PRAYER & CONTEXT FOR 2017

"2017: The Year of Active Occupation, Supernatural Favor and Selective Restoration for the Remnant of Christ"

MY 2017 PRAYER CONFESSION:

"Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me. Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I've never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence. Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for The Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes. wait patiently for The Lord." (Psalm 27:11-14)

An element of HUMILITY has been introduced to the Body of Christ during this past political change and election cycle, and a more distinguishable "spiritual" line of demarcation has been drawn for the "setting up" of supernaturally ordained voices to be positioned and promoted for the Kingdom's advancement, as the uncertain sound of "other voices" becomes more and more prevalent and irrelevant in the scheme of ALL that God wills to do!

In years past, the Lord spoke of the "order" that would be required for the Universal Church in the 21st Century to remain relevant and respondent to Christ's Inexhaustible Headship in the "present reformation".  We must be "apostolic" in our theology and operation, to consistently SEE "the government of God" (or the seven-fold manifestations of God's Spirit; Isaiah 11) influence and impact our local fellowships, our communities, and the nations for God's Glory!

HE SAID: If the "remnant" of the Body of Christ is going to function properly as an apostolic and prophetic movement that desires to produce a "kingdom" attitude, mindset and culture in the earth, the prophetic thrust that guarantees this means -- we must act as an "extension of Christ's ministry in the earth"; by the increasing and intensifying weight of His presence and power working in and through us, as we're being increasingly used of Him to transform His children into His likeness, more and more!

In order to accomplish this, the "manifesting sons" cooperatively align and agree with Christ as His ambassadorial representatives that take the mandate to occupy and disciple the nations to heart.  We sacrifice, serve and suffer for righteousness sake, until Christ returns, and then we use our influence to draw the lost and communicate His heart of love; for the world that He died to save.

Being "in this world, and not of this world" places a burden of responsibility upon us "to relate, and not to debate"; "to care and share, not judge and begrudge"; and, "to be holy as He is holy, not be legalistic and self-righteous". 

Steering from a religious impotence and sterility, as an apostolic and prophetic company that embraces the ebb and flow of the Father's heartbeat, and allows the fluidity of movement and manifestation never to be stifled by tradition, unbelief or indifference.

Because of this we recognize, the Spirit of the Lord is only grieved by a "fleshly" expression of worship, when it is more about the "personality's performance" than our explicit trust to praise and exalt His Holy Name -- and ultimately bring glory to His Person; and not our own.

The "what would Jesus do" philosophy is the simplification of a true apostolic vision, except the real question from an apostolic people "walking in the spirit" demands movement, evaluation and change, as directed by the Holy Spirit on an ongoing basis; not once!

As an we move forward with an "actively occupying mindset", there are some things HE reminded me to remember for 2017 and beyond:

1) the Spirit-led life with the highest regard for personal discipline and holiness, by the Grace of God - will be the only requirement for seeing the supernatural in unprecedented ways.

  

2) the contention between the sacred and secular will be at an all time high, and Christ will be seen in greater glory than in any previous generations as a "mark" of His sovereignty, supremacy and superiority; 

3) the educational balance that God has been teaching us all through the extended times in our uniquely catered fiery trials and storms was only meant to recalibrate and re-center us into perfect alignment with Christ's ways and the Kingdom of God.

4.) The continuity and continuum of God's efficacious work in your heart and life is on a steady and consistent progression - "because of the increase of His Kingdom there shall be no end". 

5.) If we resist any part of the emerging "system override" that is presently on course, we will miss the great purpose He's had in mind from the foundation of the earth concerning the work of the Kingdom of God.

In 2017:

- God is going to continue to strip the impotent church of its programmed and religious modes of worshipping Him. It doesn't produce the spiritual environment that will attract the world or powerfully deliver them once they come!

- God is going to let leaders do what is in their hearts to do, even if it produces destructive ends in their own lives.

