APRIL-JUNE 2019
Moving In Abundance There has been a shift in the atmosphere and there is new wind blowing.
Behind the 8 ball When life hands you a tricky shot that is difficult to navigate.
Every Bank as Rivers Our words are the river, and our lips are its banks!
H ope For The H opeless Suffering is a part of the human condition, however there is an assurance.
GO ING
BEYOND
JEREMIAH 29:11
MELISSA' S Welcome! I am so excited for this Point of Hope publication and for what God has in store for you. For a while, I have been sensing the call of God?s people to rise to a new level of intimacy with Him. At the same time, I sense that there are many who have fallen captive to spiritual complacency, normalcy, and dormancy. ?Arise [from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the Lord]; for your light has come, and the glory and brilliance of the Lord has risen upon you. ?For in fact, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness will cover the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you [Jerusalem] And His glory and brilliance will be seen on you? Isaiah 60:1-2 (AMP). It?s time for you to ARISE! It?s time for you to break free from the depression of complacency, normalcy, and dormancy, and
O U R T EA M Founder/ President Rev. Melissa D. Pearce
Copy Editor Ginny Gates
ContributingWriters Edie Bayer Jamie Clawson Rev. William Glaze Rev. Melissa D. Pearce Don Walczak
H EA RT to move into the new life of which He has for you. Don?t allow the routines of WHAT WAS to hold you back from where He is trying to take you. God wants you to join Him in the NOW and embrace the NEW of what He has for you. As you read through the articles this month, allow them to be used as keys to set you free! God?s word is rich and full of love, light and life. He wants those things to shine brightly through you. Be blessed and know that God has an amazing plan for you, but you can?t get there if you keep looking back at what was. It?s time to forge ahead, and to stop second guessing what He has called you to do. Believe in yourself, because God already does! In Him, Rev. Melissa Pearce
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Point of Hope is published by Enduring Hope Ministries, a non-profit organization, Fort Myers, FL Š USA 2019 Enduring Hope Ministries, all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited by federal law. Point of Hope has no subscription price and is supported through the contributions of our supporters. All gifts to this ministry are tax-deductible (in countries where this applies) For more information: please call (239) 362-1050 or visit www.enduringhopeministries.com
APRIL-JUNE 2019
Moving Int o Abundance
8 BEHINDTHE EIGHTBALL
14 BEYOND JEREMIAH29:11
20 Ever y River has Banks
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C O N T EN T S
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Hope For The Hopel ess Magazine Layout & Designs created by: L ogicWebDesigns.com | contact@logicwebdesigns.com Point of Hope is a publication dedicated to encouraging and equipping people of all ages with the Word of God. Our Goal is to provide readers with life applicable articles that will edify and strengthen their personal walks.
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BY: REV. MELISSA PEARCE
Th er e h as been a sh ift in th e atm osph er e an d th er e is n ew win d bl owin g. This wind is about to take you on adventure like one you have never experienced before. The imagery God has given me is that of a kite taking flight. When a wind takes hold of a kite, it causes it to thrust upward and it flies. You are the
kite and God is about to move upon your life like you have never known before. There is a move of God about to transpire within your life that only He can do. It is His acceleration within your life that will cause you to move into greater abundance with Him. ?The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly? (NKJV-John 10:10). Where the enemy has tried to hold you captive, God is removing the shackles. You are moving into greater realms of His freedom. The strings of insecurity, fear, inadequacy, doubt and performance are no longer holding you down nor will it cause you to back away from what you know is rightfully yours. There?s a new depth of God?s love and grace manifesting within your life, causing you take to a new flight with Him. It?s the next level of intimacy with God. It?s so inviting, invigorating and, yet at the same time, intoxicating. Point Of Hope His Word, Your Hope EnduringHopeMinistries.com
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As you move into greater realms of God?s goodness, He has prepared your path with His abundance. His abundance will exceed your expectations. Just when you lose all hope, God is going to show up and reveal Himself to you in another way. He?s going to blow your mind away with going over and above what you thought or imagined. What would take you a lifetime to achieve, God is going to do suddenly within your life.
ONLY FOR A MOMENT This shift in the atmosphere isn?t just for a few days or a month, but God is crowning the year with His goodness. There?s a movement occurring, and it is causing you to shift into the abundance God has always intended for you. ?You crown the year with Your goodness, and your paths drip with abundance? (NKJV- Psalm 65:11).
God is up to something new within your life. It is a natural tendency to cleave to the familiar, but familiarity breeds complacency and dormancy. It is in these very places the wind within your sails diminish and you never take flight. God never intended this for you. He longs for you to soar with Him.
MOVING INTO ABUNDANCE God has crowned the year with His goodness, meaning it is full of bounty, welfare, good things and happiness. This does not mean you will not experience hardships or difficulties, but it does mean that when you stay on His path, it will be saturated with His abundance. His path is full of protection, provision and prosperity. On His path there is no guessing, but just an execution of what He wants and in the order He desires. His path is filled with His divine alignments, partnerships, appointments and assignments. His path is filled with assurance because He is faithful and true and will never disappoint you. Moving into abundance is your heightened awareness of the wiles and schemes of the enemy. Satan will try everything within his might to steal your faith, causing you to doubt God and to second guess yourself. If he is unsuccessful there, he will try to undercut your hope. His ultimate goal is for you to give up so that you will not fulfill your destiny with God. As you catch the wind of truth, you are going to soar! The strings of
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discouragement will no longer be a detriment to you. The strings of disruption will no longer distract you from your mission. You are catching the wind of God and moving into the abundance of what He has declared over you. You have a destiny to fulfill. No matter how many times the enemy screams that ?it is impossible, it cannot be done, nor will you succeed,?God declares the opposite over you! Nothing is impossible with Him (Luke 1:37). ?Blessed is she who believed for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord?(NKJV-Luke 1:45). Moving into abundance has nothing to do with your gifts, talents and/or abilities, but it has everything to do with your faith in God and what He has decreed over your life. It is choosing to believe God despite the delay, the nos, the critics, the rejections, and even the abandonments. It is you standing firm, confident and convinced in God?s power to move within and through your life. The wind is blowing, and God is shifting you to move into abundance. It?s time to soar with Him to a next level. In Him, Rev. Melissa Pearce
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Rev. William Glaze
?Wearetroubledoneveryside,yet not distressed; weareperplexed,but not indespair; Persecuted,but not forsaken; cast down,but not destroyed?(KJV-2Corinthians4:8-9). I n th e gam e of pool , wh en th e sh ooter is beh in d th e eigh t-bal l , it m ean s th e cu e bal l (th e bal l u sed to h it th e oth er bal l s) is beh in d th e eigh t-bal l wh ich is bl ock in g th e sh ooter fr om h ittin g th e
h ope. Th e position of th e eigh t-bal l was tor m en tin g h im , bu t h e was n ot l eft by h im sel f. Th e eigh t-bal l h ad h im in a disadvan taged position , bu t th e gam e was n ot over.
oth er bal l s. Th e pr obl em is, if you
W h er e ar e you at today,m y
h it th e eigh t-bal l in to on e of th e
fr ien d? Ar e you beh in d th e
pock ets? th e gam e is over ,an d
eigh t-bal l ? Ar e you beh in d th e
you ar e th e l oser. To be beh in d
eigh t-bal l of fin an ces, il l n ess,
th e eigh t-bal l is to be in a difficu l t
em pl oym en t, a r el ation sh ip, an
situ ation .
addiction , m ism an agem en t of
In 2 Cor in th ian s 4:8-9 Pau l is beh in d th e eigh t-bal l . Notice, th e eigh t-bal l h ad h im bl ock ed in on ever y side, bu t h e was n ot str essed ou t. Th e eigh t-bal l h ad h im per pl exed as to th e n ext sh ot h e wou l d tak e, bu t h e stil l h ad
tim e, etc? Isn ?t it a bl essin g to k n ow th e Lor d wil l h el p you figu r e ou t h ow to m ak e a sh ot. H e m ay h el p you per for m a tr ick sh ot to ju m p over th e eigh t-bal l or go ar ou n d it. Don ?t despair n or be distr essed; tr u st God; H e wil l
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k eep you in th e gam e. Rem em ber th e l ast tim e you wer e in th is spot, didn ?t H e com e th r ou gh ? M aybe you wer e beh in d th e eigh t-bal l l ast m on th or l ast year. You m ay h ave been at a differ en t pl ace on th e pool tabl e of l ife, bu t th e Lor d m ade a way for you to m ak e a sh ot an d stay in th e gam e. Ju st tr u st H im ! W h en David was beh in d th e eigh t-bal l h e said, ?Lead m e to the r ock that is higher than I ? (NKJV-Psal m s 61:2). W h en Job was beh in d th e eigh t-bal l h e said, ?Though H e slay m e, yet will I tr ust him ? (NKJV-Job 13:15). W h en Sh adr ach , M esh ach an d Abedn ego wer e beh in d th e eigh t-bal l th ey said, ?? our God whom we ser ve is able to deliver us fr om the bur ning fier y fur nace? (NKJV-Dan iel 3:17). W h en Pau l was beh in d th e eigh t-bal l said, ?M ost gladly ther efor e will I r ather glor y in m y infir m ities, that the power of Chr ist m ay r est upon m e? (KJV-2 Cor in th ian s 12:9). Let u s go to th e Th r on e of Gr ace: Father , when life situations have over whelm ed m e, give m e the wisdom to know how to have an unshakable faith in You. Rev. W il l iam Gl aze
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Wr it t en b y: J a mie C la ws o n
?'For I know the plans I have for you,?declar es the Lor d, 'plans to pr osper you and not to har m you, plans to give you hope and a futur e'? (NIV ? Jer em iah 29:11). God spok e th ese won der fu l , l ife-givin g wor ds to Isr ael th r ou gh Jer em iah . Isr ael h ad been exil ed in Babyl on , far fr om th eir h om el an d. God was m eetin g th em wh er e th ey wer e an d speak in g abou t a fu tu r e del iver an ce. Pr om ises l ik e th ese fr om God ar e wh at we Ch r istian s, in ou r pr esen t-day exil e situ ation s an d season s, cl in g to wh en ou r wor l d seem s to be cr u m bl in g. Jer em iah 29:11 is a beau tifu l pr om ise fr om God th at sh ou l d be em br aced an d stood u pon !
Vi br an cy An d Ten aci t y
God is spoon -feedin g u s. Pau l wr ites, ?I
W h en som eon e com es to k n ow th e Lor d
wer e not r eady for it? (NIV ? 1
an d begin s to fol l ow H im , God seem s to
Cor in th ian s 3:2). If you 'r e a n ew
be ever ywh er e! Often n ew Ch r istian s
Ch r istian r eadin g th is ? en joy th e won der
h ave a vibr an cy an d ten acity for th e Lor d
of you r in fan cy. Gr ow r apidl y an d eat u p
becau se of th e n ewl y discover ed won der
ever yth in g H e is givin g you . I th in k m ost
of k n owin g H im . Ar ou n d ever y tu r n we
of th ose r eadin g th is, th ou gh , ar e
see H is h an d. Ever y ser m on speak s r igh t
season ed Ch r istian s, h avin g wal k ed with
to u s. H is W or d ju m ps off th e page an d
th e Lor d for a l on g tim e. If th at's you , I
m ak es sen se l ik e n ever befor e. It's an
feel God sayin g to H is peopl e ? go
exh il ar atin g season of l ife! Essen tial l y,
beyon d Jer em iah 29:11!
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gave you m ilk, not solid food, for you
W h en we do go beyon d Jer em iah 29:11,
th er e is to l ear n abou t H im . Th at m il k
we fin d th is... ?Then you will call upon
th at H e fed u s wh en we wer e you n g in
m e and com e and pr ay to m e, and I will
H im becom es sol id food th at m ak es u s
listen to you. You will seek m e and find
str on ger an d str on ger. Discover in g th e
m e when you seek m e with all your
secr et pl ace of H is Pr esen ce in pr ayer
hear t. I will be found by you...? (NIV ?
an d stil l n ess wil l becom e th e dr ivin g an d
Jer em iah 29:12-14).
su stain in g for ce of ou r wal k . Th e
A N ew L ev el W i t h God Th er e is al ways a n ew l evel with God! W e n ever exh au st th e vastn ess of wh at
sacr ifice of tim e an d h u m il ity of spir it th at it tak es to wait for H im to an swer wil l in cr ease ou r per sever an ce an d stam in a for th is r ace. An d an in tim acy
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Year s ago, wh en I was a n ew Ch r istian , M el issa Pear ce was m y sm al l gr ou p l eader. For a few year s sh e l ed a gr ou p of you n g l adies ever y Su n day after n oon . Look in g back , wh at dr ew u s to h er week after week was th e m atu r ity an d in tim acy sh e h ad with th e Lor d. W e wan ted it, too! Sh e k n ew Jer em iah 29:11, bu t sh e al so k n ew beyon d th at. W ay beyon d th at! So, week after week , sh e m et with u s an d devel ops th at m ak es ou r r el ation sh ip with H im th e cl osest an d m ost bel oved of an y we cou l d fin d in th is wor l d.
L i f e I s N ot Easy In th e m om en ts of exil e we exper ien ce, wh en God seem s far away an d n ot l isten in g, it is good to decl ar e Jer em iah 29:11 an d stan d u pon it. Bu t it tak es m atu r ity an d devotion to go beyon d wan tin g to see th e en d of th e exil e an d feel better. It tak es m atu r ity an d devotion to r est an d tr u st in H im wh en
tau gh t u s an d h el d u s an d n u r tu r ed u s. Sh e was feedin g u s with ever -in cr easin g sol id food. Even tu al l y,th ou gh , it was ou r tim e to fl y. Th er e com es a poin t wh en you m atu r e or stay stagn an t. It is u p to u s in dividu al l y to seek God with ou t bein g fed by oth er s. W ith ou t M el issa's exam pl e of wh at was possibl e to h ave in a r el ation sh ip with God, I wou l d n ot be wh o I am today.
Seek i n g an d H ear i n g
we ar en 't seein g th e pr om ise com e to
Lear n in g to seek H im an d h ear H im on
pass. Often th e Ch r istian l ife is abou t
m y own was th e gr eatest gift sh e cou l d
del ayed gr atification . Em br ace th ose
h ave ever given m e. I am th an k fu l n ow
season s of exil e. God n ever l eaves or
an d wil l be for eter n ity! God wan ts th at
for sak es u s (see H ebr ews 11:6). H e wil l ,
for al l of u s. Th e gr owth , m atu r ity,an d
h owever ,wait for you to seek H im with
tr u st th at com es on l y fr om seek in g
you r wh ol e h ear t at tim es ? for you r own
H im in ever yth in g, with al l ou r h ear t.
good an d gr owth .
God's W or d en cou r ages u s to seek H im
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m or e an d m or e, an d I h ope you wil l .
the fr uit of unfailing love, and br eak up
?The lions m ay gr ow weak and hungr y,
your unplowed gr ound; for it is tim e to
but those who seek the Lor d lack no
seek the Lor d, until he com es and
good thing? (NIV ? Psal m 34:10).
shower s r ighteousness on you? (NIV ?
?Look to the Lor d and his str ength; seek his face always? (NIV ? Psal m 105:4).
H osea 10:12). Depth an d r ich n ess await th ose wh o seek th e Lor d. In tim acy l ik e you n ever
?Th is is wh at th e Lor d says to th e h ou se
im agin ed.
of Isr ael : 'Seek m e an d l ive'? (NIV ? Am os 5:4).
M atu r ity is r each in g a pl ace wh er e H is Pr esen ce is m or e pr eciou s th an an yth in g
?Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For ever yone who asks r eceives; he who seeks finds; and to him
el se. W h en we get to th at pl ace of m atu r ity,we wil l k n ow H is Pr esen ce even in th e exil e. An d th at, m y fr ien d, is l ivin g beyon d Jer em iah 29:11. .
who knocks, the door will be open? (NIV ? M atth ew 7:7-8). ?Sow for your selves r ighteousness, r eap
M atu r in g with you , ~Jam ie Clawson
Ed ie Ba ye r
Th e Ri v er i s a M OST H OL Y p l ace! I h ave been h ear in g ?RIVER? in m y spir it a l ot l atel y! In fact, to m ak e su r e I didn ?t m iss it, God h ad som eon e r ecen tl y pr oph esy over m e th at I wou l d soon h ave an Ezek iel 47 m om en t. Look in g u p Ezek iel 47, I fou n d ou t th at it is abou t a r i v er ? th e on e th at Ezek iel wal k ed th r ou gh ! Sin ce I?d been h ear in g it so m an y tim es in m y spir it, wh il e dr ivin g r ecen tl y, I decided to ask th e Lor d, ?W h at is it abou t t he r i ver , Lor d?? He
r espon ded im m ediatel y, sayin g, ?Th e River is a m ost holy pla ce.? Som etim es God speak s to m e, an d I don ?t get it r igh t away, becau se it?s a r iddl e! W h en H e said th is to m e, I actu al l y th ou gh t I h ear d H im wr on g. H ow cou l d A RIVER, wh ich is n ot ju st on e pl ace, bu t a m u l titu de of pl aces th at cou l d str etch for m il es, be A M OST H OL Y PL ACE? I cou l d n ot u n der stan d it.
?W h at?? I ask ed H im . Again , h e gen tl y r epeated it to m e, ?A m ost h ol y pl ace.?
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Pon der in g th is ph r ase, it r ever ber ated in m y spir it, r ol l in g ar ou n d in side of m e. I k n ew th is ph r ase was a scr iptu r e, or par t of on e; h owever , sin ce I h ad ju st r ead Leviticu s, I al so th ou gh t I r em em ber ed it h ad to do with th e bu r n t offer in g sacr ifice. I fel t in m y spir it th at wh at H e was sayin g is th at som eh ow t he r i ver is r el ated to Aar on an d th e Pr iests? por tion of th e sacr ifices. Th ese wer e design ated as ?m ost h ol y? by God, to be par tak en of in a ?sacr ed pl ace?. ?And the br ead shall be for Aar on and his sons, and they shall eat it in a sacr ed place, for it is for [Aar on] a m ost holy por tion of the offer ings to the Lor d m ade by fir e, a per petual due [to the high pr iest],? (Leviticu s 24:9 AM PC). Th in k in g th at, as k in gs an d pr iests, Th e River m u st be OUR ?sacr ed pl ace? in th is season , ?a m ost h ol y por tion ?, I l eft it at th at. Yet, stil l h u n gr y an d desir in g m or e r evel ation , I ask ed th e Lor d again , ?Tel l m e abou t Th e River , Lor d!? Again , im m ediatel y, H e r espon ded, bu t th is tim e visu al l y. As I dr ove, H e took m e h igh above th e h igh way,sh owin g m e a vision of r iver s fr om th e air ? m an y r iver s, tr ibu tar ies an d con ver gen ces. H e r em in ded m e th at r iver s have banks, an d th at th e r iver fl ows in between th ose ban k s. Ou r w or d s ar e t h e r i v er , an d ou r l i p s ar e i t s ban k s! W h en I got h om e, I star ted to stu dy ou t th e r iver of Ezek iel 47 in H ebr ew. I fou n d th at th e wor d for ?ban k s? (Str on g?s 8193) m ean s ?L I PS?! Su dden l y, I u n der stood! Rem em ber , th e Lor d h ad r em in ded m e wh il e I was dr ivin g th at ever y r iver h as ban k s. Sin ce th e ban k s of th e r iver ar e ou r l ips, th en th e Lor d was sayin g th at ou r w or d s ar e
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t h e r i v er , an d ou r l i p s ar e i t s ban k s! Th e River is a m ost h ol y pl ace, H e said, so th e ban k s ? ou r l ips ? m u st al so be h ol y, as ar e th e wor ds th at fl ow fr om th em ? a h ol y por tion fr om a sacr ed pl ace! Th is m ak es th em , an d u s, h ol y, becau se H e is h ol y! But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all m anner of conver sation; Because it is wr itten, ?Be ye holy; for I am H oly.? (1 Peter 1:15-16 KJV). H is wor ds h ave cr eative power , so ou r wor ds m ust be H IS W ORDS. In cr edibl y, th is is som eth in g we al r eady k n ow; h owever , th e Lor d is em ph asizin g h ow su per -im por tan t it is in th is h ou r. I t ?s a DOUBL E RI VER SEASON ! Th e River in Ezek iel 47 becom es a DOUBLE RIVER, so th e r iver of ou r wor ds h as a ?dou bl e r iver ? power in th is season ! W atch th is: ?And wher ever t he double r i ver sha ll go, ever y li vi ng cr ea t ur e whi ch swa r m s sha ll li ve. And t her e sha ll be a ver y gr ea t num ber of fi sh, beca use t hese wa t er s go t her e t ha t [t he wa t er s of t he sea ] m a y be hea led a nd
m a de fr esh; a nd ever yt hi ng sha ll li ve wher ever t he r i ver goes.? (Ezek iel 47:9). W OW ! M ost of u s al r eady k n ow th at we fr am e ou r wor l d with ou r wor ds th at we speak an d cr eate ou r cir cu m stan ces! Bu t in a dou bl e r iver season ou r wor ds pr odu ce r esu l ts so m u ch gr eater th an ou r th ou gh ts or in ten tion s.
Ou r m ou th s ar e su per bl y cr eative for ces in th e ear th r eal m , bu t m u ch , m u ch m or e so in th is season ! In th is DOUBLE RIVER SEASON, ou r wor ds h ave even m or e cr eative power ! Th is m ean s th at w h en w e sp eak i n agr eem en t w i t h t h e w or d of God , w h i ch i s h ol y , w e w i l l cr eat e m or e of w h at H e say s, becau se ev er y t h i n g t h at w e say w i l l L I VE! W h en w e sp eak i n agr eem en t w i t h t h e w or d of God i n t h i s Dou bl e Ri v er Season , ou r w or d s w i l l r el ease m or e f r om h eav en ?s ban k s ? m or e l i f e! M or e h eal t h ! M or e abu n d an ce! M or e joy ! M or e p eace! M or e of ev er y t h i n g. ?A m an's belly shall be satisfied with the fr uit of his m outh; and with the incr ease of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life ar e in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fr uit ther eof,? (Pr over bs 18:20-21 KJV). W e ar e al r ead y i n i t ! Goin g back to wh il e I was dr ivin g, I ask ed H im again on e l ast tim e, ?Tel l m e abou t Th e River , Lor d!? He r espon ded im m ediatel y with , ?You ?r e IN IT!?
You see, sin ce God?s voice is th e voice of m an y water s (see Revel ation 14:2), H e says m an y th in gs at th e sam e tim e u sin g th e sam e wor ds. Th e ?Dou bl e River ? is n ot ju st wh at we ar e cr eatin g accor din g to th e wor d of God. W e ar e cr eatin g Revival sim pl y by speak in g it in to existen ce! Th e River fl ows fr om th e tem pl e in to th e Dead Sea ? in to th e l ifel ess water , h eal in g it (see Ezek iel 47:8). Th e River com es, br in gin g l ife, for cin g it to over fl ow its ban k s, becom in g a dou bl e por tion ! Th is is th e water th at br in gs l ife to ever yth in g in it. Th is sou n ds l ik e REVIVAL to m e ? an d we?r e IN IT, says th e Lor d! ?And t her e sha ll be a ver y gr ea t num ber of fi sh, beca use t hese wa t er s go t her e t ha t [t he wa t er s of t he sea ] m a y be hea led a nd m a de fr esh; a nd ever yt hi ng sha ll li ve wher ever t he r i ver goes.? I can n ot over -em ph asize th e power of wh at th e Lor d h as r el eased th r ou gh th is wor d! W e M UST pr ay th e wor d, speak th e wor d, sin g th e wor d, pr oph esy th e wor d an d u se th e wor d in al l th at we do in th is h ou r. W e h ave an oppor tu n ity u n l ik e an y oth er m om en t in h istor y to cr eate wh at it is th at God is speak in g. W e ar e al r eady IN Revival , in a DOUBLE RIVER SEASON, br in gin g l ife to al l ! Speak Life! H al l el u jah ! Be bl essed as you swim in th e l ife-givin g water s of th is n ew season in Revival ! Edie Bayer www.Kin gdom Pr om oter s.or g
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HOPE FOR T HE HOPEL ESS B y : D o n W a lcza k
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Th e book Unbr oken: a W or ld W ar I I stor y of sur vival, r esilience, and r edem ption wr itten by Laur a H illenbr and tr aces th e l ife of Lou is Zam per in i. W ith in its pages th er e is th e h ar r owin g accou n t of a you n g m an wh o wen t fr om bein g a del in qu en t an d con tin u al tr ou bl em ak er to bein g th r u st in to th e th eatr e of th e war tim e Pacific Ocean of W or l d W ar II. Du r in g h is war tim e exper ien ce h e en du r ed th e h opel essn ess of bein g l ost at sea on a r aft for som e 47 days with two oth er su r vivor s of a pl an e cr ash at sea. Th en cam e th e depr ivation s an d tor tu r e of Japan ese pr ison cam ps. Lou is even tu al l y su r vived al l of th at an d cam e back to th e Un ited States to pick u p on l ife as a l ost an d bitter m an , r avaged by h is war tim e exper ien ces. Th is r em in ds m e of m an y today wh o h ave en du r ed th e con stan t bar r age of ever yday l ife an d con tin u al l y com e u p em pty an d bitter with th e ?h an d? th at l ife h as deal t th em . Can you r el ate? Do you str u ggl e to m ain tain you r ?Ch r istian ? witn ess despite th e with er in g attack s fr om th e en em y of you r sou l ? I can assu r e you th at you ar e n ot al on e. Su ffer in g is a par t of th e h u m an con dition , h owever with th e su ffer in g th er e is th e assu r an ce fr om ou r Fath er th at we ar e n ever al on e. I r epeat, ?W e ar e n ever al on e?! I l ook back an d con sider th e l ife of th e apostl e Pau l wh o r el ates som e detail s of h is l ife in h is l etter s to th e ch u r ch at Cor in th : ?I ?ve wor ked m uch har der , been jailed m or e often, beaten up m or e tim es than I can count, and at death?s door tim e after tim e. I ?ve been flogged five tim es with the Jews?thir ty-nine lashes, beaten by Rom an r ods thr ee tim es, pum m eled with r ocks once. I ?ve been shipwr ecked thr ee tim es, and im m er sed in
the open sea for a night and a day. I n har d tr aveling year in and year out, I ?ve had to for d r iver s, fend off r obber s, str uggle with fr iends, str uggle with foes. I ?ve been at r isk in the city, at r isk in the countr y, endanger ed by deser t sun and sea stor m , and betr ayed by those I thought wer e m y br other s. I ?ve known dr udger y and har d labor , m any a long and lonely night without sleep, m any a m issed m eal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather . And that?s not the half of it, when you thr ow in the daily pr essur es and anxieties of all the chur ches. W hen som eone gets to the end of his r ope, I feel the desper ation in m y bones. W hen som eone is duped into sin, an angr y fir e bur ns in m y gut. I f I have to ?br ag? about m yself, I ?ll br ag about the hum iliations that m ake m e like Jesus. The eter nal and blessed God and Father of our M aster Jesus knows I ?m not lying. Rem em ber the tim e I was in Dam ascus and the gover nor of King Ar etas posted guar ds at the
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city gates to ar r est m e? I cr awled thr ough a window in the wall, was let down in a basket, and had to r un for m y life? (Th e M essage-2 Cor in th ian s 11:23-33). Th e apostl e Pau l str u ggl ed in a var iety of situ ation s an d wh il e h is exper ien ces, as wel l as Lou is Zam per in i?s, m ay be th e extr em e for th ose of u s wh o en cou n ter th e dail y str u ggl es of wal k in g th e Ch r istian l ife, I am su r e th at we can r el ate.
