Increase Your Faith

God Forgives and Forgets! 
By Dwight Thompson 
 
Religious tradition has dimmed our view of the cross and diminished our understanding of what it means to be born again. People make a recurring ritual out of repentance. 

Whatever their religion—they usually practice some sort of penance, or some sort of offering or confession, or some kind of ritual by which they continually come before God exposing again and again the same sin and the same fault. 

Forgiven Once And For All 
Now, what I want you to recognize is this. When you ask for forgiveness of those sins and you confess them to God, they are once and for all forgiven! I didn’t say that you could not sin again. 

John said,

My little children, these things write I unto you that you sin not, but if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous: He is the propitiation of our sins and not of ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world,  (1 John 2:1-2)

You may sin inadvertently, but as a born again Christian, you will not practice sin. For John again said in his epistle in chapter 3, verse 9,

The person who has been born into God’s family does not make a practice of sinning, because now God’s life is in him; so he can’t keep on sinning, for this new life has been born into him and controls him—he has been born again. (TLB)

The only way you will keep yourself in bondage is if you go back to those sins and pick them up and live in them again. You see, the only way the devil can keep you under guilt is for you to turn back to that sin. 

Peter said, “Repent ye therefore, be converted that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). When you turn from your sins and forsake them, those sins are blotted out! 

Faith To Be Healed 
By Kenneth E. Hagin 
 

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom. 10:17)

Healing is in God’s plan of redemption, so it belongs to all of us. And faith for obtaining healing comes the same way that faith for obtaining salvation comes – by hearing the Gospel (the Word of God) preached. 

Acts chapter 14 tells us about the first missionary journey of Barnabas and Paul. It tells us where they went and what they did. Verse 7 says, “And there they preached the gospel.” 

Let’s continue reading.

And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 
(Acts 14:8-10)

This man was definitely healed on his own faith. He was not healed because Paul was an apostle, or by any special manifestation of the Spirit. He was healed because he had faith. 

Where did he get the faith to be healed? Did he have faith to be healed because God just sort of flew over him like a bird and dropped faith down in his heart? No! He heard Paul speak. 

There is a connection between hearing the Word preached or taught and having faith to be healed. He got faith to be healed from what he heard Paul speak. What did Paul speak? According to verse 7, he preached the Gospel or the Word of God. 

Confession

I receive faith to be healed by hearing the Gospel, the Word of God. And then I act on my faith!

Source: Health Food Devotions by Kenneth E. Hagin.

Take Time to Listen by Kenneth Copeland

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5

When you’re facing a problem, the very first thing you should ask God for is wisdom. Not money. Not power. Not even healing. But wisdom.

God’s wisdom is the key that will unlock every door in your life. It will turn your every failure into success. So, stop wasting your prayer power begging God for things you think you need and spend some time instead listening to what He has to say about your situation.

If you’ve never tried that before, practically speaking, here’s what you need to do.

First: Lay out the entire problem before the Lord, not because He doesn’t know what you’re going through, but because laying it out helps you. It helps you see things from a more objective point of view.

I remember when I used to take my problems to my father, A. W. Copeland. Somehow, when I was explaining them to him, they began to look different to me. I’d get a new perspective, and as I talked, he’d point out areas I hadn’t considered yet. Explaining your problems to God, point by point, will help you accomplish the same thing.

Second: Listen for the Spirit of God to advise you. Pay particular attention to what He says through the written Word. Most likely, the care of your problem has choked the Word of God right out of your heart (Mark 4:18-19). If so, you need to get the Bible and begin to put that Word back in again. Then the Holy Spirit will begin to speak to you through it.

As you’re listening, be sure to remain teachable. Be ready to accept rebuke if necessary. Be very honest with God. Look for ways in which you’ve been wrong and confess them to Him. It’s all right. Those sins won’t come as any surprise to Him. He already knows about them. Confession just gives you the opportunity to get rid of them.

Third: Act on the wisdom God gives you. Let go of your own methods and put His methods into operation. Be obedient. If you don’t, that wonderful wisdom won’t do you any good at all.

As you pray today, set aside your own ideas and start seeking the wisdom of God. It’s the only thing that can permanently solve the problems you’ve been facing. It’s truly the most precious gift God has to give.

Seek wisdom!

Jesus, My Good Shepherd 
By Tim Davidson 
 
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 NASB)

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A shepherd is one who takes full responsibility for the welfare of the flock. A hireling will run from trouble, but a good shepherd will put himself in harms way for the welfare of the sheep. Jesus is our good shepherd and He put His life on the line for us, His sheep. 

The Message Bible says: I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. 

The twenty-third Psalm speaks of Jesus in His good shepherd role. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Feeding, leading, guiding, tending, healing, restoring, and providing for the sheep are all responsibilities of the Good Shepherd. Jesus really is that good to us. 

Today’s Thought to Take With You: 

Jesus is my good shepherd. I don’t want for any good thing; He cares completely for me. 

