CreatetheWorldYouWanttoSeeKennethW.Hagin

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CreatetheWorldYouWanttoSee

ISBN-13:978-1-60616-798-4

ISBN-10:1-60616-798-7

Copyright©2011RHEMABibleChurch

AKAKennethHaginMinistries,Inc.

Allrightsreserved.

ElectronicEditionPublished2011.

The Faith Shield is a trademark of RHEMA Bible Church, aka Kenneth HaginMinistries,Inc.,registeredwiththeU.S.PatentandTrademarkOfficeandthereforemaynotbeduplicated.

Chapter1

RaisingtheBarsDidyouknowthatGodwantsyoutowalkinvictoryineveryareaofyourlife?Have

youtriedtobreakthroughtothenextlevelofvictory,butitseemstobejustbeyondyourgrasp?

AsItravelallovertheworld,Iseepeoplesearchingforvictory.Ialsoseepeoplelivingdefeatedlives.TheyknowthatGodwantsthemtohavevictoryovereverycircumstance,but they don’t understand how to win. They don’t quit—they keep on struggling—buttheirbattlesareongoing.Othershavegivenup.They’vedecided,“Well,Iguessthisisthewayit’sgoingtobe.”

RisingAbovetheAverage

It’ssoimportantforusnottoacceptanaverage,routinelifeasthenorm.Goddoesnotintendforourlivestoberoutineoraverage!

Whenwethinkofanaveragelife,weprobablythinkofsomeonewhoisenduringthedailygrind.Livinganaveragelifeisliketalkingonacellphonewhenitonlyhasacoupleofbarsonthescreen.Itisn’treceivingaverystrongsignal.Thephoneisoperating,butitkeepscuttinginandoutorevendropsthecallscompletely.

Godwantsallofus to raise thebar inour lives.Hewantsus tocomeuphigher.Hewantsus toknow thatHehasaway forus to livewith fullbars, spiritually, aswell asphysically.

Yousee,wearelivingtwolivesatthesametime—thespirituallifeandthenaturallife.Tooperateonfullbars,weneedtoknowhowtoletthespirituallifedominatethenaturallife.

Ifwewanttooperatefromthespiritualside,wemustallowthesupernaturalpowerofGod’sWord tobecome thedominant force inournatural lives.Yousee,Godhasgiventhoseofuswhoarebornagainauthoritytoruleoverthecircumstancesweencounterhereon thisearth.Henever intendedforus tobedefeatedbyourcircumstances.Hedoesn’tintendforustobechangedbyourworld.Heintendsforustochangeourworld.

Godwantstodosomewondrousthingsinourlives.HewantstotakeustotheplaceofvictorywhereHehasplannedforustobe.HewantsustohaveeverythingthatHisWordsaysbelongstous.AndHisWordtellsusthatJesuscametogiveusanextraordinarylifeofabundance!

JOHN10:10(AMPLIFIED)10Thethiefcomesonlyinordertostealandkillanddestroy.Icamethattheymayhaveandenjoylife,andhaveitinabundance(tothefull,tillitoverflows).

Actually, theGospel teachesasimplemessageoffaith.Butweliveinaworldthat iscontrolledbyourenemy,thedevil.Andoneofhisprimarygoalsistocomplicateourlivesand confuse our thinking so he can keep us focused on the circumstances around usinsteadofonGod’sWord.ButthekeytoourvictoryisstayingfocusedonthepromisesGodhasforus.

Now I’m not denying that people have problems, and the problems of life can becomplicated.Mountainsofdifficultiesareinevitableandtheycometoallofus.Thedevilwill try to raiseeverythinghecanagainstus, to limitusandkeepus fromrising to thenextlevelofvictorytheLordhasforus.ButGodhasaplantoempowerustorisetoanewlevel!

LifeUnlimited

GodwantsallofHischildrentoexperiencelifeunlimited,buttherearemanyobstaclesweencounterinourphysicallivesthattrytolimitus.Thecircumstancesoflifetrytolimitus.The economic problems in theworld today try to limit us.Themorewe talk aboutthosenaturalcircumstances,themorewewillkeepoureyesonthem.Whenwebegintofocus on the natural circumstances, we take our eyes off God’s promises. And HispromisestellusHewillkeepus,takecareofus,andmeetallofourneeds!

Towalkbyfaith,wemustfocusonthepromisesofGod.Themorewedothis,themorewecanchangethecircumstancesandsituationsinthenaturalrealm.Wenolongerhavetoconform to the naturalworld thatwe see around us.Romans 12:2 says thatwe can betransformedbytherenewingofourmindstoGod’sWord.Thatmeanswecanchange.Butinordertodoso,wemuststayfocusedonGod’sWord.

TheBible tellsus thatGodwantsus toprosper ineveryareaofour lives, justasoursoulsprosper.

3JOHN22Beloved,Ipraythatyoumayprosperinallthingsandbeinhealth,justasyoursoulprospers.

Anothertranslationgivesusalittledifferentinsightintothemeaningofthisverse.

3JOHN2(NIV)2Dearfriend,Ipraythatyoumayenjoygoodhealthandthatallmaygowellwithyou,evenasyoursoulisgettingalongwell.

This verse is a promise God has given us as believers. But even under the OldCovenant,GodhadonlygoodplansforHispeople.IfyourememberwhentheIsraeliteswerelivingincaptivityinaforeignland,iftheyfocusedontheirconditioninthenaturalworld around them, they had no hope. But God assured them through the prophetJeremiahthatHehadgoodplansforthem.

JEREMIAH29:11(KJV)11ForIknowthethoughtsthatIthinktowardyou,saiththeLord,thoughtsofpeace,andnotofevil,togiveyouanexpectedend.

Godtoldthemhehad“anexpectedend”forthem—afutureandahope!Hewassaying,“Ihaven’tforgottenyou,andIwantyoutoknowthatyouhaveafuture.”PraiseGod,HeissayingthesamethingtoustodayinHisWord—wehaveafutureandahope!

Godwantsus to live in thePromisedLandwhilewe’rehereonearth.ThePromisedLandisalandofmorethanenough.Itrepresentssecurity,provision,safety,andabetterlife.Itmeansthatwe’reoperatingonfullbars!

SometimespeoplethinkofHeavenasatypeofPromisedLand.Theysingsongsaboutthesweetby-and-by,thehappydaywhenwereachCanaanLandandallofourstruggles

willbeover.TheyareactuallydeferringthepromisesofGodtosometimeinthefuture!

Ifwelookat thecharacteristicsof thePromisedLandandofHeaven,weseethat thePromisedLandcouldn’tbeatypeofHeaven.TheIsraeliteshadenemiesinCanaanLand.Theyhadtofightbattles.ThankGod,wewon’thavetodoanyfightinginHeaven!Thefightingwedoishereonthisearth.WefightfaithbattlestoobtainthepromisesofGod.TheBibleteachesusthatthePromisedLandisatypeoflifethat’savailabletoushereonearth.It’salifeofvictoryandblessing—alifeofoperatingonfullbars!

ThinkGod’sThoughts

Through incorrect religious thinking, many people have a wrong picture of God.They’vebeentaughtthatGodmakesussick.TheythinkthatHecausesnotonlysicknessbutallsortsofotherdifficultiestoteachussomething.They’vebeendeceivedbythedeviltopictureGodinthewrongway.TheyseeHimassittingupinHeavenjustwaitingforthemtomakeamistakesoHecanswatthemdownlikeafly.

Do loving parents act horribly to their children, or do theymake them sick to teachthemsomething?No!Anyparentwhodoes those things isguiltyof childabuse.Thinkaboutthisforamoment.IfGodwerephysicallyonearthtodaycausinghorriblethingstohappentoHischildren,Hewouldbeaccusedofchildabusetoo.ButGodisnotachildabuser!

Thedevillovestoconvinceusthatwehavetogothroughlifewithbarelyenoughtogetby.HetriestotrapusintothinkingthatifwecanjustmakeitthroughthisworldandreachHeaven,we’redoingprettywell.And,yes,ifwe’rebornagainbythebloodoftheLordJesus Christ, we will make it to Heaven. But if our thinking is limited, wewill neverexperiencethelifethatGodsaysbelongstoushereonearth.

WemayknowthatGodwantstoblessusbutwemaynothaveanyideahowtoreceivethoseblessings.Orwemayhave simplygrownwearywaiting forour circumstances toturnaround.Sowelowerourexpectationsandthink,Well,IshouldjustbesatisfiedwithwhatIhaveandwhereIam.Welowerourbars.

Some of us settle for living below God’s standards because we think that’s what itmeanstobethankfulforallHehasgivenus.Yes,it’simportanttobethankfulforallGodhasdoneforus.Butthatdoesn’tmeanweshouldbesatisfiedwithlivingbelowthelevelofvictoryandabundanceHedesiresforus.WhenwediscoverwhatGodhasforusinHisWordandunderstandhowtoreceiveit,wecanliveonfullbarsallthetime!

Aswebecomemoreandmore involvedwith the truthofGod’sWord,wecanbesetfreefromanywrong,religiousthinkingwemighthave.GodwantsustoreadandstudytheWord,believeitandspeakit,sowe’rereadywhenthedevilbringscircumstancestotrytotakeourfocusoffGod’spromises.

God has blessings upon blessings for us. But beforewe can receiveHis abundance,some things have to change within us. We can begin by changing our thoughts.Proverbs23:7says,“Forashethinksinhisheart,soishe.”

Theaveragelifeisareflectionofthewaywethink,andsoistheextraordinarylife!Ifweviewourselvesasaverage,wewillprobablyhaveanaveragelife.ButwhenwebegintothinkthoughtsthatareinlinewithGod’sWord,thenwebegintoaddbarsofstrengthin

ourthoughtlife.

IfwewanttoexperiencetheextraordinarylifeGodhasforus,weneedtostartthinkingHis thoughts! What does God think? Matthew 19:26 says, “With God all things arepossible.” And Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do all things through Christ whostrengthensme.”

IfwewanttothinklikeGodthinks,weneedtoletthisthoughtdominateourthinking:Icannotbedefeated,andIwillnotquit!TheLordwilldoamazingthingsinourliveswhenwechangeourthinking.

ThinkingGod’sthoughtsgivesusthekindofattitudeweneedinordertosucceedinthespiritualand natural realms.Thiskindof attitudekeepsusgoingwhen the caresof theworld,thepressuresoflife,andtheeconomists’reportstrytolimitanddefeatus.Itkeepsusgoingwheneverybodyaroundusissayingthatwecan’thavewhatGodhassaidinHisWordwecanhave.Thisattitudesays,“WhenIlookatwhatisgoingonaroundme,theonlythingIconsideriswhattheWordofGodsays!”

Theenemywilltellyou,“Justbesatisfiedwithwhereyouare.JustbethankfulthatGodhas letyouget thisfar.”Hewillsay,“Yourdreamswillnevercometopass.You’renotgoing tomake it.”Whenhedoes that, youcandeclare, “Mr.Devil, according to Isaiah54:17,noweaponthat’sformedagainstmeshallprosper! Iamnotgoing tobesatisfiedwithsecondbest.IwillreceiveallthepromisesGodhastoldmeaboutinHisWord.”

Goddoesn’twantustobedestitute.Hedoesn’twantustobesick.Hedoesn’twantustoliveabeaten-downlife.Heisamiracle-workingGod,andHewantstodosupernaturalthings for us. His Word shows us the way to live an abundant life. If we read Hispromises,believetheminourhearts,andspeakthemoutofourmouths,wewillseethespiritualdominatethenatural.Andwewillbegintooperateonfullbars!

Chapter2

TheNaturalandSupernaturalWorkingTogetherGodwantstomakeuseofthenaturalabilitiesHehasgivenusincombinationwithHis

supernaturalability.That’swhatwilllaunchusintothenextlevelHehasforus—becausethenaturalandthesupernaturalcomingtogethermakeanexplosiveforceforGod!

RossMcCreadywasanarchitectwhodesignedseveralbuildingsontheRHEMAUSAcampus,aswellasotherchurchbuildings.HeusedhisnaturalabilityincombinationwithGod’ssupernaturalabilitytoproduceextraordinaryresults.AshewasdrawingplansfortheRHEMABibleChurch building, he began to talk toGod about the details of thoseplans.The resultwas the intricatedesignGodgavehim for theceilingand roofof thatbuilding.Thisplanwas so successful that itwas featured in awidely readarchitecturalmagazine.

Inourchurchwehaveattorneys,bankers,engineers,businessmen,andothersinvariouswalksoflifethatusetheirnaturalabilitiesincombinationwithGod’sability.WhenGod’ssupernatural power comes together with our natural abilities, He will help us becomesuccessful.Andwewillstandheadandshouldersaboveeverybodyelsearoundus!

Let’slookatanincidentinthelifeofPeterthatillustrateswhatI’mtalkingabouthere.

LUKE5:4–7(NIV)4He[Jesus]saidtoSimon[Peter],“Putoutintodeepwater,andletdownthenetsforacatch.”5Simonanswered,“Master,we’veworkedhardallnightandhaven’tcaughtanything.Butbecauseyousayso,Iwillletdownthenets.”6Whentheyhaddoneso,theycaughtsuchalargenumberoffishthattheirnetsbegantobreak.7Sotheysignaledtheirpartnersintheotherboattocomeandhelpthem,andtheycameandfilledbothboatssofullthattheybegantosink.

First,let’slookatthenaturalrealm.NoticethatPeterandhiscrewhadalreadyfishedallnight.Thatwastheirpattern.Theywentoutintheeveningbecausethatwasthebesttimetofish.It’spossibletofishanytime,butthereisalwaysabesttimetofish.HereinOklahoma, the bass fishermen get up early if they want to catch more fish in thesefreshwaterlakes.

ButnoticePeterandhiscrewhadworkedallnightandcaughtnothing!Haveyoueverdonesomethinglikethat?Haveyoueverworkedandtoiledbutyoudidn’tseemtohaveanything toshowfor it?Forexample, in the financial realm,manypeoplehaveworkedwiththeirnaturalskillsalonetoinvesttheirmoney,buttheyendedupwithnothing.

Manoftenencountersimpossibilities.Somanytimesourknowledgeisnotenough,ourstrengthisnotenough,andourresourcesarenotenough.Weneedhelp!AndGodhashelpforus.

LUKE18:27(KJV)27Andhesaid,ThethingswhichareimpossiblewithmenarepossiblewithGod.

WhenJesus toldPeter togo into thedeepwaterand letdown thenets,Peterandhiscrewhadalreadyreturnedfromdoingthatverything.ItwouldhavebeeneasyforPeterto

havesaid,“Waitaminute,Jesus.I’mthefisherman.You’rethePreacher.Wedon’tfishinthedaytimearoundhere.Thenightiswhenthefisharerunning.”

Instead, Peter believed theWord Jesus spoke to him.But in order to respond to thatWord,Peterhadtodosomethinginthenatural.Hehadtotakeaction!

BeWillingtoTakeAction

IfwewanttoexperiencetheblessingsGodhasforus,wehavetobewillingtodowhatHe tellsus todo,even if itdoesn’tmakesense in thenatural.Weneed tobewilling torespondand takeaction.LikePeter,weneed tostepoutandobey.OurobediencegivesGodsomethingtoworkwith.AndourobediencegivesGodroomtoworkinourlives.

Too many people are walking around on a spiritual high, and yet they never getinvolvedinthenaturalrealm.Theydon’tdowhattheyneedtodointhenaturaltoreceiveGod’sblessings.Inotherwords,they’retooheavenlymindedtobeanyearthlygood.Onthe other hand, some people are too naturalminded to be any heavenly good.And yetthereisamiddle-of-the-roadwhereyoubringthenaturalandsupernaturaltogether.

WhatwouldhavehappenedifPeterhadsaid,“Now,Master,we’retootiredrightnow.Letussleepforalittlewhileandthenwe’llgobackoutthereandfish”?Whatwouldhavehappenedifhiscrewhadsaid,“Look,Peter,we’vealreadyworkedallnight,andwe’vealmostfinishedputtingthenetsouttodry”?Whatiftheyhadsaidtheydidn’twanttogooutagainbecausetheydidn’twanttoworkovertime?WhatkindofhaulwouldPeterandhiscrewhavehadthen?None!Nohaul—nofish.

ManytimesinordertoreceivetheblessingsofGodwehavetodosomethingextra—somethingalittlebitoutoftheway.Inourhumanity,wedon’talwaysliketodoanythingthatcausesustogooutofourway.OnethingI’velearnedisthatifwearegoingtoenjoylife,weneedtobeflexible.Weneedtoallowforsomegiveandtake.Doingsomethingextrainthenaturalandbeingflexiblesothatwe’rereadytoobeycansetthestageforGodtodosomethinginthesupernaturalrealm.

It’simportanttostandontheWord,butit’salsoimportanttotakeaction.Everytimemywife, Lynette, and I have believed God for extra money, we have also looked foropportunitiesHemightsendforustoearnthatmoney.VeryseldomdoIgetaletterinthemailwithacheckinit.ButIdoreceivephonecallsandlettersforspeakingengagements.Godblessesus,butwealsoworkfortheblessing.

YoumayhavehadsimilarexperienceswhenyoustartedbelievingGodforsomeextramoney.PerhapsGodblessedyoubyopeningupjobsinyourareaofexpertise.Thentheextramoneycame!Whenwedoa little extra,Godaddsabiggerblessing.Many timeswhenI’vedonesomethingextra, I’vereceivedagreaterblessingevenbeyond theoneIexpected.

Nowlet’slookbackatthestoryofPeterlettingdownhisnetsforacatch.ThefirstcluethattheexplosiveforceofGodwasbeginningtoworkwaswhenJesussaidtoPeter,“Putoutintodeepwater,andletdownthenetsforacatch.”JesusgavePeterawordtoobey.

For the supernatural to come togetherwith thenatural,weneed toknowwhatGod’sWordsays.Andweneedtobequicktoobey!

EventhoughobeyingJesuswascontrarytoeverythingPeterknewaboutfishing,hedidasJesussaid.ButjustthinkabouttheamountofeffortittooktoobeyJesus.

Peterandhiscrewweretiredfromfishingallnight.Theyhadalreadyunloadedthenetsfrom their ship.They had stretched themout,washed them, and hung themout to dry.They had cleaned the boat and prepared it for the next night’s fishing.Then Jesus toldthemtogobackoutonthewater.

Whenwethinkaboutthisstory,weusuallyjustthinkaboutthehugecatch.Butbeforethehugecatch,Peterandhiscrewputahugeamountofnaturaleffort intopreparing toobey Jesus. This was the natural and the supernatural coming together to make anexplosiveforceforGod.

Ifwewanttoconnectwiththesupernatural,wehavetobewillingtomakealargeeffortin thenatural.Thearchitect,RossMcCready,and theattorneys,bankers,engineers,andotherbusinesspeopleinourchurchunderwentextensivetrainingtopreparetoentertheirfields.IttookagreatdealofworkinthenaturalforthemtoexcelinorderforGodtobeabletousethemintheirareaofexpertise.

In the natural, Peter’s crew hadn’t been able to catch any fish that night. But in thesupernatural,whenJesustoldthemtogooutagain,thefishweretherewaiting.Toreceivethatsupernaturalmanifestation,theyhadtomakeaneffortinthenatural.Theyhadtoputeverythingbackintotheboat—loadthenets—thenpushtheboatoff,getin,andgobackoutonthewater.

Notice that Jesushadn’t said togo justa littlewayout fromshore.Hesaid,“Putoutintodeepwater.”Thedeepissomedistancefromtheshoreline.Thecrewhadtoputmoretoilandeffort intogoingouton thedeepwaters than theywouldhave to fishalong theshoreline. But when Peter obeyed the Word Jesus gave him, the natural met thesupernatural.Ofcourse,thesupernaturalwastherewaitingforthemallalong.Butwhenthenaturalandsupernaturalcame together, thecatchwassogreat theyfilled twoboats,almostsinkingboth!

Know,Believe,Say,Act

Ifwewant theexplosiveforceofGodtobeunleashedinour lives,weneedtoknowhowtocooperatewiththesupernatural.Wecandothisbytakingfoursimplesteps.First,weneedtoknowwhatGod’sWordsays.Second,weneedtobelievewhatitsays.Third,we need to saywhatHisWord says. Fourth,we need to act onwhat it says. This is asimplemessage,butithaspowerfulresults.

WhenAbrahamwaswaiting for the promise of an heir to be born,God changed hisnamefrom“Abram”to“Abraham,”whichmeans“fatherofmanynations”(Gen.17:5).Abrahamdidn’thaveanydescendants,buteverywherehewent,heintroducedhimselfas“thefatherofmanynations.”HeknewthewordGodhadgivenhim.Hebelievedit,saidit,andactedonit.Thenaturalmetthesupernatural,releasingtheexplosiveforceofGod,and the promise came to pass. Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age(Gen.21:1–3).

WhenweputourhandtosomethinginthenaturalinaccordancewithGod’sWord,Hissupernaturalpowerbecomesavailabletous.Ifwehaveaneedandsowaseedbyputting

moneyintheofferingplateasitcomesby,wehaveputthesupernaturalpowerofGodatourdisposal.Evenifwebelieveweshouldpayourtithesandgiveofferings,wemustdoitifwewantthepowerofGodtobetheretomeetourneeds.ObediencetotheWordmeansputtingactiontoourfaithbydoingsomething.

WhenwereadaboutJesushealingpeople,insomanycasesweseethatHetoldthemtodosomething:takeupyourbedandwalk;gowashyoureyesinthepoolofSiloam;stretchforthyourhand(John5:8,9:7;Matt.12:13).Inotherwords,Hetoldthemtoactontheirfaith.

It took the natural and the supernatural working together in order for the RHEMAcampustocomeintoexistence.InJulyof1976,westartedoutbybuyingonebuildingandhalfthebuildingbehinditonsixacres.Mydad,KennethE.Hagin,saidtome,“It’syours.I’mgoingouttopreachandteach.Youmakeithappen.”

It tookblood, sweat, and tears—ahuge effort in thenatural—to add all the land andbuildingswehavenow.IhadbigwindowsputinmyofficesoIcouldwatchtheschooldevelop.Onetimewhenwewereinthemiddleofseveralbuildingprojects,therewasahuge pile of bills onmydesk andwe didn’t have enoughmoney to pay themall. So IactuallystoodonmyBibleasI lookedoutacross thecampusandsaid,“Allright,God,I’mstandingonYourWordandbelievingforYoutoshowmehowtopaythesebills.”

ThenGodtoldmetodosomethinginthenatural.Hesaid,“Goovertoyourdesk.”SoIwentovertomydeskandsatdown.NextHesaid,“Pickupthatpileofbills.”

AfterIpickedthemup,Hetoldme,“Whatdidtheysaythatyouhaveinthebank?”SoIlookedattheamount.ThenHesaid,“Nowlookthroughthosebills,findtheonesthatyoucanpaywiththatamount,andpaythem.Anddothateveryday.”

Ididexactlythateverydayforseveralmonths.Andattheendofthosemonthsallthebillswerepaid,andwewerestillgoing.

Inthenatural,IhadtofindouthowmuchmoneyIhadtospendeachdayandIalsohadtothumbthroughthosebills.SometimesIhadtofindtwobillstoadduptotheavailableamount,andIwouldhavetolookhardtofindtherightcombination.ButIkeptthenaturalandthesupernaturalworkingtogetheruntilitwasdone!

WhenweknowwhatGod’sWordsays,believeit,sayit,anddoit,theexplosiveforceof God will begin to work for us and it will change our lives. It will change ourcommunity.Itwillchangeourworld!

Godwantsustobesuccessful,butwewillneverachievethesuccessHedesiresforusbyoperatingstrictlyinthenaturalorstrictlyinthesupernaturalrealm.Itwillonlyhappenwhen thenaturaland supernatural come together.Thenwewill igniteGod’spowerandrisetothenextlevelinourwalkwithHim!

Chapter3

RisingtotheNextLevelWeoftenhearnewsstoriesaboutpeoplewhoinheritagreatdealofmoneyorwinthe

lottery,andonlyayearorsolaterthey’realreadybroke.Ifthey’veneverhadmuchmoneyinthepastorneverlearnedtheprinciplesbehindhandlingmoney,theydon’tknowwhattodowithit.Theirthoughtsareusuallyfocusedonhowtospendmoney,notonhowtoinvest theirmoney and receive a good return. Theymay end up havingmorematerialgoods,butfinanciallytheygorightbackwheretheywerebefore!Theyloseallthemoneybecausetheyneverlearnedhowtohandlefinancesproperly.Theirthinkingaboutmoneyneededtochange.

NewThoughtPatterns

Each new day we are poised on the brink of possibilities. If we grab hold of thepromisesofGod,wecanrisetoanewlevelofliving.Ofcourse,breakingintoanewlevelrequiresnewthoughtpatternsandnewwaysofdoingthings,becausepeopleateachleveloperateaccordingtoadistinctsetofthoughts,ideas,andprinciples.

Forexample,manytimesthere’saconflictbetweenemployeesandemployersbecausetheyareoperatingatdifferent levelsandhavedifferent thoughtpatterns.Employeesseethings from the perspective of their own area of work. Employers see things from theperspective of thewhole picture. The employers’ level of thinking is different becausetheyseethewayalltheareasworktogethertobeeffective.

For the same reason, sometimespeople in a churchdon’tunderstandwhyapastor ismakingcertaindecisions.Thepastor is thinkingabout thewholepicture,but thepeoplemay just be thinking about their own personal group. They don’t have the overallinformationthathehasinordertogivethemunderstandingabouthowtheirgroupfitsintothebigpicture.

WesawsomeoftheEasternEuropeancountriesstruggletoestablishafreesocietyaftertheirtransitionfromcommunismtodemocracy.Theydidn’tknowtheprinciplesinvolvedin living on that new level. Changing their thinking in order to know how to how tooperateinademocraticsocietyrequiredamajormindshift.

Weareallatdifferentlevelsinthenatural.Aswegrow,wechangeourwayofthinking.An adult has a different way of thinking from a 6-year-old. The 6-year-old doesn’tunderstandhow tooperate on the level of an adult.But an adultwhouses higher levelthinkingskillswillseethingsaboutthewaythe6-year-oldoperatesthatthechilddoesn’tsee.

Ilikeracecars,andonetimewhenIwasinFloridapreaching,IhadtheopportunitytogotoDaytonaandridethreelapswithadriverinoneofthecars.Icouldtrytoexplaintherushandwhat theg-force felt likewhenwewere flyingaround the trackat165 to170mph,butitwouldn’tdoanygood!Peoplecanhearustalkaboutsomethingthathappensonacertainlevel,butuntiltheyliveandexperienceit,theywon’ttrulyunderstandwhatitfeelslike.

Thepeople drivingon that race track thinkon a different level frompeoplewho aredriving down the street. There aren’t any side mirrors on one of those dirt-track cars.There isn’t any glass in the windows either. The wall outside my windowwas only ahand’slengthaway.InoticedthatIbecamereallyawareofsightandsound.Infact,allofmysensesbecameheightened.Without amirror to seewhatwashappening, Ibegan tofeelandhearpeoplecomingupbehindorbesideus.Iwasthinkingonahigherlevel.Forthenext fewdayson thehighway, Iwasstill thinkingat that level. Iknewwhereothercarswerebefore Ieven looked! Ihadcomeup toanewlevelbecause Iwas thinkingadifferentway.

God’sThoughtsTakeUstoAnotherLevel

We know that God’s thoughts are different fromman’s thoughts. They are thoughtsfrom another level! Aswe readGod’sWord, we form new thought patterns. This willcauseustoseethingsdifferentlyandrisetoanewlevelbothinthespiritualandnaturalrealms.

ISAIAH55:8–9(NIV)8“Formythoughtsarenotyourthoughts,neitherareyourwaysmyways,”declarestheLord.9“Astheheavensarehigherthantheearth,soaremywayshigherthanyourwaysandmythoughtsthanyourthoughts.”

GodwantsustothinkHisthoughtssothatHecanspeaktous—toourspirits.Hehasdesignedus to thinkHis thoughts inorder tomoveon to thenext level, spiritually andnaturally.Ifweoperateonlyaccordingtoourownthoughts,wewillstaywhereweare.You see, man’s thoughts are dictated by the limitations of our physical, earthlyenvironment.ButGod’sthoughtsarenot.

InthestoryofPeterlaunchingoutforamiraclecatch,wesawthatGod’sthoughtsdon’talwaysmakesensetoman’snaturalmind.Theworlddoesn’tunderstandGod’sthinkingbecauseHisthinkingandman’sthinkingareontwodifferentlevels!Goddoesn’tthinkintermsof24hoursinadayand365daysinayear.Hethinksintermsofeternity.

PeoplesometimesthinktheWordteachesusmainlyabouttheSpirit,butitalsoteachesusagreatdealaboutthemind.WelookedbrieflyatRomans12:2inapreviouschapter.Let’slookatthatverseintheKingJamesVersion.

ROMANS12:2(KJV)2Andbenotconformedtothisworld:butbeyetransformedbytherenewingofyourmind,thatyemayprovewhatisthatgood,andacceptable,andperfect,willofGod.

TheBiblealsoinstructsustouseourmindstomeditateonGod’sWord.

JOSHUA1:8(NIV)8DonotletthisBookoftheLawdepartfromyourmouth;meditateonitdayandnight,sothatyoumaybecarefultodoeverythingwritteninit.Thenyouwillbeprosperousandsuccessful.

It’sonethingtoknowwhatGod’sthoughtsarebyreadingtheBible.It’sanotherthingtomeditateonthosethingsandbegintoputthemintoactioninourlives.

Ofcourse,wedon’thave towonderwhatGod thinksaboutus.Allwehave todo islookinHisWord.HisWordtellsuswe’rehealed(1Peter2:24).HisWordtellsuswe’re

blessed(Eph.1:3).HisWordtellsusthatHemeetsallofourneeds(Phil.4:19).HisWordtellsuswe’remorethanconquerorsineveryareaoflife(Rom.8:37)!

TheBattleoftheMind

Ifyoucontinuallystruggleinacertainarea,yourthoughtsmaybeholdingyoucaptive.Weseeanexampleof thiswhenGodwas ready to take the Israelites into thePromisedLand.TheyknewGodwanted themtogo inandpossess the land.But theydidn’tdo itbecausetheybelievedtheirownthoughtsoverGod’sthoughts!TheirthoughtsheldthemcaptiveandkeptthemfromreceivingthepromiseGodhadforthem.TheyhadaslaverymentalitytheyhadbroughtwiththemfromEgyptinsteadoftheconqueringmentalityGodwantedthemtohave.

Mosessent12spiestolookattheland,onemanfromeachtribe.Whentheyreturnedtheyreportedtheirfindings.

NUMBERS13:26–27(NIV)26TheycamebacktoMosesandAaronandthewholeIsraelitecommunityatKadeshintheDesertofParan.Theretheyreportedtothemandtothewholeassemblyandshowedthemthefruitoftheland.27TheygaveMosesthisaccount:“Wewentintothelandtowhichyousentus,anditdoesflowwithmilkandhoney!Hereisitsfruit.”

Butthenallthespies,exceptfortwo,gavewhattheBiblecalls“abadreport”(Num.13:32NIV).TheKingJamesVersioncallsit“anevilreport.”Anytimewedon’tbelievein line with God’s Word, we believe an evil report. The 10 spies looked at thecircumstancesinsteadofGod’spromiseandtheywereoverwhelmed.

NUMBERS13:28–30(NIV)28“Butthepeoplewholivetherearepowerful,andthecitiesarefortifiedandverylarge.WeevensawdescendantsofAnakthere.29TheAmalekitesliveintheNegev;theHittites,JebusitesandAmoritesliveinthehillcountry;andtheCanaanitesliveneartheseaandalongtheJordan.”30 Then Caleb silenced the people beforeMoses and said, “We should go up [at once] and takepossessionoftheland,forwecancertainlydoit.”

The10spiestoldtheIsraelitecommunitythattheyhadindeedfoundagreatland,oneflowingwithmilkandhoney.Butthentheywentontogivetheevilreport.Thecitieswerelargeandwalled.Powerfulpeople,even“descendantsofAnak” (which refers togiants)livedintheland.The10spieslookedatthecircumstancesandsaid,“Wecan’tdoit.Wecan’ttaketheland!”EvenafterCalebrespondedbyspeakinginlinewithGod’spromise,the10spiescontinuedwiththeirevilreport.

NUMBERS13:31–33(NIV)31But themenwhohadgoneupwithhimsaid,“Wecan’tattack thosepeople; theyare strongerthanweare.”32AndtheyspreadamongtheIsraelitesabadreportaboutthelandtheyhadexplored.Theysaid,“Thelandweexploreddevoursthoselivinginit.Allthepeoplewesawthereareofgreatsize.33WesawtheNephilimthere(thedescendantsofAnakcomefromtheNephilim).Weseemedlikegrasshoppersinourowneyes,andwelookedthesametothem.”

ThepeoplemusthavegoneintoanuproarwhentheyheardthatnegativereportbecauseCalebhadtosilencethem!TheyhadcomeallthewayfromEgypt,andjustastheywere

onthethresholdofenteringthelandGodhadpromisedthem,theyreceivedthis terriblereport.ButCalebencouragedthepeopleaccordingtoGod’sthoughts.Hetoldthem,“Wecantaketheland!”ToCaleb,thiswasafact.Therewasnoquestioninhismind.Hedidn’tsay,“Let’shaveaprayermeetingtoseeifthisisreallythewillofGod.”No,heknewitwasGod’swillforthemtohavetheland!

The 12 peopleMoses selected to spy out the landwere all considered leaders (v. 2).TheywerechosentohelpMosesdirecttheaffairsofthepeople.Thetwospieswhokepttheir eyes and thoughts onGod’s promise instead of the circumstanceswereCaleb andJoshua.Theyfollowedtheirconvictions.

JOSHUA14:7–8(NIV)7“IwasfortyyearsoldwhenMosestheservantoftheLordsentmefromKadeshBarneatoexploretheland.AndIbroughthimbackareportaccordingtomyconvictions,8butmybrotherswhowentupwithmemadetheheartsof thepeoplemeltwith fear. I,however,followedtheLordmyGodwholeheartedly.”

JoshuaandCalebgavethepeopleagoodreport,oneinlinewithGod’sthinking.

NUMBERS14:6–9(NIV)6JoshuasonofNunandCalebsonofJephunneh,whowereamongthosewhohadexploredtheland,toretheirclothes7andsaidtotheentireIsraeliteassembly,“Thelandwepassedthroughandexploredisexceedinglygood.8IftheLordispleasedwithus,hewillleadusintothatland,alandflowingwithmilkandhoney,andwillgiveittous.9OnlydonotrebelagainsttheLord.Anddonotbeafraidofthepeopleoftheland,becausewewillswallowthemup.Theirprotectionisgone,buttheLordiswithus.Donotbeafraidofthem.”

Joshua and Caleb knew the promise God had given them and were determined toreceive it.Theykept theirminds focusedon it.Theyhad faith, theybelieved, and theywentinandpossessedthelandGodsaidbelongedtothem.Buttheyhadtowait40yearstodoitbecausetherestofthepeoplelettheevilreportinfluencetheirthinking.BecauseJoshuaandCalebsaid,“Wecan!” theywere theonly twofromthefirstgenerationwhowentinandpossessedtheland.AndGodchoseoneofthem,Joshua,tobetheleader.

JOSHUA1:1–5(NIV)1AfterthedeathofMosestheservantoftheLord,theLordsaidtoJoshuasonofNun,Moses’aide:2“Mosesmyservantisdead.Nowthen,youandallthesepeople,getreadytocrosstheJordanRiverintothelandIamabouttogivetothem—totheIsraelites.3Iwillgiveyoueveryplacewhereyousetyourfoot,asIpromisedMoses.4YourterritorywillextendfromthedeserttoLebanon,andfromthegreatriver,theEuphrates—alltheHittitecountry—totheGreatSeaonthewest.5Noonewillbeabletostandupagainstyouallthedaysofyourlife.AsIwaswithMoses,soIwillbewithyou;Iwillneverleaveyounorforsakeyou.”

This generation of Israelites thought differently from the previous one. Before theycould possess the Promised Land, they had to exchange their slavery mentality for aconqueringmentality.Theslaverymentalitysays,“Ican’tdoit.Ican’t!”Theconqueringmentalitysays,“Allthingsarepossible.Icanconquer.IwillhaveallGodhaspromisedme.”

Manypeopleinthemidstofthebattlearelikethe10spieswhobasedtheirthinkingonthe circumstances around them. The spies said, “We saw the giants, and we were asgrasshoppersintheirsight.Wecan’tattackthosepeopleandwin.They’retoostrongforus, and the cities are well fortified.We can’t take the land!” Like the Israelites, manypeopletodayaredefeatedbytheirownthoughts.“Oh,myGod—whatamIgoingtodonow?Whyisthishappeningtome?”

GodtoldtheIsraelitesthatHewasgoingtogivethemtheland,butHeneverpromisedtheywouldn’thavetofightanybattles.WhenCalebsaid,“Weshouldgoup[atonce]andtakepossessionoftheland…”(Num.13:30NIV),hewassayingtheyweregoingtohavetoexercisesomeauthoritytotakepossessionofwhattheyknewbelongedtothem.Oncethey crossed into the Promised Land, they faced taking Jericho, probably the greatestwalledcityeverknowntomankind.Thentheyhadtofighttotaketherestoftheland.

Canaan,withallof itsgoodandabundance, represents tousa typeof thefaithwalk.GodhasgivenusmanypromisesinHisWord,butwewillhavetofightsomefaithbattlesifwewant to possess those promises.Andwhenwe keep our thoughts focused on thegoodplanGodhasforusandbelieveHisWord,we’llcomethrougheverytest,trial,andbattlevictoriously!

LikeJoshuaandCaleb,weneedtohaveareportoffaith.Insteadofsaying,“Oh,God—whatarewegoingtodonow?”weneedtohaveaconqueringmentality.Weneedtosay,“Iwillnotletthedevildefeatme!Iwillnotletthedevilhavemyfamilyormymarriageormyhealth.There’snothingthatcandestroymebecauseGodisonmyside!”

Weneedtochangeourthinking!Ourthinkingisnotsupposedtobebasedonwhatwesee, feel, taste, touch, or smell. Right thinking produces right believing, and rightbelieving produces victorious results. Wrong thinking produces doubt, unbelief, andwrongactionwhichgivesusnothingbutdefeatanddeath.Idon’tknowaboutyou,butIchoosevictory!

Thegreatestbattleseverfoughtarefoughtinourminds.It’sourmentalitythatconquersus,not theenemy!Crisescometoallofus,andwhentheydo,wehavetobesofullofGod’sthoughtsthatwhenwe’resqueezedbytheenemy,whatcomesoutofusistheWord.

It’slikedippingaspongeinwater.Whenyousqueezethatsponge,waterwillcomeout.Whentheenemycomesagainstyouandstartssqueezing,whatwillcomeout?“Oh,myGod!What arewe going to do?”Orwill you square your shoulders, stand strong andcourageous,andlettheWordcomeoutofyou?

StrongandCourageous

Goingtoanewleveltakessomecourage.

JOSHUA1:6–9(NIV)6“Bestrongandcourageous,becauseyouwillleadthesepeopletoinheritthelandIsworetotheirforefatherstogivethem.7Bestrongandverycourageous.BecarefultoobeyallthelawmyservantMosesgaveyou;donotturnfromittotherightortotheleft,thatyoumaybesuccessfulwhereveryougo.8DonotletthisBookoftheLawdepartfromyourmouth;meditateonitdayandnight,sothatyoumaybecarefultodoeverythingwritteninit.Thenyouwillbeprosperousandsuccessful.9HaveInotcommandedyou?Bestrongandcourageous.Donotbeterrified;donotbediscouraged,

fortheLordyourGodwillbewithyouwhereveryougo.”

NoticethattheLordtoldJoshuathreetimestobestrongandcourageous.Theweakofheart never accomplish anything.Wemust be courageous—willing to step out by faithwithnothingunderneathusbutGod’sWord!

WhenwemeditateontheWordofGodandthinkinlinewithHisWord,itgivesusthestrengthandcourageweneed topossess thenext level.Andaswe’regoing to thenextlevel,it’sgoodtoremindourselvesoftheblessingsofGod.“BlesstheLord,Omysoul,andforgetnotallhisbenefits”(Ps.103:2KJV).

Many times, thinking about God’s blessings keeps ourminds off our circumstances.SingingpraisestotheLordkeepsourmindsfocusedonHim.Thoseofuswhohavebeenin themilitaryknowthatsingingacadenceaswemarchalongkeepsourmindsoffoursorefeet,ourachingbacks,oranythingelsethat’shurting.

TheIsraelitesfromthefirstgenerationcertainlyweren’tthinkingaboutGod’sblessings.They were completely focused on the giants, the fortified cities, and all the othercircumstancesthatwerekeepingthemfrompossessingtheland.

Timeandagain, theyhadseenGod’smiracles.TheLordhadshownthemHispower.He had taken care of them in the wilderness. But instead of stirring up their faith byrememberingHisblessings,theysimplysaid,“Wecan’ttaketheland!”Andtheydiedinthewilderness,withoutreceivingGod’spromise.

Butthesecondgenerationrefusedtofollowintheirfootsteps.BecausetheyfocusedonGod’s blessings and allowedHim to change their thinking from a slavementality to aconqueringmentality,theywerereadytogotothenextlevel.Theywereabletogoinandpossesstheland!

It’sveryimportanttokeepyourmindfocusedontheblessingsofGodifyouwanttogoto thenext level.Youmaybe facingallkindsofnegativecircumstances,butkeepyourthoughts in linewithGod’sWord.GiveHimpraise that the devil’s plans for you can’tcome to pass.As youbegin eachday, fill yourmindwith theWord. Insteadof saying,“Oh,no,it’sanotherday.Iwonderwhat’sgoingtohappen?”begintodeclare,“ThisisthedaytheLordhathmade;Iwillrejoiceandbegladinit.Lord,sendsomebodyacrossmypathwhoIcantellaboutYou.”

OneofourRHEMAgraduatesoncesaidthatcouragecomeswhenthecauseisgreaterthanthecircumstances.JoshuaandCalebhadacauseandapurposethatmotivatedthemtogointothenewland.

OurcauseandpurposeistogooutandtellpeopleaboutJesusandsetthemfreefromthechainsof sin, sickness, anddisease.But sometimeswe’reenjoyingourblessings somuchthatweforgetourcause.ThankGodforHisblessings!Butit’simportanttoguardourselves against the temptation to just sit back and enjoyHis blessings and forget ourpurposeforexistence.

2CORINTHIANS4:16(KJV)16Forwhichcausewefaintnot….

Manypeoplequit.Theystop,faint,orgiveupbecausetheyeitherdon’thaveacauseor

theyhaveforgottentheircause.Ifwe’regoingtogotothenextlevel,wemustrememberandliveforourcauseandourpurpose.WhenourpriorityisJesusChristandservingHim,couragewillcome.

It’stimetogetreadytogotothenextlevel.Findouttheideasandprinciplesthatworkatthatlevel.RenewyourmindtoGod’sWordandmeditateonitsoyoucanthinktherightthoughtstotakeyouthere.Gettherightmindset—aconqueringmentality.Andrefusetoletyourthoughtsholdyoucaptive.YoucanwinthebattleofthemindandpossessyourPromisedLand!

Chapter4

TheDesiretoAchieveHow badly do you want to live the extraordinary life God has for you? Often thedifferencebetweenpeoplewhoexcelinlifeandthosewhodon’tisn’tintheirability.Thedifferenceisintheirlevelofdesire.

Whenyouhaveastrongdesireforsomething,youwillreachdowninsideyourselfandgiveoutmoreeffortthanyoueverthoughtyoucould.That’swhatdesiredoes.Itpushesyoubeyondwhatyouthinkyoucando.

Allofuscanaccomplishanddomorethanwethinkwecan.It’samatterofhowmuchdesirewehave.

When Iplayedsports, therewerea lotofpeoplewhomighthavebeenbetterplayersthanIwas,butIhadadeep-downdesiretoplay.Iwoulddowhateverittooktogetonthatplayingfield.ManytimesthecoacheswouldplaymeinfrontofsomebodyelsebecauseIhadsuchastrongdesire.Ihadthewant-to.Theywouldsaytome,“Hagin,thisotherguyisbetterthanyou,butwhenyougetonthatfieldIknowIcandependonyou!”Theotherplayerwastherejusttobeontheteam.

Ididn’tcareaboutjustbeingontheteam—Iwantedtomakeadifference.Iwantedtohelp the team win! That comes from a desire, a want-to. Some people call it “beinghungry.” Sometimeswhen a team loses in a game, peoplewill say, “They justweren’thungry enough.” There are a lot of peoplewho, in their spiritual and natural lives, aretherejusttobeontheteam.That’swheretheirwant-toends!

Aswe lookacrosshumanity,weseepeoplewhowishforsomethingbutneverget it.That’sbecausetheyneverputforththeeffortrequiredtoachievewhat theywant.Manypeoplesaytheywouldliketodovariousthings,butthedesireisnotthere.Thewant-toisnot there. It isn’t strong enough to push them to do what they need to do in order tosucceed.Theyaren’thungryenough!Theymaywantsomething,butwithoutdesire,theywillneveraccomplishit.

ThequestionyouneedtoaskyourselftodayishowmuchdoyoureallywanttogotothenextlevelwithGod?

Iplayedon theRHEMAsoftball teamforyears.Whenwewerebehindand the teamcameintothedugout,Iwouldstarthollering,“Howbaddoyouwanttowin?Howbaddoyouwantit?”Andwewouldgooutthereandwin!

Youmaywanttolosealittleweight.Butifyourdesireisnotstrongenoughtocauseyoutoeatthewayyouneedtoeat,youwon’tloseweight.Idon’teatdessertatmealtimeveryoften,butIdolikeicecream.Morethanthat,Ilovetoeatcheese.BeforeIgotobedatnight, I takea rootbeerand twoor threepiecesofcheese tosnackonwhile Iplayagameonmycomputertogetsleepy.Eatingicecream,oreatingcheeseanddrinkingrootbeeratnightisnotagoodideaifIwanttoloseweight.Toloseweight,Ineedtohaveastrongerdesireforthatgoalthanmydesireforrootbeer,cheese,andicecream!

Successtakesdesire!Desireisthefuelthatisnecessarytoachieveinlife,bothnaturally

andspiritually.

DesireIsYourFuel

Iwenttomyfirstdirt-trackracewhenIwas15yearsold.I’vebeenhookedonracingeversince.Infact,Iusedtodriveracecars.Someofmygrandsonsdrivenow,andthey’reprettygoodatit.

Youcanhavethebestracecarintheworld,butifthefuelisnotgettingfromthefuelcell to theengine in theproperamount, thatcarwon’tbeworthanything.One timemygrandsonCameron came in from driving and said, “This car runs good for about threelaps,andthenitstartsspittingandsputtering.”

Pretty soonwe foundoutwhatwashappening.The fuel pumpwasn’tworking right.Thecarburetorbowlswerefull,buttheminutetheyranoutoffuel, theyweren’tgettingenoughfuelpumpedintomaketheengineoperateproperly.Theenginewasstillrunning,butitwasn’trunninglikeitshouldbecauseitwasn’tgettingtherightamountoffuel!

Whenwepluggedinthecomputerandlookedatourfuellevels,wesawthatoneminutethefuellevelwasup,thenthenextminuteitdroppedfrom3.5downto1.5.Thelevelissupposedtostayat3.5,butitwasconstantlydropping.Why?Becauseourfuelpumpwasgoingout.

Alwaysrememberthatdesireisyourfuel!Ifyoudon’thaveenoughdesire,youwon’thaveenoughfueltodowhatyoudesiretodo.

DesireandTalent

Foracar to functionat itsmaximumperformance, ithas tohave the rightamountoffuelandairmixtureinthecarburetor.(Carswithinjectorsareawholedifferentstory.)Youcanhave thebest racecaron the trackand the strongestdesire towin,but if either theamountoffuelortheamountofairmixingwithitisn’tright,youwon’tgetanywhereintherace.

Therearemanypeopletodaywhohavethedesiretodosomething,buttheydon’thavethetalenttodoit.Ortheymayhavenaturaltalent,buttheyhaven’tdevelopedit.Iftheyaremissingeitherthedesireorthetalent,theywon’taccomplishtheirgoal.

Whatdoyoudoifyouhavethedesiretodosomethingbutnotthetalent?Youcanlearnhowtodoitbystudyingit.Youcantakeaclassorhavesomeoneteachyou.

Iwasalwaysafastrunner,butwhenIbegantolearnfromsomeonewhocouldgivemeinstructionsontheproperwaytorun,Iwasevenfaster!Beforethat,Ihadthedesireandsometalent,butIdidn’thavetheknow-how.

You can develop your talent by practicing it. A person doesn’t become a singer justbecause he or she has a good voice. A person becomes a singer by practicing andpracticing. Someonewho plays the piano reallywell has probably put in thousands ofhoursofpractice.

MygrandsonCameronhadadesiretodrivearacecarandtobereallygoodatit.Whenhewas12yearsold,hemovedupfromdrivingthelittlecarstothefull-blownbigcars.Practice was on Saturday from noon until 5:00 p.m. Cameron wanted to be there the

minutethegateopened.Hestrappedhimselfinthecarandran10or12lapswiththefirstgroup.When that groupwent off the track,most of them pulled their cars back to thetrailers,gotout,drankwater,andstoodaroundandtalked.ButCameronpulledrightbackaround in linewith the next group.Hedid the same thingwith the group after that. InthreeSaturdays,he ranover400 laps.Hewasoneof theyoungestdrivers there,yethebecameRookieoftheYear!Why?Becausehehadthedesiretoexcelandhewaswillingtodowhatwasnecessarytobecomewhathewantedtobe.

Therearesomepeoplewhohavetalentandknow-how,buttheydon’thavethedesire.Haveyouevernoticedthatyourenergylevelgoesdownwithyourlevelofdesire,andthatcanaffecttheamountthatyouactuallyaccomplish?

Weusuallyhavemoreenergytoplaybasketballthanwedototakeoutthetrash.“Takeout the trash? I’m too tired. I’ll do it later.” The next thing you know, you’re outsideplayingbasketballwiththekids.Itwasn’tamatterofbeingtootired.Yourlevelofdesirewasn’tthere.Youdidn’twanttotakeoutthetrash.

Yourkidsusuallyhavemoreenergytogotoamoviethantodotheirhomework.Youhavemoreenergytotinkerwithyourhobbythantofixthekitchensink.“Fixthekitchensink?I’mtootired.”Thenextthingyouknow,you’reoutworkingonthatoldcaryou’vebeentryingtofixup.

It isn’t thatwedon’thave theenergyto takeout the trashorfix thekitchensink.Wehaveenergytodowhatwewanttodo!

Ifyouhave theabilityandskills todowhatyouwant todo,howbig isyourdesire?Yourdesiretomakesomethinghappenmeansthatyouwilldowhateverisnecessaryforittobecomeareality.

WhenIwascalledtopreach,IdidwhateverIneededtodotomakepreachingbecomeareality.IwasinBibleschool.IwasdoingwhatIneededtodointhenaturaltohavetheknow-how.ButIneededtolearnhowtoministerandpreachbyactuallydoingit.Iknewthatachurchof500wasn’tgoingtoletmelearnonthem!SoIlookedforopportunitieswhereverIcouldfindthem.Wecanhavetheknow-howandthedesire,butwealsoneedtoprayfortheLordtogiveusopportunities.

Sometimes I went way out in the country to a church that didn’t have a preacher.Another church where I could sometimes preach was a Church of God in Christcongregationdowninthecity.SomeoftheotherBibleschoolstudentsusedtogotothatchurchwithmeonSundaynights,justtoseeifthepastorwouldletuspreach.Whenhesawuscomein,hewouldusuallysay,“Oh,herearemyBibleschoolboys.Iwantthemtosharealittlebitwithustonight.”

That church had a spiritual “mother.” Shewas the one everybody looked to so theywould know how to react to themessage. If shewasmoved, everybodywasmoved. Ifiguredoutprettyquicklywhothespiritual“mother”wasinthechurch.Shewasalwaysdressednicelywithherhairfixeduppretty,andshealwaysworeaprettyhat.Shesatinthe sameplaceevery service.As soonas shewasmoved, shewould standupand startwavingthewhitehandkerchiefshealwayscarried.Sometimesshewouldshoutsomuchthatherhair felldown.When Iwaspreaching, thatwoman inspiredme, andwewouldhavearealstem-winder,asweusedtosayinTexas.

Your desire is the determining factor for the level on which you will live, bothspirituallyandnaturally.Youcanhavethetalentandtheknow-how,butdesireisthefuelthatwillfireyouupanddriveyoutoachieve.Fuelfiresanengine.Unlessthereisfuel,theengineisnotgoingtorun!

Let’slookatanexamplefromthenaturalstandpoint.Somefamiliesdesireforthewifenottoworkoutsidethehome.That’stheirchoice.Theirdesireforhertostayathomeisgreaterthantheirdesireforalargerincome.Buttheyshouldn’tbesurprisedorcomplainwhentheyseeotherfamilieslivingonadifferentlevelwhenboththehusbandandwifework.Theotherfamilieshavethedesiretoliveonthehigherlevelthattwoincomescangivethem.

Let’s look at an example from a spiritual standpoint. Peoplewho reallywant all theblessingsofGodareatchurcheverytimetheycanbethere.ThesearethetypeofpeoplewhodelightinpursuingtheLordandapplyingGod’sWordtotheirlives.Theyhavethedesireandtheknow-howtoreceivetheblessingsofGod.They’realwaysinvolved.Theygiveregularly.They’re faithfulandconsistent. Inourchurch,wehavepeoplewhohaveworked in the children’s department for years and years.We have one personwho hasgreetedpeopleatthedoorwith,“Appreciateyou!”eversincethedaythechurchbegan.

Thentherearepeoplewhodon’thavethedesiretodowhattheyneedtodotoreceivetheblessingsofGod.Theycomplainthattheydon’thaveenoughmoney,buttheyhaven’tgiventithesorofferingsformonths.Someofthemsignupaschildren’sworkersbuttheygetoffendedanddon’tshowuportheycallinsickoversomethingminorlikeahangnail!

Friend,thisiswheretherubbermeetstheroad!ThisiswhatrevealshowseriouspeopleareaboutGod.Peoplewhoaren’tinvolvedindoingthingsatchurchusuallydon’thaveastrongdesireforthethingsofGod.Yes,they’rebornagain,buttheydon’thavethedesirethatwilltakethemtothelevelGodwantsforthem.

Peoplewhohavethedesiretogetaheadintheirjobsarepeoplewhoareinvolved.Theydon’tcallinsickiftheyhavealittlecoldoraheadache.Theyarethereandarededicatedbecausetheywanttobepromoted.Theydon’twanttostayatthesamelevel.Theywanttoadvance to the next level of benefits and pay scale. If there is an opportunity foradvancementattheirplaceofwork,theyhaveadesiretopushthemselvesforward.Thereareotherpeoplewhoaresatisfiedwithwheretheyareandneveradvance.Theymayhavetheabilityand thequalifications tomoveup in the ranks,but theyhavenodesire todowhatisnecessarytogetthere.

Justasapplyingtheseprinciplesintheworkworldwillbringtheresultswedesireinthenatural, applying theprinciples fromGod’sWordwill bring results inboth the spiritualandnaturalworlds.Thesameprinciplesthatmakeussuccessfulinthespiritualareawillmakeussuccessfulinthenaturalarea.

TheDesireofOurHearts

IfthedesireofourheartsistoliveontheextraordinarylevelGodhasforus—ifwe’rehungryforit—Psalm37:4showsusthewaytoachievethatdesire.

PSALM37:4(NIV)4DelightyourselfintheLordandhewillgiveyouthedesiresofyourheart.

ThekeytoreceivingourdesiresisdelightingourselvesintheLord.Howdowedothat?ByseekingHim.ByreadingHisWord.Bypraying.BylearningtothinkHisthoughts.Byacting onHisWord.We delight ourselves in Himwhenwe have a willingness to say,“Lord,herearemydesires,andthisisspecificallywhatIdesiretodo.I’mseekingYoutoshowmewhattodoandhowtodoit.”

WhenwedelightinHim—inHiswaysandintheknowledgethatHehasgoodplansforus—ourdesireswilllineupwithHisdesires,andwewillbegintoexpectandreceivethelevelofblessingHehasforus.ThegoodthingsofGodwillcometouswhenwehaveadesiretodelightourselvesintheLord!

Somepeoplepursuedesiresthataredetrimentaltothemselvesortoothers,ortheyhavedesiresthatareoutofcontrol.TheirdesiresarenotinlinewithGod’sWord,anditcoststhem.

However, if youhave adesire that youknow is from theLord, start doingwhatyouneed todo toaccomplish it.Delightingyourself in theLordwillgiveyou thepushyouneedtobegintoseethingshappen.

Becomingsuccessfulinthespiritualandnaturalareasdependsonyourlevelofdesire.Doyouwantitbadlyenoughtodowhatyouneedtodotomakeithappen?Iftheansweris “yes,” begin to develop your natural abilities and talents.While you’re receiving thetrainingyouneed,practice.GrabholdoftheopportunitiesGodgivesyou,andthankHiminadvanceforgoodopportunities.Aboveall,continuallydelightyourselfintheLordandworshipHim.ThedesiresofyourheartwillcometopasswhenyoudelightyourselfintheLord!

Chapter5

Favor—ExpecttoBePreferredIn the middle of the baseball season, the annual midsummer classic all-star game isplayed.Onlyplayerswhoareacutabovetheothersarechosenasall-stars,andtheyarechosenbyaprocessthatinvolvesthefansandmanagers.

Themanager is interested in choosing all-stars specifically forwhat they can do.Hemaychooseplayersforparticularpositionsbasedontheirdefensiveskills.Theymaynotbeahomerunhitterorareallystronghitteratall,buttheyarechosenbecausetheyaregreatwiththeglove.All-starsarechosenbecausetheyplayonahigherlevel thanotherplayers.And theyarechosen toplayacertainpositionbecause theyhave theparticularabilitiesandskillstoexcelinit.Aboveeverythingelse,all-starshaveagreatdealoffavor.

ChosenforaPurpose

Let’scompareour livesasChristians to the lifeofanall-star.AsChristians,wehavebeen chosen by God. This doesn’t mean that God chooses or predestines only certainpeople tobeChristians.Hehaschosen tomake itpossible foreveryone in theworld tolivewithHim.ButeachofusmustchoosewhethertoacceptbeingchosenbyHim.Todothat,allwehavetodoisacceptHisSonJesusChristasourLordandSavior.

WehavebeenchosentoliveonthissideofthecrossintherealizationthatChristpaidthepriceforus.HetookthesinthatwasseparatingusfromtheFatheruponHimselftorestoreourrelationshipwithGod.

1PETER2:99Butyouareachosengeneration,aroyalpriesthood,aholynation,Hisownspecialpeople,thatyoumayproclaimthepraisesofHimwhocalledyououtofdarknessintoHismarvelouslight.

IlikehowTheMessageBiblereadsinthisverse.

1PETER2:9(MESSAGE)9ButyouaretheoneschosenbyGod,chosenforthehighcallingofpriestlywork,chosentobeaholypeople,God’sinstrumentstodohisworkandspeakoutforhim,totellothersofthenight-and-daydifferencehemadeforyou.

WhydidGodchooseus?HechoseusbecauseHehassomethingforeachofustodothatonlywecando.HehasgiveneachofusabilitiesandskillstodevelopanduseinaparticularwaytorevealHimtoothers.HeappointedeachofustoserveHim.

1TIMOTHY1:12(NLT)12 I thankChrist Jesus our Lord, who has givenme strength to do his work.He consideredmetrustworthyandappointedmetoservehim.

We’renotchosenbecauseGodlovesusanymorethanHelovesanybodyelse.Hehaschosenusandgivenusdiversitiesofgiftsandcallings,uniquetoeachofusasmembersof the Body of Christ. As we have seen, when we use those talents and skills incombination with the supernatural, we can operate on a level that’s a cut above theaverage. In other words, we can become God’s all-stars, living on a different plane, adifferentlevel,fromtherestoftheworld.

Manypeoplego throughlife thinking theydon’thaveapurpose, that theyaresimplyhere—existing.It’simportanttounderstandthatGodhascalledeachoneofus.Christdiedforeachoneofus.

Remember,HediedforyouandHechoseyou,personally!Hechoseyoutobeanall-starforHim!

Favor

AsImentionedatthebeginningofthischapter,all-starshavefavor.Peoplegivethempreferred treatment. In a close play involving an all-star, who gets the benefit of thedoubt?Theall-star.

Istartedplayingfast-pitchsoftballwhenIwas16yearsold.It’saveryfastgame.Goodfast-pitchsoftballpitchers throwat90or95mph,someevenat100.ForyearsIplayedcenterfieldbecauseofmyspeed,andIwasalsotheleadoffbatter.

InoneofthechurcheswhereIministeredyearsago,wehadafast-pitchsoftballteam.WewouldenterthebigtournamentsinDallas.Theplayersontheotherteamswerebig,experienced guys. They would come in with their bags and uniforms. Then we wouldcome in as a little church team in a T-shirt type uniform. But we won! And we wereplayingforthechampionship.

AtRHEMA,Istartedplayingslow-pitchsoftballbecausetherewasnofast-pitchteamhere. And we won championship after championship. We even played at the all-stargames.Wewereprettygood.

OnenightIwasplayingfirstbaseandweneededadoubleplay.Iwas50atthetime,andeventhoughIcouldstillrunfast,Icouldn’trunlikethoseyoungguyscouldtocatchupwiththeballs.

I don’t know who fielded the ball—the shortstop or third baseman—but he fired itacrossthefield.Ihadlearnedwhenplayingfirstbasetoputmyfootagainstthatbagandstretch out as far as I could when the second or third baseman or the shortstop wasthrowingtheball.ThatnightIstretchedoutsofarthatIhadtoputmyhandonthegroundtokeepfromfallingover,butIcaughttheball!Thatballhittheglove—pow!ThenIheardtheumpiresay,“Out!”IhadstretchedoutsofarthatIactuallyhadtofalloveronmybackandrolloverinordertogetup.

AsIwasgettingup,Iaskedtheumpire,“Washereallyout?”becauseIdidn’tthinkhewas.Theumpireanswered,“Itlookedsogoodhehadtobe!”Heknewmefromwhenmyteamhadplayedtherebefore,andhegavemethebenefitofthecall!Somebodyelsewhohadn’tplayedontheall-starteammightnothavehadthebenefitofthatcall.Butall-starshavefavor!

Theall-stars in themidsummerclassicgameare theplayerswhoareoffered thebig-money advertising contracts.We see their pictures on the ads for the big sports-relatedbrandsforshoes,orweseethemadvertisingcarsorotherhigh-enditems.

All-starshavefavor!All-starsarechosen!WecanseeanexampleofthisinthelifeofDaniel.

DANIEL6:3

3ThenthisDanieldistinguishedhimselfabovethegovernorsandsatraps,becauseanexcellentspiritwasinhim;andthekinggavethoughttosettinghimoverthewholerealm.

TheMessagegivesusanotherviewofthisverse.

DANIEL6:3(MESSAGE)3ButDaniel,brimmingwithspiritandintelligence,socompletelyoutclassedtheothervice-regentsandgovernorsthatthekingdecidedtoputhiminchargeofthewholekingdom.

Danielhadsomuchfavorthatthekingputhiminchargeofthekingdom!

TheBiblementionsfavornumeroustimes.God’sfavoronourlivesmeansthatwecanexpect things to turnout right forus!Wecanexpectbenefitsandblessings.Sometimeswhenfavorcausesthingstogoourway,otherpeoplecan’tunderstandwhy.

Whenothersaren’tabletotakeoutloansduetotheeconomy,ourloansareapproved.Wereceiveraises.Othergoodthingsunexpectedlyhappentous.Peoplewatchallofthisandcan’tfigureoutwhywearesoblessed.Theysay,“Howdidyoudothat?”

Theydon’tknowthatthesamefavorisavailabletothem,andtheyareoftenreceptivetohearingusexplainhowtheycanreceiveit.ThereasonisthatwearechosenofGodandwechosetosayyestoJesus.We’rechosentobeall-stars,andall-starshavefavor!

All-stars have favorwhennoone else does.One timewhen Iwas sitting on a planewaiting for takeoff, Iwas unexpectedly upgraded to first class!Thereweremanyotherpeoplethere,probablymorequalifiedthanIwas.Buttheflightattendantwalkedupandtappedmeontheshoulder.

“Mr.Hagin?”

“Yes,”Isaid.

“Youhavebeeninvitedtositinfirstclass,”shesaid.

“What?”

“Yes.Thecaptainsawyougeton theplane,andhewantsyou tosit in the first-classsection.”

Upgraded!Favor!Whenyouunderstandthatyou’reanall-starforGod,youcanbegintoexpectfavor.Youcanexpecttoreceivebenefitswhenpeoplelivingtheaveragelifearenot.

OncewhenIwalkeduptoarentalcarcounterandgavemyname,theagentpulledoutmypaperworktolookat it.Thenshepointedtosomethingonthecomputerscreen.Shesaid,“Oh,yougetafreeupgradetoday.”

Themanwhowasnextinlinebehindmesaid,“Howdidhegetthatfreeupgrade?”

“I don’t know,” she replied. “His name just appeared on the screen for an upgrade.”Favor!Weneedtoexpectfavorbecauseofwhoweare—chosenall-starsforGod!

AnothertimewhenmyministryteamwascomingbackfromAfrica,wewereclearingcustoms and it was late.Wewere praying for favor because sometimes going throughcustoms can be a two- or three-hour ordeal when everything has to be taken off theaircraft.

Oneofthecustomsagentsstartedtalkingtous,andwhenhesawwherewewerefrom,he said, “Broken Arrow! I know where that is.” His father was from our area. So hepushed us through customs quickly. We had just walked off the plane, and in a fewminuteswehadclearedcustomswithouthimlookingatanything.That’sfavor!

Favor has been calledGod’s cologne. ItmakesChristians attractive to people in theworld,andtheymakegoodthingshappenforus!

Godhasalreadychosenustobeall-stars.ButHisfavoralsocausesustobeesteemedintheeyesofman,aswesee in theverses that follow.Peoplewhobelong toGodshouldexpecttobepreferred.Theyshouldexpectgoodthingstohappentothem.

PROVERBS3:1–41Myson,donotforgetmylaw,Butletyourheartkeepmycommands;2ForlengthofdaysandlonglifeAndpeacetheywilladdtoyou.3Letnotmercyandtruth forsakeyou;Bind themaroundyourneck,Write themon the tabletofyourheart,4AndsofindfavorandhighesteemInthesightofGodandman.

TheHeartofanAll-Star

Anall-stariswillingtopaythepricetobecomeanall-star.Inbaseballorsoftball,theall-starscometopracticeearlyandstaylate.Theytakeextrabattingandfieldingpractice.Theyworkoutoffseason.

When I was playing center field in fast-pitch, I used to take a bushel basketful ofsoftballstothecenterfieldfence,standthere,andthrowforsecondbase.Mygoalwastohit thatbase.ThenIwouldstandagainst thefenceand throwto thirdbase.Thenhome.Andmygoalwastopoptheballintothecatcher’sgloveononebounce.Iwasdoingwhatittooktobeanall-star.

Iwatchedotherplayerstolearnhowtodothingsbetter.Ilearnedhowtothrowtheballso thatwhen ithit theground it jumpedstraightup.WhenIgrabbed theballoutofmyglove,Iputtwofingersunderneathandthreeontopandpoppedmywristdowntotwisttheballacertainway.Someofthepeoplethrowingtheballputasidetwistonitsothatwhentheballhittheground,itshotofftotheside.

Iwouldalsopracticehavingsomebodyhitflyballstome.Iwouldgotocenterfieldandsay,“Hit itanywhere.”Mygoalwas to runandcatch thatball.Whether Iwasstandingdead center field, right field, or left field, Iwent after theball. Iwatchedother playerscatchtheballandtakeacrowsteptothrowtheball.Thatonelittlehopwouldkeepthemfromputtingaguyoutatsecondbase.IlearnedtocampunderneaththatballwithonefootoutinfrontofmesothatwhenIcaughtit,allIhadtodowastakeonestep.

All-starsarewillingtoputintheworktokeeptheiredge.Eveniftheseasonwasover,but we still had play-offs coming up, I would go out to the field to hit the ball—topractice.Ifyou’regoingtobegood,ifyou’regoingtobeanall-star,youhavetopaytheprice.

WhenIwasrunning track,after thecoachsaidpracticewasover, Istayedouton thetrack.Iranfiveorsixextra220-yarddashes.Iknewthelockerroomandshowersweregoing tobecrowded.So Iwaiteda fewminutesuntil theywereclearby running those

extrasprints.

Atthestatetrackmeet,whenIcameoffthecurveonmysecondlegofa220/880-yardrelay,Ibegantofeelmybodyscreamatme.Butthoseextra220sthatIhadbeenrunningsuddenlybegantokickin.IputusinfirstplaceandthenIhandedthebatonofftooneofourotherguyswhohadn’tbeenrunningextrasprints.Helostitforus.Hehadn’tputintheextraefforttokeepusatthelevelofanall-starteam.

Theattitudeofyourhearthasa lot todowithhow faryougo in lifeandhowmuchdifferencethereisbetweenyouandotherpeoplewhoarenotlivingonthelevelofanall-star.Thepeoplewhodon’tworkhardandgotheextramiledon’tgototheall-stargame.Theoneswhoworkthehardestaretheoneswhostandout.

There is an old adage among pastors, “If youwant something done, find the busiestmember of your church and give it to that person.”Why? Because the busiest personknowshowtobeanall-starandheorshewillget itdone!It isn’tenoughtoknowthatGod has chosen you or to simply know that you have favor. You have to do what isnecessarytobeanall-star.

StayinganAll-Star

Somepeoplehavebeenchosenasall-starsseveraltimes.They’vekeptpayingthepricetobeatthatlevel.Butthereareotherswhoareall-starsonlyonce.Theysay,“I’manall-star.Idon’thavetodoanythingelse.I’min.”Andtheyareneverchosentocomebacktoanotherall-stargamebecausetheywon’tputintheextraefforttostayanall-star.

WhenGod sent theprophetSamuel to findandanoint thenextkingof Israel amongJesse’ssons,theall-startheLordhadselectedwasn’tthere.Thefutureking,youngDavid,was doingwhat was necessary—hewas paying the price of being an all-star by beingfaithfultohisgiventask—tendingsheep.

