How to cultivate Joy... Olivier's Response

Recently I've been praying about direction in my life. I feel as though the wheels are spinning in the mud and I'm not gaining any traction or going anywhere. Among other things the Lord has started moving me toward praying about studying redemption. I've spent so many years studying the finer points of prosperity, healing, etc... somehow I lost the message of sin, the cross, redemption. Redemption, however, includes all those other things like prosperity, healing, peace, joy, etc...

So now with a new perspective, years later, I need to start a study of redemption from Genesis to Revelation all over again. Come to find out that my friend Steve Wilson has been teaching a class on Redemption at EMIC all the Wednesdays services of most of March and April 2013. As I work on Wed nights with the Youth Group I miss adult service those days. I'm downloading those now to start listening as I begin my own study of redemption.

The Lord moved me last night to re-watch the last 30 minutes of "The Passion of the Christ"

Also, last night at EMIC (04/10/2013) Dan Maclean taught on "Knowing God Intimately" as he does twice a year at EMIC. It's never the same message twice, because how could you exhaust that subject? He is teaching on the idea that if you know HIM intimately all your other priorities fall in line. When Knowing Him isn't your number one priority things get mottled.

That then brings me to the reason I started this post. I wrote my friend and he took valuable time out of his day to craft a well thought through response. It's worth preserving here for myself and sharing with others. It goes as follows. The Following is a paraphrase of this interaction I had recently that I need to preserve for future review, and re-review.

I posed this question to my friend Olivier, a profoundly wise man of God:

ME:

"If the Joy of the Lord is my strength... How do I cultivate Joy?"

Olivier asked:

"I am sure you have an idea... what is it?"

I replied:

"Actually I have no solid idea. I've been dealing with discouragement, negative attitudes, and depression MOST of my life. I can put on a good show at work and church but I think I have more temporal happiness than enduring Joy. I'd imagine that praise has something do with it?"

Oliver Replied:

"You can't praise unless you have a reason. Otherwise praise is just a ritual or tactic to get your Father to do something. You praise because of what you remember He did. And therefore, you praise because of what you know He can do and Wills-to do. The reason for being up and down, besides the fact that there is an insane devil who doesn't leave us alone, is because we sometimes overlook the word "constantly" when our Lord tells us to constantly be prayed up, on our guard. Why? Because our flesh constantly acts up and the devil constantly acts up.

Also the main thing is MEDITATE. We are not changed because of the knowledge we get. We are changed because we let that knowledge invade our hearts. Head knowledge can't help.

Remember that we became born again and believers not because we assented or agreed with the truth that was proclaimed. But we were radically changed by that knowledge that was proclaimed to us because we believe in our heart. It is a heart issue and not a head issue... and the heart is changed or affected by meditating, staying on, pondering on The Word.

"The Joy of the Lord is my strength"; that is; "The Word of the Lord is my strength."

Jeremiah 15:16 says that the prophet found and ate our Lord's Words and they were to him the Joy and rejoicing of his heart. We are temporally happy because we remain in the realm of the mind. Joy is found in the realm of the heart. The Word, remembering who He is, what He does, what He's done, how great His Wisdom is... pondering on these things is what strengthens our hearts and makes it be full of Joy.

Jeremiah 15:16

16 Thy words were found , and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy andrejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Our Heart knows Him and leaps of Joy and hearing His voice. Our head on the other hand needs to be educated. The flesh and the enemy want to keep us in the realm of the mind; hence our ups and downs. Because we eventually operate like the world relying on circumstances to either make us feel well or feel sad.

Peace and Joy are connected as well as the other facets of the Fruit of the Spirit. My reason to mention "Peace" is because we rejoice when everything is well and we know we are protected. Well, when we meditate on the Word we realize He is with us and for us. Love springs forth, peace lands on us like a silk sheet and we can't help but rejoice.

My point is that if is no joy there isn't peace either. We can't talk about one without talking about the other. When we come to that realization we then ought to tell ourselves: "How can we be without peace?!"

We can (be without peace) if we doubt that He is with us and has our best interest in mind. We can if we think that we are on our own having to fend for ourselves. Where there is no joy, there is no peace either. However we know that we have peace with Him. Our heart must ponder on that truth.

Why? Because depression is linked to condemnation! We condemn ourselves when we live in the realm of the mind and believe that we are messed up, don't do enough, don't achieve enough... that is where the enemy wants us and if we let him we start getting depressed.

NOOOO!!!

No matter how below level we live, our Lord does not condemn us. The devil does, but not Him. Because He LOVES us unconditionally  If our good works didn't save us, they cannot sustain us. What sustains us is the understanding, the meditating, on His Love and Power toward us so we can do better and better, step by step, glory to glory. Knowing that it is His love and power in us, the understanding of it, that prospers us day by day. Basking in this, in this understanding, is what swells our heart, keeps it in peace, and makes it rejoice.

Hope that helps my brother... O.

Have questions about anything I said here? Want to share your story? Comment Below!

I call you empowered 2 prosper with good success!

N2 Good SuccessDarrell G. Wolfe
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Thanksgiving - Men's Meeting Notes

Men's Fellowship and Study 

Hutton Financial

06/20/2012  7 AM

Today's Key Verse:

Psalm 138

1 A Psalm of David. I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You. 2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. 3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul. 4 All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord, When they hear the words of Your mouth. 5 Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, For great is the glory of the Lord. 6 Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. 8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

"Your level of Thanksgiving is like taking your spiritual pulse" Unkown

Thanksgiving. This psalm of David shows us the heart of Thanksgiving. If you are lacking in Joy, Peace, Abundance... Check on your attitude of gratitude. It's likely deficient. How easy it is to complain, to focus on that which is not right about your situation.

In the book No More Mondays, by Dan Miller, there is recounted the comic strip of Charlie Brown. In this strip he says:

"In one of my all-time favorite Peanuts cartoons, Charlie Brown complains to Linus that every day his lunch is the same. When Linus asks Charlie Brown who makes his lunch, Charlie Brown says. "I do". 