cr u x of t h e i ssu e Th e cr u x of th e issu e pr esen ted h er e is n ot th e str u ggl e th at we en du r e. No! Ou r focu s is cal l ed to th e On e wh o su ffer ed in ou r pl ace. Jesu s Ch r ist h as gon e befor e u s in ever y aspect of ou r l ives. M aybe God is wor k in g on som e ar eas of you r l ife th at n eed r efin ed for H is pu r poses. I ask you to con sider th e wor ds of th e apostl e Peter in h is secon d l etter : ?Fr iends, when life gets r eally difficult, don?t jum p to the conclusion that God isn?t on the job. I nstead, be glad that you
ar e in the ver y thick of what Chr ist exper ienced. This is a spir itual r efining pr ocess, with glor y just ar ound the cor ner ? (Th e M essage1 Peter 4:12-13). Th is r efin in g pr ocess wil l tak e pl ace in a var iety of situ ation s? fr om r el ation sh ips, fin an cial setback s, h eal th con cer n s an d even qu estion s con cer n in g you r faith . Th ese exper ien ces do n ot m ak e on e l ess of a Ch r istian ; r ath er you m ay be gr eatl y str en gth en ed by su ch en cou n ter s. Dar e I say th at n on e of u s en joy su ch cir cu m stan ces; yet h ow often wil l a per son say th at th ey ar e better off becau se of th em ? As we r ead fu r th er al on g in Peter ?s epistl e, h e gives fin al en cou r agem en t to th ose wh o m ay be in th e ?th ick of it?: ?Keep a cool head. Stay aler t. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guar d up. You?r e not the only ones plunged into these har d tim es. I t?s the sam e with Chr istians all over the
wor ld. So keep a fir m gr ip on the faith. The suffer ing won?t last for ever . I t won?t be long befor e this gener ous God who has gr eat plans for us in Chr ist ? eter nal and glor ious plans they ar e! ? will have you put together and on your feet for good. H e gets the last wor d; yes he does? (Th e M essage-1 Peter 5:8-11).
f aci n g a h op el ess f u t u r e Now, r etu r n in g to th e l ife of Lou ise Zam per in i; as h e r etu r n ed h om e to Cal ifor n ia fr om th e h or r ific war year s, h is l ife was in a down war d spir al . W ith ou t h ope, h e dr own ed h is su ffer in gs in al coh ol an d r eck l ess l ivin g. H e was m ar r ied to th e l ove of h is l ife, Cyn th ia, an d th ey h ad a ch il d togeth er. It was so far gon e th at Cyn th ia was ask in g for a divor ce. In Septem ber of 1949 in Los An gel es th er e ar r ived an evan gel ist fr om th e h il l s of Nor th Car ol in a to h ol d a r evival . A ten t was er ected, an d ser vices wer e h el d n igh tl y. Soon Cyn th ia was in vited to h ear
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th is str ik in g m an of God, Bil l y Gr ah am , wh o h ad a m essage of h ope for th ose in despair. After th is sh e pl eaded with Lou is to com e an d see th is m an wh o cou l d poin t h im to th e On e wh o cou l d h eal h is tor m en tin g dem on s of th e past. A h opel ess m an facin g a h opel ess fu tu r e teeter in g on th e br in k of sel f destr u ction was com in g face to face with th e gospel of Jesu s Ch r ist. Bil l y Gr ah am pr esen ted th e W or d of God in su ch a power fu l fash ion th at Lou is was tr an sfixed on e even in g du r in g a r evival m eetin g h el d in a ten t u n der a star r y n igh t of Los An gel es. At th e al tar cal l Zam per in i was gettin g u p to l eave, h e wou l d h ave n o par t of th is! Yet, as h e tu r n ed to r u n to th e exit Bil l y Gr ah am sh ou ted th at an yon e cou l d l eave wh il e h e was pr each in g, bu t n ow n o on e goes. Fr ozen in pl ace, wr estl in g with h is past h u r ts, God gen tl y r em in ded Lou is of th e tim e wh il e l ost in a r aft on th e swel l s of th e Pacific Ocean of h ow h e pr om ised God th at if h e saved h im th at h e wou l d ser ve h im for th e r est of h is l ife. An d th at n igh t u n der th e ten t Lou is Zam per in i m ade h is way for war d to accept th e in vitation to sal vation th r ou gh Jesu s Ch r ist th at Gr ah am was offer in g. An d as h e did a gen tl e r ain fel l u pon Lou is wh il e h e was stan din g in th at ten t. God was l iter al l y sh ower in g H is bl essin g th at n igh t! Th is sam e h ope is you r s; on l y ask an d th en r eceive fr om H im wh o k n ows you an d l oves you m or e th an you wil l ever k n ow. Bl essin gs to you , Don W al czak
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