About the Book
If you are looking for information on spiritual warfare, new author, Dorothy Bracy Alston has your answer. Her approach to spiritual warfare is to use defensive strategies and tactics rather than offensive ones. She’s serious about engaging in spiritual combat. Her new book How To Whup The Devil™ A Spiritual Weapons Guide, reveals the mind and character of the enemy, so you can know who you are fighting. She says, if we knew the enemies tactics, strategies, methods, and tricks, we’d be better prepared to enter into combat with him and the kingdom of darkness. This book will provide you with lots of weapons, approaches, procedures and information on how Satan’s kingdom operates. You will learn more about Satan’s deceptive nature and adversarial plots; plus you will be supplied with adequate weapons necessary to defeat him and his evil workers, at every turn. It may have a slap stick title, but it has serious content. Upon reading this book, you will learn how to “whup” the devil in every area of your life.
About the Author
Dorothy Bracy Alston has been engaged in strategic spiritual warfare with the kingdom of darkness for over 25 years. She is a seasoned intercessor and prayer strategist who is bringing havoc to the devil - the god of this world. She loves to write, teach, research, and gain knowledge on various topics. She is a college professor, a training and educational consultant, a minister, a community activist, and a philanthropist, with a masters degree in English: Professional and Technical Writing. She has taught and studied ESL at The University of West Bohemia, Pilsen Czech Republic and English at the University of Memphis and LeMoyne-Owen College.
Publisher's Review
This is a must read for the body of Christ and every individual who has had any encounter with the devil and his diabolical helpers. This book is written on a level that individuals of all faiths and walks of life can read it, understand it, and apply its useful principles to “whup the devil.” The catchy title has people smiling, even before they pick up the book. How to Whup the Devil™ A Spiritual Weapons Guide is not just for Christians, it’s for any and everyone who knows and believes the devil is real. Upon reading this book, you will learn how the devil brings temptation, fear, doubt, unbelief, bitterness, and un-forgiveness to accomplish his goals; but you will also learn how to counter attack each of his attacks with God’s storehouse of spiritual weapons…such as faith, truth, love, power, renewed mind, grace, mercy, and so on. You are guaranteed to learn how to “whup” the devil in every area of your life.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Friday, December 11, 2009
Are you whupping the devil, or is he whupping you?
How To Whup the Devil
Newly published author, Dorothy Bracy Alston has released a new book in order to awaken the world to the notion that Satan is alive and well. CISBA Communication Services announces the release of Ms. Alston’s new book: How to Whup the Devil™ A Spiritual Weapons Guide.
CISBA believes Ms. Alston is on the cutting edge of an award winning best seller. Why, because who wouldn’t want to know how to "whup" the devil. This book is for EVERYONE who knows and believes the devil is real.
Who's Talking About The Devil...Not the Church
Not much is written on the subject of the devil and how to deal with him. A few Christian authors may tackle the topic from a historical point of view, explaining where the devil came from, how he was lifted up in pride and was kicked from heaven; and some reference the fact that Satan, then known as Lucifer, was once an angel who was in charge of the music or worship in heaven; but few talk about how Satan and his wicked spirits work in the earth to attack man. As a matter of fact, it appears that far too many preachers are afraid to tackle the subject at all.
Many years ago, comedian Flip Wilson popularized the saying; “the devil made me do it.” That saying caught on like wildfire and people began to talk about the devil, even if it was only offhandedly. When you start talking about the devil; that means you’ve got to discuss demons and evil spirits and the supernatural; and that’s down right scary for some Christians…but not so with the secular world. Today you can turn the TV to any major television network and you will see stories about the supernatural, ghosts, witches, warlocks, and psychics: TV shows such as Bones; Ghost Whisperers; Supernatural; Wizards of Waverly Place, and so on, just to name a few. So, I figured if the world is not afraid to tackle supernatural subject matter that deals with evil, then why can’t Christians tackle it. We're actually supposed to live in the supernatural realm of faith..."for without faith it is impossible to please God."
Jesus talked a lot about Satan. He even spoke face to face with the devil during his 40 days of fasting and temptation in the wilderness.
The bible says of Satan, Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it (John 8:44). The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). The bible clearly tells us that Satan is a theif, a destroyer, and a murderer. We all need to grease down and "whup the devil" like he stole your last dollar—and more than likely he did.
It continues by saying; Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1). Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer (Proverbs 28:24). That describes the devil to a tee, and that's exactly who we need to "whup." His name is Satan, Lucifer, that old serpent, the devil. Let's give him two black eyes when we use the Word of God to smack him upside the head.
If you’re looking for a how to guide on how to overcome the devil; this new book entitled: How to Whup the Devil™ A Spiritual Weapons Guide is the book for you. It’s biblically sound with scripture references from the King James Version of the Bible, and it guides you on how to wage strategic warfare with our chief enemy, Satan, and win. I need some people to join me in getting mad at the devil. We all need to get mad at the devil and whup him like he stole your last dollar—and more than likely it was him.
Dorothy Bracy Alston has been teaching and lecturing in the church and in other speaking circuits for the last 28 years. She loves to write, research, and teach. After receiving her MA in English: Professional and Technical Writing, she taught English as an adjunct professor at The University of Memphis, and taught ESL at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen Czech Republic. Ms. Alston has sharpened her writing skills and continues to teach and write in both college and other venues. Her new book: How to Whup the Devil: A Spiritual Weapons Guide, is the inspiration for this article. Visit www.spiritualweaponsguide.blogspot.com, or contact CISBA Communication Services at cisbasssociates@gmail.com for more information on how to book Dorothy for speaking engagements, and receive a copy of her book How to Whup the Devil™ A Spiritual Weapons Guide available NOW for only $12.95 plus $2.99 shipping and handling.
Visit CISBA Communication Services to learn more about this project: How to Whup the Devil™ A Spiritual Weapons Guide. Book release date is February 6, 2010 .
Newly published author, Dorothy Bracy Alston has released a new book in order to awaken the world to the notion that Satan is alive and well. CISBA Communication Services announces the release of Ms. Alston’s new book: How to Whup the Devil™ A Spiritual Weapons Guide.
CISBA believes Ms. Alston is on the cutting edge of an award winning best seller. Why, because who wouldn’t want to know how to "whup" the devil. This book is for EVERYONE who knows and believes the devil is real.
Who's Talking About The Devil...Not the Church
Not much is written on the subject of the devil and how to deal with him. A few Christian authors may tackle the topic from a historical point of view, explaining where the devil came from, how he was lifted up in pride and was kicked from heaven; and some reference the fact that Satan, then known as Lucifer, was once an angel who was in charge of the music or worship in heaven; but few talk about how Satan and his wicked spirits work in the earth to attack man. As a matter of fact, it appears that far too many preachers are afraid to tackle the subject at all.
Many years ago, comedian Flip Wilson popularized the saying; “the devil made me do it.” That saying caught on like wildfire and people began to talk about the devil, even if it was only offhandedly. When you start talking about the devil; that means you’ve got to discuss demons and evil spirits and the supernatural; and that’s down right scary for some Christians…but not so with the secular world. Today you can turn the TV to any major television network and you will see stories about the supernatural, ghosts, witches, warlocks, and psychics: TV shows such as Bones; Ghost Whisperers; Supernatural; Wizards of Waverly Place, and so on, just to name a few. So, I figured if the world is not afraid to tackle supernatural subject matter that deals with evil, then why can’t Christians tackle it. We're actually supposed to live in the supernatural realm of faith..."for without faith it is impossible to please God."
Jesus talked a lot about Satan. He even spoke face to face with the devil during his 40 days of fasting and temptation in the wilderness.
The bible says of Satan, Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it (John 8:44). The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). The bible clearly tells us that Satan is a theif, a destroyer, and a murderer. We all need to grease down and "whup the devil" like he stole your last dollar—and more than likely he did.
It continues by saying; Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1). Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer (Proverbs 28:24). That describes the devil to a tee, and that's exactly who we need to "whup." His name is Satan, Lucifer, that old serpent, the devil. Let's give him two black eyes when we use the Word of God to smack him upside the head.
If you’re looking for a how to guide on how to overcome the devil; this new book entitled: How to Whup the Devil™ A Spiritual Weapons Guide is the book for you. It’s biblically sound with scripture references from the King James Version of the Bible, and it guides you on how to wage strategic warfare with our chief enemy, Satan, and win. I need some people to join me in getting mad at the devil. We all need to get mad at the devil and whup him like he stole your last dollar—and more than likely it was him.
Dorothy Bracy Alston has been teaching and lecturing in the church and in other speaking circuits for the last 28 years. She loves to write, research, and teach. After receiving her MA in English: Professional and Technical Writing, she taught English as an adjunct professor at The University of Memphis, and taught ESL at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen Czech Republic. Ms. Alston has sharpened her writing skills and continues to teach and write in both college and other venues. Her new book: How to Whup the Devil: A Spiritual Weapons Guide, is the inspiration for this article. Visit www.spiritualweaponsguide.blogspot.com, or contact CISBA Communication Services at cisbasssociates@gmail.com for more information on how to book Dorothy for speaking engagements, and receive a copy of her book How to Whup the Devil™ A Spiritual Weapons Guide available NOW for only $12.95 plus $2.99 shipping and handling.