1SAMUEL16:1,11–121NowtheLordsaidtoSamuel,…“Fillyourhornwithoil,andgo;IamsendingyoutoJessetheBethlehemite.ForIhaveprovidedMyselfakingamonghissons.”11AndSamuelsaidtoJesse,“Areall theyoungmenhere?”Thenhesaid,“Thereremainsyettheyoungest,andthereheis,keepingthesheep.”AndSamuelsaidtoJesse,“Sendandbringhim.Forwewillnotsitdowntillhecomeshere.”12Sohesentandbroughthimin.Nowhewasruddy,withbrighteyes,andgood-looking.AndtheLordsaid,“Arise,anointhim;forthisistheone!”

WhenSamuelwenttoJesse’shouse,probablyeveryyoungboytherewantedtoseetheprophet, includingDavid.But even thoughDavidwas out tending the sheep, he didn’tmissseeingSamuel.Samuel’sveryreasonforcomingwastofindDavid.God’sfavorwasuponHisyoungall-star.

You’rechosenbyGod—you’reanall-star.Youshouldexpectfavor.Buttostayanall-star,youhavetokeeppayingtheprice.Somepeopledesire thegoodthingsofGodandHispromises.TheydesireHisfavorandwanttobeanall-star.Buttheydon’tgotheextramiletocontinuebeinganall-starforHim.

To remainanall-staronGod’s team, there are certain thingsyouhave todo.Oneofthem is to pray. This ismore than just starting off the daywith, “Lord, thankYou for

blessingmetoday,amen.”Itmeansspendingtimeinprayer.Let’slookagainatDaniel’sexample.

DANIEL6:1010NowwhenDanielknewthatthewritingwassigned,hewenthome.Andinhisupperroom,withhiswindowsopen towardJerusalem,hekneltdownonhisknees three times thatday,andprayedandgavethanksbeforehisGod,aswashiscustomsinceearlydays.

After thekingputDaniel inchargeof thewholekingdom, thegovernorsand satrapstried to find some charge to bring against him. But because Daniel was faithful, theycouldn’tfindanyfaultinhim.Instead,theyconvincedthekingtosignadecreeforbiddinganyone topray to someonebesides theking for thirtydays.Thepenalty fordisobeyingthatdecreewastobethrownintoadenoflions.

WhenDanielheardthedecree,hecontinuedtobefaithfultotheLordGodbyprayingasheusuallydid.AndGoddeliveredhimbysendinganangeltoshutthemouthsofthelions(seeDan.6:4–10,22).Danielwasfaithfulinhisprayerlife,andheremainedanall-starforGod!

Thesecondthingapersonmustdotoremainanall-starforGodisreadandmeditateontheWord.

ROMANS10:17(KJV)17Sothenfaithcomethbyhearing,andhearingbythewordofGod.

Asmydadusedtosay,faithcomesby“hearingandhearingandhearingGod’sWord.”Weneed to understand the power of hearing the right things.Whatwe hearwill eitherbuildourfaithorweakenourfaith.It’ssoimportantforustocontinuallyheartheWordofGod!

Thethirdthingweneedtodotostayanall-staristreatpeoplethewaywewanttobetreated.

PROVERBS3:3–4(NLT)3Never let loyaltyandkindness leaveyou!Tie themaroundyourneckasareminder.Write themdeepwithinyourheart.4ThenyouwillfindfavorwithbothGodandpeople,andyouwillearnagoodreputation.

Treatingpeoplewithloyaltyandkindnessbringsfavor.

COLOSSIANS3:12–13(NLT)12SinceGodchoseyoutobetheholypeopleheloves,youmustclotheyourselveswithtenderheartedmercy,kindness,humility,gentleness,andpatience.13Makeallowanceforeachother’sfaults,andforgiveanyonewhooffendsyou.Remember,theLordforgaveyou,soyoumustforgiveothers.

Many people don’t want to make allowances for other people’s faults. They wouldratheraccuseotherpeopleinsteadofforgivingthem.Weneedtoforgivethosewhooffendus.RememberthattheLordforgaveus,sowemustforgiveothers!

Thefourth thingweneed todo tostayanall-star,whichactually isaboveeverythingelse,istoclotheourselveswithlove.Theversesbelowtellushowtoletlovefillourlives.

COLOSSIANS3:14–17(NLT)14Aboveall,clotheyourselveswithlove,whichbindsusalltogetherinperfectharmony.15AndletthepeacethatcomesfromChristruleinyourhearts.Forasmembersofonebodyyouarecalledtoliveinpeace.Andalwaysbethankful.16LetthemessageaboutChrist,inallitsrichness,fillyourlives.Teachandcounseleachotherwithallthewisdomhegives.SingpsalmsandhymnsandspiritualsongstoGodwiththankfulhearts.17Andwhateveryoudoorsay,do itasarepresentativeof theLordJesus,givingthanksthroughHimtoGodtheFather.

OnelastthingweneedtodoifwewanttobeoneofGod’sall-starsistoserveinthechurchandserveoneanother.

MATTHEW20:26–28(NLT)26 “But among you it will be different.Whoever wants to be a leader among youmust be yourservant,27andwhoeverwantstobefirstamongyoumustbecomeyourslave.28ForeventheSonofMan[referringtoJesus]camenottobeservedbuttoserveothersandtogivehislifeasaransomformany.”

Somepeoplehaveaselfishattitudewhentheythinkaboutservingothers.Theyaskthequestion,“Howisthisgoingtobenefitme?”They’llsay,“WhatwillIgetoutofit?”

Ifyouwanttobeanall-starforGod,youneedtolearnhowtoserve.Baseballall-starsaren’tontheteamtoservethemselves.Theyhavetofitintotheteam.Itdoesn’tmakeanydifferencetothemwhogetsthegloryaslongastheteamwins.

Towalk infavorandpreference,youmustdothe things thatarenecessary tostayanall-star.Keepyourself inpositionforGod’sfavorandblessingstoflowinabundancetoyou.Pray,readtheWord,treatpeoplethewayyouwanttobetreated,beloyalandkindtoothers, serve in thechurchandserveoneanother,workhardandgo theextramile,andaboveall,clotheyourselfwithlove.Thenyouwillbeanall-starforGod!

Chapter6

DoYouWanttoBeaRunneroraReigner?The life of David was often like a roller coaster ride. At times he was up on themountaintopandvictorious.Atother times,hewasdown in thevalley.AndDavidhadmorethanhisshareoftroubleinlife.HewaspursuedrelentlesslybyKingSaul.Hebarelyescapedassassinationseveraltimes.Hespentalotoftimehidinginthewilderness.

Ononeoccasionhisentirefamilywaskidnappedandhisfriendsturnedagainsthimandwerereadytokillhim.Hesufferedtheshameofhavingcommittedadulteryandmurder.Oneofhissons,Absalom,killedanotherson.Absalomlaterledarevoltagainsthim.ThenAbsalomhimselfwaskilled,causingDavidagreatdealofgrief.

EventhoughDavidwasanointedbyGod’sprophettobekingofIsrael,heexperiencedmanyproblemsandmuchturmoilinhislife.YethewasabletosurviveandwascalledamanafterGod’sownheart(Acts13:22).

Davidbeganasanunknownshepherdboytakingcareofthesheepoutinthefields.Theyoungestofeightchildren,heoftentookabackseattohissevenolder,stronger,andmorequalifiedbrothers.Hewasevenbrushedoffbyhisfather,Jesse,whentheprophetSamuelcametoanointoneofJesse’sboystobeking!Aswesawinthelastchapter,Jessedidn’tevenbothertobringDavidinfromthefield.Yet, thisboyofsimplebeginningsbecameoneofthegreatestmeninbiblicalhistory.

EverybodyincludingSaulknewthatDavidwastobetheking.Jonathan,Saul’ssonandDavid’sfriend,acknowledgedthis.

1SAMUEL23:17(NIV)17 “Don’t be afraid,”he said. “My fatherSaulwill not lay ahandon you.Youwill beking overIsrael,andIwillbesecondtoyou.EvenmyfatherSaulknowsthis.”

Saulwas jealous and afraid ofDavid, because he knew that theLordwaswith him.David,whoasaboyovercamethelion,thebear,andagiantnamedGoliath,spentyearsrunningfromKingSaul.ItwasnowonderthatDavidsometimesbecamediscouraged.

1SAMUEL27:1(KJV)1AndDavidsaidinhisheart,IshallnowperishonedaybythehandofSaul:thereisnothingbetterformethanthatIshouldspeedilyescapeintothelandofthePhilistines.

DuringtheyearsthatDavidranfromSaul,sometimeshewasup,andsometimeshewasdown. But there came a point in his life when he crossed over into a new realm. Hecrossedoverfrombeingarunnertobeingareigner—frombeinganindividualwhowasledbyhisemotionstobeinganindividualwhowasthepersonGodintendedforhimtobe!

DavidAffectedHisSituation

God has a destiny for our lives, both corporately and individually. The enemy sendsstormstotrytokeepusfromfulfillingourdestinies.Hesendswinds,waves—whateverhecan come up with—to try to stop us! The New Testament gives us an account of thedisciplesinaboatwhichtheythoughtwasgoingtogodowninthewindsandwaves.But

then they looked up and saw Jesuswalking toward themon the very samewaves theythoughtweregoingtodestroythem(seeMatt.14:22–27).

Insteadofbeingovertakenandoverwhelmedby thewavesofnegativecircumstancesthat come our way, we need to walk on top of them like Jesus did and like Davideventuallylearnedtodo.Godcreatedustobereigners,notrunners,andHewillempowerustoreigninlife!

TofullyunderstandhowdiscouragedDavidhadbecomebeforehecrossedovertothenewrealmofreigning,let’slookatmoreofhisamazingstory.

WhenDavidwasrunningfromKingSaul,hefledtothePhilistinesforprotection.Thesamemanwho,asaboy,ranouttomeetthechampionofthePhilistinesinbattleisnowrunning to the people he defeated that day for protection. He’s bargaining for his life,saying,“Iwillfightwithyou,onyourside.”Andhedidfightwiththem.Thissamemansaid,“Iwillevenfightwithyouagainstmyownpeople.”

ThePhilistinesgaveDavidthecityofZiklagwhereheandhismenandtheirfamiliescould live.For16monthsDaviddwelled in the landof thePhilistines (1Sam.27:2–7).When the Philistines went out to fight against Israel, David went with them—to fightagainsthisownpeople.ButthecommandersofthePhilistines,insomanywords,saidtotheking,“Waitaminute.Wedon’twantthesepeoplehere.Theymayturnagainstusinthemiddleofthebattle.Sendthemhome.”

AsmuchasthekingreallybelievedinDavid,hehadtogoalongwiththeopinionsofhis commanders. So he told David to leave the next morning (see 1 Sam. 28:1–2, 1Samuelchapter29).That’sexactlywhatDaviddid.ButwhenDavidandhismenreachedZiklag, they found that theAmalekites had raided their city. They had burned it to thegroundandtakenthewomenandchildrenaway!

1SAMUEL30:1–6(KJV)1 And it came to pass, when David and hismenwere come to Ziklag on the third day, that theAmalekiteshadinvadedthesouth,andZiklag,andsmittenZiklag,andburneditwithfire;2Andhadtakenthewomencaptives,thatweretherein:theyslewnotany,eithergreatorsmall,butcarriedthemaway,andwentontheirway.3SoDavidandhismencametothecity,and,behold,itwasburnedwithfire;andtheirwives,andtheirsons,andtheirdaughters,weretakencaptives.4ThenDavidand thepeople thatwerewithhim liftedup theirvoiceandwept,until theyhadnomorepowertoweep.5AndDavid’stwowivesweretakencaptives,AhinoamtheJezreelitess,andAbigailthewifeofNabaltheCarmelite.6AndDavidwasgreatlydistressed;forthepeoplespakeofstoninghim,becausethesoulofallthepeoplewasgrieved,everymanforhissonsandforhisdaughters:butDavidencouragedhimselfintheLordhisGod.

Alloftheirpossessions,wives,andchildrenweregone.David’smenturnedonhimandsaid,“Let’sstonehim!”

Davidhadbeenarunner,buthesuddenlyhitthewall!Ifyou’veeverdoneanyrunning,youknowwhatitmeanstohit thewall.That’s thepointwhereyoumakeupyourmindwhether youwill keep going.You decidewhether you’ll be awinner or a loser.That’swhereyouchoosetogoonnomatterwhat—nomatterhowbadlyyouhurt—ortogiveup

andquit!Itisn’tanyfuntohitthewall.Butifyoumakeupyourmindtogoon,itwon’tbelonguntilyougetyour“secondwind.”ThenyoucanstopbeingarunnerandbecomethereignerGodcreatedyoutobe!

Davidreachedthepointinhislifewherethingscouldn’tgetanyworse.TherewasnoJonathantopathimonthebackandsay,“Hey,David—comeon,buddy.It’sgoingtobeall right.” There was no Samuel. David’s men, who had always stood with him andsupportedhim,suddenlyturnedonhimandwantedtostonehim!Hewasallbyhimself.Maybeforthefirsttimeinhislife,hefeltcompletelyalone.Haveyoueverfeltthatway?

Whatdoyoudowhenyoucometothispointinlife?Youonlyhavetwochoices.Youcangiveupindiscouragementandquit,oryoucandowhatDaviddid.Hedidn’twaitforaprophettocome.Hedidn’twaitforsomeonetopathimonthebackortellhimitwasgoingtobeallright.FirstSamuel30:6says,“DavidencouragedhimselfintheLordhisGod”(KJV).TheAmplifiedBible says,“Davidencouragedandstrengthenedhimself intheLordhisGod.”TheNewInternationalVersionsays:“DavidfoundstrengthintheLordhisGod.”

DavidEncouragedHimselfintheLord

When David discovered that he would have to encourage himself in order to bevictorious,helearnedoneofthemostimportantfactsofhislife.HerealizedthathehadcometotheplacewhereheandGodwerealonetogether!

MaybeyoucanidentifywiththerollercoasterrideDavidexperiencedinhislife.Youprayed, you believed God, but when things didn’t happen the way you thought theywould, youmay have thought,Oh,my goodness. I’m going under—God isn’t going tomeetmyneed.Hehasforgottenme!Ifyou’veeverreachedtheplacewhereDavidwasatthistimeinhislife,thenyouneededtodowhathedid—encourageyourselfintheLord!

Davidwassaying:“Mycircumstanceswillnotdestroyme!Mycircumstancesarenotgoing tochangeme. I’mgoing tochange them, in thepowerof theLord! I’mgoing toencouragemyselfbecausetheLordiswithme.I’mgoingtomakeitthrough,andwiththeLord’shelp,I’mgoingtochangetheworld.”

WhenDavidhitthewall,hecrossedoverintothatnewrealm.Atthatpoint,hestoppedbeingarunnerandbecameareigner!Hesimplydecided,“I’mgoingtohavevictorynomatterwhatthecircumstanceslooklike.I’mgoingtosucceednomatterwhattheenemyis doing. I’m not going to be trampled by circumstances. I’m going towalk on top ofthem.IwillencouragemyselfintheLord!”

Let’sseewhathappenedafterDaviddecidedtoencouragehimselfintheLord.

1SAMUEL30:8(KJV)8AndDavidenquiredat theLord, saying,Shall Ipursueafter this troop?shall Iovertake them?Andheansweredhim,Pursue:forthoushaltsurelyovertakethem,andwithoutfailrecoverall.

PraiseGod,DavidattackedtheAmalakitesandrecoveredall!

1SAMUEL30:18–19(KJV)18AndDavidrecoveredallthattheAmalekiteshadcarriedaway:andDavidrescuedhistwowives.19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters,

neitherspoil,noranythingthattheyhadtakentothem:Davidrecoveredall.

I’malwaysgratefulforpeoplewhoencourageme,aren’tyou?Actually,theBibletellsus that encouraging each other is exactly what we should do. We should encourage,exhort, comfort, and strengthen one another (1 Cor. 14:3 KJV and NIV). But the factremainsthattherearetimeswhenthesituationsoflifeputusinapositionwherewefeelallalone.Thereseemstobenoonetoencourageusorpatusontheback.Nobodycalls.Nobodycomestovisit.

Insteadofhearingwordsofcomfort,allwecanheararethewordsoftheenemy,tellingus, “This is it!You’vehad it.You’renotgoing tomake it this time. It’s all over!”Thedevilhasputtoomanypeopleontherun.They’rerunners.Youcantellwhenyoulistentothem.All they talkabout is, ”Thedevilhasdone thisand thedevilhasdone that.”Butwhenyouareareigner,youarealwaystalkingaboutwhoyouareinChristandwhatyoucandoinHim.

Inthetimeoftrouble,DavidreceivedstrengthfromtheLord,andhewasabletodealwiththesituationthatwasinfrontofhim.HowdidhestrengthenhimselfintheLord?HeoftencomposedapsalmorasongtotheLord.HetalkedtohisGod.HemeditatedontheLordandpraisedHim.

WhenDavidwas being pursued byKing Saul, hewrote Psalm 59.When hewas inprisoninGath,hewrotePsalm56.WhenhewasfleeingfromhisownsonAbsalomwhowanted to takehis lifeandbecomeking,hewrotePsalm3.Hiding in thewildernessofJudeahewrotePsalm63.HegainedhisstrengthashepouredouthishearttoGod.

InPsalm56,DaviddirectedallofhisthoughtstowardtrustinginGod.Heexpressedsomanytimes,“ItrustinGod—I’mtrustinginHim.”

PSALM56:3–4,9,113WheneverIamafraid,IwilltrustinYou.4InGod(IwillpraiseHisword),InGodIhaveputmytrust;Iwillnotfear.Whatcanfleshdotome?9WhenIcryouttoYou,Thenmyenemieswillturnback;ThisIknow,becauseGodisforme.11InGodIhaveputmytrust,Iwillnotbeafraid.Whatcanmandotome?

WhenDavidwrotePsalm59,wecanseethathewasdeterminedtocontinuallypraiseGodandcalluponHimforhelp.HedeclaredthatGodwashisrefugeintimeoftrouble.ThenhebegantosingpraisestoGodforWhoHeis!

PSALM59:16–17(NIV)16ButIwillsingofyourstrength,inthemorningIwillsingofyourlove;foryouaremyfortress[afortressisaplaceofsafety,aplacetofleetoforprotection],myrefugeintimesoftrouble[arefugeisasafehaven,suchasananimalrefuge,asanctuary,aplacewherenoharmcancome].17OmyStrength,Isingpraisetoyou;you,OGod,aremyfortress,mylovingGod.

InPsalm63,DavidstrengthenedhimselfintheLordbyseekingGod.

PSALM63:1–21OGod,YouaremyGod;EarlywillIseekYou;MysoulthirstsforYou;MyfleshlongsforYouInadryandthirstylandWherethereisnowater.2SoIhavelookedforYouinthesanctuary,ToseeYourpowerandYourglory.

LaterinthatsamePsalm,DavidtalkedaboutmeditatingontheLord.

PSALM63:6–7(NIV)6OnmybedIrememberyou;Ithinkofyouthroughthewatchesofthenight.7Becauseyouaremyhelp,Isingintheshadowofyourwings.

Allof thesepassagesgiveus apictureof thewayDavid strengthenedhimself in theLord.Inthedayoftrouble,doingwhatDaviddidwillalwayschangethings.

WhenDavidwasalonewithnooneelsebutGod,heexperiencedachange!SpendingtimealonewithGodchangesus.Inthosetimes,weallowtheLordtoshapeourcharacter.In those times with Him, God takes the selfishness out of us and instills Kingdomprinciplesinourhearts.

Noneofuslikestoreachthatpointofhittingthewall.Noneofuslikestogothroughthehardtimeswhennooneistheretoencourageorhelpus.Butit’satthatpointthatweareeithermadeorbroken.It’sat thatpointthatwecandeterminewearegoingtoreignwithGod,notrun!Godchangesourattitudesinthosealonetimes.HerevealsHispowertousandmakesusstronger.

Things might have been different for David early in his life if he had stayed still,knowingthatGodwaswithHim,insteadofrunning.Butwhenhewasupagainstthewalland all alone, he finally stopped running and took the stand: “My God will see methrough.”

Allofuscometothosepointsinlife,justasDaviddid.UnlesswemakethechoicetoencourageourselvesintheLordandgoonwithGod,wewillneverliveintherealmofreigninginlifethatwedesire.

Iencourageyoutoday,don’tbearunner.Beareigner!Thingswillbegintochangeforthebetter.Everything aroundyouwill change.Your life andyour lifestylewill change.YouwillbegintoreceivetheblessingsGodwantsyoutohaveandchangeintowhatHewantsyoutobecome.ThenyouwillbestrongintheLord’spowerandabletoovercomeeveryobstacleyouface!

Chapter7

FocusontheUnseenPromisesHaveyouevernoticedwhenyou’rewalkingdownthestreet,ifsomethingcatchesyour

attention,yousomehowfindyourselfdriftinginthatdirection?Suddenlysomeoneyellsatyou, “Hey, look where you’re going!” But the problem is, you’re going where you’relooking!

Thesameprincipleistrueineveryareaoflife.Whateveryou’relookingat,that’swhereyou’regoing.Thatwill beyourdestination.This iswhyGodwantsus to focusonHisWordandnotourcircumstances.WhateverwecontinuallyfocusonintheWordofGod,wecanhave.

TheApostlePaultellsusnottofixoureyesonthethingsweseearoundus.Instead,weneedtofixoureyesontheunseenpromisesofGod.

2CORINTHIANS4:18(NIV)18Sowefixoureyesnotonwhatisseen,butonwhatisunseen.Forwhatisseenistemporary,butwhatisunseeniseternal.

Paul is tellingus to lookat theunseen thingsofGod, the things thatareeternal.Yousee,you’reaproductofwhatyoucontinuallylookat.Ifyoulookatevillongenough,youwillgointhatdirection.IfyoubegintogazeattheWordofGodlongenough,youwillbecomewhattheWordsaysyouare.

That’swhyit’ssoimportanttogetholdofthescriptureversesthattelluswhoweareinChrist.Weneedtolookatthose“inHim”scripturessowecangointhedirectionofwhoweareinChristandwhatwehaveinChrist.ThenwecanbecomewhattheBiblesaysweare!

Remember,whateveryou lookator setyourhearton iswhatyouwilldo.Whatyoucontinuallylookatandthinkaboutiswhatyouwillreceive.Whenyouwalkbyfaith,youdon’tfocusonwhatyouseeinthenaturalworldaroundyou.Youkeepyoureyesonthethingsthatarenotseen—theeternalthingsofGod’sWord.

WhenIwasyounger,ifIsawacarIlikedasIwasdrivingdownthestreet,Istoppedand looked at it. I’m suremany people, especially youngmen, can identifywith doingthis.Youpullintoacarlotandgetoutandlookataparticularcar.Youlikethecolor,theinterior,andeverythingaboutit.Youopenthedoorandsitdownbehindthewheel.Yousay,“Man,Ireallylikethiscar!”Thenyoulookatthepricetag,andthenextthingyousayis,“Oh,noway!”Yougetbackinyourcaranddriveon.

Butinafewdaysyougobackandlookatthatcaragain.Ifyou’reawoman,youmaygobacktolookatadressornewapplianceyousawinastorewindow.Whenyou’renotin thecar lotorstanding infrontof thestorewindow,youcanstillseeyourselfdrivingthatcar,wearingthatdress,orusingthatnewappliance.Andifyoukeeplookingatthatcarorthatdressorthattelevision,orwhateverelseyoudesirelongenough,youwillfindawaytobuyit.

You are goingwhere you’re looking,whether it’s in a positive or negative direction.

Negativethingsarepackagedattractivelytograbourattention.ThedevilwantstocaptureanddivertourattentionfromlookingatwhattheWordofGodsays.Heknowsifhecancause us to look at all sorts of other things besides God’sWord, he can stop us fromreceivingwhatGodsaidisours.

God’swordsarelife.KeepingoureyesonGod’sWordbringslifetousineveryarea—lifeunlimited!

PROVERBS4:20–2220Myson,giveattentiontomywords;Inclineyoureartomysayings.21Donotletthemdepartfromyoureyes;Keeptheminthemidstofyourheart;22Fortheyarelifetothosewhofindthem,Andhealthtoalltheirflesh.

LookingatScripturepassagesindifferenttranslationscanhelpusbetterunderstandthemeaning.Let’slookatthosethreeversesinanothertranslation.

In theNewLivingTranslation,verse20says“Mychild,payattention, towhat I say.Listencarefullytomywords.”Ifyouhavechildren,youknowhowmanytimesyousaytothem, “Listen tome!”Youwant them to listen because you’re saying something that’simportanttothem.You’retellingthemsomethingthatcankeepthemoutoftroubleorleadthemintherightdirection.Ifyou’relikeme,youhaveprobablysaidthisalso:“DoyouhearwhatIamsaying?And,furthermore,doyouunderstandwhatIamsaying?”You’retryingtogettheirattentionsotheywillunderstandthatwhatyou’resayingisfortheirownbenefitandprotection.

ThroughthewriterofProverbs,Godistryingtogetourattention.He’stryingtomakeanimportantpointtous.“Mychild,payattention!”Heissaying,“Thisisimportantnowand for your future!” He is making the point that it is very important for us to listencarefullytoHiswords.

Verse21continues,“Don’tlosesightofthem[mywords].Letthempenetratedeepintoyourheart” (NLT).Whateverweare lookingat iswhatwearegoing todo.That’swhyGodistellingusnottolosesightofHiswords.Aslongaswekeeplookingatthem,theywillpenetrateusandtakeustotheplacewewanttogo.Hiswordswilltakeustoaplaceoflifeandhealing.

Finally,verse22says,“fortheybringlifetothosewhofindthem,andhealingtotheirwholebody” (NLT).Weneedtogetholdofthefact that ifwecanseesomethingintheWord, we can have it!We can have whatever theWord says belongs to us: salvation,protection,prosperity,healing,andlifemoreabundant.LookingattheWordofGodsetsourdestinationonwhattheWordsayswecanhave.

God’sWord is to us in the spiritual realm what a GPS navigation system is in thenatural realm.Most of the new cars today have aGPS system.You can program yourdestination into it, andasyou’redrivingdown the road,avoicegivesyoudirections toguideyou.TheGPSsystemtakesyoutotheexactplaceyouwanttogo.

TheGPSsystemonmycarnotonlytalkstomebygivingmestep-by-stepdirections,butitalsoshowsmealltheroadsonascreen.There’salittlearrowthatmovesalongtheroadwhereI’mdrivingtoshowmewhereIamandwheretogo.Ifaslightturniscomingup,thesystemactuallyshowsthattheroadhasalittleturninit.

Friend,wehavethebestnavigationalsystemthereis—God’sWord!Thatnavigationalsystemwilltakeuswhereverweneedtogoinlife.Itwillbringuswhateverweneed.Anditwillkeepussafeinthemidstofastorm.IfyoukeeptheWordofGodinfrontofyou,youwillreachtheplaceyouwanttogo!

EveryObstacleIsanOpportunity

It’simportantforyoutobeawareofwhatyouarelookingat.Ifyou’refocusingontheproblemsorobstaclesinlife,youneedtochangeyourfocustoGod’sWord.HisWordwilltakeyoutoyourdestination.

WesawhowthegenerationofIsraeliteswholookedatthegiantsandthefortifiedcitiesinthePromisedLandwentwheretheylooked.Theirfocusheldthemcaptive.Theystayedin thewilderness. If theyhadchanged their focus toGod’spromise thatHewasgivingthemtheland,theycouldhaveenteredinwithJoshuaandCaleb.ButinsteadoflookingatwhatGodhadsaid,thoseIsraeliteslookedateverythingelse.Theylookedattheobstaclesinstead of looking at the opportunities. They focused on the circumstances and theyreceivednothing.

Everytimeanobstaclecomesacrossourpath,weneedtosaywhatmydadusedtosay—“ThisisjustanotheropportunitytoprovethatGod’sWordworks!”Everyobstacleisanopportunity, and looking at the obstacles in life that way will change our wholeperspective—itwillchangehowwefeelandhowwetalk—itwillchangeeverything!

In Joshua 1:8 we see that Joshua learned the secret to being able to see things thatnobodyelsecouldsee—theunseenthingsofGod’sWord.Thesecretisinmeditatingonthe Word. God told him, “Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obeyeverythingwritteninit.Onlythenwillyouprosperandsucceedinallyoudo”(NLT).

SeeingthingsthatnooneelsecanseeiswhatPaulwastalkingaboutwhenhesaidtolookattheunseenrealm(2Cor.4:18).Whenotherpeoplearelookingatalltheobstacles,you’relookingatalltheopportunities.Whatotherpeopledon’tsee,yousee!

Joshua and Caleb saw themselves living in the Promised Land and they eventuallypossessedtheland.IencourageyoutobegintoseeyourselfwiththepromisesGodhasforyou! I’veheardmydadsay thousandsof times,“Seeyourselfwithwhatyouneed.Seeyourself healed. See yourself with no lack. See yourself blessed.” In other words, seeyourselfpossessingwhatisyoursaccordingtotheWordofGod.

WhenthenextgenerationofIsraelites,ledbyJoshua,wentintopossessthePromisedLand,thecircumstancesandobstacleshadnotchanged.Therewerestillgiantsintheland.Therewerestillfortifiedcities.ButthisnewgrouplookedatGod’swordstotheminsteadoflookingatthecircumstances.

WhentheIsraelitescrossedtheJordanRiver,thefirstobstacletheyfacedwasthegreatwalledcityofJericho.ButGodtoldJoshuathatHehadgivenJerichointotheirhands.

JOSHUA6:1–21NowJerichowassecurelyshutupbecauseofthechildrenofIsrael;nonewentout,andnonecamein.2AndtheLordsaidtoJoshua:“See!IhavegivenJerichointoyourhand,itsking,andthemightymenofvalor.”

This generation of Israelites listened toGod’s instructions and obeyed them.He toldthemtomarcharoundthecityonceeverydayforsixdays.Thenontheseventhday,theyweretomarcharoundthecityseventimesandsevenpriestswere toblowthetrumpets.Whenthepeopleheardthetrumpets, theyweretoshoutandthewallsof thecitywouldfalldown.

TheIsraeliteslookedattheunseenthingthatGodhadtoldthemwouldhappeniftheyobeyedHisinstructions.Whentheyobeyed,theysawthewallsofthecityfalldownflat.Then theywent in and took possession of the city (vv. 3–20)!They didn’t look at thatlarge,walledcityasanobstacle.TheyfocusedontheopportunityGodhadgiventhembylookingattheunseen,andtheywentontotaketheland.

WhenCalebwas40yearsold,Mosespromisedhimasaninheritanceallthelandwhereheplacedhisfoot.Forty-fiveyearslater,CalebsaidtoJoshua,“GivemethismountainofwhichtheLordspokeinthatday”(Joshua14:12).Themountainhewantedhadgiantsinit,buthedidn’tfocusonthegiants.Instead,helookedat theopportunityofhavingthatbeautifulmountainashispossession.Helookedatallthefruitthatwasgrowingthereandhethoughtabouthowniceitwouldbetobuildhishouseoverlookingtheplainswherehisotherrelativeswereliving.

All of those years, Caleb had meditated on having his mountain. Forty years ofwanderinginthewildernesswiththatgroupofunbelievingpeopledidnotchangehiswayofthinkingortheunseenpromiseofGod.Hedidn’tbecomediscouraged.Hekeptlookingat thepromiseallof that time.HesawthesituationthewayGodsawit.AndGodgaveCalebhismountain(Joshua14:6–14)!

LetmegiveyouanotherexampleofwhatI’mtalkingabouthere.AfterGodchangedAbram’snametoAbraham,whichmeans“fatherofmanynations,”Abrahambegantoseehimselfasafatherofnations.Why?BecausehebelievedinaGodwho“callsthosethingswhichdonotexistasthoughtheydid”(Rom.4:17).

ROMANS4:17–21(NLT)17 That is what the Scripturesmean whenGod told him, “I havemade you the father ofmanynations.”ThishappenedbecauseAbrahambelievedintheGodwhobringsthedeadbacktolifeandwhocreatesnewthingsoutofnothing.18Evenwhentherewasnoreasonforhope,Abrahamkepthoping—believingthathewouldbecomethefatherofmanynations.ForGodhadsaidtohim,“That’showmanydescendantsyouwillhave!”19AndAbraham’sfaithdidnotweaken,eventhough,atabout100yearsofage,hefiguredhisbodywasasgoodasdead—andsowasSarah’swomb.20AbrahamneverwaveredinbelievingGod’spromise.Infact,hisfaithgrewstronger,andinthishebroughtglorytoGod.21HewasfullyconvincedthatGodisabletodowhateverhepromises.

TheseversesshowusthatAbrahamdidn’tlookatthecircumstances—thefactthathewas 100 years old and his wife Sarah was 90. He didn’t even take those things intoconsideration.Godhadchangedhisname,declaringthathewasthefatherofnations.

Iimaginemanypeoplesaid,“Thatoldmanhaslosthismind.”Itdidn’tmattertohimwhatpeoplesaid.WhenwereallyseethingsthewayGodseesthemandbelievethingsthewayGod says they are, thenwe don’t worry aboutwhat other people say.We’re onlyconcernedaboutwhatGodsays.We’regoingtolookatthingsthewayHedoes,andHe

callsthosethingsthatHedesiresintoexistence.

TheKing James Version says Abraham “considered not his own body” (v. 19). To“consider”meanstoobservefully.Abrahamrefusedtofullyobservethefactthathewas100yearsoldandcouldn’thavechildren.TheBiblesayshe“neverwaveredinbelievingGod’spromise”(v.20).

AbrahamandJoshuaandCalebdidnotlookatanythingexceptthepromisesGodhadgiven them.They didn’t look at any circumstance, or any situation that conflictedwithGod’swords,asobstacles.Andtheyneverwavered.

SeeYourselftheWayGodSeesYou

Whatareyoufacingtoday?Begintoseeyourselfwiththeanswer,accordingtoGod’sWord.Seeyourselfhealed.Seeyourselfdelivered—theBiblesaysyouare!Seeyourselfwithplenty,notlack.SeeyourselfpossessingthepromisesofGod!

Josephwasayoungmanwhobelieved thepromisesofGod.Hebelieved thevisionsGodhadgivenhimwhenhewas ayoungboy (seeGenesis chapter37). Josephwas inprison but saw himself free, and he eventually became the prime minister of Egypt.Although Joseph went through all kinds of negative circumstances, he never wavered.AndhesawthevisionsGodhadgivenhimbecomeareality!

It’s important to see yourself the way God sees you. See yourself walking in thepromisesofGod.Seeyourselfprotected,surroundedwithGod’sfavor.LookattheWordandbelieveandsaywhatitsays.YouwillreceivewhatyoulookataccordingtotheWordofGod.

IlearnedatanearlyagetoseemyselfthewayGodseesme.In1959whenIwasgoingtoBibleschool,IwasworkingonafreightdockinDallas,Texas,loadingandunloadingthe city trailerswhen they came in.Wewere called “break-out boys.”Most of uswereBibleschoolguys.Wecouldgo toworkat twoo’clock in theafternoonandworkuntiltheydecided to letusoff. Itwashardwork,andwemadereallygoodmoney. Iworkedaround32hoursaweekandmademoremoneythansomeguyswhowereworkingeighthoursaday,sixdaysaweek!

Wehadanoldforemanwhorodethatline.Wewereworkingourselvessilly,buthestillused to screamandyell at us.Oneday I couldhear himcomingdown the line, askingpeople if they could do certain jobs.One person at a time, each one answered, “No, Ican’t,”or“No,sir.”

Thenheaskedtheguynexttome,“Canyoudoit?”

Onceagain,thereplywas,“No,sir.”

Whenhecametome,hesaid,“Hagin,canyoudothisjob?”

“Yeah!”Ireplied.

Then he toldme, “Tomorrow instead of reporting here, report over to this particulararea.”

“Okay,Iwill.”

Aguyloadingnext tomewhowent to thesameBibleschoolIdidsaid,“Hagin,you

don’tknowhowtodothatjob.”

“Iwill by tomorrowat twoo’clock,” I told him. “TheBible says I cando all thingsthroughChristwhostrengthensme.”

Wedidn’thaveInternetbackthen.ButItoldhim,“Iknowwherethelibraryis,andIknowanotherguy,afriendofmine,whodidasimilarjob.I’mgoingtocallandaskhimaboutit.WhenIgetheretomorrow,I’llbeabletodoit.”

Asaresult,Iwaspromotedwhenothersweren’tsimplybecauseIsaid,“Ican.”IsawmyselfthewaytheWordofGodsaysIam.ItsaysIcandoallthings—notjustspiritualthings—throughChristWhostrengthensme!

Manypeoplemissoutbecausetheysay,“Ican’tdothat.”IfyouseesomethingthewayGodseesit,youcan!Manputssomanylimitsonthings,butwithGodtherearenolimits.WhateverwecanseeintheWordofGodwecanhave.

It’ssoimportantforyoutoseeyourselfthewayGodseesyou.Seeyourselfdifferentlyand talk about yourself differently.Don’t talk about how tiredyou are.Talk about howgoodyouare.Don’ttalkaboutwhatyoucan’tdo.Begintotalkaboutwhatyoucando.“IcandoallthingsthroughChrist.IcandowhateverIneedtodo.”Ifyou’lllookatthingstherightway—thewaytheWordsaystheyare—youcanhavewhateveryousee.

WhenwelookintotheWordandletitgetinsideandpenetrateus,insteadoflookingateverything that’s coming down the road against us, we can begin living not just theabundantlife,butalifeofoverflow.It’sgoodtohavealifefullofblessings,butit’sevenbettertohavealifethat’soverflowingwithblessings!

DesignedforVictory

1CORINTHIANS15:57(NIV)57ButthanksbetoGod!HegivesusthevictorythroughourLordJesusChrist.

It’salsoimportantforyoutorealizethatyouweredesignedforvictory.Todaysomanypeoplearecaughtupinmerelytryingtosurvivealltheobstaclesandtheoppositionthatlifebringsus.Butwewerenotdesignedtobedefeated!God’soriginaldesignformankindwasforustobevictoriousandtriumphandliveabovethelimitationsoflife.

Many people have defied the odds. They’ve fought battles and triumphed. They’veclimbedmountains,exploredtheunknownregionsoftheworld,andbrokenrecords.Theyhaverisenfromlivinginobscuritytoachievegreatplacesofinfluence.Theyhavestartedbusinesses on a shoestring—with very little capital—and developed Fortune 500companies.

People have fought great battles and done things that are sometimes beyond theimagination. However, themost important battles thatmanwill ever face are spiritual.There’sthebattletoescapethesinfulnature.There’sthebattletotriumphoverSatan,theenemyofoursouls.Thesearebattleswecannotwinonourown.

Yes, through training and hard work, we can break world records inmany differentfields. We can train hard and give our best effort to achieve. But we cannot extractourselvesfromthegripofsinwithouttheLordJesusChrist.

Itisfutiletoattempttowinthesespiritualbattlesonourown!ThankGod,over2,000yearsago,JesusChristwonthevictoryforus.WehavetolearnhowtoacceptthevictoryHediedtogiveus.WeneedtolearnhowtofollowourLordandSaviorintothatvictorythroughtheinstructionsinHisWord.

IntheOldTestament,weseethatGodalwaysledHispeopletovictory,nomatterhowimpossible the situation looked. In the natural realm, it was impossible for David toovercomeGoliath.ButwithGod,itwaspossible.JustasGoddeliveredDavid,andalltheotherpeoplewereadaboutintheOldTestament,Hewilldeliveryou,ifyouputyourtrustinHim.

GodcausedtheIsraelitestotriumphwhenPharaoh’sarmywaspursuingthem.HemadeawayofescapebydividingthewatersoftheRedSeasotheycouldwalkacrossondryland.WhentheEgyptianstriedtofollowthem,theywereswallowedupbythewatersofthesea(seeExoduschapter14).

Danieltriumphedoverallthepeoplewhohadhimthrownintothelions’den,andGodsentHisangeltoshutthelions’mouths.DanielhadsomuchfavorwiththekingthathethrewthepeoplewhohadplottedtodestroyDanielintotheden.Beforetheyreachedthebottomofthepit,theyweredevouredbythosehungrylions(seeDanielchapter6).

Godwill take care of us.Time and again throughout theOldTestament,we see thatGod’speopletriumphedovereverychallengeandeveryimpossiblesituationtheyfaced.

But in theNewTestament,ourvictory is through theLordJesusChrist.HeshedHisblood for uson the cross atCalvary’sHill.He suffered the stripesonHisback for ourphysicalhealing.HetookonoursinandshameandHearosefromthedeadwiththekeysofdeath,hell,andthegrave.

The Lord Jesus Christ dealt with the enemy for us. Through His death, burial, andresurrection, we can have victory! Christ has won all the important battles for us! Hedefeated sin sowe could escape a sinful existence.HedefeatedSatan,“the god of thisworld”(2Cor.4:4KJV),anddeliveredusoutofhisdominion.Christwonthevictory.AllwehavetodoisacceptwhatHehasalreadydoneforus.

Get a firm grip on knowing that you were designed for victory! God wants you totriumph.Youmaybesurroundedbyeverykindofdifficultythatyoucanthinkofinthenatural,butremember:Godisgreater!PraiseGod,ifyouwillbelievethatandactuponit,itwillbecomearealityinyourlife!

Chapter8

RemovingMountainsofDifficultiesManwascreatedbyGodtoruleandreigninlife,nottobedominatedandreignedover.Christwon thebattle forusbydefeatingSatanso thatwecan live invictory insteadofbeing bogged down by difficultieswe can never rise above. But if Christ haswon thebattleforus,whydowehavetodealwithalltheterriblethingsthatexistonthisearth?

Theansweristhatwemust“fightthegoodfightoffaith”(1Tim.6:12)toreceivethevictoryGodhasforus.Thefightoffaithinvolvesthreebasicareas.

1.Youmustfighttobelievesomething.

2.Youmustfighttosaysomething.

3.Youmustfighttodosomething.

First,youfighttobelievewhatChristdidforyouatCalvary.Whyisitafight?Itisafightoffaithbecausethedevilwilldoeverythinghecantotrytogetyounottobelievewhat theWord says.Hewill tell you, “Come on now, you don’t really believe that doyou?”YoufightforwhatyoubelievebycontinuallyfeedinguponGod’sWorduntilit’sapartofyou.

Second,youfighttosaywhattheBiblesays.Whenthedevilcomesalongandwhisperssomething inyour ear, youneed to immediately refutehiswordsor thoughtsby sayingwhattheWordsays.RefusetosayanythingexceptwhatyoubelieveandwhattheWordsays.

Third,youfighttodowhattheBiblesaysyoucando.Forexample,aswementionedpreviously, Philippians 4:13 says,“I can do all things through Christ who strengthensme.”Thatversedoesn’t say,“Icandoallspiritual things.” Itdoesn’t say,“IcandoallthingsthroughChristexceptwhenIdon’tfeelgood,”or“exceptwhenIdon’tknowhowtodosomethingin thenatural.”Itsays,“all things.”Therearenoqualificationson thatverse, no exceptions. Philippians 4:13 declares that there isn’t anything you can’taccomplishthroughJesusChrist.Butyouhavetobelieveitandsayit.AndyouhavetofighttodowhattheWordsaysyoucando.

It’ssoimportantforustoactliketheWordistrue.GodwantsustoactlikethevictorsHecreatedus tobe—notcastdownordefeated.Remember, thebattlehasalreadybeenwon.Godwantsustorejoiceandchoosetoliveinthevictoryweweredesignedtohave!

BelievetheWordandConfessIt

You have to learn how to say what God is saying about the situation, not whatsomebodyelse issayingorwhat thecircumstancesaresaying.Youhavetobelieveit inyourheartandthenconfessitwithyourmouth.

HEBREWS10:23(KJV)23Letusholdfasttheprofessionofourfaithwithoutwavering;(forheisfaithfulthatpromised).

Hebrews10:23tellsustoholdfasttoourprofessionoffaith,whichisourconfession.We’renottalkingaboutsayingsomethingonetime!We’retalkingaboutcontinually,onaconsistentbasis,sayingwhatwebelieve,sayingwhattheBiblesays.Andwemustdoitwithoutwavering,withoutbeingupanddown.

Doyouknowbelieverswhoareruledbycircumstancesandreflectthatintheirwords?Onedaywhenyouseethem,theysay,“Oh,praisetheLord.Everythingisgoinggreat.”Thenexttimeyouseethem,they’resaying,“Idon’tknowwhetherI’mgoingtomakeitornot.”

Iftheyfeelgood,everythingisgreat.Iftheydon’tfeelgood,thingsaren’tgoingright.Whetherwe feelgoodornot,God’sWord is still the same.Henever changes, andHisWord never changes!Whenwe start sayingwhatGod says inHisWord,wewill startfeeling good again.Most peoplewant the feeling first. No, the feeling comes afterwebelieveandspeaktheWord.Thenvictorycomes.

Whenwelistentothenews,fearwilltrytocomeinandgripus.Somuchofthetimethe news gives us the impression there isn’t any hope.Butwe need to believe and saywhattheBiblesays.WeneedtobaseourconfessiononSecondTimothy1:7andsaywhatGodsays:“Ihavenotbeengivenaspiritof fear,butofpowerandof loveandasoundmind.”

BelievingandconfessingtheWordcausesustolivealifestylethat’sinlinewithGod’sWord.Somepeoplesay,“Confessionmayworkforsomebodyelse,butitwon’tworkforme.”Andtheywillgetexactlywhattheyaresaying.Confessionwon’tworkforthem.ButtheirresultswouldbedifferentiftheywouldbegintoconfesstheWordandbelieveitintheirhearts. Ifwebelievewhat theWordsaysandbegin toconfess itwithourmouths,whatwearesayingwillbecomeareality!

YourVictoryIsinYourTalk

Ifwewanttomoveuptothatextraordinary,victoriouslevelwhereGodintendsforustolive,wemustdowhatJesustalkedaboutinMarkchapter11.

MARK11:22–24(NIV)22“HavefaithinGod,”Jesusanswered.23“Itellyouthetruth,ifanyonesaystothismountain,‘Go,throwyourselfintothesea,’anddoesnotdoubtinhisheartbutbelievesthatwhathesayswillhappen,itwillbedoneforhim.24ThereforeItellyou,whateveryouaskforinprayer,believethatyouhavereceivedit,anditwillbeyours.”

Notmanyofusaregoingtotalktoaliteral,physicalmountainmadeoutofrockanddirtandtell it tomove.Butfiguratively,wedohavemountainsthatriseupinourlives.Wehavemountainsofdifficulties—problems,hardships,trials,sicknessanddisease,andotherimpossibilities.Jesusisusing“thismountain”asanexampletoshowhowpowerfulourfaithcanbe.Heistellingusthatifwesaywhatwebelieveinourhearts,itshallbedone!

Let’slookforamomentattheversesprecedingMark11:22–24.JesusandthediscipleswereleavingBethanytogointoJerusalem.Jesuswashungry.Inthedistance,Hesawafigtreethathadleavesonit,andHewenttofindoutifithadanyfruit.

MARK11:13–14(NIV)13Whenhereachedit,hefoundnothingbutleaves,becauseitwasnottheseasonforfigs.14Thenhesaidtothetree,“Maynooneevereatfruitfromyouagain.”Andhisdisciplesheardhimsayit.

