Core Values of a Disciple

“Discipleship is more than an important program in the church. It is the great priority found in the Great Commission. It is the ultimate proof of effective ministry and genuine church growth. It is the will of God and the desire of Jesus. It is the foundation of a stable faith and the means of rich and rewarding relationships with God and man.”

As we continue exploring the essentials of effective discipleship, we will take a look at a disciple’s core values. But first, what are Core Values?

The core values are those values we hold which form the foundation on which we perform, work, and conduct ourselves. We have an entire universe of values, but some of them are so primary, so important to us that through out the changes in church structure, society, government, politics, and technology they are STILL the core values we will abide by. In an ever-changing world, core values are constant.

The core values of a disciple
• Evangelism (sharing the Good News of Jesus)
• Discipleship (becoming transformed by His Truth)
• Community (experiencing Life in the Fellowship of others who love him)
• Worship (delighting God in all you do)
• Service/Ministry (investing your energies in His purposes)
• Power (being a dynamic presence for God in the world by the help of the Holy Spirit)

These core values will be found in a true disciple. One cannot be a disciple without these values in place. The Great Commission sums up the values every disciple should have.

Matthew 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Are we raising up disciples with these values in place? Are our churches challenging each member to live a life of a disciple? These are some serious questions. Questions that are important in determining the success of our ministries. Much more so than “how many we had on Sunday Morning,” or “what our annual budget is.” A successful church produces disciples, is yours?
God Bless
Paul LaRose

Discipleship a Divine Mandate

DISCIPLESHIP A DIVINE MANDATE

Discipleship is a divine mandate, not a human option. The mandate on Discipleship is made clear by the Great Commission found in Mathew 28:18-20. It is assumed that every educated Christian believes making disciples of all nations (geographically and demographically) is a God-given mandate to the true church of Jesus Christ. But we have found that believing in the Great Commission is not the key to accomplishing the Great commission. The history of Christianity has been tainted by the fact that our modern churches, pastors, and laity have not been actively following this divine mandate. The failure of following the Great Commission lies mostly with the acceptance of an incorrect definition of the word disciple. The majority of the church world uses the words educate and evangelize in place of the word disciple. Though education and evangelization are important aspects of discipleship they are not by any means an adequate substitution for discipleship. Discipleship is the diligent and intentional teachings and practices that promote the lifelong lifestyle of becoming ever more like Jesus and reproducing the Christ-life in others . Discipleship is multi-faceted, but there are three key elements that are necessary for the discipleship process to be effective.
First, an accurate understanding of the words disciple and discipleship are paramount. “Discipleship” was a well-established institution in first-century Judaism. It was the one and only avenue for gaining recognition as a rabbi (teacher). If a student aspired to be a master of the law and obtain the title teacher, discipleship was the only avenue open to him. This student attached himself to a recognized Rabbi and studied under the Rabbi for many years. These studies were not conducted in a classroom, but rather the student listened and observed the Rabbi teach others throughout the day. It was not unusual for the student to take up residence in the Rabbi’s home to further his studies and gain a deeper understanding of the life of a Rabbi. The twelve New Testament Disciples were living a life of study under Jesus Christ. They were called by Christ to be followers of him (John 1:43) while abandoning their occupations, family life, and personal aspirations for the call of discipleship. After Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi and Jesus’ open teaching about His impending death, He began to call for a commitment to full discipleship. To believe truly that He was the Messiah, God’s Son, meant to “continue in His word” as a true disciple (John 8:31). Jesus set in motion the discipleship process of the Great Commission by taking His own disciples to a level that was not previously obtained. Discipleship is a life-long journey of obedience and dedication to the Word of God and the examples of Jesus Christ while reproducing the powerful Christian life in others. There is no other acceptable explanation of discipleship that varies too greatly from this one. We cannot be disciples of Christ without dedication and obedience to the Word of God. Neither can we be effective disciples while pursuing personal ambitions that would take away from the pursuit of the Great Commission.
Secondly, there is a distinct cost of being a disciple of Christ. One must turn away from the pleasures of this world and pursue the goals that the Holy Spirit set before them. The key issue of discipleship is obedience, for without it no fundamental and lasting change takes place. This is the reason such “obedience-oriented” discipleship is required of all who would follow Christ. Otherwise, it is possible for a person to call Christ “Lord, Lord” and even do mighty works in His name and yet be an evildoer who will be denied entrance into the eternal kingdom (Matt. 7:21–23). No one can “fake” being a disciple of Christ. Those that are truly disciples will be made know by the fruit of their labors.
Thirdly, we must become followers of the examples of Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit. In the original biblical texts, the term used for disciple refers to someone who is a learner or follower who serves as an apprentice under the tutelage of a master. Becoming a follower of Christ is a key to effective discipleship. Following Christ is not limited to following Him as long as He leads us where we want to go as many so called disciples would like to do. A disciple (follower of Christ) follows Him wherever He leads and whenever He leads while allowing the Holy Spirit to direct our paths. A follower of Christ must become sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. For it was the Holy Spirit that Christ sent to us after He ascended. The Holy Spirit corrects us when we get off the path chosen for us, and gently directs us in the path we should take. Following Christ and the Holy Spirit are aspects of discipleship that if removed the word disciple can no longer be applied.
Even though discipleship is not a hard concept to understand, it seems to be a hard concept to apply. The cost of discipleship is often perceived as too great. The dedication of following the leadership of Christ and the Holy Spirit seems for some too difficult. But if we would completely follow the examples of Christ and learn from the lives of the twelve disciples we can become effective disciples and disciple makers!

DEFINITION OF DISCIPLESHIP

Discipleship is the diligent and intentional teachings and practices that promote the lifelong lifestyle of becoming ever more like Jesus and reproducing the Christ-life in others.

A look into Discipleship I

Over the course of multiple conversations with multiple ministers I have found that the definition of the word “discipleship” varies from individual to individual. Some believe discipleship is equal to leadership. Leadership is related to discipleship, but it only reflects one of the aspects of discipleship. I have taken this simple explanation of Discipleship from the AG website.

