Crazy World, Crazy Faith - By Apostle, Prophet Dr DK Olukoya

Happy New Year! 2014!! Our Gift To You.

This year will be a year of remembrance! A grate year for all who trust in The Lord and to all my blog, Facebook, family and friends readers. If prosperity is not your problem still pray all this! God still want to enlarge and expand you. Remember Abraham. If you are sick and in need of prayers of any kind kindly email us at: deliveranceministriesllc@gmail.com The God we serve, The God that created the the whole universe! The Heavens and the earth will see you through. It is a year will many question but few answers. draw near to God and He will draw close to you!

Please pray this prayers below

Prosperity Prayers
Jesus is Lord of this earth. The earth with all its fullness belongs to God. As a joint heir with Jesus, I claim the wealth of this earth, for it belongs to Jesus. I claim the wealth of this earth, for it belongs to Jesus. I claim all that Jesus death made available for me to receive. In Jesus name, I command you devil to loose the wealth of this earth! Take your hands off now! I command every hindering force to stop! In Jesus name, I bind you and render you ineffective against me! In Jesus name, I command wealth to come to me now, Jesus is Lord of my life. Jesus is Lord of my finances. Jesus is Lord.

  The Lord is my banker; I shall not owe. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He restoreth my loss: He leadeth me beside still waters. Yea though I walk in the valley of the shadow of debt,I will fear no evil,for thou art with me;thy silver and thy gold,they rescue me.Thou preparest a way for me in the presence of business competitors;Thou anointed my head with oil.my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and i shall do business in the name of the Lord. Amen
 
    As God was with Joseph in Potiphar's house and business,so the Lord is with me. As things prospered in Joseph's hand,so all that i lay my hands upon shall prosper.I will be blessed at home.I will be blessed in my fields.

My God has enough riches in heaven in Christ Jesus.I enter into this from now on, in Jesus name.

I have passed through the night of financial crisis.My morning of joy is coming beginning from today I delight myself in the Word of the Lord,therefore,I am blessed.Wealth and riches shall be in my house and  my righteousness endureth forever.(Psalm 112:13.)

  I remember the Lord my God,for it is He that giveth me power to get wealth.(Deut. 8:18.)

With me are riches and honour,enduring wealth and prosperity.(Proverb 8:18.)

   I am crowned with wealth.(Prov.14 :24.)

With me are riches and honour, enduring wealth and prosperity. (Prov.8:18)

I am crowned with wealth. (Prov. 14:24)

I know the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for my sakes he became poor, that through His poverty I might be rich. (2 Corn. 8:9)

  I shout for joy:let the Lord be magnified,which hath pleasure in the prosperity of His servant (Psalm 35:27.)

  The Lord is my shepherd.(Psalm 23:1)

  The Lord prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies, He anoints my head with oil,my cup runneth over,(Psalm 23:5.)

  The blessing of the Lord makes me rich and He adds no trouble to it.(Prov.10:22.)

I receive wealth from the Lord and the good health to enjoy it. (Eccl.5:19.)


  I am blessed because I trust in the Lord.I reverence the Lord,therefore is no want in my life.The young lions do lack and suffer hunger:But i shall not want any good thing.(Psalm 34:8-10.)

  I have given and it shall be given unto me,good measure,pressed down,shaken together and running over,shall men give into my bosom.For with this same measure that i mete withal it shall be measure to me again (Luke 6:38.)

 God is able to make all grace abound toward me,that I,always having all sufficiency in all things,may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corn.9:8.)

  I am prospering in every way. My body keeps well,even as my soul keeps well and prosper.(3John 2.)

  Whatsoever I ask the father in the name of His son Jesus,He will give it to me.(John 16:23.)

  Abraham's blessings are mine.(Gal.3:14.)

What things so ever I desire, when I pray, I believe that I have received them and I shall have them. (Mark 11:24.)

I delight myself in the Lord, and He gives me the desire of my heart. (Psalm 37:4.)

I seek first the kingdom of God, therefore everything I need shall be added unto me. (Lk. 12:31.)

The wealth of the sinner is laid up for me. (Prov. 13:22.)

My inheritance shall be forever. I shall not be ashamed in the evil time; and in the days of famine I shall be satisfied. (Psalm 37:18-19)

Every burden shall be taken away from off my shoulder, and every yoke from off my neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. (Isa.10:27.)

I am like a tree that's planted by the rivers of water. Everything I do shall prosper.(Psalm 1:3.)

I will not faint, for in due time and at the appointed season i shall reap, if I faint not. (Gal. 6:9.)

My God supplies all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.(Phil.4:19.)

There will be no poverty of body, soul and spirit in my life. The anointing of God upon my life gives me favour in the eyes of God and man all the days of my life. I shall not labour in vain. I shall walk this day in victory and liberty of the spirit.

I bind all evil spirits in me or that are attacking me, in the name of Jesus.Anything from the kingdom of darkness that has made it its business to hinder me, I single you out right now, and bind you with chains that cannot be broken, in the name of Jesus; I strip off all your spiritual armour, in the name of Jesus. I command you not to involve yourself with me again, in the name of Jesus.

