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"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me." - John 10:27 The Lord said that His sheep know His voice -- He did not stay that His lambs did. Young Believers (in spiritual age) often need to follow (be discipled by) other Christians until they mature. One of the primary ways we mature and become sheep is by knowing His voice (walking in the Spirit). We should also be devoted to building on a foundation of sound doctrine and an understanding of who we are in Christ. This is part of growing in the truth and having a love for the truth but fundamental to our life is following the Person who is the Truth. INTO ACTION: Sit with a group of other Christians and seek to hear the voice of the Lord -- He will speak to them. When you hear others in the group begin to say what they heard, it builds your confidence that they are hearing the Lord. As people minister in the group, over time, their sensitivity to His voice can grow dramatically. Then they start hear Him at work, while shopping, or at any time and in any place that He wants to speak. AFFIRMATION: I make it a weelky goal to hear something from the Lord for another person. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

In this season, God is giving out new "out of the box" ways of doing things. Don't get set in "your" ways, but learn to embrace His ways. What does this really mean? It means not to think as the world thinks. Do not accept what the world calls normal. We need a fresh Gospel mentality that is willing to walk away from the things that hinder and hamper our CALLINGIN CHRIST. LIFTING THE HEAVY BURDEN God is looking for people who are willing to respond to His CALLING. Take Matthew the tax collector as an example, or any of the disciples. Jesus said, "Come and follow Me." What we do not see is all the details that were involved in the sacrifice of those who followed Jesus. Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." There is a hidden treasure that is only discovered by those who answer this call. For Matthew, it was deliverance from operating in the world's system as a tax collector, a boring occupation. God invites us to a life of adventure in the Gospel. It is better than we could ever imagine. When we respond to His invitation, He lifts the heavy burden of all the things of this life. Matthew probably had much burden, much boredom, and much anxiety. When he chose to follow the Lord he left all that behind. His burden became a thing of the past as He embraced the easy yoke of Jesus. Instead, he chose to experience the glory of God being with Jesus. It really comes down to the question of "What are we here for?" Are we storing up treasure in Heaven, or are we looking for our reward on earth? Are we still trying to be somebody when Jesus is saying, "Come, follow Me"? He lifts the heavy burden, bringing us into a place of ecstatic joy, life, and peace. The Gospel is still good news. Do we still feel it in our heart? A TIME FOR HEAVEN'S STRATEGIES We are in a time where God wants to release new strategies to us that go against the typical trend. There are ways of doing things that work. Being in a religious rut causes you to do the same things over and over again with the same result, never learning to move into something new, fresh, and different. Those caught in a religious trap are afraid of adventure, new things, different approaches, and will hold others back so that they won't feel so bad. Misery loves company. One of the main characteristics of fear is control. People in fear have to control to keep things safe for themselves. They will take things into their own hands rather than trusting the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." When we learn to trust the Lord, we then get a new and fresh perspective on things. It is like you had been in a box. As you learn to trust the Lord, you climb out of that box, seeing sunlight with the blue sky rather than darkness in the box. This is the way it works when we see as God sees. He has blueprints for each of us that will release life, making us contagious with His love, presence and CALLING. Ask the Lord to get you out of the old place. Question your own thinking. Is your thinking in alignment with man's accepted way, or does God have a better way? Then, what are you willing to lay down for a fresh blueprint from Heaven? THE "YES" HARMONY EXPERIENCE 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 - " For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." When we get in on God's plans, it is then that we experience the "YES" from the Lord as a seal upon His best for us. The good is the enemy of the best. When we discover God's best plan for our lives, then we experience an even greater affirmation of His voice to us. As we come into harmony with the Holy Spirit, He brings us into a revelation of God's acceptance. Jesus received the affirming voice of God, not only because He was God's Son, but because He was walking according to he desires of the Father's heart. There is a place of precision and excellence where His affirming voice is made even clearer to us. This comes as we come into alignment with His voice and desires. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

"Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of Thy waterspouts: all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me." - Psalm 42:7 "Deep calls." Our Lord is a seeking God who desires a satisfaction that can be found only in us – our worship and our times of fellowship with Him. We were created for this purpose, which became marred by our association with the world. "At the noise of Your waterspouts." Our initial response may seem to us as being "noise," but as we continue to worship and spend time in fellowship with the Lord, it will become as a "song." "The Lord is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt Him." - Exodus 15:2 If we will be patient and not become discouraged, we will be immersed in His presence – "all Your waves are gone over me." Now, we are no longer in control. Others will notice the change in us and ask: "Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?... " - Song of Solomon 8:5 "Deep calls." -- In order to rightly respond, we must become spiritually hungry. LET OUR PRAYER BE "DRAW ME" "Draw me, we will run after Thee: the King hath brought me into His chambers... " - Song of Solomon 1:4 This prayer, "Draw me," relates to our spiritual hunger. It is the most important request that we could ever set before the Lord. If we do not have this spiritual hunger, our interests will settle upon earthly pursuits, and we will seek satisfaction in them alone. Ministry can feed hunger, but only the Lord can create spiritual hunger. This prayer for us to become spiritually hungry will be effective only after we commit ourselves to rightly respond to the Lord – "We will run after You." The written Word is to become a present reality, and experienced. Thus, we must determine that we will steadfastly seek a closer relationship to the Lord. When He responds to our prayer and begins to draw us to Himself, all of our other needs will fall into their proper place and order, including His CALLING on or life. "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. " - Matthew 6:33 The greatest privilege and blessing that we can have is for the Lord to become active in our spiritual life experience and begin to progressively guide us toward our DESTINY in Christ. THE DEEP CRY OF THE LORD "My Beloved is mine... " - Song of Solomon 2:16 We tend to seek the Lord for what He can do for us. The Lord knows this, but patiently works within us so He will be able to take us further. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10 Therefore, He begins by revealing to us our present condition and spiritual need to know HisPURPOSE for our life. After He has accomplished the needed deliverance and correction within us, we will begin to seek the Lord for Himself. "I am my Beloved's..." - Song of Solomon 6:3 Now we are putting the Lord first, though much of our self-seeking is still intact. "Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth; for Your loves are better than wine. For Your ointments have a lovely fragrance; Your name is as oil poured out; therefore the virgins love You." - Song of Solomon 1:2-3 Notice that we are telling the Lord that we love Him because of all that He gives to us. We are saying, "I love You because I enjoy Your blessings." But again, the Lord looks beyond our self-centeredness and continues His work within us, until we see our need and confess it to the Lord. "Do not look on me, that I am black, that the sun has looked on me. My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but my vineyard I have not kept." - Song of Solomon 1:6 We realize that we have worked very hard "for" the Lord, even in the heat of the day, so that we have become "sun burned." But we have ignored the "deep" cry of the Lord, and have neglected our CALLING in His kingdom (vineyard). Therefore, He allows our circumstances to become a problem to us, which will result in "our mother's sons" (those we are close to) becoming angry with us. All of the things that we had depended on have suddenly become an enemy. Now we realize that we must have the Lord Himself, and we cry out for satisfaction. FEED MY SHEEP "Tell me, You whom my soul loves, where do You feed, where do You lie down at noon? For why should I be as one who is veiled beside the flocks of Your companions?" - Song of Solomon 1:7 Finally, we discover that we can no longer be satisfied to drink from the overflow of another's blessing, or to feed upon the testimony or experience of another, and we began to look for the Lord Himself. Immediately, the Lord responds: "If you know not, most beautiful among women, go in the footsteps of the flock, and feed your kids beside the shepherds' tents" (Song of Solomon 1:8). The Lord is telling us that we should feed the sheep he has put in our lives ("feed your kids"). Without the mentorship of someone who has an active, personal relationship with Him, the spiritual path can be obscure to "baby Christians". "He saith unto him, 'Feed my sheep.' He saith unto him the third time....'Feed my sheep.'" - John 21:16,17 "THERE I WILL GIVE YOU MY LOVES" Now, there is a complete change in our expression, as the Lord Himself has become the goal that we seek. "I am my Beloved's and His desire is toward me." - Song of Solomon 7:10 I have come from a salvation experience in which I had been satisfied to escape from eternal punishment, into a relationship in which my life is sold out to Jesus and His PURPOSE for my life. As I long for His fellowship, He can say to me: "Come, My beloved, let us go out into the field; let us stay in the villages. Let us rise up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flowers, whether the tender grape appears, and the pomegranates bud forth; there I will give you My loves" (Song of Solomon 7:11-12). We will be sent only after we have first come to Him. Now, as we commune together in the vineyard, we will find all that we have longed for (co-laboring with Him in our CALLING) , as we respond to the "deep" cry of the Lord – "There I will give you My loves." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