“Discipleship is more than an important program in the church. It is the great priority found in the Great Commission. It is the ultimate proof of effective ministry and genuine church growth. It is the will of God and the desire of Jesus. It is the foundation of a stable faith and the means of rich and rewarding relationships with God and man.”

In the next few issues of the this post, we will be exploring the essentials of effective discipleship. At it’s foundation Christian Education is Discipleship. Every class, lesson, and program should be intentionally designed to further the discipleship process in the student. Christ is ultimately the perfect example of a disciple maker. Discipleship is so important that Christ dedicated the majority of His ministry to the 12 Disciples. Every time we witness to an unbeliever or work with a Christian we must implement disciple-making principles. It is not enough to hope that one will become an effective disciple, we must plan to produce disciples that will carry on the work of the Great Commission.

Here are some characteristics of Discipleship as listed on the Discipleship page of the Assemblies of God website:

• Discipleship is all about relationships: Our personal relationship with Jesus in devotion, relationships with other believers in care and accountability, and relationships with pre-believers in evangelism.
• If discipleship had two bookends, they would be transformation and multiplication.
• Transformation of character often comes in response to repentance. Followers of Jesus never outgrow repentance.
• Discipleship is a process, not an event. We never graduate from growing more like Christ. It is a goal that should consume our attention until the day we meet Jesus face to face.
• We’re not disciples unless we’re discipling others. Multiplication comes as a result of evangelism and mentoring.
• Discipleship is a life spent seeking Christ-likeness in the company of other seekers. As Jesus modeled it, discipleship is a contact sport.
• Since discipleship is a non-negotiable (it is the Great Commission), discipleship must be an intentional focus of every believer and every ministry.

Life Controlling Issues

Titus 3:3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

As I continue to prepare for this Sunday, I can't help but feel emotional. So many people are tied down with life-controlling issues. Issues that keep them from realizing how great God is and how great He made us. We have within us the potential to live a life of freedom, success, and fulfillment! We were created by a Mighty God and that God so desires us to be all that He designed us to be. We get so wrapped up in this world that we trade in our joy for despair, our freedom for slavery, our victory for defeat, and most of all our inheritance for things that will fade away.
As the scripture states even if you are enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures, we can still break away from those things that keep us down. We only have to turn back to God the Father. When will we realize that we are the scraps we are partaking in come from the table that God prepared for us. We are not dogs to be kicked and shoved aside. We are children of the Most High God. Let us seek freedom from the things that enslave us at the feet of the Father. He will restore us to the place He has prepared.

Love is for everyone!

Ephesians 2:4-5
4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Are we as a church neglecting 4 out of 10 adults? According to the 2000 Census 43.3% of adults are single or are single again! Just yesterday, the world celebrated Valentines Day, a holiday that excludes 4 out of 10 people. In fact, many churches hosted a Valentine’s banquet or provided some sort of opportunity for married and engaged couples to express their devotion to one another. This is a wonderful tool to connect the couples within our churches, but what about those that are not married or engaged? Since our nation and churches are marriage focused we often forget how many people do not fit in that category. I recently had the opportunity to talk to Dennis Franck author of Reaching Single Adults and he challenged me to look up the demographics in my city, Frankfort. I knew we had a lot of singles, but I had no idea how many there were. Look at these statistics from the 2000 census regarding the adults in my mission field of Frankfort, Kentucky.
Ages 18-24 3,254 11.7% of all adults
Ages 25-44 8,399 30.3% of all adults
Ages 45-64 6,224 22.4% of all adults
Ages 18-64 17,877 64.4% of all adults

According to these numbers we have more single adults than married! Wow, I really would not have guessed this to be true. Dennis Franck caused me to realize that reaching the single individuals of our communities has to be a priority for our churches. But how do we reach the single population? Many single programs fail because they begin with the idea that “single people need to be married”. This is not only a bad assumption, but it goes against the feelings of many singles. We as Christians and church leaders need to be focused on the main goal "To seek and save the Lost." The lost meaning everyone, not a particular group, nation, race, or classification of people, but rather all people. In fulfilling the goal of the "Great Commission" we must not allow our assumptions to get in the way of God's plan. This week I encourage you to show Love not only to those in your home, but to those that live without the understanding of the Love of Christ. For Christ loved you before you loved Him and we should love others even before they have the Love of Christ.

God Bless

The Big Reveal!

Now King David was told, "The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God." So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, 15 while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart. II Samuel 12-16

There is a continuing decline of signs and wonders being made manifest in our Nations Churches. Why? That is a question that can be answered many ways. One reason is because many churches are afraid of what comes with the signs and wonders. People get excited and when people get excited they do some exciting things! We laugh when we see people win money on television. They get all crazy and dance around screaming, shouting, jumping on people, even loosing all humility. Sometimes they even pass out due to the enormity of their excitement. We laugh at them and talk about how silly they are, but we have come to expect to see some drama. The show "Extreme Home Makeover" comes to mind when I think about people getting excited. At the "big reveal" the families never stand still and express their thanks in a very dignified way. No, we would assume they were ungrateful if they didn't get excited. We love to see them weep, laugh, pass out, dance, and shout until it becomes ridiculous. That is how we know they were deeply touched and they recognize that their quality of life has just been transformed. Well, it should be all that and more when our Heavenly Father touches our lives. When someone is delivered from oppression they ought to be excited. Joy should overcome their lives and they should do a little dance and celebrate how great God is. When someone is healed their sense of gratitude should be overwhelming! We have seen, through media, people pass out at the thought of winning a new car. Imagine the emotional rush when someone has just been touched by God Himself! If people pass out for a car they should fall flat on their backs when God shatters the chains of sin and death! When healing flows people ought to dance because health is worth more than any car.

