1 Corinthians 14:8
For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?
Life is a battle. There are ebbs and flows in this battle, but it is real none-the-less. Many people in Canada battle addictions, battle in their marriage, battle over kids, battle for kids. We battle in life; even in the church and with other churches we battle. 1 Corinthians 4:8 “for if the trumpet gives an UNCERTAIN SOUND, who shall prepare himself to battle.” The context of this verse is in relation to tongues and the interpretation of those tongues. He uses instruments as examples that are meant to carry a CERTAIN SOUND. IF THEY ARE not played right, how will anyone know what they are meant to sound like? Then, vs. The word “UNCERTAIN” means, “without manifestation, not apparent, CONCEALED. It’s applied to graves, overgrown with weeds and thus concealed. Church, you and I were created to carry a sound. Yet because of miss-use, ignorance, hurt, battles, we are making NOISE but it’s an uncertain sound. It’s not the sound of Christ or heaven that comes out of us at times. It’s instead the sound of carnality and hurt. It’s a sound, but an uncertain sound, and because of it, we are unprepared for battle. Church, the devil wants what is in you to be concealed, hidden, never sounding right, just enough to get you by but never change. Wineskins never change when the sound is uncertain. So the uncertain sound creeps into our music, our message, and our methods. Now watch, a trumpet then was not like the trumpets of today. The trumpet was a WIND instrument. When the breath, the wind of God is able to blow through these earthen vessels we carry a CERTAIN sound that changes atmospheres. Trumpets were used for war and to assemble the army. Gideon’s army rallied under the sound of the trumpet. Trumpets were blown to announce Jubilee. It was used in battle. When it was offering time, they blew the trumpet. All and more had a certain sound. Now imagine the watchmen on the wall and he sees an enemy approaching and instead of blowing it with the sound that let’s them know, he instead blows the sound of Jubilee. So as the people gather for Jubilee, they are NOT READY for the attack that’s coming. Why? Because the trumpet gave an uncertain sound. Out of your spirit must come a CERTAIN sound, a clear sound. Every other group on the planet tells people what they think, but the church comes across with an uncertain sound. Not clear, concealed etc. Our message MUST BE CLEAR AND CERTAIN or who will turn the tide of the evil sound of the enemy. Watchmen on the wall are not blowing the trumpet, so the enemy does.
So atheists blow the trumpet.
Immorality blows the trumpet.
SEX Ed. Blows the trumpet.
Church, we must arise with a certain sound, a clear sound and blow the trumpet in Zion and sound the alarm on My holy mountain.
Church, you and I were born again and we are to carry a sound. We must not conceal what heaven has put in us.
Yours for Revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
No Limits
Zechariah 2:1-5
1 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand.
2 So I said, “Where are you going?”
And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.”
3 And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him,
4 who said to him, “Run, speak to this young man, saying: ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it.
5 For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”
Mark 16:2-6
2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
3 And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.
5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
Ask a man in a wheelchair to climb three flights of stairs and he will say, “I CAN’T DO THAT.”
Ask a blind woman to walk through a stranger’s house and she will say, “I CAN’T DO THAT.”
A person without legs can’t play football. Can they do other things? Yes, just not those things. Why? They are LIMITED in what they do.
And so because we are all LIMITED In some way, we tend to LIMIT GOD.
What limits you?
What is stopping you?
Maybe you feel your life is a bunch of NO’S.
Will I ever get over this? NO.
Will I ever feel better? NO.
Will my job ever get better? NO.
Will my finances ever get better? NO.
Will I ever see my dream fulfilled? NO.
In Mark 16, Jesus was their HOPE. The cross had just seemed to say NO to the life of Christ.
Now they are heading to a tomb to pay respects.
They were not expecting resurrection, they were grieving.
“What about the stone? How will we move it?”
Kind of like our problems.
So big. They block us, too big for us. What are we going to do? Who will help us?
But when they got there, THE STONE WAS ROLLED AWAY.
Now in Zechariah he sees a man measuring Jerusalem.
We are always trying to measure what God’s Word says thus we live a measured life, a restricted life.
Then another angel shows up and says Jerusalem will be a city without walls.
It shall extend BEYOND its present dimension.
Who am I talking to?
You are too limited.
