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          Let us all say “I am blessed and highly favored by God, Amen”! This has been a stressful and powerful time in which we live, but God has brought us thru. I am so glad to be able to write you and let you know that His Love abides in us always. For the first time we have been so tried until some of us let things come out of our mouth that we had no business on this earth saying. We had to repent and pluck out all those words before harvest could come. Rest is an important element in living the good life. So simple to say, but well needed. We as Christians know that we must pray, fast, and feed on the Word daily. Sometimes we become so need minded for getting the need of the people until all that we could see were the needs of our members and friends plus the needs of our ministries. The truth of the matter is that we are not a needy church, but a glorious – to filled, to the full, to the overflow church. We started to wonder how many people are just staying too busy and not getting the rest they need. In prayer, the Lord starting showing us people that are constantly running from one thing to another and not taking care of themselves or their families like people of faith should. We as Christians do walk in the supernatural; we must heed the natural law of maintaining good health. The devil job is to keep you busy, full of concerns, worries, evil thought and remembrances of past failures. If the devil can keep you busy meditating on his job description, you will defeat yourself. We must have wisdom as we run this race for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.

 

      It seems that everything in life is trying to take our time and focus. Today, everything around is calling for your attention. You come in from work, the phone is ringing, the kids are asking question, mother needs you for a minute, realtor calling asking about a showing, feet hurt, eyes are tired, legs hurt, telemarketers calling and you just want a break. The other side of this (the law of reciprocal) you come home and no one is there. You hate to come home because nothing is there. You worked hard all your life supporting your family and friends and now everyone is gone or deep in trouble. Both of these are tools the enemy uses to catch us and get words to come out of our mouth that should not be there. Winning is not an occasion (event) but an everyday process. which we will master.

      Too many people will not put into practice what they know. They believe that they are too blessed to do it, or that the favor of God is so strong on their life that they do not have to do it. When we start doing these things the result will shift our thinking into areas that lead us away from the truth about the Word living in us. That choice leads you to be like those who have no fruit. People who have no fruit want somebody else to do their praying, their reading, their believing, but just as nature would be; they want the harvest (the success, the answer, the blessing, etc.) We all know many people like that.

      What we give our time and focus to is what is framing our life. The problems that we as a nation are having, makes it easy for us to keep our minds on the poor and all the problem areas. If the enemy can keep you focus on doing good works and not taking care of yourself, He will win. You are born of God and have overcome the world thru faith. We must focus on the Word and realize that spending time in the Word is spending time with Jesus.

     Maintain Godly connection at any cost. Those God sent friends are those sent by God to tell us the truth about ourselves and our surroundings. They bring the real truth to help us to be molded into the image of God here on earth. They are people sent to help you to overcome. People will help you, so please don’t waste their time. Value them for your future depends on them.

     How do we lose the battle of living in the overflow? Easy, when you start saying why God why, you open yourself up to unbelief and that is not faith. Another way we do this is by complaining about our stage in life. We all know this one very well. So many times I have caught myself saying, ‘Lord, how did You allow this to happen to Your man of God?’ The real truth is that it may have been a bad seed that we sowed or a test of our faith to see maturity in our life and ministry. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the words of our testimony. We please God by using our faith. The just (you) shall live by faith.

      Recently, the challenges that the ministry has been facing are standing on the Word and believing the assignment that God has given us, when the people keep changing. The ones that have been with us from the beginning are living to the full, increasing in the knowledge & living the overflow life. Mark 4:16-17 states this “These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the Word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the Word’s sake, immediately they stumble.” The ones who only endure for moment, are about the same and in some cases even worst than they were before. Mark 4:18-19 tells us what the problems are. Listen, “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it become unfruitful.”

      There are many reasons for being defeated; these are just a few that come to mind:

Hope deferred!  When you start hope for some things and they do not come when you think it should. Wait on God.        

Dream Haters! People that always talk against your vision from God and hate the fact that at least you are following the Word.

Dysfunctional Home!  Your past does not disqualify you for success. You may have more to overcome than others, but you can and will win.

Betrayal! People that we believe in disappoint us. They are usually sent by the devil to destroy you. Trust in God not people.

Distracting Happiness! These are things that make us happy and ends up getting us off our assignment.

   Colossians 1:9-13 states this: “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.”

    Repentance is one of the keys to living the overflow life. Dr. Copeland has been instructing us all the time to keep our conscience clear and maintain a pure heart. This is very necessary for us to have God’s best. Dr. Copeland taught us this prayer and I would like to pass it on you. Use it as often as you need to and watch the cleansing power of God at work.

Prayer of Repentance and Cleansing

Father, I praise You and thank You for the glorious gift of Your love that covered us with the precious blood of Jesus for it’s the power to forgive and cleanse us. I ask You to shine the light of Your love in my heart by the Spirit and show me any part of me that is anything less than the expression of Your love. Show me anything that keeps me from loving my neighbor. Show me Lord anything that keeps me from loving myself.

(Now, give the Spirit of God a moment to show you (bring to mind) any violations of the law of love in your life.)  

I now judge myself according to 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 and I confess the unloving ways in me of ( name it ). I repent of it. I believe Your Word that as I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive my sins and cleanse me of all that are not right. I trust You to keep me right—just like You saved me—by the power of Jesus’ blood! I’ll yield to Your Spirit within me to keep my spirit system clean. That is to keep my conscience clear and to keep me from being a wreck, a failure. And I stand firm that my clean spirit system will be a vessel for Your overflow into my life and into the lives of everyone in my world.  In Jesus name  Amen

 

 

 

   Many times we have battles that we think are in the natural realm, they really are in the spiritual realm. The people that we think are against us are really being controlled by demon spirits that they have yielded to. In this study you will see how different types of spirits influence us and cause us to fail and not win. One major thing that you must remember is that devil work in pairs. Remember they know the Word better than most believers. One can set a thousand to flight and two can set ten thousand to flight.

   Let us look in the Word to Ephesians chapter 6. We are all familiar with verse 10 thru 18. 

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of the Lord, that you may able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of FAITH, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (enemy of God). And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints

Fear is a spirit. This is a spirit that affects the way you think. When fear appears is not when the spirit came in. They lie dormant until they can be triggered by another one. When fear appears is when the manifestation was complete. Somewhere along the way, the spirit was yielded to long before. Remember that nothing just happens.

    Jesus gave the church power over devils and all his evil works. The church is supposed to be able hold back the devil and know his tricks. The enemy has kept us so divided until the little truth that we have, we only know in part. A good example of this is power of the baptism of the Holy Ghost. The Bible teaches that you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come on you. (Acts 1:8)  How many churches do not even believe that tongue or healing or having your needs met is for the church today? Some believe that only men can preach. Others believe that they don’t need worship. Some believe that all we need is music and preaching that we cannot understand, but as long as we shout it, it must be the move of God. The church was design to hold back the works of darkness.

  Faith is a spirit. Faith is far stronger than fear. We know that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. When we hear the Word of God, we yield to the spirit of faith. The Word lies dormant in our inner man and also in the soul realm. The more we study and hear the Word preached the more we have in us to fight the fight of faith. By doing this we energize our spirit man and in our day of trouble we let the Word come out of our mouth instead of what we see. We also call this our sixth sense.

   Let us look Hebrew chapter 1 verse 13-14, and chapter 2 verse 1.

But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward.

Angels have been sent to us to protect us and obey the Word of God that is spoken out of our mouth. They move to the Word of God. They are not moved by feeling or what you meant to say. They can only respond to the Word spoken out of your mouth.

Exodus 23:20 and 21

Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgression: for my name is in him.

The angels are sent to keep you in the good life; the prefect will of God for your life. God has preordained a place of power, the call of your life and peace. Carefully consider the angels job.  They must obey the Word of God which is the voice the Lord. Do not tell them to do something that is not based on the Word of God. Angels do not have the authority to forgive sin and correct it. This because angels are in HIM: which is the kingdom of God.   

   Verses 22 and 23 says this:

 But if thou shall indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. For mine Angels shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Am-or-ites, and the Hit’-tites, and the Per’-iz-zities and the Ca’-naan-ites, the Hi’-vites, and the Jeb’-u-sites: and I will cut them off.

You can not say what you see!

Deuteronomy 7: 1,2,6,7

When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hit’-tites, and the Gir’-ga-shites, and the Am’-orites, and the Ca’-naan-ites, and the Per’-iz-zites, and the Hi’-vites, and the Jeb’-u-sites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;

And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee: thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:

For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 

Please notice that the scripture says that these people are more mighty than you in the nature. Because of the favor of God and the angel at work enforcing the Word of God spoken by your mouth, the Lord has deliver them into your hands. Remember never make deals or covenant agreements with the ungodly.

Joshua 1:5

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

In the land that God has for you; the Kingdom, He is plainly saying that man will not be able to stand against you as you speak the Word out of your mouth and the angels enforce the words that you have spoken.

Ezekiel 28:4, 5, 16-19

With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver in thy treasures:

By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick (trade) hast thou increased riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:

By the multitude of thy merchandise (possessions) they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick (trade); therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

Joshua 9:1- 6, 14, 15

And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Leb’-a –non, the Hit’-tite, and the Am’-or-ite, the Ca’-naan-ite, the Per’-iz-zite, the Hi’vite, and the Jeb’-u-site, heard thereof;

That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.   

And when the inhabitants of Gib’-e-on heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to A’-i,

They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;

And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them: and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.

And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gil’-gal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We become from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.

Each one of these types of people represent the kind of spirits and people you will come in contact with while you are on the road to total victory in your life. An good example is the Hi’-vite spirit consist of every kind of deceiving known to man.

Vs 14 and 15 says this

And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.

And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.

Look at what Joshua did, he made an agreement with the unholy. Look at what the Word says for us to do.

2 Cor 6:14- 18

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?

And what concord hath Christ with Be’-li-al? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I WILL DWELL IN THEM, AND WALK IN THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

Wherefore COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE, saith the Lord, AND TOUCH NOT THE UNCLEAN THING; AND I WILL RECEIVE YOU,

AND WILL BE A FATHER UNTO YOU, AND YE SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, saith the Lord Almighty.                                                                                                                  

God knows what He has in store for us. He wants for us to be holy and control our own spirit.

Proverb 25:28

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Why is all this true?

Ps. 34: 7

The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.