I encourage you to be open to signs and wonders and the emotional release that follows them. People will get excited and things will happen, but let us look at it with open minds and open hearts. If we can laugh at someone on tv, then we can surely be blessed by one of our fellow Christians. Be careful to not allow yourself to be judgemental. Imagine how you would feel if your generational curse had just been broken. I think it would be cause for celebration. Next time you are in service and the Lord is moving and people are being healed, delivered, and transformed imagine that they just got their "Big Reveal!"

Invite them and they will come!

I too will have my say; I too will tell what I know for I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me; inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wine skins ready to burst Job 32:17-19

The statistic; 80% of people that join a church were invited by a personal friend, continues to be proven factual. Polls and surveys that addresses this issue continue to find results near the number 80%. To clarify; when a church adds 10 new members 8 of them were invited by a friend. That's not to say that these are all newly saved members, but I have to believe that many of them are! As Christians, we have been given a mandate to grow the church through discipleship. Every Christian has the express responsibility to evangelize within their circle of influence as well as throughout the world. Many outreach opportunities are given to church members, but the majority of church growth occurs when members personally invite their friends and family to participate in church services and special events. Let's not forget that our friends value our advice, input, and influence. That is why they are our friends. The gift of friendship is complex and hard to maintain on a high level, but at the foundation is trust. Our friends trust us to give them insight that is valuable and relevant to their life. I can't think of anything more valuable than Christ and the Church. Is it hard to invite people to church? No, I don't think it is, but we have a preconceived notion that people don't want to come to church. The fact is that people are more open to spiritual things than ever before. Take advantage of the age of spiritual openness the Mormons, Muslims, and other false religions are! The fastest growing religion in America is Islam. That's because they are passionate about adding people to their movement. Do you see Islam speakers on TV? Do you see high profile Muslim's publishing books? Do you see conferences, summits, or highly promoted gatherings to promote the Islam religion? No, we don't see any of those things. Then why are they growing at a faster rate than Christianity? Christians will spend millions of dollars on mass marketing, but the way we truly grow the church is through personal contact!!! I encourage you to invite your friends to church this Sunday. They respect you and will listen to your testimonies.

God Bless

Leadership, sometimes it’s a bummer!

"But Lord , " Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." Judges 6:15 NIV

We had to cancel church today because of the weather. It always bothers me when we have to do that. I only get three chances a week to speak to the entire congregation and those three services are very important to me. Missing them under any circumstance is bothersome. I remember the first year we came to New Harvest, after we went to my sister’s wedding in Washington I didn’t miss another Sunday service for a whole year. I felt so guilty taking that Sunday off (an anniversary trip) it was hardly relaxing! Point is, that making the decision to cancel services is not an easy one. There are so many things to consider when dealing with weather like this. The question of safety is the first thing that comes to mind. Not just the safety of getting to the church, but is the church grounds safe and will it be safe going home? Not only for the congregation, but any visitors that might come. In the litigious society that we live in, we have to err on the side of caution. Not only that, but if I wrestled with the decision and then someone did get hurt – don’t even want to think about that! Point is leadership is so much more than what we see. It seems that many people are fascinated with the public side of leadership, but only a few are willing to embrace the ugly side of leadership. When everything is great the leader gets the praise (that’s what people are in love with), but when things don’t go as planned, the leader better look out. By this time you might be wondering where I am going with this one. Well here it is.

Leadership – better defined as servant hood. I remember when I submitted to the call of ministry. I didn’t ask God to make me into something great. I didn’t tell Him I wanted to be this or that or like some well-known minister. I just wept at the thought of God asking me to do something. I was humbled that He would even call me. I really didn’t know what He was asking me to do. I just knew that I had to serve Him and by serving Him I was to serve His people. That experience has given me a totally different outlook on leadership. As a pastor, you’re not always the most popular person. Sometimes, people are mad, downright angry, unhappy, or even disgusted at decisions you have to make. Decisions, mind you, that very few people want to make. That is the ugly side of leadership in a ministry role. Those that love you one week are capable of chasing you out of town the next. It’s a package deal. You can’t have all the greatness of leadership and none of the baggage. You take it all, even when there’s more ugly than good. As I grow in the ministry, I find myself mentoring and discipling others. Sometimes it is a great experience and sometimes it’s a bummer. It really depends on their view of leadership. If they are all about the good side of ministry the acknowledgement, the rush, the attention, the sense of fulfillment and not aware of the ugly side, it’s tough to work with them. You see our view of leadership has an effect on every aspect of our ministries. Leadership is not for our benefit; it is for the benefit of those we are leading. It will always be that way. God is calling many people in our church into leadership roles, but statistically not everyone will be chosen for leadership. Potential and talent don’t mean a thing to God if the heart is in the wrong place. Take a moment and reflect on what you think leadership is and compare that to servant hood. Do you think the Apostles loved their leadership roles when they were being chased and beaten? No, they weren’t, but they loved the opportunity to serve Christ and His church. It’s all about the heart, is it pointed to Christ or to self? Be sure your heart is in the right place and God will take care of the rest.

God Bless

Let's Keep Going!

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. I Peter 5:10, 11

What, did you think I would stop blogging because the fast is over?! No way, we have much more work to do! This past Sunday we saw God move in a very miraculous way. We have received testimonies of physical healings, mental healings, freedom from affliction, freedom from addictions, infilling of the Holy Spirit, and much more. I anticipate that we will hear even more as the year progresses. With all those that God touched, there are more that He desires to touch. Let us not get caught up in what He has done and forget why He did it. Signs and wonders are tools that God uses to bring the people closer to Him. If you have a testimony, proclaim it to all those that will listen.

18As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 20So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. Mark 5:18-20

By testifying, you are allowing another person to hear the good news. The news that Jesus is alive and ministers to the church. Yes, you received a blessing because God wanted to bless you, but you also received it because He wants you to bless others. Email your testimonies to me or write them down so that we can post them on our website to encourage others.