As Kenneth Copeland's famous series has taught us: "You are the Prophet of your own life". How often are we using our words to prophecy more of the same, or worse. It's easy to complain. I work in an environment that is riddled with bitterness and complaint. Service complains about Sales. Sales complains about Service. Call Center Complains about Branch and so on. The sales goals are set so high, that the vast majority of people have resorted to do anything they can, not just to get a good bonus, simply enough to not get fired. Junk perpetuates Junk seems to be the way of the masses. Yet, could there be another way? Could a change of attitude, not environment, actually be what's needed to turn this around?

Today's meeting was insightful. Is it possible that our attitude is keeping us bound to situations that we've ALREADY been delivered from? Have we sometimes been in our situation SO LONG that we have lost sight of the truth because of the facts? This story in 2 Kings expounds. 

2 Kings 7:7-17
8 And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold and clothing, and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it. 9 Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king's household." 10 So they went and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and told them, saying, "We went to the Syrian camp, and surprisingly no one was there, not a human sound--only horses and donkeys tied, and the tents intact." 11 And the gatekeepers called out, and they told it to the king's household inside. 12 So the king arose in the night and said to his servants, "Let me now tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, 'When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.' " 13 And one of his servants answered and said, "Please, let several men take five of the remaining horses which are left in the city. Look, they may either become like all the multitude of Israel that are left in it; or indeed, I say, they may become like all the multitude of Israel left from those who are consumed; so let us send them and see." 14 Therefore they took two chariots with horses; and the king sent them in the direction of the Syrian army, saying, "Go and see." 15 And they went after them to the Jordan; and indeed all the road was full of garments and weapons which the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. So the messengers returned and told the king. 16 Then the people went out and plundered the tents of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord. 17 Now the king had appointed the officer on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate. But the people trampled him in the gate, and he died, just as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.

Have you ever seen anyone give directions to someone? They rarely is ever use a closed fist. They point or use an open hand? Why? It's inviting, non threatening, and welcoming. It's in this spirit of openness with God that we must conduct ourselves. Open handed, thankful, inviting. If we spend our time secretly mad at God for the situation we find ourselves in, we will not find ourselves open to his deliverance. Also, if we are so focused on what we don't have that we never look outside our own walls, we may live like this Kingdom in 2 Kings: Provision just outside and living in starvation. 

Psalm 82
1 A Psalm of Asaph. God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods. 2 How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah 3 Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked. 5 They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable. 6 I said, "You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High. 7 But you shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes." 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; For You shall inherit all nations.

In July and August of 2008 Pastor George Pearsons taught on Bulldog Faith. At the beginning of each message a short video was played in which a coach told the kids: "Did any of you see the points up on that score board up there? Well you earned every one of them!" To which the kids replied: "But coach? Those points were for the other team?!" To which the coach replied: "That's right! That's what I'm saying! Because you weren't playing out there! I think you've forgotten who you really are?! Who are you!" "Bulldogs" they reply sheepishly. "I can't hear you... Who are you!?" "Bulldogs!"....Have we forgotten who WE really are?

We are God's kids! Created in the Image and Likeness of God! We were bought with a price, and our value is determined by the one who paid for us and the price that was paid. We are worthy because HE deemed us worthy. We have EVERYTHING to be thankful for. When we allow things to come into our mindset and thinking that take us away from time with God or trust in Him, those things, however simple, are idols to us. We must remind ourselves who we are IN HIM and what price was paid for us. If Christ died to redeem us, you don't think he'd just as concerned with our light-bill?

The last verse of Psalms 138 says:

Psalm 1388 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

• Perfect: Mature, bring to Completion, finish, bring to pass. 
• Concerns Me: The primary message of concern is NOT worry. Concern means that which relates to, belongs to, affects the passions of, or in the interest of a person, place, or thing. 

The LORD is deeply interested in me. He's not only touched by my worries. He's got my whole life on his mind. He's got His plans, which I haven't even fathomed yet, on His mind. He's endeavoring to bring me to the place that he can use me to heal a broken and dying world.

He will bring to completion the plans He has for me. And they are good plans! Jer 29:11. I have SO MUCH to be thankful for! So as I pray about the upcoming month ahead maybe I should ask Him what to pray for, instead of just barreling down my list of needs.

Jeremy Pearsons tells the story of how he first had to fly as his own ministry. The cost was estimated at $6,000. But rather than just barreling off several confessions, or choosing another mode of transportation as the cost was prohibitive, he and Sarah decided to pray about what to pray about. "Lord, how would you have us believe you for this?" Not only did the Lord tell them an amount to believe that was different than the estimate, only $4,000, which was still high. But they Lord sent the Check for $4,000 in the mail BEFORE they asked him for the amount! The Lord will BRING TO PASS that which RELATED to us!

Another parting thought. Jesse Duplantis says: "You can't have what you speak against." That means you can't have promotion in a company that you complain about. You can't have a good marriage with a wife that you complain about. You can't have a good relationship with a dog that you complain about. Anything that you speak against will not work for you but against you. It's the nature of the Words we were born with. This attitude of gratitude, and thanksgiving is SO important. We must make it our aim, and our goal, that we NEVER say anything negative. Will we always succeed? No. But it must be our goal.

Bill told us about this great video. It's not posted to be a spiritual video. It was posted as a simple "How To" for axe sharpening. But there are SO many spiritual things we can learn from it. For example, we must keep the metal cool while sharpening it, otherwise it will loose it's temper. The temper is the strength of the metal, which allows it to keep it's sharp edge. Amazing. How often have we gotten hot and angry and lost our "Temper" as Christians? What a great life lesson.

That's all my notes from today, what a great meeting! Remember, Thanksgiving is the key to a long, happy, and joy filled life. 

Darrell G. Wolfe

I call you empowered 2 prosper with good success!

Darrell G. Wolfe

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Assignment

Assignment

Men's Meeting @ Hutton Financial's NEW office!

Wed 04/18/2019

The Event:
What a great morning. We were able to be among the first, of many to come, to see the NEW office for the Hutton's. What a BLESSING of God it is too! Larger and nicer than the last one, and the last one was impressive. Great things are happening for Paul, Tim, and the gang at Hutton Financial. If you need a Financial Advisor contact them!

We spent some time praying over All God has for them and it's amazing how Good God is to us, his kids!

http://www.huttonfinancial.com/

Kick Off Scripture:
Richard's kids headed off into the wild will of God, preaching and teaching in Kenya, Africa. This then started our meeting with a thoughtful meditation of the following verses:

2 Corinthians 2  12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.

What an interesting statement... "God opened a door to do some work, but I had no rest in my spirit so I left (moved on)." Right now two adults along with their kids are trekking across Kenya, staying wherever the Lord sends them, for however long He sends them, and then moving on. Many North Americans would say (have said): "Yeah but... where are they based? Where is their address?" They couldn't comprehend that they would just go and travel indefinitely.

Routine:
How comfortable we are in our routines. We have a home location. We get up about the same time everyday. We do our thing. We go to work/school/etc. We come home and do some more routine. We spend time with people that mean most to us, even it's just the cats. How much of our habitual routines are we really engaged in? If God called you to break your routine to do something for Him. Would you do it? So often we assume that He tells us to take another route, or break the routine just to help US. "Maybe it was to avoid an accident." Maybe it was. MANY times there have been occasions that God brought us to just the right place at the right time.

Testimonies:
They story was told that the car was going down the highway out of town, and got a flat. The tools to access the spare are specialized tools for a special car. The tools were missing. AAA came out, and they couldn't access the spare either. Just in time another man who's turn off is just ahead passes them and stops to see what's going on. He works for a high end car dealer/shop and just happens to have that exact tire at his house, not far away. His shop was going to discard it because of a surface scratch so he felt he should keep it. He left and came back and mounted a brand new tire on the car and sent them on their way. If they had pulled over another few hundred yards ahead they would have been after his turn off and he may not have seen them. God is amazing at position us for provision despite the Devil's best attempts to take us down.

Not always is a re-route for US, however. We assume that if we don't see why God had us take another route it must have been us avoiding an accident. Maybe. Maybe it was to save the OTHER person who would have hit you? Maybe there is something He wants you to see just because He loves sharing his earth with you. Maybe there is someone who needs your anointing!

Another time, someone was driving and had an oil line break off the car right in the middle of a construction zone. A man came to help and he said that there was an auto place nearby. They went together and got the part and came back and put it on, total cost less than $5. During the drive over and back the man confided that he'd been having a hard time and they prayed for him. Divine Appointments.

Someone was driving home one night and came across a car stopped in the middle of the road. A man on the side had his cell phone. Naturally they assumed he had it covered so they begin to pass by. A Check in the spirit told them there was more and to stop. He pulled over and the man got in thanking him for the ride. Over the next few minutes he realized this man is intoxicated to the point he doesn't remember where his car is or why he is in the car. When he finally get's the man home he get's beat up by his neighbor and the Man of God now has to break that up and usher Peace Himself into the situation. Once drunk man and aggressor man are separated the other neighbor begins sharing her struggles and he spends time talking with her about the situation and speaking the Word to her. Around three hours after stopping he finally heads home.

The Assignment of Apostle Paul:
Apostle Paul had a work to do here in this city. The door was opened and he did minister there. But he didn't stay long. Usually Paul's routine was to stay as long as he could, build a foundation of The Word in the people and set a pastor over that city before moving on. In this case, he stayed and ministered for a little, but then felt the urgency to leave again.

Notice: The Apostles sent by Jesus two by two from city to city, they didn't camp in the city and build denominations there. They were there for a time, and when the assignment was over, they moved on.

Luke 9
1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them." 6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Luke 10
1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 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. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 'The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.' 12 But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.

This is fascinating. They are sent to do HIS work and prepare HIS way. So, likewise, are WE called to go, preach, heal, cast out, and deliver an area. It is not right that we should live in a city and the city not be VERY aware of the Churches' presence. There should be a reputation that the Church takes care of this city. Good things happen here because of The Church. Sick people that the doctor can't help can get help from The Church! Schools, City Counsels, all levels of city life are affected by The Church. If a believer coming into a city doesn't shake up the city, it's not the cities fault. They should be shaken either way. Not every city will accept the believer. But for good or bad, the city WILL respond. If the city hasn't responded to you as an individual or a group, it's because you did nothing worth responding to!

"You gotta get out of Haran!"
Notice also the case of Abram, who would become Abraham. He is headed out of the land of Ur and stops in Haran and settles there. Then God calls him out of Haran to keep going towards Canaan. Some believe God called Abram out of Ur in the first place and that's why he was going. Others believe that it was Abram's father who received the call and settled and died in Haran and Abram picked up that mantle after his father died. Either way, known at the time or not, it was God who was working in Abram to get him from Ur to Canaan. In order to do that God had to get him out of Haran and on toward his high calling!

Genesis 11:31 NKJVAnd Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram's wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there.

Nehemiah 9:7 NKJV"You are the Lord God, Who chose Abram, And brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans, And gave him the name Abraham;

Hebrews 11:8 NKJVBy faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
(See Gill's Commentary on Hebrews 11:8)
"...all which agrees with our apostle: and, from hence, it may be observed, that God sometimes leads his people in ways they have not known, though they are known to him, and are always right; and that it is the property of faith to follow God, when it cannot see its way; and a great mercy it is to have God for a guide. This also shows, that Abraham's faith agrees with the apostle's definition of it, Hebrews 11:1."

