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Hello everyone, So, I was just wondering since Jesus told us not to bring anything when we preach the gospel in Luke 9:3, then how does that view fit into our modern society? We have Bible apps now and faith-based mobile games like Blue Letter Bible, OnePassion Ministries, Play The Bible, GLOW: Guardian Light Of the World, Reborn Crosswords and others. How do we know what the red line is? Or whether we crossed it unknowingly? Or does the red line even exist? The reason why I'm asking these questions is because some churches are using Christian apps to do evangelism and I'm not saying that it's wrong, because I don't see anything wrong with it, I'm just confuse since I'm only a baby Christian and I don't feel that it is in line with what the Lord Jesus said. But if I have a wrong notion about this stuff, then by all means please correct my thinking. I hope to see your opinions on the matter. Thanks!

Genesis 4:3,4 - "And in the process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering." CAIN'S OFFERING WAS REJECTED BECAUSE HE OFFERED THE FRUIT OF HIS OWN LABORS WHILE ABEL OFFERED A BLOOD SACRIFICE THAT PROPHESIED OF THE COMING OF CHRIST. THIS LED TO A RAGE IN CAIN THAT CAUSED HIM TO SLAY HIS BROTHER. THE CROSS IS THE BASIS OF OUR ACCEPTANCE TO GOD AND REMAINS THE PRIMARY POINT OF CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND EVERY OTHER RELIGION, WHICH ARE ALL BASED ON MAN'S ACCEPTANCE THROUGH WORKS. Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." In the world "self-made" men and women are esteemed, but not so in Christ. Our goal is to be fashioned and established by the grace of God, not our own efforts. In this way we are his workmanship, devoted to becoming what he wants us to be. We are not working in order to gain approval, but because we love the one who loved us, saved us, and works through us. Hebrews 10:12,14 -- "But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God...For by one offering He hath PERFECTED FOREVER them that are sanctified." God sees us with no flaw, spot or imperfection, so we honor His Word and the finished work of Jesus by saying "Amen!" To see ourselves as being far from perfect is not modesty, but a failure to understand the perfect sacrifice that Jesus has made for us. The Bible tells us, "For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." We have not only been sanctified, that is, made holy; but by the same offering of His body, we have been perfected. We are both holy and perfect in God's eyes! AFFIRMATIONS: When I find myself conscious of my sins, I say, 'Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your wonderful work at the cross. It is a perfect work that has removed all my sins completely.' I expect good things to happen to me because blessings are on the head of the righteous! (Proverbs 10:6) I don't doubt my perfection in Christ. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

"Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." --Romans 13:14 When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” -- Psalm 27:8 Seek His Face at the beginning of your day. This practice enables you to “put Him on” and “wear Him” throughout the day. Most people put on clothes soon after arising from bed. Similarly, the sooner you “put Him on” by communing with Him, the better prepared you are for whatever comes your way. To “wear Him” is essentially to have His mind: to think His thoughts. Ask the Holy Spirit to control your thinking; be transformed by this renewal within you. Thus you are well equipped to face whatever people and situations He brings your way. Clothing your mind in Him is your best preparation for each day. This discipline brings Joy and Peace to you and those around you. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. -- Colossians 3:12 ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

Matthew 9:36 - "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." COMPASSION IS A DEEP YEARNING THAT RESPONDS TO THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE. JESUS' LIFE ON EARTH WAS A PICTURE OF COMPASSION IN ACTION. HIS WHOLE MINISTRY WAS DRIVEN BY IT. IT WAS COMPASSION THAT CAUSED HIM TO MULTIPLY THE LOAVES AND FISHES, HEAL THE SICK, CAST OUT DEMONS AND RAISE THE DEAD. IT WAS COMPASSION THAT COMPELLED HIM TO GO TO THE CROSS. Observation: HE NOW LONGS TO POUR OUT THAT SAME COMPASSION THROUGH ME. HIS COMPASSION MOVES ME TO PROVIDE FOR THE HUNGRY. IT COMPELS ME TO CAST OUT DEMONS AND SET THE CAPTIVES FREE. I REACH OUT AND TOUCH A LOVE-STARVED WORLD WITH COMPASSION. Matthew 28:19-21 - "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age." God's covenant promise "I will be with you" has always been linked to mankind's need for courage to face the impossible. The great commission provides more interesting reading for those who remember what kind of men God was giving His charge to -- greedy, prideful, angry, and self-centered. Yet Jesus called them to change the world. QUESTION TO ASK MYSELF: Do I believe that Jesus can overcome my shortcomings and still use me to do His kingdom work? "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 As we spend time resting in the presence of God there is an abiding prophetic anointing that begins to rest upon us. Hidden manna and mysteries are revealed supernaturally by the Holy Spirit when we invest in His presence and behold Him as He is, and we become one with Him and begin to understand the way He thinks and feels as well as His deepest heart yearnings. We overcome and become an expression of His very life—a reflection of His heart and feelings toward others. When we are one with Him in heart and mind, we can't help but be in tune with Him as we relate to those around us, available to speak a word in season to minister to a needy heart in the moment. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

Our thoughts are actually prayers; they are living and powerful. When our thoughts are connected to the throne of God, they have the ability to create substance in our lives. Psalm 100:4,5 - "Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations." Satan’s plan is to make us somehow accept, either through our upbringing, our experiences or through Church dogma that certain portions of the life of Christ are untrue or not valid in our case. Every battle we face in life is over the word and whether or not we can build our lives upon the faithfulness and integrity of God. Hebrews 10:23 - "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is FAITHFUL;" "For she said within herself, 'If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.'" (Matthew 9:21) The word "touch" in this passage refers to a "clinging to." It means "to fasten oneself, and adhere to." Once you pour out your heart to Him in intimate prayer, then you just cling and adhere to Him and not let go! Another meaning of touch is to "set a fire," and "to fasten fire to a thing. This is how we can become His "firebrands" upon the earth and set our environment ablaze with His glory! It is abnormal for a Christian to not have an appetite for the impossible. It has been written into our spiritual DNA to hunger for the impossibilities around us to bow at the name of Jesus. "And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their TESTIMONY." - Revelation 12:11 You must hold fast to the things that you receive from God! How can you hold fast to them? You hold fast by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your TESTIMONY. Whenever we share a TESTIMONY of what the power of Jesus has done -- any miracle, healing, salvation account -- the Spirit of prophecy is loosed over the people who are hearing it. This means the Spirit of God is actively moving on them to create faith. In 1 Corinthians 2:16 we are told we have the mind of Christ. This statement overwhelms many believers. But Paul was not saying we’re perfect or we’ll never fail. He was telling us that we can think spiritual thoughts because Christ is alive within us. Thankfully, we no longer have to think the way we once did; we can begin to think as He did. "God was pleased to reveal His Son IN ME so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles." - Galatians 1:15,16 God reveals Christ IN US so that we might preach Him among the nations -- evangelizing -- DISCIPLING and equipping others for Christian service. Once we meet Christ, then others can see Christ IN US. The life we live, we live by Christ IN US. Is there not deep inside you a longing for His continuous presence? Do you not crave an increase of God's love, God's joy, God's peace, God's power? Right now, God is releasing a fresh wind upon us, the wind of destiny, to blow us into our PURPOSE and into our CALLING! Winds are the vehicle of the spirit realm. From Moses to Elijah, even to the Day of Pentecost, the winds of God have all played a part in bringing God's will into the earth! Ezekiel 37:9 - "Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man.." Declare today that the four winds are about to bring you into your place of purpose, power, prosperity, and passion as you are delivered into your DESTINY! When we catch a glimpse of this new identity we have in Jesus Christ, we see sin to be the boring, useless, and stupid thing it really is and we turn more easily away from it. This other side has to do with the rich inheritance that we share in with Jesus Christ as co-heirs (seeRomans 8:17; Ephesian 1:7, 11). We need to spend much more time confessing, not our sins, but who we are in Christ according to the teachings of the apostles. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23). People with a spirit of faith believe God to help them do exploits. They're builders. They cultivate the dry land. They turn deserts into oases. They create something out of nothing. They call things that be not as though they are. When people experience Christians preaching the Word without us ALSO BECOMING THE WORD, the Gospel gets reduced to a mere philosophy -- principles to be argued and words that can be wrangled over. But when the Word becomes flesh and dwells among them, they find themselves pierced to the heart and convicted in the depths of their very souls. Hebrews 1:7 - "Who makes....his servants flames of fire." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

