Tag: #beboldbebrave

EPISODE 339 -SPIRITUAL WARFARE – USING OUR FAITH TO FIGHT SATAN

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: SPIRITUAL WARFARE -USING OUR FAITH TO FIGHT SATAN

Today is the conclusion of the spiritual warfare series. In this time of struggle and stress that the church is going through right now, we need to know how to stand against the enemy. The subject of spiritual warfare goes far deeper and is more detailed than I have covered. I encourage you to dig into the word and do research for yourself.

2 Cor 5:7 We walk by faith and not by sight.

This is a reminder that we cannot go by what we see. We fight our battles with our faith. Part of the armor of God is our shield of faith. In other words, our faith is a defense against the enemy. Because we choose to see things through our faith and not how they appear to be at that moment.

A strategy is needed when we make our battle plan against the enemy. Picture a room full of generals with maps and intelligence reports scattered about, trying to create a plan. Sometimes we have to defend ourselves from attacks. Other times, we need to go on the offensive and take back territory.

We must understand the tactics of our enemy, his vulnerability, his territorial strongholds and how to break the lines of defense. We have to be determined to win. Belief in our cause will give us the strength to keep pressing forward.

We are in a battle for a billion soul harvest. I cannot think of a better cause than that, when heaven rejoices over even one soul coming to Christ. How can we not do all we can to tell the world that there is a better way.

When David looked at Goliath, he saw an enemy of his God. He was determined to take him out because he defied God. The Philistine had been mocking God and God’s people. David looked at him through his faith. He didn’t let how he looked in the natural shake him. He didn’t compare himself to Goliath. He compared Goliath to his God. Actually, the giant was minuscule compared to his God.

If David had looked at Goliath with human eyes not through faith, then Goliath would have seemed huge. David may have fallen into fear like all the rest of the army. He would have believed a bad report like the children of Israel when they went into spy out the land. But Joshua and Caleb looked at things through their faith. They stood boldly and proclaimed that we are more than able to take the land. They understood there were giants. But they chose to look at things in comparison to their God.

This is how one would walk by faith and not by sight. We have to look at our enemy through the lens of faith. Yes, to our natural, physical being, the enemy is more powerful. He has had thousands of years to manipulate mankind. He is good at the art of temptation and trapping. But we have to change the way we see our enemy. We need to look at him like David looked at Goliath. Compared to our God, he is minuscule. The enemy is nothing.

This is how we win our battle; we allow God to fight for us. He will guide us and lead us.

James 4:6-10 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

James used a lot of wisdom when writing to the church. He called out the spiritual issues of the church. But he also encourages the church that they can walk in victory if they do certain things.

He tells us to walk humbly and submit ourselves to God. If we resist the devil, he will flee. But we have to resist. It doesn’t say play with him, allow just a little bit of sin, after all the enemy says a little will not hurt. We are wise enough to know a little opens the door to the enemy to get a stronghold.

James says for the double minded to cleanse their hands and purify their hearts. To stop being double minded. In other words, we must have a made-up mind. We cannot flip flop between two opinions. We have to choose the right side and not give room for the enemy to get a foothold.

James says to cleans our hands. In other words, the things we do, our works or the work of our hands must be spiritually clean. We must have a pure heart. It takes work to fight against the enemy and not be double-minded, have clean hands and a pure heart. We can do these things, with the help of our God.

Never go into battle with an attitude that you will not win. If this is the attitude you may as well not go to battle. We have to believe we will come out victorious. We cannot win alone, but we have to go.

Like Jehosophat’s army, I shared with you yesterday. He didn’t have to fight with natural weapons. But they did fight with worship, they had a part to play. They had to show up at the battlefield to collect the spoils of war. We have to plan to be victorious by walking by faith. This refers to fighting a good fight of faith.

Eph 6:13-17 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:

I want you to notice verse thirteen. We put on the whole armor of God so that we can withstand evil. Then the verses go onto list the different parts of the armor of God. It takes this armor to equip us to be able to stand against the enemy. We could not discuss warfare without touching on our protection or armor.

