Choosing between two worlds

READ:  Luke 16:1-13

Through faith alone in the Jesus, you will go to heaven. But after that, you must choose whether you will live totally and completely of God’s kingdom or if you will yet choose to operate as an earthling.  A person of indecision in terms of your priorities, never coming into maturity in the life that Jesus has for you now. 

Jesus says the children of this generation are wiser than the children of light. Jesus isn’t saying it’s smart to cheat or to act unjustly. He’s saying the children of this world work their system.

Jesus is pointing the worldly person who functions in a system that encourages each man to benefit himself, and He says that the world even admires and rewards people for their shrewdness in getting ahead. Jesus is saying that the world works its system and that system prospers in its environment.

But between the lines there is something else, and don’t think the steward didn’t know it: Not only will he leave his master’s house out of favor with him, but if he and the master ever bump into one another again, it won’t be a happy reunion for the steward. The world’s system works but ultimately it catches up to you.  Put another way:  You reap what you sow and what goes around comes around!

So why would Jesus say the children of light aren’t as wise as those of the world?

Because the children of light are usually unwilling to commit 100% of themselves to God’s system; to say, “Lord, everything I have is Yours. My money, my time, my life, my priorities—I am yours.”

That is the choice that settles it all!

As believers, it’s required of us all to make choices that center around one question:

Is my character molded by my Master, or by the master of this world whose games I play shrewdly? Are we more know- legible about the latest Hollywood gossip than with God’s word?  Are we more adept at playing the Wall Street game, than the narrow street? 

It is up to us to choose to step up and function as a child of God’s kingdom.  Which world will you choose?  I pray you choose wisely!

For the Men

READ:  Mark 5: 21-25, 35-43

Here we see a man named Jairus with a high social position, a man known among the people, a man of prestige & power, but a man who had a desperate need-

Folks you will never become so powerful, so popular, you will never rise so high that problems & troubles cannot reach you.  This man’s little girl, the apple of his eye, was dying

Those of you that have children--you can identify with the feelings that this man may have felt—

I want you to notice something about Jairus …

HE WAS NOT ASHAMED TO SEEK OUT JESUS!

Notice he sought out Jesus--he did not send his wife, He did not send a servant, or someone else.

When you took on the role of a father, you also were to take on the responsibilities of the father, given to you by the heavenly father:

Paul tells us:

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

It is the father’s responsibility to teach children about God, it is not the mothers, it is not even the churches-

Yet many mothers & churches have had to take on the responsibility, simply because the father refuses to do it:

Men, it falls upon you to give to your children the kind of upbringing that prepares them for living lives that are pleasing unto God.

Let me give you some instruction:

Teach your children to honor the Lord and to love righteousness.  Instill in them Gods attitude toward sin--Live before God, the way you would have them live before God

Protect them from ungodly influences--Satan is out to destroy them.

Establish them in church---if you see no need in faithfulness to God’s house, nether will they!

Teach them God has a purpose for their life-

Instruct them the importance of Prayer & the Word of God—

Teach by your life, your actions, not just words!  Remember!  Words mean very little, if they’re not applied.

Teach them that they cannot expect God to bless them with:

Finances without Tithing

Wisdom without the Word

Freedom without Forgiveness

Victory without Accountability

Abundance without Obedience

Notice:  He did not send the wife or someone to take his place--but he as the father sought out the Lord himself-

Notice -- Regardless his social position, regardless of the onlookers of the townspeople,  Jairus humbly knelt before Jesus--pleading with him- -Please come, for my child is dying--

Men we must a be seeker of Him --seekers for wisdom, strength, guidance-for the sake of our family!

Let your children know, that you are not ashamed of the Gospel or His name

Take it up!

READ: 2 Kings 2:13-2:14 and Judges 15:15

It doesn’t matter how much glory, how much power, how much peace or joy or how much prosperity surrounds you or is within reach, it doesn’t help you unless you take it up. That jawbone became a weapon of mass destruction against Samson’s enemies, but he had to take it up.

A young prophet lost a borrowed axe head, it flew off into the water (Elisha threw a stick into the water where it fell and the axe head swam to the surface of the water) within reach, but the young prophet had to put out his hand and take it up.

It doesn’t matter what happens to gas prices or health care, or social security, or retirement plans or anything else, God is still in charge. The earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof.

I believe this is the finest hour for the church: We were chosen by God to live right now in this present season, and if God in all of his wisdom saw fit to allow us to live in this season, it is because he believes in us.

