKED LAWYERS FOR TAKING AWAY THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE. IN THAT VERSE HE WAS REFERRING TO THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD. THE WRITTEN WORD OF THE LIVING GOD IS THE KEY TO ALL THINGS BECAUSE ALL THE KEY ISSUES TO EVERY SITUATION ARE COVERED IN ITS PAGES. EVERY PROBLEM SITUATION HAS A KEY ISSUE. SATAN TRIES TO HIDE THOSE KEYS IN ORDER TO KEEP HIS WORK IN PLACE. THAT'S THE REASON HIS DOINGS ARE CALLED WORKS OF DARKNESS. AND AS LONG AS PEOPLE TRY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS BY FIGURING THEM OUT IN THE NATURAL OR CARNAL REALM, THEY ARE STUMBLING AROUND IN DARKNESS. FOLLOWING THIS PROCESS WILL BRING DISASTER. NOT ONLY DOES THE LIGHT OF THE WORD REVEAL THE REAL PROBLEMS, BUT IT ALSO HAS WITH ITSELF THE POWER TO CHANGE EVERYTHING. Affirmations: ONE WORD FROM GOD CAN CHANGE MY LIFE FOREVER! I WALK IN THE WORD BECAUSE WALKING IN THE WORD IS THE MASTER KEY TO SUCCESSFUL LIVING. Psalm 119:130 - "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." "The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds has come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land." - Song of Solomon 2:12 The "voice of the turtle dove" is a prophetic voice that speaks God's heart cry into the empty, dead places on the earth. God is raising up the voice of the turtle dove in His Church, using the voices of those who have become mature, deeply humble and meek after their time in the wilderness with Him. This "singing of the birds", also known as (sincere) harmonious prophetic worship, is the key that opens the very windows of Heaven so that fresh revelation comes forth. This will happen wherever the Holy Spirit is welcomed. A new realm of spiritual understanding and experience is available to anyone who will say, "Yes, Lord. Give me ears to hear. Give me a hearing heart." "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna..." -Revelation 2:17 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." When we are fighting principalities, powers, and ungodly, wicked spirits in this world we can protect our vision by keeping a heart sensitive to God throughPRAYER, FASTING, AND THE MEDITATION ON HIS WORD that applies to your situation or problem. God's Word must be our balance and our love for God and people must be our motive for reaching souls. We must protect our vision. We must not grow weary in well doing. Breaking through into the spirit realm at first may seem very difficult, very tough. The struggle of one day of fasting pales in comparison to the benefits that we receive in destroying the works of the flesh and submitting ourselves to the law and direction of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us, "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 of escape, that ye may be able to bear it." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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2 Timothy 1:4,6,7 - "Greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears.....I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you....For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind." There are times when you know what God has called you to do, but you just don't feel you have the inner resources you need to do it. Somehow you've simply run dry. OBSERVATION: The word of God tells me how to handle those situations through a clear command: "stir up the gift inside you." Everything I need is already in me. Jesus put it there......faith is there....power is there.....Love is there. AFFIRMATION: In the name of Jesus, I stir up the gift that's within me by faith. I'm stirring up my faith. I'm not going to wait until I feel stirred up. I'm stepping out by faith and expecting my feelings to follow! I'm stirring up the love of God that's in me. I'm stirring myself up in the Spirit of the living God! Galatians 4:7 - "Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." WHEN WE RECEIVED JESUS AS LORD OF OUR LIVES, WHATEVER HE RECEIVED WHEN HE WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD BECAME OURS. HE WAS APPOINTED HEIR, AND WE WERE APPOINTED JOINT HEIRS ......NOT SUB-HEIRS....JOINT HEIRS! JOINT MEANS JOINED. EVERYTHING THAT BELONGS TO HIM BELONGS TO US. NOW! HERE ON THIS EARTH. NOT AFTER WE DIE AND GO TO HEAVEN. GOD IS SPEAKING TO JOINT HEIRS WHEN HE SAYS "I WILL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED ACCORDING TO MY RICHES IN GLORY!" (PHILIPPIANS 4:19) - HEAVEN IS ALREADY OURS AND IT'S OURS HERE - WHERE WE NEED IT. "The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; her clothing is woven with gold. She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors; the virgin, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You. With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought; They shall enter the King's palace." - Psalm 