In Ephesians 5 Paul is speaking about redeeming the time. We need to come into agreement with what Heaven is saying, echoing the decree. Ephesians 5:8-11 (paraphrased) says, "You were once darkness but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light... Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. All things are exposed, therefore, awake." This is a call to revival and resurrection. Rise up out of apathy and complacency. Then Christ will give you life. "See that you walk wisely, not as fools, but wise. Redeeming the time because the days are evil. Do not be unwise but understanding" (Ephesians 5:15-17 paraphrased). Understand the will of God for your life. He is revealing His PURPOSE and DESTINY. We need to understand what God's word is to us: "Do not be drunk with wine...but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). How do you redeem lost time? When you understand, that before the foundation of the world was laid the Lamb was slain in the realm of eternity, all your promises are done. In the realm of eternity, God has made provision for everything you need to walk in and what He has called you to walk in. C.S. Lewis said about redeeming the time, "We can actually buy back times in our past when we have felt abandoned, abused, betrayed, and fearful. We as Believers cannot only be forgiven of our past but we can travel back in time with God and see God as an ever-present help in that situation in the future." YOU CREATE WITH YOUR PROPHECY Hebrews 6:5 says we can taste of the powers of the age to come. We have not yet experienced Kingdom fullness. There is a Kingdom that is at hand, and a fullness of the Kingdom coming. A prophetic word not only gives you hope and promise, but it has the ability to pull you into the future message that has already come to pass? It is a creative prophetic word that literally calls forth things that are in the realm of eternity. You create with your prophecy; you have an ability to pull people into their future potential and connect them to their future. CHOOSE TO LIVE IN CHRIST'S REDEMPTION Many feel like they lost time and missed the opportunity of grace due to foolishness or sin with the idea they have to get back on the highway of holiness and start all over again? In the story of the prodigal son not only did the father see the son afar off and kiss him and embrace him, but he did so even though the son had squandered away his inheritance. Have you ever felt you squandered away something God gave you and you came to your senses and said, "I have to go back to the Father"? The father said, "Let's give him the robe and ring." The ring and the robe are a sign of authority and position. He said, "Let's give him back the inheritance." Redemption has to do with the recovery of what was lost and the ransomed price, the Blood, the precious price that was paid for you to be bought back in every area that you were once a slave. You can choose life and blessing, or death and cursing. You can choose to be free and live in the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, or you can choose to live in that bondage and believe you can never be free. Ephesians 1:7 says we have the forgiveness of sin and the redemption by His Blood. How many in the body of Christ understand He is still redeeming? Some have accepted forgiveness, but you didn't get your ring or robe back. You never let the Lord complete the story of the prodigal son or daughter and bring you back into the fullness. You get forgiveness and redemption. You get the chance to get the ring and robe and go back and do what the Lord CALLED you to do. PROCLAIM LIBERTY! Isaiah 61:1 says, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because..." Let's remember the purpose of the anointing. Why do we have the anointing come on us in this moment? We are anointed to proclaim, not ask God for freedom. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon us to proclaim liberty. Command those that are oppressed to be free. Jesus is the one who proclaimed the liberty of God, and we have been sent into the world to do the works that Christ did. Isaiah 61:2 says, "[He has anointed Me] to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord..." The Spirit of the Lord is upon us to proclaim, decree, and prophesy others into the acceptable year, not moment! How about a whole year of abundance, overflow, and advancing in our CALLING in Christ resulting in fruitfulness? MINDSET TO RECEIVE THE NEW God wants things to be so at rest and settled in order to make room for the oil and receive the whole new thing God is doing in your life. He has pruned and cut away so that He has made room to fill you with the new. Whatever you bring to the altar, do not pick it up again. If you allow the Lord to increase and enable your thinking, little by little you will be in double of where you are today. We can proclaim the acceptable year and come into it. Others are proclaiming fear, judgment, anxiety; we need to begin to hear what Heaven is saying. We are moving in the time where we can only be led by the voice and Spirit of God. Let's step into the NEW thing. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

Romans 8:11 - "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." Our purpose is to utilize all of our resurrection authority that resides within us as followers of Christ. As we understand that our spirit is "quickened" by His Spirit, in the same way we should be "ACCELERATED" to go further and faster now on earth otherwise impossible through mere human effort. We must – as God's design for Kingdom citizens – take dominion and multiply God's Kingdom on this earth as it is in Heaven! That is indeed the Believer's resurrection authority. Moreover, Christians should grow in this authority and begin resurrecting forgotten prophetic words, sidelined destinies, dead dreams, shattered relationships, and physical diagnoses for healing and complete wholeness in every area of our lives! There is no limit to this abiding Resurrection Spirit within every Believer! "The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds have come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land." - Song of Solomon 2:12 The "voice of the turtledove" 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 through PRAYER, 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 http://afministry.ning.com

Matthew 15:14 - "If the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." When you start pursuing God's vision for your life, sometimes you have to change who your close friends are because you're not speaking the same language anymore. Some people say that it doesn't really matter with whom they associate, that they wouldn't want to hurt anybody by disassociating from them. Yet Jesus was telling us not to be foolish by following those who are spiritually blind. Some people literally sacrifice their dreams and their lives because they are afraid of having conflict and disagreement with others. The devil's strategy is to constantly flood our being with earthly information and noise, thereby thwarting our focus and thoughts on God. The world and all its stimuli have NOTHING to offer the spirit man. Hebrews 5:12 - "For by this time you ought to be teachers...." To spiritually inspire is to guide, affect, or arouse by the divine influence of the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 2:2 - "You should teach people whom you can trust the things you and many others have heard me say. Then they will be able to teach others." Discipling others (individually) is essential to the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Are you willing to spend and be spent; not seeking to be ministered unto, but to minister? There are many who will respond when the blessings are flowing, but when it comes time to "eat His flesh," (PARTAKE OF HIS LIFE) they say, "This is a hard saying, who can hear it?" and they disappear. A witness of Jesus Christ is one who knows Him and is interested in introducing Him to others. Any person who says, "I don't need to witness; I just let my life speak," is self-righteous. Psalm 91:1 - "He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." To dwell in the secret place of the Most High is to rest, remain, and stay there. Every moment we are there, God is overshadowing us with His protection and glory. We are, therefore, constantly living under an open Heaven where everything becomes possible, where we are protected from dangerous and destructive circumstances (spiritual and natural), and where spiritual and natural blessings and promises manifest. The apostles received the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room and went out on fire to set the world on fire. They didn't stay in the Upper Room enjoying their experience and trying to prolong it. Nor did they keep coming back for more of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not given for self-indulgence. They went out full of His power and proclaimed the truth of what they had received. Pray that the Lord would release a fire in you, and ask Him to release the sure word of the Lord in you that will release a holy inner confidence through you for yourself, your family, your business, and your ministry. 1 John 5:14 - "We have this confidence, that if we pray anything according to His will, He hears us." It is easy to go to sleep reviewing negative ideas and pictures in our mind and wake up in the morning with a poisoned and negative spirit. Instead, we choose to fall asleep loving and receiving from Jesus -- our Lord and Savior. Psalm 63:6,8 - "When I think of thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the watches of the night; My soul clings to thee; thy right hand upholds me." Faith is stronger than belief. To believe is to give intellectual assent; to have faith is to be inseparable from the object of your devotion. Belief can be changed or lost by a more persuasive argument. True faith is so much a part of the person it can only be taken by death. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." - Hebrews 11:1 Fear imprisons one's heart and releases the power of Satan's destruction in their life. By yielding to fear believers descend into Satan's range of attack. Are we prepared to set ourselves apart for the Holy Spirit's ministrations in us? Faith is where you take the biggest spiritual risks in your life, especially within your CALLING. Exercising faith is fundamentally a risk. Each and every time you "step out" within your call to obey God you take a risk.- Ephesians 5:17 - "So do not be foolish but learn what the Lord wants you to do." How can you hear God speak, in His soft and tender way, when your hurried thoughts create a whirlwind within? Be quiet, and He will soon be heard. "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation." - Psalm 62:1 ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

When I write I know that there will be those who have not, nor will not open their bibles or pursue my previous blogs, and therefore, I give you all, a little lead into the story. I also wanted to reiterate that I have friends that encourage me, as they tell me, you make the Bible understandable. In thinking about that aspect, I merely write the way I talk; mind you I clean up the language a bit and grammar check extensively. Perhaps this is my way of apologizing if this seems like I am going to slowly. It is, after all, how I learn. Gog was a descendant of Reuben. Now, since NO ONE (with two exceptions) escaped death, then we can understand that this original person or entity (regarding a people group,) has long since died. It is possible, because it frequently happened throughout history, that someone else now has the name Gog. But TODAY, it is possible that we are dealing with a people group or nation filled with descendants of Gog, that have the same oppressive mentality. In trying to find background information on Gog I see a strong association with the Scythians - violent, nomadic, horseman, who excelled at mounted attacks. Ezekiel may, or may not, have known any of this, and therefore makes the prophecy ever more appropriate. When we last saw Gog, he decided that he would “go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, to capture spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of the world.” [Ezekiel 38:11,12.] I suspect that many see Gog has having a preeminent role in world leadership, but verse 13 makes it sound as though not everybody is on board with his plans. If this is the Muslim world, it is obvious, from scripture, that not everyone agrees with Gog's leadership. Ezekiel 38:13 NASB ", Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all its villages will say to you, 'Have you come to capture spoil? Have you assembled your company to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to capture great spoil?'"' Sheba and Dedan, it seems, were within Saudi Arabia. Tarshish is the same town to which the Prophet Jonah tried to flee. I could not find Tarshish on any of my maps, and several commentators agreed that Tarshish, based upon information that is no longer accessible, was on the coast of Spain. There are many ways to take this statement, “Have you come to capture spoil? Have you assembled your company to seize plunder,” as those talking could be aligned with Gog, greedy, or in disagreement. Matthew Henry conveys a similar idea. "Sheba and Dedan, the Arabians and the Edomites, and the merchants of Tarshish, of Tyre and Sidon and other maritime cities, they and their young lions that are greedy of spoil and live upon it, shall say, Hast thou come to take the spoil of this land?” Yes, he has; and therefore they wish him success. Or perhaps they envy him or grudge it to him. “Hast thou come for riches who art thyself so rich already?” Or, knowing that God was on Israel's side, they thus ridicule his attempts, foreseeing that they would be baffled and that he would be disappointed of the prey he promised himself. Or, if he comes to take the prey, they will come and join with him, and add to his forces." Whatever verse 13 means, it seems the Lord directly moves on, as he again tells Ezekiel to prophesy. In spite of what Dr. David Reagan thinks, the Lord considers Israel land that is NOW living securely. Ezekiel 38:14,15NET. "Therefore, prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog: 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: On that day when my people Israel are living securely, you will take notice 15) and come from your place, from the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a vast army. We have already, in my previous post, discussed Gog. We know he is a leader, but of what country or nation? Ezekiel 38:2 ISV "Son of Man, turn your attention toward Gog, from the land of Magog, the chief noble of Meshech, and Tubal. Prophesy this against him: Meshech and Magog are in the region of land that some call the “stan” nations. This region of the world is currently under Turkish control, and it lies in the southern regions between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. Russia, for a period, retained control over these nations but eventually relinquished their public grasp. Wiser men would tell you to keep your eyes on Recep Erdoğan, the “leader” of Turkey. “all of them riding on horses.” I did an internet search to find out what nations still have mounted equestrian Calvary units. It turns out that India has one of the largest. After that comes Chile and then Germany (Strangely, under the leadership of Angela Merkel, Germany seems to be giving itself over entirely to Islamic rule.) None of these seem to fit the requirements of a mounted equestrian group that would potentially come from the north in such mass numbers. The word for mounted soldiers is Calvary. However, that can mean almost any form of mobilized units anymore. So, the truth is, I have no clear idea how Ezekiel 38:15 is going to play out. However, we may have to keep a closer eye on India, and perhaps Germany now. Ezekiel 38:16 ISV “You'll come up to invade my people Israel like a storm cloud to cover the land. In the last days, Gog, I'll bring you up to invade my land so that the world will learn to know me when I show them how holy I am before their very eyes.” “You'll come up to invade my people Israel like a storm cloud to cover the land.” This may seem simplistic, but consider how storm clouds come; some are tall and ominous, and can bring lightning, hail, and tornadoes; while others, bringing rain can be scattered and welcome after a hot dry season – that will not be the case here; and then, there are those that cover the sky from end to end – these remove the bright light from the day, bring rain, and often destruction. The descriptive we given through Ezekiel has no good in it; and, like the destructive storms, you know many are going to get hurt. “Gog, I'll bring you up to invade my land so that the world will learn to know me when I show them how holy I am before their very eyes.” I have come to realize that nothing happens outside of God's will. That includes the good and the bad. Do I understand the bad and appreciate it, hardly, but I must accept and understand that God does. In this case, we are told that God intends to show the world that He is Holy, through His actions He is about to take with Gog and his armies. One last thing I want you to think about. Since Gog can be a person or a people group from the region of Turkey, then let's assume this is the Turkish leader leading the attack. Since we all know he is a Muslim, then we can presume that the majority of those who follow Gog into battle are Muslims as well. If all Muslims believe in this created god Allah, and, everything they understand from the Quran is in opposition to God, then wouldn't God killing practically all of them on the mountains of Israel, just make sense. It is the manner in which God kills them should garner the most attention, and, have the potential to restore God to the place of honor He deserves. (The reality of this, is that there will be no significant restoration of God's honor in the mind of the Muslim, nor the world in general. However, it is going to happen.) Again, the message is repeated. Keep in mind that prophesy to the Jewish mind is repeated patterns, and so God does just that. Ezekiel 38:17 NET. " 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days that I would bring you against them? “...of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days that I would bring you against them?” I tried to find the names of the prophets “who prophesied in those days that I would bring you against them.” But in direct reference to Gog, there is only one mention of that name prior to Ezekiel's prophesy, and that is found 1 Chronicles 5:4. Everything else is in reference to the utter destruction of large groups such as Moab, the Assyrians, the sons of Sheth, and the Amalekites. Lacking a direct reference to Gog, Psalm 110:5-6 is one. Isaiah 34 sounds very much like the complete destruction of a fighting force Isaiah 34:2-6 NET. For the LORD is angry at all the nations and furious with all their armies. He will annihilate them and slaughter them. 3) Their slain will be left unburied, their corpses will stink; the hills will soak up their blood. 4) All the stars in the sky will fade away, the sky will roll up like a scroll; all its stars will wither, like a leaf withers and falls from a vine or a fig withers and falls from a tree. 5) He says, "Indeed, my sword has slaughtered heavenly powers. Look, it now descends on Edom, on the people I will annihilate in judgment." 6) The LORD's sword is dripping with blood, it is covered with fat; it drips with the blood of young rams and goats and is covered with the fat of rams' kidneys. For the LORD is holding a sacrifice in Bozrah, a bloody slaughter in the land of Edom. Ezekiel ends much like the grand finale at a fireworks show, with repeated themes and impressive descriptives that include the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and all who live on the face of the earth, shaking at the presence of the Lord. Ezekiel 38:18-23 NET. On that day, when Gog invades the land of Israel, declares the sovereign LORD, my rage will mount up in my anger. 19) In my zeal, in the fire of my fury, I declare that on that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 20) The fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the wild beasts, all the things that creep on the ground, and all people who live on the face of the earth will shake at my presence. The mountains will topple, the cliffs will fall, and every wall will fall to the ground. 21) I will call for a sword to attack Gog on all my mountains, declares the sovereign LORD; every man's sword will be against his brother. 22) I will judge him with plague and bloodshed. I will rain down on him, his troops and the many peoples who are with him a torrential downpour, hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23) I will exalt and magnify myself; I will reveal myself before many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.' When He says, “every man's sword will be against his brother,” it sounds very much like a description of Ismael's descendants. Genesis 16:11-12 NASB The angel of the LORD said to her further, "Behold, you are with child, And you will bear a son; And you shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has given heed to your affliction. 12) "He will be a wild donkey of a man, His hand will be against everyone, And everyone's hand will be against him; And, he will live to the east of all his brothers." I find myself looking at videos that demonstrate justice being served, and maybe that is why this statement, “I will exalt and magnify myself; I will reveal myself before many nations,” appeals to me, because I grow weary of my God being attacked; and, I grow weary of those following after Christ being slaughtered in the name of some imaginary god. I, like David, cry out, Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, My only life from the lions. Psalms 35:17 NASB And not only my soul Lord, but the souls of all those who call upon your name.

We are being presented "suddenly" moments, for such a time as this, to step into a BREAKTHROUGH that is bigger than our hope can comprehend. These might be moments that look like immense risk or require vulnerability, but we have to seize that incoming wave at the opportune time with fresh courage. We must realize the breakthrough starts within us – so it can be brought to life all around us – by stepping outside our comfort zone and recognizing the new thing that He is doing now. BREAKING OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE "I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?" Isaiah 43:19 Often, the hardest thing about receiving something new for us is that it almost always requires something new of us. Those breakthrough waves we pray and believe for rarely flow through our familiar comfort zone. They don't stay within our boundaries or control, rather, they are the move of His Spirit calling us to jump outside our self-imposed box and ride the wave of a lifetime. How often do we turn a deaf ear to the question the Spirit asks us each day when He inquires,"Shall you not know it?" (Isaiah 43:19) Will we know the new thing God is doing in, through and around us? Will we recognize His fresh move, beyond our insecurities, critiques or judgments? Will we be able to embrace the very thing we've been praying for when it passes by just outside familiar waters? If we will, it will take COURAGE. It will require us to be lion-hearted, found among those through the ages who have – like Gideon – lived a courage that is not so much about a valiant charge into battle but about a radical step of obedience that joins God in what He is now doing. YOUR MESSENGER OF COURAGE The Lord doesn't just send us into such a leap out onto the waters without equipping us. Like with Gideon and Mary, there are different times throughout Scripture where we see the Lord send a messenger to one of His chosen ones to call them over the chasm that lies between the promises they hope for and the PURPOSE they are created to live. God goes all in to help us be who He has created us to be, and to prove it, He sends us messengers of courage to strengthen our leap. "Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree...Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress...And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, 'The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!'" Judges 6:11-12 "Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 'Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!'" Luke 1:26-28 Gideon was addressed as "mighty man of valor." Mary as "highly favored one." It is not coincidence that God called them by such terms not after they completed their purpose, but before. This is how they were addressed from the outset; then God called them to step into the appointed time of their DESTINY. You have a Messenger of Courage within you, a Helper, the Spirit of Truth, and He is calling to you like He did Gideon and Mary, already addressing you as beloved and a victor, not just hopeful of such. He wants to visit you, meet you, and call to the courage He already sees within you. He wants you to see yourself as He does, and He is imparting to you the courage necessary to leap out and seize the moment that is only just beyond your reach. The Lord has aligned timing. He has aligned circumstances. He is calling you by a powerful name like "Mighty" or "Favored" to remind you who you are in Him, and that He is with you. For when you know who you are, you'll also know what you are supposed to do. He calls you by your identity before you discover your victory. So, what is your messenger of courage saying over you? "Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord." Luke 1:45 ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

"You also, as living stones are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." - 1 Peter 2:5 Our cry for a fresh experience of God is at the core of being open to believe for something NEW. Brick by brick, life by life, God is creating a kingdom, a "spiritual house. The Holy Spirit gives assignments to people, "to each according to each one's unique ability (Matthew 25:15). As He calls, He equips. To discover this assignment we must be open to something NEW. We have an uncommon call to an uncommon life. "The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others" (1 Corinthians 12:7). We are to "Kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you" (2 Timothy 1:6) We have built up in our reasoning faculties lots of support for not being convinced that NEW things can happen, even if we deeply want them to. OBSERVATION: Newness is always possible to those who believe -- I must believe God is working a NEW work in me. New things require a NEW language. Our self-talk draws us closer or drives us further from experiencing NEW things. AFFIRMATIONS: I kindle afresh the gift of God which is in me. I have an uncommon call to an uncommon life. Things have never been the way they are going to be because God is doing a NEW thing in me. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

