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I have learned even when someone is friendly, even when they give you jobs and opportunities, if they are serving Satan you cannot be in a friendship with them. It's the commonality of friendship that allows them to leave their venom - residue all over you. This makes you manifest their own nature until they ride on your backs just like demons. It's not a fun experience because they (as nice as they can be sometimes) cannot sleep unless they've caused someone to stumble as the scripture says. Firing at you on all cylinders, each principality takes the death - dappled horse plague, then sends legions of 10 demons each time. It's always sending 10 demons (until they take the death + hades plague) trying to form the 10 horned beast of the future, it wants to lead this way. Satan knows his time will come with this government. They also often offer kind apologetics and warfare that isn't applicable to heaven's strategies. They study us so intensely, and God's will with Christians. It's almost like their life's mission is solely dedicated to destroying you. Satan's people will always teach you to seek money and sex at your own pleasure so you will in fact destroy yourself with God. Proverbs 4:16 Amplified Bible (AMP) For the wicked cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are deprived of sleep unless they make someone stumble and fall. American Standard Version Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was diverse from all of them, exceeding terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; Daniel 7:19

It isn't obvious to non-Christians that they are lost. By and large they don't know what being lost means, and Satan wants to keep them that way. I have discovered that Satan works very hard at blinding the minds of unbelievers because this keeps the gospel hidden from them. 2Co 4:3-4 (3) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (4) In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. Recently I've noticed an escalation in the conflict between the Will of God and the will of Satan. I don't say this to panic anyone, but I believe the Holy Spirit is showing me there is a potential for panic and anxiety, and that the saints of God should remember their godly instructions and Scriptural training, taking authority over the evil one. As Daniel 12:4 says, travel and knowledge will increase, and the gospel will continue to be spread, but at the apex of ideology, technology, and mediology (yes it is a word), I believe the war with Satan is intensifying.

2018 Scriptures for Battling the devil, Spiritual Warfare. The enemy hates to hear about the Blood of Christ, Praise, and that hell is "prepared for the devil and his angels." Ephesians 6:11-17 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. Deuteronomy 28:7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 23:10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you. Deuteronomy 3:22 Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you. Romans 8:35-39 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The depiction of the enemy of our souls: Isaiah 14:12-19 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? 18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. 19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 1 John 5:4-5 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? I John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 18:18-19 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good [thing] will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. II Thess 3:3 3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. Zech 4:6 6b Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Isa 40:28-31 28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Psalm 18:39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Matthew 25:41 Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels

I’m new here, but I had to share my excitement as a Frank Paretti book that I’ve just finished simply blows me away. I didn’t think of the spiritual realm like this before until I read his book. It’s kinda freaking me out as well to know that it so real and exists all around us. I know the bible says that it does, but it wasn’t until I read this book that I really thought about it in this context and the battle that we face. Don't get me wrong, its not scaring me it's just a new way of looking at it for me. Anyway, I just finished the book called This Present Darkness and my friend has lent me Paretti’s other one called Piercing The Darkness. I read the first one in 2 days as I couldn’t put it down. Has anyone else experienced this with Paretti’s books, I find it absolutely amazing and simply can’t get it out of my head? I’m going to start reading Piercing The Darkness tonight… and I can’t wait!

This is a post I made on my blog site well over a year ago, in 2017. Given the opportunity to teach soon, I asked a friend if he had any ideas. He thought for a second and said, what about Strongholds, those are the things that I need to hear about. I know I do, I battle with aspects of this every day. By the way; I am very much aware that there is always more that defines this aspect of strongholds. Think of this as a primer that motivates you to dig deeper. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 MKJV For though walking about in the flesh, we do not war according to flesh. (4) For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, Though we walk about in the flesh, There is no escaping that condition, and yet the concept is that we can set aside the "flesh." There are only two situations in which that happens: Death – that state in which you are then separated from the body. Or, the rapture (a moment in time in which we will be changed – an act in which God causes this permanently damaged body to be altered.) We do not war according to flesh. Harsh words, swords, and guns are not going to help. This war we are in is a spiritual battle and Satan is the enemy. The battle you are facing is a spiritual one and it is primarily in the mind. Pulling down – Is the Greek word kathaíresis and means demolition or the destruction of a fortress. The enemy (Satan) promotes the building of fortresses in our mind. This process happens slowly through the deceptiveness of words. For example: In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he tells us we are: Blessed; holy; blameless; in Him; living in love; adopted; chosen; redeemed and bought back. However, these are not the words we hear; mostly we hear the opposite, such as: You will never be holy; you are to blame for everything; unlovable; unwanted, and that you will have to struggle all your life to attain some state in which God would want you. Strongholds – The Greek word ochúrōma; to hold fast. A stronghold, fortification, fortress. The Greek allows for something much less invasive; a holdfast. Compare to 3M sticky hooks. Why use the analogy of a temporary wall hanger? These issues are often temporary annoyances. The simplest of solutions is to pray. A verse we did not cover defines these strongholds and where they come from. 2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; Again we will dissect this a few words at a time. Casting down Casting down is the Greek word kathaireō and means to lower (or with violence) demolish. The Word Study Dictionary adds, “to take for oneself. To take down or away. Imaginations The Word Study Dictionary says this Greek word logismós means a reckoning, calculation, consideration, reflection. To logismós a thing means that you are giving more than just a passing thought to a matter. The implications are that you are ruminating on the issue at hand. Since not all things are a worrisome bother, then the other application would apply to the voices that tell you that you will never live up to the things God says about you. Other translations use the words: reasoning; arguments; intellectual arrogance; theories, and speculations. All of these fit the concept. And every The word "every" is the Greek word pas and includes all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole: - all (manner of, means). Declension according to Webster's dictionary means literally, a leaning back or down; hence, a falling or declining towards a worse state; a trend toward a lesser degree of excellence or perfection. High thing High thing is the word hupsōma, an elevated place or thing, that is, (abstractly) altitude, or (by implication) a barrier. Who is it that does the elevating? We do, as we put that thought on a pedestal. That exalts itself The phrase exalts itself, is the word epairō meaning to raise up. Since the context has to do with casting down imaginations and every high thing, then the idea, worry, or promotion you have spinning in your head is trying desperately to exalt itself by raising up; but against what? In reality, the voices, whether they are in your head or fed to from some well-meaning “friend,” are intended to exalt themselves above God's word, nature, and character. Against the knowledge of God So, just as I said, the voices are attempting to exalt themselves above God. There is truly, only one person that does that, Satan and his minions. And bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; As I said, you are the one who has to take care of this. It is, by-the-way, your psyche that is being toyed with. Doing nothing only adds to the fortification that is being built in your mind. While it is necessary that you bring these thoughts that are contrary to God into captivity, you must subject your thoughts to the obedience of Christ. Obedience is the Greek word hupakoḗ; to obey, listen to something, hearken. This is you with purpose resetting your mind to consider with an overriding confidence, the true nature of Christ Jesus. I get it; there are understandably some people who are so far gone, whether from alcohol, drug abuse, or trauma, that they do not live in a functional state of mental health and may not be able to make these decisions for themselves. With those people in mind, I am reminded of what the Apostle Peter told us Jesus did; and, in so doing, demonstrated not only the character and nature of the Father but our mission as well. Acts 10:38 MKJV ...and He went about doing good, and healing all those who were oppressed by the Devil, for God was with Him. So, once again, you are not dealing with the flesh, but demonic forces, in all but rare cases. Let's just assume that this is not you and you continue to function with relative normalcy while fighting against these small, annoying mental skirmishes, many of which we lose. If these strongholds are merely a hold fast and not a fortress in my mind, why I am I continually bothered/tortured by this same problem? You, with Christ living in you, are a target. I know you did not want to hear that, but it is information that you needed to know. Ephesians 2:10 MKJV For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus ... There are plenty of people who will say that this does not define us as being in God's image, so allow me to give you another piece of proof. Genesis 1:26-27 MKJV And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness. And let them have dominion ... over all the earth, ... And God created man in His image;... Some might say, I don't believe in this God of yours. Their challenge does not matter; the mere fact that we were created in the image of God caused Satan to set his destructive sights upon them. A simple hold fast may restrain you for your entire life. Satan, we are told, constantly accuses us of sins. We see this in Revelation of all places. Revelation 12:10 MKJV ... For the accuser of our brothers is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night. Our broken flesh is centered around selfishness; the motivation to satisfy the flesh. We quickly and easily call this a sin conscience. We religious folk, love to fling the word sin around, especially once we've decided that you need more restraint in your life. The word “sin” is simply an old English term, taking from Archery, in which the competitor missed the bulls-eye in the center of the target.

Guys as true followers of Christ I wanted to tell you guys how important spiritual warfare is, not many are going to make it in our fathers army, so please give everything you've got to our father, and to read the Bible and really take what Jesus was teaching his disciples very serious, the physical world isn't meant for us to have fun, infact that's what satan wants from us to distract us from our father and his orders, spirit to another spirit please let other Christians know as we have more knowledge of what's really going on in the world and could really spread the message of how not many people are taking life extremely seriously as it should be, please share to other Christians as I've noticed not many actually follow what the Bible is trying to tell us which is to always obey God, life isn't meant to have fun or be easy, and Jesus basically tells you how to be a spiritual warrior from what he was teaching his disciples, but don't only go half way, commit to it! it's not going to be easy but we are talking about eternal life here. Share so that we can spread this message of importance to save us!

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." 2 Kings 6:17 - "And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." In spiritual warfare, the battle is never limited to an "us against them" human affair. It always includes "those with us" against "those with them." Do you want to cultivate your spiritual mind? Then immerse yourself in God's Word (Psalm 119:9). Pray for revelation and ask the Spirit of God to open your eyes to behold awesome things from heavenly realms. There is nothing wrong with intellectual knowledge and pursuit. God gave us our mind and expects us to use it. However, we should never depend upon mere human intellectual wisdom to advance us in the realm of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). Mark 11:23 - "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." Because great power is released when my heart and mouth start working together, it's extremely important that I put the right things into my heart. OBSERVATION: Once I find the will of God in a situation I will know how to pray. If I need a mountain moved out of my life, I believe God with my heart and speak it out with my mouth. AFFIRMATIONS: Jesus came that I might have life and that I might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) I shall have whatsoever things that I desire when Ipray, since I believe that I receive them.(Mark 11:24) Seeing that I have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, I hold fast to my confession. (Hebrews 4:14) ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

After I came. To Christ God gave me "eyes to see and ears to hear" I would have a series of dreams. He was showing me some of the things he wants me to operate in. 1. I saw about 10 or so angels surrounding me as I cast a demon out of a man in the street and he grew wings 2. I went into a car parts shop and was ministering to someone in Spanish by gift of the holy Spirit 3. I'm standing on a stage preaching to teens about overcoming the ways of the world and walking. Like Christ on the earth. That's just an example of what he has shown me. But it's starting to get. Intense. For instance when I first came to Christ I would be dreaming about being tempted to sin then I would speak the word of God in my dream and call out the lie then the face of the person would change to a demon I would wake up search the Bible pray and worship call on the Lord. But now it's different it's like if a spirit is trying to come in our home god will show me the spirit realm and I can see the demon then I "wake up" and can feel the spirits energy and I cast it out. This last expierence was even more different I was asleep then I woke up. I tried to go back to sleep but couldn't I was laying down but I could see me go out side I live on a second floor apartment I floated through my window it was like everything was sperated. If I looked straight ahead it looked normal like what I see everyday if I looked down it looked like ground went to the core of the earth and I saw fire I didn't look up but I saw this bright light shining behind me. There was a group of 8 demons trying to attack me they rushed me and I started speaking the word of God casting them out of my neighborhood and this forced pushed out of my body kind of like strong wind and pushed all those demons away to keep them from touching me and 3 angels came from behind me and bound those demons and cast them into that fire pit another wave of demons came at me and attacked I fought with the word and that force kept pushing them off me and those angels bound them and cast them down all of a sudden I grew wings big huge white wings that looked like eagles wings and I flew up towards that bright light which was the precense of God and hugged the bottom of a huge leg then the verse in Isaiah 40:31 was put in my spirit i was suddenly back in my room looking at my dresser....the whole day I felt where those wings are in my spirit. Has anyone expierenced stuff like that. I realize that I'm a warrior in God's army but has anyone done that and more??

John 3:8 - "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." The wind is known by its sound, and by its effect. Whenever the Spirit moves there is a spiritual sound coming from the spirit realm. Spiritual sound is not random indefinite noise. It is a sound which speaks and reveals knowledge to those with ears to hear. John 12:28,29 - "'Rather, I will say, Father, glorify Your name!' Then there came a voice out of heaven saying, I have already glorified it, and I will glorify it again. The crowd of bystanders heard the sound and said that it had thundered; others said, An angel has spoken to Him!" Jesus taught us to pray for earth God will use spiritual How is it to be done? to manifest what is already in Heaven. sound -sound that will be unintelligible to spiritual wickedness and hidden from man's natural mind. Romans 8:22,23 - "And we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body." The creation is releasing a groan, which is not a word but the sound of a spiritual birth. This sound is echoed in us as we yearn for the revelation of the glory of God. We are like instruments that resonate the sound coming from heaven - the approaching rule of the King of Kings. Affirmations: THE SOUNDS OF HEAVEN HAVE FALLEN TO ME IN PLEASANT PLACES; YES, I HAVE A GOOD INHERITANCE. I REVEAL SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS WITH SPIRITUAL WORDS, AS THE SPIRIT LEADS ME. I AM GROWING IN MY CAPACITY TO RELEASE SPIRITUAL SOUND ALIGNING WITH THE HEART AND NATURE OF GOD. Get ready to move into new realms of His glory. Every time you encounter His glory He is changing you. He is changing your thoughts. He is changing your perspective. He is increasing the power of His Spirit in you. He is anointing you to bring breakthrough to others. Receive the fresh prophetic flow of His presence. Be refreshed. Receive an excitement for that which is coming. The future is full of adventure. Expect Him to do mighty things for nothing is impossible for those who believe! "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." - Ephesians 1:18 ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

Mark 4:14,20 - "The sower sows the Word. And those sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the Word and receive and accept and welcome it and bear fruit - some thirty times as much as was sown, some sixty times as much, and some even a hundred times as much." JESUS DIDN'T SPEND TIME TRYING TO GET MEN OUT OF POVERTY. HE GOT THE POVERTY OUT OF THEM AND THEY DID THE REST. IF CHRIST WERE HERE TODAY, HE WOULDN'T MOVE PEOPLE OUT OF THE SLUMS....HE'D SIMPLY GET THE SLUMS OUT OF THEM. THEIR NEW INNER IMAGE WOULD EVENTUALLY CHANGE THEIR SURROUNDINGS TO MATCH THE NEW PROSPEROUS IMAGE ON THE INSIDE. Affirmations: GOD'S WAY OF CHANGING MY WORLD IS BY FIRST CHANGING MY SELF-IMAGE THROUGH HIS WORD AND THE WORK OF HIS SPIRIT ON THE INSIDE OF ME. TODAY I CONFESS GOD'S PROMISES - I AM SOWING THE SEED OF HIS WORD INTO THE SOIL OF MY HEART WHERE IT WILL BEGIN TO DEVELOP AND BRING TO PASS WHAT I HAVE SPOKEN. Matthew 5:4 - "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." JESUS WAS TALKING ABOUT THE MOURNING OF THE INTERCESSOR. HE WAS TEACHING ABOUT THE COMFORT THAT COMES TO THE INTERCESSOR WHEN HE IS ASSURED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT HE HAS PRAYED THROUGH. TO PRAY THROUGH MEANS TO BREAK THROUGH THE BARRIERS THAT HAVE STOPPED THE WORK OF GOD IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS. IT MEANS USING YOUR SPIRITUAL ARMOR TO PUSH BACK THE FORCES OF DARKNESS THAT SURROUNDS THEM. Affirmations: AS A PRAYER WARRIOR FOR GOD I REACH OUT FOR HIS MERCY AND COMPASSION FOR THE SINNER, FOR THE SICK, AND FOR THE DOWNCAST. I DON'T LET UP UNTIL I HAVE THE ASSURANCE INSIDE, IN MY SPIRIT, THAT EVERY BARRIER IS BROKEN AND EVERY AREA OF BONDAGE HAS BEEN ABOLISHED. As soon as Paul saw the light from heaven above the brightness of the sun, he said, "Lord what wilt thou have me to do?" - Acts 19:6 God wants to charge our faith today. He wants us to see it is not obtained by struggling and working and pining. "...the Father himself loveth you..." (John 16:27) "..Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses" (Matthew 8:17). "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"(Matthew 11:18). May we lay hold of this living faith today -- the Blood has never lost its power -- as we get nearer and nearer to Jesus wonderful things will take place. The baptism of Jesus must bring us to have a single eye to the glory of God; everything else is wasted time and wasted energy. The Holy Spirit wants us for the purpose of manifesting Jesus through us. The Holy Spirit moving upon us will make us to be like Him, and we will truly say, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

Luke 1:26,28 - "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail thou art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." WHEN GOD CHOSE TO BRING THE MESSIAH THROUGH THE VIRGIN MARY, HE SENT GABRIEL THE ANGEL TO BRING THE MESSAGE. WHEN THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS ABOUT TO SUFFER SHIPWRECK, AN ANGEL OF THE LORD TOLD HIM WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE ANGELS DID WHAT GOD COULD HAVE DONE EASILY HIMSELF. BUT WHY DIDN'T GOD DO THOSE THINGS HIMSELF? FOR THE SAME REASON HE DOESN'T PREACH THE GOSPEL: HE HAS CHOSEN TO LET HIS CREATION ENJOY THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVICE IN HIS KINGDOM. SERVICE WITH PURPOSE AFFIRMS IDENTITY. A GODLY SELF-ESTEEM IS DERIVED FROM DOING "AS HE PLEASES". AND TRUE SERVICE IS AN OVERFLOW OF WORSHIP. WE ALWAYS BECOME LIKE THE ONE WE WORSHIP. HOW COULD HE WANT ANYTHING MORE FOR US THAN THAT? Jeremiah 1:12 - "Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it." Affirmations: 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 . THE WAY I CAN KNOW THAT MY WORLD IS BEING FRAMED BY THE WORD IS BY WHAT'S IN MY HEART AND BY WHAT I'M SAYING. SO NO MATTER HOW THINGS LOOK, IF I'M SPEAKING THE WORD OF GOD IN FAITH, - I DON'T QUIT! I STAY IN FAITH AND GOD WILL MANIFEST HIS GLORY IN MY SITUATION. 2 Corinthians 10:4,5 - "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." We must topple the "stronghold of our experiences." The only one who has a right to shape our lives is Jesus Christ. We must determine to allow nothing and no one to shape us, not even our personal experiences, unless they are consistent with the promises of God. To the degree that our experiences do not conform to the Word of God, they subtly teach us that God is not who He says He is. In other words, even though you were not healed, you should not conclude "healing is not for today." God's provision is eternal, which means that until heaven and earth pass away, He as provided for our healing. In regard to sin, though we repeatedly stumble, we must continue to believe God for grace to overcome. We must give ourselves room to grow into new insights. We must never surrender our faith in God's Word! Experiences may seem valid, but if they have left us thinking that Jesus is not the same today as He was in the Gospels, the conclusion we have drawn is wrong. It is a stronghold that must be pulled down. Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Revelation 22:13 - "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Romans 3:4 - "Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

Titus 3:9 - "Don't get involved in arguing over unanswerable questions and controversial theological ideas; keep out of arguments and quarrels about obedience to Jewish laws, for this kind of thing isn't worthwhile; it only does harm." Observation: REVELATION THAT DOESN'T LEAD TO A GOD ENCOUNTER ONLY SERVES TO MAKE ME MORE RELIGIOUS. UNLESS SCRIPTURE LEADS ME TO HIM, I ONLY BECOME BETTER EQUIPPED TO DEBATE WITH THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH MY WAY OF THINKING. 1 Samuel 17:38,39 - "And Saul armed David with his armor, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail (armor made of metal plates) and David girded his sword upon his armor, and he tried to go but could not, for he was not used to it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him." DAVID WAS SAYING, "I CAN'T USE THESE THINGS; I HAVEN'T PROVED THEM." HOW MAY TIMES IN SPIRITUAL BATTLE DO WE TRY TO USE EVERYTHING WE CAN GET OUR HANDS ON - EXCEPT THE WORD OF GOD? WE TRY TO FIND ANSWERS IN OUR OWN STRENGTH. WE TRY TO SOLICIT HELP FROM OTHERS OR TRY TO WORK IT OUT OURSELVES. IT SEEMS WE'RE AFRAID TO TRUST THE WORD OF GOD, AND IT'S THE GREATEST WEAPON WE COULD EVER HAVE. Matthew 6:33 -- "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Therefore, our number one priority every day is to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. IT IS NOT TO SEEK TO ADD THESE THESE THINGS TO OURSELVES. But what is righteousness? Righteousness is not right behavior. It is right standing with the Father. It is the clearance of all your guilt, which makes you able to stand before God. It is not something you get through right behavior. It is a GIFT from God. Paul calls it "the gift of righteousness" (Romans 5:17). And to "seek" this gift is to be CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE IT -- TO CONFESS THAT YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS IN CHRIST. At the cross, Jesus didn't just remove our sins, He gave us His righteousness so that today, we can come boldly before the throne of God and receive freely everything that He died to give us! AFFIRMATIONS: I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:21) I seek the righteousness of Jesus, not my own righteousness. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

2 Corinthians 10:4 says, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds." How is gratitude a weapon? ASPECTS OF GRATITUDE: Gratitude means being grateful not only for what God has already done but for what He is about to do. Combining faith with gratitude multiplies the power of this spiritual weapon. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. He uses fear to capture hearts. He uses lies to capture land. Gratitude prevents him. Gratitude actually takes territory from the enemy. Thus, gratitude is a weapon in spiritual warfare. Gratitude creates an atmosphere for increase. Look at all of the traps gratitude helps you avoid: self-pity, entitlement, resentment, greed, lust, and anger are a few. See what a great strategy gratitude is? Gratitude helps you avoid disappointment and indignation. As an active strategy for wellness, it promotes healing. It leaves little room for fear. Gratitude and contentment enhance godliness as you set your affection on things above and not things below. That is great gain. ALLOWING HIS LOVE TO INFUSE YOUR HEART AND WORDS The weapons we use are either from God or from the enemy. When we use the enemy's weapons of fear, hatred, criticism, complaining, judging and taking offense, we let him steal our identity, kill our hope and destroy our future. We can't let temporal facts cloud our understanding of eternal truth. Jesus said, "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near" (Luke 21:28). By imagining worst case scenarios, you make things worse than they are. You will not win the world with your logic, you will win the world with love. There is no logic that can explain His love. So let His love flow through your heart, peace dictate your thoughts, and compassion craft your words. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY