Ephesians 6:11-18
Amplified Bible
1Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
12For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
13Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
14Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
15And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness [b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.(A)
16Lift up over all the [covering] shield of [c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit [d]wields, which is the Word of God.
18Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).
Are you battle ready? We are at war! Who is your opponent? The devil also known as the adversary. So many times, Christians waste time an energy fighting the wrong opponent. The devil is and always will be your opponent. He is a formidable one at that. We are not fighting our brothers and sisters. We are not fighting those that have done us wrong and say all manner of evil about us. The Bible teaches that we don't fight against flesh and blood (people) but against principalities, powers, spiritual wickedness in high places. Warfare takes place in the heavenlies, the church, and in your mind. Keep the helmet of salvation and the sword which is the word of God.
You must always by ready for battle. Your opponent doesn't fight fair. He is sucker punch you. If you haven't been praying, fasting, and reading the word, he will devour you. Remember, the stronger the anointing from God you have - the stronger the attack will be from the adversary! He comes to kill, steal, and destroy. He takes his job seriously. He means to do just that. Therefore, you must always stay battle ready. Use every weapon available to you. There is power in the blood of Jesus,there is power in His name. Don't ever forget that. It you can't say anything else, say "the blood of Jesus" or "Jesus"!
Don't be a causality of war.
God Bless
2 Timothy 2:21- Amplified Bible 21So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.
Can You Speak Louder God?
Daniel 8:15-16
American Standard Version
15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
"Can you speak louder, God?", have you ever said these words or thought them? Of course you have. We all have at one time or another. God has given you a vision. But you are not quite sure you understand it. If you understand it,you aren't sure how it is going to happen. You may even doubt if it was God in the first place. You need clear vision and crisp understanding. Ask for it. You delight to do His will,He knows that. You want to please Him, and don't want to do anything out of His will.
Pray for clear vision and understanding. You may have to get on your face before God. You may also have to close some channels. In other words, don't turn on the television looking for a word. Don't call your prayer partner looking for a word. Don't turn on the computer looking for a word, get quite before the Lord. He will answer. It is perfectly fine for you to ask God to "speak louder". What you are actually ask for His confirmation of the things He told you. He will send confirmation, be open to receive.
God Bless
American Standard Version
15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
"Can you speak louder, God?", have you ever said these words or thought them? Of course you have. We all have at one time or another. God has given you a vision. But you are not quite sure you understand it. If you understand it,you aren't sure how it is going to happen. You may even doubt if it was God in the first place. You need clear vision and crisp understanding. Ask for it. You delight to do His will,He knows that. You want to please Him, and don't want to do anything out of His will.
Pray for clear vision and understanding. You may have to get on your face before God. You may also have to close some channels. In other words, don't turn on the television looking for a word. Don't call your prayer partner looking for a word. Don't turn on the computer looking for a word, get quite before the Lord. He will answer. It is perfectly fine for you to ask God to "speak louder". What you are actually ask for His confirmation of the things He told you. He will send confirmation, be open to receive.
God Bless
Master Tailor
Matthew 9:19-21
New Life Version
19 Jesus got up and followed him. His followers went also. 20 Just then a woman who had been sick with a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind. She touched the bottom of His coat. 21 She said to herself, "If I only touch the bottom of His coat, I will be healed."
Jesus has a miracle tailored for your situation. All you have to do is touch Him and you will be healed. You may not have been bleeding continually for 12 years, you may have been unemployed for a year and a half and the father of lies, told you that you will never find a job. You may be employed but underemployed; your income may not meet your needs. You may have been single for the past 40 years or been divorced three times already. Jesus always meets you at the point of your need. He is not going to give a car to someone without a driver's license.
Jesus tailors everything just for you. He builds the miracle, deliverance, or breakthrough based on you...that's right you. The only thing it will cost you for your custom made miracle is faith. The Bible says that faith the size of a mustard seed will cause mountains to move. What God has for you, is for you. You may be on welfare right now. You may be looked down on...touch the hem of His garment. He knows about your situation. He is a master tailor. He has a miracle to fit your need. Reach up and receive.
