The devil is an expert at attacking people. It has spent centuries fighting mankind in an effort to contend with the Lord. However, the children of God have been well-armed to defeat this enemy. The Bible provides an overview of the many strategies the devil uses. It's all just a matter of whether we take the time to pay attention and let the Spirit of God provide wisdom. When we do these things, we can see the devil coming and prayerfully remain behind our protector, the Lord God Almighty. That way, all the attacking arrows sent our way will hit our hedge of protection, while we continue on our journey unscathed.
God is a giver and kindly has given us His word to help us walk through life on earth to His kingdom in heaven. Alas, satan strives to choke that word out of people. This is done in an effort to cause individuals to forget the Lord's blessings and promises. It is to make people think God is incapable of handling their most troubling concerns. And how does the devil achieve this feat? We are told in Mark 4:18-19: Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
The scripture makes it clear that the enemy fires arrows about the "worries of this life." What does this refer to? This could be the bills you have to pay. How about the stressful boss and coworkers that make your job uncomfortable? Or, this could mean the health issues that tag along, causing distress in your life. But, the devil doesn't stop there. Another weapon the enemy uses is to confuse people with the "deceitfulness of wealth." The devil has convinced so many to seek wealth to the detriment of their soul. The quest for riches becomes an idol that takes precedence over God and the things of God. The devil persuades people to see money as the fix to all their problems, instead of recognizing the Lord as the solution. Meanwhile, the reality is that the dogged focus on wealth, and the unquenchable desire for more of it, is merely a trap. It is the evil spirit of Mammon, which seeks to keep people from reaching heaven.
And before one knows it, "the desires for other things come in" to suffocate the word of God from a person's lips and their very heart. That person would have once been a fervent believer in God who over time, cannot find time or energy to study the Bible, to pray, to worship the Lord, or do what pleases Him. Instead of God's grace improving them, they seek solely to please their flesh - doing what makes them happy - while being unconcerned about the things that make God smile. Mark 8:36 - For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world [with all its pleasures], and forfeit his soul? (AMP).
We have to be on high alert because satan always applies these tactics against us with the goal of making the word of God unfruitful in our lives. The devil wants us to think that walking faithfully with God is unprofitable. It wants us to abandon our position of authority and victory, which are only obtained in the bosom of God Almighty. However, if we walk away and allow the enemy of our souls to drive us from the safety of our Lord, then it wins. Is that what you want? Never forget that Jesus resisted the devil by speaking the word of God. It is therefore something each of us must be prepared to do. God wants us to stand, head high against all the schemes of the devil, and has committed to help us do so (Isaiah 43:2). Don't let the devil choke the word of God from you. It is the ballistic missile needed to silence and incapacitate satan.
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From JUL - Please pray for my aunt. She witnessed an elderly person get hit by a car and killed.
And please pray for the elderly man's family during this tragic time.
And the driver of the car, their life and mental health. They are cooperating with the police.
A very sad and tragic accident.
CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for another opportunity to gather to Your glory. Thank You for teaching us today, for the chance to worship You as well as the opportunity to stand in the gap for others as intercessors.
We are grateful for these blessings.
Lord, we call on You to move on behalf of our prayer subjects. May their lives be transformed as You put our petitions into effect for them. As You do so, also remember us, dear God, for honoring You with our praises and for obeying Your instruction to pray for others. Please remember and answer the desires of our hearts and work miracles on our behalf, IJMN, Amen.
Dear Lord, we lift @MFC to You. Whatever it is that the devil is trying to use to choke Your word out of her, I decree the word of the Lord, the Lord rebuke you satan. Father, I pray over her, that Your word shall be a lamp to her feet. That it shall bring her joy and strength. Thy will alone be done in her life, IJN, Amen.
From sis FJ -
Be exalted oh Lord, the God over this fellowship.
Abba, it is written, "where two or more gather in My name, I am there with them."
