Wells of Blessings

A man who is weak in his devotions and worldly in his desires will inevitably be wrong in his decisions. When a man is keenly acquainted with God, he will be divinely restrained from making major wrong choices. Issac fought no great battles, built no mighty cities, erected no imposing monuments. He quietly dug wells, and by doing so, he simply left a trail of blessings behind him everywhere he went. Read the story in Genesis 26:15-35.  Never make lies a refuge for protection, for a harbor of lies is no real port in a storm. Wells were a source of life and refreshment and Issac was symbolically ministering Christ to needy souls by digging wells. An altar which symbolized his personal relationship with God was no longer sufficient, he now wanted to share his relationship with God with others so he dug wells. He was making life giving water available to all.

Father and Daughter Meeting-Greatness and Relationship

Greatness is not the absence of weakness, because everyone has weakness. Greatness is being able to walk away from the temptation of pleasure in order to protect your integrity and relationship with God. Joseph did not walk away from Potiphar's wife because he did not desire her, but rather because he chose to protect his integrity and his relationship with God. Your pain has not been in vain, because on the other side of the door of pain is promotion. It's your time for the recompense of reward. We are designed for connection-eyes require a view, ears require sound,and the mind requires thoughts. Aloneness creates vulnerability. God knew it. Marriage was not created as a mere reproduction center for human babies. Marriage is sowing ground where you sow your patience, love, enthusiasm. But know this, God will never give you a gift that will replace His presence. A mate is not designed to produce your joy. The presence of God creates your joy. Ps 16:1 "In thy presence there is fullness of Joy"(fullness implies: requiring nothing in addition). Your mate is a gift from God to you to protect your focus, reduce distractions, create a climate for sowing. Unfortunately, some who qualify for our attention are often unqualified to receive our heart. We are created for connection. One cannot be fruitful alone. As the seed needs the ground, even so man needs the woman. If you are thinking about marriage, here are some suggestions. Think twice if you do not possess a passionate desire to give to them. Too often marriage becomes an exchange. Exchange is the evidence of business, not love. The proof of uncommon love is the investment of Time. Think twice if they do not possess a passionate desire to give back to you. A listening ear, flexibility, patience and the willingness to be corrected in what I am talking about. Think twice if your personal achievements do not create excitement in them.  Real love does not compete with the success of another. Think twice if they have not been captivated by what has captivated you. Are they stirred by the same things that stir you. God said(Amos 3:3)"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Strife is the product of two different belief systems clashing. Think twice if you have lost your desire to impress him. Familiarity often incubates disrespect and indifference. Protect his focus-reduce his distractions-create a climate for sowing. You are a walking message system to those you love. Think twice if they never ask you quality questions concerning your greatest dreams or goals. Think twice if you do not see continuous improvement in the relationship. Bonding should increase unity and bring a decrease in contention and strife. Think twice if they have an obsession to attract the attention of the opposite sex. Think twice if pebble problems unleash mountains of anger in them. Think twice if they refuse to find a job. II Thess 3:10-11, 14"Paul warned, this we command you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies...and if any obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed."  Remember, greatness is being able to walk away from the temptation of pleasure in order to protect you integrity and relationship with God.

Thoughts of Faith in God

Faith is a product (supply or yield) of the Word of God. Rom10:17"So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God". When you got born again, God dealt you the measure of faith that you needed, in order for you to be victorious and accomplish all the will of God in this life to the glory of God. That measure of faith is meant to grow and develop by feeding it on the Word, and then exercising the Word. Exercise the Word by using faith filled words like Jesus did. He called forth Lazarus, he cursed the fig tree, he rebuked the winds and sea. Now is our turn to exercise our faith. It is the exercise of the authority of the believer on earth. It is man speaking as God's mouthpiece on the earth. Faith filled words have creative power. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. As you begin to use faith filled words, rather than fear filled or idle words, than God and the Angels will have something to work with in order to bring about the manifestation of the promises of God in your life. Another way that faith is exercised is by corresponding actions of faith. "For as the body without the spirit is dead, even so faith without works is dead also". Your faith is ever living, ever growing. You have the God kind of Faith, the wonder working faith. Hope brings the potential of healing or prosperity or deliverance from fear through the Word of God, but faith (faith filled words, and corresponding actions of faith) release that potential and brings about the manifestation of the desired results. The five physical senses create a barrier of limitations, but living faith can punch a hole through the five senses and lay hold of that which the five senses say is impossible, and pull it into the possible or natural realm. Living faith never senses defeat nor failure. It believes all things are possible. Whatever you can perceive with your five physical senses you don't need faith for. But whatever you have need of in the natural that God's word gives you a promise for, you can and should use your faith to obtain it. If you're sick, use your faith to help you get well. If you're broke, use your faith to help you become financially blessed. Remember, Abraham's blessings are yours. If you lack favor, use your faith to have divine favor in the eyes of all that look upon you and hear your voice, in Jesus name. If you're feeling down and discouraged, use your faith to give you a supernatural lift. Your faith can be stunned or rocked for a moment or two, but true faith never excepts defeat nor failure, it always finds a way and wins. "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ". In it's simplest form, faith is the hand that receives from Almighty God.

5 Major Golden Keys or Rules For a Successful Prayer Life

There maybe other keys that are important but these are the 5 most important keys about prayer. The first, Jesus gave us the legal right to the use of His name in prayer, just as in Mark 16 He gave us the legal right to use  His name to cast out devils, lay hands on the sick, speak with other tongues, etc... Pray according to what the Word of God says. Second key in prayer is believe you receive. Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, what things soever you desire when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them. Why is believing so vital? It is the bridge that leads to answered prayer. Faith and what you say are inseparably connected. Matt 17:20 "And Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto the mountain, remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Forgiveness is the third key to successful prayer life. Read Mark 11:24-26 Bitterness or unforgiveness is a principality: under it, and answering to it, are seven spirits that reinforce bitterness or unforgiveness. When unforgiveness gets a foothold, the first thing that happens is you begin to keep a record of wrongs. After unforgiveness gets  a foothold and creates a record of wrongs, then resentment creeps in and is being fueled by feelings, and then you meditate on those hurt feelings. Then retaliation wants to make the person pay. Retaliation says, I don't forgive, I just get even. After retaliation gets a foothold, then anger sets in, and after anger comes hatred which says because I remember what you did to me, I am going to get even. In time hatred turns to violence. If violence is not dealt with it will lead to murder. This can be actual physical murder or murder with the tongue, which is character assassination or verbal abuse. Unforgiveness is one of the ways you allow the enemy to keep resurrecting things and events that should be buried. Only you have the power to put a stop to it. Unforgiveness is giving your past a future. Forgive all who have offended you, not for them but for yourself.  The fourth key is dependence on the Holy Spirit to help you pray effectively. Read Rom 8:26-27 Realize this-he is your helper. He is not going to pray for you, he is going to help you pray. The fifth key is intercession. An intercessor is one who takes the place of another in prayer. In Psalms 106:23-24 we read of Moses interceding:"Therefore He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses, his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He should destroy them". The deeper dimension of intercession is when you literally begin to identify with the individual you are praying for. This is what Jesus is doing right now at the right hand of God the father. He ever lives to make intercession for us. It is vital that you develop a strong and healthy prayer life. Through prayer you disappoint or frustrate the devices of the enemy, so that his hands cannot perform his enterprise against you or anything of lasting worth. Don't only pray when you are desperate or when it's convenient. Eph 6;18" Praying always with all manner of prayer and supplication in the spirit". Amp. version reads;" Pray at all times(on every occasion, in every season) in the spirit".

Prayer

Let's begin by saying that everything in the Kingdom of God is born out of your relationship with God. Divine intimacy always produces eternal fruit, it always bring about awesome results. Through prayer and intercession, great power is transmitted to the place of need. I believe the church needs a fresh consciousness of God, a perpetual holy awareness, a spiritual awakening, a fresh and vibrant outpouring of the spirit of prayer. You need to know that the potency of prayer has subdued the strength of fire, it has bridled the rage of lions, hushed anarchy to rest, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled demons, healed diseases, repelled frauds, rescued cities from distraction, stayed the sun in it's course, and arrested the progress of satan and his kingdom. Prayer is an all sufficient full suit of armor, a treasure undiminished, a mine which is never exhausted, a sky not obscured by clouds, a heaven unruffled by the storm. It is the root, the fountain head, the mother of a thousand blessings and so much more. A prayerless person is spiritually weak. I am fully persuaded that through prayer we literally walk hand in hand with God through every situation, and always come out on the other side triumphantly. If prayer is put first, than God is put first and victory is ensured. The key to continual revival is to pray everywhere, pray in everything, and pray always. Luke 18:1 Jesus Christ said, men ought always to pray and not to faint or cave in. In the great storms of life; when we are helpless, and without relief, these are the natural and providential conditions of prayer.  You can either fall apart or rise up in prayer. You need to learn that praying is a business. A life long business , one to be followed with diligence, fervor and toil. The Christians business by way of preeminence is prayer, and it is his most engaging, most heavenly and most lucrative business. If you want your life to really count, and tired of being just average, then become mighty in prayer. Pray according to the Word of God not feelings or circumstances.

Leadership

A leader is one that leads or is able to lead, to guide on a way, often by going ahead, to be at the head of, to go  through first. In order for one to be a leader one must first have followers. A leader then, has the responsibility of being an example. Exodus 13:21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them in the way; and by night in the pillar of fire, to give them light; (this is being an example) to go by day and night(before the people). If we are called to lead others, we ourselves must first come under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the spirit of God they are the (mature) sons of God. Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. The other thing that we are to come under is the rule of the Prince of Peace(Jesus)). Col 3:15(Amp) And let the peace of God rule or act as umpire in your hearts, deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, and always be thankful. Also we must be led by the wisdom of God. Prov 3:17 Her ways (wisdom) are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace. When raising up leaders around us, they should have the right qualifications. Read Ex 18:13-26 and Acts 6:1-7. We are not to choose just anybody. God said, choose first of all, able men(women), such as fear God. Men capable of handling the task, fit for or worthy of being given responsibility and having enough power or skill to do something. Have the ability to bring forth power, strength, valor, wealth, virtue, and honesty. If they have loose morals or no self control, they are not fit to lead. They should be men of truth, hating covetousness, or men who will not sell out for money-cannot be bought. In Acts 6 they chose leaders because with growth comes more responsibility and all this began to take the Apostles away from their primary purpose which was prayer and the ministry of the Word. The results of them choosing leaders was the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great number of the priest were obedient to the faith. And here is the important of laying on of hands and the purpose of impartation. Deu 34:9 And Joshua the son on Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses. Also read Num 27:15-20

The Power of Starting

You know opportunities come to us all. But if you don't take advantage, if you don't act right away, and if you don't start now, you may lose your opportunity. I am saying this because I believe there is a window of opportunity available for the church right now, and we need to take advantage of it. I feel that the church needs to stop procrastinating. W. Clemens Stone, author of one of the best selling motivational books says if you want to be successful, don't wait till tomorrow-do it now. I don't know what it is in your life that you have been procrastinating about. Maybe it is starting your own business or perhaps, it is cleaning out your garage, or maybe it's going back to school and getting your diploma, or maybe it's blessing somebody financially. Whatever it is, do it now. Just start now. Let me give you three reasons why you should start now. First, to borrow a line from Benjamin Franklyn; one today is worth two tomorrows. Do you know that tomorrow is not as productive as you think? But today is filled with possibilities. Today holds the greatest potential for accomplishment. Secondly, start now because it removes the greatest barrier to your success, it removes the barrier called procrastination. Anyone who brags about what they are going to do tomorrow probably did the same thing yesterday. Start where you are with what you have and God will add the increase, and start with one thing at a time. Stay focused-the greatest gap between success and failure is knowing and doing. Now I believe the most common sin in the church today is the sins of omission. We all need to pray, forgive...etc.The question is, do we pray, forgive, tithe, read the Word, go to church, love others, love our wives. You may say, I never offend anyone, but do you reach out to anyone? You may say, I never talk about anyone, but do you ever talk to anyone? You've been thinking about someone you had a misunderstanding with, and you miss that person. Don't procrastinate, call them. Do it now. Thirdly, start now because it is the open door of opportunity. Learn to go through the door of opportunity when it opens to you. you never know how long that door will stay opened, or if it will ever be open to you again. Some people are afraid of failure and some don't want to put forth the effort. They rather stay in the comfort zone, but the comfort zone can be a deadly thing. Now if you want to be successful in whatever you want to do, you must go from thinking and believing into acting. Faith without works is dead. James 4:17, to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Now for those of you that are bound by fear of failure, you need to know that everyone who is successful has failed numerous times. There is nothing easy in life that's worth anything. To succeed, you will have to put forth effort, for nothing worth while is ever accomplished without effort(diligence). I urge you not to run with a borrowed dream, but go deep into His presence and discover God's dream for your own life so that you can give yourself completely to it and experience the unparallelled richness of something worth living for, yea even worth dying for. Take that first step. I call it the Power of Starting.