- God is going to raise up uncontaminated channels that hear His voice without a limiting affect based upon egocentric mixture to draw attention to themselves.

- God is going to use the efficiency and responsiveness of the Remnant Church to further His own ends, while sometimes working through, in, and around the Complacent Church.

- God is going to allow the intensifying darkness to consume the rebellious and unrepentant hearts of leaders who've both misspoken and misinterpreted the signs of the times for personal gain.

- God is going to let the dark spirits that have been permitted a chief place in the worship among the saints to lead to tragic ends, because witchcraft has become the primary source of strength, and consistent resistance of the Holy Spirit will now be quite costly. (END OF WORD)

IMPORTANT DEFINITION: "What Is Apostolic Christianity?"

THE ANSWER...

First of all, I'm NOT referencing a denominational preference or religious dogma, "Apostolic Christianity" is a vision that wholly embraces the entirety of the gifts and callings that God gave to the Body of Christ, for the purpose of its maturation and effectiveness.

A.  It is Kingdom-centered - Jesus is building the church (of kingdom citizens) that will openly triumph over the all the powers of hell (Mt. 16:18). The New Testament presents salvation in context of the Universal Church's identity as a spiritual family that walks out love, honors all its members (i.e., gender, age, ethnic, economic, etc.). 

B.  It results in wholeheartedness - as it embraces holiness and discipleship. In other words, the fasted lifestyle is described in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7). It resists the "pleasure seeking Western Church culture" that results in "lazy friendly churches" that refuse self-denial and commitment. Apostolic Christianity receives God's blessing (prosperity) as a means to increase God's Kingdom rather than to live as "consumer Christians" that use most of their resources to live extravagantly. 

C.  Its ministries flow from intimacy with God - our ministries can only operate in fullness as we flow from a foundation of intimacy with fasting and prayer (intercession, worship, intimacy with the Bridegroom God) that contends (fights) for the release of the Spirit's power (Rev. 22:17; Jude 3). 

D.  It possesses a missionary spirit - our inheritance is to be effective in the harvest and to make an impact on society (Cultural Mandate) with righteousness and justice in social institutions (government, economics, education, technology, media, etc.). There is continuity of some of our labors in the Millennial Kingdom.

E.  It embraces persecution - as a part of spiritual warfare (Col. 1:24; 2 Cor. 11-12). 

F.  It engages in God's purpose for - the salvation of is a foundational aspect of God's End-Time drama. Jews and Gentile believers will come together as One New Man (Eph. 2:15) with a profound unity that matures in context to the unique dynamics of the End-Times. Will be provoked to jealousy (Rom. 11:11, 14) by an anointed apostolic Church that stands with them in context to anti-Semitism and persecution.  The End-Time falling away will be related to this (2 Thess. 2:3). 

G.  It is led by true apostolic ministry - God will restore and expand the usefulness and efficacy of the 5-fold ministry, or Ascension Gifts for the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-13).  ?END OF DEFINITION)

BIBLE STUDY - READ "KEY SCRIPTURES" ALOUD (Isaiah 40 and 1 Peter 1)

PART 1

Understanding God's Providential & Sovereign Will over all creation, through the lens or reality of our "sanctified" choices and decision making, in light of His guidance and His government.

a. God's compassion never alters His judgments.

b. God lays the foundation once, and alignment is our responsibility.

c. God's love is perfect, unchanging and unrelenting; His love never fails.

Colossians 1:9-11 - "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of The Lord and may please Him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience."

** Make prayerful decisions by seeking God's wisdom first; it is essential.

Proverbs 4:25-27 - "Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil."

James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

Psalm 25:4-5 - "Show me your ways , O Lord, teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."

Jeremiah 10:23 - "I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own, it is not for man to direct his steps."

Proverbs 11:14 - "For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure."

Proverbs 15:22 - "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."

(CHILDREN) Ephesians 6:1-2 - "Children, obey your parents in The Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother' - which is the first commandment with a promise."