Jesuscursedthe treebecause itdidn’thaveanyfigs,yet itwasn’t theseasonforfigs.OncewhenIwasinIsrael,Ilearnedthatafigtreewithleavesonitnormallyhasfruit.Itwasasifthetreewassaying,“Ihavefruit,”buttherewasn’tanyfruit.

ThenextmorningasJesusandthediscipleswalkedbythetreeagain,theysawitwaswitheredfromtheroots!

MARK11:20–21(NIV)20Inthemorning,astheywentalong,theysawthefigtreewitheredfromtheroots.21PeterrememberedandsaidtoJesus,“Rabbi,look!Thefigtreeyoucursedhaswithered!”

ItwasatthispointthatJesussaid,“‘HavefaithinGod’”(v.22).Theliteraltranslationis“‘HavethefaithofGod’”(YLT)orhavetheGod-kindoffaith.Inverses23and24,JesusgivesanexplanationofwhattheGod-kindoffaithis.Inotherwords,“Hereisthewayitworks:youbelieveinyourheartandyousaywithyourmouthanditwillbedone!”ThisisexactlywhathappenedwhenHespoketothefigtreeanditwitheredanddied.

Jesususes the illustrationof themountain to showuswhatwecando toget ridofadifficulty so great that it looks like a mountain to us. He tells us how to handle theproblemsandimpossibilitiesthatriseupinourlives.

SomeofthesettlersgoingwestwhocametotheRockyMountainssawthosetoweringpeaksanddecidedtogonofurther.Insteadoftryingtocrossoverthem,theysettledontheeastern side.They justdidn’twant todealwith themountains!But someof the settlersrose up and said, “I’ll conquer you.You can’t keepme from receivingwhat Iwant toreceive.”Andtheyfoundawaytogothroughthemountains.

Praise God, Jesus has given us a way to remove the figurative mountains from ourlives!Wemust believewith our hearts and saywith ourmouths. It isn’t about callingdifferentprayergroupsorgettingabiggroupofpeople together topray,although theseare good things to do in some circumstances. Don’t just think about the problem ormeditateonthemountainbeingremoved—sayit!Youtellyourmountainwhattodo.Youtellittogetoutoftheway.Ithastoobeythepersonwhodarestospeakwithfaith.Themountainhastoobey!

JustAnotherOpportunitytoProveThatGod’sWordWorks

My fatherwas raised off a bed of sickness at the age of 16.Because he learned thesecretofbelievingandsaying,hewalkedawayfromthat.Henotonlydefeateddeath,buthealsoovercameinotherareas.

Hecamefromabrokenhometoovercomecircumstancesofpovertyandlack.AndherosefromtheobscurityofaTexasBlacklandpreachertobecomeknownas“theFatherofthe modern-day faith movement.” Now he didn’t like that title. It was given to himbecausehetouchedagenerationwithGod’sWord.

Many people, thousands in fact, called him “Dad.” He was “Dad Hagin.” But theprinciples thathe taughtand livedby, theprinciples thatdeliveredhim justas theywill

deliveryou,areverysimple.YouhavetolearnhowtobelieveandsayGod’sWord.

WhenIwasgrowingup,welivedbytheprinciplesDadtaught.Iwillneverforgettheday in1957whenmymother lookedatmydadandsaid,“Hon, this is the last foodwehave.”

Hetoldher,“Fixit.”Thenmymother,dad,sister,andIsatdownat thetable,andheprayedover that food, saying,“NowFather, in theNameof Jesus, I call food in.”ThatwasSaturdaynight.

Before we went to church on Sunday, Dad said, “Don’t you kids say anything toanybodyabout this.This isourmountain.Wespeakto it,andGodwill takecareof it.”Thank goodness the pastor took us out to eat that day. I was a 16-year-old boy, andMondaymorningwhenIgotup,Iwashungry.Therewasnofoodthatday.Tuesdaytherewasnofood.Isaid,“Dad!”

Buthesaid,“Son,wetalkedtothemountain,anditwillberemoved.Foodiscoming.”

“Yes,Ibelievethat,”Ireplied.“Ijustwishitwouldhurryupandgethere!”

Aroundthreeo’clockthenextday,whichwasWednesday,Iwassittingtherereadingabook.Ilookedoutthewindowtoseeaguypullupinapickup,withpapersacksfullofsomethingintheback.Ihollered,“Daddy,apickupjustpulledup,andit’sgotsacksinthebackofit!”

“Oh,that’sourfood,”hereplied.“PraisetheLord.”

Themanknockedonthedoor.Whenweopenedit,hesaid,“BrotherHagin,eversinceSunday afternoon the Lord’s been tellingme that you needed food. But I argued withmyselfandsaid,‘Naw,BrotherHagin,doesn’tneedfood.Hehasn’tsaidanythingaboutit.’Finally thisafternoonIwashearing it sostrong, Icouldn’t resist. Iwentandboughtsomegroceriesforyou.Isthatallright?”

Dadneverdidtellhimwedidn’thaveanyfood.Hejustsaid,“Yeah,that’sfine.PraisetheLord.Godblessyou.Ireallyappreciatethis.”

There has probably never been a 16-year-old anywhere who has ever unloadedgroceries so fast!As soon as theman left, Iwas in the kitchen, ready to helpmommaunpacksacks.Shecookedameal, andwesatdownandate.Wehad foodbecauseDadkeptspeakingtohismountain.Hetoldme,“Don’tworryaboutit,Son.Godisbringingusfood.It’sjustanotheropportunitytoprovethatGod’sWordworks.”Hebelieveditinhisheart and said itwithhismouth.Things like thishappenedmany,many times as Iwasgrowingup.AllofmylifeIhavelivedbytheseprinciplesandhaveseenGodproveHisWordoverandover.

DavidWasn’tMovedbytheCircumstances

Didyouknow thatDavid followed these sameprinciples fromGod’sWordwhenhedefeated the giantGoliath?He believed in his heart and saidwith hismouth thatGodwouldhelphimdefeat thechampionof thePhilistines.Let’s lookat that amazing storyfromtheWord.

WhenDavidwentouttofaceGoliath,hepickedupfivestones.Oneofthosestoneswas

the giant’s downfall! Goliath saw David running toward him and he disdained andridiculedhim.Sometimesweexperiencethistypeofthingtoday.WhenwestarttoliveforGod, some people don’t like it and they make disparaging statements. But notice thatDavidwasunmoved.Hestoodhisground.JustlikeDavid,wedon’tneedtobemovedbycircumstancesthatcomeagainstus.Weshouldonlybemovedbywhatwebelieve.

SoDavidstartedtalkingtothegiant.

1SAMUEL17:45–4645ThenDavidsaidtothePhilistine,“Youcometomewithasword,withaspear,andwithajavelin.ButIcometoyouinthenameoftheLordofhosts,theGodofthearmiesofIsrael,whomyouhavedefied.46ThisdaytheLordwilldeliveryouintomyhand,andIwillstrikeyouandtakeyourheadfromyou.AndthisdayIwillgivethecarcassesofthecampofthePhilistinestothebirdsoftheairandthewildbeastsoftheearth,thatalltheearthmayknowthatthereisaGodinIsrael.”

NoticethatDavidsaid,“theLordwilldeliveryouintomyhand.”Davidwasn’tgoinginhisownstrengthorpower,andneitherdowe.We’renomatchfortheenemyinourownstrength,butinthepowerofGodweare!

1SAMUEL17:47–4847 “Then all this assembly shall know that theLorddoesnot savewith sword and spear; for thebattleistheLord’s,andHewillgiveyouintoourhands.”48Soitwas,whenthePhilistinearoseandcameanddrewneartomeetDavid,thatDavidhurriedandrantowardthearmytomeetthePhilistine.

David is saying inverse47 that thebattle is theLord’s.He isn’t fighting inhisownpower.And in verse 48we see thatDavid didn’twait forGoliath to come to him.Hehurriedandrantowardtheproblem.Manytimeswhenwehavedifficultiesandsituations,wetrytorunfromthemtoseeifwecangetawayfromthem.ButwhenweknowwhoweareinChrist,wecanfacethesituationheadonwiththeWordofGodonourlips!

1SAMUEL17:49–5149ThenDavidputhishandinhisbagandtookoutastone;andheslungitandstruckthePhilistineinhisforehead,sothatthestonesankintohisforehead,andhefellonhisfacetotheearth.50SoDavidprevailedoverthePhilistinewithaslingandastone,andstruckthePhilistineandkilledhim.ButtherewasnoswordinthehandofDavid.51ThereforeDavidranandstoodoverthePhilistine,tookhisswordanddrewitoutofitssheathandkilledhim,andcutoffhisheadwithit.

Davidsaidaheadoftimewhatwasgoingtohappen.Somepeoplesay,“Well,youneverknow—youcannever tellwhatmight happen.”But that’s not true!Wecan tell exactlywhatwillhappenwhenwebelieveandsaysomethingaccordingtoGod’sWord.

Whenwefaceobstaclesandsituations,therearemanythingswecouldsay.Wecouldwringourhandsandspeakanevilreportoutofourmouths:“Oh,whatamIgoingtodo?Iknewsomethinglikethiswasgoingtohappen.”OrwecouldrunintheoppositedirectionfromwhattheWordtellsustodo.

No,weneedtofacethesituationwiththeWordofGod.Weneedtoask,“WhatdoesGodsay?”andthenweneedtosaywhatHesays.Weneedtodeclarebyfaith,“This isjust another opportunity to prove that theWordofGodworks.”Wedon’t run from theproblem. We run toward it like David did, with the Word of God coming out of our

mouths.Why?BecauseHisWordisourweaponwhichdefeatsthedevileverytime!

MoreThanConquerors

Paulsaid,“WearemorethanconquerorsthroughHimwholovedus”(Rom.8:37).Hedidn’tsayweweremereconquerors,butmorethanconquerors.Thisputsourvictoryonanother level—anextraordinarylevel likeDavid’svictoryoverGoliath.AndDavidwonthatbattlebydeclaringthevictoryheknewGodwantedhimtohavebeforeiteverbecameareality!Weneedtolearnhowtodeclarethevictorywithourwords,callitintoexistence,andbelieveGodforitbeforeitevercomesintomanifestation.

TheRomancenturionwhocametoJesusforhisservanttobehealeddeclaredthatJesuscouldhealthemaninaspecificway.

MATTHEW8:8–98Thecenturionansweredandsaid,“Lord,IamnotworthythatYoushouldcomeundermyroof.Butonlyspeakaword,andmyservantwillbehealed.9“ForIalsoamamanunderauthority,havingsoldiersunderme.AndIsaytothisone,‘Go,’andhegoes;andtoanother,‘Come,’andhecomes;andtomyservant,‘Dothis,’andhedoesit.”

Noticethatthiscenturionunderstoodauthority.Ifyou’vebeeninthemilitary,youknowthat when authority speaks, somebody jumps. When someone in authority speaks, thepeopleundertheauthorityobey.

The centurion also said something specific—“Only speak aword.”Wemust learn tofightourbattlesbyspeakingspecificallyratherthaningeneralities.

Whateveryourneedis,youneedtospeakto itspecifically. If it’shealing, thenspeakhealing specifically. If it’s financial, then speak to that specific need. The centurion’svictorywasinwhathesaid.AndhisservantwashealedwhenJesusspokeonlyaWord!

KeepSaying

MATTHEW9:20–2220Andsuddenly,awomanwhohadaflowofbloodfortwelveyearscamefrombehindandtouchedthehemofHisgarment.21Forshesaidtoherself,“IfonlyImaytouchHisgarment,Ishallbemadewell.”22ButJesusturnedaround,andwhenHesawherHesaid,“Beofgoodcheer,daughter;yourfaithhasmadeyouwell.”Andthewomanwasmadewellfromthathour.

Thewomanwiththeissueofbloodhadbeensickfortwelveyears.Evidently,shehadheardthatJesuswashealingpeople.ThenshekeptonsayingwhatshebelievedaccordingtoGod’sWord,andshereceivedahealingfromtheLord!

WhenthewomandecidedtogotoJesus,shehadtogoagainsttheMosaicLaw.Anyonewhohadabloodconditionwasconsidereduncleanandwasnotsupposedtogooutinthegeneral populous. If the person did get close to someone else, they were to call out“unclean”sotheotherpersoncouldgetoutoftheway.WhenthiswomanreachedtheareawhereJesuswas,therewasacrowdtodealwith.Notonlydidsherisktherabbis’wrathforbeingoutinpublic,butshealsohadanotherobstacletoovercometoreachtheLord.Shehadtopressherwaythroughthecrowd.

TheAmplifiedBible says inverse21:“Forshekeptsaying toherself, If Ionly touch

Hisgarment,Ishallberestoredtohealth.”Thiswomanstayedmotivatedbyconsistentlysaying the same thing. “She kept saying… .” She didn’t say one thing one time andsomethingelseanother.Shedidn’tsay,“IfIcantouchHisclothesI’llbewell,”butthenlatersay,“MaybeIcangethealingsomeotherway.”

Shedidn’tchangewhatshewassaying.Shekeptconsistentlyspeakingher faith,andthis helped her fight herway through the crowd.After she touched Jesus’ garment,Heturnedaroundandsaidherfaithhadmadeherwell.

Justasthewomanwiththeissueofbloodreceivedherhealingbycontinuallyspeakingherfaith,whenwecontinuallysaywhatwebelieveaccordingtoGod’sWord,itputsusinapositionforHisWordtobecomearealityinourlives!

WordsArePowerful

Let’s look again at Mark 11:23, which emphasizes talking to remove the mountain.“Whoever SAYS to thismountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does notdoubt in his heart, but believes that those things he SAYS will be done, he will havewhatever he SAYS.” Talking is referred to three times in this verse and believing onlyonce.

It’s important forus tobelieve inourhearts.Butwecan see from this scripturehowimportant it is tospeak in linewithourbelieving.That’swhatmovesus throughall theobstaclesandcircumstancestotheplaceofvictory.Inotherwords,keeponsayingwhatyoubelieve.Yourvictoryisinyourmouth!

PROVERBS6:22Youaresnaredbythewordsofyourmouth;Youaretakenbythewordsofyourmouth.

Onetranslationsaysthatyou“arecaughtbywhatyousaid”(NLT).Weneedtobesurethatwearesayingtherightwords.Whataretherightwords?SayingwhatGodsays!

Wordsarecontainers.They’refilledwithsomething.Theyarefilledwithbelief,hope,and faith, or they are filled with unbelief. Our words have power, and they create anatmosphere!

Have you everwalked into a room that you could tellwas chargedwith strife?Youdidn’tknowwhathadbeensaid,butcrosswordshadbeenspoken.Whenyoubegintotalkonthenegativeside,youcreateanatmosphereofunbelief.Whathappenswhenyouhavean atmosphere of unbelief? Nothing happens! And everybody who comes into thatatmospherestartstobepulleddownbyit.

Ontheotherhand,whenyoucontinuetosaywhatGodsays,youcreateanatmosphereof faith. Speaking words of faith creates an excitement, an expectation. It creates anatmosphere of “God said I’m a victor!”When you start saying, “I always triumph inChristJesus,”thosewordscreatesomething.Youcangetupinthemorningfeelingbad,butifyousay,“ThisisthedaytheLordhasmade.Iwillrejoiceandbegladinit!”yourentireattitudewillchange.Speakingwordsof faith is important.Yourwordsareoneofthemostpowerfulweaponsyouhave.WhatyousayreleasesGod’spowertoworkinyourlife.

Often we set limits for what we will experience by what we say. The enemy is

constantlytryingtosetlimitsinourspiritualworldtokeepusfromreceivingallthatGodsaysbelongstous.Andonewayhedoesthatisbyusingourownwordsagainstus.

YoucantakethelimitsoffbyspeakinginagreementwiththeWord,oryoucankeepthelimitsonbysayingthingsthatarecontrarytotheWord.Peoplewhosaythingssuchas,“IjustthankGodthatHesavedme,butIcangetbywithoutbeinghealed,”areputtinglimitson themselveswith their ownmouths.Godwants to heal themanddootherwonderfulthingsforthem,butHecan’tbecausewiththeirwordstheyhaveputupastopsignthatsays,“No,Idon’twanthealing.”

It’ssoimportantforus,asbelievers,tograbholdofthetruthofGod’sWordandbegintothinkright,believeright,andtalkright.ThenwewillbegintoreceiveallthatHehasforus!Andremember,wecan’teverstopsayingwhatGodsaysbecausetheenemywillkeep trying to trapuswithourwords.Butwhenwecontinually speakGod’sWord, thevictorywillbeours!

Chapter9

CreatetheWorldYouWanttoSeeGodistheOnewhocreatedtheearth,theplanetweliveon.Buteachofushassomethingtosayabouttheworldwelivein,personally.

AbrahamusedhisfaithtoreleaseGod’spowertocreatetheworldhewantedtolivein.Andhisfaithcreatedaworldofblessingsandabundance.AswithAbraham,Godwantsustocreateourownworldtoday.

Abrahamiscalledthefatherofourfaith.

ROMANS4:16–1716Thereforeitisoffaiththatitmightbeaccordingtograce,sothatthepromisemightbesuretoalltheseed,notonlytothosewhoareofthelaw,butalsotothosewhoareofthefaithofAbraham,whoisthefatherofusall17(asitiswritten,“Ihavemadeyouafatherofmanynations”).

AbrahamisthefatherofallwhobelongtoChrist.

GALATIANS3:7,29(NIV)7Understand,then,thatthosewhobelievearechildrenofAbraham.29IfyoubelongtoChrist,thenyouareAbraham’sseed,andheirsaccordingtothepromise.

These verses are saying that we are part of the family of God through Abraham.AbrahamhassettheexampleforusofbelievingGod—andthenspeakinginfaith,actinginfaith,andreceivingbyfaith.AbrahamactedlikeGodacts.Godtoldhimtobelieveinthe impossible and call the things thatwere not in existence as though theywere.AndAbrahamdidit.Hecreatedablessedworldtoliveinbyhisfaith.

Whatkindofworlddoyouwanttolivein?Igrewupinaworldofpeace,andaworldof love and faith. Thatwas theworldmy father created for us by thewords he spoke.Every timeproblemscamealongorwhenanythingcameagainstus, Iwould say, “Dadwhatarewegoingtodonow?”andhewouldspeakwordsoffaith.

Howmanypeoplehavelookedaroundandsaid,“ThisisnotthekindofworldIwanttolivein.”Circumstancescomeinandtrytocreateaworldforus.Sicknessanddiseasetrytocreateaworldofproblemsandoppression.Crimeandviolencetrytocreateaworldoffearanduncertainty.Financialcrisesorajoblosstrytocreateaworldofpoverty.ButtheWordofGodsaysthatwedon’thavetolivethere.

Howcanwecreatetheworldwewanttosee?WecanbelieveGodandspeakwhattheWordofGod says.Wecandeclareby faith, “Noweapon that’s formedagainstmewillprosper,andnojoblosswillpreventmefromlivingin theworld thatGodhasforme.”People experiencing a situation like that need to say everyday, “I thankGod thatHe’screatinga job forme.”Andwhile theyareout lookingfora job, theycanbelieveGod.TheycansayGod’sWordandkeepsayingituntiltheyseetheirworldchange.

In1964,IwasintheUnitedStatesArmyandstationedinTaipei,Taiwan,workinginthe Army Security Agency. One day several of us went riding down the island onmotorcycles.Wewerecomingbackatnight,andIwasonthetailendofthegrouptrying

to stay up. I was riding a 150Honda, and I had it wide open. If you’ve ridden in themountains when the wind is blowing, you know that when you ride between twomountains,sometimestherewillbeastrongwind.Andwhenyoureallygetgoingononeofthosemotorcycles,gravityisnotholdingyouasmuchasitdidbefore.

Icamearoundacornerandthewindhitmeandthrustmesidewaystowardathousandfoot drop-off! I could feel that motorcycle sliding across the pavement. I was kickinggears,doingeverythingIcouldtostraightenbackup,butIwasstillsliding.AllIhadtimetosaywas,“Jesus,Jesus,Jesus!”AndthenextthingIknew,Ihitthemiddleoftheroadandstopped.Ijustsatthereforaminute,straddlingthebike.

Whentheguysrealizedsomethingwaswrong,theyturnedbackaround.Wecouldseewherethebroadsideofmytireslidrightovertheedge!Wecouldalsoseethemarkfromthebackwheelwhereitwentsquealingupthesideofthemountainandthencamebackdown.

Theotherguyssaid,“Man,Hagin,you’rereallylucky.Thattirehungontheedgeandshotyoubackacrosstheroad.”

“Thattiredidn’thangontheedge,”Ireplied.“ItwasthehandofGodthatputmebackonthepavement.”

Ididn’thavetimetopraythatnight.Ididn’thavetimetofast.Iwasonamotorcycleabouttoslideoverathousand-footdrop!AllIhadtimetodowastocryout,“Jesus,Jesus,Jesus!”But thosewords activated a power that’s always available to us.And the Lordpushed that motorcycle away from the edge. I created the miracle I wanted to see byspeakingtheNameofJesusinfaith!

Don’tletanybodyelsetellyouwhatkindofworldyou’regoingtolivein.Evenifyoumakemistakes,Godisstillonyourside,andHeiswaitingforyoutocreatetheworldthatyouwanttolivein!Youcanliveinaworldoflove,faith,peace,abundance,health,andsuccess.Italldependsonyou.Iftherearesomethingsyou’renotwillingtolivewith,youcancreateadifferentworld.

GodcreatedtheworldHewantedtosee,andHehasgivenustheabilitytocreateourworldtoo.

GENESIS1:2–4(KJV)2Andtheearthwaswithoutform,andvoid;anddarknesswasuponthefaceofthedeep.AndtheSpiritofGodmoveduponthefaceofthewaters.3AndGodsaid,Lettherebelight:andtherewaslight.4AndGodsawthelight,thatitwasgood:andGoddividedthelightfromthedarkness.

Goddidnotwant aworldof chaos.Hedidnotwant awasteland.SoHecreated theworldHewantedtoseewithHiswordsandHispower.HowdidHeputHispowerintooperation?Byspeakingwords.Hesaid,“Lettherebe...andtherewas!”

The power ofGodwas available then, and it’s available to us now.Whenwe speakGod’swords,we releaseHis power.But it’s important for us to realize thatHis powerdoesn’tworkuntilweactivateitwithourfaith.

Let’s lookat thisexample.IfIhadastickofdynamitewithafuseinonehandanda

match in the other, I would have the power available to create a huge explosion. Butnothingwouldhappenuntil I struck thematchand lit the fuse. In the sameway,God’spowerisalwaysavailable,buttherehastobeanotheringredient,anactivator.Somethinghastoactivatethatpower.Hispowerisreleasedwhenwespeakwordsoffaith!

Of course, we can speak and not believe and nothing will happen. It takes faith toreleasethepower.Lukechapter5tellsusthatthehousewhereJesuswaspreachingwasfullofpeople“andthepoweroftheLordwaspresenttohealthem”(v.17).Thepowerwaspresenttohealthembutonlyonepersonwashealed—theparalyticwhosefriendslethimdownonhisbedthroughtheroof(vv.18–25).

Jesussawtheirfaithandthemanwashealed.Althoughthepowerwastheretohealtherestofthepeople,nooneelsewashealed.Nooneelsehadanyfaithinaction.

Therearetwothingsyoumustunderstandifyouwanttocreatetheworldyouwanttosee(inlinewithGod’sWord).First,ittakesthepowerofGod,whichisalwaysavailable,andittakesyourfaithspeakingthatworldintoexistence.