Our daily habits become so desensitizing. We fall into doing things by rote motion. Do you take a call at work, engaged in the fact that you are possibly the only ANOINTED person that this person has ever talked to!? Or do you just answer and hang up without having impacted this persons' life? Worse, do you answer and through negative emotions, or discouraged attitudes about what YOU have/don't have, affect this person in a negative way; hoping they don't find out your a Christian afterward.

How many times have we failed to invest ourselves in our daily activities, because we've done them so many times? There is a great saying that bears remembering here:

If you are going to be here, be here!

The Lord moved on more than man to read the whole bible in 90 days, in one particular case he looked back to see miracle after miracle had happened in his life, due to that dedication. It's all about our motivation. We could take an activity like that and check it off as done and move on having little impact in our lives. Or we can invest ourselves into the activity expecting God to work in us. Reading the Word, even through bored routine, will still have SOME effect. The Word is powerful unto itself. But it is not until we have combined and engages our spirit with The Holy Spirit in the process that we see the miraculous results.

A Personal Note and Revelation, a reminder to those of us who do The Word as professionals:

The topic of Motivation brought me personally to consider another matter as I read down further into the 17th verse.

2 Corinthians 2  17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

For those of us who handle the Word in a public arena, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers... Blog Authors, Book Writers, Etc... There is nothing wrong with receiving compensation for our work.

1 Corinthians 9:6-166 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? 8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. 15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

But how often, as it has become our work, do we forget that it is a holy thing we handle. Kenneth Copeland talks about his partner letter, and how he has to pray over what to say, write it, re-read it, pray over it some more. He has to make sure it's God's Word to the people for right now. Then he does something that sets his partner letters apart from most I've seen in my years. He prays and asked God to judge the letter, making sure that he wrote it with the motivation of getting God's Word TO THEM and not getting anything FROM THEM.

There is a principle of sowing and reaping, and it is right to accept offerings and seed if you are good ground to sow into. That doesn't just apply to ministers, if you are a believer, who has been faithful to God and His Word, YOU are good ground to sow into. Put aside the false humility when someone tries to give you something. Take it, and like Jesus did with the Fish and Loaves, BLESS it as harvest back to them. What does it mean to BLESS something. Can you say "Lord Bless this food!" Yes, if you know what that means. It may be more accurate to study The Blessing and then Bless it. "Lord, I BLESS this food. I call it to be fruitful, multiply, and increase. I command it to subdue sickness and disease and take dominion over out health...etc"

So when I price a book... Did I price that book to get MY needs met? Or did I price that book with the price God told me to price it at? I've learned that books given away for free are seldom read, unless it was given and received by both parties as seed, and the person who knowingly receives a sown seed is more likely to respond by reading the book (or whatever it was) and accept it as precious.

But many things that are free are treated as having no value. So pricing a book higher than cost also causes the person who buys it to place a higher level of respect and value on it. They are more likely to take it seriously and learn the material in it and put it to use. So there is this balance.

Someone says: "Why does that book cost $30? It's only paper and ink? See all that preacher wants is your money..."

NO! You missed the whole point entirely. If you treasured the material in that book as much as the God who told him to write it does, your response would be: "$30? WOW! That's an amazing deal! Only $30!?" After all, you paid more than that for the concert tickets/baseball tickets/etc... you were so excited to pay it too! Why? You valued that thing. You paid $500 for that iPad. Why? $500?! It's only electronics, plastic, metal, etc! But you valued what it was capable of doing for you.

So I must pray that all that I do is to benefit YOU the reader. Ultimately I started this blog because I wanted to have an easily accessible place to store my notes from church, bible studies, etc. But as I have grown and seen that there are some readers now, I must also remember, it's not just about ME. What would God say to the people THROUGH ME. There is then, this amazing mixture of personal revelation and public proclamation.

Be BLESSED!

Darrell G. Wolfe

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Humility - The Power of Christian Life

David, a young man at the time, came to find his brothers and give them food. His brothers made fun of him and told him to get out and go home. He saw everyone was scared. So he inquired about what was happening.

David was told that a Giant man was threatening them and challenging them. David asked "What will be given to the man who kills this un-circumcised Philistine?" He goes to the king and get's permission to go. He runs out  at the man who is taunting them and making fun of God.

Goliath says: "I'm going to kill you!"

David says: "No, I'm going to kill you!"

Both of these are bold statements! But what was the source of the boldness? Why did one type of boldness fail and the other succeed?

Goliath made his statement with confidence in his size, strength, and training. David made his statement with confidence in his God!

So this then begs a question? What is your source? What do you trust in to put you in a place of victory. Romans 12:3 says that we should not think of ourselves more highly than we ought, but with sober judgment. This doesn't mean that we should put ourselves down or build ourselves up. It means that we should learn what the Word of God says about us and come into agreement with God about what HE says about us.

1 Peter 5:5-7 tells us that God resist the proud but gives grace to the humble. It also says that if we humble ourselves to Him that HE will exalt us!

So this idea of humility... what does it mean for us as born again children of God? Humility is a character trait that allows us to walk with God. We throw away our own works and put on His nature and character.

Philippians 2 (New King James Version)1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

We have been made equal with God, sons of the Most High, CO-Heirs with Jesus. What a lofty thing! Yet, it was not by anything WE did, so there is no room for pride. We have this mind, that we are made the righteousness of God, yet we don't esteem ourselves better than others. Why not? Because all have fallen short of the Glory of God yet that very fact means that we all have been made the righteousness of God! Romans 3:21-26.

We are all walking out the Grace that was given to us. We are all walking in the level of understanding we have received from Him. So we help each other up and out of the mire around us. When one of us stumbles into something we don't look down on him, we don't ask him: "Where is your faith man?!" Instead we become moved with the compassion of God for him and love him with God's love. We become dispensers of God's grace and mercy and forgiveness.