For those that might not of received the answer to their prayer - yet. I encourage you to continue praying. God's timing is perfect. He is never late, seldom early, but always on TIME! Keep praying, keep believing and do not allow the enemy to discourage you from looking to heaven for your answers. Personally, I have prayer requests that I know will not be answered this year, or maybe not even next, but God is faithful and those requests will be answered on God's time table. Even so, the enemy battles my faith with bad reports and moments where things look very bleak. If I keep my eyes on God then my outlook will remain positive. It is when we focus on the circumstance when we begin to waiver in our faith. Keep believing we are still praying for your miracle!

God Bless

Final Day of Fasting and Prayer

Is any one of you in trouble (afflicted)? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:13-16

This is the day that we join together to worship our Lord and Savior. Whether you attend New Harvest or will be worshiping in another Sanctuary we will believe together, that God is going to heal and restore. When the time comes for you to seek God for your miracle do not hesitate to move. Do not listen to the doubt or fear brought on by the enemy, but rather listen to the voice of God. I do not know why God chooses to heal some and others have to wait. That is the wisdom of God. He knows what is best and when it is best served. I do know that if you do not approach God with faith and an earnest desire for healing you will not receive anything. Perhaps that is why we fear the prayer of faith. The "what if" looms over us with such intimidation that we would rather suffer than take the so called "risk." What? There is no risk! With God all things are possible and He sincerely desires that you be free from affliction and disease. The only question is when will you receive the healing! Seek the Lord and find your healing in His Word. I already know that He will be there with us today. I have few notes to preach because I believe He will take the service and the Holy Spirit will drive us to the Throne of Grace. Trust in His Word, seek His face, and push past the crowd to touch Him!

God Bless

Day 21 of 21 Days of Fasting

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

For the 21st day of our fast, I urge you to attend service tomorrow morning and evening. God is faithful to finish what He started in you. Do not be afraid to proclaim your miracle. There is a spiritual battle that enrages all around us. By your faith and obedience you allow the Lord to produce signs and wonders that will astound those that do not believe. This will give you the express opportunity to share the Gospel and see souls being saved. Then the miracles will continue in their lives causing a wonderful cycle of freedom and love. Let God move through you to reach those that you influence. Expect God to heal, restore, and show signs and wonders. We will be expecting you in service tomorrow. If you are reading this blog and don't attend New Harvest, expect God to move in your congregation. Take faith into your sanctuary and expect some powerful things!

God Bless

Day 20 of 21 Days of Fasting

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:19

What a powerful Scripture verse! As we are approaching the end of our fast it is important that we begin and continue to bind the attacks, influences, and afflictions of the enemy. It is equally important that we pray the windows of heaven will be loosed so that signs and wonders will be poured onto our lives. These two steps are critical to receiving the answers to our prayers. Do not forget that as much as you want God to move in your life their is an enemy who's highest priority is to cause pain and destruction in your life. The enemy will not be easily overcome. He will have to be forced by the power of God to release the hold he has on our lives and the lives that we love. Do not think for one moment that fasting without fervent prayer will be effective. It is by prayer and fasting that we will see miracles. Be prayer warriors during the last moments of our fast. Pray without ceasing. Hold on to the promises of God and do not faint in the critical moments of your miracle!

God Bless

Day 19 of 21 Days of Fasting

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19,20

I venture to say you were wondering when the author of our devotion was going to make this point! Keep in mind that he placed the topic at the end of book signifying the place where it falls in the order of importance. It is more important that we get our faith and obedience in order rather than tend to only our bodies. For we can be the picture of physical health and be a spiritual wreck. Often times, when one gets his spiritual and mental life together health awareness will naturally follow. We will not discuss whether or not God will heal our our bodies in the midst of us abusing them, but rather what should we do if and when we are healed. Focusing on our mission given to us by the Great Commission, it is easy to recognize that if we are sick and diseased it makes it very difficult to complete our mission. We have a great responsibility to share the Gospel and meet the needs of the hurting. It is what Christ commanded. To follow that command to it's fullest we must tend to our physical bodies. They are the greatest resource given to us! The scriptures say how we are the hands and feet of Christ, the Body of Christ. I don't think Christ would want His body to be sick and inefficient. If you have fasted a food item, chances are it isn't a healthy item! Why not continue the effort and eliminate things from your diet completely. I know, it's hard to stop eating things that taste soooo good! But would we rather be efficient at "storing up for the winter", or be efficient in building the Kingdom of God? This year make a conscious effort to improve your overall health, both physically and spiritually.
God Bless

Day 18 of 21 Days of Fasting

In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians. Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his fathers. 2 Chronicles 16:12-13

I highlighted the above scripture because we live in a country where medical science is a multi-billion dollar industry. Where citizens of other countries spend a lifetime of wages to come to the US for medical attention. Our own government uses this technology as a bargaining chip in world politics. We are so focused on what the doctor can do for us that we totally bypass the Healer. I can't count the times someone has asked for prayer only to follow with, "I need to go home and take a pill!" What? We don't even give God a chance to heal our aches and pains! It is amazing to me how we are people of extremes. One person will run to the doctor for every sniffle, sneeze, and ache and another person will wallow in pain and never go to the doctor. Why don't we focus on God and let Him direct us to healing?
Nearly every day since I have moved to Kentucky I have taken some sort of allergy pill. It has become such a habit that I have forgotten to pray for relief. The pill brings me relief, but not the type that the Healer can provide. Do I believe that God wants me to suffer with allergies? No, than why don't I pray that he would relieve this burden from me? Well, like many of us, we just rely on the natural too much! Is my allergy problem too insignificant for God's attention? No, the scriptures say that He is even interested in the number of hairs on my head. So I know that He wants me to be healthy and strong for the ministry. Perhaps if we approach God like little children expecting Him to fix our pains and believing in faith that He can, perhaps He will! Believe it, He wants you and all His children to be Blessed.

God Bless

Day 17 of 21 Days of Fasting

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

As we are quickly approaching the end of our fast there are a few things we must remember.

1. God desires to heal you. When He does is entirely up to Him.
2. We must be ready to receive.
3. The enemy brings confusion and tries to keep us from our healing.

