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Found 13 results

  1. The projects here have been downsized + they added hip culture to the downtown scene, along with landscaping that looks nice. Downtown Toledo is constantly being upgraded, built back up, restored. There are still wars in this city, anger + violence we see and experience on a daily basis. Anger may not be the best word, rage in the people, no rage in some. Last week a local thief was thrown out of a forth story window and fell to his death. Shortly before that we lived with him here at the Cherry Street Christian Homeless Mission downtown Toledo. A few weeks ago one of our brothers was struck by a car that came up after him to hit him on the sidewalk. We have no idea what this was all about. Toledo drivers are very complacent, disinterested in driving, only in texting + driving way too fast + running over a white person may not be the worst thing in the world either. Many blacks here despise you if you're white, some grow up without one white person around ever. Each week we look forward to outside charity meals + clothes giveaways hosted by local christians. Saturday @ 11am, then Sunday @11am in a different location. We go through the same routine everyday, making our beds after checking in at 6pm to the Men's Building. Letting the guys search our backpacks for drugs and running the wands over us for weapons. We get to watch TV in the community room + we can play pool and foosball until 9pm. Same routine everyday, same rules with the staff. We have to endure many hurt men who have been banned from their families, kicked out of their homes. King 👑 Jesus shows up anytime we pray, and He is with the leaders here. If we pray with them, amazing results can and do happen. And it alleviates the stress and having to listen to homeless people talking to themselves every single day. You absolutely have to learn to explain things to the needy, and rebuke them when necessary, or you can become a target. It is best to use scripture because it feels like wild hyenas when it gets going... The reality of Scripture works best to survive, then thrive in any third world environment when dealing with mankind. There is a Heaven's elder man here who prays in a tongue that sounds like old Italian + latin combined. When doing so the whole area fills with Heaven's light + pure love & joy. Another gentlemen showed up from Michigan lately who prayed for me + called down Heaven's authority including an arch angel to attack the enemy's works, it gave us a path to see a sign change from Heaven 3 days ago.
  2. Deuteronomy 30:19 - "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." Some people seem to enjoy being the victim. No matter what failure or disappointment they have experienced in life, they have convinced themselves that someone or something is to blame This lie is old as Adam. He blamed Eve and she blamed the devil when they messed up in the Garden of Eden. However, each one of them had a choice to obey or disobey God's Word. Instead of using their God-given dominion and subduing that lying devil, they chose to do what he suggested. Actually, they chose death. Affirmations: I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE LIFE I AM LIVING IS THE RESULT OF CHOICES THAT I HAVE MADE THROUGHOUT MY LIFE. EVERY VICTORY IS REALLY UP TO ME, NOT OTHER PEOPLE, EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES. WHEN HATE IS HURLED TOWARD ME, I CHOSE TO FORGIVE AND WALK IN LOVE. I SEE THE IMPOSSIBLE COME TO PASS IN MY LIFE. Ephesians 3:20 - "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably (exceeding abundantly) more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us." "The power" working within you is the mighty power of God's Spirit who lives inside you, enabling you to fulfill the vision He has given you. God's power is actually working within you for the fulfillment of your dream. As long as we believe that we receive only what we ask for we are limiting the power of God in our life. Affirmations: HE WILL DO "EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY" BEYOND ALL THAT I CAN ASK FOR, THINK ABOUT, OR IMAGINE. MY IMAGINATION IS NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR ALL THAT HE WANTS TO DO FOR ME. Hebrews 3:14,15 - "For we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end; while it is said, Today, if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts.." When we truly become partakers of Christ, we are known, even now and to all eternity, as one with Christ on the throne of glory. Our perseverance in seeking His PURPOSE for our life will be the seal of our being a partaker of Christ. The faith by which, at conversion, we know at once that we have Christ -- HisCALLING on our life growing clearer and brighter and more mightily effectual in opening up the treasures of Christ, as we hold it fast firm unto the end. Persevering faith is the witness that we have Christ, because through it Christ exercises His keeping and perfecting power. QUESTIONS TO ASK MYSELF: How did Christ become a partaker of our nature? Answer: He left His own state of life, forsook all, and entered into our state of life. How do I become a partaker of Christ? Answer: By coming out from my state of life, forsaking all, giving myself wholly to be possessed of Him living His PURPOSE for my life. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  3. Luke 4:18,19 - "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me; He has sent me to announce good news to the poor, to proclaim release for prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to let the broken victims go free, to proclaim the year of the lord's favor." Jesus' concern for mankind was applauded. His Humility was revered, but it was the anointing that released the supernatural. And it was the supernatural invasion of God Himself that was rejected by the religious leaders. This anointing is actually the person of the Holy Spirit upon someone to equip them for supernatural endeavors. To fulfill His mission, Jesus needed the Holy Spirit; and that mission, with all its objectives, was to finish the Father's work. If the Son of God was that reliant upon the anointing, His behavior should clarify our need for the Holy Spirit's presence upon us to do what the Father has assigned. Hebrews 12:2 - ".......who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross......." JESUS VISUALIZED HIMSELF IN VICTORY. HIS MIND WAS PICTURING VICTORY. WHEN JESUS WALKED TO CALVARY, HE WAS NOT LOOKING AT THE CROSS; HE WAS LOOKING AT THE RESURRECTION. Mark 5:28 - "If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole." THE WOMAN WITH THE ISSUE OF BLOOD VISUALIZED. IT HAPPENED IN HER MIND BEFORE IT HAPPENED IN HER BODY. Affirmations: I SEE MYSELF WITH VICTORY. I VISUALIZE WHERE GOD WANTS ME TO BE. THEN, I ACT AS IF I AM ALREADY THERE. "And Goliath cursed David by his gods. The Philistine also said to David, 'Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.'" - 1 Samuel 18:43,44 Goliath first used fiery darts against David (his words of negativity), believing that the negativity alone would cause David to cower down! Yes, Goliath's negative words were meant to be a "first-blow" against David to weaken him so that Goliath could move in quickly for the kill! For us today, a Philistine spirit might sound like this: • You're too young (old) to be used of God. • You're unqualified to lay hands on the sick and see them healed. • You're not a good speaker. • Your family was poor. How can you ever consider yourself blessed of God? • You are not attractive, you're fat (skinny), or too short (tall). • You are weak. Just take a good look at yourself. Is there anything about you of which you can really be proud? • You failed. You sinned. God will never use you. God has abandoned you. Notice that this spirit targets our significance. In other words, it targets our identity as a Christian: a blood-bought Believer, a child of the King, a son, and daughter of God. This is exactly what Goliath attempted to do with David...infiltrate his belief system concerning his identity and his relationship with God! We are already victorious because of the Cross. Still, we must possess our Promised Land through AFFIRMING and MEDITATING the scriptures that have to do with our identity as born-again believers. Jesus paid the price for it – let's believe it and enter into it! ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  4. Exodus 16:4 -- "Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law or no." God took a little insignificant matter, the food they ate -- and used it to see if they would listen to Him or not. He told them how much of it to gather, when to gather and when not to, and what to do with it after the brought it in. And the Israelites went right out and violated those instructions. They showed God by their actions that His voice was not important to them. They were not willing to obey even His simplest commands. God works the same way with us today. Before He sends us on a major mission, He gives us the occasion to prove we can be trusted with small instructions. Luke 16:10 -- "He who is faithful in a very little (thing), is faithful also in much". INTO ACTION: What has God given you to do right now? What could you do better? ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  5. John 5:17 - "My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working." Because we are so prone to neglecting and forgetting about the needs of other people, we think that God is capable of being slothful toward us -- and so we acuse Him of neglecting us when circumstances become painful, or simply not to our liking. John 14:16 - "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever." Matthew 13:14 - "In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will look and look and not see." As long as we see only with our bodily eyes, we will continue to live like a blind captive, fumbling around inside a prison cell in the dark of night -- while all the time the door that leads to our freedom stands open. Ephesians 1:18 - "I pray that your inward eyes my be illumined, so that you know what is the hope to which he calls you." Proverbs 29:18 - "Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." When God gives you a vision, it's inspiring. Waiting is the hard part. We must remember not to grow weary in well-doing because we'll reap in due season if we don't faint (Galatians 6:9). We must also remember that we inherit the promises of God through faith and patience (Hebrews 6:12). And we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). If you don't give up, if you're diligent to keep declaring the vision, it will come to pass in the kairos moment. God is not a man that He should lie or the son of man that He should repent. As the Lord told Habakkuk, "If it delays, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay." - Habakkuk 2:3 Affirmations: I HUNGER FOR AND VIGOROULSLY PURSUE REVELATION. I CRY OUT DAY AND NIGHT FOR THE FULLNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. I COME INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE FATHER TO RELEASE ME INTO THE THINGS HE HAS PREDESTINED ME FOR SINCE BEFORE THE BEGINING OF THE WORLD. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  6. John 3:21 - "He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." Affirmation: I stay alive to His Word and keep His Word bright by keeping it first in my life, regardless of what happens. When people fail, it doesn't mean the word failed, it means someone failed the Word. John 17:17 - "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy Word is truth." 1 Timothy 4:7,8 - "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." You are divinely prepared to accomplish the task God has assigned you. You can do something no other human being can do. You have been chosen by Christ, for Christ; the choice was made before the foundation of the world (see Ephesians 1:4). Knowing this promise will release you from rejection and depression. Power is released through discipline. The goal is to finish the course and to be able to say with all confidence, "I've kept the faith and stayed on course, accomplishing the task set before me." It is to that individual Christ will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21). Affirmation: I DISCIPLINE MYSELF IN CHRIST SO THAT I WILL ACCOMPLISH THINGS THAT WILL BEAR ETERNAL FRUIT. Romans 4:17 - "Even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were." Affirmation: I CANNOT BE WHAT I AM NOT BUT I CAN BECOME WHAT I AM NOT. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  7. What is the real work you were meant to do?
  8. 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
  9. "For he (Simon) was awestruck by the size of their catch....Jesus replied, "Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for the souls of men!" And as soon as they landed, they left everything and went with Him." - Luke 5:9-11 In one day, they abandoned their way of life and everything familiar to them to pursue Him and the DESTINY for which they were created. What had happened? What made the difference? When Peter was willing and obedient to do what the Lord asked, the harvest of what he had believed for came to him (see Isaiah 1:19). In that moment his previous desires were replaced with a new desire. In this place of undivided devotion to Him, He captures our hearts and, like the disciples, we abandon everything to pursue Him wholeheartedly. It is in this place that we find Him (seeJeremiah 29:13). LEAVING THE SHORE Jesus' invitation to Peter is still being given to us today. Are you ready to leave the shore and become something more? "Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; all your waves and billows have gone over me." - Psalm 42:7 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. NOT THE TIME TO BE COMPLACENT "For the land of my people growing over with thorns and briers.....Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field and the fruitful field is valued as a forest." - Isaiah 32:13,15 Isaiah was addressing a people who did not recognize the season in which they were living -- through complacency, they lacked the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the heart to perceive what the Lord was asking of them. Their complacency to act and failure to discern the Lord's voice was leading them to a place of lack, disappointment, and despair if they did not recognize their invitation and adjust accordingly. We must also not be like the Shulamite who was not willing to respond to the voice of her beloved in the day of her visitation (see Song of Solomon 5:2-8). She responded to the very invitation that she had so longed for with a list of reasons why His coming wasn't convenient for her. In verse 6 she looked back with regret, recognizing how her heart leapt within her at the sound of His voice. Let us not look back with regret, but instead do whatever we can to meet with Him when He comes knocking. Her complacency cost her the visitation that she had so desired. When He knocks, we must open! PARTNERING WITH THE PROMISE We have a responsibility in receiving what we believe for. The Lord gave a promise of power to 500 of His disciples (Luke 24:49, 1 Corinthians 15:6) but only 120 (Acts 1:15) were committed to partner with the Promise "until" they received power from on high. For 380 of the 500 -- at what point did the "Promise" become inconvenient? If we were able to interview those 380 today, there would be a number of folks echoing the same regret as the Shulamite. If they could have only discerned how close they were to the Promise knocking at their door. We are standing at a place in history, poised to see the greatest wave of God's Spirit to ever come upon the earth. He is knocking and He is calling, in this season of ebb, to those who will open the door and launch out as we dine with Him in the deep. If we will make it our highest goal to receive from Him everything that He has for us -- God'sPURPOSE for our life (our CALLING in Christ) -- we, like Jesus, will come out with power greater than we have ever known (see Luke 4:14). Let's join Jesus in becoming the water (the Word) breathed upon by His wind (Holy Spirit) that we might, with Him, become the wave! ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  10. "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes so you can see. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in and eat with him, and he with me." - Revelation 3:18,20 It was to the last Church the Lord addressed in the Book of Revelation, the Church of Laodicea, that He gave His greatest promise to. Those promises are for His people today. When most people think of the Church of Laodicea, they think of the negative rather than the positive. We need to consider these great promises. First, we need to see why they are so great. Then we need to understand how overcoming the negative things this Church confronted will produce some of the greatest overcomers, the greatest saints, the world has ever known. The Church of Laodicea was so temporally prosperous that it caused them to become lukewarm, and made the Lord so sick that He would vomit them out of His mouth (Revelation 3:15-17). Being lukewarm is the worst condition a Christian can fall into. It reveals an ultimate contempt for the Lord. Indifference is the greatest affront to any relationship. ZEAL FOR THE LORD "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent." - Revelation 3:19 The Lord called the Church at Laodicea to "therefore be earnest and repent" . We must recover and keep our zeal for the Lord if we are going to make it through these times. How do we do that? The Lord sent fire from His presence to light the fire on the altar in both the Tabernacle of Moses and the Temple that Solomon built. He then commanded the priests to KEEP THE FIRE GOING. God has lit every fire in every heart that has ever turned to Him. However, He expects us to keep it going. WE DO THIS BY: prayer, worship, studying and affirming His written Word to us, fellowshipping with others who have the fire, being the witnesses we are called to be, and embracing God's PURPOSEfor our life. We lose the fire when we give ourselves to sin and wickedness. This leads to lawlessness as