This is walking in humility:

1. Acknowledge that we are nothing in our own ability and strength.
2. Acknowledge that are of GREAT WORTH to Him who gave His all for us and MADE us His righteousness! 
3. Acknowledge all our ability comes from and through Him!
4. Then take that and dispense it to others! 

Walking in humility always leads us to become God inside minded first and Others minded second. The "Self- Center" universe fades away. I am not the center of my life any more. Jesus is! When Jesus is the center of my life, the needs of others become paramount in my mind. I'm no longer thinking about what I need, what I want! I am thinking about others! I begin asking more questions in order to get to know people, rather than compromise every conversation with what I'm thinking, what I know, what I want, what I need, what I'm doing... 

The sign of Humility is NOT that I put myself down. Actually putting yourself down is still a self-focused mindset and just another side of the coin of pride. 

The sign of Humility is that I don't think of myself much at all. My words, thoughts, imaginations, and dreams are about Jesus and how he wants to impact others... 

A litmus test is a basic test to determine the quality of something in reference to Acid VS Base (Alkaline). This is a very layman's explanation. Every person who cleans pools for a living knows this test well. You drop a few drops into the pool and they turn a color. This color is compared to an indicator chart which tells you where this water falls on a scale from very Acidic to Very Alkaline. You simple add more acid to make this water turn back to being more Acidic thereby lowering the pH levels. The acidic levels in the water help keep the pool clean from toxins and growth of plant life in the water. Often seeing green water is an indication that the pH levels are not balanced. 

The litmus test of Humility: How often do you think about you?

If YOU are the center of your thoughts, prayers, hopes, dreams, desires... you probably aren't dealing with Humility. Now God is thinking about you ALL THE TIME! He's not thinking about himself, he's thinking about you! So then, being like Him, you ought to be thinking about HIM and the needs of the people he loves so much!

Becoming God-Centered is not hard. Just start to fill your mind with thoughts about Him. The easiest way to do this is to start thanking Him. Thank him for anything you can think of. Start by thanking him for saving you from hell. Thank him for the trees, rocks, birds, sunshine, rain... whatever you see or think about to thank him for. You can do this for a long time without running out of things to thank Him for. As you do this you become saturated with thoughts of Him and thoughts outside of you! Psalms 118 is a good place to start. Also Psalms 23 and 103! 

Thank you Jesus! Darrell G. Wolfe

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Calling and Purpose

2 Tim 1:9
NKJV
"...who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began..."

Bible in Basic English
"Who gave us salvation, marking us out for his purpose, not on account of our works, but in the measure of his purpose and his grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal"

The Message
"who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it."

The Amplified
[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago].

Websters 1828 Dic says that calling can also mean:
Summons
"A call by authority or the command of a superior to appear at a place named, or to attend to some public duty."

Something else to consider. Plumbers aren't known as plumbers because they have a shirt that says "Plumber" on it. They aren't ultimately known as plumber because they drive a "Plumbing" truck. Those things give initial understanding. Ultimately a plumber is a plumber because he does the work of a plumber. If he has all the tools, trucks, shirts, and dressings of a plumber but doesn't know how to do the work the whole ensemble doesn't do him much good. Advertising will get him some initial business but eventually his reputation will precede him. However you could also meet a man who doesn't drive a specially labeled truck or have a special uniform. But if he shows up with just a few tools and gets the job done, quickly and efficiently,  you will know he was a plumber.

What does this mean to us? You may be "Called" to pastor. But if you are not doing the work of a pastor than you are not in fact fulfilling your calling. Likewise you may be doing the work of a pastor but not be "Called" a pastor by others. Your work defines that you are in fact walking as a pastor. "Ye shall know them by their fruit (which is their work)"

Kenneth Hagin wrote a book on the subject called: "Plans Purposes and Pursuits". There is also a teaching on that subject I found on You Tube for your listening pleasure.

Philippians 2:13
For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.

We are summons to purpose. Calling and Purpose are progressive. You never stop seeking God regarding your calling, purpose, and next assignment. You are always seeking God for a deeper understanding of your calling and purpose and to walk in a deeper level of your calling and purpose and you next assignment. Kenneth Hagin talks about the phases of the ministry he was in. He talks of how the whole first years of him pastoring a church and then leaving to do road ministry. He says that the time he started his road ministry was him ENTERING his first phase of his calling. He hadn't even entered into his calling until that point. Everything else was warm up!

"Grace and Peace" are the greeting of most of the New Testament letters. The Favor of God brings the Shalom of God (Nothing Missing Nothing Broken). We do all we do by these. We don't work in OUR power and ability but in His!

His Power works in your to do! (Great short article on this from Joe Purcell)

Philippians 2:8-18
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing

Ephesians 3:15-21
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us

He works in us both to WILL AND DO His good pleasure. Another way to say this is that His purpose in us is both birthed in us by Him and then completed and accomplished through us by Him. His good pleasure is THE BLESSING in us and us. Whatever specific tasks He has called us to accomplish will be in us to do. We don't have to fret

Calling connections. You have connections to people and ministries. Sometimes these connections are for a season and sometimes they are for lifetime. These connections are calling. I know for myself the day I heard summer of 2003 as I listened to the West Coast Believers Conventions on MP3 I made a connection that would last a lifetime and beyond to Kenneth Copeland and Kenneth Copeland Ministries. I consider him an extended part of my family. There are many fine ministers out there that I have submitted to, some better than others. There are many people in the world preaching the gospel that are worthy of honor and respect, both for their position and work. But I am forever partnered to and connected with Kenneth Copeland.Whether I meet him in person or not he is a spiritual member of my family. Those types of connections happen in life. Other times you are connected with a church or ministry and you may be there for a season. When your "Purpose" there is done your calling there has ended and you move on.

Some people called to full time ministry miss this point. They either leave too early because they know they are called to ministry or the Sr. Pastor role or they stay to late and should have left long ago.This happens because they haven't identified their purpose/calling at the church they serve at and the Pastor they serve under. Once they identify their calling/purpose there, they can understand when that has come to a close.