Too restricted.
God says you are going beyond and breaking all LIMITATIONS.
You’re trying the hem God in to your little life.
But God wants to use you beyond your natural ability.
So while you are trying to LIMIT Him, He says, “I WILL BE A WALL OF FIRE all around and I will be the GLORY in her MIDST!”
All your enemies will be defeated.
So stop trying to LIMIT God. We need to put our measuring lines away.
We measure how things work out by our standard.
Our measuring lines keep us safe in our boundaries.
Jesus did not do many miracles in His hometown because they measured Him. They thought they knew Him.
Isaiah 54:2 – this banner is on our sanctuary wall.
“Enlarge the place of your tent,
And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings;
Do not spare;
Lengthen your cords,
And strengthen your stakes.
Enlarge, EXTEND.
Your comfort zone is the limit you put on God.
“What if it does not happen”?
“Shut up, devil”.
You can’t measure God by yourself. With God, ALL things are possible.
There are NO WALLS, no blockades, no barricades, no screens, no enclosures, no barriers, NO LIMITS, NO BOUNDARIES.
Sickness can be healed.
Families can mend.
Demons can be cast out.
Your direction can change.
You can be saved.
Here is how we live a life without measure.
Take RESPONSIBILITY.
Fulfill your call, measure by God, NOT MAN.
Do what you are responsible to do.
If not you, then who?
Be MATURE.
Grow up in Christ. Believe His Word.
Believe beyond what you can see.
LIVE A SELF-SACRIFICING LIFE.
If you died then HE LIVES and you can do ALL THINGS through CHIRST who died of us.
Enlarge our territory, increase our ability to LIVE. Increase my responsibility, increase my maturity, and increase my self-sacrifice.
Take away my measuring stick and show me your WALL OF FIRE and Your GLORY.
God is saying, “Dream again, believe again, and take the limits off.”
RELEASE HIM to do miracles. Take the limits off your marriage.
Take the Limits off your ministry.
Take the Limits off your finances.
Take the Limits off your education.
Take the Limits off your relationship.
Take the Limits off your church.
Take the Limits off your Pastor.
Take the Limits off your Country.
TAKE THE LIMITS OFF
Late on Friday, through the thorns, through the beatings, I can hear Jesus say, “NO LIMITS”.
Through the nails – “NO LIMITS”.
From the hill to the grave I hear Jesus, “NO LIMITS.”
The lamb that was slain for your sins says “NO LIMITS, NO BOUNDARIES”.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
1 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand.
2 So I said, “Where are you going?”
And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.”
3 And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him,
4 who said to him, “Run, speak to this young man, saying: ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it.
5 For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”
Mark 16:2-6
2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
3 And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.
5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
Ask a man in a wheelchair to climb three flights of stairs and he will say, “I CAN’T DO THAT.”
Ask a blind woman to walk through a stranger’s house and she will say, “I CAN’T DO THAT.”
A person without legs can’t play football. Can they do other things? Yes, just not those things. Why? They are LIMITED in what they do.
And so because we are all LIMITED In some way, we tend to LIMIT GOD.
What limits you?
What is stopping you?
Maybe you feel your life is a bunch of NO’S.
Will I ever get over this? NO.
Will I ever feel better? NO.
Will my job ever get better? NO.
Will my finances ever get better? NO.
Will I ever see my dream fulfilled? NO.
In Mark 16, Jesus was their HOPE. The cross had just seemed to say NO to the life of Christ.
Now they are heading to a tomb to pay respects.
They were not expecting resurrection, they were grieving.
“What about the stone? How will we move it?”
Kind of like our problems.
So big. They block us, too big for us. What are we going to do? Who will help us?
But when they got there, THE STONE WAS ROLLED AWAY.
Now in Zechariah he sees a man measuring Jerusalem.
We are always trying to measure what God’s Word says thus we live a measured life, a restricted life.
Then another angel shows up and says Jerusalem will be a city without walls.
It shall extend BEYOND its present dimension.
Who am I talking to?
You are too limited.
Too restricted.
God says you are going beyond and breaking all LIMITATIONS.
You’re trying the hem God in to your little life.
But God wants to use you beyond your natural ability.
So while you are trying to LIMIT Him, He says, “I WILL BE A WALL OF FIRE all around and I will be the GLORY in her MIDST!”
