When The Lion Roars...

 When The Lion Roars...

Daniel 6

When the lion roars, he can be heard from 5 miles away.  He struts like a king who dominates the area.  His roar is to claim territory and strike fear into all.  Size is not a deterrent. His prowl is calculated.  He is wise and selective. He is fierce and fearless. He can jump over 35 feet high and he's extremely strong. He has a posse, and he's out for blood. He's known as the king of the jungle.  He hunts everything.  No one dares to silence him, except God!

21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

In the lion's den, Daniel was not afraid because he understood man's limit.  He had seen God do too much for him, to doubt God's ability to do even more.  He feared God more than man. He was innocent. He knew too well that obedience to God was better than sacrifice.

• He had been captured as a teenager and brought to a foreign land. Yet promoted.
• His gang remained healthy on just a leafy diet.
• His friends escaped the fiery furnace uncinched.
• He had seen a most powerful king eat grass.
• He ruled foreigners in their country, in their government.
• He was right when he interpreted the king's dream.
• He was right when he interpreted the writing on the wall.
• He walked in favor with God and with man.
• He had a real relationship with his God.

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Like David, he'd seen Goliath. But he'd also seen God.  He knew that God was able to do far more than any man on this earth could.  After all, God created man.

Isaiah 55:9 

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

If you are walking in the will of God for your life, you will have enemies.  Ask Jesus, or Paul.  The men decided to go without food until Paul was dead.  Acts 23 The Pharisees plotted to kill Jesus because HE was too popular. John 11 Herod's wife asked for John's head on a charger. Matthew 14 Jesus told HIS disciples to take up their cross. It's a decision we all have to make.  We have to be prepared for earthly "unfair" judgement when we decide to stand for God's laws.  We make ourselves unpopular when we chose to declare our faith in the face of adversity.  But faith can only come from a place of a true relationship with God.  There's no way around it. Faith is about jumping in and knowing your Father God will catch you.  You have to become like a child when it comes to The Almighty God. You have to step out of your boat into the water and walk towards Jesus like Peter. You have to keep your eyes on Jesus all the way, or you will sink. Are you innocent in God's eyes? Are your eyes focused on Jesus?  Are you committed to God? You have to have your own story of what you've seen God do in your own life.  David saw God rescue him from bears and other wild animals when he was with his sheep. He wasn't afraid of Goliath.  Goliath was just another beast. Goliath was just a pea brain in comparison to God. David understood that God made Goliath as well. He understood that God was in charge. God is always in charge! What have you seen God do? What have you trusted HIM to do? Only God is all powerful!

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God is supreme!  There is no situation that you can ever encounter that is not subject to God's authority. It doesn't matter where you are.  It doesn't matter who or what you are facing. God is always in control of everything. As long as you focus on God, HE will work it out.  Just remember that your most powerful weapon is prayer.  The disciples didn't ask God to show them how to do miracles.  They asked HIM to teach them how to pray. They observed the source of HIS strength. Prayer is the work. Jesus always resorted to prayer. Queen Esther told her people to pray. Esther 4. Daniel prayed three times daily. He went into his house, turned to the window facing Jerusalem and prayed when he realized that they had plotted for his death.  You have to believe that God will work it out.  HE is your help.  Like a shower, you need prayer every day.  It is what it is. When you're not sure what to do - remind HIM of HIS word.  Psalm 121.  The great news is - because of Jesus' finished work on the cross; every power in the earth is now subject to us as believers.  Like a lion, we should be fierce and fearless in our communities knowing that God has given us power to overpower any and every adversary. Know that when we feel weak, that's when we are most strong, because then HE fights for us.  God is our posse. HE is our pride. Greater is HE that is in us than he that is in the world.  The same spirit that rose Jesus from the dead is alive in us today.

Luke 10:19

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

Faith in God's ability is the ingredient to overcome all fears.  Just imagine the growls of the lions before Daniel was thrown into the den.  Just imagine spending an entire night with multiple lions walking around you.  Just imagine the sight of all the dead bones in the den from prior people. Imagine the awful smells.  Plus, they shut him in with a stone. Yet he survived.  What den have you been thrown into?  Do you have others scheming and plotting, even lying or spreading rumors about you?  Are you surrounded by lions, situations and or systems and people that seem more powerful than you? Remind HIM of HIS word. Psalm 91. Remember, it is always about HIS Glory.  God works it out to draw men unto himself.  In the end, not just Daniel, but a whole nation that needed 120 satraps to lead them, now bowed to the Almighty God.  Daniel did not complain. Instead, he gave thanks. His relationship with God was more important than what others thought of him. We do not always understand God's agenda, but we ought always to give thanks. When you don't know what to do PRAISE GOD.  Like Paul and Silas in prison, praise God.  Your faith, your commitment and obedience to HIM is what matters. HE will open your oppressive gates and give HIMSELF the glory.

Daniel is the only prophet who lived through four different regimes (Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus). God did that! HE is sovereign over all. Daniel's enemies and their families were crushed in the lions den.  God caused that. All wisdom and power come from God. Daniel was a 'big deal' in a foreign government. He had seen man's power in comparison to God's.  Proverbs 21.  Inspite of his position, he remained humble and faithful to God. He understood that God could handle any terrorizing situation, by HIMSELF anytime. He understood that God could shut the mouths of any and every enemy power. He understood that all the glory belongs to God. Therefore, God revealed many things to him in dreams and visions.  Ask. Talk to God. Pray continually. Jeremiah 33. If you seek revelation, stay humble.  If you seek justice, turn to God. Draw near to God and HE will draw near to you. At exactly the right time, God will work it out.  God is forever sovereign.  HE will ALWAYS be the last one standing. Nothing and no one is as powerful!  Do not compromise your faith. Never trade obedience to God! It's not worth it!

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TESTIMONY: They Stabbed Me for My Faith but Yeshua Healed My Heart – Pod for Israel

WORSHIP: God Will Work It Out (feat. Naomi Raine & Israel Houghton) | Maverick City Music | TRIBL

When you don't know what to do ROAR GOD'S PRAISE!

Are You PINNED?..

 Are You PINNED?..

Is there a situation that has you feeling stuck/ trapped/ overwhelmed/ outnumbered/unable to get clear of it? Acts 12 Peter had multiple guards and gates. How many circumstances do you have currently working against you and your loved ones that the Almighty God your father cannot deliver you from?

Acts 12:4

4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

Peter was being guarded by a total of sixteen soldiers.  The King had him arrested for preaching the word of God and had intended to kill him infront of everyone.  However God sent an angel to set him free and caused him to walk out of prison completely unharmed.  In addition, God had Herod kill all the guards, then God killed Herod.  Peter escaped and went on to preach in other cities without a scratch.  Know this, God always has the last say.  He is the author and finisher of your faith and fate, not man.  Hebrews 12.

Inspite of how outnumbered you might feel at times, do like Elisha.  Ask God to open your eyes so that you can see that there as so many, many, many more who are for you, than those who are against you. 2 Kings 6

2 Kings 6: 16

16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

The trick is fear. Fear is the devil's primary weapon against the believers of Christ.  You have to train yourself to always remember that fear is not of God.  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1 Whenever you encounter overwhelming situations, you have to declare what you believe. For we overcome by the blood of The Lamb and the word of our testimony. Revelation 12  God is still the only Sovereign creator of the world. HE holds everything in place.  Absolutely nothing escapes HIM.  For HE hears all the cries of HIS people and delivers us from all of our troubles.  Psalm 34

You have to know that though you may encounter physical obstacles and boundaries, nothing happens in the physical without first happening in the spiritual realm.  The physical realm is like an extension of actions already taken in the spiritual realm.  Nothing happens without God's acknowledgement.  You need to understand the authority that God has given to you over the physical and spiritual realms. Luke 10 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10 Prayer is our greatest weapon.  The armour of God includes the Word of God. Ephesians 6 While Peter was in prison the other believers were somewhere else praying for him.  This is one of the primary reasons why you need community. 

Acts 12: 5

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Christians need other christians in order to be successful in this world.  When you are feeling weak/ overwhelmed you need someone else to stand on your behalf.  When the Israelites were fighting in battle, everytime they held up Joshua's arm his army was advancing. But whenever his arms fell down, their enemy was winning. Exodus 17  Find yourself a church where people pray earnestly for each other.  We all need a support system.  For that is what we are - a system.  1 Corinthians 12 You are the body of Christ. We cannot operate successfully without the help of other believers.  We are our brother's keeper, that's God's intent.  We have to get back to being like the 1st church in Acts where the believers cared for each other.  Most importantly, 'the Acts Church' was led by the Holy Spirit.  Greater is HE that is in us than HE that is in the world. 1 John 4 You will not be able to experience a victorious lifestyle of liberty and overcoming, without the directive and continued support of the Holy Spirit. John 15 Allow yourself to be led by the Holy Spirit who gives peace and wisdom  for every challenge you will ever encounter. Your goliath infront of you is not greater than the God who's in you. Stay connected!

TESTIMONY: The Only Rabbi to the Nations | Yeshua In The Rabbinic Text, Ep.7

WORSHIP: You are my strength | Miranda Curtis

The real question isn't are you pinned but rather, The Holy Spirit - Is He In You?

Overwhelmed? Turn To The Wall..

 Overwhelmed? Turn To The Wall..

When you feel so overwhelmed by challenges on everyside, or just too humongous for you to bear, find a place of solace, turn your face away from all the distractions, and your back away from all the noise. Turn to the wall, and seek God's face in prayer. His word to us is that, if and when we seek HIM with all of our hearts, we will find HIM. HE will always come to our rescue. Jeremiah 29

Prayer is our most powerful weapon! 

FACT: PRAYER is the most powerful weapon on earth!

11 Kings 18 - 20 This is the story of King Hezekiah. 

Hezekiah was a jewish king of Judah several years ago.  He became king at age 25. His father worshipped idols and false gods. But when he became king he did the very opposite of his father. He worshipped the Almighty God, and did right in the sight of God. By destroying altars, and all places of worship to other gods, simultaneous to re-opening the temple of God for local worshippers; Hezekiah was committed to his faith in God. He destroyed the bronze snake rod that belonged to Moses because the people had started to idolize it. He re-introduced God to his nation. 

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At that time, there was a very powerful Assyrian king called Sennacherib who was determined to conquer all of the region. This included Judah. At first, Hezekiah tried to sway him by offering all the silver and even the gold which came from the architecture of the temple.  He was extremely arrogant. He boasted that having conquered all of Israel, that Judah was defensless towards him. In fact,  he stated that it was also futile for them to seek the assistance of any allies such as Egypt. He offered Hezekiah 2000 horses if he conceded. His army consisted of 185,000 soldiers.  

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All the nations were afraid of him. So far, he had conquered everyone else.  But Hezekiah had a strategy. His defense was to go into his chambers and pray to his God. That's all that he did.  He went into God's temple and asked God for intervention. He encouraged Isaiah and others to pray with him to God. He sought help from his God, and God answered favourably. God sent one angel who killed all the 185,000 soldiers in one go.  When the Asyrian king returned to his home, God allowed his very own two sons to kill him with his sword.  God has not changed. HE'S still in control of everything and everyone in the earth.

Problems are a part of life.  They come in different sizes, shapes and forms. Some are like tsunamis, they knock us off of our bearings completely.  They are so gigantic and overwhelming. Especially now that we're in the latter days.  We have to decide in advance what will be our strategy when confronted. The bible says God has shortened the days because they are more evil than before.  HE did it to help believers cope and encourage their faith.  

Matthew 24: 22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

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On another ocassion, God sent Isaiah to Hezekiah with a message. He told him to get his affairs in order because he was going to die.  AGAIN, Hezekiah went before God.  Hezekiah used the same strategy as before.  His defense was to go into his chambers and pray to his God. That's all that he did. He shut his door and turned his face to the wall and prayed for God to change his mind. Before Isaiah could get far, God instructed him to turn back and tell Hezekiah that HE had heard his prayers.  HE was going to extend Hezekiah's life by fifteen more years instead. Practice turning to and talking with God especially when you're in problems. Start the conversation and wait on God. James 5 The effective fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much, ask Daniel.

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When we walk in obedience to God and HIS precepts, what won't HE do for us?  When we trust HIM with all of our hearts and soul and mind, what can keep HIM from coming to our rescue? HE loves us so much.  HE leaves the 99 and comes after us the one lost sheep. HE'S the father of the prodigal son, watching and waiting for us to come back home to HIM.  (HE does not condemn us.) We are the lost coin HE stops at nothing to find. HIS love is relentless towards us.  All we have to do is call upon HIM because HE is our for sure deliverer.  When everyone else is afraid or has deserted you for whatever reason, look to God your faithful father. 

Psalm 91:14-16

14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

WORSHIP: Great Is Thy Faithfulness

TESTIMONY:

HE will protect you always!

Eight Weapons To Fight The Enemy.. MASTERY!

Eight Weapons To Fight The Devil..

The thing about any kind of war is that the better prepared you are, the better qualified you are to win.  The quality of your weapons is more important that your manpower.  Especially in today's world where one can just press a button and have a nuclear weapon annihilate an entire city over 1 million miles away.  Knowledge and strategy go hand in hand in winning wars.  You need to be able to be at least one step ahead of your enemy.  The devil is God's enemy, therefore an enemy of a follower of The Lord Jesus Christ.  There's no love lost between them both.  They will never, ever become friends again.  So as a believer, it is imperative that 'the christian' knows and understands the enemy's strategies as well.  

Jesus' death and resurrection from the grave has given 'the christian' access to the most powerful weapons in the spiritual realm.  Learning how to properly use them will cause you to live a 'lifestyle' of victory rather than victim. 

2 Peter 1:3

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

We literally have no excuse to sin because we have power to defeat/ overcome any and every artillery that the devil can throw at us. In addition, Jesus is our advocate to the Father.  HE is our legal representative in the Supreme Court Of Heaven. Once we make HIM Lord of our life and lifestyle, then HE commits to winning our battles according to the WILL OF THE FATHER. 1 John 2  HE has also given us HIS HOLY SPIRIT to lead and empower us for every decision we'll ever have to make. Proverbs 3, John 16 Here are some very powerful weapons to destroy the devil's camp and attempts to defeat you: (Armed and Dangerous - John Ramirez)

1. The Name of Jesus

Phillipians 2: 6-11

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

2. The Blood of Jesus

Revelation 12:10-11

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

“Now have come the salvation and the power

and the kingdom of our God,

and the authority of his Messiah.

For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,

who accuses them before our God day and night,

has been hurled down.

11 They triumphed over him

by the blood of the Lamb

and by the word of their testimony;

they did not love their lives so much

as to shrink from death.

3. The Word of God (Jesus)

Jeremiah 23: 25-29

25 “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their ancestors forgot my name through Baal worship. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. 29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? John 1

4. Speaking In Tongues

Romans 8; 22-27

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

5. Prayer

Psalm 50: 14-15

14 “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,

fulfill your vows to the Most High,

15 and call on me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” 1 Thessalonians 5

6. Praise And Worship

2 Chronicles 20: 15-29

15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

“Give thanks to the Lord,

for his love endures forever.”

22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

24 When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing[b] and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah[c] to this day.

27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets. 29 The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. Psalms 100

7. Pulling Down Strongholds

2 Corinthians 10: 3-6

3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. Matthew 12

8. Fasting

Isaiah 58: 6-14

6"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. 11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. 13"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

It is important to be focused in battle.  You need to first master your mindset.  You cannot master your mindset if you don't first learn to master your appetite, both physically and spiritually.  Fasting helps you to build  discipline for your mission.  Matthew 4

It is extremely important to understand how to destroy what has been sent to destroy you. The devil is not omnipresent. He gets tired too. He was created like every human.  He is not all knowing. He has to answer to God's laws. In the story of Job God asked satan where he was coming from.  He responded that he was roaming the earth 'to and fro'. He is 'like a roaring lion whose only motive is to steal, kill and destroy your destiny.  1 Peter 5 It doesn't matter if you aren't trying to pick a fight with him.  He's always on the offensive - Believe That!  But we are more than conquerors because of Jesus. Romans 8 Whose report will you believe? Practice the discipline of combining the weapons based on the tutoring of the Holy Spirit.  Learn the mastery of all. Prophesy. Jesus did what HIS Father told HIM to do, so does the Holy Spirit. John 5 It is imperative to study God's precepts and ordinances. We overcome Only Because IT IS WRITTEN!!!

TESTIMONY: 

Kareem was raised for Jihad, until he saw the risen King!

WORSHIP: THERE'S NOTHING THAT OUR GOD CAN'T DO

Whose report will you believe?