April, 2016 2 a

THIS SUNDAY!!!

THIS SUNDAY!!!

THIS SUNDAY!!!

THIS SUNDAY!!!

MEET JIM Dr. Jim Willoughby

was born in San Antonio, Texas. The son of a Pentecostal Minister, Jim began traveling with his father setting up his evangelistic crusade as a teenager. It was during this time that Jim felt a call into the ministry.

program for several years, and has been a guest on the Trinity Broadcasting Network as well as Daystar TV with Marcus Lamb.

Having studied through the Berean Course of the Assemblies of God, Jim entered into his own full time ministry in 1974 and was credentialed with the AG for several years. He traveled as an evangelist and served as an assistant pastor prior to accepting the pastorate of Echos of Faith Christian Center in 1981.

Dr. Willoughby received his Doctor of Divinity from Bethel Christian College & Graduate School of Theology and his Doctor of Ministry from Next Dimension University.

Under Dr. Willoughby’s leadership, E.O.F.C.C. has grown from approximately 60 people to one of the strongest churches in the area. The church has recently relocated from Ontario to Eastvale, CA and rebranded the ministry as Faith Life Center. He hosted a daily radio broadcast and a weekly television

He serves as a Trustee for the International Convention of Faith Ministries. He is the current Chairman of the City of Ontario Planning Commission and serves on several non-profits boards. He is an author and sought after conference speaker. Jim and his wife Ireta, reside in Ontario, California. They have 2 daughters and 4 wonderful grandchildren.

Echos of Faith/Faith Life Center Eastvale, California Pastors: Dr. Jim & Ireta Willoughby

Faith Unlimited’s Staff and Writers would like to extend our Congratulations to Dr. Jim & Ireta Willoughby on their new church building! 2016

Connect Groups: "Growing while sharing life together" Acts 2:42-47)

Children can see that Jesus can use them and that they are important to Him now!

A FLASH FROM THE PAST!

HOW TO HANDLE THE ADVERSITIES OF LIFE

supposed to have trouble then why did God tell us to call on Him when we have trouble.

When you became a child of God you didn’t receive a get out of trouble free card. You received the promises of God which tells us that God delivers us out of them all.

Life has a way of throwing all sorts of problems, issues and adversities at you. It seems like many times these adversities come in the midst of you doing something good or right. In fact, in scripture we see many times when a king or a people were doing well or following God’s leading that adversity came their way.

Armies would come against them; severe adversity would arise. What I want you to see is that being a Christian doesn’t exempt us from adversity.

In Psalm 34:19 David tells us, “Many are the adversities of the righteous.” Note that he says “Many” and not “Few”.

The bottom line is life will be filled with many adversities.

In Psalm 50:15 David writes, “Call on Me in the day of trouble.” Now if we are not

I’m amazed at how many people get mad at God when adversity hits their life.

Modern Christianity tries to fit God into their plans or schedule. God said we are to put Him first and when we do all things would work out. If God is not #1 on your agenda, then why do you expect Him to put you #1 on His? Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Notice the adding from God comes after we put Him first. This is a major problem in Christianity.

Recently I had someone stop by my office and asked for prayer for a spouse who was in the hospital with a serious condition. As I talked with her she started crying and said I make a vow to God today that if He will heal my spouse I will serve him faithfully. I had not seen this person in church in weeks but here they were facing a serious adversity and they are wanting to make a deal with God. I stopped her

and told her God promises us healing in the scripture if we believe but she needed to be faithful to God no matter what happened with her spouse.

I’ve seen too many people try to make a deal with God to get God to do something for them.

God is not a cosmic Santa Claus who goes around granting peoples wishes. He’s a loving heavenly Father but He’s also governed by His Word.

In 1 Peter 4:12 the Apostle writes, “Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which has come to try you.” I don’t like fiery trials any more than you do but sometimes in life fiery trials will come.

Let’s also face the fact that sometimes that fiery trial might be the result of our own bad decision or choices.

Sometimes we blame the devil for something that he has nothing to do with. We blame God or other people when the reality is our own choices brought that situation into our lives.

The reality is God doesn’t send adversity into your life.

Scripture says that only good or perfect things come down from the Father. God will and does use the things that happen in our lives. Sometimes they become our testimony, sometimes they become a learning tool or some times

that adversity develops your character. There was a popular song several years ago entitled, Through It All. The verse went, “through it all I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God.” The first thing we have to do in our lives is put God first. I talk about the principal of the first often. When you put God first in everything, in your life, career, finances, family, goals and desires then God will always be there. Regarding our finances, when we honor Him and give to Him the first then He promised to bless what’s left and cause it to increase. (Prov. 3:9) The second thing you must do is submit to God’s will and His Word. Throughout scripture he says to “hearken diligently” or pay close attention to what He says. When you listen and submit yourself to God’s will and His Word then you are stepping into a place of security and provision.

The third thing is to recognize that this adversity or fiery trial is only going to make you stronger. You have to keep the right attitude. God tells Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My strength is made perfect in weakness” When you face your adversities in Christ then His strength becomes your strength. That’s why Paul

could say later, “When I am weak, then I am strong.”

