“When the righteous see God in action, they’ll laugh, they’ll sing, they’’ll laugh and sing for joy.  Sing hymns to God; all heaven, sing out; clear the way for the coming of Cloud-Rider.  Enjoy God, cheer when you see Him!”  Psalms 68:3&4

Our God is an awesome God who truly reigns from heaven above!  The earth is His and the fullness of it; the silver and gold are his.  Our Father is calling to His children in this hour to ARISE & SHINE!  He is “a shield around about us, He is our glory and the lifter up of our heads.” Psalms 3:3

So much in our world has seemingly shifted, and not all pleasant nor desirable. And yet, God is calling to His children to ARISE & SHINE!  He’s given us His Word, His Spirit, His anointing, the gifts of the Father, the gifts of the Son and the gifts of the Spirit; as the Apostle Peter said, “All things that pertain to life and godliness.”  But the happenings around us have the tendency to stun or try to paralyze us, to render us harmless and ineffective.  Saints, call out to one another, encourage one another daily.  God is still the God who answers by fire, who rescues His from the fiery furnace, from the mouth of the lion, who has promised to “never leave us nor forsake us.” He’s not a man that He should lie, neither is He the son of man that He should repent.  He has spoken and HE WILL MAKE IT GOOD!  Numbers 23:19

He has given us precious promises and Jesus said, “The words that I speak, they are spirit and they are life.”  KJV  “The Spirit can make life.  Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen.  Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making.”  John 6:63  The Message

Remember David when he and his men returned to Ziglag after Achish and the Philistines turned him away.  They found the city burned to the ground and their wives and children taken captive.  At first, David and his men wept until they could weep no more, but the people turned on him and were threatening to kill him.  “But David encouraged himself in the Lord.”  I Samuel 30:6

THIS WEEK -  SHAKE OFF discouragement, depression, despair and fear, and TAKE COURAGE!    This is a NOW word to His children!  Listen to God’s Word to you, “BE STRONG, BE BOLD; for you will cause this people to inherit the land I swore to their fathers I would give them.”  PRAY this over yourself and two other people.  DECLARE that you will cause those people whom the Lord has given into your care, be it family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, bus driver to inherit their God-ordained portion/inheritance.

“ONLY BE STRONG AND VERY BOLD, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you.  Turn not to the right or to the left, THAT you may PROSPER wherever you go.”  “Then your undertakings will PROSPER, and you will succeed.”  CJB & NKJV  REPENT for believing the lies of the enemy that he whispers in your ear, and turn to God.  RENOUNCE fear,

Discouragement, despair and hopelessness.  Tell the Lord that you WILL BE STRONG AND VERY BOLD.  ENCOURAGE yourself; tell the Lord that you TAKE COURAGE!  Then pray this over 3 or 4 other people!  Be a Barnabas, an encourager for the next 7 days!  Watch people’s countenance change as you encourage them, some may want you to pray for them.  Pray in faith believing God to answer their prayers!

I was encouraged with the testimony my hair designer gave me today!  I’ve watched she and her husband grow in their faith for several years, but recently they have taken a giant step.  It started with a daughter-in-law losing her $30.00 an hour job after they had built a home and bought a van and a car.  My hair designer and her husband decided to turn off the TV completely for now and pray and read God’s Word together.  They prayed for two days without seeing a change, but after 4 days, their son was offered a new job with a tremendous pay raise.  The next thing that happened was a nephew fell from 8’ high from a crane; normally just below would have been another machine that would have sliced him in two had it been there.  Somehow, it had gotten moved.  They took him to the hospital and released him.

Now they have decided to make a prayer list for them to pray every day together and after each prayer is answered, to praise the Lord and write PRAYER ANSWERED!

God has spoken change!  He desires the changes that are in alignment with His Kingdom and He’s looking “for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap…on behalf of the land, that (HE) should not destroy it…Ez.22:30

He has invited us in to the Throne Room, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:16  Kenneth Copeland tells of a time when he was in prayer, begging and pleading, bombarding the gates of heaven for revival.  He writes, “After I’d been at it a little while, the Lord spoke to me.  “What are you doing?”  He said.  “I’m bombarding the gates of heaven with prayer for revival,” I answered.  He says the Lord asks him, “How big is My city?” and Kenneth answers, “As far as I can tell from what the Bible says, it’s about 1200 cubits or somewhere around 1500 miles square and 1500 miles high.”  God’s answer to him was this, “Then why are you bombarding the gates?  Assuming that My throne is in the middle of the city, THAT LEAVES YOU ABOUT 750 MILES SHORT!  And, by the way,” He added, “those gates aren’t locked.  Why don’t you quit bombarding them and just come in.”  From Faith to Faith, A Daily Guide to Victory!, by Kenneth & Gloria Copeland

We are praying for the Seven Mountains or 7 mountains of societal influence!

For the Government Mountain, pray Ezekiel 22:30 and be willing to stand in the gap!  “God is looking for and legally needing at least one leader/official at every level and in every layer of government and influence to stand before Him on behalf of the land-----so that He can work to undo corruption and preserve our nation.”  “Let us cry out for more righteous individuals and courageous moral voices in every sphere of rulership and influence.’  Intercessors for America newsletter, March 2009, Gary Bergel

Let us petition the Lord for at least ONE individual in every level and every layer of government and influence to stand before Him on behalf of the land

As we fast and pray these three days, pray Isaiah 58:6-12.  This has been a hard year on the homeless and on ministries, churches and agencies that offer meals, a warm bed and sometimes clothing as well  According to the IFA newsletter, “A new Wilson Research Strategies survey commissioned by Dunham + Company finds that U.S. Christians don’t plan to cut their giving to faith-based groups, despite the sluggish economy.  While 58 percent said they are cutting back on entertainment and short-term savings, only 43 percent said they had reduced or stopped giving to charity.  Of those who attend religious services more than once a week, 60 percent said they intended to continue to give the same in 2009, 21 percent said they intended to give more. WOW, give a SHOUT TO THE LORD. Pray for your church, ministry, business, other churches, ministries and businesses.  PRAY for the faithful ones to flourish, prosper, be “exceedingly, abundantly blessed” so that the world will take notice.

Let us not forget Malachi 3:9-12 declaring that neither you nor your nation will be cursed because of God-robbing!  Pray for all members of the Body of Christ to be faithful in tithing, giving of offerings and first fruits’ offeringsl

There are some big needs out there to be answered and we serve a BIG GOD with whom “nothing is too hard, nor impossible!”

For Thursday, February 26 and Friday, February 27, Pray for WISDOM, Proverbs says it is the principal thing!  Pray that your soul prospers, III John 2, “Beloved, I wish above all things that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.”

Pray from Acts 3 & 4.  Pray for unusual healings such as the lame man at the Gate Beautiful!  Pray for boldness to speak the Word of God, for healings, signs and wonders, powerful prayer gatherings with Holy Spirit empowering and infilling.  Pray for great power and great grace for God’s apostles to give witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and there be none lacking.  Acts 3:1-8, Acts 4:29-35

Pray for all who have recently lost their jobs for their needs to be provided, to find God’s better plan for their lives and for jobs to open up.  If the jobs aren’t there, that God will create the jobs for them.  Pray that among the believing community, there be none lacking. Ask the Lord to use this time to draw the unsaved to Himself and petition Him as to what your part might be.

Don’t forget FIRST FRUITS’ GATHERING AT HEARTLAND MINISTRIES, SHARPSVILLE, IN,  Saturday, February 28 from 10-12:00 noon.

Bring used or new clothing and non-perishable items!

“By you Israel will bless, saying, ‘May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!”  May God make you forget the pain of your past, and cause you to be fruitful and prosperous in your future.”  See Genesis 40:51&52, Genesis 48:20

Declare this over yourself and your family, “My Strength, I will watch for you, for God is my fortress.  But as for me, I will sing of your strength; in the morning I will sing aloud of your grace.  For you are my fortress, a refuge when I am in trouble.  My Strength, I will sing praises to you, for God is my fortress, God, who gives me grace.”  Psalms 59:10, 17-18 CJB

Blessings,

"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!

Tomorrow, President Barack Obama is scheduled to be in Elkhart tomorrow, Monday, February 9 to “sell his economic stimulus plan, the White House announced on Friday.  Why Elkhart?  This is our state’s sixth largest county and Obama carried  44% of the vote in ElkhartCounty.  According to IndyStar.com, “The Elkhart-Goshen Region’s unemployment rate hit 15.3 percent in December, up from 4.7 percent the year before.  This was the nation’s biggest annual increase for a metropolitan area, according to the Labor Department.”  INDYSTAR.COM, February 6, 2009

Again His Word tells us, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and all who live in it.”  Psalms 24:1  Paul also speaks this in I Corinthians 10:26.

Pray for God’s divine overshadowing over Elkhart and surrounding region tomorrow; pray God’s will be accomplished and done, nothing more, nothing less than the will of God!  Pray the wisdom of God overcome the “foolishness of man.” 

PRAY “the hidden things be revealed and the secret things come to the light.”

Pray for an angelic host to be released to bind up all demonic activity.  Pray for God’s holy security force to be dispatched to ElkhartCounty.

Pray for grace and favor for God’s men and women!  Pray they be strategically positioned!

Pray for President Barack Obama, his wife, Michelle and their two daughters.  Pray the fullness of the will of God for their lives!

Let Your kingdom come to ElkhartCounty and region on Monday, February 9^th and forever.  Be accomplished and done, plans, purposes and will of God on earth as it is in heaven, in Jesus’ Name, Amen!