described in Romans 6. The Lord warned that lawlessness would cause the love of most to grow cold. THE REMNANT PRINCIPLE The remnant principle was at work when the resurrected Lord told five hundred people to go to Jerusalem to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit. However, just a few weeks later, there were only 120 gathered there. Yet that remnant was in "one accord" or unity. As Abraham demonstrated, true faith grows stronger with the passage of time, not weaker. The passage of time between when the promise is given and the fulfillment of that promise will usually thin out the crowd by removing those who do not have true faith, but are just caught up in the excitement of the moment. This does not mean that those with true faith will not waver sometimes too, but overall, true faith grows with the passage of time. Is our faith growing stronger, or are we going to slip into the majority that drifts away? People tend to draw their security by how many people are with them. True faith doesn't. True faith is faith in God, not how many people are with us. True faith is demonstrated by patience, which is why we are told that it is through "faith and patience" that we will inherit the promises. "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) ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  11. 1 John 3:16 - "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethern." Observation: WHEN I WANT GOD ABOVE ALL, I AM WILLING - AS CHRIST WAS WILLING - TO FOLLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT, EVEN IN THE MOST DRY AND DARK AND PAINFUL TIMES. WHEN I SEE WITH THE EYES OF FAITH THAT THIS IS THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF THE CROSS, I WILL KNOW HOW TO IMITATE CHRIST AND DO WHAT HE DID. Matthew 15:29 - "And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus." IN THE PUREST SENSE PETER DID NOT REST HIS WEIGHT UPON THE WATER; HE STOOD UPON CHRIST'S WORD: "COME!" PETER TRUSTED THAT IF JESUS TOLD HIM TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE - EVEN TO WALK ON THE WATER - THE POWER TO OBEY WOULD BE INHERENT WITHIN THE COMMAND. Hebrews 10:24 - "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works." Observation: BECAUSE I CONSTANTLY OBSERVE AND CONTEMPLATE OTHERS TO KNOW HOW TO ENCOURAGE AND PROVOKE THEM TO LOVE AND TO GOOD WORKS AND AS I REACH OUT TO ASSIST THEM WITH WORDS OF STRENGTH - THEY ARE BECOMING BETTER, STRONGER, AND BOLDER IN THE LORD. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  12. Some people think their calling is to sit in church and support someone else's vision. While it's good to do all you can to encourage someone and support them – each of us has our own CALLING in Christ Jesus. And at the end of the road, Jesus is going to ask you, "What did you do with the anointing I put in your life?" WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO YOU? Everyone (all born-again believers) has the witness of the Spirit, or the anointing, within them. That's why the apostle John said, "You don't need any man to teach you, because the anointing (or the Anointed One) is within you," - 1 John 2:27. Does that mean that we don't have teachers in the Church? No, of course not – there are teachers, pastors, prophets, apostles, and evangelists – all given to equip the Church. But you have to listen to the anointing or witness of the Spirit within you to discern what God is saying to you personally. For example, someone could come to your church and prophesy or teach or preach – but you have to discern what God is saying to you – even if there are just a couple of sentences that are for you personally. Paul prayed for Philemon that "[Your] faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." - Philemon 6 When you acknowledge the gift and calling in someone, you cause it to be brought forth and activated; for example, telling someone, "That was a great word you gave." When you tell someone that, they are encouraged and it makes them want to do that again. Out of one message, maybe there are different things that the Holy Spirit brings out to each individual present, and perhaps He says a different thing to 20 different people. Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Not every word you hear, nor every Bible verse you read, is proceeding a word for you today. What is God saying to you NOW? Today? This week? The proceeding word imparts life and faith and has power to move you to the next thing that God has for you. One thing is for sure – we have to move on. We have to continually discern what is He saying to us now (today) -- today's manna. WHAT SHOULD BE YOUR RESPONSE TO GOD? We can sit there forever in our comfort zone or we can rise up and say, "I'm going to go for it. I'm going to be all I can be in God." You can't aim at what you can't see. By faith we have to see our DESTINY. We don't have to wander around and around the mountain, wondering where we are supposed to be going and doing a kind of "hit and miss" attempt at fulfilling the will of God. God will show you what He has for you if you start to see by faith and believe YOU CAN HEAR FROM GOD. By faith He can release a word to you if you need confirmation – but He also puts His desires in your heart so that when you fulfill the will of God, it's delightful to you because it's in your heart. What's in your heart? Where do you want to go? What is it you really want to do? You only have one life to live down here on earth. What kind of life do you want to live? A mundane, in-my comfort-zone, occasionally-stepping-out kind of life? Or, an on-the-edge, exciting, what's-going-to-happen-next kind of life? It is your Heavenly Father who is stirring you up. He made an awesome deposit in you. Jesus deposited His life in you. He is looking for a return on His deposit. His deposit will bring forth your DESTINY if you let it run its course. WATCH OUT FOR THE DOGS THAT LAY AT THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY There are dogs – religious spirits -- having a knowledge of God, but denying His power -- negative spirits -- that make God's people have to "qualify" to be used by God. But Jesus already qualified us 100%. Dogs can also be jealous spirits in people that don't want you to go further than them. A good teacher or instructor is proud when a pupil begins to accomplish something. Jesus has made you perfect in the sight of His Father. It is His righteousness that you are covered with – not your own. Jesus switched with you. He took your righteousness, which is like filthy rags, and took it to the Cross – then He gave you His robe of righteousness in exchange. What a great "swap"! Your rotten rags in exchange for the beauty and awesomeness and righteousness of the Mighty Son of God! How awesome is that? To be clothed in the holiness and beauty of the perfect Son – Jesus. Don't be afraid of the dogs (religious spirits) – Jesus has given you power over them. The dogs can only minister to you through lies – you have to choose not to believe those lies. Now is the time to be all you can be in God – you don't have to qualify – you just have to learn how to yield to the anointing. God sees a great big vision for you. He is not limited. He is not limited by your inability. He is released through your believing in His ability. Don't let the dogs keep you from the doorway of your destiny. They are liars and thieves. The dogs can howl and scream and bark all they want, but they can't touch you if know who you are and what is your CALLING and DESTINY on your life. Have a spirit of abandonment to the purposes of God. God wants to send the winds of the Spirit to take you where you are supposed to go – His plan and PURPOSE for your life. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  13. God's on mission. We should be on His mission. What is God about? A look at part of Isaiah's message found in Scripture in Isaiah 6. God is on His throne, God is constant, God is just and loving, God is in authority, and God was/is/will be worshiped. Isaiah 6:4-5 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” We are a people with unclean lips and impure heart. We are in need of One who has atoned for our sins. What I've done wrong is on me. Not on my friends, my enemies, my neighbors, my co-workers, my wife, my children, my parents, my family... It's on me. But thankfully God forgives all sin and forgets it. Makes me think of this passage from the NT... Rom 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. How does this play out in Isaiah? Isaiah 6:6-7 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” His heart and lips purified, guilt is taken away and sin atoned for. This is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 6:8-9 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” And he said, “Go, and say to this people:“‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Note: Surrender to God proceeds Service to God After sines taken away - atonement... The response: Here I am send me! This is a reminder of a NT passage... Mark 4:10-20 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that “they may indeed see but not perceive,and may indeed hear but not understand,lest they should turn and be forgiven.” And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” Question: Are we bearing good fruit for Jesus Christ? Are we about God's glory and mission? Let he who ears to hear let here hear - 12 times in the Bible. Here's a sample. In Acts 28 Paul had spent from morning to evening trying to convince the Jews that Jesus is the Son of God. Acts 28:24-28 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: “‘Go to this people, and say,“You will indeed hear but never understand,and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people's heart has grown dull,and with their ears they can barely hear,and their eyes they have closed;lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” Some believed and some didn't. Praise God salvation also given to the Gentiles. Isaiah 6:10 Make the heart of this people dull,and their ears heavy,and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes,and hear with their ears,and understand with their hearts,and turn and be healed.” God predicts that the heart of His people will be dull, their ears heavy, and will blind their eyes. Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This is a command. It's not an option. It's not for the pastor. It's not for the missions minister. It's not just for the team of people who go on a mission trip. The command is for me and you. For everyone and anyone who claims Jesus Christ as Savior - to be about emphasizing God's glory and mission! Acts 20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Paul loved God and the Gospel more than even his very life. Do we love God like this? Again: God is on His throne, God is constant, God is just and loving, God is in authority, and God was/is/will be worshiped. God loves you and His love is enduring for all ages - it is not limited by time or space. God calls us near to be a part of His mission! Discussion Questions: Can you think of other passages that point to God's glory and mission? In what ways are you being on God's mission in your life? God bless, GE
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