TABLE OF CONTENTS

1

EVERYTHING CREATED CONTAINS AN INSTRUCTION, AN ASSIGNMENT, TO SOLVE A SPECIFIC PROBLEM

2

YOUR ASSIGNMENT WILL FORCE YOUR GREATEST GIFTS AND TALENTS TO EMERGE

3

NEVER STAY WHERE YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ASSIGNED

4

YOUR ASSIGNMENT WILL ALWAYS BE A PROBLEM THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL QUALIFY YOU TO SOLVE

5

YOUR ASSIGNMENT IS TO BE ACCEPTED, NOT ALTERED

6

YOUR ASSIGNMENT MAY MAKE YOU FEEL FEARFUL OR INADEQUATE

7

YOUR ASSIGNMENT MAY BE TO SOMEONE WHO AT FIRST DOES NOT APPRECIATE YOU

8

YOUR ASSIGNMENT WILL ALWAYS BE TO SOMEONE WITH A PROBLEM

9

YOUR ASSIGNMENT WILL ALWAYS BE TO SOMEONE WHO IS HURTING

10

YOUR ANOINTING FOR YOUR ASSIGNMENT MAY CREATE GREAT CONVICTION AND DISCOMFORTIN OTHERS

11

YOUR ASSIGNMENT MAY REQUIRE SEASONS OF INTENSIFIED PRAYER AND FASTING

12

YOUR ASSIGNMENT MAY INVOLVE SEASONS OF PAIN

13

YOUR ASSIGNMENT AND ANOINTING WILL ATTRACT ATTACK

14

YOUR ASSIGNMENT WILL ALWAYS HAVE AN ENEMY

15

THE GREATER YOUR ASSIGNMENT, THE GREATER YOUR WARFARE

16

CRISIS IS A NORMAL EVENT ON THE ROAD TO YOUR ASSIGNMENT

17

SATAN DOES NOT REACT TO YOU ALONE, BUT RATHER TO YOUR ASSIGNMENT

18

ANY SATANIC ATTACK REVEALS WHAT SATAN FEARS MOST IN YOUR FUTURE

19

THE COMPLETION OF YOUR ASSIGNMENT IS THE GREATEST FEAR OF YOUR ENEMY

20

SATAN WILL OFFER YOU ANYTHING TO SABOTAGE YOUR ASSIGNMENT

21

FOUR KINDS OF PEOPLE WILL BE USED TO DISTRACT YOU FROM YOUR LIFE ASSIGNMENT

22

YOUR ASSIGNMENT MAY BE DEEPLY RESENTED BY SOMEONE WHO ENVIES YOUR SUCCESS

23

THOSE WHO HAVE NOT DISCOVERED THEIR OWN ASSIGNMENT ARE OFTEN INTIMIDATED BY THOSE WHO HAVE

24

YOUR ASSIGNMENT MAY BE MISUNDERSTOOD BY THOSE CLOSEST TO YOU

25

YOUR ASSIGNMENT MAY BE DESPISED BY SOMEONE WHOSE OPINION YOU CHERISH

26

GOD WILL NOT SHOW YOU PICTURES OF WHAT HE IS BRINGING YOU THROUGH, BUT RATHER WHAT HE IS BRINGING YOU TO

27

GOD CAN MIRACULOUSLY TURN THE WRONG DECISIONS OF OTHERS TO WORK FOR YOUR GOOD

28

GOD WILL GO BEFORE YOU AND FIGHT FOR YOU ON YOUR ASSIGNMENT

29

THE SUCCESS OF YOUR ASSIGNMENT OCCURS BECAUSE OF SOMETHING GOD HAS CHOSEN TO ANOINT IN YOUR LIFE

30

YOUR GIFTS AND TALENTS ARE CLUES TO YOUR ASSIGNMENT

31

YOUR ASSIGNMENT WILL REQUIRE TOTAL OBEDIENCE

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
The Assignment: The Anointing & The Adversity
ISBN 10: 1-56394-700-5 / ISBN 13: 978-1563947001 / eB-75
Copyright © 2007 by MIKE MURDOCK
Publisher/Editor: Deborah Murdock Johnson
Published by The Wisdom Center • 4051 Denton Hwy. • Ft. Worth, Texas 76117 1-817-759-BOOK •1-817-759-2665 • 1-817-759-0300
You Will Love Our Website..! WisdomOnline.com
All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. Contents and/or cover may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the express written consent of the publisher.

EVERYTHING CREATED CONTAINS AN INSTRUCTION, AN ASSIGNMENT, TO SOLVE A SPECIFIC PROBLEM

You Are Here For A Reason.

Within you is an invisible calling, purpose and destiny. Instructions may be unknown, ignored or distorted. But they do exist.

These instructions are invisible, yet cannot be doubted. Examine a watermelon seed carefully. It is impossible, even with the microscope, to see a written and clearly defined instruction to that seed to produce more watermelons. Yet the command cannot be doubted. Plant a million watermelon seeds and none of them will produce a tomato. The instruction is already defined. It cannot be refuted. The product is the proof.

Look inside the tomato seed. Analyze it. If you try for a lifetime to locate the instruction to produce tomatoes, you will never find it. Those instructions are not visible. Yet tomatoes are produced from the seed.

Within everything created is a desire and command to increase, produce and multiply. Something within you wants to solve a problem for someone, somewhere, sometime. That Is Your Assignment.

Especially mankind. “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth,” (Genesis 1:27-28).

When you die, it will be impossible for any autopsy to reveal your Assignment. It is invisible. Your Assignment Is Something You Alone Must Discern And Discover While You Are On Earth. (See Romans 14:12.)

That is why your relationship with God is an absolute necessity. Nobody else knows your Assignment. You cannot even prove it to another person. It is invisible, and yet it is clearly defined within you. It cannot be doubted when you are in the presence of the One Who made you, The Holy Spirit. “The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life,” (Job 33:4).

“I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them,” (Psalm 139:14-16).

8 Important Facts About God And Your Assignment

1. God Is Totally Focused On You, Your Ways And Your Assignment. “Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways,” (Psalm 139:3).

2. God Carefully Examines Every Word You Speak Daily. “For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether,” (Psalm 139:4).

3. The Holy Spirit, Who Created You, Is In You And Around You Continuously. He keeps His hand upon your life. “Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me,” (Psalm 139:5; also see Psalm 16:8, 11).

4. You Will Never Be Outside Of His Reach Or Access. “Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me,” (Psalm 139:7-10).

5. When You Are In The Darkest Trial Of Your Life, He Will Turn On The Light For You To Enable You To Complete This Assignment He Planted Within You. “If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee. For Thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb,” (Psalm 139:11-13).

6. It Is Impossible To Count The Pleasurable Thoughts That Pour Out From The Mind Of God Toward You Daily. “How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with Thee,” (Psalm 139:17-18).

7. It Is Your Own Responsibility To Identify Your Assignment. So do not expect others to define your Assignment for you. It is not their responsibility to do so. They have a personal responsibility to discover their own Assignment. It will take their entire lives and mental focus to complete it. You must discover your own Assignment for yourself. God intended it to be so. This will require your personal reaching, pursuing and moving toward His presence. “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God,” (Romans 14:12).

8. The Word Of God Is The Blueprint For Your Assignment, And Must Become Your Daily Focus. Hearing from Him will make your Assignment clear, irrefutable and immovable. “Thou hast dealt well with Thy servant, O Lord, according unto Thy word,” (Psalm 119:65).

You Are On Earth To Solve A Problem.

That is why it is called...The Assignment.

Remember: Everything Created Contains An Instruction, An Assignment, To Solve A Specific Problem.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT WILL FORCE YOUR GREATEST GIFTS AND TALENTS TO EMERGE

Your Assignment Will Require Your Very Best.

The apostle Paul knew this. “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands,” (2 Timothy 1:6).

When Paul instructed Timothy to stir up the gifts within him, it appeared that Timothy was perhaps fearful of even using those gifts. So Paul motivated him, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind,” (2 Timothy 1:7).

There are many diversities of gifts that are distributed to us by The Holy Spirit. “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will,” (1 Corinthians 12:4-5, 11).

Paul, the great persuader, studied under Gamaliel, one of the leading lawyers of his day. (See Acts 22:3.) He was a negotiator. Articulate. Persuasive. In fact, King Agrippa scheduled a personal audience with him and when the king heard him speak, he said to Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian,” (Acts 26:28). Whether he was being facetious or sincere, we do not really know. But we do know that Paul’s Assignment thrust him into the spotlight. He suddenly was the most articulate spokesman of his day to decree and declare the oracles of God. Paul’s Assignment caused him to reach inside himself and force his greatest gifts and talents to emerge.

Anything good within you will be forced to the surface when you give total focus to your life Assignment.

Every Gift Within You Is A Necessity For Your Assignment.

Remember: Your Assignment Will Force Your Greatest Gifts And Talents To Emerge.

NEVER STAY WHERE YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ASSIGNED

You Are Not Assigned Everywhere.

I was speaking at a church up North. I had been there for two days. The atmosphere in the church was as dead as 4 o’clock in the morning. There is a great difference between holy quietness and deathly silence—these people were deathly silent!

I persisted. Truth planted can change lives. But the people kept looking at me like they did not understand a word I was saying. They stared at me. I did not give up easily, although I was dying inside. Every word was torturous. But I kept teaching the Word, thinking that it would eventually take root.

Finally, I stopped and asked everyone to bow their head in prayer. “Father,” I prayed, “what in the world is wrong here?”

“This was your schedule,” He replied.

I asked the people to stand to their feet. I explained to them, “I realize that we are supposed to continue here until tomorrow night. However, I have noticed in the last two days of ministry that you have just stared at me. You have never shown any response. No truth I share seems to ignite you or encourage you. You stare at me like I just landed from Neptune. I do not think you understand anything I am saying to you! Well, I just asked the Lord why. He told me that this place, this church, was not even His Assignment for me. It was something I had chosen on my own. So I am going back to Dallas. I will not be back tomorrow night. God bless you folks!”

Some would find that intolerable. However, I am certain that if you will become more careful in where you sow your Seed of energy, your Seed of love and time, your Seed of knowledge...You will see great differences in the results of your life.

Jesus did not go where He was needed. He went where He was wanted. He taught His disciples, “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet,” (Matthew 10:14).

Go Where You Are Celebrated, Not Tolerated.

Certainly, there will be moments when your own assessment of your labor is inaccurate. There will be times when you think your work is totally in vain, only to find out through a little more tenacity and determination that the winds of God were preparing to blow. His blessings were about to come.

But there is a difference when you pour your life out at a specific place God assigns you.

A few weeks ago, I sat in a restaurant with a group of people. For one solid hour I sat quietly listening to talk of ball games, politics and preachers who have fallen into sin. Then it dawned on me that no one had asked a single question in pursuit of Wisdom. Neither did anyone seem interested in teaching anything of significance. It had turned into a gossip party. I stood quickly to my feet and said, “God bless every one of you.”

When I walked out of the restaurant, I felt a thousand pounds lift off me. I was free. When I walked into my little motel room, it seemed like angels were singing in my ears.

You Do Not Have To Stay Where God Has Not Assigned You. Not even for one meal.

Remember: Never Stay Where You Have Not Been Assigned.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT WILL ALWAYS BE A PROBLEM THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL QUALIFY YOU TO SOLVE

God Made A Wise Decision When He Chose You.

God is not stupid. He is brilliant; He is aware; He is knowledgeable. He does things that men would never do. “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine,” (Isaiah 43:1).

If you were incapable, He would not have placed this burning desire in you.

13 Memory Scriptures For 13 Mental Battles You May Face

1. You May Feel Incapable. “And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11).

2. You May Feel Weak And Inarticulate. “And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,” (1 Corinthians 2:3-4).

3. You May Feel Unworthy. “Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,” (Ephesians 3:7-8).

4. You May Feel Foolish And Weak. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty,” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

5. You May Feel Despised And Undesired By Someone. “And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence,” (1 Corinthians 1:28-29).

6. You May Feel Powerless, Without Clout And Influence. “For Thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt Thou compass him as with a shield,” (Psalm 5:12).

7. You May Feel Unspiritual And Carnal. Listen to Paul: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting,” (1 Timothy 1:15-16).

8. You May Feel Ignorant, Or That You Have A Blemished Past. “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, Who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus,” (1 Timothy 1:12-14).

9. You May Feel Defenseless. “My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart,” (Psalm 7:10).

10. You May Feel That You Have Too Many Enemies. “When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at Thy presence. For Thou hast maintained my right and my cause; Thou satest in the throne judging right,” (Psalm 9:3-4).

11. You May Feel Too Needy. “For the needy shall not alway be forgotten,” (Psalm 9:18).

12. You May Feel That It Will Take Too Long For God To Assist You And To Help You Become What You Are Supposed To Be. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” (Psalm 46:1). “God shall help her, and that right early,” (Psalm 46:5).

13. You May Feel Overwhelmed By Adversity. “Through Thee will we push down our enemies: through Thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us,” (Psalm 44:5).

God is not looking at your outward appearance. He is looking at your heart. Keep it pure before Him. Pursue Him daily and with great diligence. And speak this great promise aloud throughout today: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” (Philippians 4:13).

Here Is A Thought-Provoking List I Call The “Ten Commandments For Preparation For Your Assignment”

1. Fully Embrace Every Season Of Preparation. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,” (2 Timothy 2:15).

2. Determine To Persevere Through Seasons Of Solitude And Isolation From Others. “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness,” (2 Timothy 2:16).

3. Refuse To Discuss Your Assignment With Scorners And Fools. “Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge,” (Proverbs 14:7).

4. Be Willing To Work Diligently And Become Qualified. “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat,” (Proverbs 13:4).

5. Be Very Discreet About Your Personal And Business Plans. “He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction,” (Proverbs 13:3).

6. Expect God To Hear Your Prayers. “He heareth the prayer of the righteous,” (Proverbs 15:29).

7. Seek Correction And Direction From Worthy Mentors. “The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding,” (Proverbs 15:31-32).

8. Expect Unnecessary Conflict To Be Avoided. “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him,” (Proverbs 16:7).

9. Appreciate The Finances God Has Presently Provided, And Expect Him To Provide Supernaturally, On His Schedule. “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right,” (Proverbs 16:8). “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 4:19).

10. Expect The Gifts Of God Within You To Open Doors And Connect You With Great Men. “A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men,” (Proverbs 18:16).

I wrote a song several years ago:

“He does not always call the qualified,

But He qualifies the called!

So, you can! You can!”

In His presence, you become qualified.

Remember: Your Assignment Will Always Be A Problem That The Holy Spirit Will Qualify You To Solve.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT IS TO BE ACCEPTED, NOT ALTERED

You Cannot Improve On An Instruction From God.

Achan is a sad but enlightening story in the Old Testament. When the children of Israel took Jericho, they were forbidden to keep any of the spoils of war. Achan disobeyed. His sin was discovered when the army went out to take the city of Ai, but failed miserably. When Joshua went before the Lord to ask why He had abandoned his people, God told him that it was because one of them had disobeyed his orders. God then revealed to Joshua that it was Achan. The rest is a tragic picture. Joshua had him stoned to death along with his whole family and all his livestock. (Read Joshua 7:1-26 for the full story.)

You Cannot Afford The Tragedies Of An Ignored Instruction. You cannot alter God’s words to you without paying a terrible price.

Jonah is another classic example. God told him to go to Nineveh. He went to Tarshish instead. God then scheduled three torturous days in the bottom of a huge fish. I call this “Whale University!” He was finally vomited up. It is the miserable story of a disobedient man of God.

There is another important truth here. Note that the sailors who were carrying a rebellious man of God on their ship experienced the horrible frightening storm of the sea. When they threw Jonah overboard, the storm subsided.

When You Get The Wrong People Out Of Your Life, The Wrong Things Stop Happening.

King Saul was instructed to kill all of the Amalekites, enemies of God. Saul altered the instructions. He permitted King Agag to live. It is noteworthy that later on when a man took the credit for killing Saul, it was an Amalekite.

- What You Fail To Destroy Will Eventually Destroy You.

- What You Fail To Master Will Eventually Master You.

- What You Fail To Conquer Will Eventually Conquer You.

Judas refused to solve a greed problem. Samson refused to solve a lust problem. In the end, they were both destroyed.

Do Not Attempt To Alter Your Assignment. Just do it.

Remember: Your Assignment Is To Be Accepted, Not Altered.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT MAY MAKE YOU FEEL FEARFUL OR INADEQUATE

Your Assignment Is Bigger Than You.

8 Ingredients Your Assignment Will Require

1. Your Assignment Will Require The Anointing Of The Holy Spirit. The anointing is the power of God. It removes burdens and destroys yokes of bondage. “And it shall come to pass in that day, that His burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and His yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing,” (Isaiah 10:27).

It will require a continuous stream of supernatural interventions and miracles. God made it so, to keep you dependent and addicted to His presence. “Then He answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts,” (Zechariah 4:6).

2. Your Assignment Will Require More Finances Than You Presently Possess. Why? Because God wants to be your provider. He wants you to learn dependence upon Him. “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 4:19).

3. Your Assignment Will Require More People Than You Presently Know. This requires you to develop grace, patience and kindness toward others. This necessitates the fruit of the Spirit, “...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” (Galatians 5:22-23). “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour,” (Ecclesiastes 4:9).

4. Your Assignment Will Require Death Of Your Carnal Nature Daily. “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would,” (Galatians 5:16-17).