Ultimately though, we are all called to one highest calling. There is one thing that all believers have been called to. Independent of giftings and leading's. There is one thing that unites us all and one thing we pursue together.

1 Corinthians 1:9
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Colossians 2:3-6
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,


We are called into the Fellowship of the God's Son! Fellowship is an interesting word.

1 Corinthians 1:9 Interlinear
God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christour Lord.

Fellowship in the Greek here is: Koinonia Defined by Association, Community, Communion, Joint participation, and Intercourse. This intimate word shows us the level of intimacy Jesus would have us come into with him. It's the same emotional intimacy as that between a man and his wife, but closer and deeper still.

What you don't need in marriage to have a good relationship is atmosphere. Your dates don't have to involve flying off to Paris. By creating and maintaining intimacy in marriage you can have the best time in the world just sitting on your porch together. Then when atmosphere is increased, like a cruise or trip to Paris, the enjoyment factor is so much better because intimacy was already there. So in prayer life, you can build on intimacy with Jesus and then atmosphere will create itself over time. You don't need the right worship song, or dark or light or anything outer or external.

Atmosphere doesn't create intimacy, but intimacy enhances atmosphere. 

Peter walked on the water with Jesus. But he didn't really walk on the water. He walked on THE WORD. Notice though that he didn't just hop out of the boat when he saw Jesus. And some of us aren't ready to jump out of the boat and walk on water just yet. He inquired of the Jesus first. "Is it ok if I come out..." You can inquiry boldly but still not be sure it's a great idea. Only after getting the green light from Jesus did Peter venture out. We must learn to fellowship with Jesus until we get good at hearing his call. Trust, which is Faith, comes from Fellowship. Walking begins by seeking.

Notice even with the Israelites coming out of Eygpt, there was a process that God took them in because they were so highly developed in fear.

1. Come out of Eygpt
2. Walk this path
3. Camp by the sea
4. Then cross the sea...

We often make more of what "The Greats" did in times past. We get a sort of Technicolored ideal of what happened. I think of the story Kenneth Copeland told on New Years Eve about a time when a young man who had some financial difficulties was staying with him. I was thinking to myself... "Didn't this man realize he was staying with THE Kenneth Copeland?" My wife laughed at me. "Honey, he wasn't THE Kenneth Copeland at that time. He was some guy who was studying the Word in his garage with a TV that was broken and only showing half a picture. We get the idea that people are born great or have always operated at high levels of faith. When in fact they are men, who took the Word of God, Fellowshipped with Jesus and grew in Faith. Abraham didn't know everything about Jesus and the Holy Spirit and the church when God came to him in Ur/Haran and said "Come". He just got a simple direction and obeyed. He grew in his understanding of what would come of it over time with each new decision. Some were not such great decisions (like Ishmael). Some were better decisions, like changing his name and calling himself the father of many nations which birthed Isaac. It was decisions along the way that led to Abraham becoming the Father of Faith.

Don't embellish what The Greats did/do. Just tell it like it is and then follow the pattern of faith left for you. Fellowship with Jesus becoming like Him! Then you too can walk in the things of God! 

Darrell G. Wolfe

Plans Purposes Pursuits Kenneth Hagin part 1 of 31

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Musterion

Mens' Meeting 12/07/2011
7AM Hutton Financial




FYI 
Men: Here is a challenge. Initiate Prayer with your wife. You cannot agree w/o prayer. You build relationship with the ones you pray for. 


NO MEETING on the 3rd Wed of December. Pick up again in January. 

SUMMARY
Victory is attained by praying through the mystery into the revelation. 

Every situation has a mystery involved. There is an answer to the debt mountain you have. There is an answer to the tax burden you got behind on. There is an answer to handle the task ahead. There is an answer to the marriage problem you've been hammering away at for years. There is an answer to the relationship you have with spouse, kids, parents, siblings, etc... There is an answer to the boss that persecutes you. There is an answer to the promotion that never comes. There is an answer to taking that next hill, victory, battle.

Every situation has an answer. I had a mentor that was assigned for the last years of his career to simply go from business to business, department to department and fix them. His boss sent him places that he'd never been because he had this uncanny ability to see through the problem and turn it around. He said that ALL problem situations, ALL departmental failures, ALL issues in life... no matter how complicated... are the result of the basics going wrong. Somewhere along the line the simple things, the base line things, the things that make that operation run weren't being followed or preformed. He said in life, ALL situations have a simple answer. ALL failures in life are the result of some basic principle of the Word not being followed. Maybe all the basics; or maybe just one.

Victory is attained by praying through the mystery into the revelation. 

Behind the situation God has hidden for you the deep things. Hidden FOR YOU not from you. Simply take the time to pray, especially in tongues, over the situation. God will take that mystery and reveal the answer to you. When you finally see it you'll say: "OH... is that all... that's so simple... It was there all along."

Victory is attained by praying through the mystery into the revelation. 


DETAILS
The meeting details:


Terri Savelle Foy said: writing down the confession isn't enough. Confession my be daily and consistently.

Proverbs 13:12
NKJV
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
MESSAGE
12 Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around.

Kenneth Copeland Prophesied for 2012: A year of Suddenlies and Surprises. A year where America can be great again!

The Father in prayer said this to one of us:
Heavenly Father Says: "What do you think I do all day? Do you think I'm distracted? I'm not A.D.D. You are my focus."

So we can trust He is actively involved in our lives.

Pastor Sandy said once in a meeting:
"Some of you think that what you are going through is different..."
That struck a chord. We all have this tendency to feel our case is different. Our case is unique. Anyone can be delivered from this buy me because I'm different. But we're not. All humans have the same weak flesh. All humans have the same things to overcome. Jesus' Blood and Word covered it all.

Hope: RED HOT EXPECTATION! 

