Genesis 3:4 – “But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.”  ESV

I often call Genesis the “Seed Book of the Bible” because, in the first twelve Chapters, you find the foundation for virtually everything taught in the remainder of the Bible.  If one were to get a good handle on those Chapters, I am confident that much of the deception that has and does take place would be thwarted, and we would see vast new doors of understanding opened to the Body of Christ.

Deception did not begin in the Garden of Eden. It started when Lucifer convinced one-third of the angelic hosts to rebel against God.  It was through deception that this transpired.  His work in the Garden is just a continuation of his very nature and character, and sadly, Adam & Eve bought what he was selling and were deceived. 

Their deception not only cost them but also the human race.  Had the Father not been willing to allow Jesus to come to earth and go to the Cross, we would still be in the clutches of the devil.  Deception has a consequence because it results in actions that, as Paul equates in Galatians, as “sowing,” which produces a “harvest” that has to be reaped whether we want to or not.

Deception comes when we fail to keep our hearts open to the Word and the Spirit of God.  It comes when we neglect our study of God’s Word and our prayer life.  It comes when we allow the flesh to rule over the spirit.  It comes when we allow the lust or carnal desires to override the spiritual directives of the Spirit and Word of God.  It comes when we become “self-centered” and dethrone God while elevating ourselves to the Center of our Universe as Adam & Eve did. 

In a sense, Adam and Eve voted God out and voted themselves in, and as one of my friends described it, “They were born again backward.”  They opted to believe The LIE rather than GOD, who is TRUTH.  They opted to follow their own carnal desires and wisdom (so-called) rather than be obedient.  The fruit could have been a bridge over a stream that God said, “Don’t cross.”  It did not matter. It was a matter of obedience, and they disobeyed because they were deceived.

I doubt that there has been a week in my Christian experience that I have not met and talked to someone who is in some deception in some area.  That is probably applicable to me as well. As the Holy Spirit reveals to me any place of deception in my life, I Immediately repent and begin diligent study to correct the error and become rightly aligned with the Word of God.  

Do I have all the truth?  NO!  Do I have all my doctrine right?  I Would say not likely!  I would like to think I do, but from time to time, I find that something I believe is not entirely accurate, and I have to allow my doctrine to be modified to accommodate what God says, not what I want God to say. 

I do not want to be like a preacher. I once heard, “I’ve been in the ministry for 30 years, and I have not changed my doctrine or message.”  I thought, I have! I would think that someone in that condition would rapidly become a Pharisee, and I was one once and never want to return to that place of legalism.  I want to be like a piece of clay in the hands of the potter to be molded and shaped into whatever He desires for my life. 

That has been an ongoing process, and what and where I am today has evolved dramatically in some areas and remained pretty consistent in others.  I know in part and have a limited perspective, but God sees everything from the beginning to the end, whereas we see things from the end to the beginning.  There is an enormous difference!  One is foresight, and the other is hindsight.

So, as you go through the day, allow the Holy Spirit to guide your footsteps and keep your heart and mind open to an expansion of truth in your life that God chooses to bring to you.  

Blessings as you go through your day!

Psalm 46:1-3 – “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.” NASB

I love this Psalm and this passage in particular.  The Psalmist is giving recognition to the Person, Power, and Provision of God.  He also addresses the wonderful confidence that because of God, the people of God will walk “fearless” no matter what transpires around them.  This is a wonderful, encouraging Psalm, but there is one thing said here that I want to focus on.

To get to that point, let me ask my title question again, “What kind of help truly helps?”  

• Promised help may not help if it does not come, comes with insufficient resources or commitment, or comes late. 
• Anticipated help may not produce the desired result and may, in fact, not come at all. 
• Past help will not do much for the present situation. 

The kind of help that the Psalmist described was the bedrock of his confidence.  God is a “very present help” in trouble.  Not just “help” but a “very present help.”  The image I want you to get in your mind is that God is both our refuge or place to run to in times of trouble and strength, the ability to overcome.  Then, couple that with the reality that He is our “very present help” in trouble, and you have reason to walk confidently.

• This is not “help” promised but might or might not show up. 
• This is not “help” that has been there in the past but is not presently visible. 
• This is not “help” that might be sufficient and might continue through the entire struggle. 

This is Now Help!  This is help when you need help for as long as you need help and to the degree you need help.  Our most significant problem is not the availability of God’s help but our ability or willingness to allow Him to provide that help.  We spend too much time getting in the way when we should follow His lead.  We spend too much time trying to handle it in our own understanding, power, or ability when we should trust His wisdom, power, and strength.

If there is one thing we, as believers, need to learn or relearn, it is to “stand still and see the salvation of God.”  It is to receive His Help!

• It may not come in the way we determined it should come. 
• It may not come at the time we believe it should come. 
• It may not come through the sources we determine it should come, but rest assured It Will Come! 

It will come not because God has helped but because GOD Is Our Present Help!  It is who God is, not just what God does.  It is not found in just God’s acts but in God’s ways.  It is His nature and character to be our HELP!

Let me speak a word of encouragement to you.  No matter your present struggle, God is your refuge, so run to Him.  God is your strength, so cast your care on Him.  God is your “very present help” in your time of distress!  Believe that, trust that, ask for that, and receive that.  I pray that you will recognize His helping hand and relax, resting in His promised provision. 

May the Lord bless you as you continue your day and week!  Blessings!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Please forgive me, but I am somewhat ignoring the entire context of this text to make a statement.  In verse eighteen, we read, “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”   In Everything, Give Thanks…This is identified as God’s will!

Most of us will refer to the Pilgrims as initiating the ‘Feast of Thanksgiving.’ However, according to much documentation in history, they only did this the first year and did not systematically repeat it annually.  However, some more religious Pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving with ‘prayer and fasting,’ not ‘feasting.’ 

I am aware of seven other nations that have an annual National Day of Thanksgiving: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Korea, Liberia, and Switzerland.  I do not know the extent or festivities of each of those, only that they have designated a particular day nationally. 

In 1777 when, General Washington and the troops, in incredibly horrible weather en route to Valley Forge, stopped in an open field to celebrate the 1^st Thanksgiving of the new United States of America, and in 1789, he declared November 26^th as a national day of ‘Thanksgiving and Prayer.’ 

During the 1800s, the Presidential Day of Thanksgiving ceased, and in 1863, Abraham Lincoln resumed the practice.  It was not until 1941that FDR established the 4^th Thursday in November as the National Thanksgiving Day, and now Colleges and the NFL have made it the National Day of Football Tailgate Parties.  (I say that tongue in cheek)

Although I am somewhat put off and have been for a long time with the commercialization of various holidays, I believe that true ‘Thanksgiving’ should certainly not be relegated to one particular day. However, every day, I still appreciate the National Day of Thanksgiving. 

In my formative years, it was a day in which the family gathered and enjoyed each other while feasting.  I dare say we did not express enough thanks for what we had, but I do believe that we recognized that without the hand of God, we would not have had the bounty we had.  Love was never lacking in our home, making this time of the year especially rewarding for me.  

I miss the family gatherings we had while Dad and Mother were alive living in East Texas.  Today, with the hectic schedules that most have and the fragmentation of families, it becomes more and more challenging to establish a tradition and have unique family gatherings as in days gone by.  Yet, we all can and should be Thankful for what we have, for we could have much less, even if we now have much less than we did in the not-too-distant past. 

I am ‘thankful’ for my relationship with God.  I am ‘thankful’ for my family.  I am ‘thankful’ for my health. Although I am not without some medical and physical problems. Overall, to the best of my knowledge, I am healthy.  I am ‘thankful’ for friends.  I am ‘thankful’ for my country and the freedoms we have and enjoy today. 

In short, I Am Thankful and will express that to God today, but I choose not to limit my Giving of Thanks to Thanksgiving Day. I know you share my sentiments if you are sick, wounded, lonely, or facing dire economic times. I pray that God grants you a miracle and that His presence will powerfully grace your home or abode today enabling you to look above and beyond your difficulties to His Awesomeness. 

God bless you as you celebrate this Day of Thanksgiving!

I recently made a statement about a “Pain-filled life” and was immediately asked, “What are you talking about?”  As I explained in some detail to the individual I was speaking to, it was like a light came on inside their head, and they realized that there was hope for their hopelessness.  It was a refreshing experience.

What I mean by “Pain Filled Life” is the kind of pain that expresses itself in the emotions, the mind, and the heart.  It is pain that is rooted in an event or an action by you or someone else.  There is a pain that comes from the wounds of others by their words and actions.

Proverbs 27:6 – “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” NASB

This is a challenging passage for many.  Wounds are wounds, whether from a friend or an enemy.  Yet it has been my experience that when a friend hurts us, the agony is more intense than the wounds of a known adversary.  David expressed this pain in Psalm 41:9 – “Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.” NLT

Then, in Psalm 55:12-14 – “It is not an enemy who taunts me — I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me — I could have hidden from them.  13 Instead, it is you — my equal, my companion and close friend. 14 What good fellowship we enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.” NLT

We expect an enemy or someone who is adversarial against us to attempt to inflict wounds but not our friends.  The weight of this disappointment brings heavy grief.  It shatters our sense of loyalty.  Our friend, a trusted companion, has unleashed these scathing barbs of accusation, and we are crushed. 

To wound is to injure, hurt, damage, impair, offend, or upset.  A wound is something that brings harm.  It is to damage in some fashion.  There is a measure of bruising to our ego or damage to our reputation. 

• Our integrity may be called into question, causing others to question our honesty or sincerity. 
• Our relationship may be strained severely or dissolved altogether. 

A wound is something that brings pain.  We are not speaking of physical wounds but emotional, mental, or spiritual wounds.  One significant danger in disagreements, whether inside or outside the church, is succumbing to a spirit of bitterness. 

What is bitterness?  It can be described with words such as resentment, anger, animosity, hostility, ill will, bad blood, lousy feelings, loathing, hatred, resentment, or antagonism.  It incorporates all of those but is a seething cauldron of animosity.  It is often coupled with an intense desire for revenge or so-called justice.  Not God’s justice but our brand. 

The account of John of Jesus coming to the lame man at the pool of Bethesda is an appropriate illustration for us to consider.  Look at the account:

John 5:2-9 – “Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. 3 In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [ waiting for the moving of the waters; 4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.] 5 A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?”  7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.”  9 Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.” NASB

We look at this event as observers, not as active participants.  Jesus asked this man who, deep inside, had resigned himself to being a cripple for the rest of his life.  After all, thirty-eight years is a long time for any condition to exist without the hope or much hope of a cure. 

Jesus asked him, “Do you want to get well?”  WHAT?  Lord, this man is at the pool and has been there virtually every day for thirty-eight years; of course, he wants to get well.

The question of Jesus is penetrating.  It is designed to reveal faith or the absence thereof.  It is not asked to be mean or callous but to cause the man to shift his focus from his condition or present state to the state or condition of wellness or wholeness.  The man’s response is very revealing.  He does not answer the question.  He called attention to his condition and rapidly moved toward a “Woe Is Me” attitude.  Jesus, in His great mercy and compassion, did not wait for the man to continue; he healed him.

Sadly, many who are locked in their “Prison of Pain” fail to hear or focus on the question of the Holy Spirit regarding their situation.  The Holy Spirit is constantly asking, “Do you want to be free and get well?”  When conviction strikes our hearts, we tend to do as this man and Pharaoh with the frogs in Egypt.  We want to wait one more night or justify why we are harboring the grudge, holding on to the pain, and refusing to release it to God.  Oh, that we would hear and heed the voice of our compassionate Lord and Release the Pain into His hands.

One final passage helps to bring my point home:

Matthew 18:21-35 – “Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.  24 “When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.  25 “But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.  26 “So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you everything.’  27 “And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.  28 “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’  29 “So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you.’  30 “But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.  31 “So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.  32 “Then summoning him, his lord said, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.  33′ Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’  34 “And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.  35 ” My heavenly Father will also do the same to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” NASB

Consider what the Lord has forgiven you and realize you can never afford to allow a wound or offense to live in your hearts.  If you want to leave your Prison of Pain, you must release the offense to the Lord.  I urge you not to wait another moment but to immediately take it to the Cross and roll it onto the Lord!  He will release you from Prison and enable you to walk into the fullness of life and freedom.

May God be with you as you go through your day in Him!

Matthew 5:3 – “God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.” NLT

Ephesians 6:13-17- “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  NASB. 

If you have faced impossible odds and felt there was no hope, you are in the perfect place for God’s miracle-working power and His blessings to flow mightily.  You need to see and put on the Whole Armor of God.

Though I seldom quote the Message Bible, I will here:  Matthew 5:3 – “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope.  With less of you, there is more of God and His rule.”  That is a truth that we could all apply in our lives regularly.  John declared, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  (John 3:30). If you are in desperation, there is Hope!

Most of us have been at our “wit’s end” and did not know what to do or where to turn ourselves.  In those situations, had it not been for the Lord, we would have gone under.  Yet, even in the direst circumstances and impossible situations, He has demonstrated His willingness and ability to deliver us from evil and give light to our pathway. 

He has promised that He will never leave or forsake us, which is surer than the sun rising and setting each day.  Man will fail us, but God will not!  Our ability will fail us, but God’s will not.  Our power will fail us, but God’s will not.  He is the Rock we lean on, stand on, and depend on.

Today, if you are at the “end of your rope.” look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.  Before you do anything else, turn your heart to Him and open it to His guidance and peace.  His love is boundless, and His grace is without measure. 

May God be with you in whatever you are or will face and bring great blessing and joy to your life today and every day!  Blessings!

Acts 15:36-41 – “Now after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” ³⁷ And Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. ³⁸ But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. ³⁹ And there was such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. ⁴⁰ But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹ And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”  LSB

Those who have studied the Book of Acts can remember that this was not the only time the apostle Paul disagreed with another brother.  We are told that he withstood Peter to his face over what he considered hypocrisy and seems to have been correct.  However, that did not end his relationship with Peter. 

In this account, the split in the Team of Paul and Barnabas was so severe that Paul took another co-worker, Silas, and Barnabas took John Mark and separated.  Their disagreement was not over the foundational truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, but in how to walk out what they believed was their commission and purpose from the Lord.

I have some friends I love and respect who disagree with me on accomplishing what we believe to be our purpose from the Lord.  Sometimes, we can fall into the trap of thinking that because we think something that means it is the ‘only way’ or the ‘right way’ and anyone doing something different is riding 2^nd Class on the Gospel Train. 

There was a time in my life when I was like that. I was very dogmatic about what people should believe and how they should walk out their purpose and ministry.  I had a view and so completely believed that I had Heard God I could not fathom any other interpretation.  I had Heard God for myself, but that did not mean I had Heard Him for everyone else.

I have some dear Christian friends who regularly censure or criticize my involvement in the political discussions of our day.  They do not necessarily tell me that to my face, but the things they say publicly and to others leave little doubt that my involvement is, at least, part of the reason for the statements, if not the reason.  I take no exception to that because I know they love God dearly and want the best for me and the Body of Christ. I honestly believe that they believe that they are correct and I am wrong. 

I am at peace with what I do and how I do it. I believe that God has directed me to speak to people about their spiritual condition and the condition of man that is reflected in the out-workings of life demonstrated in politics and every area of life.  I believe that God has called me to be a ‘watchman on the walls’ both to sound the alarm spiritually and to warn of impending danger and evil in other areas of life. 

I am saying that just because you do not agree with another brother or sister on how they perceive their path to walk out of their purpose does not mean you have to alienate or reject them.  If we agree on the core foundational truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, most other things can be worked around. 

So, I encourage you to realize that while God has a specific plan for our lives, He does not have a ‘one size fits all’ strategy.  He does not always give specific details on exactly how to walk out what he directs, so realize that each person is unique and how we walk out our ministry and purpose will likely be very different.

God bless you, and God bless America!

Matthew 17:4-8 – “Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. 7 And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.”  8 And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.” 

Okay, I know that is not exactly how this is phrased.  Yet the meaning is clear.  In his exuberance and ecstasy at the moment, Peter was blabbering about what they could and should do.  His ramblings and exhortations were heard in the Throne Room of Heaven, and it is clear that the Father was not particularly overjoyed with Peter at the moment, so He spoke from heaven and said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”  

Before you protest, notice that He said of Jesus, ‘with whom I am well-pleased,’ and that is in contrast to Peter’s ravings.  He also said, “LISTEN TO HIM!”  In East Texas vernacular – “Hush up and listen!”  So, to me, it is clear that the Father was essentially telling Peter and the other disciples, “Shut Up and Listen!”

You have heard it said, “God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we speak.”  There is a ton of truth in that adage and one that we would do well to adopt into our lives.  Frequently, it seems, most of us want to be heard rather than for us to hear!  We have our revelation and want others to hear it.  We feel our importance or need our significance to be validated and feel that we must be heard, so we speak. 

I have been in too many conversations where the other person is so anticipating their opportunity to speak that they fail to hear what is being said as they plan their response.  That negates effective communication and opens the door for misunderstanding and misinterpretation.  Here, God is telling Peter and the others – “Hearing what Jesus has to say is far superior to anything that you might say or think at the moment, so LISTEN!”

It would behoove all of us to be calculated in our speaking and careful in our listening.  I believe that to communicate truth effectively, we have to be willing and adept at listening.  It is essential to Hear what is being said, not what we think about what is being said.  There can be and often is a world of difference between the two. 

It reminds me of the saying that I heard once in a conference on communication where the person speaking said, “I know you believe you think you understand what you thought you heard me say, but I am not sure you realize that what you thought you heard is not what I said or meant.” 

Do you see where there could be a problem if we assume or presume we know what is being said without actually Hearing what is being said?  That is so true with the Word and things of God – We need to Hear God, not what we thought or wanted Him to say!

Therefore, learn that sometimes you need to just ‘be silent’ and ‘still’ and Listen!  The Holy Spirit will effectively communicate God’s Word, Will, and Way to our hearts if we Listen!

God bless you as you go through your day! 

Addendum:

I realize that God may not speak to you saying, ‘Shut up and listen,’ but He has to me before. When I asked why, He told me to put on my big boy britches and listen.  I protested more, and He asked, “Did I get your attention?”  I said, “Yes, sir.”  To which He responded, “Do I need to explain more?”  

God does not speak to me in King James English, use flowery language, or sound like He is a professor at Oxford, Yale, Harvard, or Cambridge.  He speaks to my heart in the language I speak.  Just as the Holy Spirit did not divest the writers of the Inspired Scriptures of their own personalities, God speaks to us uniquely personalized.  He knows what will get your attention and speaks thusly—I felt I needed to add this addendum!

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 – “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.”  NASB

This is a much longer devotional than I normally offer. I would normally do this over several days, but I felt prompted to put it into one package.

As I read passages like this, my excitement and anticipation in God are renewed.  I see unlimited possibilities in the Christian walk rather than gloom and doom.  I am not oblivious to the problems in our present world, but I am also very cognizant of God’s Person, Power, and Potential!  We all have or face strongholds in our lives from the devil’s opposition.  God offers a solution and gives us equipment to combat the forces of hell. 

I want to focus on ‘Three Primary Weapons’ in this discussion, which will span more than one post.  Those are – The Name, the Word, and the Blood of Jesus.  It is my biblical understanding and life experience that when the ‘Word of God’ confronts a ‘stronghold’ of the devil, it renders it powerless and devoid of strength. 

When the ‘Name of Jesus’ is used against the enemy, that name prevails every time!  When the ‘Blood of Jesus’ is brought against a ‘Stronghold’ by the Word of our Testimony, the stronghold is utterly destroyed.  Our weapons are Mighty Through God to the pulling down of strongholds.

You can have a virtual arsenal, but if you have no delivery vehicle or cannot get those weapons to the battle, they do you no good!  Most are aware that the “Name, Word, and Blood of Jesus’ are weapons, but the question is ‘how do we get them to the point of attack?’  Let me use something in the natural to convey a spiritual truth:

Our military arsenal has ICBMs or Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, which are extremely large rockets capable of being launched over thousands of miles and destroying a target with pinpoint accuracy.  They are essential to the defense strategy of any nation that has them.  Yet, we must distinguish between the rockets and the warheads on those rockets. 

The power is not in the rocket but in the warhead.  The rocket is simply a vehicle to get the warhead to the proper place at the appropriate time.  If the missile were launched with no warhead, it would do minor damage upon arrival, but armed with the warhead, it could destroy a huge target. 

The power is in the warhead!  This is equally true spiritually.  The power is in the weapon.  The power is in the Word, Name, and Blood of Jesus!  Yet, until these warheads are launched, they do not pull down strongholds.  They must be launched against the enemy to bring the desired victory.

What are our launching rockets?   Prayer, preaching, the word of our testimony, praise, and worship!  These vehicles launch spiritual warheads against the enemy and bring the Power of God to bear on the situation.

We have talked about the Name, Word, and Blood of Jesus being Spiritual Weapons of Warfare and that we had some launching rockets to propel these warheads into the battle.  Let us begin by looking at them:

THE LAUNCHING ROCKET OF PRAYER…

I have concluded that the only people who do not believe that prayer is of any significant benefit are those who do not pray!  I do not mean to be calloused, but I believe that to be true.  There is absolutely no doubt of the validity, importance, or power of believing prayer!  Prayer receives its power from the weapon of the Name, Word, and Blood of Jesus.

When we pray the Name, the Word, and the Blood of Jesus, we find an incredible release of spiritual power, yet at the same time, we find it vain to pray meaningless and unbelieving repetitions.  One prayer warrior of old declared that ‘Prayer is the greatest force in the universe,’ and I do not argue that because prayer that carries the spiritual warheads of the Name, the Word, and the Blood of Jesus is armed with the most incredible power known. 

If you remember the words of Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call unto me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you did not know…” you understand.  God has declared that IF we pray, He will work and bring great and mighty things to pass even beyond our ability to know or comprehend.  In a sense, God has limited Himself to working in conjunction with our praying!

It is my conviction that ‘in prayer’ we can touch lands thousands of miles away, send help to divine prisoners, minister in every city in the world, and cross every barrier and obstacle.  Prayer can penetrate where human flesh cannot. 

Yes, that includes our government (1 Timothy 2:1-4).  When we pray for our government, we are to pray that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life. Good government allows us to preach the Gospel freely and openly.  It guarantees civil liberties and protects freedom of speech.  We can do more on our knees than in any other fashion, but that does not mean we cannot or should not be otherwise active.  But always remember that Our Weapons are Mighty!

There are Eight (8) Laws or Elements of Prayer.  I will call them Laws for the sake of understanding:

1. The Law of Boldness.   (Hebrews 10:19) – “Having, therefore, brethren, boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus.”  The Blood of Jesus enables us to access the throne room of heaven.

• The Law of the Blood.  Prayer is offered on the foundation of the Blood of Jesus.

• The Law of Faith.  (Hebrews 11:6) – “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him.”

• The Law of Right Relationships.  (Mark 11:24-25) – “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.  25 “Whenever you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.” 

• The Law of God’s Will.  (1 John 5:14-15) – “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests we have asked from Him.” 

• The Law of the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 8:26-27 – “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

• The Law of Praise.  (Psalm 34:1) – “I will bless the Lord at ALL TIMES; His praise shall CONTINUALLY be in my mouth.”

• The Law of Right Motives.  (James 4:3) – “You ask, and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

All are extremely important and explain why sometimes we are ineffective in our praying.  It does not explain everything but should give us food for thought and personal examination of our hearts, motives, and lives.

We considered the launching Rocket of Prayer. Now let us consider more launching rockets for the Weapons of Spiritual Warfare:

THE VEHICLE OF PREACHING…

At the risk of being misunderstood, I say Preaching is an incredibly important element and activity for the Body of Christ.  It is one of the great tools that God has given to launch spiritual weapons effectively.  It is by the ‘foolishness of preaching’ that men are saved!  Paul counseled Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2 – “Preach the word!” 

When anyone stands at the sacred desk or anywhere and preaches The WORD, that person is launching a weapon of warfare against the devil’s strongholds.  Preachers should expect ‘strongholds’ to come down as they preach.  Our preaching should go forth mixed with faith, knowing that we are launching mighty weapons against the forces of hell.

When I look at the life and ministry of the apostle Paul, he epitomizes the importance and power afforded in preaching. He was a preacher from almost the moment of his conversion.  From the beginning of his ministry, he was commissioned to take the Name of Jesus before the Gentiles and kings!  Everywhere he went, he proclaimed the Name of Jesus!  He continually preached the Word, the Name, and the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and mighty things took place in his preaching.

THE VEHICLE OF THE WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY…

In Revelation 12:11 – “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” The Word Testimony in Greek means ‘witness,’ so to testify means to witness.  In a court of law, you are asked to testify or give witness to only what you know and things you saw and heard.  You must speak from direct personal experience, not opinion or presumption.

The word of our testimony is a mighty launching rocket.  I believe that your testimony is powerful, no matter what that testimony is, because it is a witness of the Power of God transforming your life.  Sadly, many are robbed of the beauty of their personal testimony because they have deemed it not to be as significant or colorful as someone else’s. Still, it is Your Testimony, and it is your account of Your Experience in God, and that is powerful.  Nothing is more real and moving than a personal account of what God has done.

THE VEHICLE OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP…

Praise and worship are very personal but can be a significant corporate thing.  When congregational Praise and worship are offered, there is incredible power generated.  Psalms 22:3 tells us that God Inhabits the praises of His people.  Therefore, as we Worship and praise as a group, we manifest unity, harmony, and agreement that opens the door for the Holy Spirit to move freely in our midst.  In doing so, we are launching the Word, the Name, and the Blood of Jesus and pulling down strongholds.

That brings us to an important point – The power of the Tongue!  We use it in praying, preaching, testifying, praise, and worship.  With our mouths, we launch the weapons of warfare, but we can also launch weapons of the enemy by engaging in gossip, back-biting, undue criticism, unrighteous judgment, fear, and doubt.

No matter how dark things may seem around you, the power of God surrounds you, and as Paul and Silas sang praises in a prison cell at midnight, we can launch the weapons of warfare in our darkest hour and see the Hand of God move mightily.

Learn to utilize and launch God’s weapons of warfare!  May God be with you as you go through your day!

Mark 11:12-14; 19-24 – “Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”

And His disciples heard it.

Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.  23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”  NKJV

An aside from what I hope to say is something that stands out in this passage powerfully to me.  In the conclusion of verse 14, after Jesus cursed the fig tree, we find these words, “And His disciples heard it.”  How powerful it is to Hear what Jesus says or has said.  That is a life-changing experience. 

Back to what I desire to address in what I consider a perplexing passage of Scripture and one that many believers have attempted to make a reality in their lives and failed.  Who among us has not faced mountains in our lives?  We all want to know how to remove those barriers that hinder our progress.  Therefore, this scripture is powerfully challenging and wonderfully intriguing.

In Jesus’ day, the people of Judah considered a mountain any hindrance to their progress, as should we.  Therefore, when Jesus told them they could have whatever they said and even told them they could Move Mountains, they could readily identify with His message.  How many of them actually believed His words are quite another story, but then how many in Churches today believe God’s words literally when He says what He does in vv. 23-24?

I recall a story of a woman who had to walk around a mountain every day to get to work in town, and she heard this message preached, so she went home that night and spoke to the mountain, “Be Gone and be cast into the sea.”  She went to bed, got up the next morning, looked out the window, and said, “Just as I expected, still there!” 

I believe the words of Jesus that we can Move Mountains, literally or figuratively, in our lives. Still, there are some rules for mountain moving, and we need to understand the process and principles to find failure a more constant companion that we would like in this regard. We must understand How the hindrance or mountain came to be.

Let me offer this picture and hope it will resonate. 

• If we create a financial mountain by the lack of wisdom in handling finances or lack of discipline, we will not be able to speak to it and move it.  You built it and will have to tear it down stone by stone. 
• If your mountain is a physical illness, and you are aware you are not eating properly, exercising as you should, and generally abusing your body, jeopardizing your health, there possibly will be no moving of that mountain until you correct the problem that produced it. 

I am not saying that if you are sick, it is because you did something wrong, but if you know you brought about whatever the mountain is, you will have to take steps to correct that behavior first. 

Let us consider some rules or instructions for Mountain Moving in our lives.

• Be Careful Not to Build the Mountain in the First Place.

Is that being overly simplistic?  Possibly. It might be presumptive to expect God to allow us to be Mountain Movers when we are Mountain Builders.  Praying for a mountain to move would prove difficult and unlikely if we are responsible for it being there and continuing to add rocks to its height.  I have discovered that in some cases, there is a hindrance to:

Healing because of the presence of a root of bitterness, unforgiveness, resentment, etc.

Finances because of disregard for frugality, jealousy, envy, and greed are in the heart.

Right Living because we continue to pursue bad associations.

If we know we are doing things that help create and sustain the mountain, would it not be wise to deal with those issues before trying to speak to that mountain and move it by faith?  I offer that as a thought to consider.

• Be Sure That What You Are Saying Is in Harmony with God’s Word.

Jesus was not talking about prayer in this passage.  He did not ask the Father to move the mountain.  In verse 22, Jesus refers to having “Faith,” faith in God.  He did not say, “Pray that the Father will move the mountain.” He taught that IF we believe and expect the mountain to move, it will move.  An addendum to my comments about us building the mountain: does it not make sense that we can also remove one if we can build a mountain?

Jesus taught his followers that they could move the mountain by “speaking to it.”  Some will find that problematic, but it is what He said.  The first time Jesus used the word “say” in verse 23, the Greek word was [lego], and the second time was [epo], and is used in Mark 1:44.  (Lego) – to say, speak, affirm. (Epo) – a word. It is speaking words.

The implication or message could be: “You have said, or you have been saying.”  It means issuing a command with your own voice and being adamantly firm.  It would be saying to the mountain, “Go throw yourself into the sea.”  The idea is that this is not simply a one-time occurrence but something you say and say and say and say until it happens. 

Again, I am cautious and want to avoid suggesting that if you repeat something repeatedly, you can make it happen.  The key is speaking to what God is speaking. It is to be firmly rooted in His will. The word we speak is with anticipatory faith. It is refusing to give up or give in. It is persistence that flows out of the eyes and heart that has seen it done in Jesus.

• Be Sure Your Heart Is in Line with Your Tongue.

I am convinced that one could talk until they were blue in the face and command whatever they please, but if the heart is not firmly rooted in the pursuit of God and His Kingdom and aligned with His will and purpose, it will be nothing more than words.  Hear the words of Jesus, “…and does not doubt in his heart….”  This is not necessarily evidence of a weakness of faith but uncertainty of heart and mind.

We have God’s promise and may believe God’s word, but if we speak that promise to the mountain with uncertainty in our hearts, then we are at odds with ourselves. In that condition, we fit the classification of “double-mindedness,” and that, we are told, opens no doors. 

Doubt is a breach that excludes God’s help. Doubt is located in the heart, meaning we can change or conquer it.  I have had pilots tell me that fear was the most significant thing they had to overcome in learning to fly.  But as they learned to trust their equipment, fear departed.  Knowledge dispelled and replaced fear with confidence and certainty.

• Be Sure That You Believe What You Are Commanding.

This is where Grace plays a significant role in faith.  Grace is far more than God’s unmerited favor. It is God’s divine enablement.  It is God’s Power in operation. Again, I remind you that we are not talking about prayer but stepping forth on God’s Promise and appropriating the promise.  There are times in our lives when financial burdens, sickness, relational problems, etc., become so large and imposing that they hinder all forward progress and must be moved.  What do we do?

We Prepare Our Hearts.  We remove everything that creates the mountain in our lives. We remove the ground or foundation upon which it is built.  Then, we address the issue by calling it by name, standing on the authority of Scripture, and speaking with confidence free of doubt because if God said it, we know it is true and persist.

Pray this prayer with me:  “Heavenly Father, I believe I am who You say I am and will become all that You say I can become.  Through Your help, I will stop building mountains and become a mountain mover, not a builder.  I will set a guard at my mouth and carefully watch my words so they do not contradict my heart, and I will speak Grace to the mountain that is before me, hindering my path.  It will move and give way to the Power and Will of God.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen!”

God bless you as you continue your journey through today’s opportunities and victories.