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by Dr. Frederick K.C. Price
Hebrews 10:23 says: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
There are two words in that verse which I want to examine-confession and hope. Before I learned how to walk by faith, all my wife and I lived on was hope. But hope will not change your circumstances. It takes faith to release the power of God to change your circumstances. Hope will only keep you alive until things change. If you never bring faith to bear upon your circumstances, all you will do is live in hope. Your circumstances will never change.
However, in order to really walk by faith, you have to have hope. Hope is a goal setter. What’s your goal? My goal or objective is to reach the top of the mountain in all areas of life. Everybody should have a goal. If you do not set a goal you will never reach one. This is one reason why many people, and even many Christians, never achieve anything. They never set goals. They have nothing for their faith to obtain. Hope sets the goal and faith achieves it.
Hebrews 11:1 says: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hope by itself has no substance. Faith adds substance to your hope. If you do not have hope then you have nothing for your faith to obtain. On the other hand, if you have hope and do not have faith then you have nothing by which to obtain that which you hope for.
I want to challenge each of you to high hopes this New Year. I have high hopes and I obtain the goals I set. Though there still are some that have yet to manifest. I know that some things take more time than others.
I want to challenge you to have high hopes, to set some goals for 2009. If you do not set any goals you will never reach any. Now be careful and use wisdom when you set your goals. Do not set them so high that you become frustrated and lose hope. If you do, it will cause you to give up and do nothing.
Have you set goals concerning your financial and spiritual needs? Do you have any goals with regard to your desires, your family, your husband, your wife, your children, your job, your career, your education, your ministry or your physical health?
You need to have high hopes and there are steps you can take to obtain any goal. The first one is to remain steadfast, as it says in Hebrews 10:23. You have to be tenacious and hold on to your goals. Do not let go until your goal manifests. It takes that kind of attitude. Stay with it even if it takes forever. It may take a while for your goal to come to pass, but if you remain steadfast sooner or later it will manifest.
First Corinthians 15:58 says: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
If you want to reach your high hopes you have to be steadfast. Even if hell rises up against you, if the water rises, you stick with the goal. This is what steadfast means. It takes discipline and commitment to be constant.
Jesus said in John 15:18-19: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
The enemy will put pressure on you when you attempt to reach your goal. But you can handle it. Jesus did. You are in good company. In fact, you are running with the best. He has already warned you. If they persecuted Him they will persecute you.
Situations may arise in which you are unable to figure out what to do. We all have encountered this at one time or another in our lives. When you are walking in the Word and by the Holy Spirit you have divine, inside information to meet your goal.
Second Corinthians 4:8-9 says: “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;”
If you are steadfast, standing through the persecution, deliverance is at hand. You can obtain your High Hopes.
Spiritual warfare is a spiritual (non-tangible) battle between opposing forces. The waging of war against an enemy are acts undertaken to destroy the strength of another.
The Webster’s Dictionary definition of warfare:
Military operations between enemies
An activity undertaken by a political unit (as a nation) to weaken or destroy another
Struggle between competing entities
The waging of war against an enemy
In Ephesians 6:12, the Apostle Paul teaches us that we are contending with an enemy. This enemy is an invisible foe. He is our adversary that seeks to oppose God’s plans for us.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”.
Many times believers refer to warfare as a position of attack by satan. There are very few of us who are willing to rest in our position with Christ, our rightful place seated with Christ at God’s right hand in the heavenly places far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and wage war against satan. We as followers of Christ must know that in any battle, the Holy Spirit that resides inside of us is greater than that of the world.
When engaged in warfare with the enemy we have to rid ourselves of all ungodly thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that do not align with Jesus’ teachings preserved for us in God’s word.
Our enemy’s military is made up with armed forces. Satan has an army of demons that are equipped with weapons that works against us to defile, destroy, harass, tempt and attempt to enslave mankind.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NIV)
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the word does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary; they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
These weapons that are used are not physical weapons of flesh and blood, but for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds. By using the weapons of warfare, we are able to put an end to the attacks by our adversary which results in a victorious end.
Before we talk about our spiritual weapons of warfare, I want to first expose some of the weapons that are used by satan and his demonic assailants. Satan uses fear, afflictions, rejection, unbelief or doubt, rebellion, pride, shame and lust as weapons against followers of Christ to defile the hearts of believers in effort to prevent us from fulfilling our destinies. Fear has been his greatest instrument of attack used in the battle and a root issue or strongman in the factor. Fear is the enemy of faith. Fear is bondage.