Someone said: If I can believe God and get out of debt in two years... I can be wealthy in two years! Glory!

Flesh VS Devil: Don't give the devil so much credit. He get's blamed for stuff he didn't even do and he's glad to take the credit. We have a flesh. Sometimes it's just flesh.

Situations are not fixed. ONLY the WORD is fixed!

Taking a look at the word here are some thoughts to ponder. Mystery. 

1 Corinthians 14:2-4
Praying in tongues: "In the Spirit he speaks mysteries"

Col 1:27
God made known the riches of this Mystery: Christ in us

Matthew 13:11
It's been given to us to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.

Eph 1:9
We have been given the mystery of his good will.

1 Cor 2:7
We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery.

1 Cor 15
I tell you a mystery...

What other words are there for mystery?
Thesaurus for Mystery:
Puzzle, Secret, Paradox, Problem, Question, Riddle, Romance, Secrecy, Stickler, Stumper....

Do a simple key word search for: "Mystery" in the bible software. You'll find more hits than you probably thought were there. Too see one such search click here.

One such example:

Mark 4:11

11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom ofGod: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

Mystery Defined:
The greek word for mystery is Musterion.

Mystery of God: the secret counsels which govern God in dealing with the righteous, which are hidden from ungodly and wicked men but plain to the godly

Websters 1828 Dictionary defines:

mystery MYS'TERY, n. [L. mysterium; Gr. a secret. This word in Greek is rendered also murium latibulum; but probably both senses are from that of hiding or shutting; Gr. to shut, to conceal. 1. A profound secret; something wholly unknown or something kept cautiously concealed, and therefore exciting curiosity or wonder; such as the mystery of the man with the iron mask in France. 2. In religion, any thing in the character or attributes of God, or in the economy of divine providence, which is not revealed to man. 3. That which is beyond human comprehension until explained. In this sense, mystery often conveys the idea of something awfully sublime or important; something that excites wonder. Great is the mystery of godliness. 1 Tim.3. Having made known to us the mystery of his will. Eph.1. We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery. 1 Cor.2. 4. An enigma; any thing artfully made difficult. 5. A kind of ancient dramatic representation. 6. A trade; a calling; any mechanical occupation which supposes skill or knowledge peculiar to those who carry it on, and therefore a secret to others.

In dealing with Faith and Confession:
Confession: Renews the Mind
Faith: Releases the through confession the substance of your renewed mind.
Mystery: It's not unknowable but simply not revealed. 

God told Joshua: SEE I have given you the city. You have to see it before you ever go and get it. This can only be done by walking in revealed mystery. Revelation knowledge.

The Spirit searches all things so all things are available to know.

Victory is attained by searching passed the mystery through prayer to revelation.

Jacob, through revelation, turned plain cattle into speckled and spotted cattle.

Men: Here is a challenge. Initiate Prayer with your wife. You cannot agree w/o prayer. You build relationship with the ones you pray for. 

Also suggested:

A book by

• "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill 
• "Faith and Confession" by Charles Capps

That's what I got out of the meeting, Darrell G. Wolfe

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God Can't Lie! We are BLESSED to be a BLESSING!

EMIC - Wed Morning Men's Meeting - 11/16/2011


FYI: No meeting on the second week in December, 12/21/2011. 


FYI: Men, Notes may be a bit disjointed. I captured the scritpures we talked about, but didn't get as many quotes as usual. 

God Doesn't Lie!
Numbers 23:19
 19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

God Cannot Lie!
Titus 1:2
2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,

It is IMPOSSIBLE for God to Lie!
Hebrews 6:18
18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

So to recap what we just read: GOD Doesn't Lie, Cannot Lie, it is IMPOSSIBLE for God to Lie!

Not only is it impossible to lie but if you read further into the story of Balaam and Balak you discover that even the prophet that had abandoned God's Word for monetary gain couldn't put forth a prophetic declaration against God's people when they were under the blessing. God won't even let someone else Lie for him! He'll expose it one way or another. He send a talking Donkey to stop that attack!


BLESSING I will BLESS you. Abraham was BLESSED by God. THE BLESSING is the action. THE BLESSING creates work/assignment. Abraham experienced THE BLESSING and became wealthy almost dispite himself. He was under God's hand and wealth came to him. When God speaks THE BLESSING is introduced. That is the anchor for our souls! One word from God changes everything.

THE BLESSING is the hope which anchors us. If we become BLESSING minded there is no problem to big, no enemy to strong, nothing we cannot do!
___________________________________________________________________________
Shared by Steve Wilson
Col 4.5 (NLT) 
"Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity."
(NKJV reads "walk in wisdom")

A word from God, through Steve, for the group:


 "Every day I bring opportunities to display my power and glory in order to bless you, so you can bless others. Keep your eyes upon me and hear my voice and I will lead you in the right path - put you in the right position. My Spirit was given to help you succeed, to teach and instruct you in my ways. Heed His voice and leading. I will make you successful in the financial realm, the business realm, the medical realm, the spiritual realm, whatever realm I have called you to and assigned you in. Walk with me and you WILL walk in wisdom, for I AM wisdom. Quit looking at the problem - listen and watch for the solution!" 


I appreciate each of you and appreciate everyone sharing what's on their heart - Iron truly sharpens Iron. SW
__________________________________________________________________________

Someone said: Opportunity meets Preparation

A theme of today: Read a little further. Every time a verse is quoted something powerful is just beyond it and fitting for us today.

Not works, but purpose. My assignment IS my ministry. Your assignment is your ministry. It's almost as though the five fold ministry gifts (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher) are the only ones NOT ministering. Instead, they teach and train US for the work of the ministry in the market places and streets. They do minister, but their job is to train us to do so in our sphere of influence. Church is the classroom/training center. The real ministry should be taking place outside the church walls.