Every episode of this series has been to encourage you and give you a desire to study how to war and defend against the enemy. We have to go into training or boot camp to understand how to fight our battles. There used to be commercials that encouraged kids to read books then they would say, Knowledge is Power. When it comes to our enemy, the more we know how to stand against him.

Be bold and stand strong against our enemy. You can win the battle if you stand with God. Allow him to lead and be willing to face your fears and doubts, putting them under the shield of faith. Be sure to plan for victory, never allow the enemy to cause you to talk defeat. Our words have power. Using the word of God is the fiery darts against the enemy. I hope this series has encouraged you to stand strong and fight the good fight of faith.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 333 ANTICIPATION

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: ANTICIPATION

The word anticipation means to be expectant, have hope, be ready for an event. Some synonyms include suspense, excitement, and hopefulness.

The church has much to be in anticipation about in our modern age. This is the best time in all of history to be alive. We wake each morning with the expectation that soon we are going to see the next great awakening. God is going to flood the earth with his spirit. We will see things that generations before us have only desired to see.

We should be hopeful, even though things may appear to be smothering and dark. The enemy is on the prowl to cause fear, anxiety and depression. He wants to paralyze the believers with these things. He is also using fatigue and illness like never before to distract the body of Christ.

But we have hope. Our hope is in Jesus. We can be excited and have anticipation about the good things to come on the other side of the darkness. I have often thought about the early church after the day of Pentecost. They added three thousand souls to the body of Christ in one day. What an amazing thing it will be to have a great revival and add several souls.

Once the gospel has been preached to all the world and everyone has had an opportunity to be saved. Then comes the end. Jesus will come and gather up his bride.

Most women can remember how excited they were on their wedding day. Many hours and some even months and years went into planning the perfect day. The morning, they were to walk down the aisle, the anticipation was almost unbearable.

The bride of Christ is in this waiting place a short time before the rapture. I understand that the word rapture is not in the bible. However, it says we will be caught up into the air with him. The anticipation is getting real.

Now is not the time to be distracted by the things of this life. We cannot allow life to overwhelm us. Often the way to manage large tasks is to break them down into smaller ones. We have a period of time before this revival sweeps the land. If the anticipation and pressure of the enemy gets overwhelming, we can break it down to one day at a time. We can concentrate on the tasks we have to get done for that day.

Anticipation is a theme of the Bible to live in hope and readiness of God fulfilling his promises. There are different places in the word that God’s people acted with anticipation and hope of God fulfilling his word.

Instead of the anxiety that the enemy tries to give us, we need to cast it down and accept God’s anticipation. He has amazing things for his body. We have that hope to cling to with fervent excitement and anticipation.

The things we focus on will shape the course of our lives. If we focus on the evening news and how bad they tell you things are, it is easy to get down and depressed. Negative thoughts and words can get us in a position of being paralyzed.

When our enemy is about to lose his grip, he will throw everything at us at once. We have to know how to navigate the storm. But the great thing about the enemy’s storm is that God is above it. We will be elevated above the storm, because our God will lift us up.

What do we do to prepare for the storm? The best thing we can do is pray and ask for God to give us wisdom to navigate the upcoming days. We will ride out the storm because we are sheltered under God’s wings. It comes back to us getting in the secret place of the Most High God.

Psalm 91:1-3 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

If we dwell in the secret place of the Most High, we will be protected under his shadow. He is our fortress, which is a safe place that has been reinforced against the enemy. God will deliver us from the traps and snares of the enemy and from pestilences, which are diseases.

Psalm 91:4-8 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

The key to being protected and covered is to get into the secret place with God. I read this out loud over my home almost every night.

Psalm 91:9-12 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Because thou hast made the Lord thy habitation, no evil will befall thee. He has angels that watch over us and protect us. Think about hiding under God’s wings, the enemy will not be able to touch us. Because of this, we have no reason to fear.