  Prayer Points:

1. O Heaven over my prosperity open by fire, in the name of Jesus.
2. O God, arise and empower me to prosper, in the name of Jesus.
3. Every power sitting on my wealth, fall down and die, in the name of Jesus.
4. Foundational poverty, die, in the name of Jesus.
5. I take authority over and order the building of the strongman of financial failure, in the name of Jesus.
6. I break every covenant of poverty of my father's house, in the name of Jesus.
7. I enter into the covenant of prosperity and abundance with the Elshadai, in Jesus name
8. Every curse and covenant responsible for financial mess, I revoke you, in the name Jesus name.
9. Every evil power, that will contest my voice this year, be silenced, in Jesus name.
10. Every power that will contend with my divine destiny this year,scatter, in Jesus name.
11.Oh star of my destiny, arise and shine this year, in the name of Jesus.
12. I silence every strange altar sacrificing my divine opportunities, in Jesus name.
13. Blood of Jesus, wipe off all handwriting of failure in my life.
14. Every tree of bad luck, be uprooted by fire, in the name of Jesus.
15. Fire of God, deal with every root of misfortunate, in the name of Jesus.
16. When and where others are confused, i shall succeed, I shall get maximum profit, in Jesus name.
17. O God, arise and teach me how to profit, in the name of Jesus.
18. O God, arise and teach me how to produce wealth, even in a bad economy, in the name of Jesus.
19. My father, breathe upon all \i will do this year, in the name of Jesus.
20.Every strongman of failure at the edge of my breakthrough die, in Jesus name.
21. Blood of Jesus, dissolve the root of disgrace, in the name of Jesus.
22.Every witchcraft altar, raised against my breakthrough die, in Jesus name.
23.Every ancestral debt-collector forcing me to pay for what i did not buy,die, in the name of Jesus.
24. I reject the life of survival on debit. I receive financial breakthroughs to clear the debts, in the name of Jesus.
25. Thou power of family curse and covenant of poverty over my life, break, in the name of Jesus.
26.Those that despise me in the past shall see my favour, in the name of Jesus.
27.Those who belittle me shall witness my progress, in the name of Jesus.
28. Every cycle of backwardness, break, in the name of Jesus.
29.Prosperity famine, die, in the name of Jesus.
30.Every seed of failure planted in my family line, die, in the name of Jesus.
31.Thou power of aimlessness,die,in the name of Jesus.
32.Lord, anoint my brain to prosper after the order of Bazaleel, the son of Uri,the son of Hui,of the tribe of Judah, in the name of Jesus.
33.I ask for the release of prosperity on my life, in the name of Jesus.
34.Let all demonic hindrances to my fiances be totally paralysed, in Jesus name
35. Fire of God, roast all witchcraft bags holding my breakthrough, in Jesus name.
36.Every spiritual satanic bank manger, die, in the name of Jesus.
37.Every dark hand, in my foundation,waging war against my destiny wither, in the name of Jesus.
38. Let men go out of their ways to show favour unto me, in the name of Jesus.
39.Lord, let not the lot of the wicked fall upon my life, in the name of Jesus.
40.Every satanic investigation into my future, be dismantled, in Jesus name.
41.Every weapon of shame directed against my life, loose your power, in Jesus name.
42.Every weapon of shame directed against my life,loose your power, in Jesus name.
43.Every satanic arrow, fire against my star, fall down and die, in Jesus name.
44. My destiny, jump out of debt, in the name of Jesus.
45. Every enemy of my progress, scatter, in the name of Jesus.
46.Every enemy of my miracles, scatter, in the name of Jesus.
47.Thou power of the earth, release my buried virtue, in the name of Jesus.
48.Thou power in the heavenlies, release my captured star, in Jesus name.
49.My destiny, reject witchcraft foundation of hardship, in the name of Jesus.
50.O Lord, shake down every foundation of hardship,in the name of Jesus.
51.Every blessing, that has passed me by, be returned, in the name of Jesus.
53. Fire of God,melt away every handwriting of poverty, in the name of Jesus.

Shout Amen

Finding the Secret of a Successful Christian Life

One of my secrets for authentic and successful Christian living actually is not a secret, it’s a truth --a truth that I pray you will learn to embrace in your own relationship with Jesus Christ.

The “secret” is this: “Christ lives in me.” And if I permit Him to do so, He will live His life through me and overcome the world through me!

Does that sound strange? Let me explain by telling you my story.
Slow beginnings for this evangelist

I was converted to Jesus Christ when I was 12 years old at a camp in Argentina, South America. I then bought a Bible, carried under my arm, and told all of my friends about the Lord Jesus.

After about a year and a half, however, I began to cool down. One day I lost my Bible and didn’t bother to buy another. Eventually, I lost all my joy and all my desire to tell others about Jesus Christ.

About four years went by before I took even one step back toward the Lord. Then it took another eight years, while I was studying the Bible in seminary, before I began to experience the same joy I had known when I had first given my life to him.

What brought me back to that place of vibrant, joyous life in Jesus Christ?

The Bible verse: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Christ overcoming in and through me

Before, I would read those words of Jesus Christ and say, “Yes, Lord, you’ve overcome the world. But you are there, and I am here. You have overcome the world, but I am certainly not overcoming the world. Where are you when I need you?”

I was terribly wrong when I said that to the Lord. That’s not what the Bible teaches. What I didn’t realize was that awesome, overcoming power of God was totally available to me from the day I first opened my heart to Jesus Christ, for “Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).

“Christ lives in me” is only part of Galatians 2:20. The full verse reads: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

“I have been crucified with Christ.” This means that on the day I received Christ, the old “me” that lived in rebellion against God died forever. The cross was the end of Satan’s rule over my life. Jesus Christ’s presence in me and in you—not our dedication—makes the Christian life thrilling, powerful and fully satisfying.

Now the new life I live is actually the life of Christ because Christ dwells in me. Jesus Christ is God. Everything that God is, Jesus Christ is. Everything that God has, Jesus Christ has. All those resources are available to you and to me. We just need to allow him to live his life through us for his purposes.