But what you need to do is quit pouting and start speaking the Word of God. If you are the only believer on your job it’s because God believes in you. For too long Gods people have shuffled around with their heads down, and their backs stooped over, stepping on their bottom lip crying about how bad it is.

I didn’t say things weren’t bad, I didn’t say I like what’s happening in our world, or that I am not aware of the tragedies that have shaken our world.

What I am saying is: Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.

What I am saying is: I know in whom I have believed and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

What I am saying is: God is for me, and if God be for me then who can be against me. The world is shaking; Earthquakes, Tsunami’s, Tornado’s and financial storms.

But we are in the world but not of the world.

We are a part of an unshakable Kingdom, built upon an unshakable foundation, ruled by an unshakable King. Jesus Said: Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Mat 16:18

This is no time to tone it down, this is no time to dampen our praise, no time to worry about being politically correct or socially acceptable.

This is no time to hide in a cave or back peddle on our faith. This is the time to Arise and Shine! This is the time to stand up and stand out! This is the time to speak the word of God with boldness, authority and power.

This is the time we declare ourselves:

Moses demanded in the book of Exodus: Who is on the Lords side, declare yourself, make your choice clear.

Elijah demanded the same thing: Choose one side or the other, either serve God or serve Baal but quit limping back and forth between the two.

Jesus also demanded the same thing: He said, He that is not for me is against me, and if you are not gathering with me, then you are scattering abroad.

Why don’t you pick up the opportunity that is before you and declare today! I am on the Lord’s side!

It's not over!

It does not matter what the enemy is working against you, or what you’re struggling with, the bible says:

Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against you shall be able to prosper.

The bible did not say that Satan would not form weapons against you, or that he would not launch them at you, or that they would not touch you.

But what the bible does say is: It shall not prosper, it shall not accomplish its intended purpose.

As a matter of fact: The bible teaches us that all things, work together for good to them who love the Lord and are the called according to his purpose. Ro 8:28

It doesn’t matter who you are or how spiritual you are, at some point life is going to deal you a blow.  Unexpected, undesired situations and problems that catch you off guard, and send your life reeling.

The good news is, that even though we all will at some point encounter these unexpected unplanned for attacks, problems, and circumstances.

We have the promise:

2Co 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place.

And Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.

I want to talk to somebody today who has been knocked down, life has thrown you an unexpected curve, divorce, sickness, A financial disaster, your child is on drugs, your company down sized and they let you go.  Your dreams have been crushed.

It can be a thousand different things, but the bottom line is: you didn’t expect it and it hurt, it threw your life into a tail spin.

It knocked you off your feet, but this is the biggest mistake the devil made, because when a Christian is knocked off their feet they fall to their knees, and when they fall to their knees they touch heaven, and when they touch heaven hell trembles.

You may have lost a round but you’re still in the fight!

I cannot say that I will never be knocked down

I cannot say that I will never be caught off guard
I cannot say that I will never be troubled or perplexed or even forsaken,

But I can say: I’m going to make it.

I can say: Nothing shall separate me from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I can say: 2im 1:12 I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto him against that day.

I can say: Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

I can say: Ro 8:37-38 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

You may have lost a round, you may have had the breath knocked out of you, you may have a black eye, and a busted lip and a bloody nose.

But the best is yet to come:

Your set back, is just a setup, for a comeback.

And ye are of God little children and have overcome them for greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. 1Jn 4:4

God understands our tears

Read: John 11

John 11: 35 says, “Jesus wept”

Those two words speak volumes, don’t they? This probably isn’t the best translation. What it ought to say is that Jesus burst into tears. This is not a misty eyed response. This is one of those moments where Jesus loses it in compassion for his friends who have lost their brother. I don’t know about you, but that does something for me. We have a savior, a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, who is deeply moved, who cries when we cry. He cries when we cry, but what I love is that He has the power to do something about it. There are moments in my life when I need someone to cry with me. But there are moments when I need someone who can do something about it.

We have both in Jesus.

WATCH EASTER SUNDAY SERVICE AT GULF COAST ASSEMBLY!

Senders and Goers

ACTS 1:8
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, New King James Version)

The question I want to pose today is simply this, Are you a sender or a goer? Certainly, all believers are to share the gospel beginning in our Jerusalem and then to the ends of the earth! However, most of us never venture far from our Jerusalem. So how do we reach the ends of the earth? We must become senders to the goers. Not everyone will be called to go! However all are called to send! How are we called to send? Matthew 10:41 sheds some light for us:

41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. (Matthew 10:41, New King James Version)

I don't believe we change the meaning of this verse by simply substituting one word! Missionary for prophet. "He who receives a missionary in the name of a missionary shall receive a missionaries reward."