In summary, it is good to anticipate our future; God will show up with his glory. The enemy will not win. Do not be discouraged, do not allow anxiety to overtake you. We are living in a great time to be alive, and we have to hold onto our hope and anticipation of what our God will do.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 330 KNOW THE ENEMY

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: KNOW THE ENEMY

This morning, I sat and pondered all that is happening in our world. People are blinded to what satan is doing. A large portion of the Body of Christ is blind to the tactics of the enemy. We need to be wise to his tactics to keep us from falling into a trap.

Matt 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Jesus told his disciples he was sending them forth as sheep in the middle of a bunch of wolves. Sheep are vulnerable animals, they do not have many built in natural defenses. It is not like they have razor sharp fangs or sharp claws. When a predator comes around sheep are vulnerable without their shepherd. They do not have much chance of survival. They will be consumed by wolves. Just like satan, he is a predator, he will devour us if we do not stay close to our shepherd.

Understanding the enemy will give us wisdom on how to avoid his traps. However, we do not have to go down the proverbial rabbit hole and study satanism to know how to avoid his traps. God’s word tells us all we need to know.

I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

We think sober just means not drunk on alcohol. But it also means: serious, solemn, clearheaded, temperate. Temperate means mild, balanced and self-restrained. Vigilant means to be watchful, careful, alert to danger.

The word is telling us to pay attention and not be distracted, be clear headed and self-restrained. The enemy’s biggest tool in his arsenal is to draw us away from God, he tempts us with something that our flesh desires. If we lack self-restraint it is easy to get caught in the trap of the enemy. Satan is out there, roaming and watching for us to get in a vulnerable place for him to try to pounce on us. Everyday, we have to make sure we have on the whole armor of God. We have to be watching out for the enemy’s attack.

Think about all the evil that is on open display in our society today. We cannot even imagine the evil that is being hidden from us all. God is going to expose the evil. All the evil will not stand if we pray for exposure and for God to remove it.

Luke 12:2-3 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

God will reveal every evil plot and plan of the enemy. Part of God’s protection as our shepherd is to reveal the plots of the enemy to us. He has given us discernment. Which is an instinct that we know in our spirit with deep understanding the plans of the enemy.

We can overcome it all by resistance. We can resist the things he is plotting and planning. If we resist him, he has to flee.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We resist by being temperate or self-restrained enough to say no to satan’s temptations. In resisting we take away any right he has to overpower us. He has to leave us.

We overcome the enemy with the blood of the lamb and the words of our testimony. We need to speak out of our mouths how great God is, when we speak it, we reinforce it in our own belief system. Our testimony will encourage others as well as ourselves.

Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

We have power over the powers of the enemy. We are wise to his devices. We have to stand together and stand strong. Hold onto our faith and nail scared hand of our shepherd.

2 Cor 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

We have to know the tactics of our enemy and how to combat them. Our Lord is there to keep us safe. God will not allow us to be overtaken by the enemy as long as we look to him. He has promised to be our protector, savior and friend. So be vigilant, keep watch for the enemy so that you are not caught in his trap.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 328 STANDING IN THE GAP

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: STANDING IN THE GAP

All through the Bible we find stories of people who stood in the gap for their nation, people, and family. Standing in the gap means we fill the void space between those who are in need of God to reach God. Jesus is the ultimate example, without him standing in the gap for our sins, we would not even have a right to ask for God’s help. The largest gap ever created was the one Adam and Eve made when they sinned. Jesus came and filled in that gap.

John 14:6-Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Moses interceded on behalf of the children of Israel several times. Asking God to give them mercy when they deserved punishment. Many times God was weary of their idolatry and disobedience, but Moses prayed for God’s mercy.

Esther called a fast and prayed for God to save her people from Haman’s evil agenda to kill all of her people. Once the time of fasting and prayer was over she went to the king at risk of death. She asked for her people to be given into her hand to do as she wished. When his plot had been revealed to the king. Evil Haman was hung on a gallows he had prepared for Mordecai a Jew that would not bow to him. God’s people were spared because of Esther and her call for prayer.