Yes, we do need to pray, read the Bible and serve others. But we  can never do enough to be victorious over temptation, sin or suffering. We cannot earn these victories any more than we can earn our salvation.
Grasping the secret for yourself

What makes the difference? Perhaps it sounds too easy: focus your faith on the power of the resurrected Christ rather than on self-control. Rely on the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit rather than on grim determination to hang on during times of hardship or doubt.

“Christ lives in me.” He’s been living in me since I was twelve. How long has he been living in your life? one month? Fifteen years? You have all of Him! every spiritual blessing in Christ. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).

My prayer is that you will allow Jesus Christ to live his overcoming life through you and experience his joy.

Source
By Luis Palau

Choosing A Life Partner

Can God Trust You With Trouble? Part 2 Bishop T D Jakes

Can God Trust You With Trouble - Bishop T D Jakes

5 Ways God Answers Prayer

Over the years, I’ve discovered from Scripture and experience that God loves to answer our prayers. Here are five of his most frequent answers:
1. “No, I love you too much."

The Lord of the universe isn’t under obligation to say "yes" to every prayer. That’s a good thing considering some of the things we request!

But sometimes God says "no" to our most heartfelt requests. Have you discovered this to be true in your own life? I certainly have. When my friend Diane started losing her hearing. When my mother-in-law came down with polio. When my nephew contracted AIDS.

I would be known as Luis Palau Jr. if it weren’t for the fact that God said "no" to my most earnest childhood prayers. Shortly after my tenth birthday, my father, Luis Palau Sr., contracted bronchial pneumonia and died ten days later.

Death became, to me, the most undeniable reality under heaven. Everything else can be rationalized and wondered about and discussed, but death is there, staring you in the face. It’s real. It happens. Even to the most godly people. No matter how hard we pray. Why? Because we still live in a fallen world.

I’ve been reminded of this repeatedly since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America. Tens of thousands of lives were spared. But God said "no" to thousands of other prayers. Will good come of their deaths? I believe so.

Without a doubt, the death of my father has had more impact on my ministry than anything else in my entire life, besides my own conversion to Jesus Christ. My wish and desire is that people get right with God, settle the big question, and die happy, knowing...like my father...that they will be with Jesus, "which is better by far" (Philippians 1:23). Does that mean we shouldn’t bother to pray? Just the opposite. Over the years, traveling throughout the world, I’ve discovered four other ways God frequently answers prayer. Believe me, He loves to say yes!"
2. “Yes, but you’ll have to wait."

Immediate answers to prayer. You want them. I want them. But God simply does not always work that way. And to get His best, we must be patient. In some cases, we must wait until 11:59 for His answer to come.

Phil Callaway didn’t know what to say when his young children asked if Mommy was going to die. His wife, Ramona, suffered horrible seizures. Hundreds of friends and relatives prayed, but Ramona’s weight eventually slipped to ninety pounds. Medical specialists tried everything, but by the fall of 1996, the seizures were occurring daily, sometimes hourly.

Phil rarely left Ramona’s side. He wondered if she would even make it to her thirtieth birthday. One evening, when things looked utterly hopeless, Phil paced their dark backyard, then fell to his knees. "God!" he cried out. "I can’t take it anymore. Please do something!"

As he stood, a doctor’s name came to mind. Phil called the doctor, who saw Ramona the next morning and diagnosed a rare chemical deficiency. Within a week, Ramona was a different person. The seizures ended. Her eyes lit up with the sparkle that had first attracted Phil to her. The miracle was so incredible Phil says, "God gave me back my wife."

    Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" Matthew 7:7.

3. “Yes, but quite different from how you thought I would answer."

Have you ever asked God to use you? If so, expect the unexpected!

National Football League running back Sherman Smith, the "Sherman Tank," stood six feet four inches tall and packed two hundred twenty-five pounds of the most muscle you’d ever want to tackle. His reputation for bowling over defensive linesmen raised his celebrity to near-cult status in the Pacific Northwest, where he played for the Seattle Seahawks. He was treated like royalty.

Then, without warning, the Seahawks traded their most popular player to the San Diego Chargers Everything changed overnight for this running back whose Christian faith was as rock solid as his rib cage. He wasn’t with the Chargers for more than a few weeks when he blew out his knee. While in rehabilitation, he wondered, Lord, why did you ship me to San Diego?

But while his knee mended, Sherman had the opportunity to lead one of his teammates to the Lord. That converted party-man, Miles McPherson, has since become an outstanding youth evangelist who reaches tens of thousands each year.

Why was Sherman traded to San Diego? He now knows God wanted to use him, all right!

    Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

4. “Yes, and here’s more!"

Ever wonder if the Lord knows what you want and need?

Australian David Smallbone felt God leading him to promote Christian concerts. He started in a country where Christianity had taken root among only five percent of the people. When too few fans filled seats during one major tour, however, David took a $250,000 bath in red ink.

Creditors swiftly repossessed his home, and the father of six looked for work elsewhere. A top artist offered him a job in Nashville, so the Smallbones sold their furniture and other possessions and purchased tickets to America.

A few weeks after they arrived in the U.S., however, David was informed that his position was no longer available. He literally could not get out of bed for several days. Then he and his wife explained what happened to the children. They got on their knees and asked God to help them.

Then the most interesting things happened. God provided bags of groceries, a mini van, and odd jobs. Then the biggest surprise of all...a recording contract for David’s oldest daughter, Rebecca, age fifteen. She recorded her first album using an old family name, St. James.