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 1:3 talks 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 http://afministry.ning.com

Having looked, extensively, at Ezekiel 38, we now turn to chapter 39. Once again, we see God compelling Ezekiel, to turn his face toward Gog, and say, Behold, I am against you. Ah, but who is God really against? But, the entire idea of looking at Ezekiel 38, 39 is this idea of God sending fire down from heaven to stop a war. We are about to get into that; but, first, a quick recap. The person, Gog, only shows up once in scripture, and there we find that he is a descendant of Reuben. Sadly Reuben's claim to fame is that he had sexual relations with one of his father's wives. 1Chronicles 5:4 The sons of Joel were Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, This name does not show up again until Ezekiel begins to prophesy against him years later. With the Exodus beginning around 1446 B.C, it is probable that Gog predates the Exodus. Ezekiel does not come on the scene until approximately 593 B.C. That makes Gog well over 1000 years old if he is still alive, and you know that did not happen. So who is Gog? If you do your homework and look the word Gog up, you will find that: Gog can be depicted as a person (a man,) a people group, or, a nation. We also know that Gog is a leader, that directs his multinational army against Israel. They are of such a large number that they are described as clouds covering the earth. And, the majority of these troops and their leader are killed by God on the mountains of Israel, as a sign to the nations of His Holiness. One last piece of information: At the end of the millennial reign, Gog, once again leads deceived forces against Israel and the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, in an attempt to kill God; and there, once again, God kills them all with fire from heaven. Most “Christians” will read this episode from Ezekiel, and not see the severe and deadly nature of Gog's actions, nor what God will do here, mainly in the Megiddo valley. I believe there are distinct aspects that define Gog, such as Gog and the majority of his troops die on the hills of Israel. How is that possible without some casualties among the citizens of Israel. Just the fact that Gog has made it in inside the borders means that infrastructure will be damaged. The point I am trying to make here, is that you need, frequently, to put flesh and blood on the biblical characters. People are going to die. Having been asked, will the church go through tribulation? My response, and even more so now, is, as of this date 07/10/18 Nigeria has now become the deadliest nation in the world for “Christians” as they are being slaughtered because of their beliefs. So, are we going through tribulations? Absolutely, but keep in mind that trials and the wrath of God being poured out upon the earth and the nations, is an entirely different matter altogether; and NO, we, as followers of Christ, are NOT subject to God's wrath. Tribulations, on the other hand, as Jesus noted, are always going to be a part of our lives. Since an event of this magnitude - the firestorm that kills so many troops will cause most to cower in fear, I think it is safe to say that God is trying to get them to look at Him more appropriately, instead of the habitual disdain nations have for the God they have refused to know. And now we find ourselves at the 39th chapter of Ezekiel. Ezekiel 39:1 NASB "And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; A translation I am growing fond of is the Complete Jewish Bible, and it reads like this. (CJB) "So you, human being, prophesy against Gog; say that Adonai Elohim says: 'I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshekh and Tuval. Odd how there is no mention of Rosh in the Jewish version. Perhaps, Rosh inappropriately causes us to focus on another world leader, like Putin. After all my years of being in the church, I have concluded, that well-minded souls have repeatedly misdirected us. To some, this is not a problem as they are not going to do the background study that would lead them to the truth, and so they remain within the framework of their church traditions. Someone opposing the church traditions fuels their twisted fears, but all the while they continually try to get us to see the Pope as the Antichrist. This scenario is what we call false teaching. Not everyone means to deceive you, but it happens because we are not willing to do our homework and cling to tradition over truth. Ezekiel 39:2 ISV I'm going to turn you around, drag you along to your destruction, and bring you up from the farthest parts of the north, and carry you to the mountains of Israel. Note how the ISV uses some rather graphic words in this second verse. “I'm going to turn you around,” Large-scale leaders are not entirely insane; there is some thought applied, and costs are often counted. I suspect Gog is no different, and yet, God is, going to turn him around. You might think attacking Israel is not the wisest thing to do, but hatred seems to motivate and drive far too many people. In looking at Ezekiel 38, we see another interesting aspect of Gog's attack on Israel. It is God, who puts the thought in his mind. This idea to attack Israel is not just some casual thought that you can easily ignore; it drives him. “drag you along to your destruction,” When Captain Jean Luc Picard, of the 'Starship Enterprise, encountered the Borg, we repeatedly heard a phrase; resistance is futile. I realize that this idea seems to throw the idea of free will out the window, or does it. Perhaps God has factored free will into His equation already. This problem with free will becomes evident to me as I think about a conversation I had with my Thursday morning group. We have recently been reading the Eugene Peterson book on Prayer. Having read several of Peterson's books already, I was not looking forward to it. However, I have been pleasantly surprised, as he looks at prayer from many directions, some of which are often less than religious, and I can appreciate that. Recently, during a portrayal on Peterson's part, of how adamantly Jesus prayed in the garden setting, I thought about how I once pounded on my steering wheel as I demanded that God honor his word and give me the trophy wife I wanted (Yes, she was pretty but deadly.) I got what I wanted, but dear Lord, I did not need what I got. In jest I said to someone, I think I heard God say, how's that working for you? By-the-way, I don't tell God how to run things anymore. I do, however, believe that the trophy wife, was a part of God's plan in the overall scheme of things, along with the associated pain. And, no, I struggle with the uncomfortable stuff just as you do; and yet, I must believe that it is all part of HIS plan, no matter how things look. “and bring you up from the farthest parts of the north, and carry you to the mountains of Israel.” How many times do we do things, thinking that it was our great idea? For myself, I am reminded of a night I got to thinking about something else and missed my turn to get on the freeway. Insistent upon using the highway it took another minute and a half to get back to the on-ramp. Up the hill I went; what I found as I crested the hill was a cataclysmic accident. Most likely I would have been a part of the crash had I not missed my turn. So, God hooks this man, plants the idea in his head, and drags him and his troops to the mountains of Israel. Rather impressive, and Gog thinks it is all him. Ezekiel 39:3 MSG Then I'll knock your bow out of your left hand and your arrows from your right hand. This idea of knocking your bow out of one hand, and your arrows out of another, cannot be literal, for, in today's warfare, you will die quickly, unless of course, you are a ninja. Seriously, a whole battlefield of ninjas, that is not going to happen. So it is an analogy, which demonstrates how futile, on the overall, that this war of Gog, is going to be. Again, I remind you, that Jews will die, but in comparison to the intent, the effect will be minimal. Ezekiel 39:4-5 NASB "You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field. 5) "You will fall on the open field; for it is I who have spoken," declares the Lord GOD. Note how the NASB tells us that Gog, and his troops, will fall on the mountains of Israel; and, they will fall in the open field. Now, look at how the Message reads. Ezekiel 39:4-5 MSG On the mountains of Israel you'll be slaughtered, you and all your troops and the people with you. I'll serve you up as a meal to carrion birds and scavenging animals. 5) You'll be killed in the open field. I've given my word. Decree of GOD, the Master.' In reading this literally, the first thing I see is Gog and his slaughtered troops on the mountains. Holding tightly to a literal read would then leave no one to “kill” in the open field, and yet, there they are. So the NASB, it seems, gives a more appropriate read of the upcoming play by play. Another thing I always think about when I read scripture. Having read statements where the Old Testament tells a story and everyone was there. One of the places we see this is in Daniel, where King Nebuchadnezzar has ordered a statue of himself built, and everyone must bow to it; the obvious factor, if you know the story, is that some created this scenario as an attempt at Jewish genocide. Now everyone, we are told was there, but we primarily see the three Hebrew's that worked in Nebuchadnezzar's court. Since you know the story, then you also know they did not bow and were thrown into the fiery furnace, and, walked out of that same furnace untouched by the smell of smoke. Where was Daniel? While the absence of Daniel seems insignificant, it proves that not everyone was there. Examples like this, but on a larger scale, are all throughout the O.T. So, here is the current scorecard. Gog and his armies – killed on the hills of Israel, and killed in the Megiddo valley. But watch what happens next. Ezekiel 39:6 NET. I will send fire on Magog and those who live securely in the coastlands; then they will know that I am the LORD. The typical “Christian” might read Ezekiel 38, 39, and because they are lead about so easily by false teachers, will believe that Russia is the sole army coming down from the North and attacking Israel. But, we are told this person, the leader of Magog is coming, and they will be killed. If Gog and his troops have been killed, who then, are all these people in the coastlands, and why are they getting punished? So what do we know for sure? Ezekiel 38:3 Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. It is easy to visualize Meshech and Tubal, but there are allies of Gog coming to this fight. These people were descendants of Reuben, and Gog was most likely born in Egypt. By the time God's people were led out of Egypt, they were fully immersed as Egyptians, hence the law. Oral history was the only thing they had. Thankfully, some remembered the stories tied to Abraham and their forefathers, or they would have been Egyptians to the soul. Since Reuben was intentionally disinherited, his anger and disdain may have carried with his descendants. We know that Gog traveled north to the region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, and, we know that Russia had a heavy hand in this same region for years. Turkey now plays the heavy hand across the majority of Asia Minor. These people were also integrated into what was known as the Scythians. A violent people group that were feared because they were excellent equestrians that excelled at warfare from horseback. People from Egypt, Iran, Russia, and Siberia were associated with the Scythians. Even Genghis Khan has Scythian blood as part of his ancestry. Ezekiel 38:5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Put are with them, all of them with shields and helmets. Persia = Modern day Iran. However, Persia has always had an association with Assyria, just as Nineveh did. So tuned your thinking toward those associated with Assyria (Babylon.) Ethiopia is easy enough to picture, as its name is modernized here. However, many call this Cush. Smith's Bible Dictionary tells us that Cush is “The name of a son of Ham, apparently the eldest, and of a territory or territories occupied by his descendants. The Cushites appear to have spread along tracts, extending from the higher Nile to the Euphrates and Tigris. History affords many traces of this relation of Babylonia, Arabia, and Ethiopia." Put = Also a son of Ham. Put can be thought of as Libya, or the northern African continent. If it is the North African continent, then what nation has consistently been in the news lately? Nigeria, as they, under the auspices of Boko Haran (the African version of Islam,) go about killing off Christians. So, what is the common thread? Islamic nations. One of the things you should note is that places like Tarshish cannot be found on a map, and Sheba and Dedan seem to be allies. As of 07/12/18 Putin of Russia, is now working closely with Libya to strengthen their fighting abilities. Integration by Russia, to that level, tends to put Russia into this mix, albeit as a technical advisor. We seem to be on the verge of a massive and deadly event, that may carry long- term nuclear significance.