Father, we pray in unity and faith for Pastors William and Yvette McDuffie as they go forth to minister the Gospel of the Kingdom in East Africa. We pray for doors of utterance to be opened for them to boldly share the Word of God in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. We pray for an outpouring of God’s Spirit upon East Africa and declare that signs and wonders will confirm the Word that is preached.

Father, we declare that the Word will go forth with power bringing healing and deliverance to the oppressed. We thank you that wisdom and revelation flows in every meeting causing the people to be enlightened and transformed. Every person in attendance hears and receives the engrafted word that builds them up and causes them to obtain their inheritance.

Father, we declare that Pastors William and Yvette McDuffie are protected from all schemes and plots of the enemy. We forbid any demonic activity against them, their finances, possessions, travel schedules, their transportation, health, meals, sleeping accommodations, the meetings and all ministry and leisure activity they engage in. We declare that no hurt, harm, danger or accident shall come near them. Father, give your angels charge over them to keep, defend and preserve them in all of their ways.

We bind every principality, power, ruler of darkness, spiritual host of wickedness in heavenly places, and every demon spirit that would try to operate against them or the people in East Africa. We bind all spirits of antichrist, witchcraft, idolatry, divination and sorcery that would try to hinder the success of this mission trip and declare that the works of the devil are destroyed in Jesus’ name. We loose the heavenly presence of God, His mercy, grace, favor, anointing, love, power and peace upon the meetings and all involved. We plead the blood of Jesus over Pastors William and Yvette McDuffie, the hosting ministers, the churches, all attendees and declare success and victory over every aspect of this mission trip.

Father, cover East Africa with your glory as the waters cover the sea. We declare that the time of the harvest is come, the latter rain is here, and the fields are white and ready for harvest. We call in multitudes of souls and declare that many are delivered out of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of God. We praise you for doing abundantly above all that we are asking according to the power that is working in us and declare that Jesus is Lord over East Africa! In Jesus’ name, Amen!

That Glorious Name 
By Kenneth Copeland 
 
“And I will do—I Myself will grant—whatever you may ask in My name [presenting all I AM] so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in [through] the Son” (John 14:13AMP). 

In Jesus’ Name. It’s more than a phrase we tack on to the end of our prayers. All that God is and does is represented in the Name of Jesus. The Amplified Bible says when you ask in His Name, you present your requests to the Father on the credit of all that Jesus is. So you can boldly expect to have those requests granted – not because you’re worthy, but because He is! 

What’s more, the Name of Jesus carries authority over all other names. In Philippians 2:5-11, the Apostle Paul tells us, “God also hath highly exalted him [Jesus], and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” 

In spite of all the Word of God has to say about the power of the Name of Jesus, most believers don’t seem to put much stock in it. They’ll pray in the Name of Jesus, then turn right around and say, “I sure hope God answers that prayer.” They don’t realize that if they only had the faith to believe it, Jesus’ Name alone carries enough clout to guarantee their prayers will be answered. 

They even let religious slang rob them of the power of using that Name. I’ve heard many well-meaning believers end their prayer with the phrase, “For Jesus’ sake.” But Jesus didn’t say to pray for His sake. He said to pray in His Name. 

I used to make that mistake myself. One night I was praying because I was suffering from a stomachache. “Oh, for Jesus’ sake,” I prayed, “heal my stomach.” 

After I’d said that a few times, the Lord spoke up on the inside of me. Wait a minute, He said, whose stomach is hurting here, Mine or yours? 

“Mine!” I answered. 

Then He very plainly said, In that case, pray for your stomach’s sake, in My Name! 

Jesus’ Name. Dig into the Word and find out just how much power and authority it really carries. Then use that power every time you pray. Stop “hoping” God will answer and start expecting Him to cause every circumstance in your life to bow its knee in honor of that glorious Name! 

Father, I bring the needs of our government before You and ask You to bless our nation through godly leaders. I magnify the Name of Jesus and declare that He is Lord over this nation.

Father, I pray according to 1 Timothy 2:1-3 which says, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.”

I pray, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, for our president, the vice president, all the Cabinet and the chief justice and associate justices of the Supreme Court to receive the wisdom of God, to act in obedience to that wisdom and for the power of God to flow in their lives.

I pray for the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to find Your peace and direction, and for these men and women to act and lead according to Your Word. A house divided against itself cannot stand, therefore, I pray for them to be unified in righteousness for the sake of the nation.

I pray for Your protection to cover all our law enforcement officers and the men and women of the military. I ask for godly counsel and wisdom for judges across this land. In the Name of Jesus, I pray that You and our kingdom of righteousness be manifested in the hearts of all those who are in authority in any way.

Father, Your Word says to pray for the peace of Jerusalem because those who love Jerusalem shall prosper. Lord Jesus, because You love Jerusalem and wept over it, I love it also. I pray for Jerusalem to receive the Shalom of God, which brings wholeness—nothing missing, nothing broken. I pray that no leader of our nation will make any decision that will harm Jerusalem in any way. And in the Name of Jesus, I pray that You reveal Your perfect will to all the leaders of Israel. I ask You, Lord, to reveal Yourself to each person. Thank You, Father, for hearing my prayers that are in accordance to Your will. I receive the answers, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Source: Kenneth Copeland Ministries

The Holy Spirit, Our Teacher 
By Mark Brazee 
 
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). 

Does God use sickness to teach us? This Scripture says that the Comforter will teach us all things. How much is “all things”? All means all! Well, if the Holy Spirit teaches us all things, how much does God reserve for us to learn through sickness and disease? 

According to this verse, nothing is left for us to learn through sickness and disease. You’ll never find one place in the Bible where sickness is the teacher of the Church. It’s always the Holy Spirit who guides and teaches. 

“Well, yes,” someone might say, “but God sometimes teaches us through sickness and disease too.” No, He doesn’t. How could He teach through sickness and disease when He doesn’t have any sickness or disease to give? 

Second Timothy 3:16-17 shows us how the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to teach us: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 

So the Holy Spirit is our teacher, and God’s Word is our perfecter, correcter, and instructor. The Spirit of God and the Word of God operate together in our lives to help us grow spiritually. 

If we don’t take advantage of the Holy Spirit and the Word, we leave the door open for the devil to have access to our lives. And the devil isn’t trying to teach us when he attacks with sickness and disease—he’s trying to kill us! 

So draw on the ministry of the Word and the teacher within. Don’t look for lessons to be learned from sickness and pain. Let the Holy Spirit take you higher in God while you enjoy His divine health! 

Confession: I don’t look to sickness and disease to teach me anything. I treat them as enemies and cast them out of my body in Jesus’ name! The Holy Ghost and the Word teach me everything I need to know to walk victoriously in life.

Source: 365 Days of Healing by Mark Brazee

Break Through the Wall by Kenneth Copeland

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

You’re running the race set before you, moving full speed ahead with God’s blessing overtaking you at every step. Then suddenly, wham! You hit the wall. It may be a wall of sickness or financial trouble, of spiritual failure or family problems. But, regardless of the form it takes, the effect of “the wall” is always the same. It stops you cold.

The question is, once you hit a wall like that, what will you do? You’ll be tempted to quit, to turn back in defeat. But don’t do it. Because God will enable you to break through that wall and keep right on going.

I’m not going to tell you it’s easy. The truth is, it’s tough. But you have to push on through the tough times if you’re ever going to have a breakthrough.

Ask any athlete. He’ll tell you that! Because if he’s a winner, he’s been there. He’s pushed his body to what seems to be the maximum. His side has hurt. His lungs have ached. He’s had cramps in his legs and thighs. And just when he felt like he couldn’t go on, he’s heard some coach yell, “Come on! Move it!”

Athletes call that “hitting the wall.” It’s a time when the body says, “That’s it. That’s all I can do. I can’t go any further. I can’t go any faster. I quit.”

But the seasoned athlete knows that “the wall” isn’t the end. It’s a signal that he’s on the verge of a breakthrough. If he’ll toughen up and push himself a little more, he’ll get a second wind. Suddenly, he’ll go faster than before. He’ll reach a level of excellence he couldn’t have reached any other way.

When you feel the worst, when failure is breathing down your neck, press into the Word as never before. You may meditate on a particular scripture for days and even weeks sometimes, trying to get a revelation of it, seemingly without success. Then suddenly, like the dawn of the morning, light will come pouring in. You’ll see the way to break through. All you have to do is punch one little hole in that wall of problems, dig one tiny hole in it with your faith and with the Word of God.

Then keep tearing away at that hole. Don’t quit! And, before long, the forces of God will come bursting through, demolishing every obstacle in their path!

Once that happens you’ll never be the same again. You’ll be hooked. It will only take one breakthrough like that to make a never-dying, never-quitting champion out of you.

Power Over the Enemy 
By Billy Joe Daugherty 
 
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. 

(Luke 10:19)
Jesus gave all believers power and authority over the devil and his demons. You should no longer be concerned with what the devil is trying to do on the earth. Your focus should be on the things that God has called you to do. Because of the power and authority that has been invested in you by the head of the church, there is nothing that can stop what God has called you to do. 

People are never blessed by hearing what the devil has done. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. As you talk about the Word and the mighty things that God has done, people will be encouraged and set free. 

It is up to you to stomp on serpents and scorpions (evil spirits and demons). You can walk on them because of the shed blood of Jesus and the authority you have been given. As you use that authority, you have God’s Word that “…nothing shall by any means hurt you.” 

Make this your daily confession: Nothing shall by any means hurt me or my family. Expect to live free from accidents, robberies, natural disasters, disease, and the assault of evil men. God’s Word is your shield of defense. Put your faith in it for total immunity from all the works of the devil. 

DECLARATION OF FAITH
In Jesus’ name, I have power over all the power of the enemy. Nothing shall by any means hurt me or my family. I am immune to evil by the authority of God’s Word. I rejoice that in the victory that I have because of the blood of Jesus.
Source: 101 Days of Absolute Victory by Billy Joe Daugherty