The enemy uses fear as a weapon against the saints of God. Fear disarms and immobilizes the saints to prevent activity. If in fact a child of God is inactive, He or she is also ineffective for use and therefore is sitting dormant and can not wage warfare against the enemy. Fear is also used in aiding the delays of times and seasons. If you are crippled with fear you will not be able to move into the things of God and therefore enabling the enemy to win over your confidence. In Judges 7:1-8 God commanded Gideon to send those who were filled with fear home. They were not able to confront their enemy in fear. Many Christians have experience this fear in several avenues which has allowed the enemy access of possession and control over them. Fear of public speaking- which results in not answering the call of God for that particular purpose, fear of stepping out on faith- which results in standing still and missing God opportunities to be used by Him, fear of failure- which results in missed accomplishments that overcome obstacles, fear of being alone- which results in not waiting on God for the proper mate or settling for less. This will also allow insecurities and lack of confidence to take root.
Satan wants us to live in bondage to the past and even the future, but God wants us to live in the freedom of His love and power in the present. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of Sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father’”(Rom. 8:15). For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).
God has given us weapons to counter all satanic influence and activity. We have been given authority over the enemy and the ability to oppose his weapons against us. We must be effective in our warfare. So let’s move into what some of our weapons are against the enemy. You may find that God has given you more weapons and even different ones, this is simply what the Holy Spirit led me to use while on the front lines of engaging war against the enemy. I’ve called them my 5 stones to defeat the giant.
Praise- Satan and demons just hate hearing people praise God. Praise releases the presence of God in a way that satan cannot resist. And we know that in His presence there is fullness of joy according to Psalm 16:11. Praise silences the enemy. Psalm 8:2 When the devil comes at you with his weapons of doubt, fear, rejection, you have to lift you voice and praise God anyhow. It’s a difficult thing at times when your soul has been crushed. Or even when you feel as though it’s the end of the world. But when using your weapons of warfare, there is no time for emotionalism. You are in a battle. You have to focus only of truth and that’s the truth of God’s word and what He has already said about your circumstances.
The Word of God- When Jesus was tempted by the enemy in Luke 4:1-13 he overcame the enemy by using the Word of God. One of the reasons why Jesus was so effective in this victory over satan was that He knew what God’s word said. Not only was He is the Word made flesh. I found it very interesting how satan thought he knew what he could say in his attempts of temptations. He also knew God’s word. In fact he knew the Word before the Word became flesh. He even attempted to use God’s Word against Jesus. If you are going to be effective in your spiritual battle you must know the Word of God and know how to use His Word in the proper context. Don’t just be quoting scriptures for any occasion. Know the scriptures to declare for that given circumstances. If satan came to you with thoughts of feeling unworthy and worthless, made you feel as though you was less than the dirt you’ve walked on and tried to tempt your into worldly living in effort to serve him. Don’t start quoting scriptures like. “give and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your lap.” But declare that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, you are a child of the Most High God. You are more than a conqueror, You can do all things through Christ which strengthens you. You are not conformed to this world, but you are transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Amen? When we study and meditate on the Word of God that word becomes alive in us. The Word gives us victory over satan. Know the word to be more effective in spiritual warfare.
Prayer- Proverbs 8:34-35 Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord; Prayer is simply communicating with God. The importance of communicating with God in spiritual warfare is that when you release your concerns God is able to fill you with solutions. He imparts revelation into you that will give you the answers to whatever problem at hand. When communicating with God, He will release wisdom to you so that you will know the proper steps to take in a matter. Proverbs 15:29 states The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous. The Lord is a God of justice, He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry when he hears it he will answer you.
The Name of Jesus- Jesus has the name above all names. I found it very effective to just say the name of Jesus. There is so much power in the name Jesus. There is great authority exercised when using the name of Jesus. By using the name of Jesus you are using authority over all that His name represents. What does His name mean to you? Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 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. Ephesians 1:18-25 “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparable great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority , power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
Fasting- Fasting when done according to the Word of God is a very powerful weapon to use. “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Isaiah 58:6 Fasting is a lifestyle for a spirit filled believer. I have applied God’s instructions on fasting to my lifestyle and have seen remarkable results, spiritually, physically, emotionally and financially. When engaged in warfare, fasting will enable you to successfully view God’s plans in any given circumstance. Even if God leads you to just fast for whatever purpose, fasting will pierce through darkness and lift false burdens from your path. I’ve also notice that fasting is a cure for busyness. Often times people become “too busy” for the things of God and are consumed with the cares of the world. Fasting will redirect your focus to a purposeful life with God. It was during a 21 day fast that I was able to purchase my home after trying three years. I didn’t fast to get anything, but while fasting I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to begin the process. While fasting, the Holy Spirit will lead you to make the proper decisions that are in alignment with God’s plans for that season of your life. Meditate on Isaiah 58 when fasting.
