By Every Word

Murder

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Jul 062010

I was talking to a Pastor friend the other day and discussing with him about prayer and the mind. See, I did something wrong.

I committed… murder. That’s right, I… committed… MURDER.

Now that I have your attention let me explain before S.W.A.T. breaks down my door.

I must start off by explaining something very important for kingdom citizen’s to understand. In law there is an idiomatic antithesis between “the letter of the law” and “the spirit of the law”.

The letter of the law is when you take and obey the literal wording of the law.

The spirit of the law is when you interpret what the original authors of the law intended by the law.

This is so important for us to grasp and understand when we read the bible. Let me explain a real life analogy that I used recently. If I am with my son about to cross the street, I tell him to ‘hold my hand’. Now the letter of the law would interpret from this that he is to hold my hand no matter what. Regardless of circumstances he must never let go, because he must obey the literal wording of what I have said.
The spirit of the law though interprets that the reason I want him to hold my hand is because I don’t want him to get hit by traffic. Both would accomplish the same purpose in most circumstances- but what if while crossing I faint and fall in the street unconscious? If my son holds to the letter of the law, he cannot let go of my hand for any reason, putting him in danger. But if he understands the spirit of the law then he’ll know I didn’t want him to get hit by traffic and so he will let go of my hand and get to the safety of the curb… and hopefully get me help! When we read the bible we must know and understand these two contrasting views- it’s important to know both.

Now let’s look at the bible when Jesus explained the contrast between the two.

Matthew 5:21-22
21) Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22) But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment

and this…

Matthew 5: 27-28
27) Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28) But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

This is revelation right here. See, there is a difference in what “we say” and what “He says”. Verse 21 of Matthew 5 Jesus is saying (paraphrase) “Look, you say if a man kills a man he is a murderer- BUT I say, if you even hate your brother you have committed murder.” See the problem with the way the pharisees taught was- by the time they realized they had done wrong it’s too late… someone’s dead or a marriage is wrecked. But the spirit of the law is that you have already committed murder in your heart if you hate your brother, or committed adultery if you look upon someone to lust after them. We have to understand God’s laws in order to obey them. If we think we have to kill someone to violate the law, but God’s intent is even the thought of it, then we never repent because of our ignorance. Our understanding has to be of the spirit of the word- so when we have these thoughts we’re convicted in our heart and can turn quickly and change our thinking.

Now, back to my charge. Sometimes it can be hard to pray for your enemies. I’m not talking about the occasional incident of someone who won’t let you yield onto the highway and you blow your horn at them- I’m talking about when you’re tested constantly for a season by someone who is in your life every day. This could be a friend, a neighbor, a boss, etc. You try to be the peace maker but it can feel like they want to destroy you, at least in the season. Now Jesus says to pray for our enemies and do good to them who despitefully use you. Sometimes we can feel like we’re doing this- but is it your words or your heart?

See in my situation with my words I was saying “Lord, bless them and help them- they need you God…”

But somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind I was praying “LORD! REIGN DOWN BLOWS UPON THEIR HEAD WITH BOLTS OF LIGHTING FROM THE HEAVENS!”

This is funny now, but it’s serious. I was trying to pray and concentrate on what I was saying but somewhere in the back of my thinking, though I tried to hide it from myself, I was thinking “Well, God will understand what I really mean.” Sometimes we get the idea because we’re saying one thing that God will do the other thing because of our words… how incorrect. I realized then I had committed murder in my heart because of my aggravation of the situation. Now this whole scenario took place in about the span of 30 seconds… but that’s enough. It’s my understanding of the spirit of God’s word and my seeking of the kingdom and His righteousness that causes me to turn. I love Him, and if I love Him I will keep His commandments.

So… are you guilty of murder? Is there someone you have let get to you? You’ve tried to cover it up by praying for them with words only… but your heart has been resonating something else. Get rid of it now. Repent before that hate turns to bitterness. It’s not kingdom and you lock up heaven when this is in your heart. God CANNOT answer your prayers or release great things in your life when you hold the keys to earth and lock up heaven. It’s His word and His law, so He must follow it. (Matthew 5:24)

Release it now and unlock -(loose)- heaven again in your life.