Flash forward to today. David promotes his own daughter’s sold-out concerts. Rebecca St. James has become one of the hottest Christian artists in America. Christianity Today magazine has named her one of the top fifty up-and-coming evangelical leaders under age forty. We love asking her to sing at our evangelistic festivals around the country.

All along...no surprise...God knew what he was doing!

    "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (Jeremiah 29:11).

5. “Yes, I thought you’d never ask."

Many people think prayer is complicated. Actually, the simplest prayer can bring you the miracle you need, when you need it.

After a serious fall, an older gentleman named Luke Mulder prayed to receive Jesus Christ. He then prayed for his wife, Clara, who was visiting her sister in California. That very same day Clara heard a Gospel presentation and trusted Christ.

Christian cartoonist Ron Wheeler dreamed of creating evangelistic tracts, but he needed a new computer. He did his homework, found out what he needed, and started to pray. Two weeks later, a friend called Ron out of the blue and offered him a new computer...the exact model Ron had been praying about. Shortly after setting up the computer, Ron received a phone call from American Tract Society asking him to design a whole series of evangelistic cartoon tracts.

My friends Esteban and Carmela Tosoni were driving one of the highest mountain passes in the world when their car broke down at dusk. They were twenty miles from the nearest town. So the Tosoni family prayed for God to send help. When they opened their eyes, a mechanic appeared out of nowhere, walked straight over to their car, immediately asked if he could help, fixed their gas filter, then departed.

Coincidences? Hardly!
Source:
http://www.godlife.com/

Keep Praying!

Scripture: “These were [the Lord's] instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields." (Luke 10:2 )

Sometimes, it seems there is too much to pray for, and not enough people praying. As of this writing, tremendous upheaval and civil war are occurring in at least three countries the Middle East. Governments in the West are spying on each other and bullying their own people. Other people around the world are disagreeing over their differences, while those in power persecute those with minority views or looks. How can God work with all this? Does He care about you and the people you are praying for amidst all this turmoil?
God Does Care

Scripture tells us, "This is real love — not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins" (1 John 4:10). His love extends not just to His people, but to all people; "God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish" (John 3:16).
God Hates Evil

Scripture makes it clear that God despises when we humans hurt one another. "The Lord hates ... haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family" (Proverbs 6:16-19). Instead, He says, "I the Lord love justice" (Isaiah 61:8).
God Wants Us to Pray

Although it might feel like we're praying against an unending tide of evil, Jesus told His followers "that they should always pray and never give up" (Luke 18:1). The Apostle Paul reminded us to "pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere" (Ephesians 6:18). We can trust that God will rule over everything -- from great events around the world, to the hearts of the people you love: "we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
Prayer, Care and Share Jesus

* The Prayer, Care and Share Jesus (PCS) series is a guide to help you PRAY and CARE for others and SHARE your faith in Jesus *

Expanding Your Prayer
(The “Take 5” Challenge continued from last week)

Scripture: Luke 10:2

For the past few weeks, we’ve been challenging you to choose 5 people who don’t know Jesus, whom you feel God wants you to reach out to. We call it the “Take 5” Challenge. The challenge includes PRAYING for God’s blessing on them, for them to accept Jesus as their Savior, to befriend them, and to CARE for and encourage them. (If you didn’t get a chance to read that prayer letter, and choose 5 people to pray for, you can find out more here: Take 5 Challenge

The first part of the Take Five challenge is to pray for the Lord’s blessing on the people you’re ministering to daily. Also pray that they will meet Jesus as their Savior. You can even set aside 5 minutes at the same time every day to pray about these things. You can do this while you’re getting ready in the morning, or even in your car.

If you make this part of your daily routine, you may start feeling more blessed than usual! Here are some suggestions of ways you can expand on the prayer for the people you minister to:
•In Luke 10:2, Jesus asks us to pray for workers in the harvest because the harvest is so large. Today, with over 5 billion of the 7 billion people on earth not knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior, we need many workers in the harvest, so please pray for workers in the harvest in all communities on earth. This can even include prayer for people who minister on the ground and on the internet.
•In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, the Lord commands us to pray for all people including those in authority. You can pray for those in authority in your country, community, government, business, church, in media, education, law enforcement, justice and so on.
•A third suggestion may be to pray for the peace in other countries.

These are just suggestions. We encourage you to pray for anything God puts on your heart.

Your PRAY NOW Challenge: "Lord, I pray now for my Five, for workers in the harvest, for those in authority, for the peace of Jerusalem and for salvation for the Jews. Help me to stand before you daily for them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen."

Tell us how it is going!

Thanks

By Hope

The Power of a Friend

Scripture: The Lord now chose 72 other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places He planned to visit. Luke 10:1

"I also tell you this: if two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, My Father in heaven will do it for you." Matthew 18:19

Next to Jesus, the Apostle Paul is the most prominent character in the New Testament. His story is told in the book of Acts, and his instructional letters (epistles) to his spiritual children make up
Did He Do It Alone?

Of course, Paul was accompanied and guided by the Holy Spirit. But was that his only support? No! He traveled and worked with different partners and friends throughout his ministry.

First, one day while Christian prophets and teachers in Antioch "were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.' So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way" (Acts 13:2-3). As a team, Paul and Barnabas effectively shared the Gospel and established several churches.

As Paul began his second missionary journey, his team included Timothy, a young disciple whose mother was a Jewish Believer. "They went from town to town, instructing the Believers to follow the decisions made by the Apostles and elders in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day" (Acts 16:4-5).