Finally, and this may be the most important, Don’t talk about your adversity, talk to them. In Mark chapter 11 Jesus said, whoever says to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the sea. Notice He said, whoever says to this mountain. Jesus taught us to speak to the mountain not talk about them. Too many Christians talk about their adversities or difficulties rather than talking to them.

When the adversity arises you have to speak the Word to them. Don’t speak your ideas or feelings but speak what God has already said about that type of situation.

Yes, David says many are the adversities of the righteous but as you continue to read he says, But God will deliver you out of them all. In 2 Corinthians 4:17 it says, “For our light affliction, which is but

for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” What that tells me is the light affliction or adversity is but for a moment. It has an expiration date. This ties in with Psalm 34:19, “The Lord delivers him out of them all.”

If you are a child of God then you have the promises of God. Stand on those promises and watch what God will do as you trust Him and believe.

Matthew 7:15 (NKJ) Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

2 Peter 2:1 (NKJ) - But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

Ephesians 4:11-15 (KJV) – 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Abraham Lincoln stated, “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the

people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.� Clearly, as Lincoln observed, gullibility is a challenge of varying proportions. As Christians we might hope that gullibility was not a challenge with the body of Christ as well, but, tragically, it is. The fact that it is true is consistently revealed by the myriads of Christians who are easily tricked or manipulated into any number of biblically ill-advised courses of action or unscriptural stances.

Specifically, our gullibility as Christians is often exploited on Christian television stations and in other media venues. Prophets proclaiming any number of catastrophes or happenings seek to create and fuel angst, resulting in our being susceptible to any number of schemes that often greatly benefit them and/or the venues in which they appear.

Yet when their prophecies prove untrue seldom are they held accountable by the venues that promoted them.

Additionally, prophets, teachers and other ministers prey upon us, especially during the pledge times of some Christian television stations, promising us wildly exaggerated or scripturally unfounded material returns on what we give. Yet when those promises prove untrue, again,

seldom are those ministers held accountable, giving them free rein to continue their ungodly activities. Christian authors, especially related to the end times, sometimes seek to manipulate us with pseudospiritual and scripturally unwarranted views of those times, recently observable related to an unscriptural syncretism of Judaism and Christianity.

Our propensity for gullibility as Christians is surely one of the reasons Jesus and others in the New Testament warned us of false teachers and false prophets, charlatans who would seek to make merchandise of the body of Christ for personal gain. And, yes, the body of Christ should hold such charlatans accountable for their selfserving ends, as what they do to the body of Christ amounts to spiritual abuse. Yet merely holding charlatans accountable is not going to end all spiritual abuse, as there will always be those who will

replace those exposed.

Ultimately, our greatest protection against abuse will not occur based on our desires to see reform among the abusers, though that can and has happened. Our greatest protection is to arm ourselves against abuse, which occurs when we confront and deal with our own gullibility by addressing those areas where we are vulnerable.

What must we do to address the areas where we are vulnerable? The first step is to prayerfully ask God to reveal to us those areas, not doubting that He will do so. As He reveals them to us there will be corresponding actions we must take. Like those who have been sexually abused we must learn to establish appropriate boundaries in our lives. Appropriate boundaries speak of recognizing and implementing strategies that will end our vulnerability to charlatans.

Developing a reliance on and understanding of how to be led by the Holy Spirit is an integral part of boundary establishment (Rom. 8:11; Gal. 5:25). Being led by the Spirit empowers us to sense when ministers are using manipulation to accomplish their ends. (Remember, God does not manipulate us; He leads us. Neither should His

ministers seek to manipulate us.)

Colossians 3:15 reminds us to let the peace of God rule or act as an umpire in our hearts. We will not have inner peace when being led by charlatans into a scam. That peace serves as an umpire to tell us when the direction we are headed is out of God’s will. Recognizing we are out of His will, we must take immediate actions to correct that being so.

Becoming sensitive to the presence or the lack of peace will empower us to recognize when we are in or out of God's will.

Also of utmost importance is learning to search the scriptures and line up everything we are told by ministers, charlatans or otherwise, with scripture (Acts 17:11). That which is not in agreement with rightly divided or interpreted scripture we must reject (2 Tim. 2:15). That which is in agreement with rightly divided or interpreted scripture we should embrace.

(Comparing what we are being told with the thoughts and words of respected ministers who have established track records can also prove quite helpful in doing this.)

Sometimes charlatans use obscure biblical interpretations (often of their

own making). This is especially true related to the teachings of some related to current events and the end times. We do not want to allow them to manipulate us with self-serving interpretations, often based on promises of great wealth (made possible by giving to them) or spiritual elitism (embrace what I teach and you will be superior to other Christians).

Such promises prey upon our personal vulnerabilities related to fear, material wealth and status. God surely is concerned about our material needs (Matt. 6:25-33) and part of the meaning of the word salvation is prosperity, but to have an inordinate focus on or love of money or status is counterproductive to healthy spiritual growth (1 Tim. 6:10).

Sadly, modern Christian culture is replete with fads and gimmicks. Some hawk prayer shawls with promises of more powerful prayers when wearing them.