5. Your Assignment Will Require Boldness. Embrace the truth of 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

6. Your Assignment Will Require The Weakest Part Of You To Be Revealed. Jeremiah was scared. He felt inferior to his calling. “Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord,” (Jeremiah 1:6-8).

He felt like a child. He was nervous. He was frightened and very afraid. Yet, God instructed him not to discuss his weaknesses, his disability or limitations. Why? Because God would walk beside him.

7. Your Assignment Will Require A Qualifying Process. God will qualify you for your Assignment. Moses was very afraid and felt unequal to his task. “And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since Thou hast spoken unto Thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue,” (Exodus 4:10).

God answered his fears. “And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or Who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say,” (Exodus 4:11-12).

8. Your Assignment Will Require The Continuous Mentorship Of The Holy Spirit. He will mentor you day by day in your Assignment. He is aware of your limitations. He is aware of your inferiority. That is why you pursue Him, reach for Him and require Him. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you,” (John 14:26). You will not succeed alone. God knows this. It is even more important that you know it.

Here Are 17 Fear-Fighting Scriptures To Unlock The Flow Of Your Faith And Destroy The Giants Of Fear That Rise Up Within You. Memorize Them.

1. “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” (Psalm 118:6).

2. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness,” (Isaiah 41:10).

3. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death,” (Revelation 12:11).

4. “For the Lord your God is He that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you,” (Deuteronomy 20:4).

5. “Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee,” (1 Chronicles 28:20).

6. “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe,” (Proverbs 29:25).

7. “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine,” (Isaiah 43:1).

8. “Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones,” (Genesis 50:21).

9. “Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident,” (Psalm 27:3).

10. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me,” (Psalm 23:4).

11. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).

12. “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom,” (Luke 12:32).

13. “So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me,” (Hebrews 13:6).

14. “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows,” ( Luke 12:7).

15. “For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father,” (Romans 8:15).

16. “And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die,” (Judges 6:23).

17. “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world,” (1 John 4:4).

The Words of God are powerful. Read these words aloud every day for the next 30 days. You will see chains broken, doors open and the river of joy flow across your life daily.

Someone Bigger Than You Is Inside You Today.

Remember: Your Assignment May Make You Feel Fearful Or Inadequate.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT MAY BE TO SOMEONE WHO AT FIRST DOES NOT APPRECIATE YOU

Everybody Desires Respect And Appreciation.

But you will not always be received that way in the beginning. Sometimes, those to whom you are sent seem blinded to you, their deliverer. You must stay conscious that you are sent. Isaiah knew this: “He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound,” (Isaiah 61:1).

The captives do not always call for you. They have become obsessed with their own chains. Pain has numbed them. Memories torment them. Disorder has scrambled their thoughts. When you enter their life, they may find it impossible to appreciate, celebrate, or respond appropriately to your presence...in the beginning.

Here Are 3 Champions Whose Assignments Were Misunderstood

1. Jesus Understood This Kind Of Rejection. But it did not prevent Him from reaching out. His compassion documented their opportunity to make changes. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate,” (Matthew 23:37-38).

2. Moses Was Misunderstood. When he saw an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren, he killed the Egyptian. He had the heart of a deliverer. His timing was off, but his nature to set men free was coming alive within him.

Yet the next day when he tried to make peace between two Hebrews, one reacted angrily. “Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian?” (Exodus 2:14).

His own people did not appreciate the calling of God upon his life in the beginning.

3. The Apostle Paul Knew This Would Occur In The Lives Of Those He Was Mentoring. He had experienced stoning. He had spent many nights in prison alone. He knew what it was like to have church leaders distort his teaching. If anyone knew what it meant to be unappreciated, it was the apostle Paul. So when he wrote to the young preacher, Titus, he had an interesting observation. Titus was his protégé. He addressed his letter: “To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee,” (Titus 1:4-5).

Then, Paul continues to describe the Cretians to whom Titus has been assigned. “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies,” (Titus 1:10-12).

He was admitting that the situation was difficult. It was almost impossible. There was absolutely nothing attractive about this Assignment...in the beginning.

But he does not instruct Titus to run, leave or quit.

He predicts changes. “This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth,” (Titus 1:13-14).

Titus was there to change the ungrateful into grateful people. He was there to motivate those who were unmotivated. His presence would bring the ignorant into a place of Wisdom.

Paul believed people could change.

You see, he had been changed himself. “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, Who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting,” (1 Timothy 1:12-16).

When God assigns you to a person or a people, they will be broken, bruised, in great need of repair. That is the reason you are assigned to them.

If People Were Already Perfected, You Would Be Unnecessary In Their Life.

In due season, they may celebrate you as your influence penetrates their life on a daily, habitual and continual basis. If they do not make changes after you have obeyed God, then the instructions are clear: “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves,” (Matthew 10:14-16).

Stay Alert And Cautious. “But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles,” (Matthew 10:17-18).

Depend Totally Upon The Presence Of The Holy Spirit To Mentor You In The Moment Of Crisis. “But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you,” (Matthew 10:19-20).

The Holy Spirit Will Give You Grace During Every Crisis.

Remember: Your Assignment May Be To Someone Who At First Does Not Appreciate You.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT WILL ALWAYS BE TO SOMEONE WITH A PROBLEM

Someone Close To You Is Hurting.

John, the beloved disciple, urged compassion. “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” (1 John 3:17).

15 Principles In Problem-Solving You Must Recognize And Apply When Helping Others

1. Someone Needs You. Someone with a Problem.

- Somebody with a health problem needs a doctor.

- Somebody with a car problem needs a mechanic.

- Somebody with a financial problem needs a banker.

- Somebody with a spiritual problem needs a minister.

You see, problems are really wonderful things.

They make us reach for each other.

Problems enable us to see the value of those close to us.

They enable others to observe our importance as well. So never run from a problem. Simply run toward the solution.

2. Some Problems Will Be More Noticeable Than Others. Tailors notice missing buttons. Mechanics hear something wrong in car engines. Why? That is their specific Assignment.

3. God Expects You To Move Swiftly To Solve A Problem For Those To Whom You Are Assigned. “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it,” (Proverbs 3:27).

4. Your Assignment Will Determine And Heighten What You See And Hear. You will see things others close to you do not notice. You will hear things in a conversation that others may overlook. The problem you notice is a clue to your anointing and calling in life.

5. You Are Not Assigned To Everybody With A Problem. Some problems are impossible for you to solve. Somebody else has been assigned to solve those specific problems for people. However, you must learn to stay in the center of your expertise, the solutions you contain.

6. The Holy Spirit Will Answer Every Important Question You Ask. His answers will bring great peace to your heart. “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not,” (Jeremiah 33:3).

a. Ask Him Honestly If The Problem You Are Seeing Is The Penalty For An Act Of Disobedience Or Rebellion. Why?

Never Breathe Life Into Something God Is Killing.

The last thing you want to do is oppose the workings of God in the life of someone.

Let me explain. Recently, someone was discussing her son with me. She said, “I feel so sorry for him. He has been out of work for several months. So I have been giving him spending money and letting him stay at the house. Could you help him in some way?”

Further discussion revealed that the young man was unbelievably lazy. He had presented no resumes to any companies. He had refused to do small chores around the church. He had not even mowed the grass at his mother’s home, nor washed and waxed her car during the days he was “out of work.”

I refused to help the young man and encouraged her to withdraw her support. I explained Deuteronomy 28, where God said He would only bless “the work of our hands.” Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all,” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-11).

The Bible says you should withdraw yourself from lazy people. Part from them. “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed,” (2 Thessalonians 3:14).

Now, he is not an enemy. He is a brother. But he must be taught the law of productivity: Increase requires work.

b. Ask The Holy Spirit, “Is this person having a problem due to ignorance? Am I assigned to teach him?” You see, this is what Philip did when he ran to the Ethiopian eunuch and asked, “Understandest thou what thou readest?” (Acts 8:30). Now, the eunuch was not learned, but he wanted to be taught! Philip did not have to force him to become a student. “And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him,” (Acts 8:31).

c. Ask The Holy Spirit, “Am I the one you have assigned to solve this problem for this person?” If you are, great joy will enter you as you bond with this person to find a solution to his problem. This is why the Scripture emphasizes in Proverbs 3:27, “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due.”

d. Ask The Holy Spirit, “Have you qualified me to solve this problem and is this the right time to do so?” You see, the Scriptures instruct to solve a problem “when it is in the power of thine hand to do it,” (Proverbs 3:27).

I often see many problems I want to solve. But The Holy Spirit forbids me. I do not always know why. But He has a specific plan. Paul experienced this also. “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not,” (Acts 16:6-7).

7. Accept That The Holy Spirit Will Forbid You To Solve Problems For Some People. It would seem that the gospel preached by Paul would solve a problem for everybody, everywhere he went. But God always has a plan.

He has reasons.

He has seasons.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up,” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-3).

8. Stay Aware That The Attitude Of The Person With The Problem Is More Important To God Than The Problem They Are Facing. You see, a rebel is not in position to receive from the Lord. But, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land,” (Isaiah 1:19).

Timing is so vital to The Holy Spirit. Permit Him to direct your steps in this area every single day of your life. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me,” (Revelation 3:20).

9. God Will Give You Great Compassion For The Person With The Problem.

10. God Will Provide You With Understanding And Time To Respond Properly To The Problem. (See Genesis 41:15-36.)

11. The Person Will Have Great Confidence In Your Ability And Calling To Solve The Problem For Them. (See Acts 8:31-39 and Genesis 41:37-42.)

12. God Will Confirm Your Assignment With Inner Peace In You, And With Joy In Them. (See Genesis 41:15-44 and Acts 8:31-39.)

13. It Will Always Be At A Critical Turning Point In That Person’s Life. (See Acts 8:31-39 and Genesis 41:15-44.)

14. It Will Never Take You Away From Your Time With The Holy Spirit And Private Prayer. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you,” (Matthew 6:33).

Emergencies that take you out of His presence and out of your time spent with God are usually orchestrated by hell to break the rhythm of your spiritual life.

Every pastor receives “emergency phone calls” that come just before his preaching service. It is intended to break his focus, dilute his enthusiasm and destroy the service.

15. If It Is The Will Of God For You To Solve A Problem For Someone, You Will Have The Ability And The Provision To Do So. “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it,” (Proverbs 3:27).

A couple approached me recently at one of my Schools of The Holy Spirit. They were congenial, warm and very loving. He spoke, “Did you receive my phone call?”

“Yes, I did,” I replied.

“I called you more than ten times but you never returned my telephone calls.” He was very concerned.

“My secretary told you that I require an explanation of the phone call before I return any telephone call,” I explained carefully. “You see, I receive thousands of telephone calls because I have a television and radio ministry as well. I have established a standard that if you do not respect my secretary enough to follow my instructions through her, you are disqualified for a return telephone call.”

The young man then said, “The Holy Spirit told my wife and me that you were going to give us $10,000.”

“Well, that was not The Holy Spirit who told you that. Two reasons: First, I do not know you at all. And, it is written, ‘And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord’ (1 Thessalonians 5:12). I had not met you. I am unaware of your mentorship and the authority over your life. The second reason is very obvious: I do not have $10,000 to give you. The Holy Spirit would never tell me to give something I do not even possess.”

They were crestfallen. But I was not assigned to give them $10,000.

Of course, I prayed with them that the Lord would carefully guide their affairs and direct them to the necessary relationships and provision.

- You Are Not Assigned To Everybody.

- You Are Not Assigned Everywhere.

- You Cannot Solve Every Kind Of Problem.

Refuse To Be Manipulated, Dominated, Or Intimidated By The Unreasonable Demands And Expectations Of Others.

Remember: When God Is Involved, Your Assignment Will Always Be To Someone With A Problem That God Has Qualified You To Solve.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT WILL ALWAYS BE TO SOMEONE WHO IS HURTING

The Whole Earth Hurts.

Paul explained it, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now,” (Romans 8:22).

Jesus Came To Heal And Restore. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly,” (John 10:10). “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him,” (Acts 10:38).

Jesus Commanded The Disciples To Heal And Restore. “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give,” (Matthew 10:8).

Jesus Expects Us To Heal And Restore. “For I was an hungered, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in: Naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me,” (Matthew 25:35-36).

The whole world is still hurting, and somebody, somewhere, is waiting for you.

5 Ways To Identify Those Who Qualify For Your Personal Attention, Your Valuable Time And Healing Ministry To Them

1. They Must Demonstrate Humility. They must have the humility to admit they are wounded. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,” (Revelation 3:15-17). You see, many people permit their pride to isolate them from the hand of God.

That is why Jesus said, “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance,” (Luke 5:31-32).

The Unrepentant Are Disqualified To Receive Help.

2. They Must Believe In You. They must have full confidence that you are assigned by God in their season of hurt. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord,” (Matthew 23:37-39).

Jesus Himself could not heal Israel because they did not see Him as the Son of God. They refused to recognize His divinity. “And they were offended in Him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house,” (Matthew 13:57).

This is a troubling experience.

Some of my own relatives and close friends have needed assistance from time to time. Sometimes, The Holy Spirit has stopped me from reaching out. When I ask why, He reminds me that, 1) they have refused to attend special conferences I have sponsored that would have solved their problems; 2) they have refused to read books or listen to tapes that answer every question they have asked; and 3) they have not followed previous counsel I have given them in countless conversations.

3. They Must Pursue. They must be willing to take immediate action and respond. The ministry of Jesus succeeded in the hearts of those who reached. “And when the men of that place had knowledge of Him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto Him all that were diseased; And besought Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole,” (Matthew 14:35-36).

4. They Must Cooperate. They must be willing to pay the price of persistence to cooperate with your schedule and availability. You see, you are not necessarily needing them—they need you. When great men seriously wanted the help of Christ, they came to Him wherever He was.

5. They Must Persist. “And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But He answered her not a word,” (Matthew 15:22-23). Note this: Jesus refused to respond. Why? We really do not know other than His answer a few sentences later. “And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me,” (Matthew 15:23-25).

She asked.

Jesus ignored.

She worshipped.

Jesus responded.

“But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour,” (Matthew 15:26-28).

There is a reason God left this story in the Bible for you.

Her asking did not move Jesus.

Her worship moved Him.

Her appreciation stirred Him.

Her persistence qualified her.

These Are The Qualities That Qualify The Hurting To Receive From You.

Remember: Your Assignment Will Always Be To Someone Who Is Hurting.

YOUR ANOINTING FOR YOUR ASSIGNMENT MAY CREATE GREAT CONVICTION AND DISCOMFORT IN OTHERS

Your Assignment Will Require A Special Anointing.

The anointing is the power of God given to us to remove burdens and destroy the yokes of bondage existing on us and others.

12 Facts That Are Important In Understanding The Anointing Of The Holy Spirit On Your Life

1. The Anointing That Attracts Some Will Always Alienate Others. Jesus explained it. “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household,” (Matthew 10:34-36). Your obedience to The Holy Spirit will always draw or distance others.

2. The Anointing On You Will Always Force Others To Make Decisions. Sometimes these are decisions they do not want to make or expose. (See Acts 7:54-59; 24:24-25.)

3. The Holy Spirit Uses The Word Of God As A Force That Demands Response. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do,” (Hebrews 4:12-13).

4. The Holy Spirit Is An Enemy To All Flesh. “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would,” (Galatians 5:17).

5. The Anointing On You May Intimidate Those In Positions Of Leadership And Power. It did for the apostle Paul. “And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee,” (Acts 24:24-25).

6. The Anointing Can Create Problems When Others Are Intimidated By It. The anointing of Paul was so intimidating that Felix “left Paul bound,” (Acts 24:27).

Acts is filled with the biographies of champions. Stephen was one of them. He was full of faith and power. He did great wonders and miracles among the people. In fact, no one could debate successfully against him. “Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake,” (Acts 6:9-10). The anointing of Stephen aroused great anger in religious people. Here was their Retaliation Plan:

They stirred up people.

They stirred up elders.

They stirred up scribes.

They came upon him and caught him.

They brought him to the council.

They set up false witnesses.

You see this in Acts 6:12-15. Yet the entire time that he spoke, the Bible says they looked on his countenance and, “saw his face as it had been the face of an angel,” (Acts 6:15). He spoke to them concerning Abraham, Joseph and Moses. He reminded them of Solomon. And when he told them that they resisted The Holy Spirit, the Bible says, “When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth,” (Acts 7:54).

7. The Anointing Is The Reward Of The Holy Spirit For Commitment And Pursuit Of Him. A commitment always births conviction. Your obedience will create enemies. “And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord,” (Matthew 10:22, 24).

8. The Anointing Can Increase So Strongly That You Can See Events Occurring In The Next World. The anointing was so powerful upon Stephen that he saw into the Heavens. “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God,” (Acts 7:55-56).

9. The Anointing Can Infuriate Others And Provoke An Attack Toward You. It did with Stephen. “Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep,” (Acts 7:57-60).

- The Anointing Does Not Attract Everyone.

- The Anointing Intimidates.

- The Anointing Infuriates.

- The Anointing Agitates.

10. The Anointing Is The Holy Presence And Power Of God That Forces The Unholy Nature Of Men To Be Revealed.

11. The Anointing Is The Light That Shows Where The Darkness Is Hiding. “Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee,” (Psalm 139:12).

12. The Anointing Is The Knowledge Of God That Exposes Ignorance And Error Around You. “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart,” (Hebrews 4:12).

Hell fears the anointing that empowers you to complete your Assignment more than anything else about your entire life.

I have seen this happen numerous times in my own life and ministry. The Holy Spirit has developed within me an obsession for the Wisdom of God. There are three areas in which God has brought wonderful revelation to my heart: the three priorities of life are The Holy Spirit, the Assignment and the Seed.

The 3 Priorities Of Life

- The Holy Spirit—Someone Is Walking With You.

- The Assignment—The Problem You Were Created To Solve On Earth.

- The Seed—Anything You Have Been Given To Create Your Future.

I have spoken much about these priorities on Christian television across America.

It is obvious that Christian television is despised by hell. It has brought our entire world to a consciousness of Jesus that hundreds of years of church preaching did not do. Satan tries to use television as a weapon to destroy Christians. But God uses Christian television as a weapon to destroy the plans of satan.

It is the greatest tool of communication in this generation. There is a war being waged over the air waves every minute of every day.

Often, I will travel thousands of miles in support of a television ministry. When I assist and minister, I often share with the partners of that particular network. I tell my personal testimony of how the Lord used my Seed-sowing to create many harvests of blessing in my own life. I ask the viewers to call the television station and make faith-promises. That enables that ministry to keep healing the hurting in that area.

Now, I do not like being away from my home. I do not like traveling everywhere. If God were not involved, I would possibly not leave my house for the rest of my life. I have traveled millions of miles in the last 30 years of ministry. I sleep in strange hotels, eating food of every type. But I do this because I love the work of the Lord, I love television ministries and I love helping people achieve their dreams and goals.

Yet when I have taught on Seed-sowing, I have received hateful letters, critical letters and comments that would rip any man to shreds. The criticism at times has stirred me with such anger that I wanted to “take a vacation from God” for a few months and deal with the people directly!

Why does this criticism occur? Why would anybody criticize a man of God who encourages people to take a portion of what God has given to them and bring it back to God, so that the name of Jesus would be exalted on the earth?

- The Anointing Convicts.

- The Assignment Demands.

- The Truth Corrects.

So when anyone teaches giving, the god of greed is exposed and forced to emerge.

You see, that angry viewer was not forced to watch me. Nobody coerced him to listen to my teaching. So why should he not view something else?

- The Anointing Is A Magnet.

- It Attracts Truth Haters Like It Attracts Truth Lovers.

- It Divides. Men are forced to assess truth.

Many years ago a great healing evangelist wanted to build a great center for healing and health. You would think that thousands of physicians would be thrilled. A man of God was going to help them “heal the sick.”

The opposite reaction occurred.

Like a billion bees, they came in hordes to fight against his work. It was like a Niagara Falls of criticism that threatened to destroy the very vision God had given him.

What Excites You Will Anger Another.

What Excites God Angers Satan.

That is why it is so essential to really know your own Assignment. When God reveals His call upon your life, you must linger in His presence until that awareness becomes unshakable and undoubtable in your heart.

You Will Only Endure If You Are Fully Persuaded About Your Own Assignment.

Remember: Your Anointing For Your Assignment May Create Great Conviction And Discomfort In Others.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT MAY REQUIRE SEASONS OF INTENSIFIED PRAYER AND FASTING

Champions Use The Weapon Of Fasting.

There Are 25 Important Facts About Fasting

1. Fasting Is A Force In The Spirit World. When the disciples could not cast out the dumb and deaf spirit of the young son, they asked Jesus, “Why could not we cast him out? And He said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting,” (Mark 9:28-29).

Unusual Warfare Requires Unusual Weapons.

Jesus Embraced Prayer And Fasting As Effective Weapons. Demon powers always succumb to these weapons. I am so thankful that the body of Christ is awakening again and becoming aware of the remarkable influence we can have when we pray and set aside time to fast. “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungered,” (Matthew 4:1-2).

2. You Should Fast Between Major Events Of Your Life. Jesus did. When He was baptized by John He saw “the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved son, in Whom I am well pleased,” (Matthew 3:16-17). [Then, Jesus fasted.] His next major event was the selection of His disciples. “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him. And going on from thence, He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed Him,” (Matthew 4:18-22).

3. You Should Fast To Influence The Judgments Of God Away From Your Children. David did. “David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them,” (2 Samuel 12:16-17).

4. You Should Fast Habitually. Anna did. Anna, an 84 year old widow and prophetess never left the temple, but fasted continually. “And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day,” (Luke 2:37).

5. Your Fasting Follows The Examples Of Great Champions. The Apostle Paul fasted. “But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings,” (2 Corinthians 6:4-5).

6. You Should Fast Often. “In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness,” (2 Corinthians 11:27).

7. You Should Fast For The Healing Of Your Children. David did. “David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them,” (2 Samuel 12:16-17).

8. You Should Fast To Create Favor In A Political Crisis. Esther did. She requested that many join her in a fast for three days without food or drink, and she got her employees to do likewise. “Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise,” (Esther 4:15-16).

9. You Should Fast To Create Acceptance And Influence With Those In Leadership And Positions Of Power. Queen Esther did. (See Esther 4:15-16.)

10. You Should Fast During Times Of Unusual Attack And Isolation. David did. “When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach,” (Psalm 69:10).

11. Your Fasting Will Produce Humility. “I humbled my soul with fasting,” (Psalm 35:13).

12. You Should Fast To Influence Three Areas Of Your Life. Ezra, the priest, did: 1) Direction; 2) Family; and 3) Finances. “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of Him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance,” (Ezra 8:21).

13. Your Fasting Is Wasted Effort If You Lack Integrity Or Proper Motives. “Then said the Lord unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence,” (Jeremiah 14:11-12).

14. You Should Fast To Avert The Judgments Of God Upon Your Life. “Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly...for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come,” (Joel 1:14-15).

15. Your Fasting Affects Your Supernatural Provision. “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast...Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto His people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen,” (Joel 2:15, 19).

16. Your Fasting Is Wrong If It Is Done Publicly To Impress Other People About Your Spirituality. “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men...Moreover when ye fast be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast,” (Matthew 6:5, 16).

17. Your Fasting Should Be A Private And Silent Posture Before God. “But thou, when thou fasteth, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly,” (Matthew 6:17-18).

18. Your Father Guarantees To Reward You Openly For Private Fasting. “But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly,” (Matthew 6:17-18).

19. Your Fasting Moves God To Destroy Your Enemy. “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly...and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things,” (Joel 2:15, 19-20).

20. Your Fasting Births A Season Of Restoration After Loss. “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly...and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and My people shall never be ashamed,” (Joel 2:15, 23-26).

21. Your Fasting Can Cause An Outflowing Of The Holy Spirit Toward Your Life. “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly...And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit,” (Joel 2:15, 28-29).

22. God Commanded Us To Fast. “Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil,” (Joel 2:12-13).

23. Various Fasts Are Possible. Some people fast from food and water for three days. Some simply fast without food for three days, seven days, twenty-one days or forty days. The important thing is to be led by the voice of The Holy Spirit. (It is always wise to have a physician oversee fasts for the purpose of keeping your health strong.)

24. The Purpose Of Fasting Is Not To Destroy Your Health. It is to deprive yourself of something you love, to move the hand of God to provide something you do not have. I have fasted three days per week for many months of my ministry and life. I have discovered the importance of total focus during meal times. Rather than sit at the restaurant table with friends during a dinner, it is better to withdraw yourself from the company of others and focus in private prayer time with Him.

25. Your Geographical Location For Your Assignment Can Be Revealed Following A Fast. “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus,” (Acts 13:2-4). The same Holy Spirit that revealed the city and country for their Assignment following a fast is not a respecter of persons. He will honor this Seed of love and deprivation.

Every champion of faith knows the power of prayer. Those who embrace the extra weapon of fasting see increased results beyond their imagination.

Here Are 10 Keys To Effective Praying That Will Produce The Results You Need

1. Do Not Attempt To Pray For Anything Until You Have Forgiven Those Who Have Wronged You. “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses,” (Mark 11:25-26).

2. You Must Completely Believe In Your Heart What You Are Praying With Your Mouth. “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them,” (Mark 11:23-24).

3. Prayer Must Be Continuous And Receive Your Total Focus. “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word,” (Acts 6:4).

4. Unkindness And Disrespect To Your Family Members Can Hinder The Results Of Your Prayers. “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered,” (1 Peter 3:7).

5. The Prayers Of Your Mentors And Spiritual Leaders Are Especially Effective When You Pursue Them. “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” (James 5:14-16). So, pursue the prayer of agreement with those who have spiritual oversight of your life. There is a difference.

6. Your Personal Intercession For Your Leaders Can Produce Miraculous Change. “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him,” (Acts 12:5). As you know, the angel of the Lord came and the chains fell off Peter’s hands and he was set free from the prison.

7. You Should Have A Special Place For Daily Prayer. I call the special room where I meet with The Holy Spirit each day, “The Secret Place.” I have altars around the room. I keep an open Bible, legal pads and pens, and a cassette recorder to tape my notes. It is my daily appointment with God. It is the most important part of every day.

8. Your Appointment With Him Should Be Specific, At A Certain Time Every Day. There is power in routine and rhythm. It is the most difficult thing you will ever birth in your Christian life. Your time with The Holy Spirit in private prayer is the most powerful weapon you have against satan. The Secret Of Your Future Is Hidden In Your Daily Routine.

9. Music Plays An Important Part In “The Secret Place.” Keep praise and worship continuously on music cassettes or CD’s. Sing new songs to the Lord, as The Holy Spirit inspires you. “Come before His presence with singing. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise,” (Psalm 100:2, 4).

10. Learn To Pray In The Language Of The Holy Spirit And Interpret Back What He Is Instructing. “Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also,” (1 Corinthians 14:13-15).

Your Assignment Will Always Require His Presence.

Remember: Your Assignment May Require Seasons Of Intensified Prayer And Fasting.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT MAY INVOLVE SEASONS OF PAIN

Every Champion Knows Pain.

Think about this for a moment. Pain is any discomfort created by a disorder in your body, your home or your life. Order Is Simply The Accurate Arrangement Of Things. So pain is not really your enemy. Rather, it is the proof that your enemy exists. Pain is a messenger instructing you that something is out of order in your life. God uses it to talk to us, to change us and to motivate us to order.

Pain Is Discomfort Created By The Supernatural Birthing And Entry Of A Person, Season Or Miracle God Is Bringing Into Your Life.

Sometimes it is unnecessary.

Sometimes it is necessary.

It depends on your willingness to change.

Mothers experience pain when they birth their children into the world. Jesus experienced pain when He launched His earthly ministry following the severe temptations of satan. (See Matthew 4.) Paul wrote about this: “In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness,” (2 Corinthians 11:27).

Here Are 22 Power Keys To Help You Walk Through The Painful Seasons In Your Life

1. Refuse To Panic. Slow down and take the time to hear the soft, quiet voice of The Holy Spirit. “The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord,” (Lamentations 3:25-26).

2. Admit Your Pain. Be honest with yourself and with those you love. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” (James 5:16).

3. Determine To Stay In Pursuit Of God Even In Painful Experiences, By Focusing On The Promised Promotion. “...If so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us,” (Romans 8:17-18). The apostle Paul reminded Timothy, his protégé, of this. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us,” (2 Timothy 2:12).

4. Rearrange Your Daily Schedule To Make “The Secret Place” The Priority Of Each Morning. You must hear the voice of The Holy Spirit again. He hears. He heals. He helps. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty,” (Psalm 91:1).

5. Hold Fast And Stand Strong By Absorbing The Word Of God Daily. “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness,” (Ephesians 6:14).

6. Remind Yourself That Pain Does Pass. “...Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning,” (Psalm 30:5).

7. Remember, Pain Is Often Produced By Ignorance. I remember driving 500 miles across the United States pulling a little trailer containing my clothes, public address system and tapes. When I walked into the office of the pastor, he looked up stunned. Several of his staff members were around. “What are you doing here?”

“I am here to begin the crusade,” was my reply.

“I am so sorry. I have canceled that. You did not receive my letter?”

It broke my heart. I had just driven 500 miles in vain. Now that was painful. But it was through my ignorance. I had not confirmed by telephone the day before. I had not confirmed with him by letter. I had assumed that our original conversation was permanent.

8. Make A Firm Decision To Become A Learner. Discern the mentors who could have enabled you to avoid this problem. Learn. Read. Observe. Think. Ask the Lord to forgive you and give you another opportunity to learn.

9. Honestly Confront The True Reasons For Your Pain. Did you do something ignorantly? Did you trust another to handle your business for you unwisely? Have you been in total rebellion to a known law of God? Always name it for what it is.

10. Discern Whether Your Pain Has Come Through Your Own Personal Rebellion To The Laws Of God Or The Laws Of The Land. Government is established by God. He expects us to honor those in authority over us. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil,” (Romans 13:1-3).

You see, some people lie about their income. They deliberately break the law. They despise the leadership of the nation. They are in direct defiance of Scripture. “For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour,” (Romans 13:6-7).

11. Repent If Your Pain Has Been Produced By Deliberate Disregard For Wise Counsel. There is no easier way to move out of pain than through the gate of repentance. “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people; If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land,” (2 Chronicles 7:13-14).

12. Face The Fact That Your Pain May Be Produced Because You Trusted The Wrong People. Many years ago, I gave all of my financial papers to a man that I thought was a Certified Public Accountant. When the Internal Revenue Service approached me several years later, I discovered he was not certified at all. He had made some terrible mistakes. It cost me a fortune to locate the finances to repay properly. I had trusted the wrong people.

The Young Trust. The Wise Test.

13. Ask Forgiveness Of Those You May Have Wronged And Forgive Those Who Have Wronged You. “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses,” (Mark 11:25).

14. Be Thankful If Your Pain Is Really The Chastening Of The Lord. Remember the rewards that follow. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed,” (Hebrews 12:11-13).

15. Reach Quickly For The Mentors Who Have Proven Their Compassion And Competence In Times Of Storms. “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” (James 5:13-16).

16. Use Suffering As A Powerful Motivation Toward Obedience And Restoration. “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him,” (Hebrews 5:8-9).

17. Remember, Broken People Often Become Masters At Mending Others. As one of my good friends often says, “Your mess is your message.” Wherever you have hurt the worst, is usually where God can use you the greatest.

18. Allow Pain To Increase Your Compassion For Others. The apostle Paul wrote it this way, “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God,” (2 Corinthians 1:4).

19. Focus On Removing The Pain Of Someone Else. What You Make Happen For Others, God Will Make Happen For You. Concentrate on someone else. When Job prayed for his friends his own captivity was turned. “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before,” (Job 42:10). “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free,” (Ephesians 6:8).

20. Sow Your Greatest Seeds Of Patience, Expectation And Time During Seasons Of Pain. “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him,” (Psalm 126:5-6).

21. Refuse To Make Any Major Decisions Until The Holy Spirit Speaks. Your decisions will be based on escaping pain rather than fulfilling His command in your life. “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left,” (Isaiah 30:21).

22. Remind Yourself Of The Ultimate End Of Your Assignment, To Live Forever In His Presence. “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son,” (Revelation 21:3-7).

God Requires Endurance. (See Matthew 10:22.)

God Respects Endurance. (See 2 Timothy 2:3.)

God Rewards Endurance. (See James 1:12.)

Endurance Qualifies You For The Throne.

Remember: Your Assignment May Involve Seasons Of Pain.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT AND ANOINTING WILL ATTRACT ATTACK

Somebody Will Not Like What You Are Doing. Ever.

In the ancient writings of Ezra, a remarkable portrait is painted for us. When the foundation of the temple of the Lord was being laid, trumpets were sounded. They sang together by chorus in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord. Many of the priests wept and shouted for joy.

The noise was heard afar off. “And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off,” (Ezra 3:10-13).

Then, the attack began.

Here Are 22 Defense Techniques To Remember During Seasons Of Personal Attack

1. Expect Someone To Be Unhappy Over Your Progress. They always are. They “hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose,” (Ezra 4:5). Letters were written. Accusations were believed.

Read it for yourself. “Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read...they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem,” (Ezra 4:23-24).

2. Remember That You Are A Champion, Not A Loser.

Champions Spend Their Time Building Their Dreams.

Losers Spend Their Lives Criticizing Those Dreams.

3. Invest Your Words And Energy In Creating New Goals And Dreams.

Losers invest their words and labor in trying to destroy the goals of others. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not The Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice,” (Ephesians 4:29-31).

4. Recognize That What Makes You Weep May Cause Others To Become Angry. Nehemiah wept over the condition of Jerusalem. “The wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,” (Nehemiah 1:3-4).

5. Remember That When Your Assignment Is Awakened Within You, Your Adversary Is Awakened Against You. It happened to Nehemiah. “When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel...they laughed us to scorn, and despised us,” (Nehemiah 2:10, 19). “They were very wroth, and conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it,” (Nehemiah 4:7-8).

6. Pray, Confess, Weep And Cast Yourself Down Before God. “Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore,” (Ezra 10:1).

7. Fast. Ezra did. “Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God...and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water,” (Ezra 10:6).

8. Exhort Those Working Around You To Be Strong And Unafraid, And To Be Willing To Fight For Their Families. Ezra did. “And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses,” (Nehemiah 4:14).

9. Stay Awake, Alert And Aware. Nehemiah did. “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them,” (Nehemiah 4:9; see also 1 Peter 5:8).

10. Stay Productive And Focused. Nehemiah did. “We returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work,” (Nehemiah 4:15).

11. Rearrange Your Daily Routine In Order To Be Cautious, Guarded And Protected From Your Enemies. Nehemiah did. “So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing,” (Nehemiah 4:23).

12. Encourage Singers And Spiritual Leaders Over You To Stay At Their Place Of Assignment. Nehemiah did. “Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,” (Nehemiah 7:1).

13. Secure The Leadership And Management Skills Of Faithful, Godly Men. Nehemiah did. “That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many,” (Nehemiah 7:2).

14. Study The Biographies Of Those Who Have Endured. Paul experienced much attack and criticism. “Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words,” (2 Timothy 4:14-15).

15. Forgive Those Who Attack You, Knowing That God Will Stand With You. Paul did. When Paul experienced attack and alienation, he forgave and depended on the delivering power of God. “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion,” (2 Timothy 4:16-17).

16. Stay Focused On Your Assignment. Paul did. Paul stayed focused on the results of his ministry and kept his expectation on God as his deliverer. “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to Whom be glory for ever and ever,” (2 Timothy 4:18).

17. Pursue The Presence Of God And His Word. David did. When David was attacked and criticized, he pursued the presence of God and absorbed the words of the covenant. “Unless Thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction,” (Psalm 119:92).

18. Develop More Wisdom Regarding The Purpose Of Attack.

- Criticism is an observation designed to distract you.

- Attack is opposition designed to destroy you.

- Criticism is intended to demoralize you.

- Attack is intended to demoralize those around you and anyone desiring to help you.

- Criticism is meant to make your future undesirable.

- Attack is to make your future unreachable.

- Critics will oppose your methods.

- Enemies oppose your motives.

19. Remember That Your Attitude Is More Important Than The Attack Against You. Attacks pass. Your attitude, if bitter or demoralized, can grow within you a root of bitterness that will poison every day of your future. “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled,” (Hebrews 12:15).

20. Secure The Ministry Of Another Intercessor. “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven,” (Matthew 18:19).

21. Expect Your Faith To Be Honored Supernaturally By The God Who Intervenes...Just When You Need It The Most. “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them,” (Mark 11:22-24).

22. Expect God To Bring The Counsel Of Your Enemies To Nought. “And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work,” (Nehemiah 4:15).

Here Are 8 Keys That Unlock Victory In Every Attack

1. Attack Reveals That Your Enemy Fully Believes You Are Capable Of Obtaining Your Goal. (They would not waste their ammunition, time, finances and effort if they thought your dreams or goals were impossible.) “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” (Philippians 4:13). If your enemy believes in your future, so should you!

2. Satan Only Attacks At The Birth Of Something Significant In Your Life. It may be your ministry, as with Jesus in Matthew 4. It may be the birth of a champion in your household, like the birth of Moses that activated the killing of all the newborn children in Egypt. It may be the birth of a miracle about to occur in your personal life. (See Daniel 9.)

3. Satan Uses Those Closest To You As Gates Into Your Heart. Your intercession is often the only covering they have, so pray daily for the grace and mercies of God to be shown toward those you love. “And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household,” (Matthew 10:36).

4. The Word Of God Is The Best Defense You Possess. Jesus used it in Matthew 4 during His temptation season. It will work every time to demoralize the tirade of words satan uses relentlessly against your mind. “Unless Thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction,” (Psalm 119:92).

5. Angels Are Continually Ready To Minister To You At The Conclusion Of A Crisis. “Then the devil leaveth Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him,” (Matthew 4:11).

6. Continuous Praise And Worship Leaving Your Lips Demoralizes Satan And Attracts The Presence Of God. “I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth,” (Psalm 34:1).

7. Your Faith Is Working For You Every Moment Of Your Life. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him,” (Hebrews 11:6).

8. The Weapon Of Wisdom Assures Your Promotion Will Follow Every Crisis. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us,” (2 Timothy 2:12). “For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it,” (Ecclesiastes 7:12).

Attack Is Merely Proof That Your Enemy Considers Your Assignment Achievable.

Remember: Your Assignment And Anointing Will Attract Attack.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT WILL ALWAYS HAVE AN ENEMY

Someone Will Hate You. Get used to it.

Your Assignment is to build up something that is good and tear down something that is bad. Listen to the instructions of God to Jeremiah. “See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant,” (Jeremiah 1:10).

It is only natural for you to have an enemy. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me,” (John 15:18-21).

It is an agonizing and heart rending picture, but it happened. After thirty-three-and-a-half years on earth, the last moments of Jesus were still like a magnet to His enemies. That is why He prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do,” Listen to what they were doing around Him: “And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided Him, saying, He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him, and offering Him vinegar, And saying, If Thou be the king of the Jews, save Thyself. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him saying, If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us,” (Luke 23:35-37, 39).

Here Are 5 Reasons Your Assignment Will Always Have An Enemy

1. Your Assignment Will Stop Something Wrong From Growing Bigger. Esther knew this. (See Esther 4:13-17.)

2. Your Assignment Will Paralyze The Influence Of The Ungodly. Jonah finally embraced this command. “So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them,” (Jonah 3:3-5).

3. Your Assignment Ultimately Will Destroy Something God Hates Very Much. David knew this. (See 1 Samuel 17:45-53.)

4. Your Assignment Will Grow The Seeds Of Hope And Courage In Another Person. David did this. (See 1 Samuel 17:52.)

5. Your Assignment Will Strengthen Something Satan Wants Weakened. Aaron and Hur experienced this. (See Exodus 17:12.)

Here Are 3 Mistakes Your Enemy Will Always Make

1. Your Enemy Will Always Misinterpret The Events Around You. (Read Matthew 27:40-44.)

2. What Your Enemy Assumes Is Your End Will Always Be Your Beginning. (Read Job 2:3-7; 42:10, 12-17.)

3. What Your Enemy Assumes Is Your Exit From Their Presence Is Your Entry Into The Next Season Of Promotion. (Read Acts 7:54-59.)

Here Are 7 Secrets Every Survivor Knows

1. As Long As You Live, There Will Be An Adversary To Oppose You At Every Turn. So, learning spiritual warfare against satanic forces is important—it is absolutely necessary.

2. You Must Learn That Satan Is Your Only True Enemy. “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,” (Ephesians 6:12).

3. Your Sufficiency Is Not In Yourself. “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament,” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6).

4. You Must Decide To Fight Back. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might,” (Ephesians 6:10). It is your personal responsibility to stand against the methods of satan against you. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil,” (Ephesians 6:11).

5. You Must Decide To Put On The Spiritual Armour That Protects And Defends You. “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye 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 ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 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,” (Ephesians 6:13-18).

6. You Must Be Teachable And Capable Of Being Mentored Daily By The Holy Spirit To The Techniques Of Warfare. “Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight,” (Psalm 144:1).

7. Remind Yourself About The Rewards Of Overcoming. “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels,” (Revelation 3:5). “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name,” (Revelation 3:12).

“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne,” (Revelation 3:21).

- Satan Wants Your Focus To Be On The Battle.

- God Wants Your Focus To Be On The Spoils Of Battle.

Remember That Battle Occurs When Two Forces Want The Same Possession. So your purpose in your Assignment is not merely survival in the heat of battle. Your battle is to win possession of something you desperately desire, need and deserve.

The Persistent Win. Always.

Remember: Your AssignmentWill Always Have An Enemy.

THE GREATER YOUR ASSIGNMENT, THE GREATER YOUR WARFARE

The Greater Your Warfare, The Greater Your Reward.

Your Potential Determines The Amount Of Demonic Opposition To You.

It appears that both rewards and penalties are measured out to us. “And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more,” (Luke 12:47-48).

The apostle Paul has a fascinating observation. “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire,” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

When I talk about one Assignment being greater than another, I am referring to the influence of that Assignment, not the importance of an Assignment.

Every Assignment matters.

The birth of Moses was the birth of a champion. He was a deliverer. His influence was more widespread than that of any other Hebrew. For that reason, the warfare increased. In fact, there was a decision to kill the sons of the Hebrews. “And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live,” (Exodus 1:15-16).

The Greater Your Assignment, The Greater Your Warfare.

It happened in the life of the baby Jesus. “Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men,” (Matthew 2:16).

It happened because of the influence of the Assignment.

That explains the common thread among healing ministries. Almost all the healing ministers I have known experienced severe or incurable diseases in their childhood. Their Assignment of healing attracted the enemy of sickness and disease at the beginning of their lives.

That clarifies the similarity of prosperity teaching. When I listen to ministers who unlock the currents of prosperity into the body of Christ, I hear them share about the relentless attack of satan against their finances. Some were born impoverished.

Your Pain Is Often Your Passport To Your Next Season.

Do you have children? Read this carefully.

When One Of Your Children Seems To Attract More Demonic Attention And Activity Than All Of The Others Combined, That Is A Signal To You About The Potential Influence Of That Child.

Satan possibly discerns the future of that child by observing the qualities in the child. I do not understand how this happens.

The Warfare Around Your Life Indicates The Quality Of The Next Season You Are About To Enter.

I have often been cautioned by The Holy Spirit against criticizing others. It is possible that you and I could not endure for one hour what others have endured for a lifetime. Somewhere, I read an old Indian proverb, “You have no right to criticize an Indian until you have walked at least one mile in his moccasins.” Think about it.

Rewards Are Coming. You can count on it. “God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall he not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19).

The Promise Is Clear: “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him,” (2 Timothy 2:12). “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together,” (Romans 8:17).

The Rewards Are Worth The Price. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us,” (Romans 8:18).

Stay Strong.

Remember: The Greater Your Assignment, The Greater Your Warfare.

CRISIS IS A NORMAL EVENT ON THE ROAD TO YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Crisis Never Surprises God.

Peter believed this. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy,” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

Here Are 20 Important Facts To Remember During Crisis

1. Every Champion In Scripture Seemed To Move Continually From One Crisis Into Another. “But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings,” (2 Corinthians 6:4-5).

2. Paul Experienced Highs And Lows In Favor And Disfavor. “By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things,” (2 Corinthians 6:8-10).

3. Jesus Experienced Numerous Crises. It finally seemed to end at the crucifixion. Yet even at His crucifixion, He was jeered and taunted by His enemies. Even His resurrection has been doubted by thousands. (See Matthew 27:40-43.)

4. Crisis Is Always The Hinge On The Door Of Promotion. Every champion has had difficult circumstances to overcome.

- Daniel experienced being thrown into the lion’s den.

- Three Hebrew children experienced the fiery furnace.

- Job experienced a total loss of children, possessions and good health.

- Elijah had his brook dry up.

- The widow of Zarephath came to her last meal during the famine, almost starving.

- Joseph experienced hatred by his brothers, false accusation against his character, and then was forgotten in prison two years after he interpreted the dream of the butler.

- Isaac had one foolish son, Esau, and a deceptive, manipulative son called Jacob.

A visit to a workshop would benefit us. Picture this scenario. Pause for a moment and revisit the workshop where a world-renowned missionary evangelist is speaking. The place is crammed with young preachers who are excited about the revelation imparted through this man. When you walk through the door, you are looking for a tall, good-looking and powerfully built man with exquisite stature and dynamic magnetism. You ask for him, and they point to a squinty-eyed, short, bowlegged man speaking from the platform.

Listen to him. “Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?” (2 Corinthians 11:23-29).

Paul is not complaining. He is exultant! “If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities,” (2 Corinthians 11:30).

5. Paul Knew That A Crisis Attracted The Power And Strength Of God. He continues, “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong,” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

6. Paul Embraced These Seasons Of Crisis. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him,” (2 Timothy 2:12). “If so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us,” (Romans 8:17-18).

7. Paul Anticipated Recognition And Reward For Surviving The Crisis. His voice was filled with energy, excitement and joy. “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing,” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

8. Paul Remembered When His Difficult Days Were Caused By Ignorance Instead Of The Birthing Of His Promotion. “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life,” (Titus 3:3-7).

9. Paul Encouraged Us To Look Beyond The Present Crisis. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ,” (Titus 2:13).

10. Peter Also Knew What Was On The Other Side Of Suffering And Crisis. “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified,” (1 Peter 4:13-14).

11. James Saw The Crown Of Life That Lay Beyond Crisis. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him,” (James 1:12).

12. Crisis Will Produce Patience. “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience,” (James 1:3).

13. Patience Will Produce Every Miracle And Desired Provision You Could Want. “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing,” (James 1:4).

14. You Will Have A Companion Through Every Crisis. “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee,” (Isaiah 43:1-2).

15. Your Crisis Will Pass. “For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning,” (Psalm 30:5).

16. Learn To Picture The Rewards Beyond Crisis. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed,” (Hebrews 12:11-13).

17. Never Discuss The Problems Of Your Crisis With Anyone Incapable Of Solving Them. “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards,” (Proverbs 29:11).

18. You Will Learn More In Crisis Than You Will Ever Learn In Any Victory. “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered,” (Hebrews 5:8).

19. Crisis Is The Season In Which God Has An Opportunity To Reveal His Love And Supernatural Power To Your Life. “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong,” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

20. In Every Crisis, Increasing Your Time Spent In “The Secret Place,” Your Prayer Closet, Will Bring Protection. “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord,” (Psalm 27:5-6).

Crisis Is Always An Exit From Your Present.

Crisis Is Your Passage To Promotion.

Remember: Crisis Is A Normal Event On The Road To Your Assignment.

SATAN DOES NOT REACT TO YOU ALONE, BUT RATHER TO YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Your Assignment Is More Apparent To Satan Than You May Realize.

You see, it is not merely you satan wants to destroy. Your Assignment is a threat to his plans. “Lest satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices,” (2 Corinthians 2:11).

Do you ever feel that satan has selected only you to destroy? Think again. He attacks beautiful people and ugly people, fat people and skinny people, rich people and poor people, intelligent people and ignorant people. Especially those whose obedience is creating special attention from God. “And the Lord said unto satan, Whence comest thou? Then satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto satan, Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” (Job 1:7-8).

Satan Will Start A War Against One Person. Why? Because of the influence of that person’s Assignment.

Satan inspired Pharaoh to destroy thousands of the Hebrew children just to stop the entry of Moses into his generation.

Herod had all the children in Bethlehem younger than two years of age killed, because the champion was born, Jesus of Nazareth. Obviously, there was no charge that he brought against these innocent babies.

Abortion Is The Satanic Strategy To Stop The Entry Of A Champion Into This Generation.

Somehow, Your Assignment Will Usher In A New Season For Someone. Satan wants to paralyze the progress of those seasons. You see, God has a plan. He plans everything carefully in advance. Think about it. The birth of Jesus was prophesied hundreds of years before it ever occurred.

Here Are 5 Facts About Planning

1. God Is Working On A Plan And Schedule. Anybody who plans supper (the marriage supper of the Lamb) thousands of years in advance must be a thorough and competent planner and thinker.

2. Jesus Respected Planning. “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish,” (Luke 14:28-30).

3. Even Ants That Plan Are Considered Wise. Listen to the writer of Proverbs. “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest,” (Proverbs 6:6-8).

4. Champions Always Have A Plan. Noah was given a plan for the construction of the ark. Moses had a plan for the tabernacle. Solomon had a plan for the temple he was to build. Each of those plans came from our meticulous and glorious Father Who is thorough in His preparation.

5. Satan Fears The Master Plan. Satan knows this. You were born for a reason. Your Assignment was decided by God. Satan tries every conceivable way to discern it, abort it and stop it. This explains his attacks against your life. No, he does not necessarily attack you every day, but especially attacks when there is a turning point or new development in your Assignment. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up,” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-3).

Daniel had a remarkable encounter. I will paraphrase it. Daniel prayed for 21 days for revelation, for interpretation of the dream. At the end, the angel of the Lord appeared, “Your prayer, brother Daniel, was heard and granted three weeks ago! As soon as you prayed, I was released from the presence of God to bring you the revelation and interpretation you asked for, but on the way, I was intercepted by demonic powers. I called for the assistance of Michael, an archangel from one of the other provinces. He came. Now I am here!” (Daniel 10:11-15).

It appears that angels and demons are not omnipresent. God alone can be everywhere at the same time. It also appears that they are not reproductive, which means they do not multiply thousands of times like we do. (Think about this. They cannot increase in number, but God has given humans the gift of multiplication.)

Anything That Gets The Attention Of God Arouses The Attention Of Satan.

Anything That Stirs The Affection Of God Activates The Agitation Of Hell. It is obvious in the life of Job. He was a man “perfect and upright,” (Job 1:1). He was blessed and honored by the Lord. When satan appeared before God, God began to bring up Job’s name in the conversation.

Job Was God’s Trophy Of Grace In His Museum Of Miracles.

God wanted satan to note that there was a human on earth who loved Him. “And the Lord said unto satan, Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” (Job 1:8).

Millions of conversations have probably occurred between God and satan. It appears that both of them discuss different people. Satan is God’s ex-employee. (See Luke 10:18.) He was rebellious and ignorant. God wants to remind him that someone else has been created who truly loves Him!

God has a remarkable sense of humor. He is also very responsive to obedience. Whenever you obey Him at any cost, a trust factor is built up. Then God reveals Himself more and more to you in miraculous ways.

Here Are 6 Powerful Facts About Intimacy With God

1. Intimacy Has Rewards.

2. Intimacy With God Has Innumerable, Unexplainable And Irreplaceable Rewards.

3. Whenever There Is Intimacy, There Is Multiplication.

4. Whenever There Is Intimacy, Something Is Conceived.

5. Whenever There Is Intimacy, Something Is Conceived And Produced That Never Existed Before. Unity is created.

6. Intimacy Increases Personal Power. “How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight?” (Deuteronomy 32:30).

As Solomon said, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up...a threefold cord is not quickly broken,” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12).

Your Assignment is your golden bond with your Creator.

The Obsession Of Satan Is To Separate You From God. When he stops your Assignment, he has broken your relationship with God.

Demonic Powers Are Assigned To You.

No, they may not be assigned to you daily. After all, satan does not have enough demons to assign them all to one person every day. Humans multiply. Demons do not. So they have to be constantly reassigned geographically. Now I do not know very much about demons and angels, but I do know that there are weeks in my life when I feel no adversity or opposition whatsoever.

Note the dilemma of Daniel once again. Demons were assigned to keep his answering angel from arriving. Obviously, there were extra demons assigned, because the angel himself called for additional support and overcame the demons who were opposing him.

It may be that after angels receive their instructions (to minister to us) that demons react. Now, think for one moment with me. Where do banks position security guards? A hundred miles from the bank vault? Of course not. Security forces are stationed wherever the treasure is placed. So learn from this. When satan assigns demonic activity around your house, you can rest assured something wonderful is en route from the hand of God to your house. Satan has made a discovery. His obsession is to abort its arrival at your house.

Get excited about this! A miracle package has just left Heaven. It is en route to you. Demonic scouts have discovered a shipping invoice with your name on it. There is an attempt to intercept its arrival.

Has there been an unusual attack upon your life recently? It is quite obvious. You are at a major turning point in your life and Assignment.

Turning point? Yes. Things are going to change so dramatically that you will never again see similarities to yesterday. Everything is new from this point on. So stop discussing the painful losses of the past.

Stop Feeding And Nurturing Memories That Must Die. “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert,” (Isaiah 43:18-19).

Yesterday is over. Now focus on your future.

Your Assignment Is Feared, So The Attack On You Reveals That It Is Achievable.

Remember: Satan Does Not React To You Alone, But Rather To Your Assignment.

ANY SATANIC ATTACK REVEALS WHAT SATAN FEARS MOST IN YOUR FUTURE

Your Past Is Over. Your Future Is Feared.

Think about your mind for a moment. Your mind has two functions: the memory and the imagination. The purpose of your memory is to replay events in your past. The purpose of your imagination is to preplay events in your future.

Now, your past is over. Satan has no fear of your past. He merely uses it as a memory to taunt you, intimidate you and demoralize you. It is over. God Does Not Remember Your Past. “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us,” (Psalm 103:11-12).

Years ago, satan kept replaying a moment of disappointment in my life. He played it over and over again. Exasperated, I asked the Lord, “Why does satan keep doing this?”

“He is running low on material!” was the inner reply from The Holy Spirit.

When satan keeps showing you the same photographs of yesterday failures, it indicates that he is “running low on material.” He has nothing fresh to flash on the screen of your mind. He is scrambling to find photographs to paralyze you emotionally and spiritually.

It Is Important For You To Move Quickly Away From The Memories That Destroy You. “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old,” (Isaiah 43:18).

Focusing On Tomorrow Moves You Away From Yesterday. “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert,” (Isaiah 43:19).

Your Future Is Intimidating To Satan. Note the life of Moses. What caused Pharaoh to be stirred up to kill the small children of the Hebrews? The Hebrews were his slaves. Somehow, in the spirit world an awareness emerged that a champion was in the womb of a woman of God. That champion would start an exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt. Pharaoh was about to lose millions of slaves who labored for him. An attack on the children reveals that the potential of those children was devastating to Pharaoh and his demonic regime.

What caused Herod to suddenly kill all the children two years old and under? Herod “slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under,” (Matthew 2:16). Herod’s authority was threatened. Some mother carried an authority that would displace him from his throne.

I have been intrigued for many years about this phenomenon. When some minister greatly used in healing shares his testimony, it seems inevitable that he had an incurable or severe disease in his childhood.

Wherever You Fight Your Greatest Battle Is Where You Experience Your Greatest Victories And Triumphs.

The Photograph Of Your Triumph Is In The Pain Of Your Trial. If you look long enough at your trial, you will see the photograph of your promotion emerge clearly for your spirit to discern.

Listen carefully to those whom God is using to bring healing in marriages and broken relationships. Almost everyone has known abuse, rejection or some deep sorrowful experience of a broken home in childhood.

Review the nature of the attacks you have experienced repeatedly. Ask The Holy Spirit to reveal the path He is qualifying and assigning for you to walk. Someone has well said, “The pain you can feel is the pain you can heal.”

Your Tears Today Will Be The Rain On Someone’s Desert Tomorrow.

Remember: Any Satanic Attack Reveals What Satan Fears Most In Your Future.

THE COMPLETION OF YOUR ASSIGNMENT IS THE GREATEST FEAR OF YOUR ENEMY

Satan Hates Finishers.

It is not enough to begin. Only those who endure to the end will be saved, promoted and rewarded.

Here Are 24 Encouragement Keys That Will Help You Finish And Complete The Assignment God Has Birthed Into Your Heart

1. Jesus Was A Finisher. When He died on Calvary, He cried, “It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost,” (John 19:30). He even prayed this to the Father, “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do,” (John 17:4).

2. Jesus Is Even Called A Finisher. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God,” (Hebrews 12:2).

3. The Obsession Of Jesus Was To Finish. He wanted to reach the conclusion of His Assignment on earth. He thought it. He talked it. He lived it. “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work,” (John 4:34).

4. Jesus Considered Non-finishers To Be Disqualified For The Kingdom. “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God,” (Luke 9:62).

5. The Apostle Paul Was A Finisher. “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith,” (2 Timothy 4:7).

6. Nehemiah Was A Finisher. “So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days,” (Nehemiah 6:15).

7. Solomon Was A Finisher. “Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king’s house,” (2 Chronicles 7:11).

8. Satan Always Attacks In Seasons. It seems that he attacks when something is being birthed in your life that is very important. It may be the birth of your ministry, the birth of a new revelation from God, or the birth of a child in your home that God will use as a champion. It may be the beginning of a physical or financial miracle.

9. Protect The Child In Your Home That Attracts More Demonic Attention Than All Of The Other Children Combined. That child has an invisible Assignment which hell has discerned. Now, it is obvious that satan cannot foretell everything, or he might never have rebelled against God to begin with. But it does appear that in the spirit world information is discerned and processed. So, when one of your children seems to be “the trouble-maker” in your family, understand that that child may be experiencing mental attacks by demonic spirits more than all of the others combined. His future is dreaded.

I have known many days without any satanic attack; when my mind was at peace; when things were perfectly normal and smooth in the office; when life flowed. Then suddenly, almost without warning, hundreds of things started going wrong. It is my personal opinion that demons are not assigned everywhere equally. I believe they receive Assignments according to the amount of danger and threat that satan senses.

10. You Are A Powerful And Influential Weapon Against Satan. He will assign demonic forces to fragment your focus, derail your Assignment and destroy your effectiveness. You have the potential to do great damage to satan. You will become a special target.

11. You Will Be Tempted A Thousand Times To Turn Back Or Turn Away From Your Assignment. “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him,” (John 6:66).

12. If You Want To Find An Excuse To Turn Away From The Calling And Anointing Imparted To You, You Can Find A Thousand Exits. One minister told me, “I cannot pastor anymore because my wife does not want me to pastor.” That man will stand before God to give an account of himself.

13. Do Not Claim To Lack Enough Finances To Complete Your Assignment. God will open the book to Deuteronomy 28 and declare, “I promised you provision when you obey My instructions,” (read Deuteronomy 28:1-14).

14. Do Not Blame The Persecutions And Criticisms Received From Your Family Members. Jesus will say, “And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish,” (Luke 21:16-18).

15. Do Not Complain When Your Prayers Were Unanswered. Jesus will reply, “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you,” (John 15:7).

16. Remember Why You Should Complete His Assignment For Your Life. Peter answered this: “Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God,” (John 6:68-69).

17. Remember God’s Promise To Keep Alive What He Birthed Within You. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ,” (Philippians 1:6).

18. Ask Freely And Often For Those Things Which Will Strengthen You. “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full,” (John 16:23-24).

19. Remember That God Expects You To Ask For Wisdom Continually. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him,” (James 1:5).

20. Determine And Forever Decree That You Want To Complete Your Assignment. “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways,” (James 1:6-8).

21. Pursue Peaceful Conversations Instead Of Contentious Topics. “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another,” (Romans 14:19). “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,” (2 Timothy 2:23-24).

22. Flee The Familiar Traps. “Flee also youthful lusts,” (2 Timothy 2:22). “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness,” (1 Timothy 6:10-11).

23. Fight Tenaciously To Hold Onto Your Assignment. “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called,” (1 Timothy 6:12).

24. Remember Jesus. Jesus is our pattern. He is our example. He is praying and interceding to the Father for you today. The Holy Spirit is interceding for you on earth.

Endurance Is Your Decision.

Remember: The Completion Of Your Assignment Is The Greatest Fear Of Your Enemy.

SATAN WILL OFFER YOU ANYTHING TO SABOTAGE YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Bait Is Always Alluring.

Picture a vast ocean. Imagine fish swimming continuously. Now picture a fisherman dragging hooks under the water. Does he bait those hooks with worms? Of course he does. Why? It attracts the attention of the fish. It is something they love. None of the fish plan to die that day. But it happens...when the only thing on their mind is to eat that worm.

Now, that ocean is the sea of humanity. You and I swim along in life. But, satan is baiting his hook. He will use any kind of bait or worm necessary to attract your attention, to snare you and destroy your Assignment.

Here Are The 3 Most Effective Bait Strategies Satan Uses

1. He May Use The Bait Of Fame And Glamour. It must have worked for Demas. “For Demas hath forsaken Me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica,” (2 Timothy 4:10).

2. Satan May Use The Bait Of Financial Possessions. It worked on the rich young ruler. Jesus said unto him, “Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me,” (Mark 10:21). The Bible says he was very sad at the saying and went away grieved, for he had great possessions. Jesus said, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23).

3. Satan Often Uses The Bait Of Sexual Seduction. It worked on Samson. “And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah,” (Judges 16:4).

- What can distract you is bait.

- What can delay your pursuit of God daily is bait.

- What detours you from your calling is bait.

- What has the potential to destroy your faith is bait.

You Have Access To The Holy Spirit, And He Will Teach You Through It. He will reveal things to you. He will mentor you. He will expose the pitfalls and traps laid for you if you will take the time to hear His voice. “Lest satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices,” (2 Corinthians 2:11).

A number of years ago, I experienced significant success in song writing. Many of my songs were sung on radio and television every day. They were songs of overcoming, survival and determination to serve God. “You Can Make It!” Another was, “Jesus, Just the Mention of Your Name.” Many were songs of healing, “He is a Healing Jesus.” And there were many, many others.

My telephone rang one day. A friend of mine said that a famous group in Nashville, Tennessee, loved my songs and wanted to do an entire album of them. “Just one problem, Mike,” he said. “They are famous country singers. Your tunes and lyrics are perfect except they want to leave the name of Jesus out of them since they are not religious people. You could make a fortune.”

I had experienced a divorce. So, I had written “broken heart” songs in the late night hours that I knew could make the charts instantly. These songs could be sung around the world, if I would just leave the name of Jesus out of them. I rejected it instantly, of course. And I wrote songs declaring my obsession for Him and that everything that I did would bring glory to Him. However, later I discussed it with other famous writers in the work of God. They insisted that God could use these songs to generate finances for my ministry. “It is just a song and somebody is going to write them anyway,” they explained.

I fought some deep battles in my heart on occasions. I tried to explain everything to God! But I could not get away from those words Paul wrote. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him,” (Colossians 3:16-17).

His Word Will Always Contain Your Answers.

Oh, satan is in constant negotiation for our gifts, skills and talents in the body of Christ! My heart has been broken to watch famous Christians perform in night clubs on Saturday night, in major churches on Sunday morning and then do Christian talk shows on Monday. They explain that they are a “witness in the marketplace.” They use illustrations of Jesus eating with Publicans and sinners as justification. I cannot understand how you could use the gifts given to glorify God to generate and feed the liquor, gambling, and entertainment business that is in total defiance to truth and the work of God.

Satan has deceived them. There is no other answer.

I sat in a well-known church in Nashville, Tennessee, many years ago. I looked across the aisle at a famous singer. The world still knows him. A minister explained to several of us afterwards, “He wants to stop singing his country songs and just sing gospel, but I told him that was unnecessary. The hand of God is on him there in the market. He should stay and keep singing using his favor in the world.” Today, that pastor is no longer preaching the gospel, and I have not heard a public Christian testimony from this singer in many years.

Satan Will Offer You Anything To Sabotage Your Assignment. Anything.

Your Assignment Will Cost You.

It will cost you everything. Everything. Jesus warned us. “And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels,” (Mark 8:34-38).

There is a powerful and cunning fisherman dropping bait in your pond. Do not fall for it. You have come too far, invested too much, won too many battles to turn back now.

Your Assignment Is Worth Any Price.

Remember: Satan Will Offer You Anything To Sabotage Your Assignment.

FOUR KINDS OF PEOPLE WILL BE USED TO DISTRACT YOU FROM YOUR LIFE ASSIGNMENT

Intimacy Can Destroy.

Intimacy with one wrong person can destroy you forever. When God wants to promote you, He puts a person in your life. When satan wants to destroy you, he places a person close to you.

There Are 4 Kinds Of People Satan Will Use To Distract You, Demoralize You And Discourage You

1. Those Who Do Not Really Accept Your Assignment. They do not really know you. They have not spent time with God, fasting and praying for you. Usually, they look on the outward appearance of you and your circumstances. They laugh at your dreams and goals.

I have a precious friend who is well along in years. He is a white-haired fireball of energy. When God spoke to him to birth a church in a new city, some folks laughed. He had been a businessman. But he knew the voice of God. Those who refused to accept his Assignment as from the Lord refused to participate. Now, he is a very successful pastor and is doing a great work for God. Had he listened to those who had never consulted The Holy Spirit in the first place, he might have been a total failure today.

Here Are 4 Questions That Qualify People For Intimacy:

A. Have They Taken The Time To Pray Privately About Your Vision And Goal?

B. Have They Questioned You At Length To Develop A Full Understanding Of Your Assignment?

C. How Many Hours Have You Really Spent With Them?

D. Are They Willing To Pray With You And Walk Side By Side With You Concerning Your Assignment?

2. Those Who Do Not Truly Respect Your Assignment. I must tell you this personal illustration. I really believe every person should have a life product, a life legacy. For example, furniture companies produce furniture. Piano companies produce pianos. Sign companies produce signs. An automobile company produces automobiles. You should know the legacy God has designed for you to leave upon earth—your Assignment.

So I asked my precious mother, “Mother, what is your life product?”

“Oh son, I do not have any life product. I am just trying to get you seven kids to heaven.”

Now that truly is a life product—the salvation and redemption of your seven children!

Some people have criticized my mother because she had dedicated her entire life to being a wife to my father, and a full-time mother at home. I have heard many words over the years as people said, “You need to get out of this house and away from these kids and get yourself a job!”

Those people have little respect for mothers, housewives and those who are called alongside their husbands. How I thank God that my mother refused their influence! My memories of home are of constant and total access to my mother and father. They had family altar times twice a day, morning and night. Mother enforced memorization of one Scripture each morning. I believe that my own Assignment became defined, refined and confined because of a mother who respected her own Assignment.

Recently, a pastor of a large well-known church asked me, “Mike, I wish you would not hold crusades at these small little churches around town here. My people like to feel that our church is so successful that we can attract international ministries others cannot schedule. It would mean a lot to me if you would come to just my church when you come to this city.” He had little respect for ministers with small congregations. This kind of attitude is sad.

Mark Those Who Have Little Respect For Your Assignment. They may love you, but they do not respect your Assignment. Let me explain. I host a major World Wisdom Conference each year. It costs thousands of dollars for me to sponsor it. I fly in some of the most effective ministers who have ever spoken. It is first-class all the way. Yet some people live 30 minutes away and will not even drive over to the conference for one day. I have relatives and close family members who will not come for just one day. It is the focus of my entire year, but they have little respect for Wisdom, the anointing or my ministry. Now, I cannot say they do not love me. But, they do not respect the mantle, the calling, the Assignment.

Love Is Finding Someone Desirable.

Respect Is Finding Someone Necessary.

Never Linger In The Presence Of Those Who Do Not Respect Your Assignment. People will never protect what they do not respect.

3. Those Who Will Not Protect Your Assignment.

What You Respect, You Will Protect. I have known hundreds of men of God during my 50 years on earth. Some are well-known, effective and have done an incredible work for God. Yes, I have observed their weaknesses, flaws and human traits. It has endeared me to them, not alienated me from them. I have refused to discuss those flaws with anyone. Why? It is the right thing to do in the eyes of God.

Have you ever read the complete story of David and how he protected the position and calling of Saul? He refused to damage and destroy the influence of Saul, though Saul’s actions were foolish and devastating. He even tried to kill David and his own son, Jonathan (David’s closest friend).

Yet the discretion and loyalty of David became legendary. An entire nation saw a man of integrity, honor, graciousness and dignity. He was not condoning the behavior and conduct of a fool. Rather, he respected the Assignment of Saul.

Years later, when David was brokenhearted, his mind was aflame with memories of the water at Bethlehem. He wished for it aloud. One of his thoughts of longing was, “And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” (2 Samuel 23:15). His three strongest leaders broke through the host of the Philistines and brought him back water. He refused to drink it because it involved the life of his own men that he loved. That kind of loyalty was inspired because David protected the anointing, the mantle and the Assignment of another. In time, his own men had developed a protection for his Assignment.

One of my close friends had a drug problem. It concerned me deeply. Even though he refused to face it honestly, I refused to advertise his problem. Why? I wanted to protect his Assignment. His life is not over. His future is not ended. God still has His hand on his life. As I protect that Assignment within him, God will honor and bless my own ministry for it.

Move Away From Wrong People Who Will Not Protect Your Name, Your Focus And Your Calling. Look at Samson. Watch the conniving, scheming and manipulation of Delilah as she sought to probe for his area of weakness.

Wrong People Breathe Life Into Your Weakness.

Right People Starve Your Weakness.

4. Those Who Do Not Expect You To Really Achieve Your Assignment. They have little faith in you. Remember Eliab, the oldest brother of David who acted angrily when David discussed killing the lion?

Eliab reacted angrily toward David. “Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle,” (1 Samuel 17:28).

His own family saw him as a little shepherd boy, unaware of his victories over the lion and bear. They expected him to fail. They could not imagine him on the throne. He was their “baby brother.”

Do you have someone in your family who feels the same way about your life and future? Do not waste your energy and time attempting to persuade them. God will vindicate you.

Time Will Validate You. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not,” (Galatians 6:9).

Keep Solving Problems. Stay alive and vibrant. Keep your spirit sweet. And permit God to do the promoting. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith,” (Galatians 6:10).

Men Are Merely Channels; They Are Not Your Source. “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another,” (Psalm 75:6-7).

Here Are 7 Important Reminders For

Relationships

1. Intimacy Should Be Earned, Not Freely Given. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13.)

2. Intimacy Should Be The Reward For Proven Loyalty. (See John 15:13-14.)

3. True Friendship Is A Gift, Never A Demanded Requirement. (See 1 Corinthians 13.)

4. When Wrong People Leave Your Life, Wrong Things Stop Happening. (See Jonah 1:15.)

5. When Right People Enter Your Life, Right Things Begin To Happen. (See John 4:4-30.)

6. If You Fail To Guard Your Own Life, You Are Like A City Without Walls. (See Proverbs 25:28.)

7. Failure Occurs When The Wrong Person Gets Too Close. (See Judges 16:4-21.)

Treasure The Golden Wall Of Protection God Is Building Around Your Life.

Remember: Four Kinds Of People Will Be Used To Distract You From Your Life Assignment.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT MAY BE DEEPLY RESENTED BY SOMEONE WHO ENVIES YOUR SUCCESS

Somebody Will Despise You Because Of Your Success.

You see, somebody will compare your success with their own. It is unwise, unnecessary and ungodly. But, it happens every day. Paul warned, “But they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise,” (2 Corinthians 10:12).

Success will deplete you. It requires so much of your time, your energy and life that when you look at it, you see struggle, tears and pain. Others do not. They were not there when you wept and interceded through the night. They did not taste the threat of bankruptcy. No, they never see what you see in your successes.

You see responsibility.

They see rewards.

You see cost.

They see compensation.

You see tears.

They see triumph.

Envy is a deadly poison which breaks up friendships, wounds marriages and stains the beauty of progress. Solomon wrote, “Jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame,” (Song of Solomon 8:6).

David became the target of intense envy. After he defeated Goliath, women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, with tabrets, with joy, and with the instruments of music and said, “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands,” (1 Samuel 18:7).

Jealousy overcame Saul. “And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it,” (1 Samuel 18:8-9, 11).

Think about it. Jealousy births the spirit of murder and destruction.

Here Are 7 Keys In Overcoming Envy And Jealousy

1. Realize That You Have Something Another Admires. A fascinating verse explains it all: “And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul,” (1 Samuel 18:12).

2. You Cannot Stop Envy In Others. It is their own problem. You see, their emptiness has been exposed because of something God has given to you. You have received something from God that they wish they possessed.

3. Never Belittle Yourself To Generate Favor. You will be tempted to belittle and downplay your own successes and blessings to appease and satisfy a jealous and angry friend or foe. Do not waste your energy. “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul,” (Proverbs 22:24-25).

David did this. “And David avoided out of his presence twice,” (1 Samuel 18:11).

4. When Envy Arises, Your Presence Usually Fuels And Nurtures The Envy. Keep your words kind and humble. “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger,” (Proverbs 15:1).

5. You Cannot Solve A Problem For Envious People. “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?” (Proverbs 27:4).

6. Envy Requires The Surgery Of The Holy Spirit. He will have to put such love within them for Him and you that change emerges. “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not,” (1 Corinthians 13:4).

7. Express Your Enthusiasm To An Appropriate Audience. Wait until you are in the presence of someone who truly rejoices with you. Avoid boasting in your achievement. “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips,” (Proverbs 27:2).

I have felt attacks of envy within myself toward others. Several years ago, I saw the incredible buildings and sanctuary of a friend of mine. I looked around and thought, “I cannot even get a newsletter published on time and here he is with a television studio, 4,000 loyal church members and a gorgeous home!” I felt so small. I felt unimportant. I felt unnecessary.

Then I flew across the country and visited with several of my dear friends who have world renowned ministries I would be able to influence. Their budget was more than $150,000,000 each year. They could have anything they wanted, any time of the day. They could speak and major leaders of America would fly to their city to meet them.

As I stared at my little pebbles next to their mountains, I felt so insignificant. Then the Father reminded me.

- My pebble had pebble responsibilities.

- Their mountain had mountain responsibilities.

I could not see the depth of their pain, stress and warfare. It was a lesson in understanding my Assignment. “Do you want me to increase the welfare and difficulties in your life?” Of course not.

If you suffer, you reign.

If you reign, you suffer.

While the childless couple looks longingly at the mother with five children, they may be unaware of the great difficulties and burdens that mother carries.

Jesus said it clearly, “What is that to thee? follow thou Me,” (John 21:22). Your own Assignment will require all of you. Reject jealousy. Despise envy. Do not envy others, and do not let their jealousy break your own focus.

Your Happiest Days Are Just Ahead.

Remember: Your Assignment May Be Deeply Resented By Someone Who Envies Your Success.

THOSE WHO HAVE NOT DISCOVERED THEIR Own ASSIGNMENT ARE OFTEN INTIMIDATED BY THOSE WHO HAVE

Few Really Know Where They Belong.

When you do not know your rightful place or Assignment, life becomes unsettling and uncomfortable.

Discomfort Births Insignificance.

Insignificance Gives Birth To Inferiority.

Inferiority Is Often The Path To Anger And Retaliation.

Information Breeds Confidence. When you know your Assignment, there is a natural flow of enthusiasm and energy through your life. Others sense it. You are a magnet. The currents of self-confidence are very powerful. While it is comforting to those under your care, it is very discomforting to those struggling and grappling for clarity of their own Assignment.

Here Are 4 Keys In Helping Others Discern Their Own Assignment

1. Ask Questions Concerning The Passion, Love And The Greatest Desires Of Their Life. This will move them toward self-examination. It was through a consultant interrogating me endlessly that clarity developed for my own life. Nobody had taken the time to meticulously question my deepest desires.

Some questions could include:

What occurred on the happiest day you can recall in your lifetime?

What desires never seem to vary or change throughout your life?

If everyone on earth received a $10 an hour pay, regardless of their company or job position, what would you choose to do with your life?

If money was not a factor, how would you spend your hours daily?

2. Ask Them The Qualities They Have Discerned In Themselves That Others Respond To Most Favorably. This includes the compliments and generous words that come most often from their closest friends. Everyone has desirable qualities. It is important to discern them through the compliments of others. Often, there is a hidden quality in us though we do not recognize it, that is magnified and quite obvious to others around us.

3. Remember That Your Reaching Out And Reassuring Others Is A Seed God Will Honor. “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free,” (Ephesians 6:8).

Solving problems for others has unlocked much revelation within my own heart. It seems to me that when I try hard to solve a personal problem, the solutions elude me. When I become obsessed with solving a problem for another, the answers are clear and easily observed. So, many things I have done in helping others have had a boomerang effect—it comes back to bless me. “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it,” (Proverbs 3:27).

4. Encourage Others To Discover The True And Complete Meaning Of Their Name. Somehow, the Creator of the universe has influenced our genealogy, geographical beginnings, and the genes in us. “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth,” (Psalm 139:15).

I wrote a powerful song many years ago, “Made with Mercy.”

Made with mercy, formed by grace.

Clothed with favor, I’ve found my place.

He won’t let me forget,

That He made me to sit in high places.

I was made with mercy, formed by grace.

He saw me in my mother’s womb before I saw His light.

He drew the plans He had for me before I had my sight.

In Thy love, I was conceived.

He gave me special faith to believe.

He loved me with a love, somehow I had to believe.

Do you long to make a difference in someone close to you? Do you lay awake at night wondering what kind of problems you would love to solve for others? Help them discover and develop an obsession with their Assignment on earth.

By doing this you will give them the greatest gift of all—the one that links them to the One who created them and to the people to whom they have been assigned.

Remember Billy Graham’s response:

Your Enemies Do Not Believe Your Explanations.

Your Friends Do Not Require Them.

Remember: Those Who Have Not Discovered Their Own Assignment Are Often Intimidated By Those Who Have.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT MAY BE MISUNDERSTOOD BY THOSE CLOSEST TO YOU

What Becomes Familiar Often Becomes Hidden.

Let me explain. Suppose you have driven every morning to your job for the last five years. You see the same buildings, the same stores and the same places of business. Suddenly, you note something. You see a new sign or store.

“When did they build that?” you exclaim!

“That has always been there,” is the puzzled reply of your friend. It is true. That building or sign has been there for several years. But it became so familiar to you that your mind began to ignore it.

Here Are 6 Insights To Remember When Your Family Does Not Understand Your Assignment

1. What Becomes Familiar To The Mind, The Mind Makes A Decision To Ignore. It wants something new and different. So, for whatever reason, something wakes up your interest.

Our families experience this. You have been around your brothers and sisters so long that their outstanding qualities have become familiar and are now hidden to you. Others respond and compliment them, but you do not respond to those qualities any longer because you have become accustomed to them.

2. Intellect, Communication Skills And Integrity Do Not Necessarily Guarantee Your Acceptance.

Demas traveled with Paul. How could the gospel, communicated through the greatness and tenacity of Paul, become common place? But it did. The newness and magnetism of the Gospel became too familiar. “For Demas hath forsaken Me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica,” (2 Timothy 4:10).

3. Jesus Tasted The Bitterness Of Familiarity. He tasted loneliness and alienation from His own brothers. They became so familiar with and accustomed to His presence that it was difficult for them to grasp His divinity and significance. “For neither did His brethren believe in Him,” (John 7:5).

4. You Must Stay Aware Of Your Difference From Others. Jesus did. “Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready,” (John 7:6).

5. Others Are Not Feeling Your Pain, Your Difference And Your Alienation. You may even become the target of scorn and ridicule. Jesus’ family did not understand this. Jesus knew they did not feel His pain. “The world cannot hate you; but Me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil,” (John 7:7).

6. Your Family Is Comfortable With Places You Are Not. Jesus experienced this, too. His brothers were comfortable in places where He was not. “Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for My time is not yet full come,” (John 7:8). You too must learn to accept this. Otherwise, you may become bitter, angry and retaliatory when those closest to you seem disloyal and disinterested. “But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house,” (Mark 6:4).

I have often wished I could attend the “Joseph workshop.” What were the great principles that enabled him to maintain his focus after his own family despised him? He told his brothers about his remarkable dream.

His father rebuked him.

His brothers envied him.

He knew rejection. “And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying,” (Genesis 37:10-11).

They hated his very presence. He wanted to be around them. He sought them out. He wanted conversation. But, “When they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him,” (Genesis 37:18).

What made them so angry? He was just their kid brother.

Was it his appearance? Was it his behavior and conduct? Of course not. What was their source of agitation? The answer is clearly seen in their conversation about him. “And they said one to another, behold, this dreamer cometh,” (Genesis 37:19).

- He had a dream.

- They were intimidated by his dreams.

- They were angered by his future.

- They were uncomfortable with his destiny.

- They were infuriated by his goals.

- They misunderstood his Assignment.

Their minds were too small for the bigness of his future.

Read their words: “Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him,” (Genesis 37:20).

They were willing to scheme.

They were willing to lie.

They were willing to kill.

It was his dreams that agitated, infuriated and angered them. Keep reading. “And we shall see what will become of his dreams,” (Genesis 37:20).

Destiny is invisible.

Greatness is invisible.

Yet its presence is so powerful that others react. The greatness and destiny of your dream cannot be refuted, doubted or destroyed by hatred. Greatness Has a Presence. Destiny is a magnet. Greatness intimidates. Destiny intimidates.

Greatness Always Forces Smallness To React.

Look at David. He had been tending sheep. His father wanted him to bring lunch to his brothers in battle. Were they happy to see him? Were they thrilled because their young brother came to the war?

“And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle,” (1 Samuel 17:28).

What really angered his brother? “And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men,” (1 Samuel 17:28). Whatever David said to the other soldiers birthed a volcanic fury from his oldest brother. David had been asking about the rewards offered to a champion of Israel who would defeat Goliath.

David was discussing the blessings, benefits and incentives for champions. He Wanted Something In His Future More Than They Really Did.

- Destiny is in your real difference from others.

- Your difference agitates.

- Your difference is in the greatness you want to birth in your future.

- That difference often makes others uncomfortable, miserable and angry in your presence.

Your Family Is The Testing Ground For The Dreams And Destiny God Plants Within You. You cannot really run away from your family. Blood does bond. God made it so. You may experience anger, disappointment and fury. But for some unexplainable reason, you always reach back for those in your household in times of crisis, loss or tragedy.

Adversity Can Make You More Articulate. You are forced to explain what you feel, what you see and what you believe in the face of those who are unbelieving. You are forced to keep yourself motivated in the presence of those who are uninspired. You are forced to grow Seeds of faith in a prevailing climate of doubt.

Those closest to you are being used of God to prepare you to become powerful on the field of battle, in the Arena of your Destiny.

So, sharpen your skills. Listen closely to their observations. Consider their criticisms. God always uses time to vindicate you. Rest in that.

Sometimes Those Closest To You Are The Last To Grasp What You Are Really About.

Your Family Is Your First Classroom.

Remember: Your Assignment May Be Misunderstood By Those Closest To You.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT MAY BE DESPISED BY SOMEONE WHOSE OPINION YOU CHERISH

It Is Normal To Desire Recognition.

Jesus Himself asked His disciples, “Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?” (Matthew 16:13). But He was especially interested in seeing if those closest to Him discerned who He really was: “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).

Look at Moses. When he killed the Egyptian who was fighting a fellow Hebrew, it was obvious that his nature as a deliverer had been birthed. What was the first reaction of those in captivity? “Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian?” (Exodus 2:14).

Captives Do Not Always Recognize Their Deliverer.

Review the life of Joseph. He was excited over his dream. God had birthed a photograph of his destiny. His greatness was within reach. Why did he share it with his brothers and father? Perhaps he desired recognition and approval. What was their response? His brother rebuked him. His father rebuked him. His brothers envied him and decided to kill him. “And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams,” (Genesis 37:10-11, 20).

I had a revealing experience many years ago. When I arrived back in the United States from an overseas crusade, my desk had 1,000 letters on it. As I read each letter, I wept, I sobbed. I could not read five or six letters without breaking down emotionally. The hurts and wounds of people concerned me. My heart was broken. Hour after hour I personally read every letter.

When I finished, I looked at my secretary. “It is impossible for me to write and counsel accurately and completely enough in one response letter back to all my partners,” I explained. “I must write a master Wisdom book that answers all the questions they have asked.”

I toiled. I went through all my sermon notes and past newsletters. Finally, I finished my manuscript. I was so excited. It took months of difficult and tedious labor. It was more than 200 pages. I was exhilarated. But I wanted to have the approval and encouragement of those I most admired and respected.

I pictured publishing their comments in a beautiful full-color brochure illustrating my first large and significant book. It took me all night long to Xerox eight copies of the book—1,600 pages. I selected the eight ministers that I most respected and valued in my ministry at that time. They were very close personal friends. I placed the 200-page manuscript in eight different heavy envelopes and rushed them out in overnight mail. I was tired, weary and exhausted, but quite happy. I asked them to give me their personal opinion of my new lifetime project, my book.

Every day I asked my secretary, “Have they written back yet? Have their letters arrived?” Every day, she would shake her head. Finally, I sent another note to them about it to encourage them to read the manuscript and telephone or write me back. Their opinions meant the world to me.

Well, six never wrote me back. One wrote me four lines of comment. But the hero of my life, whose opinion I cherished more than anyone’s, wrote me a two page letter of response. I was ecstatic. My secretary and others gathered around the letter. I could not wait for his affirmation and approval.

His letter broke my heart. With the incredible gifts to articulate he possessed, he cut me apart like a surgeon with a scalpel. He carved me up, and spit me out. I was in shock at his response. I was dumbfounded. In fact, I could not even speak for two days. The emotional paralysis I experienced could not be explained. My staff was heartbroken. We had waited daily for his reaction. He is still a well-known minister today, but I learned something. It was a very valuable lesson.

Nobody Else Understands What God Has Told You To Do With Your Life. Nobody.

They never have.

They never will.

They might never even try.

You must see the weaknesses of humans. There is nothing good in our flesh. Nothing. The psalmist wrote, “Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity,” (Psalm 39:5). “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf,” (Isaiah 64:6).

Disappointment In People Makes You Reach For God. He built this into the system to motivate our love for Him. You Will Never Develop An Addiction To The Holy Spirit As Long As You Believe And Place Your Hopes In Another Human Being.

Today, the pain has left. The wounds have healed. The root of bitterness never grew. God used the experience to develop within me an obsession for His approval, His voice and His presence.

Recently, one of my closest friends decided to birth a new church in a large city. His excitement and energy were thrilling to observe. He fasted. He prayed. He sought counsel. Finally, one of his close relatives came to visit with him. When he called me late that night, his mind and heart had been deeply wounded. Their words had cut him like a knife. His motivation had been severely affected. Their opinions had mattered after all.

Disappointment Is Usually The Only Weapon God Has To Break Our Dependency Upon Another Human Being.

Several years ago, I decided to celebrate Christmas in the biggest way I ever had. I had received a royalty check. It was exciting to spend hour after hour shopping in the stores for 42 relatives: nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters. Those I loved the most. I had not done this in many years.

Those close to me know that my time is precious and valuable to me. So when I spent several days in December shopping, I was quite impressed with myself! Then, I decided to load up the van and drive 400 miles to bring all the gifts to everyone. I despise driving. It is burdensome to me. I have traveled for 30 years and even flying seems slow to me these days. But, it was Christmas! And I love playing Santa Claus!

I pulled into the driveway of my father’s house late at night. I unloaded the van. My heart was full. My thoughts were, “I wonder how they will like their presents?”

When Christmas was over, the schedule of everyone’s arrival and departure was so erratic, for some reason nobody seemed to notice their gifts at all. In fact, some of the gifts stayed unopened for several days. It hurt. It hurt deeply. But I learned another lesson: Giving brings pleasure to the giver. If you ever enjoy sowing into others, you must accept that their reactions will disappoint you every day of your life.

Family reunions should be fun. At one of my reunions, having written two new books and being quite proud of a new song just completed, I was anxious to sit at the piano during a family reunion and “show off” my new song. As I played the song on the piano and sang it for my relatives, nobody said a word. They kept talking among themselves about various things.

So I quit singing and handed my two new books to everyone to review. Within seconds, the books were closed and placed on the cabinet nearby. No one discussed them. Not one word of commendation was spoken. I was horrified. My sensitive nature reacted fiercely. But, that was not the end of the story. Someone very close to my heart went to the back bedroom and brought out a cassette. One of his friends from many years ago was playing the guitar and singing some country songs on it. He wanted me to hear his music.

So I sat there and listened in silent rage as everyone exclaimed and oohed and aahed over the most ridiculous singing you have ever heard in your life. I had personally sweated blood over every word of my own songs and books, but they were ignored.

Those You Love Will Rarely Celebrate Your Assignment.

I believe you have had similar experiences in your own life. Now I know that none of my relatives had intended their response to affect me like that. Their thoughts were in a different direction. But it has made me more compassionate toward those who approach me daily with their own achievements. It has softened my own words and caused me to look for the good that others have produced with their lives.

The psalmist experienced this depth of disappointment: “Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee. Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever,” (Psalm 73:21-23, 25-26).

Here Are 4 Points To Ponder When Others Do Not Receive Your Assignment

1. Become Persuaded About Your Own Assignment, Because Others Will Not Always Be There To Encourage You In It.

2. Remember That Those Closest To You Are Often Hurting Also, Due To Lack Of Encouragement From Others.

3. Embrace This Kind Of Disappointment As A Wonderful Classroom Where God Reminds You That His Opinion Is The Only One That Really Matters After All.

4. Remember To Enter “The Secret Place” For Healing And Restoration After You Experience Rejection. Disappointment fulfills the desire of God when it motivates you to pursue Him again...Exclusively.

Nothing Is Ever As Bad As It First Appears.

Remember: Your Assignment May Be Despised By Someone Whose Opinion You Cherish.

GOD WILL NOT SHOW YOU PICTURES OF WHAT HE IS BRINGING YOU THROUGH, BUT RATHER WHAT HE IS RBINGING YOU TO

God Will Talk To You In Faith Pictures.

Habakkuk understood this well. “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved,” (Habakkuk 2:1).

Abraham experienced this. After his nephew Lot separated from him due to the strife between their employees, God spoke to Abraham. “Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy Seed for ever,” (Genesis 13:14-15).

Sometimes these faith pictures are created internally to hang on the walls of our imagination. Sometimes they are carefully sought out to hang on the walls of our homes. But, they are very, very important.

Here Are 17 Life-Changing Principles And Keys About The Faith Pictures God Uses In Your Life

1. Whatever You Can See, You Can Pursue.

Mental pictures determine your focus.

Focus determines your behavior.

2. God Can Give You Pictures Of Events In Your Future. He gave Abraham a faith picture of his future children. “And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered,” (Genesis 13:16).

3. God Will Not Always Give You A Picture Of Attacks Ahead. God did not give Abraham a picture of his future trials and hardships. He did not see a picture of Ishmael, the son of doubt conceived (because of unbelief) with his handmaid, Hagar. He did not receive dreams of Sodom and Gomorrah and their destruction. He did not have photographs of the terrible experience with Abimelech, king of Gerar. Rather, God showed him photographs of his conclusion, not his experiences en route to his goals and dreams.

4. God May Talk To You In Dreams. God showed pictures of rulership to Joseph in his night dreams.

“And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me,” (Genesis 37:6-9).

5. Faith Pictures Inspire Pursuit. They energize us toward our dreams. They unlock the flow of faith. “And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned Him about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour,” (Matthew 9:20-22).

This woman had a faith picture. She saw something inside her imagination. She honestly believed that when she could touch his garment, something would happen. It did happen.

This is sometimes called a point of contact.

A point of contact is anything God uses as a vehicle to inspire your faith or give it direction. A point of contact is always something that you do.

6. Your Faith Picture Is A Gift From God That Unlocks Your Faith To Achieve Your Destiny, Purpose And Assignment. The prophet used this when he told Naaman to dip in the Jordan seven times. Naaman did so, and he was healed of leprosy. Jesus used it when he instructed them at the marriage in Canaan to fill the water pots with water. They did, and the water was turned into wine.

7. Pictures Of Prosperity Unlock Your Faith. Elijah used Picture-Power when he promised provision to the widow of Zarephath, “The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth,” (1 Kings 17:14).

8. Your Faith Photograph Strengthens You Through Difficult Seasons. Jesus had a picture of His victory that sustained Him. It energized Him. It gave Him focus. It gave Him endurance capability. Jesus, “For the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God,” (Hebrews 12:2).

9. Always Document Night Dreams That Inspire Changes In Your Behavior. Dreams often make children suddenly become interested and caring toward their parents. Perhaps they have dreams or see pictures of the death of their parents. It motivates. It corrects. One friend of mine visits hospitals regularly. He says that seeing people in that setting motivates him to exercise, eat healthy, and take care of his body.

How important is a picture? Ask the liquor and cigarette industry. They will pay more than $780,000 for thirty seconds of pictures on a TV screen during the Super Bowl. Try to buy time on prime time television. It would bankrupt most of us. The power of a picture cannot be overestimated.

10. Reject Pictures Of Doubt And Unbelief. Wrong pictures grow wrong emotions and futures. Wrong pictures make pure children impure and corrupt. Wrong pictures have caused children to kill their parents while they were asleep. Wrong television programming has almost destroyed the conscience of this generation of teenagers.

11. If One Wrong Picture Can Destroy Your Life, Then One Wonderful, Accurate And Glorious Picture Of God Can Radically Change Your Life Forever As Well.

12. The Picture That Dominates Your Mind Will Control Your Behavior. God rarely shows you pictures of an approaching trial or a fiery furnace experience. If He only showed you pictures of an approaching trial or difficulty, you would treat that adversity as a destination instead of an experience along the way.

Sight gives birth to desire. What You See Is What You Pursue.

Have you ever been suddenly motivated to go to the refrigerator and eat after seeing a television commercial on food? Of course. When you saw a commercial on physical fitness, were you inspired to join a health spa or buy a jogging suit and start walking and jogging? Of course you were.

Pictures Affect Behavior.

13. What You Hear Affects What You Say To Others. Jesus Himself mentioned this about The Holy Spirit: “But whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak,” (John 16:13).

14. It Is Crucial That You See The Right Pictures, And That You Avoid Wrong Photographs Of Failure, Defeat And Discouragement. When Moses sent twelve spies into Canaan in preparation for a victorious march into the promised land, ten returned with photographs of inferiority, unbelief and failure. “But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight,” (Numbers 13:31-33). They had a picture of themselves as being inferior, weak and losers.

They embraced it.

They believed it.

They spoke it.

They saw giants instead of seeing God.

They compared themselves to the giants, instead of comparing the giants to their God. I often call it, “The Grasshopper Complex.” “The Grasshopper Complex” defeats you from the inside. Enemies are really unnecessary, since you choose to become your own worst enemy.

The Israelites did not forfeit Canaan because of giants. They lost Canaan because of doubt, unbelief and nurturing wrong photographs of themselves. They studied their difference in physical strength instead of their difference in spiritual power.

Joshua and Caleb nurtured a photograph of their victories. They chose to believe in the power of God instead of the strength of their opposition.

You must do the same to achieve the great things God wants you to achieve.

Every child has painful memories. Sometimes, there is a memory of a father who screamed out, “You are so stupid. You will never amount to anything. You are nothing but a bum!” That photograph finds a landing place in our imagination. Then, an exasperated mother blurts out, “I wish I had never had any of you children. It was a mistake to have you!” The photograph is reinforced, strengthened.

Wrong Photographs Destroy Good People.

Faith Pictures Can Correct Damaged People.

15. You Will Experience The Greatest Faith Pictures Of Your Life When You Spend Time In The Secret Place. When you spend time in The Secret Place, wrong pictures die and right pictures come alive in His presence.

So, when someone steps into your life and announces, “I have a word from the Lord for you,” you can now judge it. God rarely gives you photographs of what He is bringing you through, but encourages you with a picture of His desired end.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end,” (Jeremiah 29:11).

16. When A True Prophet Has A Word From God For You, The Faith Picture Will Bring Peace.

Pay attention to faith pictures. The ark of Noah was a picture of the ark of safety through Jesus. The tabernacle of Israel was a photograph of the redemption plan through the blood of Christ. The union of wife and husband is a photograph of the body of Christ linked to Jesus, our Head.

17. What You Keep Seeing Affects What You Keep Doing. “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23).

Everything You Do Will Be A Subconscious Attempt To Make Your Faith Picture Come True.

Remember: God Will Not Show You Pictures Of What He Is Bringing You Through, But Rather What He Is Bringing You To.

GOD CAN MIRACULOUSLY TURN THE WRONG DECISIONS OF OTHERS TO WORK FOR YOUR GOOD

When God Wants You In The Palace, Nobody Else Can Keep You In The Pit.

Your Assignment does not always require the cooperation of everyone else. It requires the cooperation of one person—You.

Imagine being a quiet spectator as Joseph meets his brothers. He is about to reveal to them who he is. Walk with me as we quietly tiptoe through the palace doors and down the hall. Let us slip in the back of the room for a moment. Nobody can see us. Let us listen carefully as Joseph quietly soothes the troubled nerves of his brothers after he informs them that he is their baby brother.

When he had first discussed his dreams with them as a teenager, it had angered them. It angered them so much that in a jealous rage they sold him for a few dollars to a passing caravan of Ishmaelites.

After being sold into slavery, Joseph became head of Potiphar’s business. Then the wife of Potiphar attempted a seduction. When he refused, she falsely accused him publicly, and he was cast into prison.

Joseph was a blameless man, according to Scripture. There is no record of any moral or devastating mistakes in any way. Yet others continuously made decisions that affected his life.

People wanted him in the pit.

God wanted him in the palace.

His brothers made a wrong decision in hating him.

Potiphar’s wife made a wrong decision in accusing him.

The butler made a wrong decision in forgetting him.

But God Never Forgot About Him.

Every step of the way was an orchestrated promotion to the throne. As his brothers listened with tears streaming down their faces, “Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them,” (Genesis 50:19-21). Joseph believed in his Assignment. He knew God had a reason for everything.

The Purpose Of God Will Always Displace The Plans Of Men.

Joseph Knew the Master Principle of Recovery—What You Make Happen For Others, God Will Make Happen For You. “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free,” (Ephesians 6:8).

He refused to withdraw, shrivel and die. When others refused to water his dream, he continued to nurture his own future. He pleaded with the butler. “But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon,” (Genesis 40:14-15).

You must learn this if you want to succeed significantly with your Assignment and your life. Countless times I have heard the cries of those who blamed their husband, wife or pastor for stopping their ministry, or for preventing a promotion and robbing them of a wonderful season in their life. It does not work that way.

When God Is Involved, Success Occurs.

He Will Turn The Wrong Decisions Of Those Around You To Work For Your Good. It happened in the life of Paul. He told those planning to sail, “Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives,” (Acts 27:10).

The centurion believed the owner of the ship more than the words which were spoken by Paul. Yes, there will be many times in your life that those who control the decision-making process may appear to thwart or abort the progress of your dream.

Do not panic. God is still involved. He will turn what is intended for evil to produce a miraculous event for your life. Every single time.

The storms arose. It became unbearable. Luke records, “And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away,” (Acts 27:20).

Here Are The 4 Secrets Of Paul For Surviving The Storms

1. The Apostle Paul Stayed As Secure In A Storm As He Was In The Harbor. “But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss,” (Acts 27:21).

2. Paul Kept His Joy Even While Others Were Making Mistakes Around Him. “And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship,” (Acts 27:22).

3. Paul Believed Someone When Others Believed Something. “For there stood by me this night the angel of God, Whose I am, and Whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me,” (Acts 27:23-25).

4. Paul Kept The Faith Picture Of His Future While Others Were Looking At The Picture Of The Failure. After the shipwreck, they landed on an island. When the island people saw Paul shake off a snake that had attached itself to his hand, they said that “he was a god,” (Acts 28:6). When the Father of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius, was sick, Paul intervened “And prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him,” (Acts 28:8). When his healing occurred, many others diseased on the island came and were healed. As they were healed, they began to bless and honor the apostle Paul. Luke wrote it this way, “Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary,” (Acts 28:10).

Every Champion Experiences These 9 Changing Seasons—He Holds On During The Crisis, Knowing That Reward Is Inevitable

1. Crisis Produces Opportunity.

2. Opportunity Produces Ministry.

3. Ministry Produces Favor.

4. Favor Produces Promotion.

5. Promotion Produces Increase.

6. Increase Multiplies Responsibility.

7. Responsibility Produces Rewards.

8. Rewards Attract Attack.

9. Attack Creates Crisis.

Somehow—someway—through somebody—God will turn every wrong decision of others to produce a miraculous season of miracles in your life.

And the cycle of reward never ends!

Expect It!!

Remember: God Can Miraculously Turn The Wrong Decisions Of Others To Work For Your Good.

GOD WILL GO BEFORE YOU AND FIGHT FOR YOU ON YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Warfare Is Inevitable.

Review These 20 Important Keys That Can Help You Unlock A Thousand Victories

1. Warfare Is Always Seasonal. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to kill, and a time to heal;...a time of war, and a time of peace,” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 3, 8).

2. Warfare Always Occurs When Two People Want The Same Thing. It happens on the news every day. Two nations want the same territory, so battle is announced. When two companies want the same marketplace, the war is on. It happens in every family when satan decides to dominate and control your child—the war begins.

3. People Are Not Your Enemy. “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,” (Ephesians 6:12).

4. God Has Provided An Armor That Defends You. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil...that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand,” (Ephesians 6:11, 13).

5. Your Sword Is The Word Of God. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” (Ephesians 6:17).

6. You Have The Personal Mentorship Of The Holy Spirit, Who Will Teach You The Principles Of Warfare And Battle. “Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight,” (Psalm 144:1).

7. While Your Enemies Use Carnal Weaponry, You Must Enter Every Battle For The Purpose Of Bringing Glory To God. “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, Whom thou hast defied...that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel...for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands,” (1 Samuel 17:45-47).

8. You Must Expect To Win Every Battle. “This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand,” (1 Samuel 17:46).

9. Be Ruthless And Aggressive In Destroying Your Enemy. “This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,” (1 Samuel 17:46).

10. Expect Others Who Are Spectators To Be Persuaded About The Power Of Your God That Wins Your Battle. “And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands,” (1 Samuel 17:47).

11. Expect God To Fight For You When You Cannot Even Defend Yourself. “Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you,” (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17). “The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is His name,” (Exodus 15:3).

12. Expect The Holy Spirit To Already Be Active In Demoralizing Your Enemies And Weakening Them With Fear Toward You. As Rahab told the spies who entered Jericho, “I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath,” (Joshua 2:9, 11).

13. Always Remember That Your Enemies May Be Ignorant Of Your Past Victories, Which Makes Them Vulnerable, Unsuspecting And Unprepared.

14. Your Enemies May Be Aware Of Your Past Victories, Which Makes Them Fearful Of You. In Jericho they were aware of the parade of victories, and as Rahab said, “For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed,” (Joshua 2:10).

Goliath was unaware of David’s victory with the bear and the lion. He knew nothing of the young man’s walk with God. So he was vulnerable.

15. Remember That Any Snare Or Pit Set By The Enemy For You Will Be Revealed To You By The Holy Spirit. “Lest satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices,” (2 Corinthians 2:11).

16. Remember That You Have The Holy Spirit, Who Is More Powerful Than Any Enemy That Rises Against You. The apostle John wrote, “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world,” (1 John 4:4).

17. Never Fear Your Enemy. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind,” (2 Timothy 1:7).

18. If You Falter, Simply Rise Up Again. “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again,” (Proverbs 24:16). “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand,” (Psalm 37:23-24).

19. Remember That You Are Surrounded By Angels. “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them,” (Psalm 34:7).

20. Keep The Weapon Of Praise Continuously In Your Mouth. David wrote, “I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth,” (Psalm 34:1).

You Will Never Fight Alone.

Remember: God Will Go Before You And Fight For You On Your Assignment.

THE SUCCESS OF YOUR ASSIGNMENT OCCURS BECAUSE OF SOMETHING GOD HAS CHOSEN TO ANOINT IN YOUR LIFE

Your Success Will Depend On The Anointing.

Here Are 18 Keys To Help You Keep The Anointing Vibrant And Alive In Your Life

1. You Have Been Given Something God Can Use. Find it. “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal,” (1 Corinthians 12:7)

David had a slingshot. I am certain thousands of young men his age also possessed slingshots. His increased dependence on God increased the anointing he experienced.

2. Anything Common In You Will Become Uncommon Under The Anointing. The anointing on his life made a common weapon an uncommon one. (See 1 Samuel 17:45-51.) Remember—the anointing is the power of God. It removes burdens and destroys yokes of bondage. “And it shall come to pass in that day, that His burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and His yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing,” (Isaiah 10:27).

3. You Do Not Need The Weapons Of Others. “So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David,” (1 Samuel 17:50).

4. Others Will Believe That Your Weapon Is Not Sufficient In Completing Your Assignment. “And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it,” (1 Samuel 17:38-39).

5. You Must Refuse To Copy, Duplicate Or Use The Weapons Other Men Use In Their Battles. “And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him,” (1 Samuel 17:39).

6. Whatever You Have Been Given Will Create Anything Else You Have Been Promised. Moses possessed a rod. “And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee,” (Exodus 4:2-5).

7. You Have Something That Makes You Unlike Others. You must discern it. Develop it. And build your life and ministry around the unique gift, strength or talent God has given you. (See 1 Corinthians 12:14-21.) Do not build your life trying to correct your weaknesses. Build your life defining and refining the strengths and gifts you have been given. Those strengths are the weapons God will use in warfare. Those strengths are the vehicles to each victory.

8. God Is Already Aware Of Your Greatest Fear And Weakness. An interesting comment comes from the Lord to Jeremiah. Jeremiah felt overwhelmed with his Assignment. “Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child,” (Jeremiah 1:6). God corrects him concerning his obsession with his weakness. (See Jeremiah 1:7.)

9. God Is Not Interested In What You Cannot Do, But Whatever You Are Willing To Do. “But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak,” (Jeremiah 1:7).

10. Your Weakness Will Not Stop Your Assignment If Your Heart Is Right. Joseph lacked the social skills of becoming likable to his brothers. But, he had another gift: the ability to interpret dreams. It was that ability that moved him from the prison into the palace. (See Genesis 41:39-45.)

11. Whatever You Lack Is Unnecessary When God Chooses To Bless You Supernaturally. The widow of Zarephath did not have a job. She obviously had no social connections to offer people. In fact, she did not even have the appeal to unlock the giving of benevolent people. Her family was either dead, incapable or uncaring. (See 1 Kings 17.)

12. Your Respect For The Anointing Of Others Will Increase The Power Of Your Own Calling. The widow had the ability to listen to a man of God. It was that strength that kept her in abundant provision during the worst famine of her life. (See 1 Kings 17.)

13. You Already Possess Everything You Need To Do Your Present Assignment. Inventory what you have been given. Document those persons with whom you have favor or access. List the marvelous and wonderful blessings of God that are already within your reach. (See Philippians 4:13, 19.)

14. When You Exhaust The Benefits Of Your Present Season, You Become Qualified To Enter Your Next Season Of Increase. You must raise every inch of what you presently possess to its highest level of excellence. What You Do First Determines What God Will Do Second. (See Matthew 6:33.)

15. Respect The Assignment Of Others. When You Become Appreciative Of The Gifts And Strengths Of Others, Favor Will Flow Toward You Like Niagara Falls. It is unexplainable and unstoppable. What you respect will come toward you. The Anointing You Appreciate Is The Anointing That Increases In Your Life. (See Ephesians 5:20.)

16. Acknowledge Every Good Thing In You. “That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus,” (Philemon 1:6).

17. Expect Your Strengths And Gifts To Continue For The Rest Of Eternity. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ,” (Philippians 1:6).

18. Expect Your Greatest Strength And Gifts To Improve, Increase And Become Perfected By The Presence Of The Holy Spirit In Your Life. “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me,” (Psalm 138:8).

Something You Already Hold In Your Hand Will Defeat Any Plan Of Your Enemy.

Remember: The Success Of Your Assignment Occurs Because Of Something God Has Chosen To Anoint In Your Life.

YOUR GIFTS AND TALENTS ARE CLUES TO YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Successful People Are Doing What They Are Most Gifted To Do.

Here Are 8 Important Wisdom Keys Regarding Your Gifts And Talents

1. The Holy Spirit Gives You All The Gifts, Skills And Abilities You Possess. “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit,” (1 Corinthians 12:4).

2. The Holy Spirit Gives Different Gifts To Different People, Depending On His Assignment In Their Lives. “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ,” (1 Corinthians 12:11-12).

3. Your Gifts Were Determined By God To Be Used To Please And Pleasure Him. “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him,” (1 Corinthians 12:18). “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created,” (Revelation 4:11).

4. God Intended Your Pleasure As You Labor And Toil In Your Daily Work And Assignment. “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God...And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God,” (Ecclesiastes 2:24; 3:13).

5. God Expects You To Solve Problems For Others When You Are Capable Of Doing It. “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it,” (Proverbs 3:27).

6. When You Use Your Gifts To Help Others, God Will Bless You. “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free,” (Ephesians 6:8).

7. If You Refuse To Use And Grow In Your Gifts, God Withdraws Them And Gives Them To Others. (See Matthew 25:15, 19, 24-29.)

8. What You Have Received From God Will Determine What He Expects From You. “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more,” (Luke 12:48).

Oh friend, give attention to the passion that burns in your heart! Acknowledge the gifts, skills and talents God has given you. You will give an account before God for every one of them.

Remember: Your Gifts And Talents Are Clues To Your Assignment.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT WILL REQUIRE TOTAL OBEDIENCE

Obedience Is The Only Thing God Will Ever Require Of You.

When You Ask God For A Miracle, He Will Always Give You An Instruction. Each miracle is linked to an act of obedience. Your obedience is the only proof that you truly believed His instructions to you.

Let me illustrate. Picture yourself sitting at the table. You instruct your teenage son to mow the grass the next morning. You also warn him that if he fails to do so, he will not be able to attend the football game the following weekend.

When you arrive home from work, the grass is still high. It is not mowed. You are infuriated. You walk to his bedroom only to find him propped upon his bed with the TV blaring, and he is on the telephone with his girlfriend. What happened?

He really did not believe you.

So you speak to him and say, “You have forfeited the privilege of attending the football game next weekend.”

“Oh, come on. That is not fair!” he yells out. “I am going to do it. I just do not want to do it today!”

This is so simple but very clear. He did not obey your instruction because he really did not believe you would do what you said. Now if you yield to his clamoring, whining and complaining, and you permit him to attend the game, you will destroy every thread of credibility being woven around his life. Your words will never mean anything to him.

So when the weekend rolls around, you make him stay home. Will he remember it the next time you instruct him to mow the grass? Probably.

Here Are 17 Keys To Help Us Grasp The Importance Of Obedience

1. Pain Is Sometimes Necessary For Us To Understand The Importance Of Obedience.

This often happens in our relationship with God. You see, He longs to be our Companion, our Mentor, our Best Friend. He is not a military leader in our lives. He is much more than a boss. He does not enjoy punishment. In fact, he loves to show mercy. “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations. Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever,” (Psalm 100:5; 106:1).

Unfortunately, sometimes His instructions are not taken seriously. Sometimes He is scorned, scoffed at and ignored.

2. Nobody Succeeds Who Ignores Him. He is God.

3. He Is A Holy God. “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy,” (1 Peter 1:16).

4. He Is A Just God. “Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me,” (Isaiah 45:21).

5. He Is A Jealous God. “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,” (Exodus 20:5).

6. Obedience Is The Only Proof That You Truly Trust Him. And He longs to be believed. Two of the most wonderful truths I have discovered in my entire life are:

His Only Pleasure Is To Be Believed.

His Only Pain Is To Be Doubted.

7. He Wants To Be Believed And Obedience Is The Only Proof Of Your Faith. “God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the Son of Man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19).

8. He Wants Us To Obey Him In Order To Produce Good Seasons Of Blessing And Reward In Our Lives. “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land,” (Isaiah 1:19).

9. He Offers Rewards As Incentives For Obedience. “And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God,” (Deuteronomy 28:2).

10. He Warns Of Penalties To Discourage Us From Disobedience. “But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee,” (Deuteronomy 28:15).

11. He Expects Obedience. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me,” (John 10:27).

12. Your Assignment Will Contain A Collection Of Instructions. Most of them are already clearly written in the Word of God. You can read them daily. You can hear them daily on cassette tapes. Some people want to hear instructions spoken into their conscious minds or hearts that differ from what He has already established in His Word. “For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven,” (Psalm 119:89).

13. You Will Never Receive An Instruction From The Holy Spirit That Contradicts His Word. “For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven,” (Psalm 119:89).

14. God Will Permit Adversity To Enable You To Learn His Laws. “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes,” (Psalm 119:71).

15. His Word Prevents Disaster And Destruction. “Unless Thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction,” (Psalm 119:92).

16. His Word Is The Only Ingredient That Cleanses Your Mind And Life. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word,” (Psalm 119:9).

17. God Will Destroy A Part To Preserve The Whole. “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell,” (Matthew 5:29-30).

For several years, I fought a deep internal battle. Some of the most effective ministers I have known in my lifetime made some major mistakes. I felt especially confused concerning one very powerful and articulate minister. I knew him well. I loved him then, and I still love him today. I was shocked when I discovered that he had been living a double life. He was extremely militant in his criticism toward other ministers. Yet, thousands of people flocked to his meetings.

When his ministry began to fold and unravel because of his confessed sin, I questioned God about it. It seemed to me that mercy should have covered his sin. Surely God could have arranged for his confession and restoration to be private and personal. Why did his failure have to become so public? I was frustrated that God did not cover his sin privately and protect the entire body of Christ from the wounds.

God taught me a lesson through one of my choice animals, my silver fox. I loved my little fox. He was beautiful and I enjoyed watching him run through his kennel daily. Unfortunately, he kept escaping. He would find a way to get out of his perimeters, and every time he did so, he would kill two or three of my ducks. In fact, one day he killed eight or nine little baby ducks and their mother. I was upset, but I would always manage to coax him to come back to me. Once he was in my arms, I would take him back to the kennel again. I would lock the gate and attempt to keep him inside his own kennel.

Now I had several ducks that were laying eggs all over the property. Little ducklings were running everywhere. I love animals and have owned numerous animals over the years, including a lion, a zebra, wolves, llamas, deer and antelope, dogs, peacocks, pigs, fish, etc.

This was my first fox.

One morning I walked outside and saw several dead ducks all over the yard. My beautiful silver fox was standing over two or three that were dead. I was extremely disheartened. I did not know what else to do. But once again I tried with mercy and kindness to coax him to me. He refused to come. I did everything I knew to get him to come to me. I tried to run him back toward his pen. He was too cunning.

I looked around my yard and saw the other animals. Some of my peacocks and chickens were so fearful. It was obvious that he would soon kill them also.

He kept refusing to come to me. So I went to my bedroom and pulled open my drawer. I reached for my .357 magnum and walked out to the yard. I looked at one of the most beautiful animals I had ever owned. It was an animal I enjoyed and loved and wanted to keep.

But I had to show mercy—to the other animals on the property.

I had to protect them. I killed the silver fox. It was with sadness that I watched him being buried.

Then God taught me a powerful lesson.

He showed me that many times He had called, coaxed and corrected those who had rebelled against His laws. He revealed to me that whenever I saw His judgments on a person, that person had already refused hundreds of opportunities to make changes. In their rebellion, they eventually felt immune to judgment. The mercy of God became dangerous to them then, because it distorted their vision and opinion of sin.

God did show mercy...to the whole body of Christ by removing their influence that had become like a poison into the body of Christ. His love for the body of Christ required a swift penalty to the scoffer and scorner.

Mercy is very important to God.

Grace is just as important to Him.

His mercy is forgiveness—from sin.

His grace is empowerment—over sin.

His mercy is the removal—of sin.

His grace is victory—over sin.

Mercy is a removing of sin.

Grace is an imparting of power.

His grace (or power to overcome) is as accessible as His mercy.

His goal is not really mercy.

His goal is relationship.

His mercy is His bridge into grace.

His grace is the bridge into relationship.

When you ignore grace, relationship becomes impossible.

The most important thing you will do today is obey His voice... every hour.

Your joy depends on it.

Your Assignment depends on it.

Your life depends on it.

I have a little room in my house called, “The Secret Place.” It is dedicated to The Holy Spirit. His presence is my very life. I could not live a moment without Him, His presence and His counsel.

On the wall is a plaque. I read it almost every day that I am at home. It has been engraved on the walls of my heart by a praying father and mother. It is appropriate to conclude this book with these powerful, unforgettable words: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil,” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Remember: Your Assignment Will Require Total Obedience.

DECISION

Will You Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior Today?

T

he Bible says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved,” (Romans 10:9).

Pray this prayer from your heart today!

“Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for me and rose again on the third day. I confess I am a sinner...I need Your love and forgiveness...Come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I receive Your eternal life. Confirm Your love by giving me peace, joy and supernatural love for others. Amen.”

DR. MIKE MURDOCK is in tremendous demand as one of the most dynamic speakers in America today.

More than 17,000 audiences in over 100 countries have attended his Schools of Wisdom and conferences. Hundreds of invitations come to him from churches, colleges and business corporations. He is a noted author of over 250 books, including the best sellers, The Leadership Secrets of Jesus and Secrets of the Richest Man Who Ever Lived. Thousands view his weekly television program, Wisdom Keys with Mike Murdock. Many attend his Schools of Wisdom that he hosts in many cities of America.

Yes, Mike, I made a decision to accept Christ as my personal Savior today. Please send me my free gift of your book, 31 Keys to a New Beginning to help me with my new life in Christ.

Mail To:
The Wisdom Center • 4051 Denton Hwy. • Ft. Worth, TX 76117 1-817-759-BOOK • 1-817-759-2665• 1-817-759-0300 • You Will Love Our Website..! WisdomOnline.com

DR. MIKE MURDOCK

1. Has embraced his Assignment to Pursue...Proclaim...and Publish the Wisdom of God to help people achieve their dreams and goals.

2. Preached his first public sermon at the age of 8.

3. Preached his first evangelistic crusade at the age of 15.

4. Began full-time evangelism at the age of 19, which has continued since 1966.

5. Has traveled and spoken to more than 17,000 audiences in over 100 countries, including East and West Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.

6. Noted author of over 250 books, including best sellers, Wisdom for Winning, Dream Seeds, The Double Diamond Principle, The Law of Recognition and The Holy Spirit Handbook.

7. Created the popular Topical Bible series for Businessmen, Mothers, Fathers, Teenagers; The One-Minute Pocket Bible series, and The Uncommon Life series.

8. The Creator of The Master 7 Mentorship Program, an Achievement Program for Believers.

9. Has composed thousands of songs such as “I Am Blessed,” “You Can Make It,” “God Rides On Wings of Love” and “Jesus, Just The Mention of Your Name,” recorded by many gospel artists.

10. Is the Founder and Senior Pastor of The Wisdom Center, in Fort Worth, Texas...a Church with International Ministry around the world.

11. Host of Wisdom Keys with Mike Murdock, a weekly TV Program seen internationally.

12. Has appeared often on TBN, CBN, BET, Daystar, Inspirational Network, LeSea Broadcasting and other television network programs.

13. Has led over 3,000 to accept the call into full-time ministry.

THE MINISTRY

1. Wisdom Books & Literature - Over 250 best-selling Wisdom Books and 70 Teaching Tape Series.

2. Church Crusades - Multitudes are ministered to in crusades and seminars throughout America in “The Uncommon Wisdom Conferences.” Known as a man who loves pastors, he has focused on church crusades for over 45 years.

3. Music Ministry - Millions have been blessed by the anointed songwriting and singing of Mike Murdock, who has made over 15 music albums and CDs available.

4. Television - Wisdom Keys with Mike Murdock, a nationally-syndicated weekly television program.

5. The Wisdom Center - The Church and Ministry Offices where Dr. Murdock speaks weekly on Wisdom for The Uncommon Life.

6. Schools of The Holy Spirit - Mike Murdock hosts Schools of The Holy Spirit in many churches to mentor believers on the Person and Companionship of The Holy Spirit.

7. Schools of Wisdom - In many major cities Mike Murdock hosts Schools of Wisdom for those who want personalized and advanced training for achieving “The Uncommon Dream.”

8. Missions Outreach - Dr. Mike Murdock’s overseas outreaches to over 100 countries have included crusades in East and West Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.