** God is absolutely just in His care of us.

1 Kings 18:21 - "Elijah went before the people and said, 'How long will you waver between two opinions? If The Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.' But the people said nothing."

Matthew 7:9-11 - "You parents - if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him."

Isaiah 14:24, 27 - "The Lord Almighty has sworn, Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand...For The Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is stretched out, who can turn it back?"

Psalm 138:8 - "The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever - do not abandon the works of your hands."

** Submit your heart completely to God's will, and He will direct your path.

Joshua 1:8 - "Do not let this Book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

Jeremiah 6:16 - "This is what The Lord says: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'"

Deuteronomy 5:29 - "Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!"

Psalm 25:12-14 - "Who, then, is the man that fears The Lord? He will instruct him the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them."

Proverbs 4:11-13 - "I will guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life."

Questions to ask before making decisions...

1. Does this activity or plan please God or sadden Him?

Ephesians 4:30 - "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

John 8:28-29 - So Jesus said,... 'The One who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him."

2. What "nature" is being fed through this activity or plan?

Galatians 5:16 - "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

1 John 2:15-17 - "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."

3. Is God honored through these efforts?

1 Corinthians 10:31 - "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

Philippians 2:3 - "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."

2 Timothy 2:21-22 - "If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the aster and prepared to do any good work. Flee the evil desires of you, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on The Lord out of a pure heart."

4. Would my actions be the cause of someone else stumbling?

Romans 14:21 - "It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fail."

Matthew 18:6-7 - "But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!"

PART 2

The Lord allows lengthy learning curves so that we gain understanding of the suffering and adversity He will enable us to victoriously walk through.

a. The "process" may seem open-ended, but focusing on Him and seeking His peace will eliminate the stress associated with walking by faith.

b. The "journey" narrows as it concludes, and it inevitably emerges into the "new thing" he's promised as we learn to wait on Him.

c. A "new" Wineskin forms as the old mindsets die and are surrendered to God, during our growth and development as disciples of Christ.

1 Peter 4:12-19 - "Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad - for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering, so that you will have wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world. So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people's affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by His name! For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God's household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God's Good News? And, also, 'If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?' So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to God who created you, for He will never fail you."

** Because we live in a fallen world, difficulties, inconveniences, trials and tribulations are inevitable; but God has made us victorious despite them.

Job 5:7 - "Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward."

John 16:33 - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

** When we go through adversity, our faith is supernaturally charged and strengthened when we properly apply God's word.

1 Peter 1:6-7 - "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer in grief in all kinds of trials. These come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Philippians 3:7-11 - "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider the worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with Him. I no longer count on my ow righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with Himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!"

** Suffering righteously, causes us to become more heavenly-minded and more eternity-bound in our thinking.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - " Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Hebrews 12:10-11 - "Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God discipline us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

Proverbs 3:11-12 - "My child, don't reject the Lord's discipline, and don't be upset when He corrects you. For The Lord correct those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom He delights."

** God's grace is more than sufficient to carry us through our suffering.

Psalm 55:22 - "Cast your cares on The Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall."

2 Corinthians 12:9 - "But he said to me, 'My grace us sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

** The Lord remains sovereign in spite of our adversity and suffering.

Psalm 71:20-21 - "Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.

Psalm 9:9-10 - "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you."

** N o matter how dark it becomes in the midst of our suffering, call upon His name and He will come through.

Psalm 31:9-10, 14-23 - "Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.  But I am trusting you, O LORD,

saying, "You are my God!" My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me. Don't let me be disgraced, O LORD, for I call out to you for help. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them lie silent in the grave. Silence their lying lips— those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly. How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues. Praise the LORD, for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love. He kept me safe when my city was under attack. In panic I cried out, "I am cut off from the LORD!" But you heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help. Love the LORD, all you godly ones! For the LORD protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant. So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD!"

Psalm 61:1-8 - "O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings! Interlude For you have heard my vows, O God.

You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name. Add many years to the life of the king! May his years span the generations! May he reign under God's protection forever. May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him. Then I will sing praises to your name forever as I fulfill my vows each day."

Psalm 3:4 - "I cried out to The Lord, and He answered me from His holy mountain."

Psalm 86:1-3 - "Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help. Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. Be merciful to me, O Lord, I am calling on you constantly."

** Let God use your adversity to help build others up.

2 Corinthians 1:3-6 - "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer."

** There are great rewards for enduring adversity.

James 1:12 - "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."

1 Peter 5:10 - "And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

PART 3

We overcome fear and temptation through the power of the Holy Spirit, by appropriating Christ's Finished Work, as a privilege of every believer.

a. "Contrary winds" always reveal when authentic kingdom progress is being made; and "the kingdom is within you".

b. If "it" (the challenging circumstances) never change, but you do, you will never have shallow victories or small harvests.

c. You're building faith muscles that you'll need later, so don't resist the faith-building exercises and enlargement that you're undergoing on the way to the other side.

John 19:28-30 - "Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, "I am thirsty." A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and released his spirit."

** Temptation is not sin until we yield to the "old nature", by improperly serving its lusts.

James 1:14 - "But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed."

Romans 7:18 - "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."

1 Corinthians 10:13 - "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out to that you can endure."

** Though Christ never sinned, He understands our temptations and is able to help us in them.

Hebrews 2:18 - "Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted."

Hebrews 4:15 - "For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin."

** The Lord will grant us strength to resist temptation, if we surrender to Him.

Psalm 19:13 - "Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression."

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

Hebrews 4:16 - "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."

**In order to defeat and consistently overcome temptation, we need accountability and support.

Galatians 6:2 - "Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill all the law of Christ."

Romans 15:1 - "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves."

James 5:16 - "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

Psalm 37:27 - "Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever."

** Christ's death included provision for victory over sin.

Romans 6:6, 11-13 - "We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God."

2 Peter 1:3 - "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness."

** It takes courage and God's help to stand against temptation.

Ephesians 6:10-11 - "Finally, be strong in The Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

Hebrews 12:1-2 - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne."

1 John 4:4 - "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater the one who is in the world."

** It will cost us our entire lives to "say no" to temptation; even people speaking against you.

Matthew 5:10-12 - "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven." 

1 Peter 4:14 - "If you re insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."

Hebrews 11:24-27 - "It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king's anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible."

** Don't misrepresent your current place "in faith", by falling into the very temptations you've admonished or counseled others against.

Galatians 6:1 - "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."

1 Peter 5:8-9 - "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

1 Timothy 6:9-10 - "But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows."

PART 4

Maintenance your "thought life", and greatly minimize the delusion and deception that is rampant in this generation of fleshly fanaticism and imbalance; while standing up under the Inexhaustible Headship of Jesus Christ.

a. In all of satan's diabolical suggestions and accusations, there is wisdom to gain and shame to release, if we've entertained his lies long enough.

b. In the fires "seven-times hotter, self-reliance and self-dependence are burned up and overcome.

c. When we allow "knowledge" to puff us up, "majoring in the minors" (the imperfect) strengthens the demonic assaults assailing us, and further binds and blinds us to a defeated mindset that makes us subject to the wiles of the wicked one. I.e. - Focusing on gifts, but showing no fruit...

Philippians 2:5-11 - "You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.  Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

** We must discipline ourselves to have right thinking.

1 Peter 1:13 - "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord."

Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."

2 Corinthians 10:5 - "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

** When we realize that "no thought" is hidden from God's view, we can truly become intimate with Him and resign ourselves "in rest".

Psalm 139:1-4 - "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise. You perceive me thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely; O Lord."

Jeremiah 23:23-24 - "'Am I only a God nearby', declares The Lord, 'and not a God far away? Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?' declares The Lord. 'Do not I fill the heaven and earth?' declares The Lord."

Hebrews 4:13 - "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."

2 Chronicles 16:9a - "The eyes of The Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him."

** As our thoughts truly conform to His, the standard of what is in line with His will for our lives will change for the better.

Isaiah 55:7-8 - "'Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to The Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares The Lord.'"

Ephesians 4:22-24 - You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Romans 12:2 - "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

**Control "your gates" and keep the fort secure.

Matthew 5:28 - But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Job 31:1 - "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl."

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 - "God's will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor - not in lustful passion like pagans who do not know God and His ways."

PART 5

As the "object" of our faith continues and remains Jesus Christ - and Him alone, the level of trust in God's ways and will dramatically increases in our lives, the favor and power in our appointed season guarantees that we successfully occupy and possess everything that He has promised.

a. Pray to "The Lord of the Harvest" about the harvest of humanity that He intends to reach for His namesake, and you'll never have to wonder if you're doing His will.

b. Our "mouths" are the primary sickle during seasons of harvest (souls, financial resources, opportunities, etc), and agreeing with God is our only obedience.

c. "Rest" is the claiming posture in the promised land, so being properly prepared and positioned will keep us from growing weary during the gathering process.

Hebrews 4:1-11 - "God's promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn't share the faith of those who listened to God. For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, "In my anger I took an oath: 'They will never enter my place of rest,'" even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: "On the seventh day God rested from all his work." But in the other passage God said, "They will never enter my place of rest." So God's rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: "Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts." Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall."

** Genuine faith brings certainty and reality to that which is otherwise unknown.

Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

** Faith is absolutely necessary to please God.

Hebrews 11:6 - "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."

** Water-walking in unknown territory "is" and should be common for every believer called to do anything for Christ.

Hebrews 11:8-9 - "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise."

Matthew 17:20 - "He replied, 'Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

2 Corinthians 5:7 - "For we live by believing and not by seeing."

** God uses people, and will during special times of our journey of faith, but our ultimate trust must be in Him.

Psalm 118:8-9 - "It is better to take refuge in The Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in The Lord than to put trust in princes."

Psalm 20:7 - "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of The Lord our God."

Jeremiah 17:5-8 - "This is what the LORD says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat

or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit."

**Faith doesn't flinch at physical limitations that are governed by the laws which energy, matter, space and time must strictly obey.

Hebrews 11:11-12 - "By faith Abraham, even though he was past age - and Sarah herself was barren - was enable to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and e as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore."

Job 23:8-10 - "But it I go to the east, He is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find Him. When He is at work in the north, I do not see Him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of Him. But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 - "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in The Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."

Habakkuk 2:3-4 - "For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright - but the righteous will live by His faith."

** If our trust is firmly planted in Him, the results will encircle and surround us like a well tailored garment with many benefits.

1. Protection

Psalm 5:11 - "But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, than those who love your name may rejoice in you."

Psalm 36:7 - "How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings."

Proverbs 30:5 - "Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection."

2. Gladness

Psalm 64:10 - "Let the righteous rejoice in The Lord and take refuge in Him; let all the upright in heart praise Him!"

Isaiah 12:3-6 - With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation! In that wonderful day you will sing: "Thank the LORD! Praise his name! Tell the nations what he has done. Let them know how mighty he is! Sing to the LORD, for he has done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world. Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy! For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you." 

3. Peace

Isaiah 26:3-4 - "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Trust in The Lord forever, for The Lord, The Lord is the Rock Eternal.

Isaiah 12:2 - "See, God has come to save me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; He has given me victory."

4. Blessing

Psalm 84:12 - "O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You."

Psalm 34:8 - "Taste and see that The Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him."

5. Confidence

Psalm 112:7 - "He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in The Lord."

Psalm 56:4 - "In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" (END OF STUDY).  #WS-3