All your enemies will be defeated.
So stop trying to LIMIT God. We need to put our measuring lines away.
We measure how things work out by our standard.
Our measuring lines keep us safe in our boundaries.
Jesus did not do many miracles in His hometown because they measured Him. They thought they knew Him.
Isaiah 54:2 – this banner is on our sanctuary wall.
“Enlarge the place of your tent,
And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings;
Do not spare;
Lengthen your cords,
And strengthen your stakes.
Enlarge, EXTEND.
Your comfort zone is the limit you put on God.
“What if it does not happen”?
“Shut up, devil”.
You can’t measure God by yourself. With God, ALL things are possible.
There are NO WALLS, no blockades, no barricades, no screens, no enclosures, no barriers, NO LIMITS, NO BOUNDARIES.
Sickness can be healed.
Families can mend.
Demons can be cast out.
Your direction can change.
You can be saved.
Here is how we live a life without measure.
Take RESPONSIBILITY.
Fulfill your call, measure by God, NOT MAN.
Do what you are responsible to do.
If not you, then who?
Be MATURE.
Grow up in Christ. Believe His Word.
Believe beyond what you can see.
LIVE A SELF-SACRIFICING LIFE.
If you died then HE LIVES and you can do ALL THINGS through CHIRST who died of us.
Enlarge our territory, increase our ability to LIVE. Increase my responsibility, increase my maturity, and increase my self-sacrifice.
Take away my measuring stick and show me your WALL OF FIRE and Your GLORY.
God is saying, “Dream again, believe again, and take the limits off.”
RELEASE HIM to do miracles. Take the limits off your marriage.
Take the Limits off your ministry.
Take the Limits off your finances.
Take the Limits off your education.
Take the Limits off your relationship.
Take the Limits off your church.
Take the Limits off your Pastor.
Take the Limits off your Country.
TAKE THE LIMITS OFF
Late on Friday, through the thorns, through the beatings, I can hear Jesus say, “NO LIMITS”.
Through the nails – “NO LIMITS”.
From the hill to the grave I hear Jesus, “NO LIMITS.”
The lamb that was slain for your sins says “NO LIMITS, NO BOUNDARIES”.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
LIMITLESS
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
If Christ is in your life there is NOTHING you cannot do.
You can climb any mountain and weather any storm.
Others may turn back, others may quit but you will keep going.
Limitless living refuses to be bound by fear because a giant is talking.
Limitless living will always find the right stone.
Limitless living will discover this pit is NOT your destiny; a palace is waiting.
His wisdom is limitless, so ask for it. Where others failed, you will NOT fail.
So be a plumber
Be a doctor
Be a truck driver
Be a nurse
Be a pastor
Be a business owner
Be a laborer
But do it without LIMITS.
You took the limits off, now live without limits.
Live free.
John 8:36
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
You broke barriers so now don’t go back.
If you could only lift one hundred pounds in the gym, keep building muscle and soon it will be two hundred pounds. NO LIMITS.
Be like Abraham and look up and see LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES.
No fear!
John 3:34
For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.
There is NOTHING you cannot do if you trust Him and walk with Him.
Take the LIMITS off. Would to God if all of us would live a life without LIMITS.
You conquered. You prevailed. Because He conquered and He prevailed.
Now LIVE LIMITLESS.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
If Christ is in your life there is NOTHING you cannot do.
You can climb any mountain and weather any storm.
Others may turn back, others may quit but you will keep going.
Limitless living refuses to be bound by fear because a giant is talking.
Limitless living will always find the right stone.
Limitless living will discover this pit is NOT your destiny; a palace is waiting.
His wisdom is limitless, so ask for it. Where others failed, you will NOT fail.
So be a plumber
Be a doctor
Be a truck driver
Be a nurse
Be a pastor
Be a business owner
Be a laborer
But do it without LIMITS.
You took the limits off, now live without limits.
Live free.
John 8:36
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
You broke barriers so now don’t go back.
If you could only lift one hundred pounds in the gym, keep building muscle and soon it will be two hundred pounds. NO LIMITS.
Be like Abraham and look up and see LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES.
No fear!
John 3:34
For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.