Nehemiah was grieved by the news that the walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins. Because of his intercession and excitement of rebuilding the wall. Others got on board. Nehemiah stood in the gap and the people were lead into a time of repentance and renewal. The walls were fortified and once again Jerusalem was a strong city.

Sometimes all it takes is for one person to get excited about something. Their vision can become the vision of others. Nehemiah wanted to rebuild the walls, but it took a group of people to accomplish it.

Abraham pleaded with God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah. He asked God to spare it if he could find fifty righteous. He did not. Abraham kept bargaining down to ten people who were righteous. God could not even find ten in all the city that was righteous.

After Lot, his wife and his daughters left the city, fire and brimstone started falling from the sky on the evil. God told them to not look back, but Lot’s wife turned and looked back, she was turned into a pillar of salt.

It is safe to say that God spared Lot and his daughters because of Abraham’s prayers.

For years, there has been a movement in our country of intercessors who have prayed for our country and the world to be free from evil rulers. Many have cried out to God for mercy on our country, our states and local areas.

Being an intercessor takes time and energy. It means going beyond the words and feeling the emotion of the weight of where our country is spiritually. We have been taken over by evil agendas and the worship of satan.

I am sure that the only thing that has spared America is the large group of God’s people that feel compelled to intercede. Now more than ever we need for God to reveal the evil, make know satan’s agenda. God will spare our country, but we have something to do, we need to intercede.

I am sure we all have someone in our lives that needs us to stand in the gap of intercession for them. They are bound in sin and need God to intervene on their behalf. There are people that are dying of sickness and bad choices that need God.

We cannot be the church of recent years where we look at these situations and say a surface prayer and go on about our lives. Now is the time to get serious and get down to business. We need to allow our prayers to penetrate heaven. Many prayers never leave the earth. The difference one is saying a prayer. “Lord help that situation. Amen.” The other is getting on our face before God and praying until we feel like we cannot pray any longer. We need to P.U.S.H, Pray Until Something Happens.

Are you willing to stand in the gap for that loved one or friend? Are you willing to invest time in crying out for our country? God is needing us to keep pushing and praying. We are so close to our breakthrough but we need to keep going. Keep walking by faith.

Heb 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Because of what Jesus has done for us, we can come boldly to the throne of God and petition for mercy and grace. We can be bold in our prayers and intercession for those in need of God’s intervention.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 323 GETTING TO KNOW THE SHEPHERD

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: GETTING TO KNOW THE SHEPHERD

It is easy to look at a younger generation and shake our heads in amazement at their lack of responsibility. I am sure the generation before me felt the same way about my generation.

In the church today, so many people want everything spoon-fed to them. They beg for prayer but are not willing to pray for themselves. They want easy religion but not a faith walk that requires something. We are the fast-food, convenience generations. This life is about walking through tough things sometimes.

If we are not willing to put in the work, we will not reap the rewards. The word says many things about reaping what we sow. That is seeds of good and seeds of evil. Whatever we sow will grow.

Gal 6:5-8 For every man shall bear his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

These people want someone to search out the scriptures for them and just give them the CliffsNotes. But if we do not dig into the word for ourselves, we are vulnerable to deception. It is hard enough to walk in truth when you are digging in the Word every day.

We are each responsible for our own souls. We cannot base our salvation on what someone else says. We have to compare what is being said to the written word of God. See if what they are saying lines up with what God’s word says.

It is time we take responsibility and grow up. God needs a mature church in order for us to reach the lost world. Because we have the freedom of religion in America, some people are under the misconception that any religion will do. We do not need religion; we need a faith walk with the one and only real God of the universe, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Col 3:23-25 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

It is time to get down to business and dig in our heels. It is time to get serious about our faith walk. This world is shaking and things are about to change. We can either get on board or be left behind. I don’t want to be left behind.

When Jesus comes to get his bride, I want to be found faithfully doing what he has asked of me. I want to be found faithful.

