Thoughts for Life: #52 Take a Special Step of Faith

Take A Step of Faith. God’s Safety Rope is There for You!

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel- 5. Take a special step of faith. You are already living in faith, seated with Jesus far above all the forces of Satan. God has given you His directions. Now it is time to take the initiative; it is time to act on your faith. Don't tremble before your "Red Sea." March across it on the dry land the Lord will provide for you (Exod. 14:15).

Don't falter before your "Jericho." March around it in faith, expecting God to tell you when to give the shout of faith, and your "Jericho" walls will come tumbling down (Josh. 6:20). (Google image, Take a special step of faith )

Jesus said, "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matt. 16:18). [color added] Actually, this statement can be interpreted in two ways. It is true that in Christ you are so secure that Satan can never run over you, trample you, seize you, or destroy you. All the demonic forces that he might send out of the gates of hell cannot overcome you.

But it is also true that God wants you to do more than sit in your fort or hold your battle line against Satan. He wants you to attack. This verse can also be interpreted to mean that the gates of hades will never be able to hold out before you.

God does not intend you to be passively trustful; He wants you to be militantly believing! He wants you to storm the very gates of Hades and rout the Devil. He wants you to dislodge the forces of Satan from their long-entrenched positions.

Satan will attempt to intimidate you as long as you will let him. Lay down your barrage of prevailing prayer, and then take the initiative and drive Satan out of his stronghold—whether that be in the life of a person, a family, or in any other kind of situation. Don't stay on the defensive; take the offensive for Jesus. Advance, praising the Lord!

6. Give the command of faith. Jesus instructs us clearly as to the words we are to use in issuing this command. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go' . . . it will be done for him" (Mark 11:22). Speak to your mountain in Jesus' name.

Take the authority Jesus has given you as His official representative. Speak from your position with Jesus on the throne. You have prayed and have determined God wants the mountain to be moved. You are sure it is His time. God has given you the steps of faith. Go forward and speak boldly to the mountain; command Satan to take his forces and go.

Tell Satan he is guilty of shedding the blood of Jesus. He has sinned the unpardonable sin. He has sinned against the Son of God. He has sinned against the armies of heaven. Millions of angels are ready to attack him. He was defeated at the cross; he is forevermore defeated. Tell him so. Just as Jesus said, "Out of my sight, Satan!" (Matt. 16:23; Mark 8:33), so you must tell him to be gone.

Demons fear Jesus' name. Use it. Praise His name till the demons fall into such confusion that they hinder each other like the enemies before Jehoshaphat's army (2 Chron. 20:22-23). Use Jesus' name as your mighty weapon. Dare to penetrate the darkness and dislodge Satan by the name of Jesus and the command of faith.

Be God's Zerubbabel. "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground" (Zech. 4:7). Be God's David. David told the giant Goliath, "I come against you in the name of the Lord almighty . . . whom you have defied" (1 Sam. 17:45).

Others may flee from Goliath; you face him in the name of the Lord. God says of your mountain, "I am against you, O destroying mountain . . . I will stretch out my hand against you" (Jer. 51:25). You have God's promise. Now tell the Devil you come in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who defeated him at Calvary. In that almighty name, command him to leave.

(Chapter 15, pp. 118-120, italics and color [for God's words] added for emphasis)

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Let's pray-

"Heavenly Father, sometimes life is just hard. I’ll be honest, sometimes I feel like You are standing in the corner watching and not working. However, I know in my heart and mind that is not true. Thank You for the truth that You will never leave me nor forsake me, and that You are always working for my good even when I can’t see it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen"

Sharon Jaynes [From When Love Hurts]

Today's Bible verses-

Psalm 40:1-3 ( NIV) "I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."

Psalm 57:7 (NLT) “My heart is confident in You, oh God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises!”

Today's quote-

~ Max Lucado- God is for you. Not “may be,” not “has been,” not “was,” not “would be,” but “God is!” He is for you. Today. At this hour. At this minute. As you read this sentence. No need to wait in line or come back tomorrow. He is with you. He could not be closer than he is at this second. His loyalty won’t increase if you are better nor lessen if you are worse. He is for you.

Today's wisdom-

~ Do you need a hug today? Look to the Lord for one, for He wraps His Arms around us and plans a good day. Our children leave home for the unknown, but our love wraps around them, trusting them into God's care. We can know his loving embrace surrounds them, and that we can leave them with Him, and ask Him to wrap them with His love each day.

Today's Popular post-

Passion For the Local Church

Karen Girl Friday- So here are [the first 28] my 52 passionate reasons to connect with a local church. I share Scripture references for some of my list.
(1.) God commands us to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. (Exodus 20:8).

Courtesy of Debbie McEwen
Photo from Montrose, Pa.