“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” J.K. Rowling
Forward Thinkers, we must have a strategy and we must review it and adjust it as needed. The enemy is on his game while the church is playing games.
Matthew 11:12New International Version (NIV)
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[a] and violent people have been raiding it.
Forward Thinkers, the Kingdom of God is under attack and the righteous must go take back everything the devil has stolen by force. But remember, our greatest weapon is the Word of God.
Forward Thinkers, there are 5 areas that the devil attacks daily to defeat us:
1) FAITH – Forward Thinkers, the opposite of faith is fear and doubt. The enemy knows if you are living in fear, you lose your will to fight, to continue your pursuits, and you have no desire to go forward. Forward Thinkers, faith pleases God so the enemy will attack your faith daily.
2) FAMILY – Forward Thinkers, the enemy knows that divided, we are weaker. God created the family as the foundation and the devil desires to crack the foundation which will put everything in jeopardy. The enemy will attack every aspect of family including your spiritual family because he realizes that the power of unity makes us invincible.
3) FREEDOM – Forward Thinkers, the devil wants to lock us up physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially to steal our peace of mind and force us into living beneath our full potential.
4) FINANCES – Forward Thinkers, the bible says the poor will always be with you but God was not referring to the Believer, but to those who choose not to believe. A major plot of the devil is to manipulate us into making poor choices which will result in us living under daily pressure and stress. The devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy our financial structure.
5) FITNESS – Forward Thinkers, we must wake up and realize the enemy has a plan to force sickness and diseases into our communities to keep us weak and unable to fight him back. We must learn to make better health choices and stay alert before sickness and disease destroys our next generation of leaders.
Forward Thinkers, we are more than conquerors. Romans 8:37
Do you believe the Word ?
Look at Luke 4:18-20. Jesus came to save the lost and take it all back.
Luke 4:18-21New International Version (NIV)
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a]
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Forward Thinkers, Jesus states His mission statement; declaring He was going to take it all back. Then He says with all eyes on Him this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.
Forward Thinkers, faith comes by hearing but manifestation comes by believing in faith what you heard. Forward Thinkers, we must move from just hearers of the word into doers of the word.
Do you believe the Word of God?
Forward Thinkers, let me remind us again; to be a Christian means we are Christ-like and if Christ came to take it all back, we must go and do likewise and take it all back.
1 Samuel 30:1-4New International Version (NIV)
30 David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, 2 and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.
3 When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep.
Forward Thinkers, the enemy attacked and took everything and the men were left feeling defeated and hopeless. Life will sometimes knock us down but we must refuse to stay down.
1 Samuel 30:6-8New International Version (NIV)
6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.
Forward Thinkers, when life and people turn on us, thank God we can turn to Him for strength.
7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?”
Forward Thinkers, this is a battle we must fight using spiritual weapons- prayer, fasting, meditation, the Word of God if we desire total victory.
“Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”
Forward Thinkers, the Lord says go take back your stuff and I’ll back you up and you know God doesn’t lose.
1 Samuel 30:16New International Version (NIV)
16 He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah.
Forward Thinkers, the enemy is throwing a premature party and you’re getting ready to crash the party and take back everything you lost.
1 Samuel 30:18New International Version (NIV)
18 David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives.
Forward Thinkers, if you notice along the way, some of David’s men got tired and gave up but let me encourage you not to give up but stay in hot pursuit of your stuff.
2 Chronicles 20:15 declares this battle is not yours it’s the Lords.
Do you believe the Word?
Final marching orders can be found in Joel 2:25-27
Joel 2:25-27New International Version (NIV)
25 “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm[a]— my great army that I sent among you.
Forward Thinkers, what you lost will determine how big your reward/payday from the Lord will be.
26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed.
Forward Thinkers, praise God He is turning it all around in your favor and you will experience no more shame.
27 Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God,
and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed.
Forward Thinkers, shout victory! Shout yes, Lord!
Pastor E. A. Deckard is the Senior Pastor/Founder of the Green House International Church located, in both Houston, Texas, and the Woodlands, Texas. Pastor Deckard is also the Co-Founder of the No More Bloodshed Movement. To contact Pastor Deckard for speaking engagements contact him at pr.ghic@gmail.com, follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Periscope @ Pastor E A Deckard or the church website www.ghic.net