There is NOTHING you cannot do if you trust Him and walk with Him.
Take the LIMITS off. Would to God if all of us would live a life without LIMITS.
You conquered. You prevailed. Because He conquered and He prevailed.
Now LIVE LIMITLESS.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
The Supernatural Kingdom
Matthew 11:1-5
1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
We serve a supernatural God, yet so many of His followers are stuck in natural. Can’t see that God wants to use us.
Moses said, “I can’t, I have a speech issue.”
Gideon said, “I’m not qualified”.
“WE CAN’T DO IT”
10 spies’ negative report poisoned the whole nation.
Instead of a breakthrough, it was a break-down.
Why? Was it the devil? The giants? What caused over 1 million people to lose faith and destiny? 4 words, “WE CAN’T DO IT”.
Not just words but what those words contained.
Those words EXCLUDED GOD. Full of unbelief/fear.
Words filled with possibility, potential, power.
His words can move you from:
Sickness to health
Weakness to strength
Loser to winner
Stressed to blessed
Fearful to fearless.
I don’t care what the skeptics say. I don’t care what the economy says. I don’t care what religion says.
WHAT IS GOD SAYING?
WHAT IS GOD DOING?
That’s what I care about.
A word from Him changes everything. He speaks and things are created.
A Ginomai is here for your health. IT SHALL BE.
One word and cancer is driven out of your body.
One word and He supplies your need.
One word and drug addiction leaves.
He is supernatural.
One word from Jesus and Peter broke the natural law of Physics. He stepped into the supernatural. THEN, shout, “THEN”.
Peter went where they said he could never go and did what they said he could never do.
I Prophesy this church is getting ready to step into a REALM with God where you have never been, go to places you have never gone, see things you have never seen. It’s A SUPERNATURAL KINGDOM!
"CAN’T" must be removed from our speech. Use what God gave you.
Give your weakness to Him.
Can’t talk
It’s just a staff
This thorn
And God will make you strong.
Just a little oil.
Now watch our supernatural God. When you and I were born again we were not just born out of sin, sickness, disease, poverty and lack. We were born into the Kingdom of God.
We were born into the realm of the supernatural and the miraculous. We were born into the realm of Signs/Wonders and miracles.
The atmosphere of the Child of God is the realm of the supernatural. Supernatural peace, joy, power, prosperity, wisdom, glory.
The devil is so afraid of you stepping into that supernatural place in the spirit.
He wants to keep you in the boat. He knows Jesus gave you power to cast out devils.
He knows you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
He knows your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost.
He knows the same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, dwells IN YOU.
He knows it’s normal for us to operate in Signs/Wonders. He just does not want you to know. He wants you stuck in the boat.
GET OUT OF THAT BOAT.
To move in the supernatural you have to be willing to step into the UNKNOWN.
Abraham stepped out.
Joshua was told, “You have not passed this way before.”
You have to be willing to look foolish.
Elijah put water on a sacrifice while praying for fire.
Peter got out of a boat.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
We serve a supernatural God, yet so many of His followers are stuck in natural. Can’t see that God wants to use us.
Moses said, “I can’t, I have a speech issue.”
Gideon said, “I’m not qualified”.
“WE CAN’T DO IT”
10 spies’ negative report poisoned the whole nation.
Instead of a breakthrough, it was a break-down.
Why? Was it the devil? The giants? What caused over 1 million people to lose faith and destiny? 4 words, “WE CAN’T DO IT”.
Not just words but what those words contained.
Those words EXCLUDED GOD. Full of unbelief/fear.
Words filled with possibility, potential, power.
His words can move you from:
Sickness to health
Weakness to strength
Loser to winner
Stressed to blessed
Fearful to fearless.
I don’t care what the skeptics say. I don’t care what the economy says. I don’t care what religion says.
WHAT IS GOD SAYING?
WHAT IS GOD DOING?
That’s what I care about.
A word from Him changes everything. He speaks and things are created.
A Ginomai is here for your health. IT SHALL BE.
One word and cancer is driven out of your body.
One word and He supplies your need.
One word and drug addiction leaves.
He is supernatural.
One word from Jesus and Peter broke the natural law of Physics. He stepped into the supernatural. THEN, shout, “THEN”.
Peter went where they said he could never go and did what they said he could never do.