There are many reasons why God desires to heal. There are also many reasons why Christians and non-Christians alike don't receive healing. Remember, signs and wonders are an essential tool in evangelizing. If the enemy can confuse and distract us enough to keep us from signs and wonders he has succeeded in crippling the effectiveness of the church. Christ used signs and wonders to draw large crowds where He taught about salvation and restoration. When we preach the Word of God in good physical and spiritual health we can communicate a powerful message. When we talk of healing and half the church is sick and dying our message is seriously weakened! Consider this for the rest of the fast.

Is healing a natural occurrence? No, then why do we look for a healing "formula"?
If healing is supernatural then why do we think we understand it?
If healing carries power and excitement than why do we think the enemy doesn't fight it?
If our faith is weak than why don't we exercise it?

Work on these things, pray on these things then watch your healing and restoration come.

God Bless

Day 16 of 21 Days of Fasting

Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." Mathew 9:6

During a Church service where God wants to start healing and setting free, there always comes the part that action must take place. Why is it so important to obey the altar call when the Holy Spirit is beckoning? It is because the move is a response and sign of faith. To approach an altar is to disregard pride, comfort, and protection and put oneself out there in the unknown. Many people will allow their miracle to pass on by because they worry with thoughts like, "What if I don't get healed?", "What if he makes me throw away my cane?", "What if I really am not hearing God?" All these statements are statements of disbelief! Faith is like money, you either have it or you don't. You can't pretend to have faith, you can't fool God. The author of our devotion mentions the story of when Christ put spit and mud in the eyes of the blind man and commanded him to go wash. Have you ever wondered why? I have many times. I don't know that we will ever really know the answer until we ask Christ Himself in eternity. I do know however that it tested the faith of the blind man. Remember the rich young ruler who wanted to know how to have salvation? Christ told Him to do the one thing that he was unwilling to do! Christ tested the young rulers faith and the man failed miserably. We all know that Christ performed many more miracles than what the scriptures mention, do you not think that there were many accounts of men and women who did not receive healing because of a lack of faith made known through disobedience? What if the blind man wiped the mud from his eyes and said, "What! I am still blind?" Would that be the fault of Christ? Absolutely not, the lack of faith would have caused the disobedience resulting in a unattained miracle. We mere men like to make the simple complex because it makes us feel good about our intelligence. The scriptures however, keeps things very simple.

Pray for your healing.
When the presence of the Lord is near walk into it.
Do what the Holy Spirit says, walk in obedience.
And receive your miracle!

Sounds simple right? That's because it is, but we over analyze, trick ourselves, listen to doubt, and eventually talk ourselves out of what is rightfully ours. Why in today's period in time do some get their healing and others don't? I can't answer that question with complete confidence. I do know that the vast majority that do receive healing approach God without the need to be coaxed or coached. Could it be that those that walked away lacked faith and obedience. Sounds too simple to be true, but then again God uses the simple to confound the wise.

God Bless

Day 15 of 21 Days of Fasting

Creating the praise of the lips Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near," Says the LORD, "and I will heal him." Isaiah 57:19 NASB

As this church wide fast continues, it is being made evident to me that God is working on many people. One of the things that keep coming up is the fact that God is changing the way we view the "world we live in" and the world that "God wants us to live in." Many promises that God has made to Christians are never realized because many Christians can't or won't see the promise come to pass. We have allowed this world to change the way we look at God and His Word. We can believe for others to receive healing. We have faith in God, but we can not take that faith and apply it to our lives.
There is not much that I will say about this day's passage in the devotional. The Holy Spirit is not allowing me to write down the words that I want to speak. I feel it is because He has already spoken and implored, it is now time to move. If you are following this post, decide today that you will obey and walk in faith. For I fear that some may not see their miracle come to pass for disbelief in the power of God.

God Bless, May we receive that blessing!

Day 14 of 21 Days of Fasting

“ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts; Malachi 3:11

Did the author really have to touch on our finances!?! Praise God he had the boldness to mention tithing. Obedience is not partial. You either obey or you don't. Obedience is not a gray matter. For instance, your boss tells you to clean the bathroom (who likes cleaning the bathroom) you clean everything but the toilet. Will your boss be pleased when he inspects the bathroom? No, everything in that bathroom can be bright and shiny, but if the toilet is filthy we did not complete the task. The scriptures plainly teach that we must be in total obedience to God and in that obedience, we find the blessings He has in store for us.

How is tithing connected to our miracle? Think of it this way -
God sent Jesus to die for us.
Jesus trained 12 men for the purpose of spreading His story.
Jesus established the church with those men.
The church is the Bride of Christ.
The church is funded by the tithes and offerings received.
The church uses it's funds to support the ministry to the lost.
The passion of Christ is the lost.
To withhold the funds necessary to complete the mission of the church goes directly against why Christ established the church.

I tithe for many reasons. Most of them are because of the blessings that one receives from tithing. The main reason I tithe is - because it is commanded. I tithe because I must in order to be in obedience. How does one have the boldness to ask everything of God, but not give everything to Him? God does not ask for all our finances. In fact, He only asks for a small portion. That portion is 10%. A portion of what He gave me is all that He requires back. We pay more to our finance agencies in interest than the Lord requires from us. If you are not tithing, I pray that you will begin. For in obedience comes our blessing.

I will say this in closing.
I tithe to be obedient. Through my obedience my finances are blessed. I dare not tempt the Lord by withholding my tithes, for the Lord takes the ministry of the Church very seriously. The Church is the Holy Bride of Christ. I dare not offend Christ by not taking care of His bride!
May we all walk in obedience.

God Bless!

Day 13 of 21 Days of Fasting

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

There are many powerful verses like this in the Word of God. We as Christians are familiar with them and often quote them during our prayer time. A problem we often face is that we will quote the latter part of the verse and totally forget the former! The verse does not read "Resist the devil and he will flee from you", we must first "submit ourselves, then, to God!" We have no power against the devil on our own strength. We are but mere people without the power of God. With the power of God, we are transformed into victorious beings. In order to have that power, we must submit to the authority of God and allow Him to guide our steps.

What does submit really mean?

sub·mit (sb-mt)

v. sub·mit·ted, sub·mit·ting, sub·mits

v.tr.

1. To yield or surrender (oneself) to the will or authority of another.

2. To subject to a condition or process.

3. To commit (something) to the consideration or judgment of another.

Wow, to submit means to yield and totally give the authority and will you have over your life to another! In order to resist the devil we must give our lives totally over to God. I believe, as the author of our devotion points out, that we must submit everything to God in order to have complete victory over the devil and his attacks. We can not afford to lose any ground in this spiritual battle and every area of our life that does not belong to God is a place that the devil may roam! Let us commit to God like never before. Let us submit everything at His feet. May we be the victorious creatures that God has created us to be. I urge you to seek God during your prayers and ask Him to reveal to you any areas of your life that He has not been invited. Life is too short and the devil is too cunning to not be totally submissive to God. After all, God wants the best for you. Would it not be an awesome life to one day lay down in perfect health and go to see the Father? May it be that way for all of us!
God Bless

Day 12 of 21 Days of Fasting

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11

To live in Joy is truly a gift from God. If it is from God, why are so many Christians walking in defeat? I came across an old friend recently. At one point in his life my old friend was quite the happy young man. I remember times when he was full of God's joy and testified to anyone who would listen. Today, he is angry at the world and there are no signs of joy in his life. He mocks Christians and tries to argue with anyone that believes in God. What happened in his life that would turn him from a blessed man into a bitter one? As far as I can tell, he allowed his time with the savior to be replaced with the temporary "joys" of the world. His relationship with Christ became less and less of a priority until finally it wasn't a priority at all. It truly saddens my heart to think of all the time he has wasted chasing the fleeting pleasures of the world when he could still be the man that I remember. Many Christians trade in their joy for fleeting happiness. Our time with our God and Savior is precious and should be of the utmost priority. When we allow ourselves to be distracted with what the world has to offer our source of joy, God, has been forced to take a back seat in our life. When that happens we get caught up in chasing the next bit of happiness the world has to offer and we no longer trust in God for our source of joy. Take time to seek the presence of God and find your joy! You will be glad you did.

God Bless

Day 11 of 21 Days of Fasting

I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD. Psalm 104:33-34

When I was a teen I could not understand why my parents screened my music selections. Often times I would have to surrender a tape knowing I would not be listening to the songs again. I thought my parents were just being mean and old-fashioned. Today I realize that music is very influential in our lives and we must guard our hearts against music that hinders us from praising God. Music was created by God as a medium for His creation to praise and worship Him. Music is useful for many things, but during this time of prayer and fasting allow it to prepare your heart for His will. Be careful and watchful of the music you let into your life during this time. Nobody doubts the power of music, but we will often defend our music selection even if we know it is not productive. Why? Why do people defend their music while knowing it does not edify, or encourage? The answer is often in the music itself. It is feeding an emotion or need in the persons life. Often it's feeding anger, bitterness, sadness, rebellion, or a multitude of other negative emotions. When the person stops listening or puts the music aside frustration can set in as that negative emotion tries to find another outlet. Instead of dealing with the emotion we bathe ourselves in music that keeps the emotion from rising by feeding that very emotion. If you are engaged in negative music (right now anything non-christian can be negative regarding our fast) set that music aside for the remainder of the fast. This may be difficult, but it may be the very thing that helps you breakthrough to your miracle. Substitute the music with praise and worship. This may be very annoying at first. For some, listening to worship and praise can be annoying because it is fighting the negative emotion within, causing our flesh to battle against our spirits. If you find yourself in this place, continue listening to the praise and worship. Soon it will bring comfort as your spirit rises over the flesh.

I hope and pray that we all continue to strip away more of the world as we put on more of God.
God Bless

Day 10 of 21 Days of Fasting

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21,22

Forgiveness, a powerful medicine. Bitterness, poison for the soul and body.

Never mind the fact that many people are suffering with ulcers, cancers, chronic pains, migraines, and other various ailments directly related to their bitterness. Never mind the fact that many of those that suffer from bitterness would rather die a slow death than forgive the person that offended them. The thing you need to focus on today is, do you need to forgive someone? The Lord commands that we forgive those that trespass against us. If I were to demand you to forgive someone, for what they have done to you or your family, my command probably wouldn't carry much weight. But when the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who forgave those that were crucifying Him even in the act of the Crucifixion, demands it, everyone must obey. How can we as sinners expect to be forgiven of the sins that put the Savior on the cross if we withhold forgiveness from those Christ died for. I am not going to question any ones salvation here, but the Word of God plainly says that if we have not love we do not know God. If we do have love than that love would cause a desire to forgive.
Personally, I remember a time in my life when God said to me, "You can not get any closer to me until you forgive." I literally remember God speaking this into my life. I had a choice to follow my calling, or to hold onto the bitterness that was in my heart. Praise God I had the courage to forgive! My personal experience occurred before God allowed me to step out into ministry. The decision I faced that day would determine the rest of my life! I believe that had I chose to withhold forgiveness I would not be in ministry today.
What blessings, miracles, and breakthroughs could, no ARE withholding from your life due to unforgiveness? What a question to ponder. I pray that you would be courageous enough to forgive and obedient to God's Word.

God Bless

Day 9 of 21 Days of Fasting

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:29

Faith - what an amazing word! So much of our spiritual growth hangs on the meaning and the application of that word. It is by faith that we receive salvation. It is by faith that we grow in Christ. It is by faith that are awaiting The Blessed Hope. If you haven't figured it out by now let me point it out - Faith is foundational in our Spiritual Growth, Breakthroughs, Blessings, and Miracles.