Sometimes He draws us to the wilderness where our understanding that our abilities, our skills, our gifts can no longer get the job done. You can choose to "rise above" things. When you do, you are going to catch a new wind from Heaven that is releasing new creative resources for you right now -- so fly and go deep into an even closer relationship with God. Look at those things over which you have lost your vision. Ask Him to bring resurrection life back into those dead places and renew your vision for your own DESTINY. "There were many bones in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And the Lord said unto me, 'prophesy upon these bones and say unto them, Behold I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.'" - Ezekiel 37: 2,4,5 How will your life change as you become more extreme with your faith? "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." - John 15:2 Now is a great time to be activated in the spirit. This means that we see opportunities at every turn. There are opportunities to demonstrate God's love to people. Don't assume that everyone has heard the truth of the Gospel or has experienced "His life". Take time to share the life of God with others. God wants us to expand beyond the borders we have preconceived in our natural mind. Don't say, "I can't do this" or "That is not me", because God wants to put something new in you. God continually "adds to us" things that would not be our "natural inclination". Paul did not say that God separated him to show what a wonderful man He could make of him, but "to reveal His Son in me." "...not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed" (Joshua 23:14). We can rise up in the same confidence Joshua possessed and declare our TESTIMONY. Today, assemble the words of God's faithfulness from your past and begin to speak them into your future. We were not given these testimonies to remember them only as documents of history. These words have been given to us as supernatural weapons to send out into our approaching future. A loss of consecration means the loss of power. And a loss of TESTIMONY signifies the loss of the presence of God. Don't wait for things to go right before you start praising God. Start praising the Lord, and things will go right. Your greatest hour of Kingdom advancement is upon you. You are about to excel in ways you always dreamed but never dared imagine would take place. All this is by the favor and Spirit of God working through your life. So get ready for your upgrade. Get ready for your brand new day. God is with you and He will lead you into the new frontier that is waiting just for you. We should pray with expectation. We must be adamant in prayer and call forth results. Usually, people are surprised when a prayer is answered, but we should be surprised when it is not. Some Christians seem to have a perpetual tendency to have somebody else talk to God for them. Such an approach saves us from the need to change, for to be in the presence of God is to change. We have the strength to cast off the burdens of downcast souls and supernaturally believe the impossible to be possible. Strength and might comes when we usher in His presence. "We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us." - Philippians 4:13 When we are abiding in Christ, even as He and the Father are one, so we become one with Him. Paschal Lamb of God, pass me over from death to life by the redemption of Your blood. Amen ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

As we confidently pray according to the promises in the Bible we can expect all the promises of the Lord to be yes and amen in Christ! There are literally thousands of Scripture promises in the Bible that can be applied to our lives. We can take the Father at His Word, because His Word is true, and He does not change. He is who He is, and He does what He has said He will do. He has all the wisdom and power needed to execute His promises for His children. As the psalmist wrote: "For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast." - Psalm 33:9 The Lord is true (see Revelation 3:7), and His promises are sure. When we pray out of the knowledge of His promises, we can pray with expectation for the answer. This is exactly what the apostle John meant when he wrote: "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him" (1 John 5:14,15). WE MUST INTERNALIZE HIS PROMISES Of course, if we do not know His promises, we will not be able to confidently go before Him in expectant faith to receive the manifestation of His promises. But as we grow in knowledge of His promises in the Word, we will receive a deeper faith, which will result in a life of trust and obedience. Faith doesn't come from information but from deeply dwelling (meditating) and hearing, through affirming out loud the Word of God. This is what God wants for us. We bring Him honor and glory when we fully live in His redemptive promises and, as a result, fully live out our divine DESTINY. When we know what He has already supplied for us, we become partakers of these precious promises. About this, Peter wrote: "By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires." - 2 Peter 1:24 This is why we need the spirit of wisdom and revelation to show us all God gave to us through the victory of the cross (see Ephesians 1:17). "Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God" (1 Corinthians 2:12 AMP). But as we behold Him, we are transformed from glory to glory (see2 Corinthians 3:1718). As our minds are renewed by the Spirit, our lives are transformed (see Romans 12:2). When our lives are transformed, we begin to think and act differently. We begin to change. And this begins a ripple effect. As we are changed the people around us are affected. PRAYER MEDITATIONS: The manifestation of the promises of God for your life. Revelation of His CALLING IN CHRIST AND PURPOSE for your life. That this be a season of joy that brings advancement in the plans of the Lord for you! ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

Hebrews 12:3 - "Consider Jesus that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." THE SPIRIT OF WEARINESS IS TRYING TO WORK ITS WAY INTO OUR LIVES THESE DAYS THROUGH ALL THE PRESSURE AND BAD NEWS THAT SURROUNDS US. IT'S WORKING TO GET OUR EYES OFF THE WORD OF GOD BY BOMBARDING US WITH NEGATIVE FORCES. IT'S TRYING TO GET US TO LOOK DOWN AT DEFEAT INSTEAD OF UP AT JESUS. JESUS SAID IN MARK 4 THAT WHEN THE CARES OF THIS WORLD ENTER INTO YOUR HEART AND MIND, THEY'LL CHOKE THE WORD AND CAUSE IT TO BECOME UNFRUITFUL. AND SINCE YOUR FAITH IS THE PRODUCT OF THE WORD, THAT MEANS YOUR FAITH WILL WITHER. Affirmations: I CONSIDER JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF MY FAITH. I CONSIDER HIM INSTEAD OF THE CARES OF THIS WORLD. I GET MY EYES OFF THE CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND ME AND ONTO MY HEAVENLY SOURCE. GOD IS MY SOURCE, NOT THE WORLD. Ephesians 2:18,21,22 - "It is through Christ that all of us, Jews and Gentiles, are able to come in the one Spirit into the presence of the Father. A holy temple in the Lord; in whom we also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit." FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO WE SEEK GOD? -- WE ASPIRE TO WORSHIP HIM. JESUS SAID THE FATHER IS SEEKING WORSHIPPERS. THE WORSHIP THAT SATISFIES GOD MUST ORIGINATE FROM THE HOLY PLACE, WHERE THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF MAN IS AWAKENED TO THE SPIRIT OF GOD. WORSHIP DOES NOT COME FROM ANY SYSTEM OR FORM OF SERVICE. RATHER, IT IS THE RESULT OF HAVING TRULY DISCOVERED THE ALMIGHTY ONE IN "SPIRIT AND TRUTH" (JOHN 4:23). "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working." (John 5:17) We work and partner with what he is already doing in Heaven. The father works in heaven and we work with the Holy Spirit on earth. "So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he "sees" the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise." We are totally dependent on the Holy Spirit to discern the Father's will, so we can partner with heaven on earth. "For the Father loves the Son, and "shows Him" all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel." - John 5:19-20 The context of the above Scriptures is Jesus and the intimacy he had with the father. In these verses we see a great key to doing his will and manifesting his power. As we affirm and meditate on these verses our expectation to "see" will grow. Jesus knew the key was in prayer and waiting. We see it and proclaim it! Once we learn how to partner with God, by seeing whatever He directs us to see in the heavens, then we learn how to speak with authority in that realm, calling it forth in prayer. Then it manifests here on the earth. What you do in that kind of experience will change what happens to you in this realm. He longs to share the secrets of His heart with those who tune their spiritual ears to listen to what His Spirit is saying. "I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the tower; and I will keep watch to see what He will say to me," -- Habakkuk 2:1 We wait, pray, look and "see" what The Lord "says to me." We must see by revelation. It is key to manifesting his power. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