God Bless
New Life Version
19 Jesus got up and followed him. His followers went also. 20 Just then a woman who had been sick with a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind. She touched the bottom of His coat. 21 She said to herself, "If I only touch the bottom of His coat, I will be healed."
Jesus has a miracle tailored for your situation. All you have to do is touch Him and you will be healed. You may not have been bleeding continually for 12 years, you may have been unemployed for a year and a half and the father of lies, told you that you will never find a job. You may be employed but underemployed; your income may not meet your needs. You may have been single for the past 40 years or been divorced three times already. Jesus always meets you at the point of your need. He is not going to give a car to someone without a driver's license.
Jesus tailors everything just for you. He builds the miracle, deliverance, or breakthrough based on you...that's right you. The only thing it will cost you for your custom made miracle is faith. The Bible says that faith the size of a mustard seed will cause mountains to move. What God has for you, is for you. You may be on welfare right now. You may be looked down on...touch the hem of His garment. He knows about your situation. He is a master tailor. He has a miracle to fit your need. Reach up and receive.
God Bless
Jesus Knows What You're Going Through
Hebrews 4:15
English Standard Version
15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
What I love some much about Jesus is that He is not a high priest. He is not this unattainable Saviour that is watching us from Heaven. He is able to feel what we feel. He came down from Heaven and took on the form of man to be acquainted with every thought, every hurt,every emotion that we deal with. Jesus knows what it's like to be hungry. He knows what it feels like to lose a loved one. He knows what it is feels like to be angry. He understands what it's like to be betrayed by people you only tried to love and help. He knows all about what you feel.
He dwelt among us, He felt what you are feeling right now.The devil even tempted Him. Here is the best part, He overcame it. Therefore, you can over come. He endured it and sinned not. You are an heir, a joint heir with Jesus. You will suffer some time. You will be misunderstood, betrayed, angry, and even broken hearted some time. Jesus also felt joy, happiness, and fulfillment from doing the will of God. You too will experience joy, happiness, and fulfillment as you do the will of God.
He is not a high priest.Jesus loved you so much that He put on flesh to understand everything you think and feel.
God Bless
English Standard Version
15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
What I love some much about Jesus is that He is not a high priest. He is not this unattainable Saviour that is watching us from Heaven. He is able to feel what we feel. He came down from Heaven and took on the form of man to be acquainted with every thought, every hurt,every emotion that we deal with. Jesus knows what it's like to be hungry. He knows what it feels like to lose a loved one. He knows what it is feels like to be angry. He understands what it's like to be betrayed by people you only tried to love and help. He knows all about what you feel.
He dwelt among us, He felt what you are feeling right now.The devil even tempted Him. Here is the best part, He overcame it. Therefore, you can over come. He endured it and sinned not. You are an heir, a joint heir with Jesus. You will suffer some time. You will be misunderstood, betrayed, angry, and even broken hearted some time. Jesus also felt joy, happiness, and fulfillment from doing the will of God. You too will experience joy, happiness, and fulfillment as you do the will of God.
He is not a high priest.Jesus loved you so much that He put on flesh to understand everything you think and feel.
God Bless
Say It, See It
Genesis 1:3
Holman Christian Standard Bible
3 Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
God has given you many promises. God has spoke things to you through the Word, other people, and directly into your spirit. The enemy is trying to rob you. He is trying to discourage you because you have not seen some of the promises come to pass, yet. Remember this very important point, say what God has told you. Say it out loud! Let the devil know that what he is trying to do isn't going to work. Shout in the face of the enemy those things which were told to you by your God. God cannot lie. His word never returns to Him void.
In the beginning, God said....and it was. He formed the earth with His words. Israel Houghton said in a song once, "say what you heard, so you can see what you said". The same power to speak things into existence also dwells in you. God made you in His likeness.When you don't know what to do, and the devil tries to make you frustrated...say it and see it. If you need God to illuminate your situation, say these four simple yet powerful words, "Let there be light".