I impart my own life to others, exhorting and encouraging them with boldness in advancing God's Kingdom in word and power and in the Holy Spirit. - 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 2:2,11,13 As I fight the good fight of faith and take hold of eternal life, I confess my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to others. - 1 Timothy 6:12 God did not give me the spirit of fear but a spirit of power, of love and of self-dicipline. - 2 Timothy 1:7 Through grace I am saved with a holy calling in Christ Jesus, to fullfill God's purpose from all eternity. - 2 Timothy 1:9 The Lord grants me understanding in everything. - 2 Timothy 2:7 I convince, rebuke, and exhort others in the Word through teaching and patience. - 2 Timothy 4:2 I fight the good fight of faith, finish the race, and keep the faith. - 2 Timothy 4:7 The Lord rescues me from all evil and takes me safely into His Heavenly Kingdom. - 2 Timothy 4:18 As a priest unto God I further the faith of God's elect and theirknowledge of the truth. - Titus 1:1 Through God's grace I give up everything that does not lead to God and renounce godless ways and worldly desires. - Titus 2:12 God poured out His Holy Spirit abundantly on me through Jesus Christ my Savior, so that by His grace I might be put right with God and come into possession of the eternal life I hope for. - Titus 3:6,7 I keep from friendship with the world as the Holy Spirit watches over my spirit with tender jealousy. - James 4:4,5 Christ personally bore my sins in His own body on the cross, so that I might cease to live for sin and begin to live for righteousness. It was the suffering which He bore which has healed me. - 1 Peter 2:24 I have received a spiritual gift to serve others faithfully, administering God's grace. When I speak I speak words that seem to come from God; I help as though every order was done at God's orders, so that in everthing God may receive the glory through Jesus Christ since to Him belongs all glory and power forever and ever. - 1 Peter 4:10,11 He has granted to me His exceeding great and precious promises, that through these I might escape from the corruption that is in the world through lust and become a partaker of the devine nature. - 2 Peter 1:4 I have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness through the kinowledge of God who has called me to glory and virtue. - 2 Peter 1:3 ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" - (Ephesians 2:4-6). As our minds are renewed and our faith grows, we take these realities as fact and live in the light of them. We come to know that we are above our enemies and refuse to walk in the flesh realm but take our place in Christ in the spirit realm. No longer will faith be a struggle, but a normal living in the realm of God. The spiritual realm places man where communion with God is a normal experience. We are not going to grovel in the earthly realm, but we are seated in the heavenly places with the Lord. Every Believer has the right, authority, and ability to minister out of the throne room just as Jesus did. "Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily" - (Colossians 1:28-29). ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

In Luke 4:1-13, satan tempts Jesus with the offer of rulership over all the kingdoms of the world... Jesus rejects this proposal. Jesus' Kingdom in this age is not a kingdom of this world (John 18:36-37). He refuses to seek a kingdom for Himself by the worldly methods of compromise, earthly power, political maneuvering, external violence, popularity, honor and glory. Jesus' Kingdom is a spiritual Kingdom ruling in the hearts of His people, who have been taken out of the kingdoms of this world. As a Heavenly Kingdom, we can operate and maintain in this realm but it comes with a cost. It is gained through: Suffering, self-denial, humility, and meekness.It does require giving our bodies as a living and Holy sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). Fasting is a key here that enables us to stay on target;We know we have complete devotion and obedience to God whenever we are struggling with spiritual weapons against sin, temptation, and satan (Ephesians 6:10-20). As Christians we resist conforming to this world. "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." - Matthew 6:33 Those who follow Christ are urged to seek, above all else, His Kingdom and His righteousness. Jesus points out HIS Kingdom and HIS righteousness in HIS Kingdom. We pray every day that God's Kingdom will come in the mighty power of the Holy Spirit to save sinners, to destroy the demonic, to heal the sick, and to magnify the name of our Lord and that we be given daily revelation of our CALLING on how to facilitate this. QUESTIONS TO ASK MYSELF: What are 3 areas of my life that I am adversly conforming to the world. 1. 2. 3. What actions am I going to take to re-align my priorites. 1. 2. 3. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