45:13-15 God is jealous over us, over the seeds He's planted in our hearts and over the focus of our affections. He is our breakthrough; when we allow our hearts to be fully turned toward Him the doubts, fears, worries and despair fall away and the seeds of promise grow and flourish. The enemy tries to steal from us while the seed is still in the form of faith. It is in the secret place of intimacy and absolute trust that the planting of the Lord is protected and grows. We are being summoned to come to the place of His dwelling where our hearts are softened and we are made glorious by learning the ways of His Kingdom. We then share intimacy with Him and from that place our breakthrough comes, our requests are answered and our enemies are defeated by the glorious Mighty One who rides forth in victory (see Psalm 45:3-5; Revelation 19:11-16). ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Isaiah 54:1 - "Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman," says the Lord. YOU MAY BE BARREN NOW. SOME SEASONS THAT WE GO THROUGH ARE SEEMINGLY FILLED WITH DESOLATION, BUT TAKE COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT EVERY SEASON HAS A TIME FRAME AND A DIVINE SEED. GOD IS ALERTING US TO RAISE OUR EXPECTANCY. OUR EXPECTANCY WILL BECOME OUR SPIRITUAL CURRENCY TO ALLOW TRANSACTIONS WITH HEAVEN. Affirmations: GOD IS CHANGING MY CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES. WITH THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST, MY LIFE IS BREAKING WIDE OPEN! THERE'S MORE AVAILABLE TO ME IN THE HEAVENLIES THAN WHAT I'VE CURRENTLY APPREHENDED. Genesis 2:15 - "Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. " SOME HAVE MISTAKENLY BELIEVED THAT LABOR WAS A PART OF THE CURSE, BUT MAN LABORED IN THE GARDEN BEFORE THE FALL. LABOR WAS NOT A PART OF THE CURSE; "TOIL" WAS THE CURSE. TOIL IS DIFFERENT FROM LABOR. TO TOIL IS TO ACCOMPLISH ONLY WITH HARD AND PAINFUL LABOR. TOIL IMPLIES THE OPPOSITION OF THE CREATION INSTEAD OF ITS COOPERATION. THE LORD INTENDED FOR US TO RECEIVE A DEEP SATISFACTION FROM OUR LABORS. IT IS ALSO FUNDAMENTAL THAT EVERY PERSON FIND MEANINGFUL LABOR. - "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which 1 Corinthians 6:20are God's." Choose to make God your first priority in life. Sanctity LIFE IN THE SPIRIT.As each new day begins, you take a position spiritually to preserve and protect the sanctity of We must allow each day to truly become a new day. We deliberately position ourselves to make the most of the new day, leaving the failures and disappointments of yesterday behind. in Christ who have not known what to do or where they fit. God will open their eyes to possibilities both spiritually and naturally. Many will no longer see themselves as CALLINGBelievers will finally find their means: holiness or sacredness. We are not our own.misfits, but will begin to see how truly unique and special they are in the context of their divine DESTINY. Wherever your focus has been on external things, God wants to do an internal work of reordering your priorities to align with the importance of life in the Spirit. Each day presents opportunities to put God first—to GET CONNECTED AND STAY CONNECTED. Then, He will direct every, single step. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Luke 1:28 - "And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." Ephesians 1:6 - "To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." The word "freely given" or "accepted" in Ephesians 1:6 (The Greek word - charitooJust as Mary was used is talking about every born again believer being accepted in the beloved. Ephesians 1:6 Mary was the one person on earth who was chosen to "bring forth the Son of God"; and she was called highly favored and beloved of the Lord. Luke 1:28. in "Highly favored" is the same word used for )to bring forth the Son of God, so also, we will be used to bring forth the Son of God in all His Glory. Luke 1:35,38 - "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And Mary said, 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.'" We need to ask Him for a release of divine hunger that will drive us deeper into Him. Like Mary it is simply through intimacy, engaging the realm of heaven, and declaring what we see and hear that brings heaven to earth. The deposit of heaven that will rest on us after engaging the revelatory realm will simply overflow and people will be filled with the Holy Spirit. - "Gather My godly ones to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine. Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the 23,14,Psalm 50:11 The terms of covenant are simple: we pledge to thank Him and adore Him in everything; He pledges to shine forth from our lives in the perfection of beauty. It is a sacrifice of thanksgiving, for it will cost us to praise Him when we hurt. But to do so is part of our healing and the beginning of our salvation. This covenant of thanksgiving is the key which shuts and bolts the door to demonic oppression in a person's life. Most High; he who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; and to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God." Affirmations: MY LIFE HAS NO OTHER PURPOSE THAN TO FOLLOW HIM AND MAKE HIM KNOWN. I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED BY GOD TO REPRESENT JESUS IN THE WORLD. I REPRESENT CHRIST IN ANY GIVEN SITUATION. NOTHING EVER GETS BIGGER IN MY CONSCIOUSNESS THAN MY AWARENESS OF GOD'S PRESENCE UPON ME. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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The Three Parts of the Spirit - #3 Fellowship With God Fellowship is our worship to God. The mind, the emotions, and the will are the organs of the soul and cannot worship God. God does not come through the mind, emotions or desires. God is known directly through the spirit. Man worships God and communicates with God through the spirit or ‘inner man’ and not through the soul or outward man. Luke 1:47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Romans 8:15-16 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. Affirmations: GOD IS A SPIRIT; AND THEY THAT WORSHIP HIM MUST WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. (John 6:63) I DWELL IN HIM, AND HE IS IN ME, BECAUSE HE HAS GIVEN ME OF HIS SPIRIT. (1 John 4:13) THE HOLY SPIRIT SHOWS ME WHAT I SHOULD PRAY FOR AND MAKES INTERCESSION FOR ME. (Romans 8:26) ALBERT FINCH MINSITRY
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James 1:2-4 - "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." EVERY TRIAL IN OUR LIVES IS ALLOWED FOR TWO PURPOSES: THE FIRST IS TO CONFORM US TO THE IMAGE OF JESUS CHRIST, WHICH IS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. THE SECOND IS TO BRING US TO A PLACE OF MATURITY WHERE HE CAN TRUST US WITH MORE AUTHORITY TO DO THE WORKS THAT HE DID, WHICH ARE THROUGH THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT. THEREFORE, WE MUST SEIZE OUR TRIALS AS JAMES ENCOURAGES, COUNTING THEM AS JOY, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS LEAD TO THE DAWN'S LIGHT. Zechariah 12:1 - "Thus says the Lord, Who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth and forms the spirit of man within him." God is Spirit, and Zechariah 12 tells us that God formed the spirit of man within him. The human spirit is what makes relationship and fellowship with God possible at all. Through his spirit, man can walk in step with God. In the Spirit he is one with God. Through his spirit he knows of God and receives everything God wants to communicate to Him. It is in Man's spirit that Christ takes up residence. He who puts on Christ is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 - "But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him." Psalm 5:3 -- 'In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.' Hearing from God is living with expectation toward Him because expectation places a demand on the Holy Spirit. We should live with expectation toward God twenty-four hours a day, for He abides within us at all times. God does talk. He is speaking continually. Christians need to develop their receivers (their human spirits) which will enable them to tune in to the voice of the Holy Spirit. If we start our day by thinking of all that needs to be done, our minds will attempt to figure things out, and we'll shut God out of our thoughts. If we focus on Him, He will talk to us and direct our day. AFFIRMATIONS: I live with expectation, I pray with expectation, I listen with expectation -- I hear HIS VOICE. I take time to listen to the Lord to hear strategies for myself, my family, and the needs of the Kingdom. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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2 Corinthians 4:13 - "We have the same spirit of faith as he (the psalmist) who wrote, I have believed and therefore have spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak." TO SPEAK BY FAITH IS SIMPLY TO SPEAK WORDS THAT AGREE WITH THE WORD OF GOD INSTEAD OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND YOU. IT'S SPEAKING FROM YOUR SPIRIT INSTEAD OF FROM YOUR MIND. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT GOD USES WORDS TO "CALL THOSE THINGS WHICH BE NOT AS THOUGH THEY WERE"(ROMANS 4:17). Affirmations: I SPEAK THE END RESULT OF WHAT GOD'S WORD TELLS ME ABOUT MY SITUATION AS OPPOSED TO THE WAY IT APPEARS TO THE SENSES. I STOP "TELLING IT LIKE IT IS" AND START SPEAKING AND BELIEVING THE PROMISES OF GOD. I PUT THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD TO WORK FOR ME. Proverbs 18:21 - "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Ephesians 4:17-19 - "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness." THERE'S A SUBTLE STRATEGY SATAN USES TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR LIVES. THE BIBLE CALLS IT LASCIVIOUSNESS AND IT MEANS "TO HAVE NO RESTRAINT" AND HAS BEEN PREACHED AS BEING EXTREME IMMORALITY, BUT IT DOESN'T START OUT THAT WAY. IT BEGINS WITH JUST A FEW SEEMINGLY INNOCENT THOUGHTS. THEN THOSE THOUGHTS GROW AND GROW UNTIL THEY BEGIN TO PRODUCE SERIOUS SIN. Affirmations: I DON'T LET SATAN USE THE STRATEGY OF LASCIVIOUSNESS ON ME. I MAKE MY MIND AND HEART TODAY TO OBEY GOD EVEN IN THE LITTLE THINGS. I AVOID BIG FAILURES BY WALKING IN HIS SPIRIT ONE SMALL STEP AT A TIME. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." - Psalm 23:5,6 When Jesus spoke out across the waters (John 21) and instructed the disciples to cast their nets on the other side of the boat in order to usher in a catch of fish, first John and then Peter recognized that it was the Lord. As soon as Peter knew that Jesus was standing there waiting, he waited no longer; he dove into the water (leaving the boat behind), and raced back to shore on his own to meet his beloved Lord. It's time for us to become like Peter in this passage, and stop waiting for Jesus to come out to us, but rather that we need to rush to be near Him! As soon as Peter was back on the shore, a feast was there waiting that had been prepared for him by Jesus Himself. It was also at this point when Peter had the deepest conversation he'd ever had with Jesus, which regarded love and his relationship with God, as well as his CALLING. (to feed the "sheep"). As you run to Jesus, and dive into your pursuit after Him, He will most definitely pour out His Spirit and presence on you like never before. He has a banquet feast waiting for you, which includes the new wine and manna of Heaven (also known as His joy, His PRESENCE, and His revelation). ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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1 Corinthians 3:16 - "Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" The holiness we are seeking is not a legislative or legalistic set of rules; it is Christ's very own quality of life. The Holy Spirit works in us not merely a new desire to love, but He imparts to us Christ's very own love. We develop more than just a general faith in Jesus; we actually begin believing like Jesus, with His quality of faith. It is God in us that makes us holy. AFFIRMATION: I approach God with great trembling, great joy, deep worship, and holy fear, who has called me unto Himself for His own will and purpose. Hebrews 11:1 - "Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen." Observation: AS A DEED ENABLES ME TO LAY CLAIM TO PROPERTY THAT BELONGS TO ME, SO MY FAITH ENABLES ME TO LAY CLAIM TO GOD'S PROMISES THAT BELONG TO ME. IF I BUILD MY FAITH - MY TITLE DEED - ON GOD'S WORD, IT WON'T MATTER IF THE DEVIL HITS MY BODY, ATTACKS MY FINANCES, OR TRIES TO STEAL MY PEACE. I CAN KICK HIM OFF MY PROPERTY BECAUSE MY FAITH WILL BE THE PROOF OF OWNERSHIP I NEED. NOTHING CAN STAND IN MY WAY! I BUILD MY HOUSE OF FAITH AND MOVE IN! "If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God." - 1 Peter 4:11 NIV One of the greatest revelations of the New Testament is that Christ dwells within His people who live on the earth. That is why they are called the Body of Christ. We actually become the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in the earth, but we also become His mouth. God speaks prophetically through His people. "If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God." - 1 Peter 4:11 NIV Think about a statement of Paul's: "...the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you..." - Romans 8:11 AMP. What type of human being does this really make you? It makes us like God in the earth. Not that we are God, but we are sons of God and made in His image. We are "Godlike ones." The Lord told Moses: "See, I make you as God to Pharaoh" - Exodus 7:1. We speak as God's earthly representatives. By releasing the voice of the Lord through the power of the spoken word, we can decree a thing and it will come to pass. It will happen. And it's all done by speaking words of faith. "You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light [of God's favor] shall shine upon your ways." - Job 22:28AMP ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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1 Corinthians 8:1 - "Now, the matter about food offered to idols. It is true, of course, that "all of us have knowledge," as they say. Such knowledge, however, puffs a man up with pride; but love builds up." OBSERVATION: "Knowledge puffs up......" Notice Paul didn't say unbiblical knowledge or carnal knowledge. Knowledge, including that whichcomes from scripture, has the potential to make me proud. So how can I protect myself