The other day I was talking to a Pastor in Florida for whom myself and my wife will be ministering at their missions conference. As we were winding down the conversation, I felt compelled to encourage the Pastor to read the book of Haggai. I wasn't sure why but I knew it was the word of the Lord. Later I found out that the Pastor read Haggai in one of the newer versions which listed the dates in the Western Culture. The date in which Haggai was ministering the word of the Lord is the same date we will be ministering at their Church. Man, does God know what He is doing or what. Pray for a genuine move of God.
I want to ask those of you that are our prayer warriors and friends to continue to pray. I am booking preaching appointments through next year. I want divine appointments and divine connections. Bishop Tony Miller taught me years ago that the three most important things you can pray for are:
1) Divine Appointments and Divine Connections
2) Favor that Ain't Fair
3) Wisdom
4) Open Doors (I added)
We are beginning to get direction on the next step so continue to pray with us.
I will share with one more thing concerning the prayer of faith.
James 5:15-1815 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. NKJV
What is the prayer of faith, it is not just believing for something to happen or that you prayed in faith. the prayer of faith is when you pray and you keep on praying, you ask and you keep on asking, you knock and you keep on knocking. You plant the seed of the word, you water it, you confess it, declare it again, confess it, and thank God for the manifestation again, and when you don't see it, you do it again. There has been a wrong theology that has crept into the Church that teaches that if you pray for something more than once you don't have enough faith. I guess that's why you see many different miracles such as the woman with the issue of blood that persisted and pressed even when everything else had already been done.
The prayer of faith is refusing to take no for an answer, it is having pit bull tenacity and locking your teeth into what you are believing for and praying till something happens (Daniel 9,10). He that endures unto the end shall be saved. To endure is to outlast your opposition until you get what you are promised.
Know this, that just as you have an assignment in life, you have an enemy that has been assigned to stop you. The key to getting the victory is to focus not on the enemy but to focus on the spoils (Heb. 12:1-2). It is not saying look how big the giant is but look how big the prize is. Jesus endured because he saw you on the other side of his struggle, and you gave Him the power to endure.
Before quitting why don't you stick around and see what you have been fighting for. If you have had 10 year battle, then I would say to you, you are at least entitled to a ten year blessing! Why is that the devil has been fighting you so hard? If you have been fighting this hard, what kind of breakthrough is at the end of the fight?
So what is the prayer of faith, it is after you have fished all night and caught nothing, throw your net in again, and if you don't catch anything throw it in again. It is Elijah hearing the sound of the abundance of rain, and getting in a birthing position, why? Because what God is about to do isn't natural and it isn't going to fall out of heaven, no, you are going to push it out of your spirit! The frustration you are feeling is heaven trying to break into the earth through you!
When the servant went 6x's and saw nothing, Elijah said, go look again! For those of you that haven't seen anything, the word of the Lord is look again! And on the seventh time he saw a cloud the size of a man's hand. It ain't much but what you don't know is that God can pour a whole lot of blessings out of that little cloud. Pray the prayer of faith and refuse to quit!
Blessings,
Craig
Thursday
"Stop Chasing the Feathers"
Matthew 10:16-26
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known NKJVSomeone ministered this to me this morning. I felt it would help some of you as it is helping me. Jesus said that he who endures to the end will be saved. He is not referring to the end of time. What is the end? It is the end of your battle, trial, adversity. Here is the principle I got, there are some enemies you can't beat, you can only outlast them.
The hardest thing for me in the middle of a fight, is resisting the temptation to fight back, but instead let God. Jesus says they will speak all manner of evil about you, speak falsely, lie on you, criticize you, spread nasty rumors about you...
If you climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and you cut open a pillow and shook all the feathers out into the wind, then I came to you and told you to go throughout the streets of New York and collect all the feathers and put the pillow together again, it would be impossible tasks.
When people let corrupt communication concerning you come out of their mouth, the worst thing you can do is to get on the phone and try to retrieve every feather. It can't be done, and it would waste the next 20 years of your life. That's why Jesus says there is nothing that will not be revealed and nothing hidden that will not be made known. What is He saying?
When you get feathers flying all over town don't become consumed with a feather hunt. It is God's responsibility, He can cause a wind to blow that will retrieve all the feathers and put your life, reputation, character, ministry and respect back together again.
If they disrespect you publicly, God will validate you publicly, if they bring you down before men, God will raise you up before men, If someone dishonored you before men, God will honor you before men!
God says, fear not, I will collect all the feathers and put your pillow back together again. I hope this encourages you as it did me.
To be continued...
Blessings,
Craig
Tuesday
"Leadership Gold" John Maxwell
I have read several of John Maxwell's books but "Leadership Gold is by far the best in my opinion. Chapter 16 "People Quit People, Not Companies" is worth the price of the book. Here is some of the excerpts from that chapter. I will be putting some of this information in my own words.