Entangled

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Jul 022010

This is very important.

Make sure you understand this and remind yourself of it at all times.

You’re in a kingdom… God’s kingdom… that is, if the Spirit of God is inside you.

If you’re an American, Cuban law does not apply to you, while you’re in America.
If you’re Japanese, Russian law does not apply to you, while you’re in Japan.
If you’re a Dominican, Haitian law does not apply to you, while you’re in Dominican Republic.

When you’re in America you don’t even think about the consequences of North Korean law do you? No, because you’re in America.

Now if you are a diplomat from your country, say an Ambassador- you represent your home country. So when you travel to another country, you can not be prosecuted or charged according to their law because you have “diplomatic immunity”.

We are Ambassadors for Christ according to 2 Corinthians 5:20. Therefore we being “in the world are not of the world” and are not subject to the normal law that can come against us while here because of our diplomatic immunity. (Romans 8:33)

This can be be laws of sickness, disease, disability or disadvantage. Many people get these and think they have to deal with it. This is confirmed by a doctor. You can believe that, or you can choose to believe and remind the affliction that you’re under a different law.

The world may say, you have to put in lots of time and follow the corporate ladder to get to the top. You can believe that, or you can choose to believe your countries laws. Speak to the job situation and say “If God can bring a man out of prison to be the 2nd highest power in all the land in one day, He can do it for me too.” Then pray, believe God, and do your work.

We have to remind our self of God’s word. Remember it is the standing truth that everything measures up to. You don’t have to fight for it, you don’t have to force it… it just “is”. His word determines outcomes and judgment. His word determines everything.

We have to remind our self of who we are with God and what kingdom we are from. Remind our self of what benefits and law God has given us then live under that. It is so easy to get preoccupied with life’s tragic events. We can feel injustice sometimes, but remember to behave your self wisely and stay in alignment with His word. Sometimes we pray for a situation and it doesn’t turn out immediately the way we want it to and so we try to push it, force it. Not because of rights, but because of anger. This cannot be- we must remove our self from the current status of the situation. This is why- If we are His and we are in His kingdom, then everything is going to be alright… right? But sometimes we let the enemy snare us into living under the world’s laws- and that’s where satan has power. Not in those that live in the world, but those that “believe” they are under the power of this world’s laws. It’s mentality. If you “believe” something, that’s what it is to you. So if what you’re believing is not of the kingdom- repent (change) your mind, your thinking. Don’t be entangled with the affairs of this world.

Remember that nothing can stand against God’s kingdom, nor you… if you’re in His kingdom.

Kingdom Study Series – Prayer

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Jul 012010

Just a quick update for everyone. It’s been a few weeks since my last video lesson- but I hope you have enjoyed the other posts. I have been working on the next part of the “Kingdom Study Series”. This next section focuses on prayer and its roll in our lives. I believe this will be an important study you do not want to miss.

For the kingdom,

Nathan

Sacrifice

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Jun 302010

Why does every American get into the same scenario?

Mortgage they can’t afford or renting something above their means
Car payments they can barely afford
Clothes they spend twice as much on then they have to
Living paycheck to paycheck

It’s because we consume everything we get, making us what the system wants us to be which is CON-SU-MERS.
It’s time to break this cycle. It’s not God’s will for His people to be this way- it’s not kingdom.

When a person of Asian descent comes to America- they do something different. They live on nothing so they can buy and own a business. They sacrifice the things we consider necessities so they can win later. As Dave Ramsey says, ‘You have to delay gratification’.

It’s a different mentality in cultures that we have. We have to have nice clothes because everyone else does and we want to look and feel good… Now. We don’t want to be seen riding a bike to work, we need a car and we want a nice one… Now. We want to live somewhere nice even if it means being stressed about paying for it everyday when we come home.

We have things we consider “we are owed”.

“I’ve had it rough- I deserve something nice.”

So we get those things and then cannot afford them and we stress. We do this all of our lives until we get a stress related illness and wonder what happened to our dream.

Sacrifice now, Win later. And later is sooner than you think. When you start managing your finances properly, you are in right standing with the kingdom, and you begin to see more come to you. (Parable of the talents)

It’s The Law

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Jun 252010

I was disturbed about what my wife called and told me this morning. A local Christian radio station had a commercial air that was talking about getting out of debt- which is a great thing! But what disturbed me was the commercial said (paraphrase) “If you have to pay less tithes to do so, do it, just have someone keep you accountable.”

What has happened to God’s people where they believe they can break law and be blessed? They want the benefits of the kingdom but don’t want to do what the Lord says.

Romans 7:1
Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

Malachi 3
8 ) Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9) Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

Is that not clear? Here is what has happened- people have lost the concept of tithes. They give tithes of what they have to spare and offering as a reward for a good service. This is an incorrect concept and will always lead to error.

Let me ask you a question: Does our US Government have to please you, give you something, offer you something, or trick you into paying your taxes? Why? Because it’s the law to pay taxes. You just do it. It is so necessary to pay your taxes that the IRS is not bankrupt-able.

Everything you have belongs to God- so when we pay our tithes we are saying “Everything I have is Yours, and just to show You, I am giving You back 10% as a demonstration that I know You own it.”

The taxes we pay the government are for maintaining the infrastructure of our country. It’s meat for the storehouse. If you don’t pay them- you’re putting yourself under a curse- how can that help you? And we’re not blessed by tithing- because that is His anyways- we’re blessed by our giving.

Tithes = Kingdom Taxes
Offering = Kingdom Investment

Destroying Evidence

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Jun 242010

Have you ever felt you were wronged by someone in a way that it came against your character?
Ever felt like you were trying to prove who you were? And just when you did- someone tries to destroy the very thing that finally displayed beyond a shadow of a doubt you are who you say you are.

Well, I have good news for you, so did Jesus. I want you to take a look at this verse.

John 12
9) Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

10) But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;

11) Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

Wow! What a revelation this can be in our own life. Someone is going to read this next part and be uplifted and encouraged.

You may have had people come against you in the past, but don’t worry so did Jesus. These things must happen- because remember He said “No servant is greater than his master, they persecuted Me, they will persecute you”. The pharisees spent so much time trying to disprove who Jesus was- because they didn’t want to acknowledge Him. They even went as far as trying to destroy the very thing that proved He was who He said He was.
In law this would be called ‘destroying evidence’. When you are leading, when you are triumphing in life, when favor is upon you- people will come against you because you’re rising- don’t be surprised when this happens, in fact expect it. People will try to destroy the evidence of your calling… of your work.

They may even be the ones you wouldn’t expect. They may dress the part, have the robes, hold the office, have the title- but their deeds are not kingdom intent. The pharisees were more worried about losing “members’ than pleasing God. Members and worship of the letter of the law was all they had. Jesus came to fulfill the spirit of the law and brought what they couldn’t… results. So they consulted to destroy the evidence.

Do not fear what man can do to you though. They can only- HEAR ME! – They can ONLY do what is allowed for them to do by our God in heaven. We have nothing to prove. The evidence of our lives will speak volumes.

I love this kingdom!

Your Words

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Jun 212010

If you died today, what would be wrote about you by your family and friends in the newspaper.

This is an old practice people do to discover what they want to accomplish in life- and a very good one. Let’s make this a little harder than normal- because I can’t let you off easy by writing the usual “devoted father or mother, loving husband or wife…” No this is about you getting serious about your future and determining whether you’re on the right track to get there. Get critical with yourself.

So let’s look at a few common ones that I have created.

Hard worker all of his life until he died at the age of 61.
Went from job to job never really finding his true passion.
Ate a lot of fast food, read 2 books a decade and
loved being a hermit. He leaves behind 3 children
and $35,000 in debt.

She was a very stressed person through life. She took
every comment to heart and let it rule who she was.
Started to write a book once but let someone who
she knew was always negative destroy that dream.
Because of stress she slept everyday after work and
napped most of her weekends away. She leaves behind
an unpaid for house and a well used bed.

How do those make you feel? Blah…

We have people figures in our life that we raise up on a pinnacle of greatness and rate their status as being unachievable to us mortal beings. I am being dramatic, but if we actually stated our literal thoughts about these people it would be pretty close.

So what are your words about your life? Have you accomplished your dreams or settled for stability? Settling is an unsatisfying feeling. It’s the resolution that says “This is the best I can do.” I believe we quit striving for excellence in our life because our concepts of being successful are marred. They’re marred because of our culture of instant communication through the news, social media outlets, and the internet in general. Every day there is ‘new’ news. Some scientific breakthrough, some new trend, a new remarkable book, some new innovation, or some new discovery. There is always something new coming out- and we’re so busy reading about them that we sometimes don’t implement in our own life. We get overwhelmed by these daily announcements of huge successes, that we can easily get this concept that these ‘new’ things were developed between the last news broadcast and the one your watching.

We have to get up- NOW- and act. Plan then Do! We have to get away from trying to fit the mould everyone wants us in and bring out what we were born to do. Success is not instantaneous- and success is only a mile marker on the way to the next one. I love hearing about all of the ‘new’ breakthroughs, but I’m more concerned about the doing. The key is diligence.

There is great power in diligence. Diligent leaders convert the critics because eventually the critics realize they’re going to achieve results because they don’t give up. Now I know I sound contradictory to my It’s Time To Quit post- but that still applies. The secret to endurance is in the knowing- knowing whether something is dead, knowing whether this contributes to purpose. Purpose never changes- our methods or plans to fulfill purpose might change but vision is always consistent. So it’s important to know when to change tactics and when to dig your heels in and press onward.

I love stones out of a river brook- they are so smooth. I can’t just break the rock in two with my hand- it’s rock, it’s hard. But the constant moving of water across the rocks surface shapes it, carving away any edges of the rock because of a diligent flow of water. The same is true in caves- a rock under a stalagmite dripping water will leave an impression on that rock. So get rid of the mindset that you cannot create, design, invent, innovate, or deliver something great to the nations. You may not have the funds to get the best designer for your website, you may not have the connections to find the best graphic designer, you may not know how to even begin to bring out the potential that’s in your head- but the most important thing is to start! It’s not about the biggest “Grand Opening” to a project- it’s not even about the unveiling of the product. It’s about the work. The story that is untold behind every breakthrough and news flash is the years it took to develop. Today’s headlines were deep in development five years ago while other discoveries were being announced. Your work is never ending, it’s always in development, it’s always being innovated and you never retire from your work.

So… where are you in your work? What will you leave behind that impacted the earth? What great things did God put inside of you to bring out for the kingdom?

Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children…

What do your word’s say about you now? Now the more important question- What will they say?

If It Was Easy

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Jun 162010

If the things worth achieving were easy they would already be done. This also goes with the phrase ‘Nothing worth having is free’.

I heard Dave Ramsey answer a question about why he charges for his Financial Peace University DVD set once. He said (paraphrase) ‘That you don’t hold value in things that you get for free, but if you have to sacrifice money then you want to make sure you get your money out of it.’

This is so true! Anything worth having has a cost associated with it. Electricity is nice to have and has a cost. A good job has the cost of hard work. A good relationship has the investment of time in it. Vegetables and fruit have the cost of sweat and labor. Sweet victories have the cost of trials and battles. Everything has a cost.

There are some who define themselves as a Christian… but they show no sign of the cost of their old ways. They haven’t sacrificed the pleasure of getting high, they haven’t kept themselves from their lusts, they haven’t forgiven those who have offended them- they continue to hate. We cover these issues up and don’t deal with it by calling a lot of it… human nature. We say things like “Well the Lord knows you need a little break sometimes.” What?!?