Matt 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

I believe that these are the saddest words in the bible. These people will come before him with their Christian lists of things that they have done. But they were too busy doing all this stuff to develop a real and true relationship with him. He says I never knew you.

John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Jesus said if we are his sheep we will hear his voice and he will know us. If we hear his voice, we will follow him. It is time we get serious about hearing the voice of God. It is either hear him now and follow or hear those awful words, Depart from me, I never knew you.

If we are truly his sheep, we will hear, Well Done!! That sounds so much better.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 322 ARISE OUT OF SLEEP AND FIGHT

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: Arise Out Of Sleep And Fight

Almost everyone I talk to is struggling with fatigue, stress, anxiety, fear of the unknown. The enemy is trying to wear us out, but we have to fight. We are on the edge of something happening that will change the world as we know it. God is going to begin to pour himself out in the churches that are ready to accept him.

Some churches, as I have said many times, are social clubs. They are happy with the status quo. They do not want God’s presence in their midst. If he were to show up, they would have to measure up.

Other congregations of people are starving for fresh bread of God’s anointing. They desire a closer walk with him. They want to know him, not just know about him. Not in word or deed, but truly know him. These are the people that he is going to visit. He wants to be welcome in the buildings that bear his name. He longs to communicate with us and give us direction and a better understanding of what he wishes to do with us.

Far too long, the harvest field has been ready, and the church has been asleep. It is time to wake up and arise out of sleep. The Pharisees of today have bound up God’s people for too long. God doesn’t give us a checklist and expect us to live by it.

By this list, you will know you are my disciples. Don’t do this; you can’t do that, and on and on. No, the words says, we are his if we have love one to another. If we love him, we will do what his word says, but we do not get salvation by works. It all comes down to a personal relationship. How much time do you spend with him? How often do you think about God and his wonderful mercy outside of church services?

Today is a grand and glorious day. It is an opportunity to change things for the better. Today is the day to get serious, arise out of sleep, and press forward. Do not allow the enemy to wear you out. He is trying to make everyone battle-weary.

But we do not have to allow satan to wear us out. We can praise our way through. Praise will break the heaviness. Praise helps us power through whatever the enemy is trying to do in our lives to wear us down. If he can get us to fall into fatigue, depression, or fear, he knows we will not have the energy to fight him. He knows we will become weary of trying to witness to the world.

But we can break through and break out of the chains he is trying to bind us up in by praising the Lord. There is not one thing the enemy can do to us if we can keep our God Focus.

When we feel weak, we are strong in the Lord. He draws near to the humble and the weak. He will see us through whatever comes our way. We cannot give up; we have to stand strong and fight. The enemy will not win unless we give up. Let the boldness of the Lord arise in you and stand strong. Look to the Lord, and He will restore our peace.

I want to leave you with a verse for the day.

Gal.6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 320 OVERCOMING UNBELIEF

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: OVERCOMING UNBELIEF

Unbelief is a plague in the church today. Everything is by and through faith, so how do we grow faith?

Sometimes we can draw on past experiences where God has shown up in those moments we desperately needed him. We can be sure He will show up again. When I am sick and need healing, I remember all the times God has healed me. I will remember the times he healed others.

Growing up in a faith that believes in the laying on of hands. I have seen many miracles over the years. I watched my dad’s leg grow together one time when he had a bad cut. There is no doubt in my mind it was so deep that it needed stitches. But we battled through about thirty minutes of prayer. God came through with a healing miracle.

Other times we have to dig into the word of God and find inspiration.

There is a story for every situation that we face in life. The word of God has scriptures that will build us up and bring encouragement to our souls. There is nothing we face that others have not gone through and God brought them through it. Job’s story alone covers most everything anyone could suffer. But if we stay faithful and look to God, he will bless us for our faith in Him.

We can build our faith through prayer. Start with praise and transition into acknowledging what He has already done. Petition God for what you need. Then start thanking Him for it. We have to get into a spirit of prayer. This means really pouring out your heart to God and not just saying a few words halfheartedly.

