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Showing results for tags 'presence'.
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Exodus 3:8 - "And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey. " THE JEWS WERE CALLED, NOT JUST TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROMISED LAND BUT TO "DWELL" IN IT AND MAKE IT THEIR HOME. SO ALSO I AM CALLED TO DWELL IN CHRIST, WHERE GOD IN HIS KINGDOM BECOMES MY ABIDING PLACE. 2 Timothy 4:2 - "Preach the Word urgently at all times, whenever you get the chance, in season and out, when it is convenient and when it is not. Correct and rebuke your people when they need it, encourage them to do right, and all the time be feeding them patiently with God's Word." Observation: I CONFESS THAT I AM NOT MOVING FROM THE CALLING FOR WHICH I WAS PREDESTINED. THE DEVIL AND VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE TRIED HARD TO MOVE ME, BUT I HAVE MADE UP MY MIND THAT I AM NOT MOVING FROM THE PLACE WHERE JESUS CALLED ME TO GIVE MY HEART! Numbers 23:19 - "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" 2 Corinthians 10:4 - "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds." The word "stronghold" is a Greek word ochuroma, which means a "fortress, a castle, or a citadel." Developing a Kingdom mentality requires a paradigm shift in our thinking. As we embrace the Kingdom message, many of us are challenged with RELIGIOUS MINDSETS, OLD BELIEF SYSTEMS, and OLD PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR. Paul addressed these strongholds and also stated that they were to be pulled down. To truly embrace the new will require that we let go of the old. The only way for us to do this is to trust the Lord and attach ourselves securely as we continue to touch Him. Affirmations: I NO LONGER RELY ON MY OWN POWER, BECAUSE I AM A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST AND HIS POWER RESIDES WITHIN ME. AS I APPLY THE BLOOD OF JESUS TO A STRONGHOLD, I AM USING THE WEAPON GOD HAS GIVEN ME TO DESTROY THE POWER OF THE ENEMY. GOD'S ANOINTING ON MY LIFE BREAKS THE YOKE OF WHAT IS HOLDING ME BACK FROM ENTERING INTO ALL THAT HE HAS FOR ME. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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There is kingly authority that is available through Isaiah 22:22 and the key of David. He has called us to rule and to reign with Him as His bride: "The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder, so he shall open and no one shall shut; and he shall shut, and no one shall open." - Isaiah 22:22 The kings who ruled during Biblical days, wore on their royal garments two keys -- one sewn onto each shoulder. These keys signified that they were the governing authority over the entire land. WE HAVE KINGLY AUTHORITY THAT GOD WANTS US TO USE God wants His kings to rise up and take their place in the earth. We need an authority that goes beyond just what we say and what we pray. We need power to be demonstrated when we begin to speak the word of God. When we begin to prophesy, we want that word to come to pass. Like Samuel, God wats to put an anointing upon us so that when we speak the words of God there is life on them; and those words don't fall to the ground, they come to pass and people begin to listen to the Church. God wants to challenge us to know that we are kings. As we step into positions of spiritual authority God will release us to worldwide prominence and expand our territories. He will take us places that we have never dreamed to release His presence and power on earth. HOW TO ACCESS THE KEY OF DAVID David was a lover of God -- the key that he wielded was the key of intimacy with God. God has beed doing a work in those who have been in a place with Him in intimacy. The key of David will loose for us what God has already loosed in Heaven on our behalf, and it will also bind things that God has already bound in heaven (Matthew 16:19). When we operate in that key of intimacy, breakthrough will happen. Intimacy releases breakthrough. JESUS IS THE KEY OF DAVID "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His Kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." (Isaiah 9:6-7) Jesus came to the earth for a purpose: to seek and save that which was lost, (the authority that Adam lost in the Garden) see Luke 19:10. He's talking about the mandate of spiritual dominion rule and reign in the earth that the devil snatched up when Adam fell in the Garden. Jesus is the One who opened all the doors that needed to be opened and shut all the doors that need to be shut when He died and rose from the dead. The key of David will loose for us what God has already loosed in Heaven on our behalf, and it will also bind the things that God has already bound in Heaven: Matthew 16:19 -- "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven...." Jesus states that He is getting the Keys back and giving them to the Church. We access the keys when we access Jesus. Knowing Jesus as a friend who is closer than a brother releases a co-laboring partnership empowered through intimacy. And that intimate relationship with Jesus releases to us the keys of revelation and knowledge that will transform nations. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Psalm 27:8 - "You have said, Seek my presence. My heart says to You, Your presence, Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require." Observation: MATURITY STARTS AS I BREAK THE CYCLE OF SEEKING GOD ONLY DURING HARDSHIP; HOLINESS BEGINS THE MOMENT I SEEK GOD FOR HIMSELF. I SEEK TO ABIDE WITH CHRIST, WHERE I AM CONTINUALLY AWARE OF HIS FULLNESS WITHIN ME, WHERE HIS PRESENCE DWELLS IN ME IN GLORY. Psalm 16:11 - "You will show me the path of life: in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore." Galatians 5:22,23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Peace is Spirit power. Your peace, your immovable stand upon the Word of God is a sign that you are positioned correctly in perfect submission to the will of God. The very fact that you are not frightened by your adversary is a sign that you have authority over him. Prayer: LORD, THANK YOU FOR SOWING YOUR SPIRIT AND WORD INTO MY LIFE. THANK YOU FOR THE LIFE OF GOD THAT IS FLOWING UP FROM MY SPIRIT RIGHT NOW, PRODUCING THE LIFE AND THE NATURE OF JESUS CHRIST IN ME! Psalm 104: 1,4,30 - "Bless the Lord, O my soul, O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty. Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire. Thou sendest forth thy spirit." Prayer: LORD JESUS, YOU ARE THE ONE WHO WALKS SILENTLY IN THE INNERMOST SANCTUARY OF MY SOUL. SO CAREFULLY YOU WEAVE YOURSELF INTO THE FIBERS OF MY BEING. TOUCH ME WITH YOUR CLEANSING, RENEWING FIRE. AFFIRMATIONS: I set myself on God’s alter today to allow myself to be consumed by His fire of purging and His fire of love. I refuse to allow the move of God in me to be mis-carried. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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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. Hebrews 3:13 - "But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Develop and "discipleship consciousness" and a "love consciousness" for the lost as well as for the brethren. We do this through love by discipling new believers into a consciousness of their inheritance in Christ (Galations 5:6 - "For in Jesus Christ .... faith which worketh by love." Affirmations: I STIR UP MY FAITH AND EXPERIENCE MORE DEEPLY THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IN MY LIFE THROUGH THE EXHORTATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF OTHER BELIEVERS. I INTEND TO FIND A WAY TO ENCOURAGE SOMEONE WHO NEEDS STRENGTH AND UNDERSTANDING TODAY! Psalm 141:3 - "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." Observation: THE WORLD IS LIKE A RUSHING RIVER, PULLING AT ME, TRYING TO GET ME TO FLOW WITH IT. Affirmation: I MAKE THE DECISION TODAY TO PADDLE UPSTREAM AGAINST THE CURRENT BY SPEAKING GOD'S WORD INTO MY LIFE. Proverbs 4:20 - "My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Revelation 3:17 - "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou are wreched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire..." We are living in the time of the Laodicean Church, which we are told is "rich and increased with goods" (Revelation 3:17).Therefore, most of us are too busy to spend much time in prayer. We must place a high value on the time that we spend alone with the Lord, or it will be overtaken and replaced with activities. This "set apart time to be alone with the Lord" must constantly be contended for. Our Lord is very sensitive about "room being made" for Him, as, when He was born into this world, there was "no room" in the inn. Thus, when anyone of us actively determines to make room for Him, He quickly notices and responds. Affirmations: I AM A "NEW WINESKIN," CLEANSED, EMPTIED AND CAPABLE OF EXPANDING WITH THE NEW WINE. MY HEART IS A CONTAINER INTO WHICH THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS POURED. I SWELL WITH CHRIST'S INNER FULLNESS. THE PURPOSE OF MY LIFE IS TO CONTAIN THE FRUIT AND POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. I AM DESPERATE IN MY SEARCH AND HUNGER FOR GOD! Galatians 4:19 - "My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you." Hebrews 4:10,11 - "For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." Affirmations: I LABOR BY FORCEFULLY QUIETING MY SOUL OF THE NOISE OF IT'S FLESHLY THINKING AND SOULISH CRYING, WHICH IS A YOKE OF SLAVERY AROUND MY NECK, HOLDING ME CAPTIVE IN MY OWN PERSONAL SPIRITUAL EGYPT. I SEND IT FLEEING INTO THE SILENT "WILDERNESS" WITH GOD. THERE IT WILL FIND THE FREEDOM AND HOLY REST THAT ARE THE HERITAGE OF THE TRUE SONS OF GOD. Revelation 3:18 - "So I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, to make you truly rich and white clothes to put on to hide the shame of your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so that you may see." AN UNCOMMON FUTURE WILL REQUIRE UNCOMMON PREPARATION. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14 DESIRING HIS PRESENCE It is certainly a time of calling upon the name of the Lord and praying but we don't want to forget the rest of the Scripture...it is also a time to seek His face. To seek means to desire, to seek to secure oneself to, and to require. The word "face" in this Scripture means to seek His presence, to turn toward Him, and to make a clear path to God. We are to desire God, to secure ourselves to Him. We are to desire His presence, to turn toward Him and to remove anything that would stop us from being in His presence. That is what God means by seeking His face. It is easy to pray a short prayer and go about your day. Often, it is much more difficult to pray from a place of seeking God and seeking His face. The latter takes time, it takes focus and it takes setting your own agenda aside and surrendering entirely to God alone; but when you do this, the reward is great. It will take putting God and His presence first – before work, family, ministry and anything else that may demand your attention. THE TIME IS NOW In Psalm 27:8 David said, "When You said, 'Seek My face' my heart said, 'Thy face, Lord, I will seek.'" God is saying to you, "Seek My face." What is your response? Is it like David's? Are you saying, "Thy face God, I will seek." Or are you saying, "When I get caught up at work, or when things slow down a bit..."? The time is NOW and by next month "this time" may have passed. Seek Him now, while He can be found, as the Scripture says (Isaiah 55:6). Acting in the spirit of sacrifice He will come to you and His reward will be with Him: Wherever His presence is, healing is. Wherever His presence is, restoration is. Wherever His presence is, peace is. Wherever His presence is, prosperity is. We WILL See the Goodness of God Psalm 27 ends with "I would have lost heart if I had not believed I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13 Seeing the goodness of God – here, in our life – is the fruit of intimacy with God; it is part of the reward. Seek Him now. Seek His face and see His Goodness. Can you sense His desire for time with you? ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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John 1:16 - "And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace." THE LIFE OF GRACE FAR SURPASSES MERE MENTAL BELIEF IN THE TRUTHS OF GOD- IT FREES THE SPIRIT TO FLY POWERFULLY ABOVE ALL THINGS, WITH A KIND OF INNER LIFE THAT IS BEYOND DESCRIPTION. Matthew 7:7 - "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." There is a paralyzing passivity so prevalent in the Church today.We must stir ourselves out of this stupor, as Scripture instructs us to do. We must rouse to reality and awake (Romans 13:11-14 AMP). A non-confrontational attitude is not the role and the responsibility of God's end-time warriors! We must awaken. Now is the time to find God's PURPOSE for your life and the CALLING you were destined to fulfill. Affirmation: I SHUT THE DOOR ON ALL THE DISTRACTIONS OF THIS LIFE, THE CARES OF THIS WORLD, THE BUSYNESS OF MY DAILY AFFAIRS AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD KEEP ME FROM PRESSING INTO GOD'S PURPOSE FOR MY LIFE. Philippians 3:14 - "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Matthew 13:45,46 - "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." Observation: TO PURCHASE THIS EXPENSIVE PEARL, WHICH REPRESENTS THE KINGDOM, I HAVE TO SELL EVERYTHING TO HAVE ENOUGH TO BUY IT - IN OTHER WORDS I HAVE TO GIVE UP MY ENTIRE LIFE TO SERVE HIM AND HIS CAUSE WITHOUT HOLDING ANYTHING BACK FOR MYSELF, LIVING COMPLETELY FOR HIM. 2 Corinthians 5:15 - "He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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John 1:14 - "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth." Observation: Grace gives me courage, strength, and boldness to let my old way of seeing things and my past way of dealing with life be put to death. The, in Spirit, I learn how to live and to "walk" above every natural event. 2 Corinthians 3:18 - "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord." To see God, it is imperative that our vision become spiritual and not just sensory. To hear God, we must learn to tune out the clamor of our fears and earthly desires. The Bible was written by individuals who actually beheld the glory of God. To see the glory of God is our call as well. Our spiritual vision is not an imaginary device of the mind, but that which comes from the living union of the Holy Spirit with our hearts. Matthew 5:8 -- "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Affirmations: I ASK THE LORD TO SHOW ME HOW TO STEP OUT INTO THE GIFTS HE HAS GIVEN ME. THERE IS A MOVE OF GOD THAT IS LIVING IN ME AND THE LORD IS EAGER FOR IT TO BE RELEASED AND BRING GLORY TO HIS NAME. Philippians 3:13 - "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before." Affirmations: I KNOW THAT IF I MEASURE EVERYTHING BY WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN MY PAST, I WILL NEVER GROW BEYOND IT. MY CONFIDENCE RESTS IN WHAT GOD HAS SAID. Hebrews 13:6 - "So that we my boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Psalm 138:2 - "I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou has magnified thy word above all thy name." Every word God speaks is also a law to Himself. He will subject Himself to His promises and decrees because of His integrity. Therefore, any law of God is a law to God. Mark 4:24 - "And He said unto them, 'Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you."' How many blessings are you going to receive from the Word of God? It depends on how many you expect to receive. When God measures them out to you, He'll be using your measuring stick, not His own. 2 Timothy 2:20 - "In a large house there are dishes and bowls of all kinds: some are made of silver and gold, others of wood and clay: some are for special occasions, others for ordinary use." CERTAINLY THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME GOLDEN VESSELS IN THE KINGDOM AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME CLAY POTS, BUT WE ARE THE ONES - NOT GOD - WHO DETERMINES WHICH KIND WE WILL BE. 2 Timothy 2:21 - 'If anyone makes himself clean from all these evil things, he will be used for special purposes, because he is dedicated and useful to his Master, ready to be used for every good work." ALBERT FINCH MINSITRY
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Luke 6:8 - "But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to the man with the crippled hand,'Stand up and come here to the front.' The man got up and stood there.'" Observation: Jesus is telling me to come out of the back row of life; come out of darkness; come out of my comfort zone and launch out in a great leap of faith toward Him! Mark 1:35 - "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." We do our very best each day to find time to spend alone with God. It is in those times that we discover the DESTINY that He has for us. Can you feel the depth of God’s heart calling to you in this season? Can you feel the depth of your spirit desiring Him more than your next breath? Launch out , and launch into Him. It is in this place that your wilderness becomes a fruitful field. Expect faith upon faith to rise up! Expect advancement from strength-to-strength! Expect to go from glory-to-glory as God opens impossible doors for the advancement of His kingdom through his CALLING on your life. Affirmation: AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY I LET ALL DISTRACTION AND EMPTY TALK BE SILENCED AND LET MY FIRST THOUGHT AND FIRST WORD BELONG TO HIM TO WHOM MY WHOLE LIFE BELONGS. Ephesians 5:14 - "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Mathew 11:28-30 - "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Observation: STRESS IS THE PROOF I AM ATTEMPTING SOMETHING GOD DID NOT COMMAND. 1 Peter 5:7 - "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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We are entering a new season of a fresh start! We are in a divinely appointed time of refreshing and restoring: "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame" (Joel 2:25-26). This is a new day in which you may boldly declare, "Old things have passed away!" (see Isaiah 48:6-7). GOD OFFERS FORGIVENESS One of the sweetest words in any language is the word forgiven! God promises that even if your sins are red like crimson – bright, obvious, glaring, unmistakable – they have been forgiven, washed white as snow, because of the crimson Blood of Christ (see Isaiah 1:18)! Not just a few sins or a handful of mistakes, but each and every betrayal, sin, and offense is under the Blood of Christ. Each and every mistake is forgotten and erased. It makes no difference how twisted and tangled your life has been or now is: Through the shed Blood of Christ at Calvary, God has made all forgiveness and grace abound toward you! Heaven and earth may pass away, but "His compassions fail not" (Lamentations 3:20-22).Why? Because Christ Jesus already bore our sins and iniquities! "with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." - Isaiah 53:12 GOD FORGETS YOUR PAST Through our repentance, God always makes a way to free us from our past. We take this encouragement to heart -- not letting our past failures keep us from experiencing our future victories! We remember this vital promise: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1-2 KJV). The Lord has already lavished us with abundant, extravagant forgiveness and grace to empower us to leave behind: every single past sin and failure, the days of regret, doubt and fear, the many missed opportunities and failed relationships, the seasons of backsliding and passivity, the detours of the works of the flesh. As we believe His Word of forgiveness and set our heart to seek the Lord, we will find overwhelming grace and mercies for each day (see Jeremiah 29:12-13). AFFIRMATIONS: I never give up. I never give in again to a mindset of guilt and failure (see Hebrews 10:35). I was created to carry His glory and presence into a lost and dying world. God has confidence in me. (see Deuteronomy 28:13). I am His choice (see Ephesians 2:10), chosen for "such a time as this" (Esther 4:14). GOD REDEEMS YOUR WOUNDS Truly, it was by the stripes of Jesus Christ that we were healed (see Isaiah 53:5). Even the wounds that we have suffered will become great avenues of healing. When we are healed from our wounds -- then we receive grace for healing others! We bring Christ's healing and comfort to others in the areas in which we ourselves have been afflicted (see 1 Thessalonians 5:11). GOD BRINGS BREAKTHROUGH God is even now releasing divine favor to us for accomplishing great exploits for His glory. In Psalm 84:11 (NLT), we learn how He lavishes His blessings of grace and glory: "For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right." Matthew 7:8 AMP -- "For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, the door will be opened." Even if you have not had revelation of God's CALLING on your life, do not lose heart! God is saying, "Try again!" It is time to regroup and try again, knowing that failure is never God's plan (see Jeremiah 29:11). You will see doors open that were closed to you previously. God is granting breakthrough. We experience the overwhelming love and favor of God as you leave the past behind and boldly take hold of the blessings and promises of God! ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Genesis 12:1,4 - "Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee. So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him." Abraham may not have known where He was going, but He did know what He was looking for. He left ecverything to be a part of what God was building. This is also our quest, to be a part of what God is doing (our DESTINY). Mark 9:23 - "Jesus said unto him, 'If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.'" If we choose not to heed the leading of the Spirit and become PROACTIVE in renewing our minds, it is possible that we will limit God's power and anointing from flowing through our lives because of UN-RENEWED thinking patterns that we are still embracing. We have the potential to believe impossibilities into possibilities. Let's break the bondage of a passive spirit. Let's take up the sword of the Spirit and embrace the fight of faith! Observation: THE ONLY LIMITS I HAVE ARE THE ONES THAT I PLACE UPON MYSELF. Isaiah 26:3 - "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee." PEACE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF CONFLICT, IT IS THE ABSENCE OF INNER CONFLICT. Romans 8:6 - "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace". Galatians 5:22 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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1 Corinthians 2:7,8 - "But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how shall the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?" These are days of DESTINY, filled with wonder and excitement. The awe of God is returning to the people of God, filling the heart of God's people with great expectation. Every eye shall behold His brilliance and magnificent Glory WHERE IS THE GLORY? IT IS IN HIS PRESENCE. OBSERVATION: When I learn to draw close to Him and dwell in His presence, I will experience something even greater than what Moses did. Moses met with Him face-to-face, but I have Him living in Me. Hebrews 12:29 - "For our God is a consuming fire". OBSERVATION: If I am truly getting closer to Him, the fire in my life will be growing. Ephesians 2:6 - "And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." AFFIRMATIONS: A spiritual kingdom lies all about me, embracing me, altogether within reach of my inner self, waiting for me to recognize it. God Himself is here waiting my response to His presence. This eternal world will come alive to me the moment I begin to recon upon its reality. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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In Song of Solomon 2, the Lover (Jesus) is wooing His Beloved to a new place in verse 10, "Rise up, my beloved, my fair one, and come away," he invites. He then goes on to declare that "the winter is past…the flowers are springing up, and the time of singing birds has come…the fig trees are budding, and the grapevines are in blossom," and then he repeats his invitation for her to arise and come away with him (Song of Solomon 2:13). NEW THINGS AND NEW PLACES The Lover (Jesus) is announcing that it is a new hour, a new season, and that he has new things to show her, new places to take her, new heights for them to soar to together. She is hearing him on some level (Song of Solomon 2:8), and yet at the beginning of Song of Solomon 3 we see that while she is yearning for her Lover, she is still reaching out for him where she has always found him – and discovers that he is no longer there (Song of Solomon 3:1). STEPPING INTO THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE UNKNOWN She has a choice to make. She can continue to search for him where he has been, or she can respond to the invitation to arise and step into the uncertainty of the unknown, discovering him in new places and in new ways (Song of Solomon 3:2-4). She chooses the latter, and in doing so embarks on a journey with her Lover in which she comes to know him, rely on him, and lean into him to such a degree that she is completely transformed – so much so that her peers do not even recognize her when she returns (Song of Solomon 8:5). CALL TO ARISE INTO A NEW PLACE WITH HIM Like in the Song of Solomon, we have entered into a new season. The Lord is beckoning us, wooing us, inviting us to come away from where we have been and arise into a new place with Him – a place of greater revelation and demonstration of all that He is. If you have noticed lately that things seem different, or you're not quite finding God "how" or "where" you have in the past, do not despair; do not be discouraged. He is simply answering your prayers. He is moving. He is inviting you to come along with Him. Arise Beloved! ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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How many times do we try to reach through to Him – we pray, we fast, we read His Word, we worship? The enemy tries to block you, but how easy it is to come into His presence when you declare He is Lord; because he must bow down. "For greater is He that is within you, than he that is in the world." What you need right now, whether it be your children, your spouse, your finances, your health, lift it up to Him right now, for He can make all things whole. Like the woman with the issue of blood, she pressed through, and He made her whole. The man who had the legion of demons – he was insane -- he cried out with what little bit he could and He made Him whole. The man who couldn't walk, even his parents were afraid. But He goes beyond circumstances and establishes wholeness, for He is the God of wholeness – the Alpha, the Omega. Allow Him to come in and take down any wall, any kind of hindrance, whether it be a large wall that you've been hitting your head against for years, or whether it be a teeny, tiny, picket fence – anything that would block His presence, from just devouring you, to where you could be swallowed up in the goodness of God. To where fear could not find a landing place, butfaith would be the landing place. Faith conquers all fear. Don't make Him small. Understand, the King of the universe came to serve, to set free, to save and to heal, and to bring the good news that the Kingdom of God is not only around you, but is within you. Let His Kingdom come forth. Continue to pray His Kingdom come. Continue to pray His will be done. For, yes, He brought His Kingdom to earth – for you are of another Kingdom, as well as you are of another Spirit. Let His Spirit lift you up, from glory to glory – then you can look down and come tounderstand who you were called to be. For He is looking for a hungry people, a trustworthy people, overseers in His Kingdom, overseers in His vineyard – whether they have pain or whether they have strength; whether they have fame, or whether they be hidden; it makes no difference. He looks at the hearts of His own. "That He would grant you grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man....that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:16,19 ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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James 4:6 - "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." Humility is not unworthiness. Humility is being aware of who others are in God's sight and being aware of who I am in Christ and acting on it. Matthew 12:37 - "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Affirmation: I LET MY WORDS CREATE THE CURRENT THAT SWEEPS ME INTO THE HEART OF GOD. Luke 9:23 - "And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” When Jesus called His disciples, it was for total commitment. They had to be willing to leave everything to follow Him, and so do we. If He is not the Lord of all, then He is not our Lord at all. All Christians are called to be "soldiers of the Cross". All soldiers know that they can be called upon to pay the ultimate price for their cause. For this reason, the soldiers of the Cross are called to take up their crosses and commit to die daily to their own interests in order to serve the interests of Christ. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Sitting At The Feet Of The King As Royalty
Albert Finch posted a blog entry in Albert Finch Ministry
1 Peter 2:9 -- "For you have been chosen by God Himself -- you are priests of the King, you are holy and pure, you are God's very own -- all this so that you may show to others how God called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light." We know we are a priesthood, chosen by God, possessed by God, holy like God and royal to God. We have immediate access to Him and we don't need a human priest as a mediator because our Heavenly Father provided one Mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ. We have direct access to God, through God. CALLED TO MINISTER Now we're certainly not chosen, possessed, and holy to do nothing and to live mediocre lives. Of course not! We're called to minister in the presence of God, to live an active role in His presence. Our lives are a priestly service through: 1. Holy intercession, and 2. DISCIPLING new believers into their inheritance in Christ. WE ARE LIFE GIVING PRIESTS Romans 12:1 -- "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." As priests we are to serve God no matter what our vocation. Not because we have to, but because we want to! And, there is not one vocation that is more "sacred" than another because Christ is Lord over