It is my prayer that God will continue to bless you and release revelation as you walk with Him on your journey!
by Sandy Warner
July 21st 2008
I had written this as a journal entry back in June – just read this word about being anchored from the Quickened Word – I knew it was a sweet confirmation and an echo of what Papa had already said.
C Elder
06/03/08
As I sat this morning, in quiet time, studying – the bushes outside the window caught my attention. I noticed that the wind was blowing and this particular bush was almost being bent to its side!
I walked outside to feel just how hard the wind is blowing this morning – wow! It is REALLY blowing hard!!! It’s June and these feel like March winds!
I went back inside – sat down and began to read again when the same bush caught my eye again! This time I found myself saying out loud, “Hey! Now don’t topple my bush!”
Immediately I heard Holy Spirit say, “Not deep enough.”
I then remembered when we returned from our trip to Boston, that one of the mature crepe myrtle trees in the front flowerbed had blown over while we were gone. It wasn’t dead, but some of the roots were exposed and if not replanted, it would eventually die or begin to grow sideways. Crepe myrtle trees are pretty hardy if you didn’t know, but temperamental just the same. So I re-dug the hole and planted it deeper and even anchored it to a rebar rod.
So I’m pondering on all this and I’m seeing such spiritual significance! The winds, the exposed roots, the shallowness of the plant’s food source, not being replanted and growing sideways or even dying.
Suddenly I hear Holy Spirit say, “Plant yourself deeper, sweet one, so when the winds of change blow, you won’t be toppled or blown to and fro. Anchor yourself to the One who is sturdy.”
Such a simple word, but challenging just the same.
The winds ARE blowing, not just in the physical, but the spiritual as well. Remember, physical things are manifested from the spiritual. There’s a change in the atmosphere, and it’s blowing through our lives right now. Papa God is manifesting Himself everywhere – always good, but blowing and shaking what can be blown and shaken – the things that are not Him or made by Him!
Just as the man who built his house on sand and it didn’t withstand the storms, these winds are blowing the chaff away in our lives. If we’re not anchored or planted (or replanted) deeply, we will be blown in all different directions; toppled; exposing our roots (which could actually be a good thing if what is rooted in us is not of God); our food source being so shallow that we’re not being fed the nutrients that we need to grow deeper; being blown to the side and growing in a way that isn’t pleasing; even drying up and dying.
Whoa. That was a good word…thanks Holy Spirit!
I pray for an extra measure of grace, strength and wisdom in these days, Papa.
You are a light to the world to those who are hurting and need a glimmer of hope. You are a bridge to carry them to the other side of the troubled waters. They will be untouched because of my Holy Spirit and your willingness to submit them to me due to the heart I put inside of you.
I am increasing your passion, love and compassion for the lost and hurting souls. I will deliver them as I am delivering you, all you have to do is encourage them with my word and lift them up to me by holding them up in prayer to Abba. I am teaching you to who Papa is so that you can pray to Papa for all of your needs and the needs of others.
It all begins and ends with me so be encouraged that you don’t have to do anything in your own strength. So don’t even try it because you will be discouraged. Let the light of my word guide you into all truth, this is what I require of you. My word is your most powerful and effective tool for ministry. Fill up your storehouses with my promises and wisdom because others are dying to hear the message of hope.
Their hearts are damaged and bruised so all they know how to do is hurt others out of their heart of hurt. I will restore their hearts with my love so they can show that same love to others. I am calling you to heal the broken hearted, set the captives free by using the treasure map I have freely given to you. It will be like a domino effect, moving in the direction I have set up and those prison walls will come down all over the world, people will realize that I am the ONE who can hold them up.
No more crutches that keep them crippled with no purpose in life. I am the one who gives life to the dry bones. My people perish due to lack of knowledge, not knowing what to do or how to get out. That is where the called of Christ are commissioned to heal the broken hearted with what I have put in their hearts. This is the “good news” of love, hope, peace, prosperity, power and joy in abundant life with me.
Do you see that this has already begun? Seek my heart in the secret place and you will know what I am doing today on the earth. I have appointed you for such a time as this, wait in the doorway and I will tell you when to step out. Be watchful with my word and you will know what to do, don’t allow guilt to drive you to move prematurely. Be led forth with peace in all you do. I love you beloved children of mine.
For your prayerful consideration…
JLL