Powerful prayers are based on faith that is empowered by love (Gal. 5:6) operating in line with God’s will (1 John 5:14-15), not our outward adornment.

The leader of a state organization of intercessors was observed promising special blessings to those who partook of wine in communion based on the

significance of the day that the wine was bottled. Jesus’ admonition to partake of the Lord’s supper (communion) did not include with it special blessings if one used in that remembrance wine bottled on certain days (1 Cor. 11:23-26).

syncretize our Christian faith with Jewish rites and rituals,

Others sometimes seek to

As Christians we must

in doing so creating among the body of Christ those who often elevate those rites and rituals above He who should ever be the focus of our faith, Christ.

consistently take actions to avoid falling prey to fads and gimmicks or the manipulations and misuses of scripture that often accompany them. Ultimately, we must rid ourselves of gullibility, recognizing that gullibility leads to abuse.

Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

When we speak to another person in response to a word or comment spoken to us, a soft answer will not provoke the spirit of wrath. The word “wrath” means, heat; figuratively anger, poison (from its fever): And comes from a primitive root probably meaning, to be hot; figuratively to conceive.

Have you ever lost your cool and became what is commonly called, “hot”?

James 1:19-20 says, “19So then (or as some translators say, “Know this or this you know), my beloved brethren, let every man {mankind: man & woman} be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” There is a principle here that everyone can learn from, which is “If you listen first; and speak less; wrath will not come.” God always has the perfect plan for our lives. His will must become the top priority in each of us. If we allow wrath to take over, even though we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, we will not walk righteously.

When Proverbs 15:1 said, “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger”, it is important that we understand “the spirit of wrath” has an attitude that comes with it. This spirit will say, “No one is going to tell me what I can or cannot say!” This is a common problem when those attempting to communicate feel like a person’s emotional rights are being threatened with silence. However, harsh or abrasive words will always trigger words filled with wrath.

Let’s look at some other translations in Proverbs 15:1.

The New Living Translation says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger.” The New Century Version says, “A gentle answer will calm a person’s anger, but an unkind answer will cause more anger.” The Young’s Literal Translation says, “A soft answer turneth back fury, and a grievous word raiseth up anger.” The pattern here is that inconsiderate words arouse the spirit of anger or wrath.

Who are they inconsiderate of? The person you are trying to communicate with.

Proverbs 10:12 ESV says, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.”

Hatred is defined as “intense animosity or hostility” or “a feeling of intense dislike.”

Therefore, hatred is not mild; it is intense. The opposite of intense is moderate or weak.

Hatred is strong… intense dislike toward someone and it stirs up strife. So how do we conquer or overcome our strong feelings of dislike or intenseness toward someone?

Know that, “…love covers all offenses.”

1 John 4:18 (Living New Testament) says, “We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; His perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what He might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what He might do to us, and shows that we are not fully convinced that He really loves us.” This verse is not talking about our love being perfect, but God’s love for us being perfect. It’s not our love, or even human love that overcomes those strong forceful feelings of strife or wrath. It is the Love of God

that lives within us through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember; it is a “gentle answer” that causes the spirit of wrath from sticking up its ugly head. When you are talking to someone who is angry or speaking harshly to you, it is in a “gentle answer” that you will calm that person’s anger. But when we provide an “unkind answer” to that upset individual, it will cause them to become even angrier.

It is in a “soft answer” that we are empowered by God’s grace to turn back a person’s fury meaning, to reverse

one’s direction of motion; or to drive away and halt the advance of “wrath.”

However, “grievous words” give an opportunity for anger to be raised up. The word “grievous” means to cause grief, pain, or anguish, but also in its definition; we find the word “grave.” To avoid being buried by its fury; do not allow the spirit of wrath to invade your life.

The spirit of wrath or of anger is assigned by satan to cause death in relationships between husband and wife, parent and children, friend and friend or even pastor and congregation. You may say, “But you don’t understand

how hard it is to bite my tongue and keep my mouth shut, when what I really want to do, is to tell that person off!” Sure I do… because when you bite your tongue literally, it hurts—with real pain. When you bite your tongue emotionally, it hurts—your real pride.

Practice doing this word… because “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” If you want to keep down wrath and anger, use soft words and know that the spirit of wrath does not produce the righteousness of God, but only a grave designed by the enemy as a trap. …Think about it!

The moment you wake up each day, your mind begins to speak to you. Your mind will begin thinking about your day, your family, God, your goals, your responsibilities, your neighbors, your friends, Jesus, your enemies, your state of health, your level of beauty, your level of wealth, your popularity, your city or nation, your leaders, your pastor, and social concerns like poverty, the homeless, child abuse, addiction, debt, the news, degradation of society, and crime, and many other things. It is difficult to list the subjects that enter our minds every day. Our minds are capable of thinking thousands of thoughts per day. It is estimated that the average person has 50 thoughts per minute, 3000 per hour and around 72,000 thoughts per day!

That translates to 504,000 thoughts per week, 2,056,000 thoughts per month and 24,870,000 thoughts per year!

Thoughts are energy, frequencies that initiate physical and emotional responses in your life, and in the lives of those around you.

The source of sadness, depression, and hopelessness is the mind. There are both physical and spiritual things that affect the mind.

For example, physical things that will affect your mind are

nutrient deficiency, medications, infections, toxins, chemical or heavy metal exposure or wounds and trauma. Any of these can affect the normal function of the mind causing distress, confusion, or other negative emotional states. The spiritual things that can affect the mind are negative or evil energy from other people, or the presence of dark spiritual forces that are the source of hatred, anger, murder, division, greed and sickness, etc.

In order to maintain control of the mind, both the physical and spiritual influences must be addressed. We like to call this mind maintenance. Just like we must brush our teeth and nourish our bodies daily to be healthy, we must also maintain our minds, consciousness and spiritual atmosphere in order to have the life that God intended for us. Recent scientific research indicates that allowing negative thoughts to manifest in the mind creates chemical reactions that cause disease and sickness. When God encourages us to keep our mind thinking on “whatever things are true… honest… just…pure…lovely… of a good report,” it is to help maintain our virtue and heal our minds and bodies to be

blessed! Philippians 4:8 Anything that tries to draw your mind into a negative thought realm must be resisted and refused, for the spiritual safety of your mind and health!

We are instructed in the Word to be constantly “casting down vain imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 YES, EVERY THOUGHT. It may sound difficult or challenging, but it gets easier the more you become aware of your mental terrain. God’s first commandment was to worship God with all of your heart, MIND, body, soul and spirit! So if God commanded us to do this, it means that we CAN do this! Anytime God gives us a command or directive, if we find ourselves

having difficulty doing that command, we can simply ask for His grace, His ability, His assistance by the Holy Spirit to help us to honor Him in that way. So, when you are needing to gain mastery over your thought life, ask for God’s help to discern the source of any thought that comes to your mind that you know would not please Him. Sometimes, it is the thoughts of those around us, or music playing in a grocery store, or just evil projection of thoughts from people who wish us evil or harm. The Bible also tells us that the evil one can send thoughts of evil, like darts, into our minds to try to get us to sin, to tempt us to do wrong. As soon as you recognize something floating around in your mind that is not good, or Holy, take authority over it, take it captive, and say NO, I will not allow that thought in my mind, GO in Jesus’ Name!

Then speak what God would have you speak over that subject. If you hear negative thoughts about someone you go to church with in your mind, just say NO, I will not think those thoughts of accusation or criticism or gossip, but I will bless that person and pray for God to help them and heal them! As you begin to monitor your thoughts instead of just letting them run wild with

whatever pops into your mind, you will begin to have mastery and victory over your mind.

When you start thinking negatively about yourself, or your life, you will be able to recognize that those thoughts are NOT what God wants you to meditate on, and then you must start thinking and speaking what God says over you and your life.

The most helpful tip I have learned about gaining control over this part of myself is that the speech center of the brain is the most dominant region of the brain and ALL other systems and regions respond to it immediately. Try it out!

For example, try to count to 10 in your mind and when you get to 5, say, JESUS IS LORD, and you will notice that the numbers are not in your mind anymore, but instead, what you said is what is in your mind. When Jesus said you will have what you say, it is because of this fact about the speech center and when mixed with faith, you will have what you say.

Reading the promises of God out loud over yourself, your family, your finances, your church, and your destiny is so very powerful. I have found that the more that I speak the Word over any part of my life, the more faith builds up, and the more I see the promises of God manifest in

those areas. For thousands of years, since the first Hebrew scroll was written, people spoke the Word of God. They spoke of creation, God’s promises, God’s love and of His son Jesus. Even in the schools in America, reading was done out loud, together until the 1970’s. There is still some occasional reading aloud in schools, but only a fraction of what it used to be, and they used the Bible for their reading exercises back then too. We can painfully see the effect of removing the Bible reading exercises from the children in this generation.

Many people are not aware of how much what we see or hear affects our mindset and our thoughts and so they are not actively resisting what they are exposed to on a daily basis.

TV, music, advertising, gossip, social media, and ungodly associations all have the potential to influence your mind to dwell on negative, harmful, destructive concepts. When you realize what kind of time you are giving to the negative influences, you will begin to see the source of your sadness, your discontent, your anger, your grief and hopelessness. Reading the Word, the Bible, about God’s love for us, His promises

through Jesus and about the life with Him to come is a tremendous blessing and is healthy for our minds and bodies. Your contentment, happiness and joy come only from God and increases in correlation to how much time you are reading about the promises of God, worshiping God and listening to music about His love and goodness, or spending time with people who adore the Lord who are experiencing His amazing grace on a daily basis.

death. His blood cleanses us from all sin and penalty of sin. He has given us the very Spirit of God to live and dwell inside of us, in our minds and hearts and our bodies! When Jesus went about healing all that were oppressed of the devil and every type of disease, it included any affliction or dysfunction of the mind. It is these kind actions of Jesus that shows us that it is indeed the will of God to heal us and for us to have sound minds!

Jesus came so that our joy would be full and that we would have life and life more abundantly. John 10:10 Scripture tells us that God has plans for us, to prosper us, and to give us a hope and a future. Jesus bore not only our sins, but also our sorrows, pains, sickness, poverty, and separation from the Father.

Jesus gave us victory over the curse of the law of sin and

Start today, cleanse your mind of physical and spiritual things that keep you from the best life God has for you! To have the contentment, the joy, the peace in your life that you long for, just keep your mind focused on God and His promises.

Command anything that does not line up with His plan for you to go from you in the Name of Jesus. Read aloud a list of the

promises of God wants for you as His child.

Then command the things God wants for your life to come to you in Jesus’ name! Love, peace, joy, goodness, kindness are all of the fruits of His Holy Spirit, while healing, miracles, prophesy, discerning of Spirits and faith are gifts of the Holy Spirit.

They are yours and belong to you because you are in Christ Jesus, you are His. Take control of your mind and use it to honor and glorify God and to obtain the promises He has given you!

“For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7 Imagine how different your life could be by giving some of your thought time to the promises of God! He will keep you in perfect peace, joy and contentment when your mind is stayed upon Him. Isaiah 26:3

Heart of God Fellowship Sunday, April 11, 2016 – 11:00 AM

This world has changed so quickly since the time that I was a child! Things that were illegal and would never be accepted are now legal and considered "normal." How is a Christian supposed to handle this current culture? The word of God gives us instructions about how to do that.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that you may prove what is that good and acceptable will of God. Sadly, many believers around the world have been conforming to this current culture. As children of God, we are to find out what God's Word has to say about issues that we face in this world that we live in. Just because many things have now become acceptable, legal, and times have changed, doesn't mean that these same things should be accepted by Christians.

We are to love all people, but the mistake that many Christians make is that they believe that loving someone is not standing up for what God's Word says, or tolerating sin in the nations where they live.

In the above scripture verses, we see that we are to present ourselves to the Lord, living lives that prove what His will is.

God's will never go

against what His Word says. We are to live our lives, not according to what is accepted by this current culture, but according to what His Word says. Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. If non-believers see little difference in how we live our lives, we can make little difference in theirs. They are supposed to see a difference in us, as if there is a light turned out. When a light is turned on in the dark, you can see it, and it makes a difference. Choose today, that you will see what God's Word has to say about this current culture. Don't base your beliefs on what religion and other people are saying, or even the changing times.

Stick with the unchanging Word of God! Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.

How many of you need a Breakthrough in your finances?

Then let’s look at “The Lord of The Breakthrough”!

So many Christians are in a state of Poverty…

What is Poverty?

Proverbs 13:7 “There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.”

Proverbs 11:24 “Some people give much but get back even more. Others don’t give what they should and end up in poverty.”

Poverty is a “State of Mind” more than a financial condition.

There are people who have lots of money and yet they live with a “Poverty Mindset”!

If you’re not a cheerful giver than you have a “Poverty Mindset” It’s a mindset of lack…

It’s a fear that you won’t have enough for yourself if you give…

It’s a mindset that’s built on the lie that says:

“I’d give if I had more and could afford to give.”

When we are afraid of not having enough…

When we think we won’t have enough…

When we give grudgingly we need deliverance from a “Poverty Mindset”!

If you think those thoughts when it’s time to give, then you are in bondage to money…

If you have a Poverty Mindset - you need a Breakthrough!

Let’s look at how to get a Breakthrough!

2 Samuel 5:17-20 “When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he went into the stronghold.

18 The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. 19So David asked the LORD, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

The LORD replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”

So David went to BaalPerazim and defeated the Philistines there. “The LORD did it!”

David proclaimed: “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-Perazim which means “the Lord of the Breakthrough”.

Let’s look at David for a minute: David was “ANOINTED” as King and as soon as he was anointed he was attacked by the enemy…

The enemy wants to attack you as soon as you are anointed too!

BREAKTHROUGH… Breakthrough is a sudden burst of power or information that takes you past your present line of resistance Do you qualify Breakthrough?

David was King…

for

anointed

a as

Like David we are called to be “Kings and Priests” David Worshipped as a Priest…

2 Samuel 23:1 David was “…the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel…”

Have you made up your mind that you will be qualified for a Breakthrough!

David was also a Giver

You have to make up your mind that you will be a Worshipper and a Giver Have you made up your mind?

1 Chronicles 29:2 - 3 (NLT) “Using every resource at my command, I have gathered as much as I could for building the Temple of my God. 3“And now, because of my devotion to the Temple of my God, I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction.

This is in addition to the building materials I have already collected for his holy Temple.”

Are you Anointed?

Once you make up your mind to be a Worshipper and a Giver you can Declare your Breakthrough!

Then “Declare Breakthrough!”

Your

“I declare Breakthrough is coming in my finances because I am a Worshipper offering the Sacrifices of Praise….

I declare Breakthrough is coming in my finances because I am a Giver; I will pay my Tithes and be generous...

I am in Position and the Lord of the Breakthrough; Baal-Perazim, is going before me like a flood and I am going through!”

‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do‘ (Luke 23:34) One of the most difficult subjects to deal with in our Christian lives is that of forgiveness. This is because it is about personally setting aside our natural wish for justice, defence of wrongs committed against us and letting go of our pursuit of revenge, anger, negativity, bitterness and resentment to love unconditionally.

The need to forgive and be forgiven touches every one of us during our life. For some the traumatic circumstances they face are ruinous and devastating and it takes a determined mind and will to let go. The stark alternative to forgiveness is of course unforgiveness which may satisfy our sense of justice but it won’t change what has happened and its attached poison of hatred is, in the long-run far more costly and devastating to the person holding the anger.

The opening Scripture verse to this article brings us faceto-face with an amazing scene! Having been spat upon and with His back torn to pieces by frenzied acts of evil lashings Jesus, an innocent man now hanging by nails through His hands and feet on

the cross in excruciating pain and being mercilessly derided by the hating onlookers calls out to His Father and says, ‘Forgive them’.

In this single love filled act Jesus healed the effects and separation of humankinds’ evil and granted to each one of us forgiveness for what we have done as a result of our sinful nature. Put simply, if there had been no forgiveness in Jesus there would be no Christian faith. If there is no Christian faith there is no means of reaching the kingdom of Heaven. The merciless shed blood and wounds of the cross of Calvary opened wide the grace-filled heavenly door of forgiveness, freedom and life.

That door of grace can only be entered by the repentant forgiving and forgiven.

Forgiveness is not only an important message of the Christian faith; it is also an active and proactive response that God requires and expects from us. Why do I say this?

Take a look at what Jesus said: ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you’ (John 15:12).

Forgiveness is the heartfelt expression of unconditional love; the same unconditional love that God has for you and me expressed to others.

Forgiveness lies at the very heart of God’s loving character, and the Christian follower must show God’s love and what He has done for us by living a life of forgiveness - that is, to both forgive and be forgiven.

This message is of course one of the central tenets of the Lord’s Prayer. ‘Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us’ (Luke 11: 4). On another occasion we come across Jesus teaching his disciples about the power of faith and, as part of this lesson on having faith in God, Jesus concludes by saying: ‘And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses’ (Mark 11: 25). To forgive is both an act of obedience and recognition our own unrighteousness that is why Paul wrote, ‘Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.

Forgive as the Lord forgave you’ (Colossians 3: 13).

When we forgive we are forgiven by God and we not only find righteousness in His eyes but ‘the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective’ (James 5:16).

You may be going through a tough experience. Sometimes there are no words of explanation or understanding but by way of supportive encouragement I compassionately invite you to take a look at a couple of examples of forgiveness expressed even in the most difficult of circumstances: In May of 1981 the world was suddenly shocked by the actions of Mehmet Ali Agca who raised his gun and coldly shot John Paul II inflicting a near fatal wound. Time Magazine reported that, John Paul II had embraced Ali Agca in his inimitable way and whispered to him words of forgiveness.

The Pontiff did not stop with simple words. John Paul II often visited his would-beassassin and even joined the campaign to have him released from an Italian jail so that he could return to his own country. When asked why he had forgiven Ali Agca, John Paul II replied that it is what Christ had commanded.

What John Paul II demonstrated is that Christianity is not simply about what we say and how we extol Christ; it is about putting into practice Christ-

like living in our own daily lives.

We see this again in this next example of forgiveness which embodies God’s love to a sinful world through the actions of a humble Christian couple. In 1987, whilst standing carefree and happy with his beloved daughter Marie watching a Remembrance Day service parade in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland a terrorist’s bomb detonated and Gordon Wilson (1927 – 1995), still holding his daughter’s hand, was completely buried under a pile of rubble with her.

Marie aged just twenty lost her life that day along with nine other bystanders. The last, heart-wrenching words Gordon heard from Marie were, ‘daddy, I love you very much’. When interviewed about the bombing that had claimed his daughter’s life, Gordon Wilson’s selfless act was to express his forgiveness towards those who had planted the device.

He said that he bore no illwill or grudge and added that he would pray for them, pleading that no one would take revenge for his daughter’s death.

The loss of their beloved daughter shattered Gordon and his wife and their pain

made worse by those who heartlessly criticised them for their actions of forgiveness but as Christians they were eager that their small town would not be torn apart by the tragedy and that the people would be reconciled and live in harmony with one another again, as they had before.

In truth trusting God and obeying his command to forgive instead of seeking retribution, revenge or justice do not remove the pain of losses such as the Wilson’s.

There is always a price to pay for offering forgiveness. It cost Jesus his life!

Forgiveness all so often comes amidst great pain, injustice and even sacrifice but its reward is that it lifts us out of the life-long destructive and hurtful torment and shackles that unforgiveness, which separates us from God otherwise offers.

When we forgive somebody who has wronged us, we’re spared the miserable corrosion of bitterness and wounded pride. For both parties, forgiveness means the freedom to again be at peace in them self and glad in each other’s presence.

Forgiveness is not something that comes after justice is

finally achieved and nor is it dependent upon conditions or circumstances. It is an

attitude of love expressed through forgiveness which refuses to harbor bitterness,

anger, hate, resentment or revenge.

You can read more in The Language of Love, Forgiveness, Faith, Prayer and Healing by Leon Gosiewski available from Amazon or www.dunamisfire.com

Jesus said in John 3:1-8 You must be Born again.

Praise God! As born again Christians we have so much to be thankful for!

We, through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, have been made new creatures in Christ! (2 Cor. 5:17) We are not just forgiven sinners!

When a person accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior they are not just forgiven, they are made brand new! They receive a new spirit straight from the Manufacturer. After all isn't that what NEW means! God has no record of their prior existence! He said He would remember their sins no more! Thank you Father God! I would like to give an illustration of what happens to a person when they are born again by this little story.

A man is in the hospital holding his new born child.

Very tenderly he looks at his tiny little baby. One thing a newborn child has is total innocence!

A nurse however comes on the scene shouting at the man saying You can't love that child!

The dad answers ...Why Not? The nurse says snidely What about its past?

The dad looks at the child then at the nurse with raised

eyebrows and says lady I don't know what you're talking about! This baby has no past! It was just born! It just now came into being! It's his first day on earth!

Well I think you can readily see the analogy!

When a person gets born again, the Great Heavenly Father takes them in His arms and says "This is my beloved child in whom I am well pleased!"

Satan comes shouting "You can't love that person!"

God says "Why not?"

Satan, the accuser of the brethren says "What about its past?"

God says with a smile "What Past? This one has no past! It was just now born! It's his first day on earth as far as I am concerned!

Hallelujah! Thank you Lord!

But that's not all! That's only the beginning! The new born is God's very own child!

Bone of His Bone, flesh of His flesh. He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit with the Lord!

The new born has been delivered from the powers of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of His First Born!(Jesus) Romans 8:1 With the same standing with the Father as the Firstborn! The born again baby now belongs to a new

kingdom! The kingdom of Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost!

There is now therefore, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus! (Romans 8:1) The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made him free from the law of sin and death.

(Romans 8:2) He has been redeemed from the curse of the law! (Poverty, sin, and the second death) (Galations 3:13) All his sins have been washed away!

Never to be remembered!

All his sicknesses have been healed.

(Legally) The angels of God are encamped around him!

(Psalm 91) The Blood of Jesus is over him.

(Ephesians 1:7) The everlasting arms of God are under him.

He has power over all the powers of the devil. (Luke 10:19)

His God (Father) will supply all of his needs (Spiritually, mentally, physically, and financially) according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus!

This little new born creature can be filled with the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead! (Romans 8:11) With the same power Jesus had when He was here!

Just like you were born naturally on earth, and that was only the beginning of your earthly journey! You had a whole world to discover! Walking, talking, seeing beautiful things! It will

take a lifetime to discover just a portion of what God has created for all people!

When you got born again you entered your spiritual journey. You now can spend a lifetime discovering what God has prepared for those who love, and believe Him! You are His Child! In Him we have obtained an inheritance!

(Ephesians 1:11) We are heirs of God, and Joint heirs with Jesus!

Romans 8: All that He has belongs to His heirs!

(Romans 8:14-17) Oh! How thankful we should be! So many things to be

thankful for!

God almighty is worthy to be praised and thanked for all He has done! I am also thankful that He allowed me to be born in this wonderful country!

(USA) We are so blessed to be in a Christian Nation! (No matter what many are saying in the media) Katherin Kuhlman said "In the light of all that Jesus has accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection, what's left but PRAISE? Praise Him! Thank Him! Worship Him! He is Worthy

Sometimes we are all caught up with what we don’t own. Maybe it’s the newest IPhone or that designer handbag. Most times we don’t think about how blessed we actually are because we are too busy focusing on what we don’t possess. While there is nothing wrong with wanting things, this shouldn’t be what we are focusing on. Stop thinking about what you don’t have and start thanking the Lord for everything that you do own. Even the things that you are praying and believing for should be given thanks to God. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says,” In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Many things are taken for granted because we don’t stop to be thankful. Some people don’t know Jesus, and they are doomed to hell. We will not be having that same fate because we have accepted Jesus. With this being said, we are too busy focusing on materialistic things

that we don’t even take the time to truly have gratitude for our fate through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Some don’t make the time to praise him and give him the thanks that He deserves. This kind of thing isn’t something that deserves gratitude for a short time, but forever.

Ephesians 5:20 says,” Giving thanks always for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I am fully persuaded and believe with my whole heart everyone can live a clean healthy lifestyle; that is, eliminating refined sugar, processed foods, chemicals, and negative emotions, without the use of “magic” pills, potions, &/or patches.

(Romans 4:21, Matthew 6:14, Isaiah 43:18, Colossians 3:23) In a society where it is widely accepted to gain weight, become less active, deal with aches and pains as we age, I have a question for you.

Why spiral down when you can rise up? (Isaiah 40:31) When I was asked to submit an article for this month’s magazine, I had initially planned to submit an excerpt from my new book, “Wholeheartedly”.