Isn’t it funny how we try to associate the Lord with many of our pagan activities. We preach a God of only love, peace, and understanding. We speak about Him this way as to assume He is OK with the breaking of His law. You catch that? H-I-S LAW.

OK- look at this. Many times when we start reading these types of paragraphs, like above, our mind starts racing for a scripture to defend our life. We’ll remember that one scripture but will not study the whole law. Could you be an effective lawyer if you only knew one article of law? You would be clueless the first time the other lawyer says “I object your honor!”. You would think ‘Why? How can he object, this law says this…’
But you see, you only studied that one little article of many articles of that one subsection of many subsections of one section of many sections. How can you be effective with your one article.

How could God be less thorough than man?

The awesome thing about God’s word though is it is easier to understand than man’s laws. You don’t have to pass a bar exam or go to some high end college to understand His law- in order to have it be effective in life every time for you! He has designed it with such complexity where it covers every single area of life- but so simple because He wants everyone to know His word and understand it. The wonderful thing is all you have to do is read and obey it. The sad thing is we won’t read it.

His law are instructions for life.

Instructions come with new devices not to make you’re life hard but so that you can get the full use of the device and not destroy it by using it in a way it was not meant. Would you buy an iPOD and go swimming while listening to it? No, why? Because you know it was not made to be submersed underwater and will short circuit the device and will not function. You have that knowledge so you act accordingly. Your body was made to take in food, water, and oxygen- but we neglect the natural and put drugs, high fat content foods, and nicotine in our bodies. Then we wonder why do I have high blood pressure, bad health, clogged arteries, and failing lungs. We have violated the natural laws of our bodies. We violate God’s law when we don’t obey it, regardless it we know it, and wonder why we’re not getting results.

Law determines everything in life. It’s not always easy to follow law but remember God is the designer and He gives us law, not to make it hard, but for our good. It will bring us the best results and we’ll get the full and correct use out of our life, our purpose. It’s not always easy quitting smoking, giving up those fatty foods all the time, or sustaining ourselves from unrighteous desires- but it will bring about rewards that are worth it. The lessons Dave Ramsey teaches has a reward of getting your financial life in order, which is also a kingdom law. Giving up cigarettes has the reward of healthy lungs and heart. Giving up those high content sugary foods will increase your energy when substituted with fruit. It’s a law that is in place! If it was easy everyone would do it!

So get in line with God’s word, study it, understand it. We get in line with His law and it works, not the other way around.

With Every Breath

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Jun 152010

Have you praised Him today? Have you thanked Him?

When my son thanks me for buying him something, it gives me so much joy I just want to give him more.

We being in His image… think about it. Get your Father’s attention this day. Thank Him for waking up, thank Him that your heart is beating, thank Him for the car starting up- and if the car didn’t start up- thank Him for all the days it did.

This is a short one- but I’m just in the mood to thank Him. With every breath praise ye the Lord!

Your Purpose Can’t Be Stolen

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Jun 072010

Our number one concern in life should be the kingdom of Heaven. After all the bible says seek ye first… (Matthew 6:33)

God’s original plan was to inhabit the earth with his children and impact the world through us so that the earth becomes just like Heaven. (Please see the Lord’s Prayer for proof of this)

So God created all of us with a purpose, a work, a gift that we are supposed to serve the earth with. After all He creates everything with a purpose. However a lot of the time we get sidetracked with the cares of this world instead of the purpose of God. We get caught up in its affairs and lose vision of the original intent. When we do this we end up putting more faith in the normal outcomes of this world than the results the kingdom culture promises. We wind up putting more faith in things sustaining us than God. Take a look at what God showed me the other day- this blew me away when I read it.

John 12

3) Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

4) Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,

5) Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

6) This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

I have read through these verses so many times but never looked at this verse this way and will never see it the same again. Jesus and His disciples knew that Judas was a thief. They knew he stole, they knew he was dishonest, and Jesus knew because of Judas’s heart that he would betray Him… yet Jesus allowed him to stay. Not only that but they allowed Judas to ‘keep the bag’. He kept the bag with the money box, and their belongings! Judas… the thief… held the money!

You never see a dispute in the bible between Judas and Jesus over missing money or belongings. You never see Jesus distraught because Jesus and the other disciples couldn’t eat or provide themselves with provisions because of missing valuables. The stuff in the bag did not sustain them, nor does the lack of stuff in the bag hinder His purpose. And there is our problem.

We get so involved with the work of getting the resources to carry out purpose that we never get to purpose. We’re hindered by the contents of the bag, or lack there of, that we never start the work. Our priorities are out of order. Remember “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all of these other things I will add unto you.” What a promise! But we fail to grasp the understanding.

Jesus asked the disciples a question one time “Why do you worry what you will eat or what you will wear?- the Father knows you have need of these things.” Quit worrying about where the resources are going to come from and be focused on the purpose. God will provide the resources for His will EVERYTIME! David said ‘I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor His seed begging bread.” He is a faithful God who provides for His people and is committed to seeing His will carried out in the earth. But when we seek the other things first… we are out of order and God can’t bless disorder. He created this law and wants us to line up with it so we can see the kingdom manifest in our lives. We are confused sometimes by God and His ways. We act like God is surprised or caught off guard by what’s in the bag. (Wallet, Bank Account, Net Worth, Current Resources, Current Position, Current Status) God says “You are about to get promoted” and you were just fired- “I am giving you a helpmate in life”- and you just separated from your girlfriend or boyfriend. God says “It’s time to start a business”- and you’re broke. God sees which kingdom we trust in more- the kingdom of God or the kingdom of man.

This is so important for everyone to hear- please read this next part carefully. Your purpose is not tied to things. Your purpose is not tied to resources. Your lack of abilities and skills has nothing to do with your purpose- it can’t keep you from your purpose. The enemy gets us so involved with what’s in the bag that we look to the bag as a sign of who we are in life. We look to the bag wanting God to fill the bag instead of looking to God. The bag has limits, the bag has a maximum capacity- the bag cannot hold what you need to carry out God’s purpose so quit looking in the bag for a sign of God’s will. Seek the kingdom first and the rest will be added. Get to work on the purpose and the provisions will be provided. God is not concerned with where you were or what you have. Moses was a prince in Egypt, but after fleeing from Egypt He become a keeper of his father in laws herd’s. You never hear Moses saying “What? But I was a prince in Egypt.” God was taking him through a process to train him- by leading the herd’s he was preparing him to lead the children of Israel. Moses did not lose his purpose when he become an employee of his father in law- it was just a part of the plan. Oh how many times we wind up getting stuck in a phase of God’s plan thinking it’s the end of it. It’s just a phase, a season.

Jesus was never worried that Judas would steal something that would keep Him from His purpose. He was never worried that because of Judas’s character that they would be without. Jesus never looked to the bag as the source. The contents of the bag did not sustain them, the Father in Heaven did. IN FACT the very one the enemy would use to hinder Jesus would be a tool to elevate Him and actually be a tool in fulfilling His purpose.

I prophecy to you that the very people that the enemy would use for destruction God will use to bring out His purpose in you. The very ones who try to hold you down will be the ones God uses to push you higher. They will not realize that they are pushing you to the next level but remember it’s not about them but about God’s purpose. God will exalt you, not by going around the storm, but by going through it. The storm, the enemy, is the door to God’s purpose. Remember God has allowed this to come against you and so it has been ordained to lift you higher. Praise God! David could testify of this- that sheppard’s cannot become king’s without their Goliath’s.

Just remember it’s not about the resources in the bag, but about your source in Heaven. The Father will provide and sustain His people. He will add unto those who seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Amen!

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