And Jesus said, [You say to Me], If You can do anything? [Why,] all things can be (are possible) to him who believes! (Mark 9:23 AMP)

All Things Are Possible
Lyrics by Darlene Zschech

Almighty God, my Redeemer,
my Hiding Place, my Safe Refuge,
no other name like Jesus,
no power can stand against You.

My feet are planted on this rock,
and I will not be shaken,
my hope it comes from You alone,
my Lord and my Salvation.

Your praise is always on my lips,
Your Word is living in my heart,
and I will praise You with a new song,
my soul will bless You Lord.
You fill my life with greater joy,
Yes, I delight myself in You,
and I will praise You with a new song,
my soul will bless You Lord.

When I am weak You make me strong,
when I’m poor, I know I’m rich,
for in the power of Your name.
All things are possible,
all things are possible,
all things are possible,
all things are possible!

Jesus is Lord!
Glory to God!
Hallelujah!

I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies (Psalm 18:1-3)

After much discouragement from the most unlikely places these past few weeks, I am happy to report that I woke up this morning with much joy, a song in my heart, a psalm in my mouth, and victory in my spirit. Glory to God! Hallelujah!

David sang Psalm 18 to the Lord on the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. Like David, I sing praises to the Lord,

Who is my rock.
He gives me strength for war and skill for battle.
He is my loving ally and my fortress,
my tower of safety, my deliverer.
He stands before me as a shield, and I take refuge in Him.
He subdues the nations under me.
(Psalm 144:1-2 NLT)

Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The Song in My Heart

Praise The Name of Jesus
Words and Music by Roy Hicks Jr.

Praise the Name of Jesus!
Praise the Name of Jesus!
He’s my Rock
He’s my Fortress
He’s my Deliverer
In Him will I trust!
Praise the Name of Jesus!

Jesus is Lord!
Glory to God!
Hallelujah!

For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)(2 Corinthians 10:4-5 AMP)

We are engaged in a battle, but we are not fighting against people (flesh and blood). We are fighting against forces and authorities, and against rulers of darkness and powers in the heavenlies. Satan is our enemy.

(Ephesians 6:12 KJV)
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 12:22-28 that Satan has a highly organized kingdom with various areas and levels of authority. Whether we choose to believe it or not, every true born-again believer is a target, and is constantly engaged in a conflict with this kingdom and its evil forces. Satan has no time for nominal Christians, so the more effective the believer is, the more savage are the attacks. There is no escaping them. The object of this conflict is to thwart the work of Christ in the lives of believers. It is a daily life and death battle.

(Job 1:7 KJV)
And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

(1 Peter 5:8 AMP)
Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.
(Revelation 12:12 AMP)
But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in fierce anger (fury), because he knows that he has [only] a short time [left]!)

Like any other battle, the believer has to be armed with weapons with which to fight. These weapons are not bullets, bombs, tanks or war planes. For though we live in a body here on earth, we are not of this world (John 17:16, Philippians 3:20). Our war is not in the physical realm, but in the spiritual realm. We therefore have to use weapons that are appropriate for the nature of the war. Since the war is spiritual in nature, and takes place in the spiritual realm, the weapons must be spiritual.

Where is the battlefield of this conflict? It is in the mind. Satan and his dark evil forces are in an all out war to take captive the minds on man by building “strongholds”. These “strongholds” create false arguments against God in the minds of men and prevent them from receiving the message  of the Gospel.

The believer’s responsibility, as soldiers of Christ (2 Timothy 2:3), is to go to war with our spiritual weapons and break down these “strongholds” to liberate those taken captive, and to bring them into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

The believer’s arsenal, given to us by God, consists of two categories of spiritual weapons with which to do battle.

1. The Defensive Weapons or The Armor of God – six weapons to protect the believer from head to toe, except in the back.

(i)   The girdle of truth
(ii)  The breastplate of righteousness
(iii) The shoes of the preparation of the gospel
(iv)  The shield of faith
(v)   the helmet of salvation
(vi)  The sword of the Spirit

2. The Offensive Weapons -four weapons of attack to enable the believer to create an assault and cast down Satan’s “strongholds”.

(i)   Prayer
(ii)  Praise
(iii) Preaching
(iv)  Testimony

Used effectively, these spiritual weapons of warfare are very powerful. No soldier goes into war without his weapons. Therefore, as a soldier of Christ in a continuous battle, the believer should daily wield his weapons to combat the enemy.

Next: The Weapons of Our Warfare Part 2 – The Defensive Armor

Jesus is Lord!
Glory to God!
Hallelujah!

Lyrics by William Murphy

Praise is what I do
When I wanna be close to You
I lift my hands in praise.
Praise is who I am
I will praise Him while I can
I’ll bless Him at all times.

I vow to praise You
Through the good and the bad.
I’ll praise You,
Whether happy or sad.
I’ll praise You
In all that I go through,
Because praise is what I do,
Cause I owe it all to You.

Praise is what I do,
Even when I am going through,
I’ve learned to worship You.
Know my circumstance doesn’t even stand a chance,
My good outweighs the bad.

I vow to praise You
Through the good and the bad.
I’ll praise You,
Whether happy or sad.
I’ll praise You
In all that I go through,
Because praise is what I do,
Cause I owe it all to You.

Praise is what I do , its what I do.

Jesus is Lord!
Glory to God!
Hallelujah!

Article by Pastor D. Sutherland

Bible Text: Job 1:1-22; Job 2:1-10

At the most we are not all aware that the Devil has conjure up a plan to trap us and to put us at odd with God. However, if we search the scriptures we would realize that the Devil has an ultimate plan that we have got to neutralize.

The scriptures highlighted Job’s relationship with God as a man who was perfect and upright and one who feared God and hated evil (Job  1:1). Central to his belief was the fear of God and not wanting to curse God in any way shape or form, not himself, his wife nor his children. He was so conscious of this that after his children feasted he would send and sanctify them, and offer burnt sacrifices to God for them (Job 1:5). This he did continually as his role as shepherd of his family.

(Job 1:1 KJV)
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

(Job 1:5 KJV)
And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Job must have realized that cursing God, his creator, was and still is a most foolish thing to do (Job 2:9-10) irrespective of what was happening in his life or around him. It is supposed in the camp of the devil that if he and his evil forces were allowed to spoil our possessions in God, persecutes us, and afflicts God’s people with sickness, these experiences would drive us to curse God. This is the Devils ultimate plan (Job 1:11).

Job 2:9-10 KJV
(9)  Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
(10)  But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

(Job 1:11 KJV)
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Job neutralized this devilish plan by doing the following when he was confronted with tough circumstances that were designed to trap him. He worshipped God in the face of adversity; he blessed the Name of the Lord (Job 1: 20-21).

Job 1:20-21 KJV
(20)  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
(21)  And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Let us, as many as are mature in Christ continue to spring (neutralize) this trap of the devil by blessing the Lord at all times, having his praise continually in our mouth (Psalms 34:1).

(Psalms 34:1 KJV)
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

LET EVERY person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction], and those that exist do so by God’s appointment (Romans 13:1 AMP)

Paul clearly states in Romans 13:1 that only God can give authority to anyone, and so “EVERY person” (all believers) is obligated to be subject to the governing authorities. God Himself put these rulers in their places of power. They are there by God’s appointment.

He went on to say in verse 2 that those who disobey or rebels against the authorities are disobeying and rebelling against what God has ordained, and they will be punished.

(Romans 13:2 Amp)
Therefore he who resists and sets himself up against the authorities resists what God has appointed and arranged [in divine order]. And those who resist will bring down judgment upon themselves [receiving the penalty due them].

Why? Because those who do what is right need not be afraid of the authorities. They are a treat only to evil people. The ruler, whether he is a president, judge, or governor may not know God personally, but nevertheless, he is a servant of God. He is there for your good, unless you are a wrongdoer.

(Romans 13:3-4 Amp)
For civil authorities are not a terror to [people of] good conduct, but to [those of] bad behavior. Would you have no dread of him who is in authority? Then do what is right and you will receive his approval and commendation. For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, [you should dread him and] be afraid, for he does not bear and wear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant to execute His wrath (punishment, vengeance) on the wrongdoer.

Therefore, Paul continues in verse 5, believers should submit to governing authorities, not only for fear of punishment, “but also as a matter of principle”, and to maintain a good conscience.

(Romans 13:5 Amp)
Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God’s wrath and escape punishment, but also as a matter of principle and for the sake of conscience.

Does that mean that all governing authorities do the right thing, and at all times or that we will be in agreement with them? Certainly not! So what does the Word of God instructs believers to do? It says that we are to pray for “all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). There is power in prayer and prayer changes things. Bad-mouthing and vilifying a ruler will only come to naught.

But there is hope! God says “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). God wants to heal our land, but there is something we, the believers, must do.

1. Humble ourselves
2. Pray
3. Seek His face
4. Turn from our wicked ways

Are we up to the task?

My Prayer for President Barack Obama and all our leaders

Heavenly Father, I lift up President Barack Obama and all our leaders. I plead the blood of Jesus over them and declare that they are protected and walk in divine health. Give them wisdom and revelation. Help them to know and carry out your perfect will for the nation.

Forgive us and heal our land, Lord, as we humble ourselves and pray, and seek your face, and turn from our wicked ways. Our hope and trust are in You! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

Jesus is Lord!
Glory to God!
Hallelujah!

• I place all my trust and confidence in the Lord and I put no confidence in the flesh – I declare myself to be dependent upon God.  I know that I cannot save myself, nor set myself free by my own efforts and resources.  I know that apart from Christ I can do nothing.  I know that all temptation is an attempt to get me to live my life independently from God, but God has provided a way of escape.

 

• I consciously and deliberately choose to submit to God and resist the devil by denying myself, picking up my cross daily and following Jesus.  I know that my soul was not designed by God to function as master.  I know that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and insubordination is an iniquity and idolatry.