all. His Word applies to all. The Word does not say that ministry is "sacred" and other vocations are "secular." Life itself is sacred. God is life and all Believers are life giving priests. Because we are royal priests we are called into royal service, to be a wonderful message to the world! We have been commissioned to display His nature, His kindness, His goodness, and HIS MINISTRY to a world that needs to know Him. We can bear the burdens of others and we are the go-between for them before God. We identify with the weak, helpless, fear-filled, unborn, sick, poverty stricken, homeless, hungry, depressed, and spiritually destitute. We ask on their behalf, in faith, believing. Then, as the Father gives direction, we GO and minister to them and His power becomes available to set them free. EQUIPPED FOR DISCIPLESHIP As soon as we're saved we are to be discipled so we can be disciples doing what Jesus did. Then, we GO and equip more disciples (Matthew 28). We move out of the church building into the works of the Kingdom! AFFIRMATIONS; I am not designed to drift -- I am designed for destiny. I seek God for my destiny, and don't lose sight of the heavenly vision. I carry within me the resurrection power of Christ -- I have the power to BECOME. I am ready to expand my reality and become the destiny for which I have been predestined. "Do not change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to Him and what is perfect." - Romans 12:2 NCV Sometimes the events of life seem to distance us from the awareness of His presence an we feel cast into a wilderness. In the wilderness, we tend to tune into the bitter past of life rather than the sweetness. However, it is in the wilderness that God speaks most clearly and opens the portals of heavenly revelation. "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened that you may know what is the hope of His CALLING...." - Ephesians 1: 17,18 We can position our hearts to become an open portal to Heaven -- where God infuses us with His presence and revelation abounds -- flowing to us and through us. Like Moses' encounter with the burning bush, new direction often becomes clearer in the wilderness and DESTINY unfolds through the oddest signs along the trail. As we move into the sweetness of His presence, we exit the wilderness of circumstance. REACHING THE CENTRAL PLACE OF OUR INWARD WALK By not speaking, desiring, nor reasoning, we reach the central place of the inward walk -- that place where God speaks to our inward man. It is there that God communicates Himself to our spirit. "For God alone my soul waits in silence." - Psalm 62:1 We recall that Jacob wrestled with the Lord all night, until daybreak? THEN it was when the Lord blessed him. We persevere against any and all difficulties which confront us in our seeking the Lord's presence in our spirit. We are steadfast until the Lord gives our spirit His blessing. Job 26:14 - "And these are but the out fringe of His works; how faint the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?" A revelation of the thunder of His power catapults us out of our wildernesses, shatters the realms of darkness and releases the awe of God through signs and wonders -- through us as we walk in His authority. As our heart becomes an open portal of His love -- the awe of His power thunders around us and we find ourselves walking IN THE FULLNESS of Him, not just alongside of Him; carrying this authority to release the realm of Heaven on earth. AFFIRMATION: My heart is a portal for His love. PRAYER: Father, I abandon myself to You. You love in me Your only begotten Son. You see Him in me. You embrace Him in me, because He has willed to identify Himself completely with me by that love which brought Him to death, for me, on the Cross. Amen ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY -
Manifesting His Presence Through Our Lives
Albert Finch posted a blog entry in Albert Finch Ministry
Psalm 91:1 -- "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the almighty." Jesus lived a life of of prayer, and when He needed dedicated prayer time He would send crowds and, most likely, potential resources away so that He could be with the Father. As a result He would not move, speak, or do anything that the Father did not ask Him to do. Our talking and listening to the Father should be a continuum or seamless activity. When we are in conversation with anyone we should ask the Lord, "Father, what do you want me to hear?" and "Father, how would you desire me to respond?" When we are consciously doing this the Lord will do astounding things and we are giving God glory in many more conversations and releasing His love more abundantly to others. Prayer is really for us to connect with Him, His nature, and for a conduit of His peace, love and joy to flow through us, but we must participate and engage relationally with Him in order for His presence to manifest through our lives in power. Psalm 62:1,5 -- "Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from Him cometh my salvation. My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him." Prayer is tuning everything else out so we can hear from Him. When prayer is foundational and we allow His will to supersede our will we begin to develop vision -- as vision expands we commence to see our DESTINY (the purpose of God for our life). PRAYER PRINCIPLES TO CONNECT WITH OUR DESTINY: 1. To be successful in our vision, we must have a daily, dynamic prayer life with God. 2. We will never achieve our destiny without prayer because prayer is what keeps us connected to the Vision-Giver. 3. Prayer encourages us to get back in the fight of faith. 4. As prayer is the essential resource of vision, we remain connected to our Source for the renewal of our purpose, faith, strength, and PERSEVERANCE. 5. God is the One who planted our life's PURPOSE within us in the beginning. He has invested Himself in our dream and as we are obedient and stay committed He will bring our DESTINY to pass. Matthew 7:7,8 -- "Keep on asking and it will be given to you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, the door will be opened."(NAS) Hebrews 12:1 -- "(We must) run with patience the particular race that God has set before us." Philippians 3:14 -- "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY -
Fresh Empowerment and Activation - Meditations
Albert Finch posted a blog entry in Albert Finch Ministry
Now is the time to to press into the Lord for Fresh Empowerment and Activation for harvest in the coming season. We need to see a tremendous outpouring of the Power of the Holy Spirit for our current Time. "Then, knowing what lies ahead for you, you won't become bored with being a Christian, nor become spiritually dull and indifferent, but you will be anxious to follow the example of those who receive all that God has promised them because of their strong faith and patience." - Hebrews 6:12 (Living Bible) As we go into this season we pray to see a notable increase in the Power of the Lord from the Fire of His Presence that will cause many to turn to Him. We need to pray for these nine blessings: 1. Greater Power 2. Greater Anointing 3. Greater Favor 4. Greater Flow of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit 5. Greater Evidence of the Fruit of the Spirit 6. Greater Doors and Influence through the favor of the Lord. 7. Greater Restoration of Intended Promises and Words 8. Greater City, Regional, and National Outpourings 9. Greater Harvest. Many blessings to you, ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY -
"If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land." - Isaiah 1:19 This opportunity is given to all who are saved, but not everyone is willing to adjust to a "diet" that is conducive to spiritual growth. Therefore, Jesus said, "For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14). In other words, "Few will pay the price in order to be chosen." This process of qualifying begins after we have received the gift of salvation, which has been freely provided for us by Jesus upon Calvary's Cross. The outworking of this gift of salvation requires us to acknowledge that we will face problems and difficulties in our life experience, and of greater consequence, that we will view them rightly. Only then will we be able to appropriately respond to the Lord in the midst of them. We will mature spiritually as we are discipled into who we are in Christ, our "right standing with God" and how to "walk in the Spirit." "Come, My beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give you My loves." - Song of Solomon 7:11-12 There are levels in our spiritual growth, and in our identification with the Lord in the outworking of His PURPOSE for our life. For this process to be accomplished, we must develop a sensitivity to the Lord's presence, that we might rightly respond to Him as He seeks to guide us toward spiritual maturity. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Psalm 78:23-25 -- "Yet He commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven; And He rained down manna upon them to eat, and gave them food from heaven. Man did eat the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance." As we read in John 6:31-35, Jesus is the manna from heaven. We must have a fresh encounter with Him, every day, and we must partake of Him every day. We should be more addicted to the son of God than a junky is for his next fix. If a junkie does not get his fix he will soon begin to shake. Most of the shaking we go through in life is the result of our not having partaken of Christ, every day. We, too lose our spiritual strength, our vision, and soon go into spiritual convulsions when we do not partake of Him. John 4:13,14 -- Jesus answered,......."The water I give will become a spring of water gushing up inside that person, giving eternal life." QUESTIONS TO ASK MYSELF: What is the status of my spiritual strength and vision today? What am I dong to foster my addiction to Jesus -- NOW? ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Stand firm and do not be moved! As believers, we are rooted and grounded in His magnificent love. Because we are established in His love, we can have a peace that passes all natural understanding. And we have COURAGE, the depth of which is confidence in the Lord. "And that Christ will make His home in your hearts, through faith. I pray that you wil have your roots and foundations in love so that.....you will have the power to understand how broad and long and deep is Christ's love. " - Ephesians 3:17 This place of trust is beyond the natural ability of a person. It comes only through a relationship with the Lord, who will lead us and bring to pass all He has purposed for us (our CALLING in Christ). As we are directed by Him, we can also be assured that He is making every path straight. As believers, we declare that we, "Trust in the LORD with all [our] heart, and lean not on [our] own understanding; in all [our] ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct [our] paths." - Proverbs 3:56 GOD-EMPOWERED BOLDNESS This creates in us PERSEVERANCE THROUGH OUR FAITH as we hear and are led by Him. Holy perseverance is God-empowered boldness or courage that enables us deep within to persevere. 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 HERE IS THE INCREDIBLE PROMISE: You can stay the course because of the enabling of the strength of the Lord for you and in you! Believe that the Holy Spirit will release an even greater strengthening deep within so that you will stand firm for the promises of the Lord for your life and your family. As you lean into the Lord, you will go from strength to strength with deep courage to believe for the impossible to be possible. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Colossians 3:15 - 'Let the peace of God rule in your heart...' A very fundamental way God speaks to individual believers is through His peace. Too often we take the peace of God for granted. God's peace is that eternal tranquilizer that governs our being. Romans 5:1 -- 'Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace WITH GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ.' Ephesians 2:13,14 -- 'But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us.' There is a difference between having: 1. The peace of God and, 2. Having peace with God Any born-again believer who loves God and desires to serve Him has peace WITH God. This is simply part of the blood covenant. His peace is part of the package. But a common way God speaks to the believer is through the "peace OF God", or lack thereof, concerning specific situations: Colossians 3:15 (Amp) -- 'And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from the Christ rule (act as an umpire continually) in your hearts -- deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds -- (in that peaceful state) to which (as members of Christ's one body you were called (to live). And be thankful -- appreciative, giving praise to God always.' THE HOLY SPIRIT DECLARES PEACE TO OUR SPIRIT The Holy Spirit within is that Heavenly Umpire who continaully declares peace -- or lack of peace. When a Christian may express concerning a decision, 'I just don't have peace about it.' He is not saying he does not have peace WITH God, but that he lacks the peace OF God concerning the specific decision he is trying to make. At other times, when a decision has to be made, the Holy Spirit within may give a tremendous inundation of peace that gives assurance to the believer. This overwhelming peace is indicatation that the decision is in the will of God. THE ABSENCE OF PEACE IS THE ABSENCE OF CONFIRMATION When we walk with God and begin to turn the wrong way, we may immediately sence something lacking. We know His presence is mysteriously missing. We should be sensitive to that lack of peace. As we walk in the Spirit, we should take note when His Presence is missing and turn around. Then ask why. He will reveal the reason. The peace OF God, or the absence of His peace is the voice of the Lord. It is clearly one way He communicates to every child of God. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Psalm 91:1 -- "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the almighty." Jesus lived a life of of prayer, and when He needed dedicated prayer time He would send crowds and, most likely, potential resources away so that He could be with the Father. As a result He would not move, speak, or do anything that the Father did not ask Him to do. Our talking and listening to the Father should be a continuum or seamless activity. When we are in conversation with anyone we should ask the Lord, "Father, what do you want me to hear?" and "Father, how would you desire me to respond?" When we are consciously doing this the Lord will do amazing things and we are giving God glory in many more conversations and releasing His love more abundantly to others. Prayer is really for us to connect with Him, His nature, and for a conduit of His peace, love and joy to flow through us, but we must participate and engage relationally with Him in order for His presence to manifest through our lives in power. Psalm 62:1,5 -- "Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from Him cometh my salvation. My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him." Prayer is tuning everything else out so we can hear from Him. When prayer is foundational and we allow His will to supersede our will we begin to develop vision -- as vision expands we commence to see our earthlyDESTINY(the purpose of God for our life). PRAYER PRINCIPLES TO CONNECT WITH OUR DESTINY 1. To be successful in our vision, we must have a daily, dynamic prayer life with God. 2. We will never achieve our destiny without prayer because prayer is what keeps us connected to the Vision-Giver. 3. Prayer encourages us to get back in the fight of faith. 4. As prayer is the essential resource of vision, we remain connected to our Source for the renewal of our purpose, faith, strength, and PERSEVERANCE. 5. God is the One who planted our life's PURPOSE within us in the beginning. He has invested Himself in our dream and as we are obedient and stay committed He will bring our earthly DESTINY to pass. Matthew 7:7,8 -- "Keep on asking and it will be given to you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, the door will be opened." (NAS) Hebrews 12:1 -- "(We must) run with patience the particular race that God has set before us." Philippians 3:14 -- "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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INTERNALIZING THE FAITH OF GOD - Meditations
Albert Finch posted a blog entry in Albert Finch Ministry
For those who are faint in their heart be of good cheer for the Lord has overcome all that surrounds you. Remember He said,"lo, I am with you always, even until the end of time." (Matthew 28:20) Draw Him into the situation that is trying to draw you into the valley of fear. As you draw Him in His faith within you (Galatians 2:20), rises up, fear will bow down and diminish. Let the faith that He has given you -- let that gift be opened to a greater degree. Release the faith that is within you. Allow Him to take that faith, even that tiny mustard seed, and speak multiplication, for He has not come to judge your unbelief. He has come to celebrate your mustard seed. Call Him in as the One who brings the breakthrough. Call Him as the One who holds time in His hand. Call Him in as the begininning, the Alpha and the Omega. Call Him in to be the One who stands as the Good Shepherd, and takes His staff and hits the ground, and takes His rod and beats back all that would come to oppose you. Let His Word rise up, mixed with faith. Let praise be the crown that you would send on the wings of an angel back to Him. As you bring forth honor and glory to His name, He will turn the tide that wants to drown you and rob you of your faith, for He comes to multiply faith -- to take your hand and your broken heart, and to hold them in His hands and bring healing and wholeness. Use the authority of His name. Cease to tremble. Let the demons flee and tremble.Command the waves to be still. Command the storms to cease. Commandthe Peace of Understanding to penetrate situations as He brings to your understanding revelation knowledge and crowns you with favor. For such a time as this He is lifting up a people who will decree, and who will declare, that Jesus is not only Lord, but that they will say also in one accord, 'It is Finished. It is Written." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY