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Matthew 11:12 - "Until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." The people Jesus ministered to were healed or delivered because of their faith. Faith may quietly press in, or it may cry out very loudly, but it is always violent in the spirit world. It grabs hold of an invisible reality and won't let go. Taking the kingdom by faith is the violent act that is necessary to come into what God has made available. Every believer has the power of heaven behind them. But it is our faith that connects what is available to the circumstances at hand. Faith takes what is available and makes it actual. Affirmations: I AM NO LONGER GOING TO SIT IN THE WILDERNESS WHERE THE DEVIL STEALS THE BLESSINGS OF GOD OUT FROM UNDER ME. I HAVE GOD'S PERMISSION AND HIS POWER AND HIS ABILITY TO TAKE THE LAND. I GET VIOLENT ENOUGH TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT ......TODAY! Matthew 6:13 - "Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil." GOD DOES NOT TEMP MAN WITH SIN. TEMPTATION AND EVIL BOTH ARE INHERENT IN OUR OLD NATURES (SOUL LIFE). IF WE CONTINUALLY, STUBBORNLY REFUSE TO REPENT FOR A SIN, GOD GIVES US OVER TO THAT WHICH WE REFUSE TO SURRENDER. When we are under pressure, it is important to realize that God is not trying to entrap us. Satan is called the tempter (Matthew 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:5). Jesus himself was tempted by Satan (Matthew 4, Luke 4). He trusted God fully for provision, protection, and purpose. The Father would no more lead us into temptation than He would withhold our daily bread. Revelation 4:6 - "Before the throne there was, as it were, a sea of glass like crystal." THE GLASS SEA IS A SYMBOL: THERE ARE NO RIPPLES, NO WAVES, NO ANXIETIES TROUBLING GOD. THE LORD IS NEVER WORRIED, NEVER IN A HURRY NOR WITHOUT AN ANSWER. THE SEA AROUND HIM IS PERFECTLY STILL AND TOTALLY CALM. ALL OUR VICTORIES FLOW OUT FROM BEING SEATED HERE WITH HIM. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

"Jesus called in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth!' ......Jesus told them. 'Unwrap him and let him go!'" - John 11:43,44 CAST OFF the grave clothes of excess and false extremity and fall at His feet as a life poured out like a drink offering – having only eyes for who He is and what He is doing; and He will establish you in His PURPOSE for your life and consecrate you and cause you THIS year to see what your eyes have longed to see of His promises, His purpose, and His provision. Truly, the Body of Christ is no longer satisfied with knowing our Lord and Savior as a doctrine of our mental understanding. As the Lord responds to the hunger of His people, He is revealing the Person of Jesus in the inward parts of our spirit. What we've understood with our "head knowledge," we will begin to experience through spiritual revelation. And as the eyes of our heart become enlightened, our character and lifestyle will be transformed (see Ephesians 1:17-18). We will live each day pursuing His PURPOSE for our life. (see Colossians 1:9-10). Ezekiel 3:1,2 - "Moreover He said to me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this scroll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that scroll." God's primary purpose is not just having us believe His Word, but having His Word change us. Through His Word and communion with the Holy Spirit the Lord has provided heavenly bread that we can gather every day. Like the manna He gave to Israel in the wilderness, it cannot be stored, but must be gathered and partaken of fresh each day. As we partake of it we become what we are eating. Galatians 1:10 - "If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ." Observation: IF I AM TO WALK WITH CHRIST I NEED TO BE DELIVERED FROM THE FEAR OF MAN, THE COMPULSION TO BE ACCEPTED BY MEN, AND THE MOTIVE OF WANTING TO RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THEM. When we come to God's Word, we will reproduce what we see. Proverbs 23:7 - "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." Affirmation: WHATEVER MY HEART IS SET UPON WHEN I COME TO THE BIBLE, WILL DETERMINE MUCH OF WHAT I SEE IN THE BIBLE. For example, if I come to God's Word with evangelism on my mind, the Bible will open up new Scriptures that I never previously considered to be evangelistic. What I carry to this watering hole will determine much of what I see and reproduce.(Genesis 30:37-39) In Luke 10:2, harvest is literally mentioned three times, "Then He said to them, 'The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'" Rather than dissect God's power into cookie-cutter theologies, let's fully embrace the sheer power of His presence and step into the brilliant light of the "Lord of the Harvest" and become His prophets, kings, priests, teachers, and evangelists to the world. YOU become that laborer and you become that harvester and the prophecy of Jesus of a great glorious white harvest continues to be fulfilled and unfolded. Maybe you feel like your dreams have died, your hopes have died, and your prospects have died. We live in a dramatic world where you may face great hindrances with excessive drama -- God has drama for you -- divine drama. God has a perfect track record, and His resume for doing special things during dark seasons is flawless. God created us to move through spiritual seasons. And some of those seasons are spent in a wilderness. The Father is calling to the backslidden. Come out of your comfort zone! Come and release what God intended for you from the foundation of the earth! In the land of NEW BEGINNINGS, we remove the masks and veils that have formed in the past season so we can now form our “true” identity for the future. There is a new identity and authority for us in the invisible world. This will allow us to display the wisdom of God to the powers and principalities that have blocked us in past seasons. Paul, the apostle, instructed us to walk purposefully toward one true goal (the DESTINY He has put in our spirit) (Philippians 3:12-16). This is not a time to wander around the mountain of defeat and unbelief; we are to lay hold of the promises of God, take Him at His word, and stand firm in faith. True Christianity is the most challenging life we can have, and also the most fulfilling. It is the ultimate adventure. It is far more than attending a couple of boring meetings a week. Affirmation: The growth of my faith is not like the growth of natural things that have built-in limitations. 2 Corinthians 4:13 - "And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak." People with a spirit of faith believe God to help them do exploits. They're builders. They cultivate the dry land. They turn deserts into oases. They create something out of nothing. They call things that be not as though they are. John 16:23 - "Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it to you." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" - Psalm 42:1. This Scripture expresses the unquenchable thirst we have for God, which can be filled by nothing else. Right now, the lukewarm, apathetic spirit of Laodicea is doing its best to blind the eyes of the Body of Christ, while the Lord is busy preparing a pure and beautiful Bride for His Son. Many within the Church are experiencing an inner restlessness placed there by the Lord, which creates in them a yearning for more of God than they've ever experienced before. The Lord is stirring up His Bride; filling her with deeper passion than she's ever known. She's yearning—longing for the living God—and nothing and no one else can satisfy that longing. The Bride is "buying gold tried by fire"—His divine nature. In His presence, our nature is transformed so that we become the radiant Bride that shines with the very glory of our God. John 13:8 -- Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." Once we have received Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are bathed all over, and cleansed by His blood once and for all eternity! His blood has perfected us forever (Hebrews 10:14), and we only need to wash our feet because we walk in the world and our feet pick up dust and dirt, causing us to stumble. Ephesians 5:25-26 tells us that "Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word." We, the church, are cleansed with the washing of water by the Word. The more we come under anointed teaching that unveils Christ through the Word, the more the cleansing goes on. And as our feet are washed, instead of stumbling, we will be walking and even running! Affirmation: I LET JESUS WASH MY FEET WITH A DEEPER REVELATION OF HIMSELF THROUGH HIS WORD. John 3:6 - "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Observation: IF I AM TRYING TO DEAL WITH GOD OUT OF MY HEAD OR OUT OF MY FEELINGS, THEN WHAT I AM DOING IS TRYING TO DEAL WITH GOD OUT OF MY FLESH. John 4:24 - "God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

"that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless." - Ephesians 5:27 The worst "drug" many Christians are taking today is the drug of the wrong narrative. This wrong narrative says we are in the worst of days and that Jesus is coming any moment to rescue us out of the mess of these days. These are actually the days of the greatest Kingdom advancements ever and Jesus is going to come THROUGH us in a mighty way before He comes FOR us. When you understand Scriptures' timetable for when Christ returns, you realize that He is not coming to rescue a people or a bride but only to celebrate with a victorious people and a "without spot or wrinkle" glorious Bride (Ephesians 5:27). EMBRACING THE MINDSET OF RESTORATION Acts 3:20-21 - "and that He may send [to you] Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must keep until the time for the [complete] restoration of all things about which God promised through the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time." (AMP) Acts 3:21 confirms to us that He is "held in the heavens" UNTIL an era of restoration has been fulfilled - that we are only just now beginning. The enemy has sold us a drug of a false narrative of the day. This "drug" disempowers more Believers than any other drug, and if you are going to be refired you have to abandon that storyline. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT GOD? What you think about God is the most important thing about you, and you need to start getting some better thoughts about God and His capabilities. The Kingdom age has just begun and there is unprecedented Kingdom territory for the taking - and He wants His Bride fully engaged in the assignment/adventure. LIVING PRESENTLY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION Yes, there is also a major call upon the next generation to run with amazing things from God, but God is speaking right now of the amazing things He has for those who have thought the sun is setting on their lives and efforts. Yes, you want to hand off the baton to the next generation, but you don't do that until you finish running your race. Your race is done when you are dead and not before. Great gains are in order for those who will stay doing Kingdom business. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

Matthew 11:7-9 (KJV) - "And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, what went ye out to see? ...A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet." The garment of John the Baptist was not what some expected, but it represented more than just clothing—it was His assignment as a FORERUNNER. The raiment of the forerunner, spiritually, will be distinctive according to the Lord's mandate. Jesus said John was more than a prophet. He was set apart for the coming movement. Today's forerunners will navigate through some troubled murky waters. They will work with those who've been forgotten -- they will help forgotten ones work through hardships and give them a hunger and thirst to pursue their calling in Christ. These forerunners will carry a heart that will not be intimidated while carrying the light and power of truth—breaking the people of God out of old patterns to move forward into the great possibilities of the day. Luke 1:18 - And Zacharias said unto the angel. Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. Luke 1:34 - Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, since I do not know a man? Both Mary and Zacharias asked how these miracles would occur, but it is evident that Mary asked "how" in faith while Zacharias asked "how" in unbelief. It is clear in scripture that unbelief doesn't please God (Hebrews 11:6), but the Lord doesn't mind us questioning Him for the purpose of instruction so we can cooperate with His will in our lives. Abram knew that it was God's will for him to have a son, but Abram and Sarai came up with their own plan which caused them and the world much grief (Genesis 16:1-6), Abram would have avoided many problems if he had asked the Lord how He was going to accomplish this miraculous event. If Mary had not questioned this angel, she might have reasoned that Jesus would be born through the natural union of her and Joseph. This would have been a grave mistake. It would have disqualified her from being used. Affirmations: I KNOW IT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO KNOW GOD'S WILL; I CONTINUE TO SEEK THE LORD UNTIL I KNOW GOD'S PURPOSE FOR MY LIFE. Matthew 12:43,44 - "Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came."' JESUS REVEALED THAT THERE IS A DIMENSION TO HUMAN NATURE THAT ACTUALLY CAN HOST AN EVIL SPIRIT AND PROVIDE IT A TYPE OF REST. THE ASPECT OF HUMAN NATURE WHICH IS MOST SIMILAR IN SUBSTANCE AND DISPOSITION TO THE NATURE OF THE EVIL ONE IS THE CARNAL THOUGHT-LIFE, WHICH IS A DIMENSION OF THE SOUL (MIND, WILL, AND EMOTIONS). IT IS OUR UNCRUCIFIED THOUGHTS AND UNSANCTIFIED ATTITUDES THAT UNCLEAN SPIRITS (MASKING THEMSELVES AS OUR THOUGHTS AND HIDING THEMSELVES IN OUR ATTITUDES) FIND ACCESS INTO OUR LIVES. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

Matthew 12: 35 - "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things." OBSERVATION: The good treasure is the word. So from the word of God deposited in my heart, I bring forth good things. My heart or my spirit is like a bank. Whatever I put into my heart is my deposit. My withdrawals are made with my mouth, by my making the proper confession based on the word that's in my heart. The deposits I have made into my heart can be loosed out of my mouth by faith. If what I am speaking is faith in the Word, God will cause good things to be brought forth in my life. According to Paul in Colossians, Christ dwells in you. "The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints... Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:26-27). "For behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.” - Luke 17:21 How close is the Kingdom? Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye" - Mark 1:15. "who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" - Ephesians 1:3. Where does Jesus sit? In heavenly places. Where does Christ dwell? Christ in you, the hope of glory. Where is Heaven? It's within you. Think about that! Do you want to go to the throne? Close your eyes and go to the throne of grace. Before you try to get God to take you up or get Heaven to come down, develop a consciousness of Heaven within you. Change your worldview. Start thinking: I am carrying Heaven with me when I walk into the coffee shop. I am carrying Heaven with me on the airplane. I am in heavenly places right now. Hallelujah! You may find that you're in the presence of God and then something distracts you. The telephone rings and suddenly the presence is gone. Does God really leave that quickly? No, we leave. The door into and out of the presence is our minds. Are you ready to ascend Jacob's ladder? Jesus is the ladder and He gives you an invitation to come boldly. Just close your eyes and focus on Him. There He is...He lives inside you. It's time to think like a spiritual being: AFFIRMATIONS: Heaven is within me. There I am at the throne. I carry heavenly places and I rule and reign from here. I can access every spiritual blessing from here. Ephesians 2:8,9 - "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." So, we can thank God in Christ for liberating us from a "works based" salvation, ie. we are not working for acceptance or to earn our salvation. Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Yet, the revelation that salvation is not based on our works should not be interpreted as though the family of God is a "work-free zone." God has not liberated us from the realm of works, only from self-generated, religious "dead works." As new creations, the Holy Spirit dwells in us in an eternal relationship. His presence is a living reality, capable of speaking to us, inspiring and directing God's PURPOSE for our life to fulfill "God-inspired" works. We are not saved by our works, but neither are we saved from works. Affirmations: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS WORKING THROUGH ME TO REVEAL GOD'S PURPOSE FOR MY LIFE (MY DESTINY IN CHRIST). I AM ALIVE TO BURN FOR GOD. I'M ALIVE TO MAKE HIM KNOWN. I FOCUS ALL MY ENERGIES ON CARRYING HIS PRESENCE WITH EXCELLENCE - I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE A MOMENT IN MY LIFE WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES DISTRACT ME FROM TENDING THAT FIRE IN MY HEART. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

Romans 10:8 - "But what says it? The word is near thee, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach." Affirmation: MY DESTINY IS IN MY MOUTH. ITS MY WORDS - NOT ANYONE ELSE'S - THAT DETERMINE MY SUCCESS OR FAILURE. Hebrews 3:1 - "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus." Ephesians 1:5,6 - "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." SINCE WE ARE ADOPTED IN CHRIST JESUS, A LOW OPINION OF OURSELF OR SELF-HATRED IS NOT FROM GOD, BUT FROM THE ENEMY. PRAYER IS NOT TRYING TO GET GOD TO DO SOMETHING FOR YOU BY MAKING HIM FEEL SORRY FOR YOU. IT IS COMING TO HIM KNOWING THAT YOU NOT ONLY DESERVE WHAT YOU ASK BECAUSE OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE A RIGHT TO IT BECAUSE IT IS BASED ON HIS WORD. Hebrews 4:16 - "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." We are called to complete the race, to subdue the earth, to take DOMINION, and rule and reign with Christ to fulfill the original commission that was given to Adam and Eve, the first man in Genesis. Hebrews 12:1-2 - " Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us..." Affirmation: IF I HAVE MY THINKING RIGHT, MY BELIEVING RIGHT, AND MY SPEAKING RIGHT, I WILL UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT WHAT I SEE THAT SHOULD DETERMINE FOR ME WHETHER THE WORD IS WORKING. Every time you refuse to forgive or fail to overlook a weakness in another, your heart not only hardens toward them, it hardens toward God. You cannot form a negative opinion of someone (even though you think they may deserve it!) and allow that opinion to crystallize into an attitude; for every time you do, an aspect of your heart will cool toward God. You may still think you are open to God, but the Scriptures are clear: "The one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen" (1 John 4:20). You may not like what someone has done, but you do not have an option to stop loving them. Love is your only choice. PRAYER: Flow out of me, O well, with living water from the river of God. AMEN How many people perish in a generation through empty learning, caring little for the service of God? And because they prefer to be famous rather than humble, they perish with their own thoughts. The Lord is not just trying to change us -- He's trying to kill us! True Christianity requires the ultimate price -- the "whole burnt offering," which means our whole life must be placed on the altar. Every believer holds a position of authority that comes with God-given talents or gifts and is hidden in Christ Jesus, above all demonic authority. So why are so many of us ineffective? "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you...." - 2 Timothy 1:6 An incorrect view of suffering has allowed the Trojan horse of disease to come in through the gates of the community of the redeemed. The sufferings of Jesus were realized in the persecution He endured and in the burden He carried for people. He did not suffer with disease. That must be removed from our idea of Christian suffering. If we truly follow Jesus, Jesus will follow us. Mark 16:20 (NIV) says: “The Lord worked with them”. It does not say they went with the Lord. They went, and He went along. If we truly follow Jesus, He follows us. When and where they moved, God moved also. The Holy Spirit’s workings go with our workings. Natural effort releases divine effort. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com