I have heard many people say, "They don't have enough faith." Who are we to judge how much faith one person has? If I am praying for someone, how am I to know if they have faith? It is not for me to judge. I leave that to God and the Holy Spirit. If someone asks for prayer, I pray. If they ask for healing, I pray for healing. If they ask for a miracle, I pray for a miracle. What are you asking for?

I believe that God can, does, and wants to heal and restore. I believe that God wants to do this for all who ask. I even believe that He wants to do this for you! So as we are fasting and praying build your faith. Remove doubt from your mind. Do not listen the reports of man, but listen to the Word of God. Let the Holy Spirit guide you during this time. As the author pointed out, there is so much more to life than meets the eye. It is up to us to find the faith and strength to explore the spiritual world that God so desires us to be a part of. We are not here on earth to build wealth, we are here for a short time that we may one day live in eternity with God and the Savior. For what good is wealth if we lack faith? Trust in God and He will guide you. Faith - what a word! I know you have it. I know God wants to move. I know your miracle is on it's way.

God Bless

Day 8 of 21 Days of Fasting

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
James 5:16

The author of our devotional "Are You Ready for a Miracle" does a great job applying the second half of this scripture to our goals of miracles, healing, and spiritual growth. There is no need for me to go over his text. However, I would like to shed some light on the first part of this scripture. Because we are a church of only 6 years, it is obvious that all of our congregation, beside those that are newly saved, have come from other churches. That in itself is ok. I understand that we find ourselves in different phases of life and one ministry may serve or meet our needs more effectively than another. And at the same time we may find ourselves called of God to serve in another ministry that needs our assistance. Those things being said, it is important to recognize that sometimes we leave things behind that ought to have been attended to. Things like forgiveness, repentance, and making things right with others. The first part of the verse says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." There is an instruction we must obey before we may be healed! We must confess our sins to one another. What does that mean? If you have sins in your life you must confess them before God, and ask forgiveness from the one we have sinned against. Every sin causes a ripple to force its way into the lives of those around us. Anger causes more pain to those around us in the end. Selfishness withholds love from our friends and family. Lust robs our spouses of the affection due them. See where this scripture is leading? It leads us back to Christ and those that we have offended. How can we pray with fervency to the God that unselfishly gave His son to die for us when we have not made things right with others? If we truly desire the miracles we are praying and fasting for, the need to make things right will overcome the fear of embarrasment or the anger we harbor. Let the Holy Spirit guide you to matters left behind. Confess your sins, ask forgiveness, and be free from the bondages of sin. Then pray with fervency for your hands and heart will be clean before the Lord allowing Him to move in your life.
God Bless

Day 7 of 21 Days of Fasting

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

I John 4:1-6

The reality of hell and demons is a reality that the western culture does not like to recognize. Today many Christians in the United States have never witnessed demonic manifestations or have even been instructed on how to fight against the spiritual attacks of the enemy. Just because we feel more comfortable in ignoring or turning a blind-eye towards the spiritual battle that we face everyday does not mean that that battle does not exist. In fact ignoring the battle only gives the enemy more ground and time to work with. It is true that in the history of our society people that were oppressed, consistently attacked, or even possessed by demons were set aside in hospitals, asylums, and other medical treatment facilities. There, these people were not set free, but were medicated to keep the problems manageable for the staff. How sad it is that we could not recognize the power that is in the Word of God! Many (not all) sicknesses that we face today are brought on by demonic forces. They try to keep us from doing the will of God and spreading the glorious message of Christ. They distract us from our joy that is in the Lord causing us to focus on ourselves and not on Him. As you fast and pray ask the Lord to reveal to you the spiritual battle that you face. We all face these battles. Sometimes our families are attacked through the generations by the same sickness or dysfunction. These generational curses are real and pointed out in scriptures. With much prayer and wisdom from the Lord we can overcome these demonic attacks. Meditate on the scriptures provided in the devotional and continuously be aware that the enemy is not happy with your dedication to overcome.

Be aware, that as you increase in the Lord the enemy becomes active in your life. Satan does not want you to lead your friends and family to Christ and the power of God. I will be speaking more on this topic during Sunday Evenings service 1-11-09.

God Bless

Day 6 of 21 Days of Fasting

He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
Psalm 107:20

Words are so powerful! Out of all that God created here on earth, we humans are the only creatures created after the image of God. God created the heavens and the earth and all that they contain with the power of His words! We have the power to heal and destroy with the words of our mouth. Watch and be careful of what we say during this time of fasting. Be attentive to the attitude you carry throughout the day. Is it edifying, encouraging? Does your attitude and spirit reflect what you have been praying and fasting for? If not, concentrate on changing your views. Continuously encourage yourself, allowing God to do what He desires in your life.

Be attentive to the words that people are speaking into your life. Without intention people can be careless with their words and cause pain and doubt. Surround yourself with Christians that are believing with you for a miracle. Even though non-Christians can be good friends, their understanding of spiritual things is just not inline with the Word of God. If it was, they would be serving the Lord. Non-Christian friends can serve many purposes, but during this time don't rely only on them for words of advice or encouragement. After all, if they do not believe in God how can they believe with you for restoration and healing! Continue to study and meditate on the scriptures and trust that your breakthrough is on its way!
God Bless

Day 5 of 21 Days of Fasting

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6

By now many that are participating in the 21 day fast are being attacked by the spirit of fear. The fear that perhaps God won't move, heal, or restore. God is not the author of fear in fact, our relationship with Him is based on the complete opposite of fear - Faith. Faith is the initial step we take in our journey in Christ. It is by faith that we are saved. It is by faith that we have the courage to approach the throne of God and make our requests known. It is by faith that we enter a fast expecting the hand of God to move on our lives. Do not allow the spirit of fear to steal your blessing. The Israelites were fearful of the giants in the promise land and that fear caused them to wander in the wilderness for forty years. They eventually perished on the journey to what was rightfully theirs never benefiting from their inheritance! The fact is that many Christians will not receive healing because of fear. Fear will keep them from believing that God wants to heal them. Fear will keep people from coming to the altars. Fear will rob and destroy. Fear is of the enemy. Church I encourage you to build your faith during this fast. Remember what God has promised for you. Remember that God does and wants to heal you!

