You Can Face Tough Times And Win!

Wherefore take unto the whole armour of God, that ye many be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Ephesians 6:13).

Have you ever had a sense of foreboding of something unpleasant, yet in your spirit, you knew you had to face it? What do you do when you find yourself in such a situation? We can learn from the Master. The Lord Jesus anticipated evil. His fame spread abroad after He raised Lazarus from the dead. Some Greeks heard of Him and came to visit, but Jesus saw their coming as a sign and said, “The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified” (John 12:23). He then went on to show His disciples how He was going to die, and by so doing, bring many to righteousness (John 12:24).

He concluded by saying, “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause I came unto this hour.” Jesus was troubled within because of the evil He anticipated, yet He knew it was part of His destiny. The next thing He did was to go and pray, and the Bible says, “there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him (Luke 22:43).

To face tough times and win, you need strength from within, and that strength comes when you pray. Understand that the evil is not supposed to destroy you; God would never allow such. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” That way of escape is in His Word. Declare God’s word in earnest, heartfelt and continued prayer, and when the evil comes, you’ll be able to withstand and come out victorious in the end.

PRACTISE PUNCTUALITY

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came (John 20:24). One of the good habits you should inculcate this year is punctuality to the House of God. It's not good for you to go to church or other important meetings at your own leisure; you have to practise punctuality consciously.

The scripture you just read is very touching because it actually describes why many Christians miss what God has in store for them: Not being at the right place "at the right time. Whenever there is an appointment with the Lord, you can be sure He'll be there on time. The Lord Jesus made an appointment with His disciples for a specific time, at a specific place where He would meet them after His resurrection, and He kept the appointment.

Thomas, however, wasn't there! Where in the world was he? Suppose Jesus didn't come the second time, Thomas would have lived the rest of his life cynical or doubtful of the resurrection, all because of his disregard for punctuality. "God can meet me anywhere "or "If God has something for me, it will come to me" some people would say. Such people are ignorant of the scriptures; the Lord is organized and principled. Jesus never disappoints! Every service is an appointment with the Holy Spirit.

You must realize that you can actually receive something specific from God at every church meeting, something that will lift you up to the next level in your life. Every aspect of the service has its place and purpose, so be punctual and get the best always. God can give something that's supposed to be yours before you get there and it might be too late when you finally arrive. This year, tell yourself "I will not go to church late."This seems like a very small matter, but making this quality decision will stand you out from others by the end of the year.

GATHERING SHEAVES

Mark 6: 31 - 44
This month bring in all the harvest, gather the fragments and let nothing be lost. Call forth the harvest and bring in all the Souls that have been won. This is also a month of Consolidation

Key points in Mark 6: 31 - 44 about the Seed and the Harvest

1. The Young lad saw the situation and brought what he had – five loaves and two fishes. Verse 38

No Seed is too small. Every Seed has the power to produce a harvest.

2.  Jesus received “the seed”, gave thanks and blessed it. Verse 41

Learn to give thanks. Our man of God has thought us to invoke the blessing on our Seeds and offerings, that it may multiply and become more than enough for what it was intended to accomplish.

3.  They gathered up the fragments and realized not only the miracle of feeding over 5,000 people but the harvest afterwards – 12 Baskets! – Verse 43.

Call in the harvest. Without this you may not realize what has come in.

This is one of the principles of Consolidation.

Consolidation - Definition

1. to bring together (separate parts) into a single or unified whole; unite; combine

2. to discard the unused or unwanted items of and organize the remaining:

3. to make solid or firm; solidify; strengthen:

4. Military. to strengthen by rearranging the position of ground combat troops after a successful attack.

Consolidate all the gains from the beginning of this year, all the Seeds sown, all the Souls won, all the work put into that project and rejoice over them. Gather all the blessings! Haleluyah!

CONFESSION:
I am strengthened with the strength of God. I am Fruitful and Productive. I am effective. I am blessed. I am joyful everyday. I am like a tree planted by the rivers of water. My leaves are ever fresh. Everything I do prospers. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world! Glory! Glory! Glory!

The Peace Of Jesus Christ

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).

The words of Jesus above are just so comforting! He makes it clear that under no circumstances should you allow your heart be troubled, because He has filled your life with His peace. The Greek word translated “peace” is “eirēnē,”which is akin to the Hebrew word “shalom.” Jesus wasn’t just referring to the peace of being quiet from disturbance, but peace without agitation, full of rest and prosperity. Notice He didn’t say “…my peace I will give unto you…,” no! “He said, “… my peace I give unto you….” You have His peace now.
When you study Christ in the Word, you’d observe that His life, while He walked the earth, was a demonstration of dominion and rest! He was never perturbed or ruffled by anything! When the people needed more wine at the wedding in Cana, He turned water into wine (John 2:1-11). When boisterous winds billowed against the ship while on a journey with His disciples, He hushed the tempest in an instant, saying, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:35-40). When He needed to cross the sea to Bethsaida, with no ship in sight, He didn’t panic. He simply stepped on the water and walked on it as though it were dry ground (Mark 6:45-52).
Anywhere, any day, and in all circumstances, He was always at peace and in charge.
This is how He expects you to live today; with the boldness and confident assurance that the greater One lives in you, therefore you’ve overcome the evil one, the world and its systems. You’re more than a conqueror. He said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” In Him, you have peace— not fleeting peace—but eternal peace with prosperity.

Not only did He give you His peace, He also brought you into peace with God: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). He has brought us into oneness with God; there is, therefore, no more enmity between us and God. “For he is our peace, who hath…broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances…” (Ephesians 2:14-15).

GOD’S SPIRIT IS GOD’S ANSWER

Is your life full of trouble and you don’t know what to do? Then take what I’m about to share with you very seriously. The Holy Spirit is the answer to the nagging situation in your life! When the earth was a shapeless and chaotic mass, it was the Spirit of God, acting on the command of Almighty God that brought order into the universe.

When persecution rose up against the early Church, they lifted their voices in one accord and prayed to the Lord. The content of their prayer in Acts 4:24-30 revealed that they wanted a sign from heaven. But what was God’s answer to their request?: “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts4:31).

God responded by filling them with the Holy Ghost! Reading further, you will discover that God didn’t come down to Jerusalem, stretching forth to heal the sick as they prayed. They were the ones that did all that after being filled with the Holy Spirit. This is the reason Paul charged us to be filled with the Spirit always (Ephesians 5:18).

A man that’s full of the Spirit is unstoppable; he is indomitable. When the Holy Spirit is in you in His fullness, He’ll strengthen you and be wisdom to you, when you don’t know what to do; He’ll give you dominion over every situation of life. Recognize Him, and you will never be the same again

VOCALIZE YOUR FAITH.

“For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith” (Mark 11:23).
The above statement gives us a supernatural law that works without fail and produces results. Our situations may differ, but God’s Word is just like the sun; it gives light to the one who needs it, warmth to those who require warmth, and energy to the one who requires it. You can have whatever you say – it’s a law!

‘This mountain” in the above Scripture could represent anything. For example, getting a job may be the mountain you face, and you’ve got to be specific when you speak to it. Tell it where to move to; speak to your certificate and credentials and tell them, “You are going to the right place and will get the right job for me.” It may seem impossible to imagine that mountain moving, but Jesus said it will, and you better believe what He says. He needs you to realize that the magnitude of the problem does not matter when you believe.

Keep saying what God has said to you; it is a principle, a law set in motion that does not fail. Carry this good thought in you every single day.

Joyful Confessions

"We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak". 2 Corinthians 4:13

For the divine provisions of the Gospel made available to you in Christ Jesus to become your vital experience in life, you must acknowledge what God has done for you and in you, and confess it. Many live beggarly lives, far below their calling because they don’t know how to make these “joyful confessions.” A joyful confession is declaring what God has said about you; rejoicing over who you are, what you have, and what you can do in Christ, and confessing it!

Others may say you’re boasting when you joyfully confess God’s Word about you, but it makes no difference. You’re what God says you are!

2 Corinthians 8:9, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

1 Corinthians 3:21 says “Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours.” Also,

1 Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

Thus, on the basis of these scriptures, you ought to make your joyful confessions and say “I refuse to be broke, poor or sick!” Say this today and every day; make it your language. Remember, Jesus said you shall have what you say (Mark 11:23). Therefore keep talking right! Learn how to use your mouth to take possession of that which is already yours in Christ Jesus. Keep declaring who you are in Christ. Testify to what God has done for you, in you and through you!

The Psalmist said “I believe therefore have I spoken” (Psalm 116:10); and in our opening scripture we read that “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.” That’s because our confessions rule us. So keep making those joyful confessions of God’s Word that reveal your identity, ability and inheritance in Christ Jesus.

Carriers Of His Grace, Power And Glory

So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them” (Acts 19:12).

The Bible talks about handkerchiefs and aprons, taken from the Apostle Paul and placed on people who were sick and diseased in their bodies, and miracles took place. The handkerchiefs contained the power of God, and the moment they made contact with a need, the power was activated. The handkerchiefs and aprons were inanimate; they had no intelligence, but they transmitted the power of God.

If such inanimate materials could contain and transmit the power of God, how much more the human body! You’re better than an handkerchief. Being born again and having received the Holy Spirit, there’s an anointing on your life. You’re not an ordinary being. You’re a God-carrier; the dispenser of His grace, power, and glory. God seeks to manifest His glory and power, and establish His righteousness in the earth, through you. His anointing is in you (1 John 2:27). Stir up that anointing always.

How do you stir up the anointing? It’s by getting yourself filled again and again with the Spirit. The Bible says, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:18-19). Speak, sing, and make melody of the Word to yourself continually; it’s something you have to do consciously to maintain the glow of the Spirit and experience His manifestations in your life always.

You could be evangelizing in a commuter train or bus, or at the mall or in the street, and all those listening to you would be electrified by the Spirit: “While Peter yet spake
these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word” (Acts 10:44). This is the day of God’s power; therefore, be bold to do the Word. Get in the flow of God’s Spirit.

PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the anointing of your Spirit in my life. I’m a carrier of your grace, power and glory. I’m your extension today, and through me, you carry out your divine purpose in this world to touch, bless, heal, uplift, strengthen, and inspire others, in
Jesus’ Name. Amen.