The number one reason for people leaving companies, Churches, and organization is that they have a problem with someone in leadership. They do not leave because of the organization, most of the time they leave because of the leader. According to a recent study 65 percent of people leaving companies do so because of their managers. Usually the leader will make a good first impression on the employees but over time the leader will be recognized for who they really are, not who they are trying to appear to be. If the boss is a jerk, it is only a matter of time before everyone knows it. These types of leaders experience much overturn in the lifespan of their company.
Here are the reasons according to John Maxwell that people quit.
1. People Quit People Who Devalue Them
* If we don't really respect someone, we can't treat them with respect.
* A leader can't consistently behave in a way that is inconsistent with his beliefs, the truth will be revealed over time.
* When leaders devalue people they then begin to manipulate them. The word sorcery in the N.T refers to manipulating someone to keep them under your control.
* To be a successful leader we must always see the value in people. How you see them determines what you will receive from them.
* As you value those that you lead, their value will increase for your organization, causing the value of your organization to increase. It all starts with seeing the best in people.
2. People Quit People Who Are Trustworthy
* The primary way that people trusts their leader is through consistency of behaviour. In other words your words and actions must line up.
According to the Manchester Consulting survey, the 5 quickest ways for you to lose the trust of your people is:
* Acting inconsistently in what they say or do.
* Seeking personal gain above shared gain.
* Withholding information.
* Lying or telling a half truth. (We say things publicly that don't line up with what the people see).
* Being closed minded. (Not open to suggestions or input, a dictatorship)
The best way to build trust is :
* Maintain integrity (never announce things that are solid).
* Openly communicate their vision and values.
* Show respect for fellow employees as equal partners (not in influence but in opportunity).
* Do the right thing regardless of the personal risk (ouch!)
If you don't want people to quit you, you must be consistent, open, and truthful with them.
3. People Quit People That Are Incompetent
* Your competence level as a leader will determine the competence of your followers. In other words a level 5 leader can never keep a level 7 leader.
* We as leaders must be teachable and constantly growing and developing ourselves as leaders.
4. People Quit People Who Are Insecure
* Insecure leaders strive for power, position, and recognition, and it manifest as fear, suspicion, distrust and jealousy.
* Exceptional Leaders do 2 things, they develop leaders and they work themselves out of a job. Insecure leaders never do that, instead they make themselves indispensable, they don't want to train their people to reach their potential and become more successful than they are. They don't want the people to be able to succeed without their help. And anytime someone they lead rises up too high, they see that person as a threat.
* People want to work for leaders that fire them up, not who put out their fire. They want leaders who lift them up and help them fly, not who clip their wings and keep them down.
If you as a leader are more concerned with maintaining your authority and protecting your position, people will find someone else to lead them.
Here is Maxwell's Recipe For Retention:
1) Take responsibility for your relationship with others. You make it better.
2) When people leave, do an exit interview, and if they say you are the reason take the high road and ask for forgiveness. (This is hard)
3) Put a high value on the people who work for you. If you have to manipulate them to follow, you are not leading. Invest in them and they will return.
4) Put credibility at the top of your leadership list. Be trustworthy.
5) Recognize that your positive emotional health creates a secure environment for people.
6) Maintain a teachable spirit and nurture your passion for personal growth. The day you stop growing, you put a lid on those under you. Organizations that are full of people with untapped potential are led by leaders who stopped growing. The greatest Churches are not lead by the greatest preachers but the greatest leaders (Craig).
Questions:
1. Can people rely on you?
* Is there inconsistency between what you say and do?
* Do you seek personal gain above the shared gain of the team?
* Do you withhold information from your people?
* Do you lie or tell a half truth?
* Are you closed minded?
2. What is your attitude towards your people?
* Are they subordinates that simply need to do what you say. (We have taught people that if they don't agree and they ask questions, they are in rebellion, hogwash!)
* Are they resources to be managed and manipulated?
* Do you tolerate people in order to succeed?
* Are they co laborers who have valuable and necessary role in the team just as you do?
Thanks John Maxwell for writing this book!
Blessings,
Craig
The number one reason for people leaving companies, Churches, and organization is that they have a problem with someone in leadership. They do not leave because of the organization, most of the time they leave because of the leader. According to a recent study 65 percent of people leaving companies do so because of their managers. Usually the leader will make a good first impression on the employees but over time the leader will be recognized for who they really are, not who they are trying to appear to be. If the boss is a jerk, it is only a matter of time before everyone knows it. These types of leaders experience much overturn in the lifespan of their company.
Here are the reasons according to John Maxwell that people quit.
1. People Quit People Who Devalue Them
* If we don't really respect someone, we can't treat them with respect.
* A leader can't consistently behave in a way that is inconsistent with his beliefs, the truth will be revealed over time.
* When leaders devalue people they then begin to manipulate them. The word sorcery in the N.T refers to manipulating someone to keep them under your control.
* To be a successful leader we must always see the value in people. How you see them determines what you will receive from them.
* As you value those that you lead, their value will increase for your organization, causing the value of your organization to increase. It all starts with seeing the best in people.