God Bless
Holman Christian Standard Bible
3 Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
God has given you many promises. God has spoke things to you through the Word, other people, and directly into your spirit. The enemy is trying to rob you. He is trying to discourage you because you have not seen some of the promises come to pass, yet. Remember this very important point, say what God has told you. Say it out loud! Let the devil know that what he is trying to do isn't going to work. Shout in the face of the enemy those things which were told to you by your God. God cannot lie. His word never returns to Him void.
In the beginning, God said....and it was. He formed the earth with His words. Israel Houghton said in a song once, "say what you heard, so you can see what you said". The same power to speak things into existence also dwells in you. God made you in His likeness.When you don't know what to do, and the devil tries to make you frustrated...say it and see it. If you need God to illuminate your situation, say these four simple yet powerful words, "Let there be light".
God Bless
Uniquely Yours
1 Samuel 17:38-39
The Message
38-39 Then Saul outfitted David as a soldier in armor. He put his bronze helmet on his head and belted his sword on him over the armor. David tried to walk but he could hardly budge.
David told Saul, "I can't even move with all this stuff on me. I'm not used to this." And he took it all off.
God has given you gifts, blessings, a calling, an anointing that is uniquely yours. When you are in a battle like David was, you can't use someone else's weapons. You cannot fight your Goliath fitted with someone else's armor. Your mother may be a great prayer warrior. So, you think if you pray like her, things will change. Of course you should pray, but the way she prays isn't your weapon. It's the way you pray. God may be calling you to war in the form of praise and worship. Your breakthrough may not come just from prayer. You may need to add praise and worship to it.
You may see people in your church doing great exploits for God. There may be a brother that can preach the walls down. Then, you decide that you can preach too. You want to be in the pulpit. You may want that glory, but don't know this story. The point is this...you are not called to duplicate his anointing. You may be a preacher in your own right but preach like you, not him. The dreams, goals, and visions that God has given you are uniquely yours. If you try to walk in someone else's "shoes", you will be miserable. You can't move into what God has for you with someone else's stuff.
Celebrate the uniqueness of you.
God Bless
The Message
38-39 Then Saul outfitted David as a soldier in armor. He put his bronze helmet on his head and belted his sword on him over the armor. David tried to walk but he could hardly budge.
David told Saul, "I can't even move with all this stuff on me. I'm not used to this." And he took it all off.
God has given you gifts, blessings, a calling, an anointing that is uniquely yours. When you are in a battle like David was, you can't use someone else's weapons. You cannot fight your Goliath fitted with someone else's armor. Your mother may be a great prayer warrior. So, you think if you pray like her, things will change. Of course you should pray, but the way she prays isn't your weapon. It's the way you pray. God may be calling you to war in the form of praise and worship. Your breakthrough may not come just from prayer. You may need to add praise and worship to it.
You may see people in your church doing great exploits for God. There may be a brother that can preach the walls down. Then, you decide that you can preach too. You want to be in the pulpit. You may want that glory, but don't know this story. The point is this...you are not called to duplicate his anointing. You may be a preacher in your own right but preach like you, not him. The dreams, goals, and visions that God has given you are uniquely yours. If you try to walk in someone else's "shoes", you will be miserable. You can't move into what God has for you with someone else's stuff.
Celebrate the uniqueness of you.
God Bless
You Were Not Created to Be Ordinary
1 Peter 2:9
Amplified Bible
9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
You were not created to be ordinary. God is not a God of mediocrity. There is greatness in you. Don't ever apologize for who God created you to be or do. Many times God tells us to do something. Then we decide to do it. Then we tell others about it looking for affirmation. Some will be excited about what God is doing through you. Others will try to convince you that it can't be done. People that don't take chances don't make advances. In other words, step out on faith. The word of God says that you are special people.The King James Version says peculiar.
What does it mean to be peculiar?
