When God Visits You

ISBN 978-35622-4-x

First Printing 2001

Copyright 2001 LoveWorld Publishing

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 permission of LoveWorld Publications.

All scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise indicated.

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Content

Introduction

Chapter 1 A Strong Desire

Chapter 2The Spirit Of Prayer Comes To You

Chapter 3 He Calls You To The Word

Chapter 4 The Force Field

Chapter 5 He Changes Things

Chapter 6 He Commands His Blessings

Chapter 7 You Become A Blessing

Chapter 8 Let God Visit You

Introduction

Many people today are in dire need of a change which only God could handle. They’ve probably heard about how God showed up in some other person’s situation, and this makes them wonder, ‘What about me?’ ‘When will God ever meet my need?’ But God is real and He does visit.

God is omnipresent; His presence fills everywhere; yet He does come and go, in spite of His omnipresence. This is because though His presence is everywhere, His manifested presence is not everywhere. So God does visit.

“He (The Word) was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” (John 1:10-11)

God visited His people in the person of His Son, but they didn’t recognize Him when He came.

One of the reasons many people don’t know when God visits is their inability to recognize the Presence of God. This is because they haven’t realized that His presence is more than a feeling. This will always happen when they live their lives in someone else’ experience rather than the Word of God. Another reason is that many don’t know how to respond to the Presence of God. They may be saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, but still unable to respond to the Presence of God because they’re not acquainted with His personality.

When you recognize the Presence of God and know how to respond to Him when He visits, you will be able to get the power of God to work for you. But if you fail to recognize and properly respond to Him, His power won’t do you any good.

Does God always come with a loud noise? Must a bush burn to indicate His Presence? Does He come at my invitation or does He suddenly come? Will He ever visit me, or has He and I didn’t know it? Do I have any part to play in God visiting me? These are some of the questions that have filled the hearts of many.

Let’s look through the Word of God and take examples from the lives of men and women who were able to take advantage of God’s visitation to receive their healing, find solutions to their problems and moved their lives up to a higher level.

I encourage you to open your heart as you read this book because God wants to visit His children; He really wants to visit you.

Prepare for that visitation!

Chapter 1

A Strong Desire

In the early period of the history of the nation of Israel, they had gotten comfortable with the Egyptian lifestyle and had fallen in love with the onions and garlic of Egypt. At this time the children of Israel still enjoyed the goodwill of successive Pharaohs and the Egyptians. It is possible they had even forgotten the land flowing with milk and honey God promised Abraham and his seed. But Joseph being a prophet of God, knew by revelation what would happen in the not too distant future.

“And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” (Genesis 50:24).

Hitherto, the predicaments of the children of Israel remained the same. They did not pursue an ardent desire for a change in their circumstances; hence God’s Word couldn’t be fulfilled in them.

After Joseph became the prime Minister of Egypt, the children of Israel tremendously prospered and increased in number until a new Pharaoh ruled Egypt, who knew nothing of how the Egyptian empire was preserved from famine through Joseph’s wisdom (Exodus1:7-14). Consequently, out of fear and insecurity in the face of the growing strength of the children of Israel, he subjected them to slavery.

Soon, Israel’s desire for a change grew and God heard their cry and sent a deliverer to bring them out of slavery and lead them into the Promised Land.

“And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.” (Exodus 2:23)

“And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.” (Exodus 3:7-8)

So the LORD called Moses and said,

“Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. (Exodus 3:10)

God’s response came as a result of their strong desire for a change in their situation.

There’s another inspiring story of a woman in the book of 1 Samuel 1:1-21, named Hannah. Her story reveals God’s personality, faithfulness and kindness.

Hannah had no child because she was barren. She had been in this situation for many years, and no physician could help her. So, she knew God was the only one who could help her; her situation couldn’t be reversed by man’s power or ability. The situation was a bit bearable for her because her husband loved her very much, her condition notwithstanding. Moreover, she got a worthy portion of offering to sacrifice to God at Shiloh - the annual place of worship. On a particular occasion, while the whole family was on their way to worship and offer sacrifices to God at Shiloh, her rival, Peninnah, goaded her with her condition. This made her very sad and desperate and her countenance fell. This time, her husband’s efforts to encourage her were all to no avail. By the time they arrived at Shiloh, her desire for a child was so strong, that the Bible says,

“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.” (1 Samuel 1:10)

Hannah had a strong desire now for a change.

When God visits you, the first thing you’ll discover is a strong desire for change.

There is a promise of a higher realm of life for you regardless of where you are presently. God’s Word is His promise to you, and it’s a place of rest. When you let Him visit you, He will carry you there.

You need the visitation of God in order to move to this realm of life, but first you need that desire. You are God’s child but you have an enemy, the devil, who will do everything to keep you from getting what is yours.

Do you want a change? Do you want the power of the kingdom of God to produce results for you? Then your heart must reach out; you must be bursting with a strong desire. Strong desire is necessary in life. A compelling desire for a change is the starting place.

“And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.” (2 Samuel 5:12)

Isn’t this amazing? David had been king for several years already. Then one day, while sitting on his throne, it dawned on him that God had actually established him as king over Israel and exalted his kingdom.

I’m sure something like this has happened to you before; you were looking for a pen to use and it suddenly dawned on you that you had one in your pocket all the while.

There are times you don’t have something but because you don’t really have any desire for it, it might not occur to you that you need it. All of a sudden, the need dawns on you, and from that point your desire for it begins to increase.

Hannah had probably made up a lot of excuses in her heart for her condition, thinking, “The God of Abraham will visit me one day.” She must have tried to console herself that everything was okay except that she didn’t have a child. But it got to a time that she couldn’t take it anymore, it dawned on her, just like David, that she needed a miracle. She knew she didn’t want to live the rest of her life without a child.

The same thing happened to the children of Israel in Egypt. It wasn’t until they didn’t have enough to eat and the whips of the Egyptian taskmasters landed on their backs that God’s promise occurred to them (Exodus 2:23-25). It dawned on them that a better land was waiting for them, where all the good things of life were freely available and they’d no longer be slaves.

Sometimes you find Christians in a desperate situation, just like Hannah’s, but they fail to recognize it. They have great need in their lives but fail to realize it. Until the need dawns on them, they may never recognize the solution or desire it.

You want a change? It’s got to dawn on you that God has prepared something better than where you are now. The first step to your miracle is to get uncomfortable with your present state!

God Is At Your Door

When you discover that you have a strong desire for change, then God is at your door. The strong desire is the response of the human soul to God, as He knocks on the door of your heart. There’s something about the human soul; when your soul cries out in a strong desire, God immediately responds to it. God said, ‘before you call I’ll be there, before you ask, I’ll answer you’ (Isaiah 65:24).

Nourish Your Desire!

What do you do with your desire? Let’s learn from David. David had an excellent reputation of seeking God’s Presence. God called him a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).

“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longethfor thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.” (Psalms 63:1-2)

David said, ‘I have a strong desire within me to see your power, Oh God!’ He didn’t hunger and thirst for food and drink; he thirsted and hungered to see the power of God.

If you don’t follow his writing carefully, you may erroneously think he just woke up one morning with this desire without doing anything, that is, without any effort on his own part.

The secret of this longing and desire for God is in verse 6 of the same chapter, where he says,

“When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.” (Psalm 63:6)

Can you see that? Even when he went to bed, he didn’t forget about God. He thought about Him all day and night, meditating on His Word.

This wasn’t an accidental thought. No! It was a conscious thought and must have required some effort on his part. He deliberately and consciously nursed his desire for God! You can either nurse to increase your desire, or quench your desire.

When that strong desire comes to your heart, nurse it, nourish it, and don’t let anything take it away from you. Let it grow stronger and stronger.

You’ll also discover that when you have a strong desire for something, more information will come to you about that thing. Then you’ll look up to God for answers. If you have a strong desire, let it work in you, don’t push it away.

“The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.” (Proverbs 10:24)

With the desire, half the battle is won already. But it’s your responsibility to nurse it. Jesus said, ‘blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.’(Matthew 5:6). The reason they’re blessed is because they’ll be filled. The Presence of God comes right where there’s a thirst and hunger for change according to the Word; right at the door of your heart.

Don’t Seek A Sign!

God doesn’t always come with a shout; He doesn’t always come amidst blinding lights. This is why some people don’t recognize His Presence when He comes. A lot of times He just sets up little signs, and if you’re not desiring Him, you may not know when He shows up.

“And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:11-13)

When God met with Elijah, great signs were manifested but God wasn’t in any of them; there was a great wind, an earthquake and a fire. God doesn’t always come with pomp and pageantry; He may just come to you in a most obscure and unusual manner. The important thing is to recognize His Presence however. Jacob had a dream and when he awoke, he said, “...Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.” (Genesis 28:16). He realized God had visited him while he slept and he didn’t even wake up!

Don’t wait for a sign before you acknowledge the Presence of God. Always be prepared to receive from God every time and at anytime; that’s the winning attitude.

Don’t Stop

Hannah could have thought, ‘Well, I can’t go to the temple now, I’ll pray tomorrow, let me go home now’; but she didn’t waste any time. She prayed immediately with tears and with the whole of her heart. She didn’t give up, but followed through on her desire, committing herself wholly to it.

Joseph encouraged his brethren to keep God’s promise in their hearts, and be strengthened by the thought of a better land.

“And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.” (Genesis 50:24-26)

Being a prophet of God he knew the children of Israel would go through some tough and rough times. ‘Don’t give up, don’t despair because God has promised us a better land and He is faithful to his promises.’ This could summarize his valedictory address. I’m sure they must have stared at him in utter amazement, ‘Leave? What in the world are you talking about? This place is great; there is famine everywhere else’, they must have thought. But by the time they became slaves to the Egyptians, Joseph’s words made sense to them. It was Joseph’s words that encouraged them through four hundred years of slavery.

In Jacob’s case, after many years of self-exile in another land, he wanted to go back home. He had been living with his uncle, but now he wanted to start a new life in his own house with his own family. You may be living with your uncle or friends and you want your own house. That’s just the way Jacob felt; he wanted a change, and the desire came because God was at his door. Hannah was desperate about her situation as well. So, you can see that you’re not alone.

When God knocks at your door and that desire wells up in you, don’t try to suppress or smother it. What you really ought to do is build, nourish and constantly stir up that desire. I know you’re reading this book because you have a desire for God. Your desire is the first step because there are still many more things to do. This is why I’m sharing these thoughts with you. Don’t stop now! Let your desire bring you to the place where you’ll possess what you’ve desired.

God loves to visit His children and He wants to visit you!

Chapter 2

The Spirit of Prayer

Comes To You

With a compelling desire for a change comes a strong urge to pray. A burden of prayer begins to develop as God’s Spirit leads you into the place of change.

Call For It!

Now there is a desire in you, but you have to call the object of your desire. Your soul’s call for a change invokes the Presence of God who desires to answer your prayer. As you call out in prayer, He answers you.

As close as your friends are to you, they still request your person and have consideration for your invitations and responses. The Lord is even more friendly and polite. The scriptures declare that he is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. If you invite him into your situation, through prayer and faith, He will honour it.

Many times, people wonder why they should pray. You must understand that God has given man complete authority in the physical realm (Genesis 1:26; Psalm 115:16), so He needs man’s invitation to do anything on earth because He is not a usurper. Secondly, He made man a free moral agent, equipped with the ability of making his own choices (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). And thirdly, there is power in our words (Proverbs 18:21) and He wants us to release this power as we declare our desire.

The scripture says,

“Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.” (Hosea 14:2).

Your words are important to Him. Jesus is the High Priest of our confession (Hebrews 3:1); it’s what you say with your mouth that He’ll honour before the Father.

You ought to take time aside from the world, aside from every thing else and pray according to His Word. Spend time in prayer, sincerely looking up to God.

“So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.” (1 Samuel 1:9-10)

Thank God Hannah knew what to do! She was fed up with her situation and so went back to the house of God in Shiloh. She wouldn’t leave until she got an answer from God. It got to the time she couldn’t speak or shout anymore, so she just had to talk to God from within her heart: no voice, but the movement of her lips only.

This wasn’t a prayer for other people to hear; it was directed to God from her heart. Even the high priest, who had been there all the while, observing those that came into the house of God, erroneously thought Hannah was drunk and he accused her to her face.

“And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunken neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto” (1 Samuel 1:14-16).

Praying from the heart doesn’t mean you’re praying for twenty hours. It has no reference to the length of time spent, rather, the impact of the time spent. The time you spend in prayer should affect you; it should influence and transform you.

Do you know you can achieve so much in five minutes of prayer, than some could in ten years? When the prayer comes from your heart, I tell you, in five minutes, the very walls of that room will begin to vibrate with the power of God. Yet, spending protracted time in prayer is highly essential for in-depth spiritual impact.

“…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” (James 5:16 - The Amplified Translation)

The prayer that’s from deep within the heart is the one with dynamic power. This is when your inner man reaches out and calls out to God.

Be Specific!

Hannah was specific in her request to God. She didn’t just ask for a child. She specifically asked for a son (1 Samuel 1:11). This was how she got her miracle. It’s wonderful to know that many years of barrenness didn’t becloud her mind; she knew exactly what she wanted.

You must be specific in your desire. That’s the only way to get your miracle. Never be vague before God. Remember He is there listening to you and He is ready to fulfill your heart’s desire.

Bring Forth

Your Strong Reasons

Jacob had been on self-exile for many years, because he was afraid of his brother‘s (Esau) wrath; for he had deceived and taken his birthright and blessing. Now Jacob was on his way home to meet his brother, but fear and anxiety filled his heart. To avert the complete destruction of his properties and household, he divided them into two parties and sent them ahead of him. By the time everybody had left him, the Bible records that he was all alone, and God visited him.

“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.” (Genesis 32:24)

While Jacob was alone, a man wrestled with him. But if you don’t compare scriptures, you may think someone just showed up and fought him. No! The man who wrestled with him was the Angel of the Lord.

When we don’t have the full picture from a single portion of scripture, you may need to make comparison with other areas of scripture, especially with the New Testament to fully understand the message. This is why the Apostle Peter said, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:20)

For example, Genesis 5:24 says, “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” To understand what actually happened you’ll have to go to the New Testament (Hebrews 11:5). There you’ll find that the real statement should read, “Enoch was not found dead…”; he didn’t die because he was translated.

Now, the full picture of what happened between Jacob and the angel of the Lord is found in the book of Hosea.

“He (Jacob)took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; Even the Lord God of hosts; the Lord is his memorial.” (Hosea 12:3-5)

The angel that appeared to Jacob was actually the Holy Ghost; this was one of the manifestations of the Holy Ghost in the Old Testament. Therefore when the Bible says Jacob wrestled with the angel, it was actually referring to the supplication he made to God. It would be foolish to take this scripture in Genesis literally. How can a man wrestle and prevail over God physically?

Jacob prevailed because he held on to his vow in Bethel as his strong reason.

“And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: [22] And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” (Genesis 28:19-22)

Jacob had earlier on in his journey out of his native country, made a vow to God. Now that fear had filled his heart, he held on to the part of his vow that assured him of God’s protection on his way back home. He knew God always honoured vows, and since he had fulfilled his own part of giving tithes of all he had, God was bound to fulfill His own part of the ‘bargain’. He made his supplication in tears; it completely ‘broke’ him.

The prayer or supplication that breaks through your emotions will affect you deeply. There’s something about tears in prayers; it gets you melted in the Presence of God. Many Christians have never allowed themselves to come to that point in their lives, and as a result, they never really experience the supernatural. Being born again is only the beginning; it’s just the threshold. There’s so much more to be experienced and discerned in God!

The story of king Hezekiah, the king of Judah is another classic example of a man who wrestled with the Lord in supplication and prevailed.

“In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, And said, Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.”(Isaiah 38:1-3)

Isn’t this beautiful! In spite of the fact that the message that he was going to die came with a note of finality, he still pleaded his case to God with tears, and brought forth his strong reasons. He separated himself from everything and everyone; his pains and discomfort, and the thought of his inevitable death, and turned to God. His strong reasons were that he walked before God in truth and with a perfect heart, and did things that were acceptable to Him.

The next thing that happened is simply exciting. God stopped the prophet on his way back, and told him to go back to Hezekiah.

“Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying, Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.” (Isaiah 38:4-5)

Hallelujah! Have you made a supplication to God lately? Did the Presence of God overwhelm you, as you brought forth your strong reasons?

“Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.” (Isaiah 41:21)

If this has happened to you, then it was the Spirit of prayer that came on you. That means you’re on your way to your miracle.

Your prayer must be based on the Word of God; His provision in Christ. Otherwise, your reasons aren’t strong enough to get His attention. God will always honour His Word, when His Word is declared with your mouth in faith. Devils will shake and tremble, situations will bow. Why? Jesus said,

“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)

Liberty Comes On You

When you pray and open your heart to God, you’ll forget about everybody else. This opens the door of your heart and because the Father is listening to you, He answers and steps into the room with you. Then the prayer increases as there would be a greater liberty to pray and the words will flow more and more from you like a ‘gusher’.

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”(2 Corinthians 3:17)

When the Holy Ghost moves upon your life you will have a greater liberty to express yourself to God. There will be so much joy and boldness to say anything you want to God.

Your whole heart bubbles out with joy, as you talk to God, since there is a greater freedom of expression in His Presence.

Chapter 3

He Calls You To The Word

Now that you’ve spent time in prayers, hunger will well up from your spirit. This hunger is a craving for God, and since God and His Word are one (John 1:1), it is the craving for the Word of God. Every time the Spirit of God intervenes in your situation, there’ll be a passion for the Word of God.

The Answer Is In

The Word

All this time, you’ve thought the answer to your situation will come from heaven, and you had probably been patiently waiting for it to drop through the ceiling. But when you’re supernaturally alert to the Word of God, you’ll discover the answer to all your questions. The Bible contains the solution to man’s problems; his needs and desires. If you have a Bible, you are blessed.

God will always direct you back to the Book (the Bible), and show you the solution, notwithstanding the thrilling experiences you may have had in His Presence. Experiences, feelings and signs won’t change you because signs can’t change anybody; only words have the ability to change people. It doesn’t matter what you see or experience in life, it will neither change you nor your situation.

The children of Israel saw fire and smoke on Mount Sinai and when God spoke out of the midst of the fire, they were scared and ran backwards but it didn’t change them. Right after these great sights, they still grumbled and disobeyed God. Only words can transform a man, and this is because they’re both are made of the same substance. Man is a spirit being and the only materials that have the ability to get right into his spirit and mix with his substance are ‘words’.

Jesus said,

“It is the spirit that quick-eneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)

Meet Your Teacher

“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:18)

Prior to this time Jesus had told His disciples that He would be leaving them soon, and this made them all very sad. He was their Teacher, Comforter, Healer, the answer to all their questions; He meant everything to them. And now He said He would be going away and they wouldn’t be able to go with Him.

Jesus knowing their hearts assured them that it was better for them that He left, otherwise the Comforter wouldn’t come (John 16:7). He said He had a lot of things to tell them, but they wouldn’t understand them yet, because they were mysteries that could only be spiritually discerned or understood. But the Comforter that was coming wouldn’t just talk to them, but would live in them, revealing these mysteries directly to their spirits. (John 16:12-13).

But, who is this Comforter?

“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)

The Comforter is the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is exactly like Jesus. The word ‘Comforter’ is just one of the synonyms for the Greek word ‘Paraklette’; it also means teacher, helper, advocate, strengthener, and one called along side.

He would unveil the Word to you, and cause revelation knowledge to be imparted to your spirit, so you may live by it. This revelation transcends human wisdom.

Beyond The Written Pages

Now when you take your Bible, places you never knew were there, words you never knew were in it, just leap out of the pages of the Book and come alive to you. This is by the power of the Holy Ghost. You may have read those scriptures before, but you didn’t know that the solution was there. But now by the Spirit, you know when, where and how to do the Word and get your miracle. You just know that your desire is as good as done.

You can now live the Word beyond the written pages. Everything in your life is put in order to conform to the Word of God. Now you’re unstoppable, indomitable, living the victorious, supernatural life to which He has called every one of His children.

Chapter 4

The Force Field

Now that you’ve spent time in prayer, and the Spirit of God has revealed the answer to your situation to you through His Word, the next thing you’ll observe is a force field set up around you. And that’s the force field of the Holy Ghost, Who is the power of God. It’s set up all around you, everywhere you go.

“And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” (Luke 5:17)

These men were well learned in the law, but they came in the midst of the multitude to hear Jesus teach, looking for loop holes in His teaching by which they could arrest Him. They didn’t know that something was in the air while Jesus was teaching; the power of the Lord was present to heal them - the force field of the Holy Ghost.

This can happen to you anywhere and everywhere you go! It can happen to you, if you want that power of God to flow through your life. You don’t have to pay anything for it; just look up to God and walk in His Word. Refuse to live an ordinary life because you have a supernatural life. Something supernatural can happen to any Christian when he opens his heart to God.

This force field is the new air you breathe, it’s the power you’re now experiencing in your life. It creates the freshness of the Spirit around you. You may not know how to explain it, but you just know it’s there. As soon as God sets it up in you, it starts working in and around you.

When you meditate on the Word of God and pray, this field will continue to grow and increase in influence; it’ll continue to expand. Ecclesiastes 11:3 says, “If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth…” When the influence of the force field gets to saturation point, I tell you, it’ll condense and God’s power and glory will be manifested in your situation.

When you let the force field of the Holy Spirit settle on your life, everything you’re involved with will turn out for your good only.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Chapter 5

He Changes Things

“And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” (Genesis 50:24)

Joseph knew by revelation that, the land of Egypt, where the children of Israel were at this time wasn’t God’s perfect will for them. He knew that the next time God showed up on their behalf, their situation would change for the better and He would lead them to the land He’d promised; a higher and better place. When God visits you He will change your position.

Sometimes we wonder why it’s taking such a long time for certain things to happen in our lives. The more we pray, the farther our desires seem to drift from us. But God does not tarry, when He visits you, things will change.

Alone In His Presence

In the middle of 1986, I was ministering about Jesus to a young lady who wasn’t born again, but while I was still talking I perceived that she wasn’t listening to me. Then I said to her, “I’m going to leave you here, to have some few minutes with God. All I want you to say is, “Dear Lord Jesus, I don’t know everything so I need your help. Touch my life today.” God is real though we might not be able to see Him with our optical eyes. Anyway, she looked at me with a smug look on her face and obviously thought I was kidding. But I left the room to come back about fifteen minutes later.

When I opened the door, she was on the floor having been ‘slain’in the spirit; having a glorious time, full of God’s Spirit and speaking in other tongues. The Holy Spirit had met her, saved and filled her. This lady became a wonderful witness for Jesus Christ. That is what happens when God visits you; He changes things!

I believe deep within her she honestly wanted the Spirit of God, she was only too proud to do it in the presence of other people. Sometimes it’s good to be alone, because that’s when your heart is really open to God.

There are those that just can’t stop talking when they’re with people; they talk so much without even a punctuation opportunity. And when they’re alone, they only sleep; snoring heavily because they’re exhausted from talking all day. And it’s impossible even for the Holy Spirit to get them to something serious. But there’s something about being alone in God’s Presence. Hannah had to come back to the house of God, but this time she came alone (1 Samuel 1:9). Elijah was alone when God appeared to him and asked him, “…What doest thou here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9) This was the visit, which thoroughly transformed Elijah (1 Kings 19:9-18). He left God’s Presence that day with renewed boldness to speak for Jehovah. King Hezekiah turned his face to the wall immediately he got the message of his impending demise (Isaiah 38:2).

You have to come to a point in your life where you shut the world and its cares out; you lock the door of your senses and focus on God and His Word alone. Oh! I like to pray like this often; I shut my door, shut everybody and everything else out until I’m alone in the Presence of God.

God had wanted to visit and talk with Jacob, many times, but his mind was too busy scheming different things. But as soon as he was alone, God came and visited him. The Bible says “And Jacob was left alone…” (Genesis 32:24). Apart from the supplication he made to God, something else happened that changed his life forever.

A New Thing Happens

The Angel of God (remember, this is the Holy Ghost) had to dislocate the hollow of Jacob’s thigh. But in spite of this discomfort Jacob still held on tightly to Him.

“And he (the angel of the Lord) said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he (Jacob) said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.” (Genesis 32:26-27)

Jacob had been frustrated and needed some comfort, he wanted God to bless him, so he held on to the Angel tightly and insisted on being blessed. Then the Angel asked for Jacob’s name. Why do you think He asked for his name?

I believe God didn’t need Jacob to introduce himself, He only wanted him to come to terms with himself; He wanted him to realize where his problem was. When God asked him this question, it suddenly dawned on Jacob that he was a cheat. The Bible says, “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins”(Proverbs 5:22). Hosea 8:7 says, “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind…”

Jacob knew it was his time to pay dearly for his deception, because Esau was a ruthless man. Moreover, when he heard that Esau was on his way with four hundred men, his heart fainted within him. It wasn’t possible for God to bless him because he had been a swindler, a trickster, and a con artist. This was why he was so afraid. Sin destroys faith and replaces it with fear.

It’s just like what happened to Adam and Eve, when they sinned against God in the garden by eating the forbidden fruit. God came down like He always did to fellowship with both of them but they had gone into hiding. When God called out to them, Adam answered from his hiding, “…I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:10). He was afraid. Fear always comes to man when he sins.

So, for the first time, it suddenly dawned on Jacob that he had been living up to his name. Therefore, God had to change his name first before He could bless him.

“And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked , and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Whereforeis it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” (Genesis 32:28-30)

When God changed Jacob’s name, his life was completely transformed, and he got the blessing he earnestly sought. This gave him confidence, boldness, and his initial guilt and fear completely disappeared. When God visits you, new things are bound to happen; He changes things!

Chapter 6

He Commands His

Blessings

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” (Psalm 133:1-3)

When you take a closer look at verse 3, you would notice David was talking about the anointing of the Holy Ghost. David referred to the anointing ‘as the dew of Hermon.’ Mount Zion and Mount Hermon, according to the Bible, are one and the same.

“And they possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, which were on this side Jordan toward the sunrising; From Aroer, which is by the bank of the river Arnon, even unto mount Sion, which is Hermon,” (Deuteronomy 4:47-48)

When I studied more about Mount Hermon, I discovered that it always had dew on it; morning, noon and night. And this dew makes the mountain wet every time.

When you come to the mountain in the morning, you’ll discover that it’s wet as though there had been a heavy downpour the previous night, while in actual fact there was no rain. The continual dew on it kept it constantly wet.

Now the Bible says in Psalm 133 that the anointing comes down upon us like ‘the dew of Hermon,’ as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion. The scripture further says, ‘for there God commanded the blessings, even life for evermore.’

The Effect Of The Blessing

When God blesses a man there’s really no word to describe it. I’ll call it the supernatural elixir. Everything you do just turns out right; everything you touch turns to success. When that blessing is on you, favour will come to you and you can’t help but succeed in everything you do. This starts up in your life when God visits you. Now you can understand something of the force field we talked about earlier.

Everybody desires to be successful in whatever they do; and this is perhaps why some people look for charms to help them. Some go to the extent of traveling to other countries to get these charms. Everybody wants that supernatural ‘thing’ that can open up doors everywhere.

When the anointing settles on you, as the dew of Hermon, its effects are beyond human description. Everything you touch starts prospering as that anointing keeps working. When God gives the word for your blessing, it settles on you like dew, and prospers you in every way. This comes from the Presence of the Lord.

When Hannah prayed, she got that force field set up all around her. It was at this point that the priest of God blessed her, saying, “…Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.” (1 Samuel 1:17); the force field around her attracted the blessing of God.

The dew of God came upon her and she was blessed. She had a son, and she called him Samuel, but she didn’t stop there; she fulfilled her vow to God by bringing the child to the house of God. She went back home and had more children, though she had been called barren. Glory to God!

Barrenness could touch your life, your business, your body, your education, even your home, and it could touch you in so many ways. But when God visits you, it doesn’t matter how many people don’t like your face, they just don’t have an option, but to see you go up the ladder of success and victory because God has commanded His blessing upon you.

It’s A Cloud Of The Holy Ghost

God’s blessing could also be described as His cloud that settles over you when He moves upon your life. This cloud goes everywhere and anywhere with you. It creates a conducive atmosphere for whatever you’re doing. Remember the cloud that followed the children of Israel when they left Egypt?

“And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:” (Exodus 13:21)

“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;” (1 Corinthians 10:1-2),

That same cloud goes with you today. God doesn’t want you alone.

I learnt the secret of what I’m sharing with you a long time ago. I knew it would work for everything and in every situation. It will work in your finances; it will work in your family and it will work in your health and every area of your life. All you have to do is stay under the cloud of God. Everything you’re involved in just has to prosper. Let the blessing of God rest upon you today. Let that force field of the Spirit be set up strong in your life.

Irrevocable Blessing

Another very important point you need to note is that this blessing is not reversible. Once God blesses you, He neither desires to reverse it nor stop it; you are indeed blessed forever. I love what Isaac said to Esau after Jacob had deceived him and taken the blessing.

“And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.” (Genesis 27:33)

The Living Bible translation puts it better this way: “…I have already eaten it (the venison) and blessed him with irrevocable blessing?” Isaac said he couldn’t change it because the word had gone forth, and nobody, could alter it. It was impossible to reverse it, and the Bible records that Esau wept bitterly, and found no place of repentance.

King Balak of the Moabites was afraid of an invasion from the children of Israel, who had been invincible in war. He knew that there was an unseen force propelling and prospering them, and he knew they had to be cursed for him to defeat them. So he sent for a well-known prophet, Balaam, to curse the Israelites. By the time Balaam got to where the children of Israel were, blessings came out of his mouth instead of curses. After trying several times, he finally said,

“Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it... Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel...”(Numbers 23:20,23).

Every curse in your life was reversed into a blessing the day God stepped into your life. Anyone that tries to put any curse on you now endangers himself, because

“... ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:9)

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17)

Any attempt to destroy you is an attempt in futility. Don’t allow anyone to deceive you, because you are the blessed of God.

Chapter 7

You Become A Blessing

When God commands His blessing on you, that blessing follows you and makes you a blessing to your world. Everyone and everything that is associated with you will be blessed as well.

You must understand that God sponsors no flops. It’s no longer possible for you to fail; the very fact that you’re present in a place causes God’s blessing to come upon everything in that place. You’re a package of power, a parcel of blessing. Your words are no longer ordinary; they have been empowered to bring forth; to produce result.

God called Abraham one day and instructed him to leave his native country. He said to him,

“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-3)

This is most inspiring! God doesn’t stop at blessing you alone. The influence of the cloud will be so much that everyone and everything around you will partake of Jehovah’s provision, protection and all contained in the blessing.

Abraham prospered wherever he was, and prevailed over every circumstance he faced. It was the same blessing he passed on to his son, Isaac, who prospered enormously in the midst of famine (Genesis 26:2-30) and bitter opposition. It was the same blessing that Jacob, the younger of Isaac’s two sons, earnestly coveted and received.

When Jacob became an old man, just before his death, he called his children and grandchildren to him and blessed each of them (Genesis 49:1-33). He had learnt by experience the importance of the blessing of Abraham and so he declared the blessing upon their lives. Jacob proclaimed the blessing of Abraham on his children and grandchildren. And many generations after, this blessing is still working on the seed of Abraham.

Now, words of blessing spoken forth from the lips of a child of God; the seed of Abraham, are very important. These words stick on, until they are completely fulfilled. When you say to someone, “God bless you!” you must realize that it’s neither a cliché nor a slogan because there is power in your words, it would definitely work in that person’s life. That’s why you need to consider what you say to other people very carefully; you might just make or mar their day.

When the blessing of God comes upon you, your life will be on the winning track. Have a strong desire for the things of God, for the Word of God. Set yourself to pray like you’ve never done before and let revelation knowledge leap out of the Word of God to you as you study.

Chapter 8

Let God Visit You

God is good! (Psalm 73:1). That’s what the Bible says. It’s different from saying ‘God is a good God’. God is more than a good God; goodness is His character. It is His nature to be good.

The visitation of God is real, and He desires to impact our lives in a special way because He loves us. The love of God is beyond description, and many people don’t really understand what that means.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

This is about the most popular verse of scripture and still a lot of people don’t understand what it really means. Carefully observe that it didn’t say “…God so loved the world and he gave…” otherwise it would have meant God’s giving wasn’t dependent on His love. So, it says, “…God so loved the world that he gave…”; it was His love for the world that compelled Him to give. This should make you realize the extent of your value to God; you’re of tremendous value to Him.

When God visits you, it changes everything about you; your life and your perception are totally changed. This is what you need. In fact you need a daily visitation from God, you need to be able to recognize Him when He comes to you everyday. Don’t be satisfied with last year’s visitation, because that will not suffice for today. It’s today’s knowledge that will affect you; what you know about Him now is all that matters.

Don’t be like the Pharisees and Sadducees, who in spite of being teachers of the law, didn’t recognize the Son of God when He walked among them. He told them, ‘a greater than Solomon is here’, but they didn’t understand what He was talking about. Will you know Him when He comes to you? Will you hear Him when He talks to you, or are you waiting on your senses to perceive Him?

The blessing of God for you may never work, until He visits you. When God visits and then blesses you, it’s like being under ‘the dew of Hermon’; the anointing of the Spirit of God is like the dew of Hermon. And God wants to keep our hearts wet so His Word can easily produce the fruits of what it says in our hearts. The Bible says the issues of life flow from the heart (Proverbs 4:23), therefore, once your heart has been thoroughly impacted by the Word of God, its effect will ultimately reflect in your life. But if your heart isn’t wet with the ‘dew’ from heaven, your life wouldn’t produce Word based results.

God wants to affect us in a special way. You may have never found yourself in the manifestation of the Presence of God, knowing that He’s there with you. You may have been a Christian but never had a close fellowship with the Holy Ghost. If you crave for God’s visitation, then God is at your door, waiting for you to respond to His Presence. As I have said earlier, He really loves you, irrespective of who you are and what you’re going through; it’s His nature. He is always where His children are, and it’s His earnest desire that His children would know when He comes to them, even though His abiding Presence is always there for them.

If you follow the things I’ve shared with you in this book, you’ll discover that you will be more conscious of God’s Presence around you and would definitely know and be ready when He visits you, causing changes in your situation. Enjoy God’s visitation everyday of your life!

When God Visits You

•  Does God actually visit?

•  When does He visit?

•  How do I prepare for His visitation?

•  What are the benefits of such visits?

In this dynamic volume, Pastor Chris shares from the lives of Bible characters on how you can position yourself for a visitation from God and experience that change you’ve so long desired.

SCRIPTURES

Exodus 1:7-14

And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. [8] Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. [9] And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: [10] Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. [11] Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. [12] But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. [13] And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: [14] And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

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1 Samuel 1:1-21

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: [2] And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. [3] And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.

[4] And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: [5] But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb. [6] And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb. [7] And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. [8] Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

[9] So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord. [10] And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. [11] And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. [12] And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth. [13] Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. [14] And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. [15] And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunken neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. [16] Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. [17] Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. [18] And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

[19] And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her. [20] Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord. [21] And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

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Exodus 2:23-25

And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. [24] And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. [25] And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

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Isaiah 65:24

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

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1 Samuel 13:14

But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

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Genesis 1:26

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

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Psalm 115:16

The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

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Deut. 11:26-28

Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; [27] A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: [28] And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

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Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

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Hebrews 3:1

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

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1 Samuel 1:11

And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

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John 16:7

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

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John 16:12-13

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. [13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

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1 Samuel 1:9

So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord.

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1 Kings 19:9-18

And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? [10] And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. [11] And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: [12] And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. [13] And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? [14] And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. [15] And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: [16] And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. [17] And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. [18] Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

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Isaiah 38:2

Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord,

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Psalm 133:1-3

A Song of degrees of David.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! [2] It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; [3] As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

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Genesis 26:2-30

And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: [3] Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; [4] And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; [5] Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

[6] And Isaac dwelt in Gerar: [7] And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon. [8] And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife. [9] And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her. [10] And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us. [11] And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death. [12] Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. [13] And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: [14] For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. [15] For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. [16] And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.

[17] And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. [18] And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. [19] And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. [20] And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. [21] And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. [22] And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. [23] And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba. [24] And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake. [25] And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.

[26] Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army. [27] And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? [28] And they said, We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee; [29] That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the Lord. [30] And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.

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Genesis 49:1-33

And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. [2] Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.

[3] Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: [4] Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

[5] Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. [6] O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. [7] Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

[8] Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. [9] Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? [10] The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. [11] Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: [12] His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.

[13] Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.

[14] Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: [15] And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.

[16] Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. [17] Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. [18] I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord.

[19] Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.

[20] Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.

[21] Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

[22] Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: [23] The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: [24] But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) [25] Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: [26] The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

[27] Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.

[28] All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them. [29] And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, [30] In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace. [31] There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. [32] The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth. [33] And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

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Psalm 73:1

A Psalm of Asaph.

Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

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Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

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(Proverbs 18:21)

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