from the pride that comes from knowledge, even when it's from the bible? I must be certain that it takes me to Jesus! Revelation 3:15,16 - "I know what you have done; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were either one or the other! But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit, you out of my mouth." IN THE MIDST OF WORLDLINESS, LUKEWARMNESS, AND OUTRIGHT DECEPTIONS, THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM IS THE MESSAGE JESUS SAID WOULD BE PROCLAIMED IN THE LAST DAYS. AND IF WE ARE LISTENING TO SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT CENTER US FIRMLY UPON THE PATH INTO GOD'S KINGDOM, IF WE ARE NOT BECOMING LIKE JESUS IN HOLINESS AND POWER, WE ARE BEING MISLED, AND THAT MISLEADING KNOWLEDGE IS AN IDOL. 2 Timothy 3:5 - "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. " Matthew 16:18 - "On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Where precisely are the gates of hell? Where does the devil sit in power? The mind is the gatekeeper of the Kingdom of God. It is the place of access, transition, and power. It follows that the gates of hell are set up in people's minds. Jesus made this clear: Matthew 16:23 - "But He turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind Me, satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.'" When you've been given the Spirit of God, you lose the privilege of claiming, "I'm only human." Paul rebukes the church at Corinth for behaving like mere men (1 Corinthians 3:3). The gate of hell is in our minds any time we agree with a man-centered perspective or natural wisdom that does not know God. We empower demonic forces and become a gate to release his power to kill, steal, and destroy our lives. Affirmation: I AM A GATEWAY FOR HEAVEN'S REALITY TO TAKE OVER EVERY PART OF MY LIFE, AND THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO I INFLUENCE, NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL THE SPECIFIC SITUATION IS. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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(ATTITUDES OF THE SIN CONSCIOUSNESS) Which of the following "Attitudes Of The Sin Consciousness" are adversely affecting your spiritual growth and development: 1. When I stand before God sometimes I have a sense of inferiority, guilt, or condemnation. "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned." - John 5:24 "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - Romans 8:1 2. The only destiny God has for me is the life I am living now. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for Good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10 "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." - Philippians 1:6 "Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13,14 3. God is operating outside of me. "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." - John 15:5 "For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." - Philippians 2:13 "To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." -Colossians 1:27 4. Jesus lived on earth at a level above what I could ever hope to be. "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." - Matthew 16:19 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. - John 14:12 5. My righteousness is to be obtained after I die and go to heaven. "For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." - Romans 5:17 "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." - 2 Corinthians 5:21 6. Sometimes I do not feel like God has forgiven all my sins. "If we confess your sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9 "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." - Colossians 1:13,14 7. Some days I feel like I am saved and some days I feel unsaved. "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy." - Jude 24 "For we walk by faith and not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7 "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved." - Romans 10:13 "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." - Acts 16:31 8. I can never be of real help to others because I keep sinning. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus." - Romans 3:23,24 "Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:18 9. I will please God if I work on not sinning. "And may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith." - Philippians 3:9 "And you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? - Galatians 3:3 "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace." - Romans 11:6 INTO ACTION: 1. Make a list of the sin consciousness attitudes that may be causing you a problem in your spiritual development. 2. Affirm and meditate on the indicated scriptures several times daily until the renewing of your mind is made real to your spirit. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY