AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER

AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER When I was a child in the 50's and the 60's in Africa. This was the time when the African people started to rebel against the colonialist and to rise up and fight, through terrorism, to get their countries back. They started in the central African countries like Kenya, Tanzania and the Congo. As they were able to get independence from their former colonizers, so the other countries saw that it was possible and their uprising would then start. What really grieved me,as a non Christian at that time, was the fact that invariably the first people who were attacked by the terrorists were the people who had been reaching out a hand of love toward them the most, the outlying Mission stations. It was here that the attacks would take place, the male Missionaries being murdered firstly and then the women and/or the nuns systematically gang raped, some times the children brutally slaughtered and the people in the schools and the black staff abducted and taken off to attend terrorist training camps. This really upset us all. It was only when I became a Christian and understood all the protection scriptures etc, that I then wondered why God had not protected His people from these demon possessed terrorists. I was at boarding school for eleven years. Sunday church was compulsory and every day we had assembly where there was a daily devotion read out and prayers were prayed. Scripture lessons were also compulsory. We learn t about David and Goliath and the splitting of the Red sea etc. Only now do I realize what an opportunity the church lost in disciplining us. No one got born again, we had never heard there was such a thing until just a few years ago. Really it was playing church. We were not taught how to live this life, we were not taught the practicalities of how to live the Christian life. We were not taught "Who we are in Christ", we were not taught the power and authority we have been given as believers, or about the covenant or the Angels or about the armour that we have been given Unfortunately that is still the case in too many churches through out the whole world, including right here in Llandrindod. And so it was only a few years ago that I realized that God was not going to do anything special to protect those Missionaries etc. Why? Because He had already done it! Those people were destroyed through lack of knowledge or their Faith in the living God. They didn't know what they had at their disposal, they could have blasted those terrorist out of there with the Word Of God and their faith in the word, their authority and their spiritual weapons and probably got the people saved and delivered from all that demonic authority as well. Praise God. I have had a thing for Ps 91 for many years. I have stood on it for many years. Have read it out in churches, handed copies of it out to members of a Police Station and preached it and written about it. It has been a passion of mine, since I learn t about our authority and who we are in Christ, to teach others about it as well. I am a practical person who likes to use my hands. It is the same with my spiritual walk, I want to know how to live this life. After all Christianity is the religion of the SUPERNATURAL. It is a hands on way of life, I want to know how to live it, how to see signs and wonders and miracles in my life and the lives of others as well. I want to live as God intended for us to live, by Faith and lift the victory banner on high. We have been putting many of these things into practice, we haven't mastered them all, and I can't teach what I don't practice. So Praise God, SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN HERE TONIGHT. I will be using plenty of scriptures here tonight, a copy of which I will give you. I urge you to study these, get them into your heart and your Spirit, these things need to become first nature inside you, so that when suddenly, suddenly there is a situation confronting you, the first thing that comes out of your mouth is the word of God, not some fowl mouthed language which will only get you killed, or least invite the Devil into the situation. I used to be a policeman, in preparing a case for court, we had to build the evidence up in order to get a conviction. I have tried to do the same today, to get convinced and convicted to Jesus and the authority He has given you. You be the judge. Lets Pray. Heavenly Father, I thank you for your presence, I thank you for the word of God, which is the way, the truth and the life. I thank you for who we are in Christ and the power and the authority that you have given to us as believers. Lord in the old testament we saw many examples of people standing in faith on the old covenant, but now Praise God we have a new and better covenant , we should be putting those old testament prophets to shame. I thank you for this opportunity that I have to share your word here tonight. Father I pray for hearing hearts and fertile soil for your word. Lord may this word be life changing for those who are here, after all you have given us so much, but we unfortunately, till now, we have used so little of what you have given us. Forgive us Lord. Let us have a new beginning from tonight. In Jesus name. Amen. WHAT IS THE AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER ON THIS EARTH. This is a huge subject, but I have tried to condense this down to about half an hour. First I want to tell you a story about a lumberjack. The lumberjack represents most of the Christians in this world. He came into the local hardware shop and asked for a new axe, the old one was worn out. The store owner was a good salesman and told the lumberjack, that there was something new on the market, axe's were out, this is what everyone is getting these days, and showed him the new chain saw and informed the guy that he would be