Peculiar: 1. Unusual or eccentric; odd.2. Distinct from all others.3. Belonging distinctively or primarily to one person, group, or kind; special or unique: rights peculiar to the rich; a species peculiar to this area. 4. A privilege or property that is exclusively one's own.
People will always talk about you. Let them talk. You have been set apart to do great works for Him. Celebrate the uniqueness that is you. You were not created to be ordinary.
God Bless
Haven't done this in a while. Have been experiencing computer problems. Please continue to pray for this ministry. The devil can't block it.
Amplified Bible
9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
You were not created to be ordinary. God is not a God of mediocrity. There is greatness in you. Don't ever apologize for who God created you to be or do. Many times God tells us to do something. Then we decide to do it. Then we tell others about it looking for affirmation. Some will be excited about what God is doing through you. Others will try to convince you that it can't be done. People that don't take chances don't make advances. In other words, step out on faith. The word of God says that you are special people.The King James Version says peculiar.
What does it mean to be peculiar?
Peculiar: 1. Unusual or eccentric; odd.2. Distinct from all others.3. Belonging distinctively or primarily to one person, group, or kind; special or unique: rights peculiar to the rich; a species peculiar to this area. 4. A privilege or property that is exclusively one's own.
People will always talk about you. Let them talk. You have been set apart to do great works for Him. Celebrate the uniqueness that is you. You were not created to be ordinary.
God Bless
Haven't done this in a while. Have been experiencing computer problems. Please continue to pray for this ministry. The devil can't block it.
Who Can Fathom The Depths of His Love?
Ephesians 3:17-19
New Life Version
17 I pray that Christ may live in your hearts by faith. I pray that you will be filled with love. 18 I pray that you will be able to understand how wide and how long and how high and how deep His love is. 19 I pray that you will know the love of Christ. His love goes beyond anything we can understand. I pray that you will be filled with God Himself.
Who can fathom the depths of God's love? God is love. God loves you so much that you cannot even comprehend the love God has for you. I stand in awe of this Holy God. He is worthy of all honor,glory, and praise. This love is overwhelming. David the Psalmist said it best, "Who am I that He is mindful of me?" He is the God who created the Heavens and the Earth. Yet, He is constantly thinking of you. He wants to bless you. He wants to make the impossible, possible in your life.
When you begin to understand the love God has for you, it is humbling. We have all sinned and come short the glory of God; but, He still loves us. If you don't know Him, I pray that you get to know Him today. Ask Him to come into your life. He will give you love, joy, and peace. He will give you love like no one could ever give. God's love is unconditional. There is nothing that you have to do to get it. He gives it freely. He asks for nothing in return. Every time you turn around He is blessing you. He blessed you to see another day. Your alarm clock did not wake you up this morning. A loving and Holy God kissed you to wake you up this morning.
My prayer for you today is that you are able to understand God's love for you. Test His love for you. See how deep it is, how wide, how long, and how high.
God Bless
New Life Version
17 I pray that Christ may live in your hearts by faith. I pray that you will be filled with love. 18 I pray that you will be able to understand how wide and how long and how high and how deep His love is. 19 I pray that you will know the love of Christ. His love goes beyond anything we can understand. I pray that you will be filled with God Himself.
Who can fathom the depths of God's love? God is love. God loves you so much that you cannot even comprehend the love God has for you. I stand in awe of this Holy God. He is worthy of all honor,glory, and praise. This love is overwhelming. David the Psalmist said it best, "Who am I that He is mindful of me?" He is the God who created the Heavens and the Earth. Yet, He is constantly thinking of you. He wants to bless you. He wants to make the impossible, possible in your life.
When you begin to understand the love God has for you, it is humbling. We have all sinned and come short the glory of God; but, He still loves us. If you don't know Him, I pray that you get to know Him today. Ask Him to come into your life. He will give you love, joy, and peace. He will give you love like no one could ever give. God's love is unconditional. There is nothing that you have to do to get it. He gives it freely. He asks for nothing in return. Every time you turn around He is blessing you. He blessed you to see another day. Your alarm clock did not wake you up this morning. A loving and Holy God kissed you to wake you up this morning.
My prayer for you today is that you are able to understand God's love for you. Test His love for you. See how deep it is, how wide, how long, and how high.
God Bless
Gather Your Blessings Before You Ask For More
Conrad Lampan:
"GATHER YOUR BLESSINGS BEFORE YOU ASK FOR MORE"
I was having a chat with the Lord one day, and asked Him some questions about my troubles in a time of adjustment in my life which involved many changes. All the changes seemed to overwhelm me, and to top it all off, dire financial needs like storm clouds were glooming over my head. Have you been there? I am sure you have, and I am sure you know what I am talking about.
As I was chatting and asking the Holy Spirit some questions, He told me to say the Lord's Prayer. My attitude was like, "Why?" But anyway, I started saying it. "Our Father...deliver us from evil...." (Matthew 10). There, He stopped me, and said, "I promised you I will deliver you from evil, but I never said you were going to have a trouble-free life."
MY GOD DOES NOT MAKE SENSE!
In fact--He went on to say, "Your troubles might bless you." Say what?! I said to Him, "Look, I know You are the Holy Spirit and You know everything, but unless You explain this, I cannot swallow it." He then pointed me to Hosea 2:14, where I read things that totally prove we serve a God that does not make sense. My God does not make any sense!
God says that He will "allure her into the wilderness and...speak comfort to her." Come on! Comfort in the wilderness? Then, in verse 15, He says that He "will give her vineyards from there." Really? Just in case you do not know about the valley of Achor, where God says He will give "her vineyards from there," it is a desert in the middle of the wilderness! Another name for it is the "valley of death." Vineyards? And to top it all, He also says in verse 15, that the valley of Achor "will be your gate of hope."
The Lord said to me, "Don't you see it?" "I don't," I said. He then said, "Look again." I retorted, "Lord, I just don't get Your point." And that's when He shouted to me:
"YOUR TROUBLES CAN BE THE GATE TO YOUR BLESSINGS!"
How could that be? The Holy Spirit then said, "Stay with Me, and I will show you where lies the hinge, over which the door revolves--from troubles to blessings."
He then took me to 2 Kings 19, where we read the story of Jerusalem surrounded by the Assyrians with Sennacherib at the head. The siege was long, and the heathen king even blasphemed the Lord. King Hezekiah and the nation were in dire need, and they were facing certain death. Then Hezekiah went into the temple and called Isaiah to a prayer meeting. There, Isaiah made intercession for Hezekiah and for the nation. And the answer came.
BECAUSE YOU PRAYED
The Holy Spirit then noted to me that He will never ever answer a prayer that has not been made! Only "because you prayed" will you then have deliverance.
And surely as daylight, deliverance came for them. As you continue to read the story in 2 Kings 19, 185,000 enemy soldiers were killed by the Angel of the Lord and Sennacherib, king of Assyria, broke camp and withdrew!
But I was still thinking of how "troubles can be a blessing." I thought here that, "The blessing was actually the deliverance from trouble," but the trouble itself did not look to me like a blessing. If it was a blessing in disguise, I have to admit, it was the master of disguise!
And the Holy Spirit pointed me to some history, particularly the history of ancient warfare. In ancient times, an army like the Assyrians, would go out on campaigns that lasted months or even years. In many cases, they would conquer and subjugate a city or nation, and instead of going home, they would simply continue to the next city to conquer. This seems to be the case with Sennacherib as it shows when he is boasting--it seems he was riding on a highway of victories, leaving behind conquered lands and subjugated peoples.
AFTER YOU PRAY: GATHER!
I said to the Lord, "What do you want me to gather from this portion of history?" And He just said, "Gather." Oh, right! What? My head was already spinning as usual when I get into a direct talk with the Holy Spirit. He gives me peace, but He makes my brain smoke!