In effect, this is where we ended the last post on Ezekiel. "This is what the Lord GOD says: 'This is what's going to happen on the very day that you begin your invasion: You'll be thinking, making evil plans, and boasting, "I'm going to invade a land comprised of open country that is at rest, its people living confidently, all of whose inhabitants will be living securely, with neither fortification nor bars on their doors. Ezekiel 38:10-11 ISV Having read this passage on several occasions, I have asked myself the same question many have asked, how can you possibly call Israel a country that is at rest? Are the people living confidently and securely? Dr. David Reagan, writing in the September 2009 LAMPLIGHTER magazine article entitled, The Wars of the End Times, said, “First, there is a condition for the war of Ezekiel 38 and 39 that has not been met. Three times in Ezekiel 38 — in verses 8, 11, and 14 — it states that the war described in that chapter will not occur until the people of Israel are living “securely” in “unwalled villages.” Israel is not living in security today. It is bombarded daily by missiles from Gaza, and it is constantly under the threat of missile attacks from Hezbollah in Lebanon. There is also the ever-present threat of terrorist attacks, a threat that has forced Israel to construct a 400-mile long wall down the center of the country. In short, it is laughable today to even think of the Jewish people of Israel as living “securely” in “unwalled villages.” I don't know how to explain what Gog says, short of it being in direct opposition to a previous condition. We see that previous condition when we read the words of, as a friend pointed out, Nehemiah the Prophet. Nehemiah 1:3 NASB They said to me, "The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire." The walls were broken down, and its gate burned with fire. Is that the end of the story? Obviously not, for Nehemiah led a team that rebuilt those same walls and gates. However, those walls and gates were destroyed once again. So, if Israel is a city without walls, what is one of the primary structures conspicuous in Israeli news? The fence along the Southern border with Gaza. Perhaps then our understanding is much to narrow and restrictive, especially, if we can only see things as Dr. David Reagan does. Maybe we are looking at the small picture while God is concerned with the bigger one. This Gog character views Israel as a people living securely in unwalled cities; all of which is in fulfillment of prophecy, and that, is all that matters. With Israel looking vulnerable our journey continues, as we find Gog saying, Ezekiel 38:11-12 NASB … I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, 12) to capture spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of the world.' Odd, how the majority of Western centered thinking struggles to see Israel as pictured in the statement above, and yet, Gog understands very well the purpose of Israel and why. Get something defined in your thinking; Gog is NOT the Antichrist. In this case, he's more of a hothead who only sees utter destruction as the answer. (By the way, Muslims continually make this cry for a total extermination of those outside of Islam.) The Antichrist, in comparison, is found in Daniel crying out for peace. The logical side of me only sees this cry for peace happening after this war. Daniel 9:27 NASB "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." Contract, peace treaty or a ceasefire, call it what you may, the effect is the same, as Israel gains a few quick years of peace. And, if you are paying attention, this verse says nothing about him making a peace treaty with Israel. Daniel, in a vision, had seen a ram with two horns and a shaggy goat with one horn between its eyes. The angel Gabriel came and explained what this vision meant. It is a vision of the end of time; a period that takes about seven years. (I say about as many of these things, things that make it all happen, are happening around us now, and are not a direct part of the seven-years of God's wrath.) Daniel 8:16-17 NASB And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, "Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision." 17) So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; but he said to me, "Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end." Many translations read like this: “Behold, I am going to let you know what will occur at the final period of the indignation, for it pertains to the appointed time of the end.” The problem I have with this terminology is that it places Ezekiel 38, 39 within the seven-year period when I am not so sure we should perceive it as such. Can Ezekiel's prophecy be something that overlaps into the seven-years? Certainly, and since there will be one crying out for peace (although false,) he – the Antichrist will only be exposed to the world after the church is removed. [You can ascertain this information by a careful study of 2Thessalonians 2, particularly verse 8.] Daniel 8:20 NASB "The ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia. We have already seen the advent of the kings of Media and Persia, as they overthrew and succeeded Nebuchadnezzar's reign. Daniel 8:21 NASB "The shaggy goat represents the kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king. This was Alexander the Great. Daniel 8:22 ERV That horn broke off and four horns grew in its place. The four horns are four kingdoms. Those four kingdoms will come from the nation of the first king, but they will not be as strong as the first king. “After Alexander’s death, in the prime of life and in the height of his conquests, his brother and two sons were all murdered; and the kingdom was divided among four of his generals: (1) Seleucus, who had Syria and Babylon; (2) Lysimachus, who had Asia Minor; (3) Ptolemy, who had Egypt; and (4) Cassander, who had Greece." The Ultimate Cross-Reference Treasury This is just as Daniel described when he detailed the dream of a statue with a head of gold. Nebuchadnezzar was identified as the head of gold; Media and Persia were the chest and arms made of silver; its stomach and thighs of bronze were the Grecian empire, The legs and feet primarily being made of Iron, are empire Seleucus and Ptolemy and what becomes of those two empires. This is detailed in Daniel 11. Contrary to what many believe, these were not the Roman empire but remnants of the Grecian empire. When it comes to the toes which are a blended mess of iron and clay, the Hebrew word used to describe the mix is arab. Daniel 11 is such a precise history of the intrigue and overthrow of governing bodies that happens toward the end of the Seleucid and Ptolemaic reigns, that many suspect it was written after the events took place. All these events play into the scenario described by Ezekiel and Daniel, and should not be ignored. Daniel 8:23 NIrV "Toward the end of their rule, those who refuse to obey God will become completely evil. Then another king will appear. He will have a mean-looking face. He will be a master at making clever plans. The Amplified Bible translates this passage in this manner, “when the transgressors [the apostate Jews] have reached the fullness [of their wickedness, taxing the limits of God's mercy], a king of fierce countenance and understanding dark trickery and craftiness shall stand up." This is the same person that we see in Ezekiel 38,39. Two questions. Until the day God pulls the plug and sends His wrath upon the nations and Israel, will there ever be a time when Israel is done transgressing? I cannot imagine it, and that is why we have allusions to them reaching their fullness or becoming completely evil. When you look at a world ruler today, do you say, there is a mean-looking man? I don't either unless I am looking at Principe Erdoğan, the President of Turkey. Who, by the way, is a Muslim. “A king will arise, Insolent and skilled in intrigue.” (NASB) What does that mean? Insolent is the Hebrew word 'az and means strong, vehement, harsh. This could be the description of several totalitarian world leaders. Intrigue, the Hebrew is chı̂ydâh and means a trick, conundrum, sententious maxim: - dark saying (sentence, speech), hard question, proverb, riddle. Webster's dictionary defines intrigue as "A plot or scheme of a complicated nature, intended to effect some purpose by secret artifices. An intrigue may be formed and prosecuted by an individual, and we often hear of the intrigues of a minister or a courtier, but often several projectors are concerned in an intrigue. The word is usually applied to affairs of love or of government." When I think about the intrigue that went on behind the scenes with the Clinton administration and then the Obama presidency, it turns my stomach. President Obama made secret deals with the Iranians, giving them pallets of cash while requiring little in return. How many deals have been made with the Turkish government? And what is going on behind our backs as we speak? We may never know until it's too late. Can I definitely say who this character is? No, as there are so many that fit the characteristics. I just know the end times are like a great puzzle, and the pieces are fitting together as we watch the news. Daniel 8:25 KJV And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. The NASB tells us, “His power will be mighty, but not by his own power,” Where else do we find this idea of someone or something receiving power, but not his own? Revelation 13:2 NASB And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. So it is not an uncommon idea that a demonic entity - a fallen angel, can and will give its power and authority to a human. Another highly visible place we see this is when Satan led Jesus up to a high place and showed him all the kingdoms of the world. Luke 4:6 NASB And the devil said to Him, "I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. “and by peace shall destroy many.” The BBE conveys this imagery, “in his heart he will make himself great, and send destruction on numbers who are living unconscious of their danger;" It seems this could only happen if you believed you were safe. The Israeli Prime minister proclaims frequently, that Israel can protect itself. Again, we have little that tells us of this peace process he initiates. The largest piece of evidence for peace comes from Daniel 9:27, as I pointed out earlier in the text. “he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes;” Far too many try to face off against God, with no success. It is a pointless and fruitless effort. And, it makes little to no sense when you look at this in terms of a conventional war. The statement itself implies that there is an acceptance of a God that holds order over everything, even if you don't know his name. And you, O' Gog, have the audacity to stand against him, the Prince of Princes. Those of us in the Christian community understand this Prince to be Jesus Christ the Messiah. Odd how so many in the world refuse to see that. “but he shall be broken without hand.” We have not arrived at that point yet, but God sends a firestorm upon those attacking Israel, and Gog is given a burial place on the hills of Israel. This event almost sounds like the weapons, used by God, could be nuclear. I say this based the details we see as people mark the dead and then teams come to dispose of the bodies. We are told that God does all this to demonstrate his power to the nations – those standing by and watching. Sadly, none of this seems to make a difference as approximately 1260 days later, Israel is attacked once again. Let me reiterate, we are looking at Ezekiel 38:12 where a vicious, militaristic leader attacks Israel for the purpose of destroying God. That, of course, will not succeed as God himself sends a firestorm upon Gog and his troops, killing them on the hills of Israel, and we will get to that as we progress. I was asked, a couple of years ago, if we, the church will suffer tribulations. I think the obvious answer is YES. All you need to do is pay attention to what is happening to the church around the world. China is rounding them up and imprisoning the participants; in Northern Africa, in one week alone, estimates are that over 200 have been killed by Boko Haran, and Egyptian Muslims are killing the Coptic Christians in their churches and as they leave. These are all Muslim nations, but do the tribulations only come to those in Muslim nations? No, and the day is coming that here in America it will find you. And, all of this is prior to the wrath of God being poured out upon the earth. I feel I spent far too much time including excerpts from Daniel 8 but I wanted you to understand how integrated the end times story in this Bible of ours. Some read their Bibles, believing that the New Testament is the only place you should focus your attention. However, you will find detailed information about end times events in Matthew's gospel; Paul's writings to the Thessalonian church; Peter's writings; Jude, and of course The Revelation. So the end times story is all around you. Understanding that God is on your side and wants to save you from the horrors that are to come, perhaps you should avail yourself of His love and accept Jesus Christ, His son.