able to double his productivity with this tool. The Lumberjack was dubious, but took the machine home. Being typical male, he didn't read the instruction manual. Two days later a furious lumberjack was back and threw, what he called this heap of trash onto the counter and told the storekeeper what he could do with this rubbish thing. Double my output, it took me all day to cut down one tree, this is the most pathetic thing I have ever laid my eyes on, Give me a decent axe! The Salesman was taken aback, he picked up the machine, gave it a good check, pulled the starter rope and Waaaa Waaaa Waaa it went as he revved it up. The Lumberjack leapt backwards in shock and shout - What the heck is that? That might appear to be a bit silly, but unfortunately it is true of most Christians today. We have all the best tools at hand, and the word, but we don't know about them or we don't know how to use them. Too many people have not studied the INSTRUCTION MANUAL. In praying about this message the Spirit spoke up in me quoting Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. It is God's will that we all are manifested as the Sons of God, acting like Jesus did, doing the things He did, and greater things than these, HERE ON EARTH! That is why this message is so important, we need to know what our Authority is so we can use it . Now Jesus went to the cross where he died, buried and went to hell for three days and nights, He arose again and is now seated on the right hand of the Father in Heaven. He paid the price for all our sin, He became sin, sickness and disease for us and nailed them to the cross, He was not a sinner and He was not sick, but He became sin and He became sick for us all. He was our substitute, He died for all of us in this world. Jesus became what we were and suffered what we should have suffered so that we could become what He is and experience what He has. The Spirit of God went into the depth of Hell, right into Satan's little house and let loose the greater power of God to raise Jesus back to life. Jesus took back the authority that Adam had handed over to the Devil in the garden. He took back the keys and loosed us from the law of sin and death Rom 8:2 He then carried His own blood into the Heavenly Holy of Holy's Heb 10:12-14 But this man after He had offered one sacrifice for sin for ever, sat down at the right hand of God and is waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool, for by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Hebrews 10:9-10 9 Then he added, "Look, I have come to do your will." He cancels the first covenant in order to establish the second. 10 And what God wants is for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time. So in doing these things Jesus has redeemed from the curse of the law Gal 3:13. He has ratified the new covenant, purged our sin sickness and disease Isa 53:5 and Ps 103:3. and has restored our authority. Matthew 28:18-19 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. NB. MAKE DISCIPLES - NOT CONVERTS. How many churches are making Disciples these days, ...................... obviously not enough, if any. Mark 16:17-18 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak new languages. 18 They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it wont hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them." How many of us doing these things? And by the way, we don't have to be high flying Ministers or evangelists to do these things, it says BELIEVERS. You and I have the authority to cast out demons, and actually it is not a very difficult thing to do - Command them to go in Jesus Name. It is the same with praying for the sick, don't pray all around the world, it can be as simple as "Be healed in Jesus name". Though I prefer to command the symptom to leave in Jesus name. And the snake thing, not much of a problem in this country, but we saw Paul being bitten by a venomous adder and just shaking it off into the fire to be burnt. He knew his authority. Jesus has made the Born again believer His representative on this earth. God's creative power is with in us. How is that creative power manifested - " by Words". You do realized that this planet is a word based planet. It was created by words, it is ruled by words, all laws in what ever language are written in words. We communicate with words and if you are not saying anything, you are not getting anything. You and I are in our present condition or state because of the words of our mouth, what we have been saying about our self and our family's. How do you get sin out of your life, there is only one way - Confess it, repent and make a conscious effort to live a Holy life. Pray that God will put a guard on our mouth so that we may speak those things that are good, pure perfect lovely and of good report. Choose words of faith and speak out your authority, it is yours for the taking, after all life and death are in the power of the tongue. What did David say to Goliath 1 Samuel 17:45-47 45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.47 "Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands." We know how that ended don't we. Why? Because David spoke it out!. Job 22:28 28 You will also declare (or decree) a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways. Daily we should be making decree's. Make a decree - Something like this JESUS CAME TO GIVE US LIFE AND LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY. I CHOOSE TO LIVE LIFE IN ABUNDANCE, TO THE FULL TILL IT OVERFLOWS. I WILL LIVE AND NOT DIE AND DECLARE THE WORKS OF THE LORD, I CHOOSE TO LIVE THE GOD GIVEN LIFE AND IT'S BLESSINGS, I CHOOSE TO BE A BLESSING. I CHOOSE TO EXERCISE THE AUTHORITY THAT JESUS GAVE ME. I just have to put my favourite scripture in here 1 Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of the darkness and into His marvelous light. Do you realized just who you are in Christ, do you know that you are the body of Christ Ephesians 1:19-23 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Now cross reference that with 1 Corinthians 12:27 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. go back to v 21 in Eph 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. GLORY Now couple that with 1 John 5:18 18 We know that those who have become part of God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot get his hands on them. So what are we, we are the body of Christ, we are far above all principalities powers might and dominion, that's all the Devils stuff by the way, things of this world. But we are no longer of this world, we are born of God, we are part of the family, heirs of the Father and joint heirs of the Son. We are no longer sinners because God is in us and the evil one can not get his hands on us. The only authority the Devil has over us is that which we give him, often too easily. Sure people love to put thoughts of doubt and unbelief into your head. When I had the skin cancer, I don't know how many Christians told me to go and have an operation. I hate to think what they would have done to this beautiful face of mine. But Bless God I resisted HIM, he had to flee from me, the Bible tells us that. He can not fight back as long as we keep him under our feet, standing on God's promises. But when we open our mouths and say dumb things like "My feet are killing me" I am just dying to go" "I think I am getting the flue, I always get the flue in November" "My God that car is going to hit that tree" "Don't walk in the street, you will get run over" "I am sick and tired of this and that" " I just hate so and so" We are Kings and Priest with the authority of Jesus. Stop speaking into being those things that you least want. Speak the Word of God. Take the promises of God and speak those out. When you pray, pray the answer, not the problem. God told Charles Capps "YOU CAN HAVE WHAT YOU SAY, BUT YOU ARE SAYING WHAT YOU HAVE" Think about that one. My people are destroyed from their lack of knowledge Hos 4:6 Lets move on 2 Corinthians 5:17 17 What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! The authority given to the believer is part of the redemptive work that Jesus did on our behalf. He became like man, so that man could become like him. The born again believer is a new creation, we have been created in the image and likeness of God, have the same capacity for Faith as Jesus had, and the same capacity to love as Jesus did. When I came to Christ, I was running a mine that we opened out in the bush. Our language was foul, I left school and joined the Police, I learn t language I didn't know existed, I practiced it for many years and was good at it. I could drink beer with the best. I could sing rugby songs with the most crude language and thought it was great fun. You know, God cleaned up my mouth and I had no trouble dropping all that filth. The beer went out the door. I became a new creation, some of my old friends don't like the new me - TOUGH. Romans 5:5 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. God made man in His own image so that he could have fellowship with people of his own class. What we were, before we were saved has absolutely nothing to do with who we are now. When we went through the baptismal water we died, old things have passed away. Jesus took back that authority that was given to Satan so that we, the body of Christ can wear the full armor of God and have the authority to use His name. Christ bought it with His blood. When we wear the full armour of God Eph 6:12-18 and have the face mask pulled down and speak in the name of Jesus. Who does the Devil and all his cohorts see. They see Jesus, we are wearing His armour and speaking in His name, that is why it is so important to put on your armour and use our weapons., described in 2 Cor 10. Folks, when you pray and put on your armour. Ephesians 6:12 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Well we have just learn t that all those things have been put under our feet because we are the body of Christ. So why not just remind the Devil of that before you pray. Talking about the name of Jesus, lets look at Philippians 2:9-11 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. This is going to change your prayer life. Is debt a problem in your life, or the flue or your car or the Boss, they all have names, they have to bow to the name which is above every name, the name of Jesus. I spoke to the skin cancer on my nose every day and told it that it has to bow to the name of Jesus and get out of my body, Praise God, I am now healed. Now we get to the interesting part. How many of you really believe all that you read in the Bible? put up your hands. Now when I reveal these verses, will you act on them? 1 John 4:17 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. AS HE (JESUS) IS SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD, say it with me AS HE, JESUS, IS SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD. Now couple that with Philippians 2:5 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Say that in the present tenses. LET THIS MIND BE IN ME THAT WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS, say it again like you mean it....... LET THIS MIND BE IN ME, THAT WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS, and again. You re-con that wont change your life and your prayers. You are Christ Image expressed to this world. Jesus is not sick, He is not in poverty or in fear or under pressure. AS HE IS SO ARE YOU AND YOU HAVE HIS MIND, HIS AUTHORITY, YOU HAVE HIS NAME AND HIS POSITION WITH GOD WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO YOU. YOU ARE SEATED TOGETHER WITH HIM IN HEAVENLY PLACES What the word says about you is what you are. Your prayer life becomes easier because you know who you are in Christ and you see yourself as God sees you. Study the word and find out what God has already said about you. You are seated with Christ far above all principalities and powers might and dominion and the rulers of the darkness, far above every name that was named, all things have been put under his feet, every name in this earth has been put under the feet of the body of Christ. Jesus is the head of the Church, you are parts of his body. The head and body are joined together the church is not decapitated. Go through these scriptures, study them and then you will see just what kind of authority You as the believer have. In South Africa, crime is rife. A Spirit filled pastor had stopped off at a One Stop, I think they are called "Services" here. They were sitting in the restaurant having a meal when a gang of armed men came in demanding everyone get on the floor and hand over their wallets, cell phones and jewelry etc. The Pastor held his wife's hand and told her to sit still. A gunman came up to him and stuck the gun in his face and commanded he get on the floor and hand over his stuff. The Pastor said "IN THE NAME OF JESUS LEAVE ME ALONE, I AM NOT GIVING YOU ANYTHING" The other members of the gang called the guy away and the Pastor and his wife were the only ones not robbed. Oh and we never had a single incident come against us. We refused to live behind security gates and electric fences, we lived on a small holding in total peace and tranquility. We even left the property for a month with no one on it, when we went to Canada. I made a feeder for the dogs and left the tap dripping into a big dish. When we came home, all was well. I give God all the Praise and Glory and thanked the Angels who watched over it for us. Colossians 2:9-10 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. You represent Jesus You can walk in authority of His name because you are His representative here on earth. When this becomes a reality sin will lose it's grip on you. Renewing your mind to these facts in the word of God will transform and change your entire attitude You will begin to see yourself in Christ part of His body with everything under your feet. Instead of ignoring problems, you will conquer them with the authority He has given you. The battle is the Lord's and the Victory is ours, enjoy this by standing in His victory, by using the word and fighting the good fight of faith. When you speak the word in faith, it is the same power as if the Lord God Almighty had said it himself and circumstances will have to come into line with the word of God. Sickness is the slave to the word of God and so are all other problems that come your way, in this world at this time. Now lets have a look at what Jesus said about all this. Luke 10:18-19 18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.19 "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Wow, that is good news. Nothing shall hurt you Woooweee! My daughter has put this into practice a couple of times, once out on the road in Messina, which is right on the Zimbabwean border, when she and her son were confronted by an ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT, who had nothing to lose, and was demanding money from her, this was a very serious situation which could have ended tragically, But at the name of Jesus, he stopped in his tracks and retreated. Jane knows the authority in the name of Jesus. Another time a Black Mamba, the most dangerous and deadly snake in Africa, came into her house. She was terrified as her baby was lying the other side of the room. She said snake IN THE NAME OF JESUS, GET OUT OF MY HOUSE, - GET OUR OF MY HOUSE. It turned and left. I was asked to put in a concrete slab at work. I had 7 laborers to do the job, no cement mixers etc. All done by shovel. It was a Saturday, we were the only people at the factory. I told them as soon as we were finished, we would go home. Now they wanted to take short cuts and add far too much water and less stone etc. There was a bit of a stand off, I took control of the water tap and would not let them have access to the water. They got to the point where they physically wanted to attack me, they said, we are going to kill you. These things happen in Africa. I stood my ground, a 60 year old unarmed believer, against 7 strong young men all with spades, & knives, everyone has a knife. I said in the name of Jesus, you can not kill me, now get the job done. They said "What will stop us from killing you. I said "God has his Angels around me". I felt no fear, we got the job done and that concrete was tough. When the contractor came to erect the plant, he had difficulty drilling it. THIS STUFF WORKS - when you put it to work. What did Jesus tell us to do:- John 14:12 12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. Lk 10:19 Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions; and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you . Math 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons, freely you have received, freely give. Praise God we can do everything Christ did and even greater things. John 17:23 23 "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. Praise God, God loves us just as much as He loved Jesus. Hallelujah. Eph 5:1 Be imitators of God as dear children. You have seen small kids imitating their parents, well we need to imitate Jesus 1 John 4:4 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Praise God 1 John 4:15 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. Glory God lives right here in me and in you Amen. When we pray, we don't have to worry about the King of Persia hindering our prayers, Like Daniel did. Once he prayed and was answered in 3 minutes, but another time it took 3 weeks, because the Angel bringing the answer had to battle the King of Persia. We don't, just bend your heard and pray. God is in you. You need to meditate on that a while. Colossians 1:27 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. JESUS CHRIST LIVES IN ME. Amen - He is the hope of our Glory, Praise God. Because of that 1 John 3:9 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. Now lets look at some of the other things that Jesus did. I wont go through all the scriptures, as I trust that you know them anyway. Jesus healed them all. He raised the dead, He walked on water and so did Peter for a bit, He calmed the storm and commanded the fish to come to the boat in the middle of the day, He commanded the fish to bring the money for the Temple tax. He turned water into wine. He walked right through the crowd who intended to throw him off the mountain top at his home town, Nazareth. Again in the temple where they wanted to stone him. Here I believe he actually became invisible. Lastly lets see what power there is in the name of Jesus, John 16:23 23 "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. What a promise! The name of Jesus is just as powerful today as it was the day that Peter and John used it to heal the cripple at the gate Beautiful about 2000 years ago. We the believer have the right to use the name in every circumstance and situation in life, whether it be for praying for the sick, commanding the hail storm and the tornado to get off your property, there are literally 1000's of testimonies to confirm this. In the face of imminent danger, whether it be personal attacks upon people or in the face of an unavoidable motor accident, or even to find the lost keys or to undo a knot in a rope. All these things have names, they all had to bow to the name of Jesus . Don't forget, every name has to bow to the name above every name. JESUS. USE THIS IN PRAYING FOR THE SICK, like Cancer or appendicitis, they are the names of the symptoms. After Jesus was raised from the dead, God turned to him and said Your throne Oh God is for ever and ever. God gave Jesus a name that carried such authority that even at the sound of that name every knee should bow. Jesus then gave this name and the authority to the Church, YOU & I, to bring salvation and deliverance to all the world. The name of JESUS, is a weapon to use to enforce Satan's defeat. Revelation 19:13 13 , and His name is called The Word of God. All the authority of God's word is in that name, and it is yours to use as you are a new creation in Him. Amen. Just some other things we need to dwell upon. This is all very serious stuff. Don't be like the lumberjack and the chain saw, we all need to get into the scriptures and study them to get a revelation knowledge so that it becomes part of us, a first nature, so that we can live the life, the victorious life, the practical life, being doers of the word, and not just playing church. Amen Revelation 3:15-17 15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.16 "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. God wants us to be serious about this stuff. He hates luke-warmness and as He said He will spit us out of His mouth. When we are obedient and even become fanatical about the word of God then Revelation 2:26-28 26 "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— 27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; All this is wonderful, we have learn t what Authority we have. But what are we doing with it. Are we bearing fruit.? "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." John 15:5 (KJV) The Bible tells us that God gets the Glory when the lame walk and blind see, Jesus said “HEREIN IS MY FATHER GLORIFIED, THAT YE BEAR MUCH FRUIT.” If we are not bearing any fruit, can we really call ourselves Christian? If we were arrested for being Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict us.? Think about that for a while. I did and found myself wanting, isn't it time that we came together, encouraged each other and all become fruit bearing Christians. Too many people are specializing, they might be strong in faith to bring people to salvation, but they could also be totally broke because they don't want to hear the prosperity message or they don't like Jerry Savelle or those Americans. Others might have the gift of healing but don't believe in the protection of Angels, so they could have their property vandalized or been robbed at gun point, if we have a weakness the Devil will surely attack it. So watch out for things like UNFORGIVENESS and STRIFE. Say you were a keen tennis player with a very strong serve and volley,but you had no back hand, where would your opponent play you, on your weakness, the back hand every time. Thus it is absolutely necessary for us all to become well grounded in all aspects of the ministry. Too many wonderful Christians have been destroyed or even died because of their lack of knowledge in some areas and this is really sad. Someone recently told me that we should be vulnerable. Goodness me that is the last thing I want to be, I want to be strong and protecting my house, NOT VULNERABLE. So let us come together and encourage each other in every aspect in our walk with Jesus, the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. After all He is right here within us . Praise God. I just want to talk about prayer for a bit. The word says that the effective fervent prayer of a Righteous man avail much. Now you know just who you are in Christ, you have His name and His body, you have the authority of Jesus himself. Now I believe that too many people, myself included, give up too soon. We pray a couple of times and don't get so we give up, saying stupid things like "Well it could not have been God's will"...No No NO NO. That is the time to stand firm and start confessing just who you are in Christ and what your authority is, that is the time to remind God of His promises. Old Smith Wiggelsworth kept at it until he got the result. One time hauling a body out of a coffin, standing it up in the corner and commanding it to walk, it fell to the ground, he picked it up and commanded it to walk, it fell to the ground, he did it again............... and it walked out the room. One morning, it was about 5.30am while Lorraine and I were doing our daily devotions and reading, I had an attack from the Devil. At first I thought I had a wind building up, but could not get rid of it, this quickly grew to some thing serious. I immediately realized I needed to get into the healing scriptures and start claiming them. I was still a green Christian, in the Wesleyan church. The symptoms grew worse. I realized I needed someone who knew how to pray. I told Lorraine to phone the woman we were doing Bible study with, I knew she would be up at that time. By now, I was shivering and sweating at the same time, I thought something was going to burst in me. She prayed and rebuked the Devil and the attack and immediately, I mean in a second, - it was gone, I was perfectly normal. I shouted "THIS STUFF WORKS - lets have a cup of tea". Bless God I have never had another attack like that. John G Lake had healing practitioners, when they were sent out to pray for someone, they were told, "Don't come back until they are healed". The longest someone was away was 3 weeks. Imagine that here. Say you have just prayed for someone who is sick, nothing appears to happen, remember Jesus cursed the fig tree. it didn't die immediately, but the roots were killed off. The tree was dead the next day though. So what do you do. This is what we should Say :- "Praise God the word says that the believer shall lay his hands on the sick and they will be healed. Well Praise God I believe that man has received his healing and it is being manifest right now. I believe that the manifestation of his REDEMPTION is taking place right now Lord, I have been obedient and planted the seed of faith in his life and I thank you for watering and nurturing that seed. I believe that seed is growing and will produce an abundant harvest. I receive that healing now and I give you all the praise and the Glory, I just enjoyed being in your presence Thank You Lord. What are you doing, you are reinforcing your faith. If you go off saying, "Oh God, why wasn't that man healed, you have just wiped out any faith that prayer had. Don't do that, keep confessing your faith. And another thing pray the answer not the problem, pray into being those things that are not as though they were. Pray in faith believing that you will receive. After all Mark 11:23 tells us to speak to the mountain and it will do what you have commanded, as long as you have faith and no doubt. Don't doubt, - this stuff, it works finally, I want to quote Kenneth Copeland from my daily devotional from the scripture 2 Corinthians 5:21 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Jesus went to the cross to give you what He already possessed. He rose again so that you be recreated in His image. You are the victory of Almighty God! You are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. You are everything to the Father that Jesus is in John 17:23, which actually says that God loves you as much as he loves Jesus. Once you dare to accept that fact, your life will be forever changed. You will no longer be satisfied to just sitting around whining and wishing things were different . You will want to step up to the position of authority that Jesus has given you, to take your rightful place beside Him and learn to operate the way He does. As His people we are everything to God that Jesus is. If you will receive that message, if you will dare to believe it, if you will dare to put it into action, it will radically alter your life. It will take you from religion to REALITY! Nothing intimidates God. No matter what difficult situation you may be facing today. God can turn it around! The doctors may have told you that there is no hope. Your bank account may be empty and the creditors knocking on the door. There may be trouble in your family or on the job . You may have a loved one heading for prison. Your problems may be stacked so high, you feel like you will never overcome them. But don't let the devil fool you. He has never devised a problem that faith in God can't fix! Nothing intimidates God It is just as easy for God to heal a cancer as it is for Him to heal a headache. It is as easy for Him to buy you a new home as it is for Him to pay your rent. Think about that! If you will dare to believe God's word, you can have light in the midst of a dark world. You can have protection in the midst of a dangerous world, you can live healed in the midst of a sick world. You can live prosperously in the midst of an impoverished world. You can live free in the midst of a captive world. But you can 't do it by dragging around in an attitude of defeat. If you want to walk in constant victory, you must develop a spirit of faith and persevere when the devil is putting pressure on you. Faith believed God's word, just because God said it - whether natural circumstances seem to agree or not. That means, if you want to maintain a Spirit of Faith in the area of healing. You must start by getting your Bible and see what God has said about healing. Then you must choose to receive that word as the TRUTH. Then SAY IT - "THE WORD SAYS HEALING BELONGS TO ME, AND I BELIEVE IT!" Keep putting the word in your heart day after day, meditate on that word, think it over, dissect it, until faith rises up in you and your body begins to line up with the Word. People with the Spirit of Faith always receive the blessing of God. They may go through tests and trials, but they come out victorious every time. I like those odds don't you? I like to beat the devil every time. Glory be to God, we can do it if we will walk continuously in the Spirit of Faith. Keep faith stirred up. Get your expectancy up and out there ahead of where you are now. Dare to believe God. It won't take long, nothing intimidates Him. After all "WE HAVE THE SAME SPIRIT OF FAITH" 2 Cor 4:13. Amen. Did you get anything from this tonight. Amen.