Also Paul Your servant prayed for a church, that "God would provide all your needs out of His riches in glory"
God, I pray that would would bless P&P, BCF, VXF, RIC, and all other fellowships and ministries that I am aligned with. Please meet their needs for members, Holy Spirit's presence, clarity, funds, and everything. Please let them experience victory in every area, because You promise that "the path of the righteous is brighter and brighter into the coming dawn".
Amen IJN
LAST 10 MINUTES
Let's not waste any time.
If you read today's message, then now is the time to ask the Lord for mercy for every time you have succumbed to the devil's tactics. Thank God for not letting go of you and keeping you covered in the hollow of His hand. Pray for comprehension and sight from the Holy Spirit so you can readily identify these attacks and overcome them before they pull you away from your Heavenly Father.
Pray, people. Don't take this petition lightly. Cry out to God. He will answer you.
Lord, I submit Your daughter @AC to You. She suffered a setback and has been told additional surgery is needed.
Firstly, I want to thank You for preserving and protecting her life. All glory belongs to You, my King.
Secondly, I want to thank You for not only surrounding her with prayer help but also surrounding her with good medical care.
Jehovah Rapha, I call on You to take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it around to Your glory. When Jesus walked the earth, He healed many people and those actions caused those healed as well as the witnesses to rejoice in You. This shall be the case for our sister's situation. As Your mighty healing work continues to do miracles, she will rejoice and others will join her in worshiping You.
Thank You in advance for answering this prayer, IJMN, Amen.
Lord, we lift up the situation @jus shared with us.
Good God, I place the person lost before You and call on You to kindly have mercy upon that soul. I pray for their loved ones who are surely in mourning. Please comfort them and let Your merciful joy and Your praises replace their despair. May Your word come to pass in their lives - Matthew 5:12 - Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
I call on You to be of great help to the person who hit the dead individual. I pray that You will help them in their grief and pain as well. Lord, I pray that they were not negligent in the accident and ask that Your mercy and healing will help them through this season. That the devil will not seize on this to lie to them but instead they will come to know You and hear Your truth.
I also lift up her aunt.
It cannot be easy to witness a gruesome death. Lord, we lift this lady up to You and call on You to kindly give her peace in accordance with 2 Thessalonians 3:16 - Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
Father comfort her and fill her with Your presence and peace.
IJMN, Amen.
From AC - Lord, I pray that you instill Your Holy Ghost confidence and courage in PF as she facilitates the church event tomorrow. May you remove her anxiety and replace it with Your supernatural, transcending peace, for Your name’s sake Jesus, Amen!
From sis FJ - Father God,
You are the Lord of Hosts. God Almighty. Ruler of all creation.
I pray for you to send deliverance to captives. It is written, "even the captives of the mighty shall be set free, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered"
Oh Lord of Hosts, I call on You to send angelic help to bring the captives out of the darkness and into Your marvelous light. Send help to those who are being trafficked, those who are in spiritual bondage, and those who otherwise need Your freedom. Thank You God for answering this prayer given that it is in accordance with Your will. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
From BIÂ - Lord, I lift up my sister @AC into Your capable hands. Even through trials, You have shown her Your grace and love. I pray that You heal and strengthen her mind, body and spirit. Lord, please watch over her and remain in her. Be her provider and sustainer. Mighty One, I pray for Your blessings on my sister, her medical team and her loved ones. Please provide Your daughter with healing, pain management and strength. May she return to give her praise report and testimony all to Your glory IJMN Amen.
PRAYER TIME
We have worshiped the Lord and now, we turn our attention to praying for others.
Yes, you have prayer needs for yourself but put those to the side and focus on someone else right now.
Pray for others. You never know how your prayers can be the difference someone needs.
God of Jeshurun
God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob
The God who answered by fire
The God who sent Jesus for our sake
God of the heavenly lights
The God who created the heavens, the earth, the seas and everything in them
The everlasting God
The Holy One
The Righteous One
The One who cannot lie
The One who spoke from the beginning and it is true today and forever
Father there is no one like You. I give You all the glory and rejoice that I have You as my God.