Silas was yet another ministry companion, and suffered imprisonment with Paul. Through this trial, the Lord used Paul and Silas to lead others, including the jailer, to salvation. And when Paul and Silas rejoined their team, "they met with the Believers and encouraged them once more" (Acts 16:40).
Are You Alone?

Saint Paul was one of the most gifted evangelists ever. Time after time, God provided him with "faithful helpers who served with [him] in the Lord’s work" (Colossians 4:7). If the Lord allowed Paul to rely on partners, you can be sure it can be good for you! Ask the Lord to send someone to join you in the ministry He has for you.
Prayer, Care and Share Jesus

* The Prayer, Care and Share Jesus (PCS) series is a guide to help you PRAY and CARE for others and SHARE your faith in Jesus *

“Support From a Friend”

Scripture: Luke 10:1

Have you ever heard the saying “two heads are better than one”? Whether you’re discipling, sharing the gospel or praying, doing those things with a friend who is also a believer can often be powerful when God is using you. Even the 72 disciples in Luke 10 were sent out in pairs to share the gospel. But remember, even when you’re not doing these things with a friend, you’re never alone because the Holy Spirit is with you (Acts 2).

There is power in agreement and accountability. We encourage you to meet or talk regularly with another follower of Jesus who prays, cares for, and shares Jesus with others. This support could take the form of helping each other in discipling a new believer, or praying together for others.

Jesus even explains in the Bible the power of agreement in Matthew 18:19, where He says that if two people agree on something and ask for it, it will be done for them by His Father in heaven.

You can even tell your friend about the Prayer Care and Share Jesus guide, and how it has helped you live out and share your faith based on teachings in the Bible. Teaching someone about it might even be helpful to you!

Your PRAY NOW Challenge: "Lord, I thank You for sending me the Holy Spirit to be with me as I live out my faith in Jesus. Show me, Lord, who I should ask to support me through prayer and accountability. I pray that you will bind us together in the journey of this friendship. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen."

about half the New Testament books. Being an educated Jewish man and a Roman citizen, Paul had many privileges, including freedom to travel. This enabled him to spread the Gospel across the Roman Empire, preaching and teaching to establish new churches everywhere.

Source: http://www.godlife.com/

Surely the Lord is in this Place

I’m back from deliverance @prayercity , and had a wonderful time with family and brethren.

Surely the LORD was with me, even in the colonoscopy and a barium enema!

I am “back on schedule” physically, YAY!

May we have the spiritual sense to realize that the LORD is in this place of present circumstance and challenge.  Jesus is our ladder, and that means that “My God will supply all that you need from the glorious resources in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:19

Much love in Christ,

 Joy

#213  Surely the Lord is in this place  Genesis 28.16  Part 2

The ladder we can claim

Having heard of Esau’s intent to kill him, Jacob travelled 48 miles from Beersheba, until the sun had set.  In the dark of night he chose a large smooth stone on which to lay his head, and then he laid down to sleep.  He knew he would not be present for his father’s death.  He knew the intensity of his brother’s wrath.  He was alone, and he felt alone, far away from God and far away from home.  The fatigue and stress of his journey helped him fall into a deep sleep, and that sleep gave way to a vivid dream.  In his dream he saw a ladder resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.  There beside him stood the LORD {Soncino}, and he said:

“I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.  I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.  Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.  All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.  I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.  I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”  Genesis 28:14-15

Jacob’s first thought upon awakening was one of gratitude.  “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”  His heart filled with awe and perhaps embarrassment for doubting God, as he exclaimed, “How awesome is this place.  This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”  Genesis 28:16-17

Early that morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.  He called that place Bethel, though the city {nearby} used to be called Luz.  Genesis 28:18-19 

Thus God assured Jacob that he would be protected according to the covenant promises of God.  The ladder in the divinely given dream represented the reality of the Angels of divine power and provision.  The angels were ascending—they were already on earth, with him, even though he didn’t notice that fact, figuratively bringing his need and vulnerability to heaven.  The angels were descending, as divine power and provision was made available according to God’s direction.  Perhaps it was the Logos as the Angel of God who stood beside him, creating the dreams and speaking the promises of God.

In this new year we can claim the message of this Dream.   In John 1:51 Jesus states “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”  Jesus is our ladder, the access and bridge between our needs and vulnerability and the provision of God, now for his followers, and for all our human family in the Kingdom.   Philippians 4:19

Upon this ladder, upon this connecting link between heaven and earth, between God and man, have descended to us the angels of divine favor, messages of love, and mercy, forgiveness and adoption, and on this same ladder are messages returned to the father, our prayers.  We are accepted in the Beloved, we enter into the holies by faith, we receive the incoming and send back again the outgoing messages and messengers, and all of them upon the ladder, the connecting link, the Son of man, our Lord and Master, through whom alone we have access and relationship to the Father, and receive from him the exceeding great and precious things not only of this present life, but also of that which is to come.

The Power of Prayer

 Scripture: "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." James 5:16

Prayer is just lovingly, reverently talking to God.