WhenGodcreatedtheworld,hedidn’tcreateeverythingatonce.Hetookitonestepata time.Genesischapter1tellsus thestepsGodtook.FirstHespokethefirmament intoexistence.He spoke thewaters and thedry land intoexistence.He spoke theplant life,sun,stars,moon,animals,andflyingcreaturesintoexistence.Andfinally,HelookedatallthatHe had created and saw that itwas good.He created aworld thatwas filledwithorder,andHecreateditwithHiswords.Andwecanalsocreatetheworldwewanttoliveinthroughthewordswespeak,accordingtoGod’sWord.

TheVoiceofFaith

Manypeopledonotrealizehowimportantourwordsare.OurwordswillopenthedoorforGodtomoveinourlives,orourwordswillallowtheenemytocomeinandsteal,kill,anddestroyus.

People say many things that affect their lives without realizing it. Some people arealwaysjokingaround.There’snothingwrongwithagoodcleanjokeorhavingfuninlife.But sometimes people joke somuch that their words don’t line up enoughwithGod’sWordtocarryanypower.

Some people speak lies and untruths. Others speak mean and hateful words. Somepeoplegrowlallthetime.Everytimeyouseethem,they’refindingfaultwithsomething—tothem,nothingiseverright.Thensomepeoplegripeandcomplainallthetime.Otherswhineandbeg.Insteadofhavingfaith,theycryout,“Oh,God,please.Oh,God!”

We don’t have to beg God for anything. He’s already made everything we needavailable to us through Jesus Christ. Instead, we need to learn how to speak the rightwordstoreceivethethingsHehaspromised.

In theaccountof theSyrophoenicianwoman,weseecan the importanceof speakingwiththevoiceoffaithandtheeffectthatithasuponaperson’slife.

MARK7:24–2724 From thereHe arose andwent to the region of Tyre and Sidon.AndHe entered a house andwantednoonetoknowit,butHecouldnotbehidden.

25ForawomanwhoseyoungdaughterhadanuncleanspiritheardaboutHim,andshecameandfellatHisfeet.26ThewomanwasaGreek,aSyro-Phoenicianbybirth,andshekeptaskingHimtocastthedemonoutofherdaughter.[Noticethat“shekeptaskingHim.”]

27ButJesussaidtoher,“Letthechildrenbefilledfirst,foritisnotgoodtotakethechildren’sbreadandthrowittothelittledogs.”

Inthisdayandage,Jesuswouldhaveprobablygottenthisresponse:“Whodoyouthinkyouareanyway,callingmeadog!”Butinsteadofgettingupset,lookhowsheresponded.

MARK7:28–3028AndsheansweredandsaidtoHim,“Yes,Lord,yeteventhelittledogsunderthetableeatfromthechildren’scrumbs.”29ThenHesaidtoher,“Forthissayinggoyourway;thedemonhasgoneoutofyourdaughter.”30Andwhenshehadcometoherhouse,shefoundthedemongoneout,andherdaughterlyingonthebed.

Inverse29,“thissaying”impliesthattheSyrophoenicianwomanexpressedherdeep-rootedsentimentbythewordsshespoke.Shedeclaredwhatshebelievedinherheart.Ourwords express what we believe in our hearts. And those words will either producesomethinggoodandpositive,orsomethingthatisnegativeandnotofmuchvalue.

Lookattheresultofhergivingvoicetoherdeep-rootedfaith.Jesussaidbecauseofherwords,thedemonhadgoneoutofherdaughter.Shecouldhavereactedanotherway.Butshedidn’t.Shedidn’tstartwhining.Shedidn’tcry.Shedidn’tcomplainorgetupset!Shejustsaidthatthedogsgetthecrumbs.Shewaspersistent.SheknewthatJesuscouldutteronewordandthedemonwouldbegone.Andthatisexactlywhathappened.

If peoplewould get hold of the importance of speaking the rightwords in linewithGod’sWord, theywouldbesurprisedathow their liveswouldbegin tochange.Arightwordspokenindueseasonwillproducegoodresults.Awrongwordspokenindueseasonwill produce death. Right and wrong thinking are very important. Right thinking willproduce right believing, and right believing will produce right talking. Of course, theoppositeisalsotrue.

Whenwe speakwith the voice of faith from a deep-rooted belief, from a convictiondeepinourhearts,wewillberewarded.

MATTHEW12:34–3534“Foroutoftheabundanceoftheheartthemouthspeaks.35Agoodmanoutofthegoodtreasureofhisheartbringsforthgoodthings,andanevilmanoutoftheeviltreasurebringsforthevilthings.”

HowdoesGoddefineevil?According toHebrews3:12,Goddefinesevilas“anevilheartofunbelief.”ThisverseisreferringtotheIsraeliteswhobelievedtheevilreportofthetenspiesratherthanGod’swords.Jesusissayingthatitisimpossibleforapersonwithan unbelieving heart to speak words of faith. Our words and our heart condition areconnected.

Thefollowingversesshowwhathappenswhenwespeakwiththevoiceoffaith.

PROVERBS18:20–2120Aman’sstomachshallbesatisfiedfromthefruitofhismouth;Fromtheproduceofhis lipshe

shallbefilled.21Deathandlifeareinthepowerofthetongue,Andthosewholoveitwilleatitsfruit.

FromtheseversesinProverbschapter18,wecanseethatwearefilledorsatisfiedbythewordsofourmouths.Whenwetalk,wearegoingtoexperiencetheconsequencesofourwords,onewayortheother.Ourtalkingwillproduceeithernourishmentforus,oritwilldestroyus.Saythisaloud:“MywordswillgivemeeitherallthegoodthingsthatGodhasforme,ormywordswilldestroyme.”Deathandlifeareinthepowerofthetongue.It’sthatsimple.

Romans10:9–10carriesasimilarmessage.

ROMANS10:9–109IfyouconfesswithyourmouththeLordJesusandbelieveinyourheartthatGodhasraisedHimfromthedead,youwillbesaved.10Forwiththeheartonebelievesuntorighteousness,andwiththemouthconfessionismadeuntosalvation.

ThemorewebelieveandspeaktheWord,themoreourlifewillbefilledwiththethingsofGod.Deathand lifeare in thepowerof the tongue—in thepowerofourwords.Thetypeoflifeweleadhastodowiththetypeofwordswespeak.Ourwordshavetheabilityto influence, control, direct, andguideour lives.Whenwe receive the revelationof thepowerof thewordswespeak,wewillbegin to reap thebenefitsof it.Whenweboldlydeclarewiththevoiceoffaithwhatwebelieve,wewillreceive.

Thevoiceoffaith—thewordswespeakoutofourdeep-rootedconvictionsandbeliefs—isourticketforreceiving.Ifwedon’tlikewhatisgoingonaroundus,wecanchangeitby thewordswespeak.Wecancreateaworldwithourwords, if theyarebasedon theWordofGod.Ofcourse,aswesawbefore,therearesomethingsweneedtochangeinthenaturalrealmifwewantourworldtochange.

Forexample,ifyou’restuckinarutandwanttoadvance,youcantakesomecoursesorgetfurthertraining.Youcandosomethingtosetyourselfonanewcourse!Inthisdayandage,youcanbecomeanddowhateveryouwantifyouputyourmindtoit.Studyintheareas where you need to study, and then take hold of the Word of God to help youadvance.

Andremember,throughJesus,Godhasmadeuskingsandpriestsinourworld.Hehascreatedustoruleandreignoverthecircumstancesoflife.

REVELATION1:66andhasmadeuskingsandprieststoHisGodandFather,toHimbegloryanddominionforeverandever.Amen.

Howdoesakingruleinhisworld?Withwords!Hemakesdecrees.Whatkindofworlddoyouwanttosee?Decreeit!

Ichallengeyoutocreatetheworldyouwanttosee.CreateitwiththewordsyouspeakinlinewithGod’sWord.Ifyoudo,Ibelieveyouwillfindthatyoucanlivealifeofjoyandhappiness—andoh,whatalifeitwillbe!

Chapter10

StayFullyPersuadedDoubt, unbelief, double-mindedness, and wavering are brothers. They all go together.Hangingaroundwith themwillkeepyou fromadvancing to thenext levelGodhas foryou.

JAMES1:6–8(NIV)6Butwhenheasks,hemustbelieveandnotdoubt,becausehewhodoubtsislikeawaveofthesea,blownandtossedbythewind.7ThatmanshouldnotthinkhewillreceiveanythingfromtheLord;8heisadouble-mindedman,unstableinallhedoes.

TheBibleisveryclearaboutstayinginfaithinordertoreceivethepromisesofGod.Aswehaveseenalready,Abraham“didnotwaverthroughunbeliefregardingthepromiseofGod”andhewas“fullypersuadedthatGodhadpowertodowhathehadpromised”(Rom.4:20–21NIV).

AreyoufullypersuadedaboutGod’spromises?Orareyoujustacceptingtheminyourmind?There is adifference.Whenyou’re fullypersuaded,nothingwilldrawyouawayfrom His Word. When you just accept something in your mind, almost anything canseparate you from your confession of faith. This is a serious matter. It’s very easy tomentallyagreewithsomething.It’sanotherthingtobefullypersuaded.

MentalAssentorFullPersuasion?

Youfindoutifyou’rereallypersuadedaboutthepromisesofGodwhenyou’refacingrealdanger.YoufindoutifyoureallybelievewhatGodsays,asIdid,whenyoursonislying in the operating room from seven o’clock in the morning until seven o’clock atnight,havingsurgeryforatumoronthebrain.

You find out if you really believe what God said in HisWord when your pilot haslanded on a grass strip, kicked you out of the airplane, and said, “I’ve got to beat thisstormbacktoNairobi.There’stheroad.Catcharideintotowntoyourhotel.”Youfindout ifyou’re fullypersuadedwhenyou’restandingon thesideof that roadandallofasudden a girl comes out of the bushes on the other side, starts pointing at you andscreaming,andotherpeoplestartcomingoutofthebushes,aswell.

YoufindoutifyoureallydobelievewhatGodsayswhensomebodyfinallygivesyouaride.Youcrawlintothebackoftheirlittleoldvehicleandseethreebigguyssittingthere,eyeingyouupanddown,eyeingyourcamerasandyourluggage.Youhaveenoughsensetoknowwhat’sgoingthroughtheirminds,anditisn’tgood.

Whenthishappenedtome,thepersonweweregoingtoseetoldus,“Oh,myLord—Idon’tknowhowmanypeoplehavegottenrideslikethat,andnobodyhaseverseenthemagain.”Infact,hesaidwhenheheardthatwehadbeenkickedoutoftheaircraft,hecalledhischurchpeopletogetherandtheyhadaprayermeetinguntilwefinallyarrivedaround2:30thatmorning.

YoufindoutifyoureallybelieveGodwhenyou’restayinginamotelontheshoresofa

lakewherethemosquitoesareeverywhereandmalariaisrampant.Youcanseeswarmsofmosquitoesupinthecornersoftheroom,andyoudon’tevenhaveanettosleepunder.You find out if you are justmentally acceptingwhat youknowaboutGodor if you’rereallybelievingit.

IhadalreadymadeaconfessionoffaithafterwegotofftheplaneinNairobi.IgrabbedthehandoftheguyIwaswithandsaid,“Whilewe’rehereinthiscountrywewillnotbebittenbyanyinsects.”Butwhenyouliedowninthebedatnightandhearthemosquitoesbuzzbyyourears,yourmindstartstellingyou,“You’reinbigtrouble.”That’swhenyoufind out if the promises of God are just something you’re merely agreeing with, or ifyou’refullypersuaded.

Itwastoohotinourroomforanycover.Besides,wedidn’thaveanycover—notevenasheet. But I knew Iwas persuaded, and I stayed in thatmotel room for awholeweekwithoutonemosquitobitingme.

DidIhaveanopportunitytobecomeseparatedfrommystatementoffaith?Ohyes!Allkindsofthoughtscametomymind.Hey,youknowgoodandwellthatthosemosquitoescanbiteyou.Iftheylandonyouthey’regoingtobiteyou.AndIdidhavesomelandonmyarm,buttheydidn’tbiteme!ItwasamatterofwhetherIreallybelievedthepromisesofGodinmyheartorjustacceptedtheminmymind.

FocusonGod’sPromises

Let’s look again atAbraham’s example.Howdid he stay fully persuaded thatGod’spromisetohimwouldcometopass?

Tostay fullypersuaded thathewould receive fromGod,Abrahamstayedfocusedonthepromises.

SomepeoplestartoutbelievingGod,butifyouquestionthemaboutwheretheystand,insteadofcomingoutwithadirectstatement,theydodgetheissue.Weneedtobedirect.Wecan’tbeataroundthebushandexpectresults.WeneedtogostraighttothepointandmakeaclearconfessionofGod’sWord.

We’ve probably all been around people who talk in a circle so that when they’rethrough,wedon’thaveanyideawhattheysaid.Ifyou’veeverhadabosswhotalkedinacircleinsteadofbeingdirect,whenhefinishedtalkingyoudidn’tknowwhetheryouweresupposedtodosomethingornot.

Insteadoftalkingaroundthecircumstance,godirectlytotheproblemandspeakrighttoitwiththevoiceoffaith.Declarethatyoucanaccomplishwhateveritisyouarebelievingforand thatyouwillnotbedefeated.Say thatyouaremore thanaconqueror inChristJesusandbegintodeclarethevictory!Saythatyoubelieveitandthatsettlesit.

Abrahamwould not allow himself to waver in unbelief in anyway, shape, form, orfashion.Hegrewstrongerwithhisconfessionoffaitheventhoughhecouldn’tunderstandhow thepromisewould come topass.Abraham realized that theonlyway thepromisewouldtakeplaceisifGoddidit!

GodgaveAbrahamsomewordsofencouragement tohelphimkeephisfaithfocusedonthepromise.HesaidthatAbraham’sdescendentsweregoingtobeasnumerousasthe

starsandthesandsofthesea(Gen.22:17KJV).SoeverytimeAbrahamlookedupatthenightskyorsawthesandontheseashore,hewasremindedofthepromiseGodhadgivenhim.BecauseAbrahamstayedfocused,theageandappearanceofhisownbodyandthedeadnessofSarah’swombhadnoeffectonhimwhatsoever.

Weneed to continually remindourselves of thepromises ofGod and realize thatwecannot let outside circumstances have any effect uponwhat we believe.We cannot letthemdrawourfocusawayfromwhatGodsays.

ManypeoplestartbelievingGod,butwhenthepromisedoesn’tcometopasswithinafewdays, theybegin toaskcautiously skepticalquestions. “Wait aminute.Did I reallyhearfromGod?Orwasitjustmethinkingthat?”

Because of outside pressures, they allow themselves to start asking those cautiousquestions. They think they won’t be drawn into unbelief. They think they are beingpracticalbysaying,“Justaminute.Weneedtolookatthissituationandthinkaboutitforalittlewhile.”No—ifwestarttoexaminethesituationfromthementalrealm,wewillbepulledbackintothearenaofdoubtandunbelief.Tostayinthearenaoffaith,weneedtostayfocusedonwhatthepromiseofGodsays.

Really,weneed toplunge into thepromiseswithabandonment likepeoplewhojumpintothewatertogoswimming.Whenpeoplegoswimming,sometimestheytestthewaterwith their toefirstand thengraduallyslide in.That’s thewaymanypeoplearewith thepromisesofGod.Theyjustpokearoundtheedges.Butwhenwegoswimming,whetherwetestthewaterfirstorsimplyjumpin,thetemperaturewillbethesame.

Ifwe’re going to receive the promises ofGod,we need to just jump in.Weneed toshowthatwearecommittedandmeanbusiness!IfGodsaidit,webelieveit.Thereisnoother alternative—no ifs, ands, or buts. Receiving the promises of God in our lives isdependentuponkeepingtheWordofGodinfrontofus.

Whenthepressure’son,readthepromises.Ifoutsidecircumstancessay,“It’snotgoingtohappen,”begintodeclare,“ItisgoingtohappenbecausetheWordofGodsaysitis.”When lack looms over you, read the promises.When sickness and pain pound at yourbody,readthepromises.Whenfeartriestoinvadeyourlife,readandspeakthepromises.Whenimpossibilityisstaringyouintheface,stareatthepromisesinstead.

That’snotthetimetolooksomewhereelse.That’sthetimetostayfocusedontheWordofGod.Ifyouwanttoreceivewhattheworldhastooffer,justfocusonwhattheworldsays.Focusonwhatyoufeel,see,andwhateverybodyaroundyouissaying.Butifyouwant to receivewhatGod has to offer, then focus onwhatHe has to say.Don’t allowanythingelsetocomeintoyourmind,andyouwillreceivetheansweryou’reseeking.

ConfessYourFaith

TostayfullypersuadedthathewouldreceivefromGod,Abrahamconfessedhisfaith.Heshowednohesitation.Andhemaintainedhisconfession.

It’seasytomakeastatementoffaith,butit’sanotherthingtoliveit,especiallywhenallthecircumstancesstartpushinginonusandevenourclosefriendsandrelativesbegintoquestion us.When the pressure is on,we can become separated from our statement offaith. But ifwewant to stay fully persuaded,wemust not become separated from our

faith!

Wemayrealizethattheeconomyisn’tgood,butwemustdecidenottofocusonthat.Thisdoesn’tmean thatwe ignore the facts in thenatural realm. Itmeans thatwearen’tgoingtoletthosefactscontrolus.Wearenotgoingtoletthemmakeussadorupsetaboutthe situation.Godsaid thatHewill takecareof thosewhoarecalledbyHisname.WemayhavenoearthlyideahowHewilldoit,butwedohaveaheavenlyidea.HewilldoitbyHispower!IfHetookcareofmillionsofIsraeliteswanderingthroughthewilderness,He will take care of us. They never went hungry or without water. They never wentwithoutthethingstheyneeded.

Inorder toconfessGod’spromises,wemusthaveaclearunderstandingofwhat theyare.It’simpossibletohaveadirect,specificconfessionwhenwedon’tseethepromisesofGodclearly.Wemustkeep reading theWorduntilwehave a clearunderstandingof it.ThenwecantakeourstandandmakeaconfessionbasedfirmlyonwhatGodhastoldusisours.

DoNotGrowWeary

TostayfullypersuadedthathewouldreceivefromGod,AbrahamfocusedonbelievingGod.HefocusedonGod’sfaithfulnessandonknowingthatGodhadthepowertodowhatHe had promised.Abrahamwas completely assured and convinced. And he refused togrowwearyinbelieving.

Faith may not bring the answer right away, but faith will always (not maybe, butalways)bringtheanswer.Galatians6:9tellsustonotgrowweary.

GALATIANS6:9(NIV)9Letusnotbecomewearyindoinggood,foratthepropertimewewillreapaharvestifwedonotgiveup.

Wewillreaptheharvestatthepropertimeifwedon’tgiveup.Weneedtomaintainourconfessionoffaithandrealizethatittakestimeforthemanifestationtoreachthepointofharvest.Firstthefieldhastobeprepared.Thentheseedhastobeplantedandhavetimetogrow.Thenthere’saperiodoftimebeforetheharvest.Aspiritualfieldisnodifferent.Weneed toprepareourhearts,believeGod, and stay fullypersuaded. Ifwe refuse togrowweary,wewillwatchtheharvestcome!

Chapter11

GetReadyfortheBlessingHaveyoueverbeentotheplacewhereyouknewthatwhatyou’vebeenbelievingforwasjustabouttohappen?WhentheIsraeliteswereonthethresholdofenteringthePromisedLand, Joshua and his army commanders gave the children of Israel the followinginstructions.

JOSHUA3:1–5(NLT)1EarlythenextmorningJoshuaandalltheIsraelitesleftAcaciaGroveandarrivedatthebanksoftheJordanRiver,wheretheycampedbeforecrossing.2ThreedayslatertheIsraeliteofficerswentthroughthecamp,3givingtheseinstructionstothepeople:“WhenyouseetheLeviticalpriestscarryingtheArkoftheCovenantoftheLordyourGod,moveoutfromyourpositionsandfollowthem.4Sinceyouhavenevertraveledthiswaybefore,theywillguideyou.Stayaboutahalfmilebehindthem,keepingacleardistancebetweenyouandtheArk.Makesureyoudon’tcomeanycloser.”5Then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow theLordwill do greatwondersamongyou.”

Joshua and his commanders made two especially important points to the Israelites:“Youhavenevertraveledthiswaybefore,”and“Purifyyourselves,fortomorrowtheLORD

willdogreatwondersamongyou.”

Thiswasthenextgeneration,buttheyknewaboutallthegreatthingsGodhaddoneforthepreviousgeneration.TheyallknewthestoryoftheirmiraculousescapeoutofEgyptandhowGodhadsentMoses to lead themto thePromisedLand.Theyknewabout thepartingof theRedSea, thewater thatwassuppliedfor themwhentheydidn’thaveanywater,andthemannathatcamedownfromHeaven.Theyknewaboutthequailthatcamewhentheywantedmeat.

Theyknewaboutthepeoplenotbeingfeebleorsickandtheirclothesnotwearingout.TheyknewaboutGodmeetingwithMosesonthemountaintopandspeakingto thematMountSinaiwithloudthunderingsandlightnings.TheyhadheardthestoriesofthewaysGod had fought for them when they were outnumbered and outmanned, and they stillwon!

As great as these thingswere, theywere just a foretaste ofwhat theywere about toexperienceinthePromisedLand.InthewildernessGodperformedgreatmiracles,butinthe Promised Land He surrounded the Israelites every day with His blessings. In thewilderness the people could not possess the land, but in the PromisedLand they couldpossessallthelandthatGodhadsaidwastheirs.Inthewildernesstheyhadwanderedfor40years,butinthePromisedLandtheycoulddwellsecurelyintheirownhouses.Inthewilderness they had just enough to get by, but in the PromisedLand, theywould havemorethanenough.God’smiraculoussupplywasgoingtobeevenbetterinthePromisedLand.

Doyoufeelasthoughyouhavebeeninthewilderness,liketheIsraeliteswere?You’veexperienced God’s provision, even though you’ve been in the midst of difficulties,negativecircumstances,andhardships.AreyoureadytostepintoGod’sPromisedLandso

youcanexperiencethelevelofabundanceHehasforyou?Ifso,it’stimetogetreadyfortheblessing.Godalwayshasanewlevelofblessingforustooccupy.

JoshuatoldtheIsraelitesthattheyweregoingtoanewlevelofliving.Theyweregoingtoanewlevelofblessing,anewlevelofprovision,andanewplacetolive.Thiswasanewday—thehour theyhadbeenwaiting for.Nomorewandering in thewildernessortravelingthroughalandtheydidn’town.Nomorelivingwithjustbarelyenoughtogetby.

Thiswasapivotalmomentforthem.Andwhenwearestandingatapivotalmoment,on the thresholdofmoving into thegreaterblessingsofGod,weare theoneswhowillchoosewhetherwewillreceivethoseblessings.TheIsraelitescouldchoosetogowhereGodwasleadingthem,ortheycouldstayandbesatisfiedwheretheywere.

AreYouReady?

Wecanbesatisfiedwhereweare,orwecanchoosetomovetoanewexperiencewithGod.WearestillGod’speople,nomatterwhichdirectionwetake.Butwewillneed todecidewhetherwewillmovetoanewarea—thatnewlevelwithGod—ornot.

Weallfacethischoice.Weneedtorealizethatthisisourtime.GodisalwaysprovidingopportunitiesforustolearntotrustHimmoreandmoveuphigher.WenowhavethetoolstohelpusmovefromanaveragelifetotheextraordinaryoneGoddesiresforus.Wemustdecide toeitherstaywhereweareorcastoff thedarknessof thepastandrise toanewlevelwithGod.Thedawnofanewdayishere!

2CORINTHIANS6:22Behold,nowistheacceptedtime;behold,nowisthedayofsalvation.

Let’sreadthisverseagainfromTheNewEnglishBible.