So how do we receive a missionary. We receive a missionary by receiving their call as our own. Obviously, we can't go with them but we can suppor their call by,

1. Praying for them

2. Loving them

3. Supporting them with our finances

When we do these things, we become a sender, we receive the missionary and we will reap the missionaries reward even though we did not go ourselves. What a blessing!

So remember, GO into your community (Jerusalem) and share the gospel, but also be a SENDER to those who are called to share the gospel to the ends of the earth!

Blessings!

Who Ya Gonna Trust?

READ:  Psalm 20: 7,8

Trusting in chariots (man’s ingenuity), or putting your confidence in horses (God’s resources) can have devastating results.   

But when a follower of Jesus Christ meditates on what God has done, and on what He says He will do, then the enemy will do exactly what the Scripture dictates: he will be brought down and will fall!  When you trust in God’s Word, you unleash a faith that sets in motion the resources of heaven.  

And when the power of God is unleashed on your behalf, the powers of hell cannot stand.   

Yes, God wants you to use the gifts and talents that He has given you. He wants you to use the natural resources He’s created. He wants you to use your mind. Just remember where it all comes from.  The bottom line, depending upon Him instead of ‘chariots’ or ‘horses’ is an issue of trust.  Where’s your trust? 

When David stood before Goliath, he wasn’t trusting in his skill, his slingshot, or in Saul’s armor. Instead, he reached into his mind and recounted how God delivered him from the lion and the bear. As David remembered the Lord, his faith in God’s promises grew.  And we all know the outcome: God delivered him! 

What about you? Who ya gonna trust?

Who are you?

READ:  John 1:19-23

JOHN WAS ASKED AN IMPORTANT QUESTION, THAT I WANT TO ASK YOU TODAY.  WHO ARE YOU?  NOT JUST YOUR NAME, BUT WHO ARE YOU?  REALLY! 

Many people, both real and imagined, believe they know who they are.  But the question I want to focus on today is WHO ARE YOU? 

John knew who he was and … Jesus Knew who he was!

Joh 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life:

Joh 9:5 I am the light of the world.

Joh 10:7 I am the door of the sheep.

Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd:

Joh 11:25 I am the resurrection, and the life:

Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven:

Joh 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

Joh 15:1 I am the true vine.

One of the saddest things in the church, is that religion has so blinded the body of Christ that we spend most of our lives, praying for and striving for and working for that which is already ours by our spiritual birthright.

According to the word of God we are:

Redeemed:

Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

We are Righteous:

2 Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

We are Bold:

Eph 3:12  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

We are Strong:

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

We are the habitation of God:

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

We are blessed:

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

We are healed:

1Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

This is a key to Spiritual maturity, You have got to know your Spiritual Identity-It’s your spiritual Identity that connects you to your destiny, and your Heritage.

Your spirit knows who you are, there is no Identity crisis in your spirit, but it is your mind that must come to this knowledge. You must have your mind renewed by the word of God, to bring your mind into agreement with your new creation spirit.

We are a son or daughter of God:

1 Jo 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God,

1 Jo 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:

Ro 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

If you do not know that you are a son of God, (you have no spiritual authority) If you are ashamed to confess your spiritual son ship (you have no spiritual authority).

We have the same son ship positioning with God that Jesus had, and when we stand into that position we also have the same authority.

We are In Christ:

Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

So what do you say about yourself? Who do you think you are?  WHO ARE YOU?

YOU ARE WHO GOD SAYS YOUR ARE!

You are redeemed, you are a new creature, you are the righteousness of God, you are the head and not the tail, the lender and not the borrower, the healed of the Lord the salt of the earth, the light of the world.

You are more than a conqueror, you are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.

You have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness.  You are a branch of the true vine

You are a son or a daughter of God with all the rights and privileges and authority of that position.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

As a man thinketh in his heart so is he (Pro 23:7)

It's closer than you think!

READ:  2 Kings 4:1-7

This woman wanted the prophet to do something for her, to help her out of her dilemma, some kind of blessing to help her out of her mess.  

She had reached the place of desperation and cried unto the prophet!  There comes a point where you don’t have time to be cute anymore, and you don’t care who sees you cry!
Desperation has a way of getting rid of foolish pride.

I believe desperation can be a good thing.  Desperation pushes you to do things you wouldn’t normally do.  Desperation pushes you past your comfort zone.

When you get desperate for a miracle, you don’t worry if someone likes the way you shout or not, you don’t care if they roll their eyes at you.  Desperate people do desperate things.

Desperate people break religious traditions, risk their lives, climb a sycamore tree, jump out of a boat and onto a lake, crawl on their hands and their knees, get their fingers stepped on and their feelings stepped on and keep on coming.

There’s something about desperation that lights a fire inside you.

When you get desperate you don’t care if you look stupid.  Desperate people aren’t worried about being dignified!  If you’ve ever been in an emergency situation you know that when it’s a matter of life and death dignity is no issue.

By the time people reach desperation they’re willing to try anything.  Desperation is the breeding ground for miracles.  It was her desperation that brought her to the prophet.  The prophet represents the Word of God.  What you need is a word from God, one word from God can completely change your world, get you out of your mess and transform your life.

The prophet didn’t give her anything except a Word!  What do you have in the House?

What do you have already?  She underestimated what she had in the house: She said (nothing except a pot of oil)

The oil represents the presence, power and anointing of the Holy Spirit.  Don’t underestimate the anointing; everything you need is in the anointing.  Your miracle is in the anointing, Your joy is in the anointing, Your answer is in the anointing.  Your deliverance is in the anointing. Your coming out is in the anointing.

David said: Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.
If you are not careful you could miss this revelation:

Every empty vessel that was filled that produced a total change for this woman and her sons, came from a little pot of oil that was already in the house.
There’s a miracle in the House!

What to do when the battle goes long!

READ:  Daniel 10

Spiritual battles are never short enough.  As well, there are struggles that all of us face privately that go on so much longer than we had prayed they would. For example, we received a promise from God and we’re certain He’s spoken to us—faith rose, anticipation, but then things don’t seem to happen.

The message was true; the appointed time was long

Let’s bring it down to you and me: I know God gave me a word of promise, but now I discover that it will be longer in coming about than I had hoped or prayed. And that brings conflict. Not animosity toward God but a wrenching within the soul. In this situation, Daniel’s response teaches us five things to do when the war goes on longer than expected:

Make it a time for humble soul-searching

·         You can face long-term difficulty one of two ways: you can wait for things to happen or you can wait on God.

·         If you wait on things, you will be confined to the changing circumstances of things that never seem to satisfy.

·         If you wait on God, you find a place of permanency, sustaining and confidence, no matter what’s going on around you.

Expect God to show you things that other people might not see

(v. 5) Daniel describes a vision. God has given His Holy Spirit to us for many reasons (Acts 2). He gives the Holy Spirit according to the prophecies of the Scripture, that every one of us who have received the fullness of His Spirit will receive visions and dreams; He will show you things that have to do with you. When He speaks to you by dreams or visions it’s always in line with the Scripture.

It’s important to know that when the Lord speaks to you, He doesn’t give you the dream or the vision in order to show you something that feeds your ego or inflates you with a sense of spiritual superiority. He doesn’t show you things to necessarily have you tell them to anybody else. Believe that if it happened to Daniel, you can expect God to show you things too.

Listen to God’s message of certainties you can cling to

(vv. 10-12) Three things are said to Daniel:

    * You’re greatly loved;

    * Your prayer has been heard;

    * I am here because you prayed;

    * But it’s not all over yet.

Every struggle involves the resolution of more than just your dilemma

You are always dealing with satanic obstruction when it comes to the blockage of human will. The heavenly visitor refers to “in the latter days.” Some things have to do with appointed times. You are dealing with times, people’s will, and satanic opposition. There are things that we want to happen quickly, but you don’t just throw a switch in heaven and make everything melt into a critical mass that explodes and becomes the answer to your prayer.  Remember!  Everything is not just about you!  God is at work redeeming all of creation!

Let the peace of God rule in your heart

(v. 19) In our weakness, we’re wondering and waiting, but we need not fear. Let God’s peace make you strong, and let His Spirit refresh you.

Phillipians 4: 6, 7 says:  Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.  And God's peace which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!

A New Season is on it's way!

READ:   Ecclesiastes 3:1

We serve a God of seasons. We see it in creation. God created the four seasons that are based upon the rotation of the Earth as it orbits the Sun. The seasons change as the earth moves, but the sun in our planetary system remains constant, and everything revolves around it.

We serve a God of seasons. But God doesn’t measure spiritual seasons with clocks and calendars, but through truth and revelation. Whenever God gives you a fresh Word or revelation, you’re stepping into a new season.

But just like our Scripture verse says, to everything there is a season. Every aspect of our lives is as to a season. And there is a purpose for those seasons. There is a purpose for the process.

There are seasons you didn’t want to go through. But through those seasons you learned some things. And you wouldn’t have learned them if you hadn’t gone through some things.  There are seasons you’ve gone through, that you don’t know why you had to. But there is a reason for that season.

And just because you are going through some bad stuff or have gone through a rough season, doesn’t mean God is finished with you or is not working in you because “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” It’s not just any old work, but a good work.

Let God complete His work in you as you enter a new and exciting season!

FAITHFULNESS IS RISK!

Read:  Matthew 25:  24-30

 

Faithfulness is risk and risk is faithfulness.

 

I think we tend to think of faithfulness in maintenance terms. Faithfulness is holding the fort. Faithfulness is maintaining the status quo. Faithfulness is hanging on to what you have. And nothing could be further from the truth. Faithfulness is return on investment. Faithfulness is multiplying what you have to the best of your God-given ability. Faithfulness isn’t minimizing risk. Faithfulness is maximizing risk because maximizing risk is maximizing reward.

 

I’m concerned that too many of us have a savings mindset—we want to keep what we have. We’re playing not to lose. And the parable of the talents is all about an investment mindset—risking what you have to get more. It’s playing to win.

Verse 24-30

Then the man who had received the one talent came.

Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

These are some of the harshest words in the gospels, and the servant broke even. Evidently, breaking even isn’t good enough.

In the context of this parable, wickedness is burying your talent in the ground. The wicked servant was afraid that he might lose what he had.

Satan wants to put us in a play it safe, defensive posture. And he uses two primary tactics—fear and discouragement. He wants us to run away from fear, uncertainty, and risk. But Christ calls us to a life of risk. Satan would love nothing more than for our ultimate goal to be to play it safe.  Never take a risk.  Never step out! 

Let me encourage you to walk by faith, not by sight, not by what you feel, not by your emotions, but by faith!  Take a risk!  Step out of the boat!  Faithfulness is risk!

Wrong Associations will kill you!

READ:  2 Kings 3: 1-20;  Proverbs 13: 20

Three Kings as well as their armies and animals found themselves in a dire situation.  They had gone seven days in the desert wilderness without any water.  Water is a necessity of life.  It's not an option or a luxury.  Water is necessary to sustain life.  Without water, you will die.

The King of Israel begins to complain and blame God for their dilema, but it was not God's fault.  God didn't tell him to go into the wilderness and God didn't tell him to go in a roundabout way.  The King did that himself.

The bottom line is that the King was a bad influence.  Sometimes the biggest problem we have is our friendship circle and wrong associations.  You need to reevaluate your friends and eliminate the whiners and complainers.  In other words, sift out the doubters and pouters.  Deliver yourself from people with no vision and who spend all their time wallowing in the mud of self pity and then get mad because you won't wallow in it with them.

Wrong associations will kill you!  They will steal your joy, steal your passion and steal your faith.  If it hadn't been for King Jehoshaphat, who knew the power of a word from God they would have all died in the desert wilderness.  He asked, is there not a prophet here that we may inquire of the Lord?  He knew that one word from God can change everything.

You need to surround yourself with people that know one word from God can change your world!

Psalm 107: 20 "He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions".

Joy in the Struggle!

READ:  Numbers 13:25-13:33

So many people in this life want everything without any effort.

Many believers have the attitude that just because they are saved and in the family of God, that now God is supposed to give them everything they ever dreamed of without any effort, or work or discipline on their part.

The fact is it costs what it costs and anything good rarely goes on sale.

Yes God wants to prosper you and bless you, but sometimes you’re going to have to go through something to get there.

Sometimes you have to struggle, sometimes you have to fight.

There is something in the struggle that is necessary to becoming what God has ordained us to be.

God left giants in the promised land on purpose!

Faith is forged in the furnace of adversity!

Yes, you and I may be going through a struggle but we're  growing through the struggle!  We're developing some spiritual muscles, we're developing some compassion, some patience, some endurance and some long suffering.

God did not deliver Daniel from the lion’s den, He delivered him through it.

God did not deliver the three Hebrew children from the fiery furnace He delivered them through it.

David needed Goliath!

The children of Israel needed the giants!

The 3 Hebrew children needed the fiery furnace!

Sampson needed the philistines!

And we need the struggle!

Remember!  There is no testimony without a test and no victory without a battle.