Take these steps to build your faith.

1. Write down the things that God has done for you.
2. Write down the things that God has done for your loved ones.
3. Write down the verses that encourage you.
4. Meditate on the things you wrote, allowing them to encourage you.
4. Write down your requests and pray for them continuously believing God will answer.
5. Pray, pray, pray, and believe that God wants to answer!

Don't allow the spirit of fear to rob you from your blessing. Seek the Lord and have faith in Him.

God Bless

Day 4 of 21 Days of Fasting

No doubt, that by day 4 of the fast, we are starting to feel the effects on our mind and body. It is no secret that fasting is a hard process. Be confident in your decision to join the church in this fast. Stand firm and do not waiver for your blessing is on its way.
At this point in the book, “Are You Ready for a Miracle,” you have come to a couple of conclusions.
1. The book is directed towards healing.
2. The book is challenging our way of thinking.

Even if you don’t think you need physical healing keep reading the book. We all need spiritual, mental, and emotional healing. No one on earth has led a perfect life and we all have been involved in or caused pain. For this reason we all have shortcomings and hang-ups that cause us to lack faith where it is needed. It is a hard thing to change your self-perception, but God looks at us with love and compassion. So much love that He sent His Son to die for us! If He loves us that much, don’t you think He would want us to be healthy? While fasting, pray that God continues to reveal Himself to you and be obedient to His Word. Let’s pray that we all grow in wisdom, strength of the Word, faith, and our relationship in Christ.
God Bless

Day 3 of 21 Day Fast

What miracle are you praying for? Today's passage in the book "Are You Ready for a Miracle" discusses the fact that God wants His people to be healthy and victorious. In today's American Christian culture we find that many Christians believe God wants to heal and restore, but can not take the next step in believing that God wants to heal and restore them! Let's look at God's plan from the beginning. He created a perfect place for a perfect man (before sin). Adam was placed in paradise in the midst of two important trees. One tree bore fruit that was forbidden to be eaten and man fell into sin when Adam ate that fruit. The other tree bore fruit that would allow man to live forever in paradise. There were no sicknesses or diseases before the fall of man so one can definitively see that God planned for man to live forever without sickness or disease! Of course, with the gift of salvation and the Blessed Hope we know we will one day live free from sickness and disease in paradise with God. All throughout the scriptures, not just in the New Testament, God made provision for man to be healthy and strong. Entire chapters are dedicated to instructions on how to stay healthy from disease. Before man even imagined there were such things as germs, bacteria, viruses, and parasites God gave instruction on how to keep them from spreading! If God is so concerned about our health why is it hard to believe that He would want to heal us?
When you pray for healing don't limit your prayers to physical needs only. Broaden your prayers to cover spiritual, mental, and emotional healing. No matter what state of health we find ourselves in, we all need healing. For we all dwell in a world where pain and suffering is the plan that the enemy has for mankind. I trust that as you fast and pray, your faith will grow and that we will see miracles.
God Bless

Day 2 of 21 Days of Fasting

In the book, "Are You Ready for a Miracle" author James McFadden, discusses the act of communion. I want to say without doubt that I totally agree with the author on this subject. In fact the most memorable time of communion was with a biscuit and OJ (grape juice was just not available) gathered with a few friends at a camp. That is when I learned the importance of communion and how it relates to my walk with Christ. At New Harvest we celebrate communion in unity on the first Sunday of every month, but that in no way should take the place of our personal communion with Christ. I strongly suggest that we partake of personal communion daily throughout the rest of this fast. At first, you might feel awkward, but after you realize the personal connection you make with Christ, you will begin to look forward to your time in communion. So, how should we take personal communion?

First, gather the elements (bread or cracker and grape juice). Grape juice is significant because it is the fruit of the vine.

Second, find a personal time and personal place to take the elements. Before taking the elements reflect on the scriptures the author highlights in his book.

Third, offer up a prayer of thanks and eat the bread/cracker and drink the juice. Then pray that the Lord will give you the strength to live as He desires you to live.

Communion is not hard, in fact it a wonderful time of celebration and complete thankfulness. We celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, and other special occasions with food and fellowship, we should also celebrate the gift of our salvation with Christ daily.


The author mentions, "Transubstantiation". For those that wan to learn more about the word and it's meaning you may click on this link "Transubstantiation Link". I do not know the entirety of this website, but approve of the way they define and explain this particular word. God Bless

Does God Still Heal Today?

As we begin our 21 day fast our hearts should be open to whatever God would want to do in our lives. Let us not start with assumptions that would hinder the Lord from moving. Rather, let's start with expectations that God would move in our lives like never before! It is not enough to hope, dream, or fantasize that God would move, we must expect Him to move. God wants to increase in your life. He wants to restore, revive, reclaim, and rebuild what the enemy has done. Be expecting, challenge your faith to be stretched by claiming God's promises for your own life.

For the next 21 days I will be posting insights that I have taken from the book, "Are You Ready for a Miracle" by James McFadden. The book has been made available at New Harvest. This book will assist in the journey of our 21 day fast. Please read it faithfully and truly open your hearts and minds to the devotions that have been written.

The first devotional describes our God as a healer. He truly is the master healer and He truly desires to heal us of all our infirmities. The author quotes Exodus 15:26 ... for I am the Lord that healeth thee... As you fast and pray, claim this scripture for your life. God desires to heal you physically, mentally, and spiritually. He created a perfect man and He desires that we reach that perfection again. Someday we will receive new bodies that will last an eternity without sickness, but until that time God desires to heal you today! If nothing else, begin to accept the fact that God still heals today. With that knowledge and the time we have set aside for the fast your faith will grow to accept that God still heals today and wants to heal you!

As we fast together pray continuously. Cast aside all doubt and accept the promises of God in your life. God Bless