I Prophesy this church is getting ready to step into a REALM with God where you have never been, go to places you have never gone, see things you have never seen. It’s A SUPERNATURAL KINGDOM!
"CAN’T" must be removed from our speech. Use what God gave you.
Give your weakness to Him.
Can’t talk
It’s just a staff
This thorn
And God will make you strong.
Just a little oil.
Now watch our supernatural God. When you and I were born again we were not just born out of sin, sickness, disease, poverty and lack. We were born into the Kingdom of God.
We were born into the realm of the supernatural and the miraculous. We were born into the realm of Signs/Wonders and miracles.
The atmosphere of the Child of God is the realm of the supernatural. Supernatural peace, joy, power, prosperity, wisdom, glory.
The devil is so afraid of you stepping into that supernatural place in the spirit.
He wants to keep you in the boat. He knows Jesus gave you power to cast out devils.
He knows you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
He knows your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost.
He knows the same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, dwells IN YOU.
He knows it’s normal for us to operate in Signs/Wonders. He just does not want you to know. He wants you stuck in the boat.
GET OUT OF THAT BOAT.
To move in the supernatural you have to be willing to step into the UNKNOWN.
Abraham stepped out.
Joshua was told, “You have not passed this way before.”
You have to be willing to look foolish.
Elijah put water on a sacrifice while praying for fire.
Peter got out of a boat.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
A TIDE IS COMING
I hear the Lord, He is
speaking to me, “A visitation is imminent, can’t you see!”
O church, the TIDE IS COMING
to the shores of this Land, so get ready, get ready, it’s about to land.
A TIDE IS COMING THAT will
stir up this soil.
A TIDE is coming and nothing
He touches will be spoiled.
A tide is coming that will
divide.
There will be no place that
you can hide.
A tide is coming that will
even touch our government. Many
will then know it is He who carries this Land.
O Canada, O Canada! A tide is coming; it’s right at your
shore, for all the little waves were to prepare you for what I have in store.
This
tide is big and it is strong, it will hit this Land.
Everyone will be touched for
you cannot hide.
Even those so dry will feel this
TIDE from on High.
O
Canada, the TIDE IS COMING TO YOUR SHORE!
A TIDE is coming and on this
you can be sure, that no one will be able to stand against its mighty roar.
A TIDE IS coming, of this you
can be sure; NO-one has heard this sound before.
It’s a tide NOT for a city,
church, or town.
This
is a TIDE that will sweep a nation DOWN
So on our KNEES we will fall
when this wave hits US ALL.
A
TIDE IS COMING!
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
CASTING IN PRAYER
Opening Text: 1 Pet. 5:5-10, Eph 6:10:13
1 Pet. 5:5-10
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves
to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed
with humility, for
“God
resists the proud,
But
gives grace to the humble.”
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty
hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares
for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary
the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing
that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to
His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect,
establish, strengthen, and settle you.
Eph. 6:10-13
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the
Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you
may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts
of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of
God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand.
Go over
dream I had.
How do we CAST all our CARE on Him?
Prayer.
God
was showing me that victory in the natural world requires triumph in the
spiritual.
You
can’t carry what you are trying to carry.
You
and I are called to fight our enemy in prayer.
Your
DESTINY, your purpose and SOULS are hanging in the balance.
David
was told to PURSUE, OVERTAKE AND RECOVER ALL when the enemy stole his family
and his stuff.
I’m
looking for some people who are going to go into the enemy’s camp and get back
your STUFF! All of heaven is with
us.
It’s
time we learn to release and unleash spiritual weapons of mass destruction
against our adversary.
This
spiritual attack of prayer by CASTING all your CARE on Him.
Resisting
him by standing in faith through prayer
It’s
about getting your career back, it’s about rekindling your marriage, it’s about
a healthy relationship with your children and to get back every promise you
have lost.
So
like natural fighting, spiritual warfare demands training and strategy. (ZIKLAG)
Warriors
who reclaim stolen things place a high value on certain feelings like anger,
loss, and grief.
Like David at Ziklag, angry at the loss
of a promise.
Do
you grieve over your unhealthy marriage, your failing job or your broken
relationship with your children?
If
your LOSS does not bother you enough to fight for it THEN you will just shrug
your shoulders and say, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.”
But that IS A MISTAKE.
A
lifestyle of faith is NOT passive!
True biblical faith RESISTS the DEVIL.
It
infuses you with courage that empowers you to declare to the enemy of your soul,
“I’m mad and I’m not going to take it anymore.” WHO AM I TALKING TO?
A
great champion once said, “Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they
have deep inside them – A DESIRE, A DREAM, A VISION.”
It’s
time for you and I to reclaim areas of our lives that have been damaged and
lost through SIN and SPIRITUAL NEGLECT!
Listen again to 1 Pet. 5:10
But may the
God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you
have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
PERFECT – Appropriate condition, establish,
prepare, mend
ESTABLISH – to set fast, steadfast in mind
STRENGTHEN – from sickness and lack by making
STRONG
SETTLE – by the foundation
YOU!
Whether you know it or not, as a Christian, you are
already engaged in spiritual warfare regardless of your level of participation.
If you just sit on the sidelines you’re NOT a
spectator, you’re a casualty.
So arm
yourself with the Word and fight.
Yours for Revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
The Leadership Of David
Isa. 58:12
Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
1 Sam. 16:12-13
12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!”
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
Saul was anointed with a flask of oil.
David was anointed with a horn of oil.
One did not cost anything, the other cost a life.
Leadership in the Kingdom is about laying down your life for others.
David’s leadership started with
Obedience – looked after sheep.
Knowing they were NOT his sheep but his fathers, he fought off the lion/bear.
When an enemy shows up, leaders stand up.
David/Goliath.
1 Sam. 17:38-39
38 So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail.
39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off.
You cannot fight with untested armor.
By the way, David served Saul even though he was anointed to be king.
Timing is in God’s hands.
I will NOT touch the Lord’s anointed.
True leadership does not maintain followers but produces LEADERS.
David took four hundred worthless broke men and trained them to be mighty men.
Everything produces after its kind. You cannot produce something better than yourself.
So we must produce leaders of the KINGDOM.
Jesus said, leaders in the Kingdom Of God like David, must first learn to SERVE.
Jesus said, “I did not come to be served BUT to be serve.”
Leadership is a gift to be GIVEN! Why do we need Kingdom leaders?
Why did Israel need David?
Our world needs DIRECTION.
Marl 9:33-35
33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?”
34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.
35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
Now listen.
Matt. 20:26-27
26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave
So if you want to be great (David was):
1. You don’t own people
2. You don’t manipulate people
3. You don’t oppress people
4. You don’t threaten people
5. You don’t use people
Leadership in HIS KINGDOM is SERVING YOURSELF TO THE PEOPLE.
Yours for Revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
1 Sam. 16:12-13
12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!”
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
Saul was anointed with a flask of oil.
David was anointed with a horn of oil.
One did not cost anything, the other cost a life.
Leadership in the Kingdom is about laying down your life for others.
David’s leadership started with
Obedience – looked after sheep.
Knowing they were NOT his sheep but his fathers, he fought off the lion/bear.
When an enemy shows up, leaders stand up.
David/Goliath.
1 Sam. 17:38-39
38 So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail.
39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off.
You cannot fight with untested armor.
By the way, David served Saul even though he was anointed to be king.
Timing is in God’s hands.
I will NOT touch the Lord’s anointed.
True leadership does not maintain followers but produces LEADERS.
David took four hundred worthless broke men and trained them to be mighty men.
Everything produces after its kind. You cannot produce something better than yourself.
So we must produce leaders of the KINGDOM.
Jesus said, leaders in the Kingdom Of God like David, must first learn to SERVE.
Jesus said, “I did not come to be served BUT to be serve.”
Leadership is a gift to be GIVEN! Why do we need Kingdom leaders?
Why did Israel need David?
Our world needs DIRECTION.
Marl 9:33-35
33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?”
34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.
35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
Now listen.
Matt. 20:26-27
26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave
So if you want to be great (David was):
1. You don’t own people
2. You don’t manipulate people
3. You don’t oppress people
4. You don’t threaten people
5. You don’t use people
Leadership in HIS KINGDOM is SERVING YOURSELF TO THE PEOPLE.
Yours for Revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
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