Recap III

That's it! No more scriptures to unpack, break down, or discuss. This morning we continue our recap of what we have learned over the last few months.

Let's review:

1. Don't dwell on the past. It would have been very easy for the woman with the issue of blood to wallow in pity, but she kept looking for a way out of her situation. She tried the doctors, she tried her religion, and then she tried Jesus. And that's the point, she kept on trying, she never gave up, and she kept moving forward! A 'forward-ever, backward-never' mentality goes a long way! (see Mark 5:25-29).

2. Expand your capacity to believe God. Do you truly believe? This woman did. She believed for a breakthrough when all human hope was gone and her belief opened the door to her faith. You will never get to the faith stage if you can't get past the belief stage! (see Mark 5:25-29).

3. Speak faith-filled words. The language of faith speaks its desired outcome. That's exactly what this woman did and her faith fueled the action required for her breakthrough. Nursing and rehearing the situation will never change it. Speak what you want, not what you have! (see Mark 5:25-29).

4. Watch your mouth! Do not underestimate the power of words. You release a message every time you open your mouth and you should be cognizant of what messages you are releasing. Your words can either release faith or fear and the enemy will turn up the heat on you every time you speak faith. His hope is that the heat will make you buckle under the pressure. But your God is bigger than the heat! Don't allow what you see to change what you say!

5. Remain IN-FAITH! When you have an issue it's not hard to fall on your knees and pray. It might take some humility, but praying is not the hard part. The hard part comes afterwards, in the space between your prayer and the performance, in the space between your confession and the completion, in the space between "I believe I receive, Amen" and "There it is!" That's the challenge, because in the space between the prayer and the performance, the devil will attempt to cause problems. In the space between the confession and the completion the devil will attempt to stir up confusion. It's in that space that we must remain in faith and patient (see Heb 6:12).

6. Choose your friends wisely. When you are dealing with a difficult situation you must surround yourself with people of 'like-precious-faith.' If you surround yourself with the wrong people you will hear the wrong things. You need an 'inner-circle;' a small group of people you can rely on when the going gets rough. These are people who will be there for you and you for them.

Father, I declare, by faith, that I will not settle for anything less than the manifestation of Your promises in my life. Once I receive a promise in my spirit, either from Your Word or Your voice, I resolve to operate in faith and patience until the promise is a reality in my life. I will not allow the enemy to cause me to change my confession and I will not allow what I see - even if it gets worse before it gets better - to change what I say. The devil has no place in me, no power over me, and no unsettled claims against me. So he can't stifle my faith with suggestions of condemnation. I have been forgiven, I am in faith, I have patience, and I will HOLD ON until I see You best in my life! In Jesus' name. Amen!