"The day before his 52nd birthday, Abraham Lincoln left Springfield, Illinois, to become President of the United States.  With the threat of civil war looming, he said goodbye to the friends and neigbors who had come to see him off.  'I now leave,' he told them, 'not knowing when or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington.  Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed.  With that assistance I cannot fail.  Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well.  To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me. I bid you an affectionate farewell.'"  Our Daily Bread, December 2008-February 2009

 
Abraham Lincoln had spent years in training intentionally, but also without full realization of the task set before him.  The One in whom He trusted had readied him. So it is with you and I.  Although we are yet unaware of all that lies before us,  the One in whom we trust has been faithfully at work in our lives preparing us "for such a time as this."  Just as He had prepared Moses, Joshua, Deborah, David, Esther, Daniel, Mary and Paul to name a few.  He is trustworthy, may we keep that at the forefront of our thoughts so that we "trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not to our own understanding, but acknowledge Him in all our ways and He shall direct our paths."  God is clearly speaking to His children in this hour, may we be diligent to daily wait to hear from Him.  We will need to discipline our minds and emotions so that we do not allow fear to paralyze us to the point of being unable to clearly hear what He is saying to us.  We are His sheep, and as Jesus said, "...My sheep hear my voice and a stranger they will not follow."  John 10: 3&5  He goes on to say in verses 27-30, "My sheep listen to my voice, I recognize them, they follow me, and I give them eternal life.  They will absolutely never be destroyed, and no one will snatch them from my hands.  My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from the Father's hands.  I and the Father are one."  Very powerful and faith-building words.

In Joshua 1, we find that after the death of Moses, God gave the Command to Joshua to "Arise and cross over the Jordan..."  In verses 3-11, the Lord gave Clear directions to Joshua, then He released Courage to Joshua which was passed down to the people.  "Be strong, be bold....Only be strong and very bold."  vss 6&7, Meditating on the book of the Law day and night and not turning to the right or to the left, God promises Joshua "you will succeed wherever you go."  Once again, in verse 9, God commands Joshua to be strong and be bold; and don't be afraid.  Why?  Because "Adonai your God is with you wherevery you go."  He is instructed to go through the camp and tell the people to Prepare provisions....., the timeline is given and he was told that they would "go in and take possession of the land which" He was giving them.  vs.11.

Jesus was about to return to heaven when He gave clear directions to His disciples in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4.  "Don't leave the city (Jerusalem),"  "Stay here and wait UNTIL you are equipped - given power from on high."  "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; you will be my witnessess both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, even unto the ends of the earth."  Acts 1:8

In both instances, Joshua and the children of Israel; and Jesus' disciples, the key to their success was:

    1.  They believed God, and 2.  They obeyed His instructions!

The outcome was possession of the Promised land, enemies defeated, supernatural strength and miracles, provision, lives changed and God was glorified.  The Church was born in power---Christ's disciples were empowered to witness and "turn the world upside down!"  On the day of the Holy Spirit's outpouring, 3,000 souls were saved. In Acts 3, Peter & John were going to the 3 o'clock prayer time in the temple.  The lame man who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple begging was miraculously healed.  All the people came running to see what had happened and Peter preached a powerful sermon.  Both Peter and John were arrested and thrown in jail overnight. BUT THE BRILLIANCE OF LIGHT OF THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL had penetrated the gross darkness and it is recorded in Acts 4:4 that the "number of men alone was about five thousand,"  who believed and were born again.  God's Word doesn't record how many women and children were also saved that day.

Acts 4:31 , the disciples held another worship and intercessory gathering; the Holy Spirit falls once again and the place where they were was shaken, "they were ALL filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke God's message with boldness.  1.Believers become united; 2.  Sell their lands and possessions;  3.  Lay the monies at the feet of the apostles who were preaching with great power;  4.  Apostles distribute the monies, and 5.  None is poor nor lacks.  Great change, the Church is empowered and wealth shifted so everyone's needs are provided, signs, wonders and miracles were the norm for each day, souls were saved and lives transformed.

In Joshua's time, the promised land was possessed; after the Church was birthed and believers empowered by the Holy Spirit, the land was sold and needs were provided for;  LIVES & LANDS TRANSFORMED & GOD GLORIFIED!   GOD'S WAY!  GOD'S WILL!  CHURCH TRIUMPHANT!

SCRIPTURES TO PRAY & DECLARE:

Joshua 1: 2,3,5, 6&7, 8&9

John 10:3-5 - I hear His voice and I do not follow a stranger!

John 14:1&27, I do not let my heart be troubled, neither do I let it be afraid.  Your peace, Lord, you have given me, not as the world gives, You give to me.

John 15:7&8   I abide in You and let You abide in me, for without You, I can do nothing!  I ask whatever I will and it is done for me.  This way I bear much fruit and

    GLORIFY MY FATHER IN HEAVEN!

Phillipians 4:6&7  I am not anxious, neither do I worry about anything, but in everything in prayer, in supplication with thanksgiving, I make my requests made known unto Him and the peace of God which passes all understanding, stands guard over my heart and mind.  I command my heart to beat with the rhythm of life.

Mark 16:18, I lay hands on the sick and they recover.

REPORT from First Fruits' Gathering, January 31 at New Wineskin Ministries,  a woman with constant pain in her back from a cracked vertebrae, and also a lengthy problem with one of her eyes came forward for prayer.  I saw her this week and had seen the eye prior; she is perfectly healed and giving God the glory!