He said that the Assyrians were in a conquering campaign and they had already submitted quite a few nations, and they surely took big spoils and tribute from them. Where was the gold and silver they took? Where were all the valuables they took from the conquered peoples? They did not send boxes of gold via UPS ground, and there were no FED-EX planes yet. They had all the goods with them; they were carrying it all with them!
THEY LEFT THEIR GOODS AT THE GATES OF JERUSALEM AND FLED!
This is our God! This is the unfathomable God. Only one such God can allow the mightiest army in the world (at that time) to come and siege Jerusalem, and then God Himself slews a big chunk of them, causing the rest of them to flee in absolute terror, leaving behind their possessions. I said, "Lord, the Bible does not say that they left all the gold there." Oh my! I should know better by now to not teach the Bible to the Holy Spirit. He simply asked me, "Do you think that the Assyrians, in all their terror, would take time to gather their gold when they were running for their lives?" No, they left all the stuff behind so that the people in Jerusalem could gather it all. And it all happened "because people prayed,"--that's the hinge!
OPEN YOUR GATES, NOT THE GATES OF HEAVEN
So many times, we keep crying to God to open the gates of Heaven and send blessings, when we could simply open the gates we have and gather the blessings God's "already" caused to be left at our gates--when we prayed! But this takes action--we need to act, open the gates, step out in faith and believe God!
Nothing will happen that you do not pray for; but many times the blessings you prayed for are already at your gates. Because you prayed, they were sent to you; because you prayed, blessings were stored at your front door; because you prayed, He came with deliverance; because you prayed, He came with provision.
God will never answer a prayer that has not been made. But then again, God will never answer your prayers by sending quail flying into your camp already roasted!
Be blessed and be a blessing!
Conrad Lampan
Revival Highway
Email: connect@revivalhighway.org
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"GATHER YOUR BLESSINGS BEFORE YOU ASK FOR MORE"
I was having a chat with the Lord one day, and asked Him some questions about my troubles in a time of adjustment in my life which involved many changes. All the changes seemed to overwhelm me, and to top it all off, dire financial needs like storm clouds were glooming over my head. Have you been there? I am sure you have, and I am sure you know what I am talking about.
As I was chatting and asking the Holy Spirit some questions, He told me to say the Lord's Prayer. My attitude was like, "Why?" But anyway, I started saying it. "Our Father...deliver us from evil...." (Matthew 10). There, He stopped me, and said, "I promised you I will deliver you from evil, but I never said you were going to have a trouble-free life."
MY GOD DOES NOT MAKE SENSE!
In fact--He went on to say, "Your troubles might bless you." Say what?! I said to Him, "Look, I know You are the Holy Spirit and You know everything, but unless You explain this, I cannot swallow it." He then pointed me to Hosea 2:14, where I read things that totally prove we serve a God that does not make sense. My God does not make any sense!
God says that He will "allure her into the wilderness and...speak comfort to her." Come on! Comfort in the wilderness? Then, in verse 15, He says that He "will give her vineyards from there." Really? Just in case you do not know about the valley of Achor, where God says He will give "her vineyards from there," it is a desert in the middle of the wilderness! Another name for it is the "valley of death." Vineyards? And to top it all, He also says in verse 15, that the valley of Achor "will be your gate of hope."
The Lord said to me, "Don't you see it?" "I don't," I said. He then said, "Look again." I retorted, "Lord, I just don't get Your point." And that's when He shouted to me:
"YOUR TROUBLES CAN BE THE GATE TO YOUR BLESSINGS!"
How could that be? The Holy Spirit then said, "Stay with Me, and I will show you where lies the hinge, over which the door revolves--from troubles to blessings."
He then took me to 2 Kings 19, where we read the story of Jerusalem surrounded by the Assyrians with Sennacherib at the head. The siege was long, and the heathen king even blasphemed the Lord. King Hezekiah and the nation were in dire need, and they were facing certain death. Then Hezekiah went into the temple and called Isaiah to a prayer meeting. There, Isaiah made intercession for Hezekiah and for the nation. And the answer came.
BECAUSE YOU PRAYED
The Holy Spirit then noted to me that He will never ever answer a prayer that has not been made! Only "because you prayed" will you then have deliverance.
And surely as daylight, deliverance came for them. As you continue to read the story in 2 Kings 19, 185,000 enemy soldiers were killed by the Angel of the Lord and Sennacherib, king of Assyria, broke camp and withdrew!
But I was still thinking of how "troubles can be a blessing." I thought here that, "The blessing was actually the deliverance from trouble," but the trouble itself did not look to me like a blessing. If it was a blessing in disguise, I have to admit, it was the master of disguise!
And the Holy Spirit pointed me to some history, particularly the history of ancient warfare. In ancient times, an army like the Assyrians, would go out on campaigns that lasted months or even years. In many cases, they would conquer and subjugate a city or nation, and instead of going home, they would simply continue to the next city to conquer. This seems to be the case with Sennacherib as it shows when he is boasting--it seems he was riding on a highway of victories, leaving behind conquered lands and subjugated peoples.
AFTER YOU PRAY: GATHER!
I said to the Lord, "What do you want me to gather from this portion of history?" And He just said, "Gather." Oh, right! What? My head was already spinning as usual when I get into a direct talk with the Holy Spirit. He gives me peace, but He makes my brain smoke!
He said that the Assyrians were in a conquering campaign and they had already submitted quite a few nations, and they surely took big spoils and tribute from them. Where was the gold and silver they took? Where were all the valuables they took from the conquered peoples? They did not send boxes of gold via UPS ground, and there were no FED-EX planes yet. They had all the goods with them; they were carrying it all with them!
THEY LEFT THEIR GOODS AT THE GATES OF JERUSALEM AND FLED!
This is our God! This is the unfathomable God. Only one such God can allow the mightiest army in the world (at that time) to come and siege Jerusalem, and then God Himself slews a big chunk of them, causing the rest of them to flee in absolute terror, leaving behind their possessions. I said, "Lord, the Bible does not say that they left all the gold there." Oh my! I should know better by now to not teach the Bible to the Holy Spirit. He simply asked me, "Do you think that the Assyrians, in all their terror, would take time to gather their gold when they were running for their lives?" No, they left all the stuff behind so that the people in Jerusalem could gather it all. And it all happened "because people prayed,"--that's the hinge!
OPEN YOUR GATES, NOT THE GATES OF HEAVEN
So many times, we keep crying to God to open the gates of Heaven and send blessings, when we could simply open the gates we have and gather the blessings God's "already" caused to be left at our gates--when we prayed! But this takes action--we need to act, open the gates, step out in faith and believe God!
Nothing will happen that you do not pray for; but many times the blessings you prayed for are already at your gates. Because you prayed, they were sent to you; because you prayed, blessings were stored at your front door; because you prayed, He came with deliverance; because you prayed, He came with provision.
God will never answer a prayer that has not been made. But then again, God will never answer your prayers by sending quail flying into your camp already roasted!
Be blessed and be a blessing!
Conrad Lampan
Revival Highway
Email: connect@revivalhighway.org
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Pour Out Your Heart
1 Samuel 1:11-18
Holman Christian Standard Bible
11 Making a vow, she pleaded, "LORD of Hosts, if You will take notice of Your servant's affliction, remember and not forget me, and give Your servant a son, I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut."
12 While she was praying in the Lord's presence, Eli watched her lips. 13 Hannah was speaking to herself, and although her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and scolded her, "How long are you going to be drunk? Get rid of your wine!"
15 "No, my lord," Hannah replied. "I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven't had any wine or beer; I've been pouring out my heart before the LORD. 16 Don't think of me as a wicked woman; I've been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment."
17 Eli responded, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the petition you've requested from Him."
18 "May your servant find favor with you," she replied. Then Hannah went on her way; she ate and no longer appeared downcast.
There are times in life when you need a breakthrough. You need God to do the impossible. You pray then wait. You start to believe that it is not going to happen. Sometimes you have to cry out of the depths of your soul. You have to pray a prayer that moves Heaven.
The Word of God says to pour out your heart before Him. Power belongs to God. Sometimes yo become angry with God or resentful because it seems like He is not moving. It alright to take that to God. He is your Father. He already knows what is in your heart. Why does He want me t pour out my heart you might ask? He wants you to come to a place of intimacy with Him that you will talk to Him like you talk to your best friend, parent, or spouse. Get to that place in God where you hold nothing back.
God Bless
Holman Christian Standard Bible
11 Making a vow, she pleaded, "LORD of Hosts, if You will take notice of Your servant's affliction, remember and not forget me, and give Your servant a son, I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut."
12 While she was praying in the Lord's presence, Eli watched her lips. 13 Hannah was speaking to herself, and although her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and scolded her, "How long are you going to be drunk? Get rid of your wine!"
15 "No, my lord," Hannah replied. "I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven't had any wine or beer; I've been pouring out my heart before the LORD. 16 Don't think of me as a wicked woman; I've been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment."
17 Eli responded, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the petition you've requested from Him."
18 "May your servant find favor with you," she replied. Then Hannah went on her way; she ate and no longer appeared downcast.
There are times in life when you need a breakthrough. You need God to do the impossible. You pray then wait. You start to believe that it is not going to happen. Sometimes you have to cry out of the depths of your soul. You have to pray a prayer that moves Heaven.
The Word of God says to pour out your heart before Him. Power belongs to God. Sometimes yo become angry with God or resentful because it seems like He is not moving. It alright to take that to God. He is your Father. He already knows what is in your heart. Why does He want me t pour out my heart you might ask? He wants you to come to a place of intimacy with Him that you will talk to Him like you talk to your best friend, parent, or spouse. Get to that place in God where you hold nothing back.
God Bless
Lay It Aside
Hebrews 12:1-2
King James Version
Hebrews 12
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
We all have besetting sins. These are the things that get us sidetracked. They are those things that pull you back from God. You are going along fine, working hard for the Lord and then you get off track. They are the things that are difficult to let go. At times, we fool ourselves into believing "that's just who I am". The devil is a liar. That is not who you are.
Besetting sins are not always things like fornication, lying, drugs, or drinking. The are things that we have programmed ourselves not to think of as sin. Things like a bad attitude,not tithing, not reading the Word like you should, or even overeating. Even deciding to stay home from church to do laundry, watch TV, or stay home just to stay is a besetting sin. Maybe up in your mind today not to be held back but whatever is holding you back. Run the race that God has set before you with faith and endurance. Keep your eyes on Jesus. He endured the cross, so there is nothing you cannot endure. He conquered hell and death so there is nothing you cannot conquer.
You can stop cursing people out. You can stop lying, cheating, gossiping. You can stop doubting God. You can start tithing, going to Bible study, Sunday School, and service regularly. Lay aside every weight, let go of what is holding you back, and run your race with faith.
God Bless
King James Version
Hebrews 12
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
We all have besetting sins. These are the things that get us sidetracked. They are those things that pull you back from God. You are going along fine, working hard for the Lord and then you get off track. They are the things that are difficult to let go. At times, we fool ourselves into believing "that's just who I am". The devil is a liar. That is not who you are.
Besetting sins are not always things like fornication, lying, drugs, or drinking. The are things that we have programmed ourselves not to think of as sin. Things like a bad attitude,not tithing, not reading the Word like you should, or even overeating. Even deciding to stay home from church to do laundry, watch TV, or stay home just to stay is a besetting sin. Maybe up in your mind today not to be held back but whatever is holding you back. Run the race that God has set before you with faith and endurance. Keep your eyes on Jesus. He endured the cross, so there is nothing you cannot endure. He conquered hell and death so there is nothing you cannot conquer.
You can stop cursing people out. You can stop lying, cheating, gossiping. You can stop doubting God. You can start tithing, going to Bible study, Sunday School, and service regularly. Lay aside every weight, let go of what is holding you back, and run your race with faith.
God Bless
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