"Finding the sweet spot" could be a phrase for living in a place of enjoyment, peace and rest in relationship with God, and staying in balance and harmony with His design for our life. This is where the maximum Kingdom result is accomplished. It isn't about trying harder or spinning the wheels faster, but about relaxing into all that God has given and then joyfully working with Him in the Kingdom. HIS WAYS VS. OUR WAYS Proverbs 16:9 - "a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." We know that God's Kingdom works in a very different manner than man's world and that His perspective is much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). Human thinking is often focused on the fastest way to get from A to B – the shortest line between two points. It is often all about the destination, getting things done, and accomplishing our goals and agenda. God's thinking is much more relationally focused, and His concern is our transformation along the journey. He just isn't that concerned about us getting from A to B in the shortest time possible! God wants to meander along the trail with us for a while, more than being in a race to get to our next stop. His focus is to spend time with us so we get to know Him and His ways. His goal is to transform us into His image, rather than just have us check off the next item on the "dreams and goals" list. In other words, He wants us to ENJOY the journey WITH Him, taking in the many nuances that a relationship with the Most High involves: seeing Him in His goodness, experiencing His kindness along the way, reveling in His love, and dancing in His joy. These inward characteristics are all accessible to us no matter what is being accomplished on the outward journey of goals and pursuits. LEARNING TO REST Even when the outside pressures squeeze in. We are learning how to say, "It's been a good and fulfilling day," even when we can't check off all the things on our to-do list. When we don't perform to meet other people's expectations, or even our own, we can still live in the love and acceptance of the Father. It isn't about striving, performing, or accomplishing. It is about finding our pleasure in Him, living in the overflow of who He is and His pleasure toward us. We learn to live in the space of God's love, grace, peace and joy, and maximize the results of our energies spent. It's not so much about WHAT we accomplish, but HOW we live life during that process. ENJOYING THE JOURNEY As we step back and take the pace of life down a notch or two (maybe even three), we take time to reflect on His love and His good pleasure, no matter what the outward journey looks like. Are we operating in His agenda or ours? "Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want." - 1 Peter 4:2, The Message We want to be free to pursue what He wants and not be driven by what WE think needs to be done. We hear the still, quiet voice that says: "Stay by My side and enjoy the journey, regardless of whether or not you can see where it's going." "What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way He works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how He works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met." - Matthew 6:31-33, The Message AN EASY YOKE In this age of adrenal fatigue and living a driven life, perhaps we all need the Spirit to show us which purposes are really our own agenda, and just how driven we, as a Western society, have become. Is it possible that our "goals and good activities" are running us ragged as we pursue God'sPURPOSE for our life (our CALLING in Christ), serve other people's needs, and try to achieve a host of other goals? If these not done from the right place and at God's pace, we may lose the peace and enjoyment of the Kingdom life. Contentment is a good measuring stick. Like Paul, can we have an abiding sense of being content regardless of what is happening around us? (Philippians 4:12) ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

Luke 8:47 is the story of the woman who had an issue of blood who desperately pressed through the crowd to lay hold of the hem of Jesus' garment: "Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at His feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched Him and how she had been instantly healed." When she reached out and touched Him, full of faith and expectation, Jesus stopped and said, "Who touched Me? His disciples replied, "Lord, many are touching you...we are in a crowd!" But Jesus said, "No, someone purposely touched Me because I felt virtue/power go out of Me." (See verse 45-46). And the woman was immediately made whole. GOD IS WAITING ON US TO SET THE TIME Most of the time when Jesus was healing the crowds of people He was doing that which He saw the Father doing. But in this instance it wasn't Jesus that "set the time" for this woman's miracle, but rather the woman "set the time" through her faith, desperation and determination. Many times when we are believing for a miracle we may feel we have positioned ourselves and we are waiting on God, when in fact, God is waiting on us to activate our faith to "set the time" for the release of the supernatural turnaround. In the words of John G. Lake, "If the Spirit doesn't move me, then I move the Spirit!" Now is the time for us to "set the time" and put a demand on the anointing of God to release miracles of provision, turnaround and healing. Pull your future miracle into the NOW by activating your faith and pressing into His presence as never before. Remember, every day is Jubilee when you are in Christ! ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

http://www.christianityboard.com/blog/48/entry-1041-reaching-through-to-him-meditations/

Luke 17:20,21 - "The kingdom of God comes not with observation. For behold, the kingdom of God is within you." IF WE WAIT QUIETLY BEFORE GOD AND LEARN TO TURN THE EYES OF OUR SOUL TO THE INWARD PARTS OF OUR BEING -- OUR SPIRITS -- WE WILL ENCOUNTER HIM IN THE DEEP LEVELS, AS THAT IS WHERE HIS SPIRIT DWELLS. Matthew 25:30 - "And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Affirmation: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GIVING ME WISDOM AND COURAGE TO STEP OUT AND BEGIN TO FULFILL THE DREAM HE AS BIRTHED SO DEEPLY INSIDE ME. Jude 22 - "And of some have compassion, making a difference." Affirmation: MY HEART RELEASES THE COMPASSION OF JESUS CHRIST TO HELP DELIVER PEOPLE CAUGHT IN THE DECEPTION OF SIN AND DARKNESS AND SET THEM FREE. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY