In mark 1:40-42, Jesus has an encounter with one of these outcasts of society – a leper. This scenario gives quite an illustration of ministering the good news of the kingdom, beyond the miraculous. Some insights include:

1. The leper recognized Jesus had the goods

“If you will, you can make me whole.” There was obviously something in the manner of Jesus’ life that this leper saw that gave  him faith that Jesus could answer the biggest need of his life.

So this leads me to the soul searching question: Is there enough visible evidence in my life to let people know what I have available?

2. The leper felt comfortable to approach Jesus

There were strict rules of society regarding lepers and their visibility in public. Yet this man was willing to risk the outcome because he believed Jesus would accept him.

Spoken or unspoken, we have “rules” in our societies on the interaction of the marginalized and disenfranchised. Even within the confines of the church we find that many do not feel welcome if they do not measure up to the status quo of what they see in the average member.

Again, must ask myself, Do people feel comfortable enough to approach me?

3. Jesus was moved with compassion

Jesus response was not typical of society: He was “moved with compassion.” Not only did he NOT shirk away, his compassion caused him to move or do something.

How many times do I/we avoid the interaction with the marginalized or disenfranchised? At best we do programs to “minister” and not get involved. “The poor do not want to be a program.” – The Total Church

4. Jesus touched the untouchable

Jesus took a risk based on societal standards: he touched the untouchable. By Mosaic Law, Jesus would have become unclean himself.

I/we need to step out and take a “risk.” To demo the kingdom, we must move beyond the comforts of our lives and step into the areas that others in society would not go.

Real ministry to the marginalized and outcast will produce a twofold results: The First, someone’s life can be transformed. Second, others will see the power of our God.

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Mt 5:16”

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There was this man that for all of his life lived in need. No matter what he attempted, it seems he could never get ahead. One day he received notification that a distant relative had died and left to him their mansion. Obviously this man was elated. Finally something had gone right for him.

Upon receiving the deed and keys to the mansion, this individual proceeds to his new possession. As he arrives, he is struck with awe and amazement at its size and grandeur. With great excitement, he inserts the key and opens the massive polished oak doors stepping into the most elaborate and beautiful foyer he has ever seen.

The floors are a gleaming marble. The walls are decorated with priceless paintings. The curtains are what you would expect in the most opulent of homes. The chandeliers are of exquisite cut leaded glass reflecting the sunlight into a myriad of rainbow colors. The man is so overwhelmed with joy that tears begin to flow down his cheeks. He pauses for a moment thinking about this distant relative who he has never met, yet this relative has given him the best gift of his life.

Suddenly, the man turns and walks out with a smile on his face, locking the door and returns to his meager dwelling. All through the week, he lives his life of existence, thinking about his mansion. He has told his friends at work about it. Even given some directions to it. Yet every day he returns to his same old abode.

A week later, we find this man back at his new mansion. With similar excitement he places the key in the door and swings open that large door and steps into the foyer. Once again, he is overwhelmed with the beauty, and it is all his! He revels in the wonder that he could be so fortunate and mentally thanks his relative for this gift. After a few minutes he turns and once again, walks out the massive door and returns to his routine life of meager existence.

Unfortunately, because he did not venture further into the mansion, he missed the envelope his relative left in one of the other rooms. Inside this envelope were instructions to access the safe in the office that obtained the keys to various lockboxes where further valuables were stored. This process of weekly visits to his mansion is repeated week after week, month after month, until the man has developed a pattern of accessing limited benefits of his new mansion.

Now we all understand this is a fictitious story. We really don’t believe anybody would be that foolish, not taking full possession of his inheritance.

However, we find this happens week after week in churches throughout the body of Christ. With the traditional focus of the church on the salvation message, we constantly focus on entering the kingdom of God. Our message is continually presenting the door to this wonderful spiritual domain. Week after week we encourage believers to focus on entering into the experience God has for them and making sure that they have continual access.

There is more to the kingdom than the door. Jesus came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven — the good news of the dominion of a spiritual realm. Inside the kingdom God has for us much more than we could ever imagine. There is provision, protection, peace, joy, power and demonstration. We need to venture deeper into our fathers house and seek what He has placed there for us.

How can we accomplish this?
· Change our prayer to abiding prayer – stay until we hear from Him.
· Seek to mature beyond being a child of God to becoming a son of God.
· Walk in the empowering of the Spirit, demonstrating Kingdom (apostolic) authority.

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If you know me or have been following my blogs and Apostolic Notes, you know I am all about demonstrating the miraculous power of Jesus and His Kingdom. Yet on this particular morning, I wondered about this. No I am not doubting, I have seen too much to stop: but I question if maybe there is too much of a focus on a miraculous event?

What I mean: are we living our normal lives, waiting for a miraculous event to demonstrate the power of the Kingdom? When we should be living a lifestyle that is exhibiting a kingdom culture.

Culture is a common set of values and beliefs that are the foundation of actions: Thus every culture has its unique manifestation. This can be clearly seen in many of the Asia countries where their culture has been in existence for hundreds if not thousands of years.

Kingdom demonstration is more than the miraculous, it is a lifestyle based on a unique set of values and beliefs that are not of this world. The greatest challenge to revealing this lifestyle is moving beyond the born again experience: taking our focus off an eternal goal and focusing on a transformational lifestyle.

Along with the miraculous, Jesus ministry was one of teaching and preaching a different life style. What we call the sermon on the Mount (Matthew chap 5 & 6) is a discourse on a way of life that was radically different than what the religious leaders were demonstrating.

I believe the application for us today is this: we live a lifestyle initiated by our born again experience that is based on Kingdom culture. This manner of living is to be the “salt” that attracts others. When they seek us out, we now have the opportunity to demonstrate the power of His kingdom: both in the miraculous and in the new birth.

Food for thought:
Am I waiting for the opportunity to demo the miraculous or am I demo for the transformed Kingdom lifestyle?

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Made up of a word and suffix:

• remark-Are : comment or mention:
• -able: capable of, fit for, or worthy of

So is your church worthy of people talking about? Now I am not speaking of sensationalism and hype. I am suggesting is it so different, being Christ like, that others will want to talk about it.

I just started the gospel of Mark from this perspective: How was Jesus’ ministry remarkable? In the first 2 chapters there is already four instances where people were talking about Him. He amazed them with His teaching and demonstrated spiritual authority. At one point, this resulted in crowds so large he could not enter a city. Remarkable!

It is my humble opinion, that when we as individuals, who are the church, begin to demonstrate Jesus in our daily lives and church services: then we will find that our churches have become Remarkable!

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If you stop and think about it, how much of modern Christianity is a debate of different theological views. Different denominations pronounce their correctness based on a particular theological dogma they hold to. Subsequently, they spend countless hours of energy defending the purity of their views. This was the attitude of the dogmatic Pharisee of Jesus day.

It blows my mind (what little one I have) that the Pharisees did not argue Jesus’ miracles: they argued his right to do them based on their theology. If he were spiritual, he would not do these things on the Sabbath. If he were truly of God, he would keep the traditions handed down by our elders. This man cannot be spiritual because he does not have the same theology.

What I like about Garry’s statement was that it reveals that the apsotles had an understanding of what they were sent to do. That is not to debate theology, but to demonstrate their King and His kingdom. We all understand that a picture speaks a thousand words. How much more would demonstrating the miraculous power of Jesus Christ reveal the truth of his nature?

We are at a place in history today; the people of this world are tired of the theological debate. They want some one to “put up or shut up!” Or to quote the old Wendy’s commercial: “Where’s the beef?” The masses of this world are hungry for something that is real; they want substance, something that will bring nourishment and strength to their spirits.

The world today: our coworkers, neighbors, classmates or family member are looking for someone to make God real, they want to believe – lets show them something to believe in. Lets continue the book of ACTS!

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It is amazing how two people can look at the same thing and both see something different. Look at the two pictures below and tell me what you see? Now look again, maybe study for a minute.

What about this picture below: I’ll give you a hint – what animal do you see? What about duck? Maybe a rabbit?

The point of these pictures is: what you see is based on what you focus on. Once this happens, many times it is hard to re-focus and see the other view.

It is much the same way in life, what we each see in any given situation is based on what we are focusing on. Once we have a mental “picture” it can be hard to change what we see. This principle is evidenced in our spiritual lives as it relates to our demonstration of faith: what we are focusing on determines if we respond in faith.

In Mark 11, Jesus is entering Jerusalem with his disciples and curses a fig tree for not being fruitful (maybe another message here). He makes the declaration and then walks on without anything apparently happening.

Later, as they leave Jerusalem, Peter sees the dead tree and exclaims with excitement – “Look the fig tree!” I wonder if Jesus rolled his eyes and thought “Well duh! That is what I expected.” The issue I am attempting to point out here: When Jesus spoke it, he saw it, Peter did not.

Jesus response to Peter was in verse 22, he said: “Have faith in God.” On the surface this sounds good, but let me point out something deeper. The literal translation of this verse should be “have faith of God.” A semantic difference? I don’t thinks so.

Almost every one believes in a god; the result is the different religions we have. The scriptures tell us even the devils believe in God. So the idea of believing in God or having faith in God is very diffuse and general. It is the type of faith that does not translate into significant action.

Most believe in a god
Most do not have the faith of God

On the other hand, to have the faith of God means I see things as he does and then act upon it, just as Jesus did. Hebrews 11:1 is a common text: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.” The word substance here means existence or reality. So faith is the reality or existence of things hoped for. Notice it does not say things unseen: Why? Because faith sees them in the Spirit.

Now because they are “seen” as reality in the Spirit, faith now becomes the evidence or proof of what is unseen: unseen by who? Those who are looking only in the natural.

Jesus comments in verse 23 & 24 of speaking to mountains should be viewed in this perspective; what is impossible to the natural eye becomes possible if you see it as God views it! So I ask:

What You Lookin’ At?

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Stop and think about it a minute. You have a list of “do its” today, written or mental. You will judge your success today by how many you accomplish. When this day is done, you will make another list.

We look at life and establish our goals  – our road map so to speak. We believe the completion of these goals to be the necessary components to arrive at our desired destination of success. Unfortunatley, I have known of people who have achieved the goals, arrived – and were just as dissatisified as before. They climbed the ladder of success, only to realize it was against the wrong wall.

On the other hand, God is not only a focused on destination, but maybe even more focused on the process.
Paul writes to the Philippian church: “And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again ” Phil 1:6 NLT

Some simple observations from this text:

• God initiated a work within us
• It is a good work
• It is not finished yet
• It is a continual work – meaning we have not arrived – yet
• It won’t be finished until the return of Jesus Christ

Review the life of some of your bible hero’s and see how God put them thru a developmental journey of life. Abram, Joseph, Moses and David to name a few. It was not about how quick they achieved something: it was about what THEY BECAME in the process.

The frustrating situation you find yourself in can be the very took God is using to make you into something He can better use down the road.

Posted via email from martinschmaltz’s posterous

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The word of God is full of miraculous events: in fact, it was one of the ways Jesus demonstrated the power of His kingdom. Further, He authorized the 12, then seventy and even us as believers to demonstrate this power of the Kingdom. Yet we find many times we do not see the miracles we pray for.

In our last Apostolic Note Vol 3 No 12 we presented the first and probably the most significant reason we do not see the miraculous – it is a faith issue. Many times there is a lack of faith; either by those needing the miracle, the one praying or the environment is not conducive to faith.

Now, lets continue to look at other reasons we fail to see the miraculous

Familiarity is the next reason for not receiving the miracle.

This is when the messenger is seen more than the message. Jesus stated “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” (Mk 6:4 NLT)

Sometime people are too familiar with the person praying or ministering and they do not see them as being used of God.  Again in Mk 6, they were astonished that Jesus could do the things he was doing. They commented he’s just a carpenters son, we know his brothers and sisters.

The opposite of this I believe also holds true: when traveling overseas, there seems to be a greater faith among the people because an “American” preacher is there to minister the word of God.

In both instances, we need not look at the messenger but look at the One who sent the message.

Do not want to be healed is the third reason.

I know for some this sounds so crazy, yet it does happen. For those who fall in this category it can either be a conscious or unconscious decision.

Conscious – Those who choose not to receive usually do so because they do not want the associated life changes that may come with the miracle. For instance, they may lose their disability income or have to return to work. Some may lose the attention or sympathy they receive from others.

I know of one man who operates in the gifts and God spoke to him regarding healing a particular individual. When he approached this person about it, they refused – because they would lose their disability check.

Personally, I was teaching a bible study to a man who could see and talk to spirits. When I presented that he could be delivered, he chose not to. Go figure!

Unconscious – then there are those who unconsciously resist. When asked if they want to get better will say yes, but they never do. In the health care industry, we say they are receiving “secondary gain” from being sick. Because of their emotional instability, they crave the attention and special treatment they receive. Limited demands are placed on them because of their illness. These individuals need emotional healing more than physical.

Let me summarize so far the reasons we may not see the miraculous:

1. Faith – there is a lack of faith of those needing the miracle, those praying or the environment.
2. Familiarity – We are too familiar with the humanity of the one praying.
3. People do not want the miracle:

Consciously or unconsciously they choose not to receive.

Next issue we will cover even more reasons why we may not see the miraculous. Stay tuned!

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This article was sent to me by Pastor Lawson Salam who lives in Ghana. We have communicated much regarding apostolic authority and apostolic foundations. (Emphasis in the text was added by myself.)

DON’T BE OVERJOYED IN THE PALACE, BUT KNOW WHY YOU ARE IN THE PALACE

Don’t be overjoyed in the palace at such a time as this, but know why you are in the palace. Don’t be swollen headed that you are beautiful, handsome and have a nice church, ministry, house, job, business, wife, and husband; rather, know why these things were entrusted into your hands. The time, talents, gifts and resources that God has given you are meant for a purpose in His kingdom and not for your own glory. God is interested in achieving His goals through you with the things He has given you so do not abuse what He has given you for your own gain. If God blesses you, He blesses you to be a blessing to others and not to tie the blessing around your waist.

When the Israelites sinned against God in Jerusalem, the Lord told the prophet Jeremiah to warn them to repent from their sins or be sent into captivity. The Israelites refused to repent so the Lord used Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon at the time, to come and take them to Babylon and rule over them for seventy years. During the Israelites’ captivity in Babylon another kingdom arose and conquered Babylon. So, the Israelites were sent to the kingdom known as the Medo-Persia and were living in a town called Susa. Among the Jews was a man called Mordecai who worked at the gate of the king’s palace in Susa. He was a man of integrity.

There was also a man called Herman working in the palace of the king. Fortunately for him, he was promoted so he demanded that every one should bow before him. When Herman saw that Mordecai neither bowed down before him nor paid homage to him, he was filled with rage. Herman swore to lay hands on Mordecai, for he had been told who the people of Mordecai were. Therefore, Herman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who could be found throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus. Herman went to King Ahasuerus and told him how the Jewish people refused to obey his laws and how disrespectful they were to his kingdom. Herman paid money into the king’s treasuries to destroy the Jewish people and it pleased the king so he put his signet ring on Herman’s hands. This meant King Ahasuerus had given him the authority and order to destroy all the Jewish people.

So when Mordecai heard about what had been done by Herman, he tore his clothes and put on rough clothes and ashes and went out into the city crying loudly and painfully. But Mordecai went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one was allowed to enter that gate dressed in rough clothes. As the king’s order reached every area, there was great sadness and loud crying among the Jewish people. They stopped eating and cried out loud, and many of them lay down in rough cloth and ashes to show how sad they were (Esther 4.1-4).

Mordecai was very sad and fear gripped him after hearing the destruction Herman had declared upon the Jewish people in the land of Susa. He refused to put on a nice cloth and rather put on rough clothes and ashes to show how seriously he considered what had been planned. He decided to wait upon God for intervention or his people would be destroyed and put to death by the order of the king.
Mordecai was not allowed to enter the king’s gate because of the cloth that he was wearing. When Esther’s servants heard and saw Mordecai at the gate they went and told Esther about it. Esther was upset when she heard that Mordecai her uncle had put on rough cloth and was at the king’s gate. She immediately sent nice clothes to be given to Mordecai. She was embarrassed by the behavior of her uncle, because she was a queen and her uncle needed to be dressed nicely so that it would bring honor to her. Surprisingly, he refused to put on the clothes because, to him, that was not the time to put on nice clothes.

This is the most important thing many Christians do not know and their lives have been messed up by the devil. If we cannot discern between good and bad times, we might not be able to know the time the Lord is leading us to get a purpose accomplished for Him. Mordecai was able to discern between the period of warfare and the period of pleasure because we should not mix pleasure and business together.

Esther sent her servants to ask Mordecai the reason he had refused to wear the nice clothes, and what actually was going on. Then Mordecai told Esther’s servants the plans of Herman concerning the destruction of the Jewish people and that she should go to the king and plead for the cancellation of the plot against the Jewish people. Esther sent a word to Mordecai that it was not time for her to see the king and anyone who went to the king without his permission suffered the penalty of death.

Then Mordecai sent back a word to Esther: “Just because you live in the king’s palace, don’t think that out of all the Jewish people you alone will escape. If you keep quiet at this time, someone else will help and save the Jewish people, but who knows if you have been chosen as queen for such a time as this” (Esther:413-14).

At times many Christians do not know who they are in the kingdom and the reason God brings them into certain places in life; so, they might find it difficult to find God’s will for their life and just misuse God’s resources. I think ministers of God should educate, mentor or guide people for them to know the will of God for their life. Esther would not have known why she was brought into the palace if Mordecai had not educated her that the reason she had been brought into the palace was to save her people.

The insight of Mordecai made Esther became bold and courageous after knowing why she was made a queen and was ready to die for her people.

God, who knows the heart of man and the future, foresaw that Herman would rise up against the Jewish people; so, God decided to bring Esther to the palace to become a deliverer for her people. It was the suppernatural intervention of God that made Esther a queen in Susa. Esther was a Jew; she was not qualified to be a queen in Susa. Can a refugee become a queen in another man’s land? It is impossible. However, since God was involved in this situation nothing was impossible for Him. God had to harden the heart of Vashti to refuse the invitation of the king. The king became furious with Vashti for not honoring his invitation; therefore, he terminated her appointment as a queen in Susa. After this, there was a beauty contest among the young women in Susa. Esther was one of the contestants and she found favor in the king’s sight and became queen. Had it not been the grace and favor of God would Esther have become a queen?

Esther was overjoyed to be in the palace but she didn’t know why she was in the palace at that time. She was happy to be the queen of Susa: she enjoyed and beheld the beauty of the palace. Anything she wanted was at her finger tips. She was eating the nicest dishes and wearing beautiful clothes, wearing her hair in different styles. Her maid servants were serving her so she wasn’t having any problem; therefore, she did not know why she was in the palace. It was a big disgrace for her to hear that her uncle was wearing rough clothes at the vicinity of the palace, so she immediately sent new clothes for the uncle to put on. Esther considered everything to be food and clothing and forgot the main purpose for which she was brought to the palace. On the other hand, Herman was also planning to destroy all the Jewish people. Until the eyes of Esther were opened to the reason she was brought to the palace at that time she would have kept silent and the entire Jewish population would have been massacred by the arch valiant Herman.

We should not be too overjoyed at what ever place we find ourselves today but we should know why we have been brought to that place. Some pastors are overjoyed because their churches have grown bigger but they do not know why God has given them that big ministry. Some people are also overjoyed because they are well educated and have passed through the university but they do not know why God has given them that knowledge or education. Others have been blessed with financial breakthrough, huge businesses, nice jobs, yet they do not know the reason why those things were entrusted into their hands. They are just enjoying it because they are in possession of it. It is good to enjoy the fruit of your labor but know why the fruit was given to you at that particular time.

God will seldom lift someone to a high position without Him having a reason or purpose for that. Knowing the purpose why God has blessed us is more important than enjoying the benefit of the things God has trusted into our hands.

If we have the privilege to live on this earth at such a time as this then we should also know what God wants us to do, because that is why we are living. Some people are wasting air, resources, time, talent, and energy. They are not doing anything to change or bring change to the environment wherein they have found themselves. God has a purpose for bringing you to that church, hospital, school, house and country. God in His own plans and ways has to replace some people with you to accomplish what He wants to do in your life.

Beloved! God had a special folder of life for you before you were even born on this earth. God will seldom put or take someone to a place without a reason. Wherever you might be right now is because God has strategically placed you there for a purpose. Knowing why you are on this planet is better than just living on this planet and enjoying the pleasures of life.

God has sent some people overseas for a purpose but they are enjoying themselves there and have forgotten why they were sent there. God is not as curious about the things He has given to us as he is about the things He wants us to do – that is why He has blessed us. At times God brings us into contact with other people to fulfill a purpose designed by Him. So we shouldn’t be just content with the good relationship we are sharing and enjoying with people out there but should know what God wants us to do with the people He has connected us to. When God brings two people together for marriage He has a purpose for that. If God brings someone into a particular church He has a reason for that.

If you are a singer, preacher, doctor, pastor, teacher, lawyer, praise God! But don’t be too overjoyed about you profession. Rather see accomplishing the purpose why you are in that profession as the most important thing.

Some people are enjoying the benefits of their career but they are not contributing to the society with what they have learned and have been called to do. It is good that we give all that we have to serve our people because that is why we are called, rather than just enjoying the benefits of our work and living selfishly.

When God gives you a car, house, money, job, husband, wife, etc, He has reasons for bringing these things into your life. The most important thing to God is how you use what He has given you and the glory and impact it will bring into His kingdom. Don’t take that ministry, church, car, houses, money, company, wife and husband for granted. Don’t abuse what God has given you. Do you think you are using what God has given you for the right purpose? Is God happy with you and the way you are handling the church, ministry, money, wife and husband?

Many people are losing the blessings of God upon their lives simply because they refused to acknowledge God with the things He has given them. An instance was King Saul. He decided to please himself rather than God; therefore God rejected him as king of Israel. God can reject you and replace you with someone who can acknowledge Him and do the job better; just as queen Vashti was rejected and Esther was put in her position. God bless you.

Pastor Lawson Salam
Contact: email-lawsonsalam@yahoo.com showersofgraceministriesj@yahoo.com
Tel: 00233243214225, 00233205819045
SHOWERS OF GRACE MINISTRIES-ADUM, KUMASI,GHANA

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“You can give a person a handout or a hand up”

We are three quarters of the way thru 2009 and the first year of our new president. Part of President Obama’s stimulus plan has included massive money give aways: auto purchases, education benifits, home purchases, increase in unemployment etc. If this will work for the economy, we still will have to wait and see. However, I believe there is an underlying danger that is could we be developing an attitude of entitlement instead of empowerment? One creates dependency the other independence.

The entitlement mentality is one where we look to someone else and expect them to supply us with what we are lacking. Is an attitude that what I need is owed to me and I am not the one responsible for it. This mentality creates an individual that will never live up to their potential. They will never discover what lies hidden with in them.

It is unfortunate, many times this attitude creeps into our spiritual lives. We present ourselves at church on Sunday expecting to be chilled and thrilled with a spiritual show and hold back our involvement until we have been sufficiently “moved”. Our relationship with Jesus is one that we expect him to be our doctor, lawyer, banker, grocer or magic genie. We search the word of God as a cookbook, looking for that right recipe that will fix our current dilemma.

Now please do not get me wrong here – I am not saying that Jesus does not, at various times, work in our behalf to alleviate traumatic situations of our lives

What I am getting at is that this entitlement mentality fails to acknowledge the giftings and power that He has placed in us to use for His Kingdom. It is when we see the truth of His word and how it applies to our lives that we can become empowered to reveal His nature where it counts – in a hurting world.

Empowerment is living out, or expressing that divine DNA that has been placed in us with our born again experience.

• We are told that we would receive power with the Spirit infilling, then we are to GO and do something with it – make disciples.
• We are instructed to cleans ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and spirit.
• We are able to excessively above all we can ask or think – if we use the power that dwells with in us.
• We have been given authority over the power of our enemy and we are to walk on the things he throws against us.
• We are to lay hands on sick and expect them to recover.

It is when we stop expecting entitlements and choose to express His power that we will begin to see the miraculous in our lives. As we walk in His empowerment we will produce fruit which will result in a life that is lived to it’s fullest potential.

till next time-
martin

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