2. People Quit People Who Are Trustworthy
* The primary way that people trusts their leader is through consistency of behaviour. In other words your words and actions must line up.
According to the Manchester Consulting survey, the 5 quickest ways for you to lose the trust of your people is:
* Acting inconsistently in what they say or do.
* Seeking personal gain above shared gain.
* Withholding information.
* Lying or telling a half truth. (We say things publicly that don't line up with what the people see).
* Being closed minded. (Not open to suggestions or input, a dictatorship)
The best way to build trust is :
* Maintain integrity (never announce things that are solid).
* Openly communicate their vision and values.
* Show respect for fellow employees as equal partners (not in influence but in opportunity).
* Do the right thing regardless of the personal risk (ouch!)
If you don't want people to quit you, you must be consistent, open, and truthful with them.
3. People Quit People That Are Incompetent
* Your competence level as a leader will determine the competence of your followers. In other words a level 5 leader can never keep a level 7 leader.
* We as leaders must be teachable and constantly growing and developing ourselves as leaders.
4. People Quit People Who Are Insecure
* Insecure leaders strive for power, position, and recognition, and it manifest as fear, suspicion, distrust and jealousy.
* Exceptional Leaders do 2 things, they develop leaders and they work themselves out of a job. Insecure leaders never do that, instead they make themselves indispensable, they don't want to train their people to reach their potential and become more successful than they are. They don't want the people to be able to succeed without their help. And anytime someone they lead rises up too high, they see that person as a threat.
* People want to work for leaders that fire them up, not who put out their fire. They want leaders who lift them up and help them fly, not who clip their wings and keep them down.
If you as a leader are more concerned with maintaining your authority and protecting your position, people will find someone else to lead them.
Here is Maxwell's Recipe For Retention:
1) Take responsibility for your relationship with others. You make it better.
2) When people leave, do an exit interview, and if they say you are the reason take the high road and ask for forgiveness. (This is hard)
3) Put a high value on the people who work for you. If you have to manipulate them to follow, you are not leading. Invest in them and they will return.
4) Put credibility at the top of your leadership list. Be trustworthy.
5) Recognize that your positive emotional health creates a secure environment for people.
6) Maintain a teachable spirit and nurture your passion for personal growth. The day you stop growing, you put a lid on those under you. Organizations that are full of people with untapped potential are led by leaders who stopped growing. The greatest Churches are not lead by the greatest preachers but the greatest leaders (Craig).
Questions:
1. Can people rely on you?
* Is there inconsistency between what you say and do?
* Do you seek personal gain above the shared gain of the team?
* Do you withhold information from your people?
* Do you lie or tell a half truth?
* Are you closed minded?
2. What is your attitude towards your people?
* Are they subordinates that simply need to do what you say. (We have taught people that if they don't agree and they ask questions, they are in rebellion, hogwash!)
* Are they resources to be managed and manipulated?
* Do you tolerate people in order to succeed?
* Are they co laborers who have valuable and necessary role in the team just as you do?
Thanks John Maxwell for writing this book!
Blessings,
Craig
Friday
"Don't Throw the Spear Back"
I am rereading "The Tale of Three Kings". I read it years ago in seminary, but I felt directed to read it again. I am going to share some things that the Holy Spirit ministered to me out of the book, though most of it is not in the book.
What do you do when someone throws a spear at you? Most people if they are truthful would say, throw the spear back! Here is a thought. Could it be that the reason a Saul has been assigned to you, and he is throwing spears at you though you have not provoked him, that God assigned him to kill the Saul in you? Everyone of us has a Saul on the inside of us unmanifested.
You can easily tell when someone has been hit by a spear, they become bitter. David never got hit. What do you do when someone throws a spear at you? You keep praising God and duck! David would have grown up to be Saul number 2 except that God cut away the Saul in David's heart through a process of pain.
Let's go deeper. Years ago I heard Bishop Tony (the greatest preacher I have ever heard) preach a message concerning choosing your battles wisely. he made this statement, "Don't ever fight battles that have no spoils. You have to choose your battles otherwise you will be swinging at everything and you will waste energy, anointing, and time. There was an incident in which someone told me that people were talking about me, saying you said this... They then proceeded to tell me that I needed to call them and confront them. I replied, why? They can't stop my Destiny! Why would I want to fight that battle?
Jesus said that when men speak evil of you (slander) that you are blessed. The more they revile me, the more I am blessed Jesus went on to say in Matthew 10, that we are to recognize we are sent out as lambs amongst wolves (predators), "Be wise as serpents and gentle as doves". We have to ask ourselves this question. Is this hindering my future and Destiny?
People calling me names, accusing me of... People with adverse opinions of me. These are not battles worth fighting. But if you are standing in front of my God given Destiny, then let's get this thing on! I will fight for my future but I will not fight for your opinion. Too many people live their lives in the prison of what everybody thinks about them. Their opinion of you positive or negative can't help you in your purpose or hurt you in your purpose.
The enemy knows better than we do that he can't stop us. He can only divert our focus and attention resulting in our life coming to a standstill. In Matthew 10:23, Jesus said when they persecute you flee to another city (doesn't mean run in fear). Jesus was saying avoid confrontation with the enemy when ever possible. Why? He is just trying to get you to engage you in a battle that has no spoils, and will distract you from your real purpose.
How arrogant your enemy is to think that you have nothing more to do with your time than wonder what he is thinking or saying about you. Who cares? Let them talk, they can't stop your Destiny! Ongoing confrontation stalls your life, diverts your focus and exhaust your energy.
And when you win that battle, what have you won? Nothing, but a false sense of pride.
Ok, so what is the criteria I must use in choosing my battles?
1) Does it threaten my future?
2) Are there any spoils to this battle worth fighting for?
If I call them or confront them, what is to be gained? If I switch to a defensive mode, what is to be gained? Except bringing myself down to their level. When David showed up for his assignment (Goliath), his own brother engaged him in negative conversation to belittle him. I like what David did, he turned around and went in another direction. it was his way of saying, I don't want what you have, and you are not worth my time. Some of us the enemy says one thing and we go into hysteria and want to call everybody. Why? Because you are led by your emotions and you make decisions out of your emotions.
Here is another thought that I will pick up tomorrow. If you can make me angry, and I start making decisions out of those emotions. Who is in control? If David had thrown the spear back, He would have given control of his Destiny to Saul. No battle is worth that. So let me leave you with this advice. If someone is throwing spears at you, duck (know that God is using to kill the Saul in you), and resist the temptation to throw it back (resulting in you becoming what is trying to kill your Destiny).
Blessings,
Craig
PS - Those of you that have encouraged me to write a book, please pray I'm beginning the process, I will give details later.
What do you do when someone throws a spear at you? Most people if they are truthful would say, throw the spear back! Here is a thought. Could it be that the reason a Saul has been assigned to you, and he is throwing spears at you though you have not provoked him, that God assigned him to kill the Saul in you? Everyone of us has a Saul on the inside of us unmanifested.
You can easily tell when someone has been hit by a spear, they become bitter. David never got hit. What do you do when someone throws a spear at you? You keep praising God and duck! David would have grown up to be Saul number 2 except that God cut away the Saul in David's heart through a process of pain.
Let's go deeper. Years ago I heard Bishop Tony (the greatest preacher I have ever heard) preach a message concerning choosing your battles wisely. he made this statement, "Don't ever fight battles that have no spoils. You have to choose your battles otherwise you will be swinging at everything and you will waste energy, anointing, and time. There was an incident in which someone told me that people were talking about me, saying you said this... They then proceeded to tell me that I needed to call them and confront them. I replied, why? They can't stop my Destiny! Why would I want to fight that battle?
Jesus said that when men speak evil of you (slander) that you are blessed. The more they revile me, the more I am blessed Jesus went on to say in Matthew 10, that we are to recognize we are sent out as lambs amongst wolves (predators), "Be wise as serpents and gentle as doves". We have to ask ourselves this question. Is this hindering my future and Destiny?
People calling me names, accusing me of... People with adverse opinions of me. These are not battles worth fighting. But if you are standing in front of my God given Destiny, then let's get this thing on! I will fight for my future but I will not fight for your opinion. Too many people live their lives in the prison of what everybody thinks about them. Their opinion of you positive or negative can't help you in your purpose or hurt you in your purpose.
The enemy knows better than we do that he can't stop us. He can only divert our focus and attention resulting in our life coming to a standstill. In Matthew 10:23, Jesus said when they persecute you flee to another city (doesn't mean run in fear). Jesus was saying avoid confrontation with the enemy when ever possible. Why? He is just trying to get you to engage you in a battle that has no spoils, and will distract you from your real purpose.
How arrogant your enemy is to think that you have nothing more to do with your time than wonder what he is thinking or saying about you. Who cares? Let them talk, they can't stop your Destiny! Ongoing confrontation stalls your life, diverts your focus and exhaust your energy.
And when you win that battle, what have you won? Nothing, but a false sense of pride.
Ok, so what is the criteria I must use in choosing my battles?
1) Does it threaten my future?
2) Are there any spoils to this battle worth fighting for?
If I call them or confront them, what is to be gained? If I switch to a defensive mode, what is to be gained? Except bringing myself down to their level. When David showed up for his assignment (Goliath), his own brother engaged him in negative conversation to belittle him. I like what David did, he turned around and went in another direction. it was his way of saying, I don't want what you have, and you are not worth my time. Some of us the enemy says one thing and we go into hysteria and want to call everybody. Why? Because you are led by your emotions and you make decisions out of your emotions.
Here is another thought that I will pick up tomorrow. If you can make me angry, and I start making decisions out of those emotions. Who is in control? If David had thrown the spear back, He would have given control of his Destiny to Saul. No battle is worth that. So let me leave you with this advice. If someone is throwing spears at you, duck (know that God is using to kill the Saul in you), and resist the temptation to throw it back (resulting in you becoming what is trying to kill your Destiny).
Blessings,
Craig
PS - Those of you that have encouraged me to write a book, please pray I'm beginning the process, I will give details later.
Wednesday
"Don't Be Intimidated"
"Don't be Intimidated"
I am going to start sharing one nugget each day on what God is teaching me through my present situation. Today I want to focus on this thought. "The enemy can manifest as anyone who speaks of your past more than your future". They will tell you that you are not fit for God to use you, that you have too much hurt in your life. I only have one thing to say to that, hogwash!
When the religious leaders brought the woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus, how much time did he spend on her lifestyle? He said, where are the accusers? Neither do I condemn you and with one broad stroke he painted a picture of her future in this saying, "Go and sin no more!What did the religious leaders remind her of? They wanted to put in front of her everything she had done. Jesus says go!
Religious people hate this because they want you to pay for what Jesus already paid for. Jesus said, I'm only interested from here forward, Go! In other words He was saying, don't stay here, in what they constantly remind you of, get out of this moment and do it without this being a part of your life. Don't let these people who are stained with the iniquity of sin. The religious spirit judges you for the sin it is gripped by.
People today want to be around somebody who tells them who they can be and is not constantly reminding them of what they have done. I would like to say this to a Pastor who is always beating the people down for what they have done, you are tying them to their past. If you can see what people can be, you will never have a problem drawing a crowd to your Church. Why?Everybody looks for someone who will forget their mistakes and let the Love of God cover a multitude of sins and they see a picture of your future of what God has called you to be that nobody has seen before.
The enemies number one goal is to intimidate you. Paul told Timothy that we do not have a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. The word timid is the root word of intimidation. Paul was saying you have not been given a spirit of intimidation but a spirit of power, love and a sound mind.What is a sound mind? You know you win before you go into the battle. You refuse to be intimidated. Intimidation is not victory is is when I get in your head and convince you that you can't beat me, to the point you don't try. If you intimidate your opponent, you have convinced him that he will lose before he starts. Paul says, you have not been given the spirit of believing you lose even before you get started.
What is the method of intimidation? Words! Goliath paralyzed the entire nation of Israel because for 40 days he stood before them and cursed them with words. I truly believe that if they would have engaged him sooner, they would have whipped him, but for 40 days they listened to his negative words (crap). David on the other hand when he heard the negative words of Goliath, he responded with words of faith that said who is this enemy that thinks he can defy my God! The same God that delivered me before will whip this giant, and I will cut his head off!Goliath was not killed by the pebble that hit his forehead, he was killed by David's words of faith and power. The bible says that he ran at Goliath with his mouth open. He was prophesying defeat to his adversary.
So if someone whispers in your ear, sends you a nasty letter, don't rehearse it, delete it and speak back to the enemy, knowing that the enemy is not a person, it is a spirit. The person is simply a vessel that the enemy is using to accomplish his purpose. Don't take it personal, it is for righteousness sake and great is your reward!
Tomorrow, An enemy is the multiplier of your blessings!
Blessings,Craig
I am going to start sharing one nugget each day on what God is teaching me through my present situation. Today I want to focus on this thought. "The enemy can manifest as anyone who speaks of your past more than your future". They will tell you that you are not fit for God to use you, that you have too much hurt in your life. I only have one thing to say to that, hogwash!
When the religious leaders brought the woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus, how much time did he spend on her lifestyle? He said, where are the accusers? Neither do I condemn you and with one broad stroke he painted a picture of her future in this saying, "Go and sin no more!What did the religious leaders remind her of? They wanted to put in front of her everything she had done. Jesus says go!
Religious people hate this because they want you to pay for what Jesus already paid for. Jesus said, I'm only interested from here forward, Go! In other words He was saying, don't stay here, in what they constantly remind you of, get out of this moment and do it without this being a part of your life. Don't let these people who are stained with the iniquity of sin. The religious spirit judges you for the sin it is gripped by.
People today want to be around somebody who tells them who they can be and is not constantly reminding them of what they have done. I would like to say this to a Pastor who is always beating the people down for what they have done, you are tying them to their past. If you can see what people can be, you will never have a problem drawing a crowd to your Church. Why?Everybody looks for someone who will forget their mistakes and let the Love of God cover a multitude of sins and they see a picture of your future of what God has called you to be that nobody has seen before.
The enemies number one goal is to intimidate you. Paul told Timothy that we do not have a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. The word timid is the root word of intimidation. Paul was saying you have not been given a spirit of intimidation but a spirit of power, love and a sound mind.What is a sound mind? You know you win before you go into the battle. You refuse to be intimidated. Intimidation is not victory is is when I get in your head and convince you that you can't beat me, to the point you don't try. If you intimidate your opponent, you have convinced him that he will lose before he starts. Paul says, you have not been given the spirit of believing you lose even before you get started.
What is the method of intimidation? Words! Goliath paralyzed the entire nation of Israel because for 40 days he stood before them and cursed them with words. I truly believe that if they would have engaged him sooner, they would have whipped him, but for 40 days they listened to his negative words (crap). David on the other hand when he heard the negative words of Goliath, he responded with words of faith that said who is this enemy that thinks he can defy my God! The same God that delivered me before will whip this giant, and I will cut his head off!Goliath was not killed by the pebble that hit his forehead, he was killed by David's words of faith and power. The bible says that he ran at Goliath with his mouth open. He was prophesying defeat to his adversary.
So if someone whispers in your ear, sends you a nasty letter, don't rehearse it, delete it and speak back to the enemy, knowing that the enemy is not a person, it is a spirit. The person is simply a vessel that the enemy is using to accomplish his purpose. Don't take it personal, it is for righteousness sake and great is your reward!
Tomorrow, An enemy is the multiplier of your blessings!
Blessings,Craig
Tuesday
"The Power of Inner Images"
Continued from yesterday.
An enemy constantly reminds you of your past while Jesus paints a picture on the inside changing the negative image on the inside of you. With one broad stroke he changed the image of this woman caught in adultery. Go and sin no more! Jesus was changing the image inside her of a life locked up in a negative cycle of sin.
David is reminded of his covenant with Jonathan, and says is there anyone left of the house of Saul that I may show kindness to? He discovers that there is Mephibosheth who is down in Lo Debar (cut off, no revelation). He sends his servant to bring him out of his lowly place and into his rightful place in the palace. Ziba carries him to David (Grace picks you up and brings you into the King's presence) and when David greets him as a prince, Mephibosheth replies that he is just a dog. It is possible to be delivered from your condition, brought into a new position but you still are stuck in your past condition because of an inner image.
Naomi prepares Ruth to meet her Boaz (Kingsmen Redeemer, Full Redemption or Destiny), and she gives this young girl who was is an orphan from a lowly place a final instruction. Before you meet your destiny, you must wash yourself (wash the residue of where you have come from). You can't meet your Boaz and be redeemed until you wash away the old image you have of yourself. (I feel like running a lap now!)
There is a woman in the bible, a Syro Phoenician woman who came to Jesus requesting that He cast a demon out of daughter. Jesus says let the children (Jews) be fed first, for it is not good to throw the children's bread to the dogs. Most of us would have stopped here and went home remaining stuck in our present condition, but not this woman, she replied, Yes Lord but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table. Wow! Why did she refuse to take no for an answer, because she had an inner image of her daughter being whole.
What happened in these stories? Each of the individuals changed the image on the inside of themselves and they painted a picture of something never done before, a life they didn't know was possible.
Close your eyes to what is around you and look in you because what's in you will change what's around you. What you see on the outside is a lie, what's in you is your reality. Close your eyes and see a day different than what you are presently living in. See your financial situation much different than it is right now. See your body healthy without the need of medicine to sustain life. See yourself not having to rely on other people to help you all the time. See yourself in a place prospering and increasing not living from paycheck to paycheck. See yourself not failing all the time but succeeding. See people not firing you but wanting you to come work for them because you are so valuable and your gifts are necessary.
You can't just pray about it, sow for it, you have to see it. You don't need me to pray for you, you just need to see it! Some of you have been experiencing pain for so long you don't know what whole looks like. I break the images of depression, pain and suffering, of having to go to doctor's all the time, of medical bills, I speak into your spirit life, you will live a long life and goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life!
I speak a picture of you coming out of poverty, of you not having to put groceries on your visa. What does your life look like? Can you see it changing, turning... I break the images of struggle, eviction notices, scared to answer the phone because of the creditors calling, of not having anything.
Can you see your life whole? Can you see your life outside of the recovery stage? Recovering from divorce, going to Church in recovery, recovering from bad marriages, bad debts, trying to regain momentum, life broken into a million pieces, trying to put it back together. Can you see a life that when you wake up you are not filled with anxiety and worry but joy and peace? I declare complete turnaround, favor is falling, your situations are changing. I break the power of regret, hurt, disappointment, guilt.
See yourself in the future cause you look a lot better in the future than you do right now!
Blessings,
Craig
PS - Thank you for all your prayers and support. Continue to pray for us. I will be working on the book that will be a sequel to "The Tale of Three Kings".
An enemy constantly reminds you of your past while Jesus paints a picture on the inside changing the negative image on the inside of you. With one broad stroke he changed the image of this woman caught in adultery. Go and sin no more! Jesus was changing the image inside her of a life locked up in a negative cycle of sin.
David is reminded of his covenant with Jonathan, and says is there anyone left of the house of Saul that I may show kindness to? He discovers that there is Mephibosheth who is down in Lo Debar (cut off, no revelation). He sends his servant to bring him out of his lowly place and into his rightful place in the palace. Ziba carries him to David (Grace picks you up and brings you into the King's presence) and when David greets him as a prince, Mephibosheth replies that he is just a dog. It is possible to be delivered from your condition, brought into a new position but you still are stuck in your past condition because of an inner image.
Naomi prepares Ruth to meet her Boaz (Kingsmen Redeemer, Full Redemption or Destiny), and she gives this young girl who was is an orphan from a lowly place a final instruction. Before you meet your destiny, you must wash yourself (wash the residue of where you have come from). You can't meet your Boaz and be redeemed until you wash away the old image you have of yourself. (I feel like running a lap now!)
There is a woman in the bible, a Syro Phoenician woman who came to Jesus requesting that He cast a demon out of daughter. Jesus says let the children (Jews) be fed first, for it is not good to throw the children's bread to the dogs. Most of us would have stopped here and went home remaining stuck in our present condition, but not this woman, she replied, Yes Lord but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table. Wow! Why did she refuse to take no for an answer, because she had an inner image of her daughter being whole.
What happened in these stories? Each of the individuals changed the image on the inside of themselves and they painted a picture of something never done before, a life they didn't know was possible.
Close your eyes to what is around you and look in you because what's in you will change what's around you. What you see on the outside is a lie, what's in you is your reality. Close your eyes and see a day different than what you are presently living in. See your financial situation much different than it is right now. See your body healthy without the need of medicine to sustain life. See yourself not having to rely on other people to help you all the time. See yourself in a place prospering and increasing not living from paycheck to paycheck. See yourself not failing all the time but succeeding. See people not firing you but wanting you to come work for them because you are so valuable and your gifts are necessary.
You can't just pray about it, sow for it, you have to see it. You don't need me to pray for you, you just need to see it! Some of you have been experiencing pain for so long you don't know what whole looks like. I break the images of depression, pain and suffering, of having to go to doctor's all the time, of medical bills, I speak into your spirit life, you will live a long life and goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life!
I speak a picture of you coming out of poverty, of you not having to put groceries on your visa. What does your life look like? Can you see it changing, turning... I break the images of struggle, eviction notices, scared to answer the phone because of the creditors calling, of not having anything.
Can you see your life whole? Can you see your life outside of the recovery stage? Recovering from divorce, going to Church in recovery, recovering from bad marriages, bad debts, trying to regain momentum, life broken into a million pieces, trying to put it back together. Can you see a life that when you wake up you are not filled with anxiety and worry but joy and peace? I declare complete turnaround, favor is falling, your situations are changing. I break the power of regret, hurt, disappointment, guilt.
See yourself in the future cause you look a lot better in the future than you do right now!
Blessings,
Craig
PS - Thank you for all your prayers and support. Continue to pray for us. I will be working on the book that will be a sequel to "The Tale of Three Kings".
Monday
"Remember Your Previous Victories"
I will be sharing one principle about understanding your enemy each day out of my present life. Today I want to deal with this thought. "The enemy will underestimate you because he is not aware of your past victories."
Satan is not everywhere at one time (Omnipresent) and he does not know everything (Omniscient). Those are Godly attributes, satan is limited. Goliath had no idea that the 12 year old boy named David had seen past victories. If he had been acquainted with David's victories he might have rethought the battle. Many times the enemy is unaware of what you have been through to get to this point.
You have to remind yourself of what you have been through to this point and the fact that God has been faithful not 90% of the time but all the time. He shows up not realizing that you have already defeated a lion and a bear before you got to him. And the same faith that took down that prior opponent will cause you to take down this opponent and all you have to do is draw from the same well that got you to this point.
You don't need someone to encourage you, you just need to get somewhere and rehearse the fact that if it had not been for the Lord who was on your side, you would be crawled up in a corner somewhere about to lose your mind! Here is what I know!
Revelation 12:11, says we defeat the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony and they...
A testimony is a declaration of what God has already done. In other words they overcame the next obstacle by testifying to themselves of what God had already done. This is what God has already done and that's why this next battle will be no different. This is how you overcome, you testify of Jesus.
Paul said that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Your testimony is a prophecy to your present battle of its demise. Wow! Your last victory prophecies to your giant of his defeat! It is the testimony of Jesus that unlocks prophetic potential on the inside of you that can bring you into your brand new day!
And when the enemy becomes aware of your past victories, he becomes fearful. God will then go before you and demoralize your enemy before the battle is even started.
To be continued...
Blessings,
Craig
Satan is not everywhere at one time (Omnipresent) and he does not know everything (Omniscient). Those are Godly attributes, satan is limited. Goliath had no idea that the 12 year old boy named David had seen past victories. If he had been acquainted with David's victories he might have rethought the battle. Many times the enemy is unaware of what you have been through to get to this point.
You have to remind yourself of what you have been through to this point and the fact that God has been faithful not 90% of the time but all the time. He shows up not realizing that you have already defeated a lion and a bear before you got to him. And the same faith that took down that prior opponent will cause you to take down this opponent and all you have to do is draw from the same well that got you to this point.
You don't need someone to encourage you, you just need to get somewhere and rehearse the fact that if it had not been for the Lord who was on your side, you would be crawled up in a corner somewhere about to lose your mind! Here is what I know!
Revelation 12:11, says we defeat the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony and they...
A testimony is a declaration of what God has already done. In other words they overcame the next obstacle by testifying to themselves of what God had already done. This is what God has already done and that's why this next battle will be no different. This is how you overcome, you testify of Jesus.
Paul said that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Your testimony is a prophecy to your present battle of its demise. Wow! Your last victory prophecies to your giant of his defeat! It is the testimony of Jesus that unlocks prophetic potential on the inside of you that can bring you into your brand new day!
And when the enemy becomes aware of your past victories, he becomes fearful. God will then go before you and demoralize your enemy before the battle is even started.
To be continued...
Blessings,
Craig
Tuesday
"Being a Positive in a Negative Part 6"
The moment God begins to move you into your dominant gift, that is the time when God will promote you through a enemy or a dilemma. Delemma's are the opportunities where your dominant gift can flourish. David could write songs, sing, play the harp but his dominant gift was he was a warrior. He was working a part time job for part time pay working for a demon possessed boss. In fact his job was to remove the demons out. He had to work a job he didn't like, deal with a boss who when he blessed him, Saul would throw spears at him. If you are going to step into your kingly anointing you are going to have to learn to duck when necessary. If they throw spears at you duck, if they lie on you duck, if they hate you duck? The powerful truth is David could do this job under these harsh conditions and do it well.
Before God will move you into your season of peace on every side, you will be tested in a hostile environment. David learned to develop his dominant gift in private (slingshot) when nobody was watching. What you do in secret God will reward openly (Mtt. 6:4). If you are faithful in secret God will reward you with open success. Some of you have a dominant gift nobody has seen yet, and the people around you don't know the real you. God is about to put you in an area where your dominant gift will emerge and people will not even recognize you.
You are moving and shifting into a place where you will face a Goliath. You must get the proper perspective on your enemy so that you will respond properly. Here are a couple of things you must know before you face your Goliath.
1) Any attack from an enemy is a clue that your enemy is fully persuaded you can achieve your goal.
* Hell is letting you know that what you don't see (future promise) it has already seen. The visible attack of the enemy reveals the invisible potential is about to be unleashed.
* If Hell was not confidant of your success it would have stopped its efforts.
* Goliath's defeat was planned long before David showed up, all he had to do was show up!
2) The attack always comes at the birthing of a new season.
* When Goliath shows up it is a sign that one season is ending and a new season is beginning.
* Those that run from their Goliath prolong their previous season and will face him again.
* Every battle is meant to be progressive (lion, bear, Goliath). Each victory leads to the next level.
* The purpose of the attack is to be so devastating that it blinds you to your next season.
* If the enemy can get you to believe that the attack is your allot in life, you will be blinded to the new season. God said, I will do a new thing... And will you not know it (Iss. 43:19). Many get stuck in a preparation season because they are blinded to the new.
If you do not understand there is a purpose on the other side of the attack, the battle will consume you. You must understand that I am only fighting this:
1) seasonally not eternally
2) It is an announcement that God is doing a new thing in my life.
3) It is a transition point and transition is not intended to be forever (Jesus in the wilderness 40 days, Israel in the wilderness for 40 years.
4) If you don't discern properly you will turn 40 days into 40 years.
Blessings,
Craig
Before God will move you into your season of peace on every side, you will be tested in a hostile environment. David learned to develop his dominant gift in private (slingshot) when nobody was watching. What you do in secret God will reward openly (Mtt. 6:4). If you are faithful in secret God will reward you with open success. Some of you have a dominant gift nobody has seen yet, and the people around you don't know the real you. God is about to put you in an area where your dominant gift will emerge and people will not even recognize you.
You are moving and shifting into a place where you will face a Goliath. You must get the proper perspective on your enemy so that you will respond properly. Here are a couple of things you must know before you face your Goliath.
1) Any attack from an enemy is a clue that your enemy is fully persuaded you can achieve your goal.
* Hell is letting you know that what you don't see (future promise) it has already seen. The visible attack of the enemy reveals the invisible potential is about to be unleashed.
* If Hell was not confidant of your success it would have stopped its efforts.
* Goliath's defeat was planned long before David showed up, all he had to do was show up!
2) The attack always comes at the birthing of a new season.
* When Goliath shows up it is a sign that one season is ending and a new season is beginning.
* Those that run from their Goliath prolong their previous season and will face him again.
* Every battle is meant to be progressive (lion, bear, Goliath). Each victory leads to the next level.
* The purpose of the attack is to be so devastating that it blinds you to your next season.
* If the enemy can get you to believe that the attack is your allot in life, you will be blinded to the new season. God said, I will do a new thing... And will you not know it (Iss. 43:19). Many get stuck in a preparation season because they are blinded to the new.
If you do not understand there is a purpose on the other side of the attack, the battle will consume you. You must understand that I am only fighting this:
1) seasonally not eternally
2) It is an announcement that God is doing a new thing in my life.
3) It is a transition point and transition is not intended to be forever (Jesus in the wilderness 40 days, Israel in the wilderness for 40 years.
4) If you don't discern properly you will turn 40 days into 40 years.
Blessings,
Craig
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