2CORINTHIANS6:2(NEB)2Thehouroffavourhasnowcome;now,Isay,hasthedayofdeliverancedawned.

“Dawn”meansanewbeginning.Dawnmeanstheolddarknesshasfadedawayandthelight of a new day has come. Let us rise from the darkness that we’ve been in—thedarknessofhardships,trials,tribulation,andalltheotherdifficultiesthedevilisthrowingatus.Let’senterthenewday!

Sometimesitseemsasifthereisnowayout.Butit’stimetowakeupandrealizethatGodisnotonlywithus—He’sreadytodeliverusandsetusfree!Heisreadytobringtheblessing.Heisalwaysready.Thequestionis,arewereadytoreceive?

JoshuatoldtheIsraelitestopurifythemselves.TheKingJamesVersionsays,“Sanctifyyourselves.”Godwassaying,“Getyourselvesready.Prepareyourselves.”UndertheOldCovenant there was a cleansing process that God’s people went through to preparethemselves.ButundertheNewCovenant,thebloodofJesuswasappliedtoourheartsandwewerecleansedbythatpreciousblood.Joshuawastellingthepeoplethattheyneededtodo something before they could receive something. They needed to get ready for theblessing.

Today,howdowegetourselvesreadyfortheblessing?OnewayistobegintobelieveGod—tobelievewhatHesaidinHisWord.Anotherwayistobegintoserveinourlocal

body,thelocalchurch,tobecomeinvolvedingivingofourselveswithourtime,talents,andskills.AnotherwayisthroughBiblereadingandprayer.Therearecertainthingsweneedtodotobereadytoreceivetheblessing.

In the natural, if we promise our children we will reward them if they make goodgrades,thenit’suptothemwhethertheblessinghappens.It’snotuptousasparents.

GodhasgivenusallthedirectionweneedinHisWordforreceivingHisblessings.Wehavealreadyexaminedmanyofthoseinstructionsinthisbook.WhenweknowwhattodotoreceiveHisblessing,itisuptoustotakeactionandreceiveit!

ThisiswhatJoshuawastellingtheIsraeliteswhenheurgedthemtogetready.HewassayingthatGodhaddonewhatHewasgoingtodotoblessthemandgivethemtheland.Nowitwasuptothemtoreceiveit.Hewastellingthenewgenerationthattheywereinthe place where their grandfathers, grandmothers, moms, and dads had been so manyyears before. The next level of blessing had been available to that generation, but theychosenottogoin!

Tothisnewgeneration,Hewassaying,“Whatareyougoingtodoabouttheblessing?Areyougoingtodecidetogoin?”PraiseGod,theygotreadyfortheblessingandtheywentinandpossessedtheland!

Sometimeswe seepeoplewhohavebeenbelievers for a long time, and theywonderwhythenewbelieversreceiveblessingafterblessingwhiletheystayonthesamelevelforsuch a long time. Usually they have the “elder brother” syndrome. In the story of theprodigalson, theelderbrotherwasangrywhenhisyoungerbrother returnedhomeafterriotousliving,andtheirfathercelebratedbykillingthefattedcalf.Butthefathertoldtheelder brother that everythinghehadwas alreadyhis—it had alwaysbeen there for him(Luke15:21–31).

When Iwas growing up, I used to go out toGrandma’s old farmhouse. Early in themorningshe servedabigbreakfastbeforeeveryonewhoworkedon thecropswentoutintothefields.Afterbreakfast,sheleftthesausageandbiscuitsonthetable.Atfiveandsixyearsold,Ialwayswantedtoeat.Soaround10o’clockinthemorning,Iwouldsay,“Grandma,I’mhungry.”

Andshewouldanswer,“Son,it’sinthereonthetable.Gogetabiscuitandsausage.”ThatremindsmeofhowitiswhenwegotoGodandsay,“Oh,Godblessme!”andHeissayingtous,“It’salreadyonthetable—gogetit!”God’sblessingsareavailableforallofHischildren.Wearetheoneswhoneedtoprepareourselves,getready,andthengoinandreceivethem!

HEBREWS11:66ButwithoutfaithitisimpossibletopleaseHim,forhewhocomestoGodmustbelievethatHeis,andthatHeisarewarderofthosewhodiligentlyseekHim.

Therearemanypeoplewhoarenotwillingtodoanythingtoreceivetheblessing.Theywant it to fallon them like ripeapplesor cherries fallingoff a tree.Butwhen the fruitbegins to fall off a tree, it is usually overripe—not in a condition that is particularlyvaluable.ThereisapropertimetogooutandpickthefruitandreceiveitasthedeliciousblessingGodintendedforittobe.

Wedosomethingtoreceivethatblessingwhenwegatherthefruitattherighttime.IfwewaitforGodtodropitonus,itwillbetoolate.Weneedtogetourselvesreadyandgogetit.NowisthetimeforustobelieveGodandspeakHisWordinordertoreceivetheblessingsHehasforus!

IntheOldTestament,God’speoplehadtowaitforHimtomove.IntheNewTestamentHehasalreadymoved.HeiswaitingforustoreceivewhatHehasalreadyprovided.Ofcourse,therearedivineappointmentswithGod.Ifyouareready,prepared,andbelieving,youwillbeatthoseappointmentsandreceivefromHim.Goddealsinabundance.Heisready to bring us, individually and as the corporate Body of Christ, the maximum,superabundant, over-the-top blessing—not just barely-enough-to-get-by tokens ofprovision.

JoshuatoldtheIsraelites,“Getready.”GodhasbeenreadytoblessusabundantlyeversinceJesusChristrosefromthedead.Areyoureadytoreceive?ReceivethenewlevelofblessingthatGodhasforyou!

Chapter12

RiseIntoGod’sBestSometimeswhenwebegin to talk aboutGod’s desire for us tomove to a new level inspiritualgrowth,peoplestartaskingquestions.Theysay,“What’sgoing tohappentousnow?Isthisnewlevelreallygoingtobebetterthanwhatwealreadyhave?”Let’slookatMoses’answerstosomeofthequestionsthechildrenofIsraelaskedwhentheywereontheirwaytothenextlevel.

EXODUS14:10–17(KJV)10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, theEgyptiansmarchedafterthem;andtheyweresoreafraid:andthechildrenofIsraelcriedoutuntotheLord.11AndtheysaiduntoMoses,BecausetherewerenogravesinEgypt,hastthoutakenusawaytodieinthewilderness?whereforehastthoudealtthuswithus,tocarryusforthoutofEgypt?12Isnot this theword thatwedid tell thee inEgypt, saying,Letusalone, thatwemayserve theEgyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in thewilderness.13AndMosessaiduntothepeople,Fearyenot,standstill,andseethesalvationoftheLord,whichhewillshewtoyoutoday:fortheEgyptianswhomyehaveseentoday,yeshallseethemagainnomoreforever.14TheLordshallfightforyou,andyeshallholdyourpeace.15AndtheLordsaiduntoMoses,Whereforecriestthouuntome?speakuntothechildrenofIsrael,thattheygoforward:16Butliftthouupthyrod,andstretchoutthinehandoverthesea,anddivideit:andthechildrenofIsraelshallgoondrygroundthroughthemidstofthesea.17AndI,behold,IwillhardentheheartsoftheEgyptians,andtheyshallfollowthem:andIwillgetmehonouruponPharaoh,anduponallhishost,uponhischariots,anduponhishorsemen.

Moses had led the people of Israel out of Egypt, and they headed for the PromisedLand.Theywere excited, becauseMoses had told them to rise up and get ready.Theywere going to the better life God had for them. They left rejoicing, leaving a life ofslavery.Then,allofasudden, theyfoundthemselves inanextremelydifficultsituation.Pharaohwas behind them, pursuing themwith his army. The Red Seawas in front ofthem.Theyhadnowayout.Theyweretrapped,orsotheythought.

RiseUpIntoGod’sPlan

TherewerethreeareaswhereGodwantedtheIsraelitestorisetoanewlevel,andHeshowedthemexactlyhowtodoit.ThisisanexampleofthewayGodwantsustoriseupintoalltheblessingsthatbelongtous.

First,wemustbewillingtoriseupintotheplanGodhasforus.Hehasaplanthatisbigenoughto takecareofus,whetherwecanseeitornot.TheIsraelitesmovedout tofollowGodtothenextlevel.Butallofasudden,theyencounteredhardship.Atthatpoint,they didn’t focus onGod’s plan.Whenwe start out to followGod, wewill encounterobstaclesandopposition.TheIsraelitesencounteredtheoppositionoftheEgyptianarmyandtheobstacleoftheRedSea.

GodhadgiventheplantoMoses,theirleader.HehadtoldMosesthatHewasgoingtodeliverthemtothePromisedLand.ThepeoplelistenedandfollowedMoses.God’splanis

notonlyforindividuals,butthereisalsoacorporateplanfortheChurchoftheLordJesusChrist.Notice that as thecorporateplan isput intoeffect, the individualplanalsogoesintoeffect.

For example, track is an individual sport, but it is also a team sport. What youaccomplishindividuallygoestowardpointsfortheteam,andwhentheteamwins,allofyouwin.Theteamgetsthechampionshipandtheindividualsalsogetfirstplace.

IfthecorporateChurchoftheLordJesusChristisgoingtorisetoitsfullpotential,thenthemembersindividuallyhavetorisetotheirfullpotential.Whenwelearnhowtoriseuptolifeunlimitedasindividuals,thenthewholeBodyofChristrisesup.

InFirstCorinthianschapter12,theApostlePaulusestheanalogyofthehumanbodytoshowhowthedifferentmembersoftheBodyofChristworktogether.Hetalksabouthoweachmemberhasafunctionandwheneachmemberisfunctioningproperly,theBodyofChrist as awhole functions properly.Whenwe begin to realize the relationship of thecorporate plan to the individual plan, we realize that the individual believers and thecorporateBodyaredesignedtoriseuptogether!

GodshowedMoseshowtohandletheobstaclesthatwereblockingtheIsraelitesfromrisingtothenextlevel.Mosestoldthepeopleto“standstill,andseethesalvationoftheLord.”ThenhedidwhattheLordtoldhimtodo.Hestretchedouthisrodandthewatersparted.Therewassolidground,nottreacherousground,fortheIsraelitestowalkacrossinsafety.AsGodrevealsHiswill tousandwebegintospeakHisWord,Hewillshowushowthoseobstaclescanberemovedfromourlives.

TherewereactuallytwomiraclesthathappenedwhentheRedSeaparted.Thefirstonehappenedwhenthewatersrolledback.Thesecondonehappenedwhentheseabedbecamedry.WhenyoubegintofollowGodtothenextlevel,thereisnoneedtobecomealarmedifobstaclesappearinfrontofyou.God’swayissureandsafe.AsyoufollowHisplanforyourlife,theobstacleswillhavetogo.

RiseIntothePlaceGodHasforUs

Togo to thenext level,wemust rise into theplaceGodhas forus.AsweobeyHisWord,Hisplanforourliveswillunfoldbeforeus,andwecanstepintotheproperplaceandposition.Sometimespeoplepray forGod to takeaction insomearea,butwhenHestarts tomove, theystartbackingup.Theysay,“Waitaminute.Thisisn’twhatIhadinmind!”Theymayevengorightuptothepointofblessingandthendrawback!

TheHoly Spirit guides us in differentways. Some peoplewantHim tomove in thesamewayeverytime,butHedoesn’tdothat.It’sbettertomovewithGodonunfamiliarground than it is to staywherewe are and just survive. IfwemovewithGod,wewillthrive,notjustsurvive!It’sveryimportantthatwekeepmovingforwardinthedirectionGodistakingus.WecanwalkintheconfidencethatHisplansforusaregoodandthatHeisalwaysreadytoblessus.

GodmadeawayfortheIsraelitestostepintotheirvictory.Iftheyhadnotbeenwillingto step into the Red Sea, theywould have been devoured by their enemies. Instead oflookingatthepartedwatersandthinking,“Whatarewedoing?Thisisreallyscary.It’ssofartotheotherside.Howcanwebesurethatwe’llmakeitacross?”theymarchedacross

thedryland.WhenGodmakesawayforus,wecan’tletourselvesbeovercomebyfear.WeneedtogointothesituationconfidentinGod’sWord.We’renotmovedbyanythingweseeorfeel.We’removedonlybywhatGodsays.

IfwearegoingtoriseupwithGodintothepositionHewantsforus,thenweneedtostudyandcontinuestudyingtheWordsowewillbereadywhenthetimecomestoriseuptothatposition.Manypeoplearetakenadvantageofbytheenemybecausetheyhaven’tbeenstudyingtheWord.ButwemustnotbeignorantofSatan’sdevices(2Cor.2:11).

Evenifyouhavealreadysteppedacrossthelinetovictory,youcannotletyourguarddown.Iremembersomethingafootballcoachusedtosayalongthoselines.Hetoldus,“Whenyoustepacross those lines,alwaysbe ready tohitorbehit.Even if thewhistleblows, you still need to be ready to take a hit.” Actually, it’s a known fact that moreinjurieshappenafterthewhistleblowsbecausesomeonewashitwhentheyweren’tready.

IfyougooutonaFridaynightandwinaballgame,therewillprobablybeacelebrationthatnight.Butthelastthingthecoachsaystoyoubeforeyouwalkoutofthelockerroomistoenjoythatnightbecausethenextdayyouwillstartalloveragain,preparingforthenextFriday.Inathletics,whenyouwinthevictoryonFridaynight,youhaveonenighttorejoice.Thenyouhavetoturnyourattentiontopreparingforthenextgame.Ifyourejoiceallweek,youwon’tbereadytoplayonFridaynightandyou’llbedefeated.

This same thing happens to us asChristians sometimes.After a big spiritual victory,someofusdropourguardandthedevilcomesinandattacksus.Wehaveavictory,andthenwe turn around and are defeated because wewere not prepared for the enemy tocome in. Remember, he goes around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour(1Peter5:8).Hedoesn’trelax.Yes,it’sokayforustoshoutandrejoicewhenwehavethevictory,butwestillhavetostayvigilantatalltimes.

RisetothePromise

Tomove to the next level,wemust rise into thepromise thatGod has for us. If theIsraelites hadn’t moved forward, the enemy would have never been destroyed. Again,Exodus 14:13 (KJV) says,“Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord,whichhewillshewtoyoutoday:fortheEgyptianswhomyehaveseentoday,yeshallseethemagainnomoreforever.”

WeneedtowholeheartedlymoveforwardwithGodandHispromises.Aswedo, theenemywillbedestroyed.SometimespeoplearewaitingforGodtotakecareoftheenemy.Instead,theyneedtograbholdofGod’spromisesandstartmovinginHisdirection.Thentheenemywillbetakencareof.

TheEgyptianstriedtofollowtheIsraelitesacrossthedrylandwhentheRedSeaparted.Butwhen the Israelitesmoved forward intoGod’s provision, thewholeEgyptian armywas destroyed. The people of God saw the Egyptians“again no more forever.” If theenemy ishoundingyouandbreathingdownyourneck,getholdofGod’spromisesandstartgoingforward.Theenemywillbedestroyed.

AttheRedSea,GodtoldMosestotellthepeoplethreethings.First,fearnot.Standstillandseethesalvation,orthedeliverance,oftheLord.Inotherwords,don’tturnandrun;holdyourground.Second,Mosestoldthem,holdyourpeace:theLordwillfightforyou.

Inotherwords,hewas saying, “Don’tgetupset and throw in the towel.”And the thirdthinghetoldthemwas,goforward.Inotherwords,takeyourplace;marchinthedirectionGodisshowingyou.

Boundaries

Torise intoGod’sbest,weneedtogobeyondtheboundaries thatarehemmingus inandkeepingusfromfulfillingeverythingGodhasforus.Manyboundariesaregood. Ifyouplayfootball,baseball,basketball,orasimilarsport, theboundariesaretheresothegame can be played the way it’s supposed to be played. These boundaries are goodbecausetheyhelpfacilitatethegame.

Spiritually, there are commandments of God that are boundaries which enable us toreceiveHis blessings.Our spiritualwalkhas to staywithin theboundaries for our ownbenefit. And remember, God’s boundaries never change! When we stay within theboundaries,we’reintherightpositionforvictory.

Everyrelationshipneedshealthyboundariessothatpeoplecanenjoylifetogether.Wehavetrafficlawstokeepuswithincertainboundariestoenableustodrivesafely.Wehaverulesandregulationsthatareacceptableboundariesforourworksowecanbeproductive.But there are some boundaries that keep us from receiving the promises ofGod. Theykeepus from livingat the levelGoddesires forus.Weneed to identify theundesirableboundariesandeliminatethemsotheywon’tlimitourpossibilitiesinGod.

Don’t let the devil hold you in captivity through fear, doubt, and unbelief.Don’t letunforgiveness andbitterness causeyou to live in thepast.Unforgiveness andbitternesswillbindandparalyzeyou.Yourfaithwillnotworkwhenthosetwonegativeforcesarepresent.IfGod’spossibilitiesaregoingtobeavailabletoyou,thenyoumustlearnhowtoforgive.

Matthewchapter18givesusanaccountoftheunforgivingservant.Whentheservantcouldnotpayhismasterthelargesumheowed,hebeggedformercyandforgiveness.Themasterwasmovedwithcompassionandforgavehimthedebt.Thenthesameservantwentout and demanded that one of his fellow servants,who owed himonly a small sumofmoney, pay him.When the fellow servant begged formercy, the first servant had himthrownintoprisoninsteadofforgivingthedebt.

Whenthemasterheardaboutthis,hecalledthefirstservantandsaid:

MATTHEW18:32–3332‘Youwickedservant!Iforgaveyouallthatdebtbecauseyoubeggedme.33Shouldyounotalsohavehadcompassiononyourfellowservant,justasIhadpityonyou?’

Thenthemasterthrewthemaninprison.GodisremindingusthroughthisstorythatHehasforgivenusofsomuch.WeneedtolearnhowtoforgiveothersasHehasforgivenus.

PutthePastBehind

PeoplewhoonlytalkaboutwhathappenedinthepastarenotexperiencingwhatGodhasforthemtoday.Theydwellonyesterdaytokeepfromhavingtofacethepresent.Bycontinuallytalkingaboutthememoriesofthepast,theywon’tmoveforwardtowhatisinfrontofthem.

Toomanypeoplesay,“Oh, remember thegoodolddays.”But Iheardsomeoneoncesay,“There’snopointinlookingbackunlessthat’sthedirectionyouwanttogo.”Wemustrefusetolookbackatthepast!

HEBREWS10:38–39(KJV)38Nowthejustshalllivebyfaith:butifanymandrawback,mysoulshallhavenopleasureinhim.39Butwearenotofthemwhodrawbackuntoperdition;butofthemthatbelievetothesavingofthesoul.

The New International Version makes these verses a little clearer and easier tounderstand.

HEBREWS10:38–39(NIV)38“Butmyrighteousonewilllivebyfaith.Andifheshrinksback,Iwillnotbepleasedwithhim.”39Butwe are not of thosewho shrink back and are destroyed, but of thosewhobelieve and aresaved.

TheIsraeliteswhodrewbackfromwhatGodwantedtodoforthembynotenteringthePromisedLand,weredestroyed.Wedon’twanttoshrinkback.WewanttomoveforwardandliveonthatextraordinarylevelwithGod.

Paultellsustoforgetthethingswhicharebehind.

PHILIPPIANS3:13–14(KJV)13Brethren,Icountnotmyselftohaveapprehended:butthisonethingIdo,forgettingthosethingswhicharebehind,andreachingforthuntothosethingswhicharebefore,14IpresstowardthemarkfortheprizeofthehighcallingofGodinChristJesus.

Theword“forgetting”herecarrieswithittheconnotationof“toneglectwillfully.”Thismeanschoosingtoforget.WhenPaulsaidthis,hehadtoforgetthathehadestablishedthegreatest churches that had ever existed.He had to forget that he had preached tomorepeopleandwas responsible formorepeople receiving theLord thananyoneelseat thattime.Buthealsohadtoforgetthatbeforehewassaved,hestoodbywhileStephenwasstonedandkilled.Hehadtoforgetaboutbeingshipwreckedandbeaten.Hehadtoforgetabout being stoned and left for dead on the side of the road. But he said (in somanywords),“ThisonethingIdo,forgettingeverythingthat’sinthepast,thegoodandthebad,andIpresstowardtheprizeforthehighcallingofGodinChristJesus.”

Presson!Reach forward to those thingswhich arebefore.Wehave to choosenot toremembersomeofthethingsinourlives.TheyareunderthebloodofJesus.Theydon’texistanymore.Wemustforget themandgoon.Andwecannotlet thedevilbringthosethingsuptokeepusfromrisingtonewlevelsinGod.

ExpecttheBest

Earlier,wesawthatDavidsaid,“Ishallnowperishonedayby thehandofSaul”(1Sam. 27:1 KJV). In this particular instance, he had an unusual lapse of faith and heexpectedtheworsttohappen.Butitneverdid.Somanytimesweexpecttheworstandaretormentedbythinkingthatsomethingisgoingtohappenthatneveractuallymaterializes.

Bycontrast,whenDanielwascastintothelions’den,ratherthanexpectingtheworst,hewas livingbyfaith.Daniel6:23states:“Danielwas takenupoutof theden,andno

injurywhateverwasfoundonhim,becausehebelievedinhisGod.”Danielwasexpectingthebest.

Faith letsus anticipate thevictory. I encourageyou to anticipate thebest.GodwantsyoutohaveHispromisesfulfilledineveryareaofyourlife.Theyarewaitingforyou.Justriseupandpossessthem.Youcancreatetheworldyouwanttosee!

AbouttheAuthorKennethW.Hagin,PresidentofKennethHaginMinistriesandpastorofRHEMABible

Church,seizeseveryministryopportunitytoimparttheattitudeof“Icannotbedefeated,and Iwill not quit.”Rev.Hagin hasministered for 50 years, beginning as an associatepastorandtravelingevangelist.HehasorganizedanddevelopedRHEMABibleTrainingCentersaroundtheworldandisthefoundingpastorofRHEMABibleChurch.HehoststheannualACalltoArms®Men’sConferenceandwithhiswife,Lynette,cohostsRHEMAPraise, a weekly television program, andRhema for Today, a weekday radio programbroadcast throughout the United States. They also conduct Living Faith Crusades,spreadingthemessageoffaithandhealingtotheworld.

Tofulfill theurgentcallofGodtoprepare theChurchforadeeperexperienceofHisPresence,Rev.Haginemphasizeskeyspiritualtruthsaboutfaith,healing,andothervitalsubjects. He ministers with a strong healing anointing, and his ministry helps leadbelieversintoagreaterexperienceofthegloryofGod.

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TableofContentsCreatetheWorldYouWanttoSee

RaisingtheBars

TheNaturalandSupernaturalWorkingTogether

RisingtotheNextLevel

TheDesiretoAchieve

Favor—ExpecttoBePreferred

DoYouWanttoBeaRunneroraReigner?

FocusontheUnseenPromises

RemovingMountainsofDifficulties

CreatetheWorldYouWanttoSee

StayFullyPersuaded

GetReadyfortheBlessing

RiseIntoGod’sBest

AbouttheAuthor

MoreInformationfromKHM

TableofContentsCreatetheWorldYouWanttoSee

RaisingtheBars

TheNaturalandSupernaturalWorkingTogether

RisingtotheNextLevel

TheDesiretoAchieve

Favor—ExpecttoBePreferred

DoYouWanttoBeaRunneroraReigner?

FocusontheUnseenPromises

RemovingMountainsofDifficulties

CreatetheWorldYouWanttoSee

StayFullyPersuaded

GetReadyfortheBlessing

RiseIntoGod’sBest

AbouttheAuthor

MoreInformationfromKHM