But I truly believe God has placed a message on my heart.

If you are interested in learning how to quickly and easily make the transition into living clean, I highly recommend you read the book which is available on Amazon in paperback and kindle version.

But for today’s message, I believe God is telling us to dig deeper, press in, and listen to Him for complete success to our core! Let’s forego the superficial and make real, lasting changes!

The Bible instructs us to “pray for one another”.

(James 5:16) “Instructs” being the operative word. In other words, praying for one another is a directive not a suggestion. God makes it clear, we are to pray for one another. Dr. Terry Mize taught me to lock into prayer covenant when I agree to pray for someone, and stay locked in until victory is won. And I wholeheartedly believe in that.

That said, I have seen some individuals ask for prayer but continue the same habits that required prayer and then, once “victory doesn’t manifest”, or the problem reoccurs, God is blamed.

For example, if I were to drink bleach, then ask for prayer for chemical burns, but continue to drink bleach, and then blame God (and those praying for me) for failing to manifest healing, most people would want me to immediately see a psychiatrist!

However, (for example) a person may become frustrated at repeatedly asking for prayer for wholeness in their kidneys while consuming massive amounts of soda. That is counterproductive behavior.

(James 2:14-26) I believe God’s message for such a time as this is, roots. I believe we must dig through

the top layers of the situations we are facing and dig out the root of the problem and persevere to lasting victory!

Fervently pray, of course!

But also, “put our hand to the plow”! (Deuteronomy 30:9) I am fully persuaded God shows us great and mighty things we do not know!

(Jeremiah 33:3, 1 John 5:14) I am also fully persuaded, when God shows us what changes to make and we faithfully do what He instructs us to do, our lives change forever, as well as those around us and, generations who follow us!

(James 2:14-26) Lastly, I am fully persuaded it is critical to insure we are not asking amiss. (James 4:3) When we experience a weapon that has been formed against us, we ask God to show us exactly how to handle the matter. God goes before us, of course! But we have to insure we do our part

in order to work with God and not against God! Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray for every reader and decree and declare they are made whole by and through the Blood of Jesus! I thank

You for revealing to each of us root issues that cause problems in our lives and I thank You for supernaturally enabling us to overcome and walk in complete freedom!

We acknowledge and agree, we are not our own but we

1-2 So

here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Romans 12:1-2 (MSG)

have been bought with a price so we purpose to glorify you in everything we think, say, and do. Thank You for correcting us and thank You for teaching us and making our paths straight!

I’ve Got “GOD ESTEEM!”

by: Kathy Weddle

Self-esteem; it’s essential to good mental health, right? Let’s see here….. The definition of Self-esteem from the dictionary: 1. a realistic respect for or favorable impression of oneself; self-respect.

2. an inordinately or exaggeratedly favorable impression of oneself.

I like #1 pretty well; it would be good to feel good about myself. After all, I have to live with me, right? Self-esteem, or the lack there of, will guide my success or failure in life, right? #2, not so much.

Here are some synonyms: Self-worth Self-respect Self-value That’s pretty good so far; reasonable.

We’re taught to consider ourselves valuable, respectable. We’re supposed to have a healthy sense of self-worth. So we’re told. I decided to see the history on the term “self-esteem”. I didn’t go very

far at all. Keep in mind, this is in the DICTIONARY. Pride Yes, pride. Before Self-esteem was called Self-esteem, it was called Pride. I don’t remember many positive statements about Pride in the Word.

I’ve had issues with self-esteem, and the lack there of. And Self-respect, value, and worth. The bad choices (that’s PC for “sin”, you know) I’ve made in the past often bring me way down, way down. “I’m not good enough”, I think. I struggle. I’m a strong believer in Grace (till I have a bad day, then it’s for everyone but ME). Yet, there is John

3:16. Now, we know it says “For God so loved the world” ,but you know, it really means each individual world, that is, me, you, your mom, dad, kid, neighbor. In fact, I’m so sure of this I have a statement on my personal checks, down by the signature line that states “If you were the ONLY one on earth, He’d have died for you”. The ONLY one. Who needs self-esteem? I’ve got “God

esteem”. He sees me as precious, the apple of His eye, worth dying for. He went to the ends of all to secure my place beside Him. THAT is what I must burn into the deepest part of my psyche, my mind, my emotions. My worth, esteem, respect, and value comes from a Man named Jesus Christ. That's all the esteem I'll ever need.

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, and would like to be, all you have to do is repent of your sins and invite Jesus into your heart.

Say the prayer below, and mean it from your heart. If you decide to make Jesus Lord of your life, we would LOVE to hear from you.

Please go to: https://www.facebook.com/faithunlimitedemagazine and leave us a note. God Bless you for this life changing decision!

Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I thank you for dying on the cross for me. I confess with my mouth. I believe in my heart that you are the Son of God. I believe you are the Lord and that God raised you from the dead. Please, forgive me of my sins. Wash my heart clean. Come live in my life. Be the Lord of my life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit.

Teach me to walk with you and live for you the rest of my life. Thank you for saving me and for giving me the gift of eternal life in Heaven with you. Amen.