 

• I choose to humble myself before the mighty hand of God that He may exalt me at the proper time.  I know that God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

 

• I declare the truth that I am dead to sin, freed from it and alive to God in Christ Jesus, because I have died with Christ and was raised with Him.  I know that the law and all my best efforts are unable to impart life, and that Jesus came to give me life.

 

• I gladly embrace the truth that I am now a child of God, who is unconditionally loved and accepted.  I reject the lie that I have to perform to be accepted, and I reject my fallen and natural identity which was derived from the world.  I know that it is not what I do that determines who I am, but who I am that determines what I do.

 

• I declare that sin shall no longer be master over me because I am not under the law, but under grace; and there is no more guilt or condemnation because I am spiritually alive in Christ Jesus.  I am a servant of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

 

• I renounce every unrighteous rise of my body, and I commit myself to no longer be conformed to this world, but rather to be transformed by the renewing of my mind.  I choose to believe the truth and walk in it, regardless of my feelings or circumstances.  I know that before I came to Christ my mind was programmed according to this world and I used my body as an instrument of unrighteousness thereby allowing sin to reign in my mortal body.

 

• I commit myself to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  I choose to think upon that which is true, honorable, right, pure and lovely.  I know that the Holy Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.

 

• I commit myself to God’s great goal for my life to conform to His image.  I know that I will face many trials, but God has given me the victory.  I am not a victim, but an overcomer in Christ.  The grace of God will enable me to triumph over every trial resulting in proven character.

 

• I choose to adopt the attitude of Christ, which is to do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind I will regard others as more important than myself I will not merely look out for my own personal interests, but also the interest of others.  I know that it is more blessed to give then to receive.

(“Overcoming Addictive Behavior” by Neil Anderson and Mike Quarles).

Jesus is Lord!
Glory to God!
Hallelujah!

(Philippians 2:5)
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

(2 Timothy 1:7)
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

(Isaiah 26:3)
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

(Romans 12:2)
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

(1 Peter 1:13)
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

(Philippians 4:8)
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

(1 Corinthians 2:16)
But we have the mind of Christ.

(Psalms 94:19)
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

(2 Corinthians 10:5)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Jesus is Lord!
Glory to God!
Hallelujah!

Article by Pastor D. Sutherland

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (Philippians 3:14) .

The current Berlin World Championships has brought much media attention worldwide highlighting the interest of all countries of the world. Athletes from over two hundred countries are competing in one of the largest sporting events in the world at the highest level of competition for medals of gold, silver and bronze in disciplines ranging from javelin to track and field. In the track events, races are featured, run and won with the first three athletes in the finals to reach the tape first receiving gold, silver and bronze medals respectively. The scriptures say, they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.

“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (I Corinthians 9: 25).

Let us consider the race for the incorruptible crown.

The scriptures in Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 1 point us to a race that is set before us the believer in Christ, which must be run.

“Wherefore 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” (Hebrews 12:1).

However, the scriptures also points us to the fact that not everyone who runs in a race actually wins the race and receives the prize, so we are encouraged not just to run, but run to win.

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain” (1 Corinthians 9: 24).

So many athletes have run in the World Championships with nothing to show for their years of preparation, discipline, dedication and sacrifice. Some remark that their failure was due to their lack of preparation, injury, the level of the competition, their inability to finish in the top three medal positions. Invariable, it all points back to them.

Winners are not just born they are trained and bred. Knowing how to win an incorruptible crown is crucial, so the Apostle Paul writes that he does not run with uncertainty, nor fight as others beating the air, but he brings his body under subjection lest he fails in getting his prize.

“I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway “(1 Corinthians 9: 26-27).

Let us look at how to do this.

1. Having a firm knowledge of your race is key. The Christ’s race is an endurance race, not a sprint race.

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22).

Sprinters don’t run with patience.

2. Have a mind to win.  Your mental approach is crucial. Ten of the spies that spied out the Promised Land had a mental lapse, not having the mind to win.

“But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we” (Number 13: 31).

Remember in this race you need the mind of Christ.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).

Stay the course. There is absolutely no prize for unfinished races. Winners don’t quit. Quitting is not an option.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4: 7-8).

Your prize is waiting. Run to win!

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he”(Proverbs 23:7)

The Word of God says that we are what we think in our hearts. Our character, how we see ourselves, how others see us, our victories and failures are not a result of chance or favor, but a result of our thought lives. Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bad fruit (Matthew 7:17).

Proverbs 4:23 (NCV) warns us to “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.” It is the difference between walking a victorious life in Christ Jesus and walking in defeat, as exemplified in Numbers 13:33 (NLT) – “we felt like grasshoppers next to them, and that’s what we looked like to them”. “For whatever is in your heart determines what you say” (Matthew 2:34 NLT).

The good news is that we are masters over our thoughts, and God, through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Saviour, has given us the keys to right and good thinking:

“ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

“…be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Matthew 12:2).

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things(emphasis added)” (Philippians 4:8).

Daily Confession

“I think Jesus’ thoughts after Him.”
“I speak His Words from the Holy Bible.”
“I do His deeds under the power of the Holy Spirit.”

“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10)

Glory to God! Hallelujah!