Today is the day to have a total change of heart and mind. It is time to renew and to reframe your mindset and language to speak the language of Heaven. Colossians 3:1 - "If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above...." We have moved into our land of promise. Let's use the language of our new location. Let's slay every opposing giant that comes to lie against our true identity. Ephesians 2:5,6 - "...He has quickened us together with Christ, and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Ask the Lord for direction during the day. Do not fill the day with busyness, but focus on loving people. Be attentive to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to speak to your heart about specific assignments. Affirmations: LIKE KING DAVID I MAKE WORSHIP MY DAILY TOP PRIORITY. I DIE TO THE WORD EVERY DAY FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL. EVERY DAY AND IN EVERY WAY GOD IS OPENING THE EYES OF MY UNDERSTANDING TO SEE INTO THE HEAVENLY SPIRITUAL REALITY. It's time to get God's opinion of you; you're essential to His eternal plans and purposes -- so become the bold, brave, radiant warrior you are called to be. Arise, lift your head -- walk with confidence and assurance that God is with you. Therefore be radiant and shine bright in this sin-darkened world. We have a PURPOSE -- we have been chosen by God. "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." - John 15:16 Performance is a very hard taskmaster. In fact, under performance we can never do enough. For us to believe that God only loves us or approves of us because of what we DO for Him rather than WHOSE we are, is to actually demonstrate that what Christ did on the Cross is of no effect! In other words, we are believing that His death and the shedding of His Blood was not enough to place us in right-standing with God. "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing – if it really was for nothing? Does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? Consider Abraham: 'He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.'" Galatians 3:1-6 AFFIRMATIONS: The Spirit of the resurrected Christ living in me has disqualified me from the mundane and ordinary. Faith qualifies me for the impossible. Whatever my heart is set upon when I come to the Bible, will determine much of what I see in the Bible. Beware lest your sense of unworthiness becomes a smokescreen for unbelief! Even now, the Holy Spirit is descending, hovering, and brooding over you. Shake yourself from the depression in which circumstances have kept you! You are standing at the threshold of God's glory! "And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke." - Acts 6:10 Bid the brooding Spirit of God to apply your prayer to the specifics of your day. Wait quietly. Listen carefully, Obey immediately. Pursuit to achieve a continuous God-consciousness, to experience this oneness with God is the most normal condition one can have. Are we ready to get past ourselves and step beyond the "walls" of inconvenience and intimidation to be mighty witnesses of Jesus in the earth -- doing the works that Jesus did, expecting miracles, signs and wonders that bear witness of Him everywhere we go? John 15:8 - "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples." Our victory never comes from our emotions or our intellect. Our victory comes by refusing to judge by what our eyes see or our ears hear and by trusting that what God has promised will come to pass. We will never know Christ's victory in its fullness until we stop reacting humanly to our circumstances. 1 Corinthians 3:3 - "You are still worldly...Are you not acting like mere men?" Ask the Lord for direction during the day. Do not fill the day with busyness, but focus on loving people. Be attentive to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to speak to your heart about specific assignments. The ministry of the Christian is the ministry of the Spirit. Other men have intellectuality, but the Christian is supposed to be the possessor of the Spirit. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

John 11:33-35 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept. Sometimes in our society the world tells people to suck it up, not be emotional, and looks at crying as a weakness. Especially if someone is a male it’s not looked at as manly to cry, yet Jesus wept. It said he was “deeply moved…..troubled….wept.” Not just a little upset, but extremely. This passage is clear that Christ had emotions and was compassionate. I believe this is an example where we should not follow the ways of the world, but use Jesus’ as an example of how to live. Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep, is another place we are told to do this. Then it goes on to say in John 11:36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” By weeping, Jesus showed love. John 11:43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” Because what Jesus spoke comes to fruition, if he had not called Lazarus by name, it would appear that all the dead buried there would have been brought back to life. John 11:48 If we let him (Jesus) go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” Fear of losing their power and greed led to the chief priests and Pharisees plotting to kill Jesus. John 11:53-54 So from that day on they plotted to take his life. Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. I’ve heard some Christians over the years say that we should just let evildoers overtake us and be martyrs for our faith. I think this is an example where Jesus was wise and didn’t help them to do evil to Him, until it was His appointed time to die/be our sacrifice.

"Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets." - Amos 3:7 Along with timing, it is key to understand the role we play as workers in God's Kingdom to see prophecy come to pass. Without understanding that prophecy requires action on our part, we might become upset when a prophetic word seems unfulfilled. Disappointment can stir up questions like, "Did I hear God?" or, "Did I miss what God was trying to say?" We may even become jaded and confused, wondering if prophecy is real today. Prophecy is a road map that gives us strategic information, but it is not the same as the concept of fate. For those who believe in fate, they feel the future cannot be changed or altered; life is what it is, and nothing can be done about it. As Believers, we know God has given us a free will. We are responsible for making choices, and Scripture gives us the guidelines we need to follow in order to be blessed. While God does foreknow the end from the beginning, we still have to choose. Without the ability to partner with God to shift things, what would be the purpose of prayer? CONTENDING FOR THE PROMISE Often, we are given a prophetic word so we can contend to see the prophecy fulfilled. It is important to remember the enemy does not want you to reap the benefits of the promises of God, so spiritual warfare may be needed. Though our prayers are immediately answered by the Lord in the spiritual realm, it takes persistent prayer for those answers to manifest in the physical realm. The word gives us hope to stand and believe in the midst of adverse circumstances. Daniel, after praying and fasting for Israel to be freed from Babylon, the archangel Michael finally arrived. He told Daniel that God heard his prayers right away, but a principality – who was the ruling power of darkness over the region – held him back for 21 days. Though Daniel's prayers were heard and acted upon instantly, it was his prayers of perseverance that allowed the archangel to ultimately break through! (See Daniel 10:12,13) What if Daniel had become frustrated before his breakthrough and given up? He would have never seen God's plan fulfilled. We must play an active role in seeing God's prophetic word manifest in our lives. HOW TO STAY HOPEFUL While believing for the word of the Lord to come to pass in your life, allow the promises of God to give you hope and sustain you. Don't allow the enemy to sow seeds of discouragement while waiting for the fulfillment! As you begin to hear the word of the Lord for the year, let's take a look at how to strategically respond to it: 1. Read through the entire word and take notes. Are there any points that the Holy Spirit is amplifying to you? Is there a resonance in your heart given by God to pay attention in a special way to a particular portion? 2. Use the word to take stock of your life. Are there any points that are admonitions to make an adjustment? (For example, if the prophecy says this is the year to "see the door," are you actively praying for God to show you the doors He wants you to walk through? This might be related to a transition in jobs, churches, advancing of His CALLING on your life, or even a geographic move.) Seek God about any changes He might be asking you to make. 3. Write decrees for yourself and your family from the Word of the Lord (Psalm 75:11). As you hear God speak about what He wants to do or release, make the words personal and decree them over yourself, your family, and even your city. This helps your heart maintain a posture of faith, even when the spiritual battles intensify. BE ENCOURAGED! Though we must prayerfully battle for the future God has for us, He has given us the tools we need to grab hold of His promises and enjoy them in our lives. We already have victory in Jesus' name! It will be rewarding to look back over the year and see the way God has strategically used the current word of the Lord in your life. Believe His words for yourself and your loved ones, and you will see God do incredible things in your lives this year! ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

Exodus 33:18 - "I beseech thee, show me thy glory." Exodus 34:6,7 - "The Lord passed before him, and proclaimed, 'The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin."' WHAT IS THE SINGLE, MOST OUTSTANDING THING ABOUT GOD? WHAT'S HIS MOST IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTIC? SOME WOULD SAY IT'S HIS POWER - OTHERS, HIS HOLINESS. BUT GOD HIMSELF WOULD GIVE A DIFFERENT ANSWER. THE WORD "GLORY" IN EXODUS 33 COULD LITERALLY BE TRANSLATED "HEAVY WEIGHT." IT REFERS TO THE HEAVIEST, BIGGEST, GRANDEST, THING ABOUT SOMEONE. WHEN MOSES ASKED GOD TO SHOW HIM THE GRANDEST THING ABOUT HIMSELF, GOD SHOWED HIM HIS MERCY. THAT MEANS IF WE ARE TO IMITATE GOD WE MUST MAJOR IN MERCY TOO. MERCY, GOODNESS, FORGIVENESS, AND COMPASSION MUST MARK OUR BEHAVIOR ABOVE ALL ELSE. Affirmation: I MAJOR ON MERCY SO OTHERS WILL SEE THE GLORY OF GOD IN ME. Ephesians 5:1 - "Therefore be imitators of God (copy Him and follow His example), as well-beloved children (imitate their father). " Jeremiah 33:3 - "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable thing you do not know." PRAYER IS MEANT TO BE ANSWERED - OR GOD WOULD NOT ASK US TO PRAY. JESUS DIDN'T PRAY WITHOUT EXPECTING TO BE HEARD. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." When we pass the place of the flesh and enter beyond the veil into life in the spirit, we are one with Christ. What we need is the Holy Spirit to draw us deeper and deeper into the place of God's thoughts for our lives. When His thoughts overwhelm us we become new because they help form a new identity inside of us. This identity is from God and not from satan or man. It is an identity that helps us to truly function in the earth. The enemy has strongholds in our lives that seem impenetrable but they are about to come down. These are areas of hurt that people have been living with for a long time that have been roadblocks to gaining revelation of our CALLING in Christ. When God's Word comes to you like a flood, you are going to be overwhelmed by His goodness and peace will enter into the places of brokenness in your life. The key for your life is to seek God with all your heart. The promise from God is that if you seek Him you will find Him, if you seek Him with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13); and that which you seek is going to be more valuable than money can buy. It is the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:45-46). It is worth leaving all behind because that which Jesus has prepared for you is greater than anything you can ever imagine. There are people with chains holding them down. Christ is standing beside you with a hammer that can destroy those chains. Just call out to Him and He is faithful and will change your every circumstance. Call Unto Him! Jeremiah 33:3 says, "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." This is not just a passage in the Bible it is a promise and it is for you. You are about to receive revelation that will set you free. Press into His heart and He will press toward you and great healing will come to you like a flood. Your mind will be overwhelmed by His Glory that is coming your way and you will begin to understand God's PURPOSE for your life -- walking and not growing weary and running and not fainting -- bearing fruit that lasts. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