Thank You for never lifting Your gracious hand from me. Thank You for showing love, kindness, mercy and so much more to my loved ones and I.
Thank You for proving Yourself the Prayer Answering God.
You are the God of my Hallelujahs. I thank You!
Almighty God, thank You for the blessing of Your Presence in our midst. Take Your rightful place Almighty Redeemer.
For we are made in Your image by Your hand and subject to Your everlasting authority.
We welcome You to this place. Wherever we are, we welcome You into the atmosphere, Father.
You who reigneth on the throne. To Yourself and to the Lamb be praise and honor, glory and power, forever and ever, Amen (Revelation 5:13).
Lord, You are the God who reigns in complete authority and dominion. Thank You for being the only God. The Alpha & Omega.
I thank You because nobody compares to You. Nothing can do what You do.
The false gods of Egypt tried to compete with You but couldn't keep up!
The prophets of Baal and the Asherah poles thought their false gods could measure up with You, but only You answered by fire on Mount Carmel.
When the Philistines thought their god Dagon could sit in Your presence, You shattered their false god to pieces and infested their land with rats and tumors.
God, who is like unto Thee? Among the gods, who is like unto Thee?
You are glorious in holiness and fearful in praises. Always doing wonders. Hallelujah!!!
From ACÂ - Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast - Psalm 139:7–10
God-Omnipresent, God-Omnipotent, God-Omniscient there is none greater than You. The mighty YHWH-Shammah, thank You for Your assurance that You are always beside me. Thank You. Thank You. I give You the highest of praise and crown You with all glory and honor. Holy Holy forever are You. Amen.
Heavenly Father, thank You for this day. Thank You for the blessed privilege of waking up and seeing the world around me. Thank You for time spent with You and that which You taught.
Thank You for being the giver of every good thing. You are so merciful and kind to give us what is needed when needed. Thank You for hearing prayers and answering them. Even those that remain unspoken.
Glory be to You, my excellent God.
From BIÂ - I have returned to say thank You Abba for never forsaking me. Thank You for taking care of me and providing for me. It is wonderful knowing I can always approach Your throne of grace. Unchangeable God, thank You for being the same yesterday, today and forever. I will glorify Your Holy Name forever.
PRAISE TIME
What has the Lord done for you lately? Or for someone you know? Did you hear about a miracle or blessing that happened to a stranger?
Now is the time to thank the Lord for what He did. It is also the time to praise Him for who He is in His majesty.
We shall spend the next 25 minutes glorifying God together. Let's make a joyful noise to the Lord Almighty!
From ND22Â - Happy FRIDAY, we are up and BREATHING!
From ACÂ - Good Friday morning blessings to you all. I give glory to God for gathering us today in fellowship and for His timely message, FFJ received to share with us.
For several days I have been reading Matthew 13 over and over (in different versions), specifically 13:20-23
The one on whom seed was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and at once welcomes it with joy; yet he has no [substantial] root in himself, but is only temporary, and when pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles and falls away
And the one on whom seed was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the worries and distractions of the world and the deceitfulness [the superficial pleasures and delight] of riches choke the word, and it yields no fruit. Matthew 13:20-23 (AMP)
I was part rocky ground seed and seed amongst thorns for a moment this week, as I had a horrible health setback and will have to undergo another surgery next week. During this moment, I definitely allowed the enemy to choke The Word from me and I believed God had abandoned me and that I was forsaken. I am okay right now, and I thank God for his comfort and reassurance, and for rallying my loved ones around me, to pray over me, and lift me up...but it makes me sad to see how during that moment of vulnerability, I believed the (enemy's) lies that were in my head.
May the Holy Spirit help us all to stand firm and remain grounded and deeply rooted in the Word during ALL times, so that it will become the foundation for our lives. In Jesus' name, Amen.