Jude 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

It comes down to trust. How much do we trust God? Do we know in our hearts as well as our minds that he will answer our prayers? Many people will say he is able, but how many know without a doubt he will come through? If you know, you have faith, then it is just a matter of waiting until you see with your eyes what you know in your spirit. Faith is seeing light when your natural eyes see only darkness.

Think of it this way. Say you want to be a master piano player. You can study everything about all the people who were master piano players. You can study how the piano is made. You can study how many keys and how much a baby grand weighs, you can even learn to read sheet music. But if you do not put into practice what you know, you will never be a master piano player.

The same goes for our faith in God. We can read and study all about God. We can have knowledge about walking by faith. But until we try to walk by faith, we will never learn how to do it.

We must be firm in our belief that God will do what he has promised.

Prov 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

The word says for us to trust in the Lord with all our heart. This is what it means to fully trust. There is not a shadow of a doubt that God will do what he has promised. You know it with all your being. We cannot try to reason things out in our minds. God rarely answers the way we think. But he does answer. If we acknowledge him in all our ways, he will guide us.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Merriam Webster dictionary defines – Diligently – a manner involving great or constant activity. With great determination, intensely.

We have to keep at it and stay focused on God and not our problems. The more we focus on him the stronger we will grow in our faith.

Let’s recap.

We can draw on past experiences to encourage us.
We have to dig into the word of God and find inspiration.
We can build our faith through prayer.
Practice- until we try to walk by faith, we will never learn how to do it.
We must be firm in our belief that God will do what he has promised.

I hope this has been an encouragement to you to hold on if you are believing God for something. Remember everything happens in God’s will and his perfect timing.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 319 REMOVING THE CANCER FROM THE CHURCH

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v6rw8kb-god-focus-this-morning-ep319-removing-the-cancer-from-the-church.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: REMOVING THE CANCER FROM THE CHURCH

I attended a church for several years that I loved. The people were genuine and really cared about others. We were the spiritual emergency room for the town and surrounding areas. We did our best to meet the needs. If they were hungry, we got them food. If their babies needed diapers or milk, we provided. It was a place that those who were broken by life could come for encouragement and to find healing through Jesus.

In today’s society, there are so many hurt and broken people. They will come to the church looking for compassion and help. It is our job to love them and help them to find healing for their body and soul.

However, too many churches are plagued by the cancer of legalism and judgment. They end up hurting those who Jesus called them to help heal. We have to be loving toward those who are unlovable. We are called to lead people to Jesus. If they come into a church then half of the battle is over, they are inside the building. Our buildings, we call churches, should be a place of hope for those that are lost.

Instead of loving and helping them, the “Bertha better than you’s” of the church with their judgmental attitudes end up hurting those people. They react to people with almost hatred. Many are driven by the jezebel spirit; they don’t want to give up their control. These hurt people end up going back to the world because at least some people in the world are accepting them.

Matt 5:44-48 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

The word perfect in this verse means complete. We are complete in Jesus and by doing good to the hurting world. Jesus was explaining to the disciples that it is easy to love those like you. But it is harder to love those that seem unlovable. Even the publicans and sinners honor and love those that are like them.

It is time to get outside the four walls and love them like Jesus. We are called by God to share God’s love with the world. Many have forgotten and got wrapped up in having a bigger building or a larger worship team than the church on the corner. We are in competition and still not accomplishing our mission?

These buildings and all that we build on earth will burn up. All that matters is that we point people to Jesus. So that they may find rest and salvation for their souls. Jesus didn’t come and die to give us a better way, only to have us to return to legalism and divisions.

JOHN 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Nowhere in that verse does it say to hurt people by rejecting them. I know a wonderful woman of God that used to be involved in witchcraft as a teen. She when to three different denominational churches in her town. She was wearing black makeup and was dressed in all black. She went in and sat quietly and didn’t cause any kind of disruption, she was asked to leave and come back when she changed her clothes and washed off her makeup. This was a teenager that needed love and compassion. She needed those people to rally around her and to pour healing compassion out on her. Instead, they made her feel more rejected and alone. She felt like Jesus didn’t love her either.

By the grace of God, she found a woman that was a friend to her. A woman that loved her and prayed with her. Thank God she had a praying grandmother. But what happens to those who do not have a praying grandmother. Their soul ends up lost because the so-called church doesn’t like how they look. It is not all in the clothes it is all in the heart.

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

By this verse, I have to question if some of these churches even know God. There is no love except the love they have for their little social group. God is getting ready to separate the wheat and tares. This type of behavior is a cancer to the body of Christ. It is causing spiritual sin sickness to continue, and this cannot be if the body of Christ is going to gather the end time harvest.

I know I talk about this a lot. I feel it is very important. There are many souls hanging in the balance. So many will be lost if we do not get rid of the judgmental, religious, legalistic, ways of doing things. Let us set aside religion and just love God and love people.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 318 PRAISE HIM IN THE FIRE

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v6ruq9b-god-focus-this-morning-ep318-praise-him-in-the-fire.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: PRAISE HIM IN THE FIRE

When the fiery trials of life come to turn your world to ashes. God is there in your fire. He is not afraid of the fire, because our God is a consuming fire. He will not let the enemy win. We have to stand strong on the promises of God. He promised to never leave us.

Ex 14: 14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

What the enemy meant for destruction God will turn it around. Now is not the time to give up. We are in the fiery furnace moment. The enemy has turned up the heat, but we will not be destroyed. We need to have faith that he is going to burn off the ropes and set us free.

It seems everyone I’ve talked to in the last few days has serious things going on in their lives. The enemy knows we are on the verge of Jesus showing up in our fiery furnace. He is coming to set us free. But we cannot give in to the flames and allow fear, anxiety and worry to overtake us. We cannot allow the fatigue of being battle weary to cause our faith to falter. We have to stand strong.

What the enemy meant to burn down our lives, God will use to elevate us. Look at Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They were in the fiery furnace it was turned up seven times hotter. What were they doing? They were praising the Lord. I was in the middle of writing last night to film today’s video. I shared with a friend that I was battle weary. It seems like the enemy has turned up the intensity of his pressure to destroy God’s people.

She said God had been dealing with her to write about the intensity of the fire. She reminded me that the hotter the fire, the more we need to praise God. I wanted to share this fact with you.

When the enemy wants to turn your life into ashes, remind him that he has no authority over your life. God will quicken us, which means he will make us alive or revive us.

There is power in prayer. This is a Christian sentence we say a lot. But the statement is very true. Prayer clears the cobwebs that the enemy is trying to build in our minds. But Satan will not have his way as long as we stand against the enemy.

Praise is what invites the presence of God. The enemy wants to get us so downtrodden we do not have energy to pray or praise. But if we can find the energy to worship, the heaviness of the atmosphere will lift.

Is 61: 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

He takes the ashes that are left after the enemy burns down things in our lives and uses those ashes to give us beauty. He gives us joy for mourning and will lift the spirit of heaviness the enemy has tried to put on us. He will give us a garment of praise to clothe us.

Saul was tormented by evil spirits, but while music in praise to God was played, they left him alone. The enemy cannot stand it when we praise God. It is torment to him.

I know sometimes it is hard to face the fiery furnace. We have to remember that God is not afraid of the fire, and he will show up. He will remove our bondage and set us free. He will take our tragedy and turn it into victory.

When the three Hebrew men came out of the fiery furnace they received a promotion. They were elevated to be over the providences of Babylon. Hang on during these fiery trials, God is working on your elevation.

We are learning to lean and trust. Every level is about fighting the devil in a new way. He would love to tell us that we are defeated, that God doesn’t hear our prayers. God doesn’t care. But he has come along to late in the game to tell me that my God is not real. If God is real then all the promises in the Bible are real.

He promised to never leave us, he promised to lift us up, he promised to protect us from the enemy. Our God is real and there is no other like him. He can be fire when we need fire. He can be living water to quench our dry and parched soul when we need it.

We have to guard our peace and protect our joy right now. Because the darkness will overtake us quickly with its smothering oppression, if we do not stand strong and praise him in our storms.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EP317 DENOUNCE RELIGION / FOLLOW JESUS

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v6rsq3t-god-focus-this-morning-ep317-denounce-religion-follow-jesus.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: DENOUNCE RELIGION / FOLLOW JESUS

I once had a person tell me they didn’t understand why I chose a religion that prevented me from doing sinful things. They suggested that I go to the Big Book of World Religions and pick something easier. I told them it didn’t work that way, there was religion and there is the plan of God for salvation. Religion is a waste of time. If you have a religion, you need to give it up. Jesus didn’t come to start a religion. Although the church world has made following Christ a religion and not a relationship.

Britanica.com defines religion-human beings’ relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine, or worthy of especial reverence.

According to this, religion could be the worship of anything you as a human being regard in high esteem and worthy of special reverence. In other words, people worship a lot of things. People worship animals, gold statues, celebrities, their accomplishments and status, false gods that man has created. All of this is idol worship. All the idols in the Bible, Baal for example is driven by a demon. Demons draw humans in to lifting up and worshipping things other than the ONE TRUE GOD.

I am sick of religion in the church that has divided God’s people. I am sure God is sick of religion. He came to give us a better life than religion. Think seriously about it for a moment. Jesus was killed by religious people. The ones that should have understood Jesus was the Messiah, was so wrapped up in the letter of the law and their fringe laws that they missed him. They were too wrapped up in their rituals.

Because of the blood of Jesus, I am no longer a sinner. I am no longer a slave to sin. That doesn’t mean that I am perfect and will not slip from time to time. But I have found that the more I am in God’s word and the more I pray the less likely I am to fall.

John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

It is easy to get wrapped up in a list of do’s and don’t, but being a Christian is not about living by a list. It is not about living in fear that at any given moment, God is going to send a lightning bolt down and incinerate you for making a mistake.

It all comes down to relationship. If you have a relationship with Jesus, you will want to spend time with him. You will want to worship him. You will not spend time doing things that break His heart.

Think about it in terms of a bride. We are the bride of Christ. What kind of marriage would it be if we never talked to Jesus? If we never said nice things to him? If we betrayed his trust and committed adultery by following other gods. If we never spend time in his word, because that is his story, his love letter to help us to know him. That sounds like a marriage that would not last.

The Bible does have a bunch of things we are forbidden to do. We have to live by what the word of God says. God doesn’t put things in his word that he forbids for his benefit, but for ours. All sin leads to pain, heartache, destruction and death.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Our right to salvation is a gift from God. We do not receive this gift by choosing a denominational, religious set of rules. We receive salvation through the acceptance of what Jesus did on the cross. By being born again.

We cannot follow Jesus simply to escape hell. It will not work, because the fear of hell comes and goes with our choices. We have to choose Jesus because we are tired of bondage and want to be set free. We have to want Jesus to fix our brokenness.

Gal. 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

This says that we need to stand fast, but what does that really mean? It means that we need to be unwavering, hold your ground and be strong in your commitment in spite of all the reasons to waiver or give up. We cannot give up our liberty or freedom that Christ has given us to make us free and be entangled again into sin.

Every day we are given choices. Will we choose Jesus or something sinful that we know we should not do? Every choice we make leads to the next choice. We can allow God’s word to shine a light on our path so that we make the right steps, or we can choose to walk in darkness.

Following Jesus is not a religion it is a choice to have life as opposed to sin and death. Sin may look appealing for a season, but the glitz and glitter that satan paints it with wears off soon and we are left with the reality of what is under the glitz and glitter.

This is why we cannot choose a religion from the big book of religions. We have to make a choice to follow Jesus instead of following a religion. Only in Jesus will we have true freedom.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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