Ephesians 1:5 - "Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will." CHRISTIANS ARE THE TRUE ROYALTY ON THE EARTH AND ARE HONORED BY THE HEAVENLY HOST FAR ABOVE ANY EARTHLY KINGS OR PRESIDENTS. THIS IS THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL. NOTHING WILL EVER BE STRONG ENOUGH TO THWART HIS WILL, AND THEREFORE OUR INHERITANCE IN HIM IS MORE SECURE THAN ANY EARTHLY POSITION EVER COULD BE. EVEN WHEN WE WERE YET SINNERS, HE BOUGHT US FOR A PRICE - THE MOST VALUABLE COMMODITY IN THE UNIVERSE - THE BLOOD OF THE SON OF GOD. SINCE WE VALUE A THING BY WHAT SOMEONE IS WILLING TO PAY FOR IT, GOD HIMSELF SET A VALUE ON YOU THAT IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN CREATION - HIS OWN SON. IF THIS IS THE VALUE THAT GOD PLACED ON US, HOW MUCH MORE SHOULD WE TREASURE OUR OWN LIVES, AND THE LIVES OF ONE ANOTHER, AS THE INFINITE TREASURES THAT THEY ARE, AND NOT WASTE A SINGLE DAY FRIVOLOUSLY? Matthew 5:8 - "Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous - possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!" When we see ourselves for whom we truly are meant to be in God, we can begin to call others out of their limited ways into seeing the limitless reality that is available to them in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." 1Peter 2:5 - "Come and, like living stones, be yourselves built into a spiritual house, for a holy, dedicated, consecrated priesthood, to offer up those spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ." Since we are "Kingdomized" we get up each day excited for what the Lord has for us that day. We begin to walk and flow in His "now" presence all day long. We begin to hear what the Father hears. We begin to see what the Father sees, regardless of what we hear and see in the natural. When we go into a meeting, we expect His presence to break down walls while bringing divine insight. When we walk into a potential business deal, we expect divine favor. When we encounter hostility, we realize that this person is hurting and needs a healing word spoken--but mostly needs love. When we drive through neighborhoods we pray for the residents and ask the Lord for His desire and love to reach them. God begins to touch them and open up opportunities for divine relationship. Colossians 1:27 - "To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Affirmations: I EXPECT REVELATION, EXPECT IMPARTATION, AND EXPECT MIRACLES WHENEVER I SHOW UP. WHAT A GLORIOUS KINGDOM, WHAT A GLORIOUS GOD! ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

Acts 1:4,8 - "He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised. But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you." This power came through an encounter with God. Some because of their fear of error, have said it's improper to seek for an experience with God. For decades the church has been guilty of creating doctrine to justify their lack of power, instead of crying out to God until He changed them. The lie they came to believe has given rise to an entire branch of theology that has infected the Body of Christ with a fear of the Holy Spirit. It deceives under the guise of staying undeceived. The word must go forth with power. Power is the realm of the Spirit. Will you bury your gifts and tell the master when He comes that you were afraid of being wrong? Matthew 25: 25,26,30 - "So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is your own. But the master answered him, 'You wicked and lazy and idle servant! And throw the good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and grinding of teeth."' Jude 24: "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." John 15:7 - "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." JESUS WALKED IN UNION WITH HIS FATHER. WE TOO MUST DO THE SAME WITH HIM. WE ONLY HAVE TRUE SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY TO THE DEGREE THAT WE ARE ABIDING IN HIM. THE ANGELS DO NOT RESPECT US AND THE DEMONS DO NOT OBEY US BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE, BUT BECAUSE OF WHO IS IN US. Luke 18:5,6 - "The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she got on his nerves. 'I fear neither God nor man,' he said to himself, 'but this widow is so great a nuisance that I will see her righted before she wears me out with her persistence.' Then the Lord said, 'if even an evil judge can be worn down like that, don't you think that God will surely give justice to his people who plead with Him day and night?" The parable concerns a widow who desperately implores a judge to give her legal protection from an adversary, but she receives NO IMMEDIATE HELP. She refuses to be DISCOURAGED from her quest: she persists until she gains her BREAKTHROUGH. The goal of Christ's teaching was to immunize His followers against DISCOURAGEMENT. Jesus assures us that God will hear us as we turn to him in PERSISTENT prayer. Affirmations: I BELIEVE THAT WHAT GOD HAS PROMISED HE IS ALSO ABLE TO PERFORM. GOD IS GREAT, GOD IS ABLE, GOD IS GOOD, AND GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD. SINCE CHRIST IS IN ME I AM UPHELD BY THE "SPIRIT OF GOD" ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

All things belong to you, all things are yours, and you can do all things because hidden treasure of wisdom, knowledge, and revelation are in Jesus Christ, and fully accessible to you. JESUS SAID: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."' - John 7:37-39 Note that "river" is pluralized. This indicates multiple flows of the precious Holy Spirit so that by His divine power we will be partakers of His nature in us (see 2 Peter 1:3, 4). Each of these great flows of the precious Holy Spirit is available to every Believer to help us live in constant increase as we go about transforming the world for His glory. God desires us to see the Spirit of God flow in and through our lives for total victory and searing success in bringing in the Kingdom of God. We receive empowerment to do the extraordinary so that Jesus will receive glory and honor through His great power working in and through you. The more you believe and confess that God's favor is on you, the more you will see His favor work for you. "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." - Revelation 3:21 NKJV We are to be conformed to the image of God's Son. Since Jesus Christ is an overcomer, then – at least, potentially – so are we as well. The truth is that you may not feel like a victorious overcomer, and your present level of spiritual maturity may not reflect it just yet, but if you are a Believer you have the potential to walk as an overcomer in Christ. As your mind is renewed and your faith grows, you are able to respond and enter into this reality. If it weren't possible to experience throne room living this side of eternity, Jesus would not have offered it to us. We are truly, practically, eternally victorious in every arena of life – and are not victims(Romans 8:37). Cast off any "victim" mindset and take hold of the truth spoken by Christ as He gave His life for you: "It is finished!" He fought the war and won – on our behalf. We will stand strong, knowing that as we resist, we are more than victors in Christ Jesus(Colossians 1:13-14). What we see withstanding us will not erase from our souls the victory God has promised. Let your heart gain courage from this promise Deuteronomy 31:6: - "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them for the Lord our God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 11:1 "Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Expectation pulls virtue out of God because one of the foremost keys in hearing from God is living with expectation toward Him. Expectation places a demand on the Holy Spirit. He is willing to commune and speak to us every moment of our lives and He is as close as our own breath. Do you want to hear from God? Live with expectation. Pray with expectation. Listen with expectation. You WILL hear His voice. A spiritual stronghold is a mindset impregnated with hopelessness that causes us to accept as unchangeable situations that we know are contrary to the will of God. As we acknowledge as hopeless what God declares is changeable, we have come into alignment, at least in part, with the devil's thought processes and plans for us. We need to know that there are times we will have to wage war with the Name and Blood of Jesus to break out of our box of imposed limitations -- the gateway to freedom being a revelation in our spirit of the finished work of the Cross of our Lord Jesus! Deuteronomy 30:19 - " I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life." He was saying, "Stop procrastinating and hoping you will eventually get somewhere in life. Decide whether you're going to get a curse or a blessing. Decide whether you're going to die or live." Affirmations: I AM NOT DESIGNED TO DRIFT - I AM DESIGNED FOR DESTINY. I AM NOT GOING TO PROCRASTINATE ON MY DREAM AND DRIFT ALONG, ENDING UP WHEREVER THE LUKEWARM TIDE TAKES ME. I MAKE A PLAN AND FULFILL IT. One way we can define perseverance is simply “to STAY THE COURSE.” This is a powerful blessing from the Lord that enables us to believe the impossible is possible. It is a work of the Holy Spirit within that enables us to have strength to stay the course, regardless of present circumstances or situations. This is what the prophet Isaiah wrote about: "Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice." - Isaiah 41:10 AMP Why is it necessary to move from glory to glory? The reason is because in every SEASON of glory, we experience a new order that God brings to our lives as we mirror His image to a greater extent. Philippians 3:14 - "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Receive His love. Press, and keep pressing into His heart, until you have pressed the image of His invisible nature into the substance of your soul. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

These are videos I did, concerning the doctrine of the imminent return of Christ. There are more videos in the series, but this to deal with Matt 24. https://www.worthychristianforums.com/topic/142668-jesus-imminent-return-parts-1-4posts-1-12-15-16/ https://www.worthychristianforums.com/topic/142668-jesus-imminent-return-parts-1-4posts-1-12-15-16/?do=findComment&comment=1849766 The videos are about ten minutes long each. Reading the same material, if I typed it out, might have taken longer to read and digest. Watch if you like, I won't be offended it you do not