Have you ever heard of the A.C.T.S. of prayer? Each letter stands for one kind of prayer. It is not the only or "right" prayer model, but it can help remind us of some of the basic things to cover when we
approach our Heavenly Father in prayer:

A = Adoration (praise)
C = Confession (of sins)
T = Thanksgiving (being grateful to God)
S = Supplication (requests)
Adoration and Praise

Our Creator God is wonderful, and He deserves our praise! That’s why it’s good to start by praising Him. It also gives us a right perspective -- God’s greatness and power compared to our smallness. Jesus began The Lord's Prayer by acknowledging God's fatherly love, goodness, and rule over the earth: "Our Father in heaven, may Your Name be kept holy. May Your Kingdom come soon. May Your will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven" (Matthew 6:9-10).
Confession of Sins

"Everyone has sinned, [and] we all fall short of God’s glorious standard" (Romans 3:23). "Your sins have cut you off from God" (Isaiah 59:2), but we want to be close to Him! If we confess our sins to the Lord, "He is faithful and just to forgive us" (I John 1:9). Holding onto our sins builds a barrier between us and God. Confessing and repenting of them breaks down that wall.
Thanksgiving and Gratitude

How has God blessed you? How has He shown His love for you? Of course, we are thankful for His blessings. But we can even be grateful for problems and hardships, because He can use those to bring us closer to Himself. The Bible tells us to "be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus" (I Thessalonians 5:18).
Supplication and Requests Jesus taught that we can ask for what we need, and to be persistent in asking: "keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you" (Luke 11:9). We can trust that "if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (I John 5:14).

The Gospels record Jesus turning to the Father in prayer time after time, day after day. We are to follow His example and "pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17).
Prayer, Care and Share Jesus

* The Prayer, Care and Share Jesus (PCS) series is a guide to help you PRAY and CARE for others and SHARE your faith in Jesus *

"Helping Others Pray”
Scripture: James 5:16

In the Bible, God is clear about the power of the prayer of a righteous person. Isn’t it wonderful that the Creator of the Universe wants us to come to Him in prayer? Furthermore, God moves mightily when His children pray according to His Word!

Let’s go over some aspects of discipleship you can use to teach someone who has come to Christ about prayer.

Teaching your disciple to pray.

Prayer plays a vital role in someone’s relationship with God. Prayer should become a regular part of your life. You can encourage your disciple to begin with spending 15 minutes a day alone with God. Remind them that scripture can be used as a foundation of our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:8-15) is an excellent teaching model for prayer. At first you might pray through it slowly with them, emphasizing a true heart connect with God. Then, using this framework, you can expand and personalize the prayer time.

Encourage your disciple to start a prayer journal. They can write down their prayers and even keep track of prayers that God answers.

Also, encourage "be still" time as a part of your prayer - just being with Him and listening (Psalm 46:10).

Your PRAY NOW Challenge: "Lord, I pray that You will use me to teach others to pray as You pray. Allow them to see the wonder of prayer and

the close relationship You want with us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen."

Source
By Hope
http://www.godlife.com/

The Power of the Bible

Scripture: Jesus told him, "The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4 Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'You must not test the Lord your God.'" Matthew 4:7 "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.'" Matthew 4:10

In the Beginning
God has made an amazing universe. We read that "the Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. ... When He spoke, the world began! It appeared at His command" (Psalm 33:6, 9). In His account of the Good News, Jesus' friend John declared, "In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone" (John 1:1-4). Jesus was no ordinary man, but actually took part in creating the universe.

Power of the Word

God's people had been told long ago about the power of His Word: "'It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it'" (Isaiah 55:11). Because of that power, God knows all about everything He has made: "the Word of God is alive and powerful. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all Creation is hidden from God. And He is the one to Whom we are accountable" (Hebrews 4:12-13).

Trust in the Word

The Apostle Paul taught the young pastor Timothy the importance of being grounded in Scripture: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right" (2 Timothy 3:16). Therefore, we rejoice in knowing that "The instructions of the Lord are perfect, the decrees of the Lord are trustworthy. The laws of the Lord are true; they are more desirable than gold" (Psalm 19).

Prayer, Care and Share Jesus

* The Prayer, Care and Share Jesus (PCS) series is a guide to help you PRAY and CARE for others and SHARE your faith in Jesus *

“Learning God’s Word”
Matthew 4:4, 7 & 10

One of the main ways through which God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) reveals Himself to us is through the Bible. We believe that all Scripture (the words in the Bible) has been inspired by the Holy Spirit, and can be read as if it is God speaking to us.

In today’s passage, we see that Jesus quoted Scripture to satan when He was tempted, thereby refuting satan's words. Finally, satan left Him.

This demonstrates that knowing what is written in the Bible is critical for us as believers. The same is true for someone you may have led to Christ. Do your best to ensure that the new believer has a Bible, in his/her own language if possible. And, you can even help to make sure they know how to start reading the Bible.

The Bible can be difficult and confusing for a new Christian. This can happen if they start reading through the Old Testament -- it will be a long time before they get to the gospels, and start reading about Jesus, who is central to their new faith.

Here are a few simple steps you can use to encourage your new believer in getting to know the Bible:
• Suggest they start with the book of Luke followed by the book of Acts.
• You can then follow with Genesis and Exodus, then Matthew.
• Then suggest a Psalm each day, and at the same time, the gospel of John.
• If possible, get together regularly to discuss what they are reading.
• Make sure the believer understands the abbreviations of the books and how to use the index to the Old and New Testament.

The “Creation to Christ” story gives a very simple overview of the main message of the Bible.

You should also explain to your believer the power of the Word in speaking and praying. Give simple but powerful examples, such as Psalm 23 and John 3:16.

Your PRAY NOW Challenge: "Lord, I pray that You will enable me to explain Your Word in a clear way to any new believer You put in my path. Speak through me as I explain Your Word. In the Name of Jesus. Amen"

Source:
By Hope
www.LooktoJesus.com

Forgive them, and let it go…FORGIVE WHATEVER GRIEVANCE YOU MAY HAVE…COLOSSIANS 3:13 NIV

…FORGIVE WHATEVER GRIEVANCE YOU MAY HAVE…COLOSSIANS 3:13 NIV
We talk about grudges the way we talk about babies. You can hold a grudge, carry a grudge bear a grudge, or nurse a grudge. The trouble is, when you nurse something you feed it, make it grow and pretty soon it’s full grown. Are you carrying a grudge? Why? It doesn’t make sense. Why would you pick up something each day that weight you down and carry it around with you? But they hurt m.’ Yes, but by carrying a grudge you enable them to keep hurting you. Don’t do that do that to yourself! We know we’re supposed to forgive other people, but sometimes forgiving feels like we are giving up something. One of Lincoln’s stories we about a man on his sickbed who had been told by the doctor that he didn’t have much time to live. He summoned an old friend named Brown with whom he’d quarreled bitterly. They didn’t spoken for years. The man talked of how he was going to die soon of how their petty differences looked in the face of death, and asked if they might be reconciled. The scene moved everyone in the room to tear. Brown clasped the dying man’s hands, embraced him, and turned to walk out of room, a shattered man. Suddenly the man. Suddenly the man on the sickbed, having one final thought, raised himself up on one elbow and spoke for the last time: ‘But see here, Brown; If I recover, the old grudge still stands. ’This story make us smile and think, ‘How foolish! But if you are carrying grudge, are you any different.

Loving people...LOVE ONE ANOTHER…’JOHN 15:12 NKJV

Love One Another: Becoming the Church Jesus Longs for
Loving people is only a vague concept, unless we do these five things: 1) People are insecure; give them confidence. Beneath their façade lie memories of a painful past and anxiety over what’s coming their way next. Tell them God says,’… I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrew 13:5 NKJV). When nothing else works, God’s Word does. 2) People you need to feel special compliant them. Do it when they least expect it, and it’s clear you seek nothing in return. Mary Kay Ash, founder of a major cosmetics company in the USA, said everyone has an invisible sign hanging around their neck saying, “Make me feel important!” ‘Notice how often God’s Words tells us how much He love us, how special we are, and His plans for us 3) People are looking for a better tomorrow: give them hope. Let them know that when you put God in the center of your life, your future can be better than your past. ‘… as long as he sought the Lord, God mad him prosper’ (2 Chronicles 26:5NKJV). 4) People need to be understood; listen to them. The trouble is this takes more time than we’re willing to give. We’re in too much of a hurry to hand out hand out advice and move on, and doesn’t work. Before people can be fixed,’ they must feel understood. 5) People need role (Corinthian 11:1 NIV). Too often we’re unaware of the example, as I and the impression we’re making. Like it or not, what you do and don’t do, influences others. When you leave this world, what you leave behind is your influence.

Making the tough calls...THE LORD IS ON MY SIDE; I WILL NOT FEAR…PSALM 118:6 NKJV

All the heroes of the Bible were flawed. And personally wise they were as different as chalk and cheese. But they’d one thing in common: they were willing to make the tough calls. Observe: 1) Tough calls demand risk. When the Soviet Union overran and annexed Latvia in 1940, the US Vice consul in Riga was concerned that the American Red Cross supplies in that city would be looted. To guard against it he requested permission from the state Department in Washington, DC to place an American flag above the Red Cross to deter anyone from talking the supplies. ‘No precedent exists for such action, the Secretary of State’s Office cabled back. When the Vice Consul receive message he climbed up and personally nailed the American flag to pole, then he cabled the State Department: ‘As of this date, I have established Precedent.’2) Tough calls require character. Chuck SwindollJesus: The Greatest Life of All (Great Lives Series) writes: ‘Courage is not limited to the battlefield or the Indianapolis 500 or bravely catching a thief in your house. The real tests of courage are much quieter. They are the inner tests, like remaining faithful when nobody’s looking, like enduring pain when the room is empty. Like standing alone when you’re misunderstood. ‘Whether you lead a family, a business or a church, the temptation to complain comes easy. Thank God for the tough times they’re the reason you’re there – to be the leader. If everything was going well you wouldn’t be needed when the tough calls must be made, your confidence can be found in these words: the Lord is on my side; I will not fear….’ (Psalm 118:6NKJV)

Time – make the most of it! PSALM 90:12 NKJV

 ‘…TEACH US TO NUMBER DAYS…’PSALM 90:12 NKJV

Our days are like identical suitcases, but some people pack more into them than others That’s because they know what to pack. Everybody gets twenty-four hours, but not everybody gets the same return on them. The truth is, you don’t manage your time, you manage your life. Time cannot be controlled; it marches on no matter what you do. Nobody, no matter how shrewd, can save minutes from one day to spend in another. No scientist is capable of creating new minutes. With all his wealth Warren Buffet can’t buy additional hours for his day. People talk about trying to ‘find time,’ but they need to quit looking: there isn’t any extra lying around. Twenty-four hours is the best any of us is going to get. Wise people understand that time is their most precious commodity. As a result, they know where their time goes. They continually analyse how they are using their time and ask themselves, ‘Am I getting the best use out of my time?’ In his book What To Do Between Birth and Death: The Art of Growing up, Charles Spezzano writes: ‘You don’t really pay for things with money; you pay for them with time. We say, “In five years, I’ll have enough money put away for that vocation house we want. Then I’ll slow down. “That means the house will cost you five years; one-twelfth of your adult life Translate the pound value of the house, car or anything else into time, and then see if it’s still worth it.

‘…GOD WILL HELP HER AT BREAK OF DAY. PSALM 46:5 NIV

When your world is suddenly turned upside down,remember,
God’s plans for your life haven’t been

cancelled! When you feel trapped with no way out, here are some things to remember: (1) Look for the river. ‘There is a river whose streams make glad…. (Psalm 46:4 NIV). In Old Testament symbolism, rivers represent God’s supply for your every need. When every human source of supply seems to have dried up, don’t fear look for the river. (2) Look for the city. God has planted His’….city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells (Psalm 46:4 NIV), right in the middle of your circumstances. God’s city, the symbol of His presence and power, guarantees He’s still in control and that He will restore peace and order to your troubled world. (3) Look for the signs of God’s presence. ‘God will help [you] at break of day’ (Psalm 46:5 NIV), Daybreak, a symbol of new beginnings, gives you confidence that beyond this time of trouble and testing, a new day is at hand. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning (Lamentations 3:23 NLT). (4) Come...see the works of the Lord…‘ (Psalm 46:8 NIV). Reviewing the record of His mighty acts builds your faith and reminds you that He is the‘…same yesterday and today and forever’ (Hebrews 13:8 NIV). If He took care of you then, He will take care of you now. (5) Look to God and be at peace. Based on the tested and proven foundation of His power and faithfulness you can live by Scripture, ‘Be still, and know that I am God… (Psalm 46:10NIV).

Thinking of quitting? Don’t BE STEADFAST…1 CORTHIANS 15:58 NKJV

George Frederic Handel was a musical prodigy. At twenty one he was keyboard virtuoso. When he turned to composing he gained immediate fame and soon was appointed Kapellmeister to the Elector of Hanover (later King George 1 of England). When Handel moved to England his renown grew. By the time he was forty he was world famous. But despite his talent and fame he faces considerable adversity. Rivalry with England composer was fierce. Audiences were fickle; sometimes they didn’t turn out for his performances. He was the victim of the changing political winds. Several times he found himself on the verge of bankruptcy. His problems were compounded by failing health. He suffered as stroke which left the right arm limp and damaged the use of four fingers in his right hand. Although he recovered, it left him battling depression. Finally, at fifty – six, Handel decided it was time to retire. Discouraged, miserable and consumed with debt, he felt certain he’d and in a debtor’s prison. So on April 18, 1741, he gave what the considered his farewell concert. Disappointed and filled with self pity, he gave up. But that year something incredible happened. Wealthy friends named Charles Jennings encourage Handel by visiting him and giving him a libretto based on the life of Christ. The work intrigued Handel, so he began writing. Immediately the floodgates of inspiration opened. For three weeks he wrote almost nonstop. Then he spent another two days creating the orchestrations. In twenty-four days he had completed the 260-page manuscript of the messiah. Thinking of quitting? Don’t! Be steadfast.’

Be careful what you commit to! …WHICH IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT?...MATHEW 22:36 NIV

When Jesus was asked, ‘Which is the commandment?’ He answered’…”Love the Lord…and …Love your neigbour as yourself 2’ (Mathew 22:37-39 NIV). So our greatest with things that keeps us from doing this. The Bible says: No one serving as soldiers gets involved in civilian affairs; he wants to please his commanding officer’ (2 Timothy 2:4 NIV). In other words careful what commit to. There are three types of commitment: 1) Dramatic commitments. Like getting married or buying a home. Unfortunately, we don’t consider the hidden costs. When we buy a house we think only of the additional square footage, not the extra hour each day commuting to work or the time taken away from our family 2) Routine commitments. These may look mundane, but don’t underestimate their power. Any parent who’s signed up their child for a sports team knows the time-consuming potential of the routine commitments. 3) Unspoken commitments these are commitment we make to ourselves, but often fail to keep. In life, the dramatic commitments receive most of our attention, but the routine ones end up controlling us. Because there are so many of them and because they come on a daily basis and individually look so small, we don’t sense the gap growing between what we say matters most to us and what we’re actually doing with our lives. So Jesus simplified it.’ “Lord…and…Love your neighbour….(Mathew 22:37-39 NIV). When you measure your life by that yardstick, you’ve a better chance of living by the right commitments.

Your Future Starts Today Don't Give Up!!! 'TOMORROW THE LORD WILL DO WONDERS AMONG YOU.'JOSHUA 3:5 NAS

 Don't discard your tomorrows! See, 'JOSHUA 3:5

Your yesterdays have made you what you're today,but your tomorrows can make you what God always intended you to become.Joshua was talking to a nation whose yesterdays were a long list of repeated failures and rebellion against God.They had been convicted,judged, punished and reinstated frequently by the God they do flagrantly sinned against. Surely, they ought to have been cut off from Him, stripped of any future blessing. But 'Joshua said to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you .'Consecrate yourself, relign yourself with God's plans and watch Him begin to work in your life. Just when the enemy has you convinced that with your past God couldn't possibly have a future for you,He calls you to prepare yourself so He can bless you. God is fully aware of your yesterday, but He's much more focused on your tomorrows. Why do we discard our tomorrows when we so desperatly need them? When Jesus cried, 'It is finished!' (John 19:30), His disciples misundersood and concluded it was all over. So they slipped away to contemplate the tomorrow they thought would never be. But with God, every ending is a new beginning, and three mornings later the angel announced the resurrection and the new tomorrow that would guarantee the future for all believers.'It (your yesterday) is finished! Don't give up tommorrows by building monuments to your past failures. Acknowledge, confess and release your yesterdays to the crucified Christ. 'Consecrate younrselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.'