Other Scripture that was brought up:


2 Timothy 1:7-9
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 8 So you must never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, either, even though I'm in prison for Christ. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the proclamation of the Good News. 9 It is God who saved us and chose us to live a holy life. He did this not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan long before the world began -- to show his love and kindness to us through Christ Jesus.



Numbers 23:21
18 Then he took up his oracle and said: "Rise up, Balak, and hear! Listen to me, son of Zippor! 19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? 20 Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it. 21 "He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, Nor has He seen wickedness in Israel. The Lord his God is with him, And the shout of a King is among them. 22 God brings them out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox.

Isaiah 61:4-9
4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations. 5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. 6 But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, They shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, And in their glory you shall boast. 7 Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs. 8 "For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, And will make with them an everlasting covenant. 9 Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, And their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, That they are the posterity whom the Lord has blessed."

2 Peter 2:15-16
15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

Darrell G. Wolfe and Others

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Our War in Prayer

Our War

Ephesians 6
We place on the armor not in order to go out toward war, but rather to stand. Stand where, why? To stand against the tactics of the enemy. Have you noticed that Prayer is the last thing on the list after all of the armor. This is because ONLY after we are properly equipped can we pray effectively! We don't do battle with anything physical. We do battle in the Spirit and we do it, primarily, through prayer! (2 Cor 10)

Waist Girded with Truth
I am the way, the truth, and the light... no one comes to the father except by me. Jesus set the standard for truth. Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Without it you cannot have wisdom or truth, only facts and reason. Which don't get you very far. Your prayer will be meaningless unless you first know Jesus Christ as Lord and savior, second base your prayer on His Word, and third seek his will in all situation. If you don't know the will of God for a sick person, don't pray for them. Go to prayer by yourself, find the will of God on that, and then go pray the will of God! Truth must be known BEFORE prayer can be effective. Only knowing truth about something gives you the structure and strength in your core/inner spirit to pray with power and conviction. Submit to God, then you will learn from Him, then you will know truth, then you will be free.

Breastplate of Righteousness
The knowledge of your standing with and before God is crucial to your prayer life. You cannot pray if you feel guilty before God. You cannot pray effectively if you are not confident before God. You must know that there is NO condemnation in you and that you have been MADE the righteousness of God. Only then will you heart be protected from attacks of the enemy. It is Jesus breastplate you wear, not your own. It is HIS righteousness that you operate in. When attack comes you can respond "I am the righteousness of God, get your hands off of my life!" So it has a two part function. It allow you to be bold before God and bold before the enemy.

Ephesians 3:12 NIV

Hebrews 4:16 NIV

Hebrews 10:35 NIV

Hebrews 13:6 NIV

1 John 3:21 NIV

1 John 5:14 NIV

2 Corinthians 3:12 NIV

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

2 Corinthians 6:7 NIV

Romans 8:1 NIV

Shoes of the preparation of the Good News of Peace
You should be prepared to share the good news of Peace, the nothing missing, nothing broken, everything whole and complete of God. The GOSPEL of PEACE is the KINGDOM of GOD. Jesus' primary stated reason for coming to earth was to bring in the Kingdom of God. God's kingdom overrides the worlds kingdom. God's kingdom is a kingdom of Peace/Shalom (Nothing Missing! Nothing Broken! Everything Whole and Complete!) This IS the gospel. Is being saved from sin and going to heaven the gospel? Yes! Is being delivered from Sin/Addiction and living holy the gospel? Yes! Is being healed from sickness the gospel? Yes! Is being delivered from poverty and made rich and fully supplied the gospel? Yes! Be prepared to bring the peace, the whole peace and nothing but the peace of God.

Shield of Faith to extinguish the arrows of the enemy
Faith is a shield. So often we think of faith as an active ingredient; as something with is causative, and it is. However, faith here is depicted as the shield not the sword. The sword if the word. But Faith is the shield. Faith helps us stand while the Word does the work. Faith is our shield against doubt and distractions. It helps us to overcome all of the Mark 4 things that prevent the Word from doing it's job.

Helmet of Salvation:
In order to pray effectively we must first have our minds outfitted with all that the salvation of God includes. We must know that we are saved from sin, sickness, disease, demons, and fear. We must realize that our salvation connected us to the blessing of Abraham and Deut. 28 and Psalm 103. You can't pray effectively unless you know what you are saved to and from.

Sword of the Spirit - The Word
The sword of the Word of God. The Word of God is sharp. It divides. It causes things to come and go. It is THE causative power of the universe. Without the word you are without the offensive power in your battle. You can pray all day with no effect. This is because prayer doesn't change things. The God who answers prayer changes things! (Nancy Dufresne) You can't just pray anything you like and expect it to come to pass. You must pray what God already said about it. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you in the Word where God has laid out the principles that govern that type of situation and then ask for his leadership and voice to guide you. Jeremy Pearsons said once that God showed him this in a powerful way. Something happened that was going to cost him some money. He was about to start quoting scriptures "Devil you owe me seven times what you stole...etc"  But instead he pulled back and asked, "God... how would you have me believe for this?" He was seeking FIRST the Kingdom of God... Only by seeking God in prayer and getting his Word (General and Specific) on a matter can you pray effectively about it.

Put it together
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our way of doing things we don't stop to think about what God wants to do. We ask him to bless our plan instead of asking him for His plan. Basically we need to pray in order to find out what we ought to pray about. Only after we are fully equipped with all the tools, armor, gifts, fruit... of God can we then pray effectively and cause lasting change with lasting results.

Prayer must be the primary activity of every believer; not a side note or something you do from time to time. Prayer must be THE activity of believers in Jesus. As prayer becomes effective and results manifest not only will the life of the believer become more solid and operate on a higher level, but people will benefit from it around you as well.

Some other scriptures:

• Romans 8:38 NKJV

  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
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• Ephesians 3:10 NKJV

  to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to theprincipalities and powers in the heavenly places,
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• Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
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• Colossians 1:16 NKJV

  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
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• Colossians 2:15 NKJV

  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
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