Visit CISBA Communication Services to learn more about this project: How to Whup the Devil™ A Spiritual Weapons Guide. Book release date is February 6, 2010 .
Monday, December 7, 2009
What Happens When You Know Your God
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE KNOW OUR GOD
But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits (Daniel 11:32)
As a Spiritual Weapons Guide, I've written a book that is principally aimed at knowing Satan and the tactics he uses against believers. But in order to be able to triumph over him, it is paramount that we know our God, who is a Spirit, and who occupies the same spiritual realm as Satan. Therefore, to be effective, we must understand the entire spiritual realm and the personalities of those in that realm, which includes God, as well as our chief enemy, Satan, who are both spirits. It's within that realm that spiritual battles are fought, and either won or lost.
Successful spiritual warfare necessitates us knowing God; knowing His character, His personality, His divinity, and His works so thatwe may receive clear direction as He guides us in our spiritual battles. One character trait of God is that He is a man of war (Exodus 15:3), as well as a Father to His sons (Matthew 6:32). As a man of war He goes with us into battle and fights on our behalf. As a Father, He loves, protects, provides for us, wants us to know Him, and to enjoy an intimate relationship with Him. God the Father wants His sons and daughters to be able to talk to Him about anything; to be able to depend on Him at all times and in all circumstances, just as we do our earthly fathers.
I have learned to love God with “all of my heart, all of my soul, all of my might, and all of my strength” as we are instructed in His word. It didn’t start out that way because I didn’t know Him. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. It took a long time to really get to know my Him and to enter into a personal relationship with Him. As a new convert, I learned to talk to God about almost anything; so I wasn’t afraid to believe the word of God that says “ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). But, it took years until I learned to worship Him in “spirit and in truth.” It may be the same for you. But, we're all on a journey, and our heavenly Father is loving, patient, and longsuffering. So, He waits on us.
We serve God with our spirits
Paul said, “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit” (Romans 1:9). This lets us know that God is in a realm other than the natural realm. He is spirit, so we have to serve Him with our spirit. The Word of God says plainly that “God is a Spirit.” And because God is a Spirit, it requires using our spirits to draw near Him and to learn of Him. John 4:24 says that “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
With earthly fathers, we can touch them physically, we can speak to them personally, and we can see them with the natural eyes, but with our heavenly Father, we must touch Him by faith; we must talk (pray) to Him by faith; we must see Him not with our physical eyes, but with our spiritual eyes, which requires faith. Thus, it takes faith to know God. That’s why the scriptures says on three occasions, that “the just shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17 and Paul says it again in Hebrews 10:38): “now the just shall live by faith: but if any draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” God wants us to trust Him and to live by faith.
Building up the type of relationship God wants us to have with Him requires us to touch Him and to commune with Him through our human spirits, as Paul spoke of in Romans 1:9. Why? Because, God is Spirit. Spirit only can touch spirit. So, as believers, we need to do as Paul did; serve God with our spirits. It takes faith, and we have to learn to do so. Jesus suggested that we “take my [His] yoke upon you, and learn of me:... for my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30).
Increase our knowledge about God and how to approach Him
We need to increase our knowledge on the subject of God; to be familiar with spiritual things, and to understand the realm in which God resides. God is a Spirit and if we never learn to serve God with our spirits, then we will rarely touch Him, because we can only touch Him with our spirits. As Sons of God, who are made in the image and likeness of our Father God; we too are spiritual beings. We have an open door to touch Him and to come boldly into His presence at any time. So, if we never learn to touch Him with our spirits, we will not have direct access to His throne. We will then have to behave as commoners and other subjects who live within a kingdom; they have to wait to be invited into the king’s presence. But, those who are aware of their sonship never have to wait for Him. We can come directly into the presence of He, who is “King of kings,” or approach Him at any time. We have access to Him 24-7; 365 days a year. Let’s begin the journey of getting to know our God so that we may do those mighty exploits in the spirit as spoken of by Daniel.
Children’s expectations of their fathers
Most children are accustomed to their fathers taking care of their needs. It has only been in recent times that we have faced such a crisis of far too many absent fathers who are not there for their children; and in any many unfortunate cases, the children don’t know who their biological fathers are. That is unfortunate because children who grew up in homes with an absent father may find it difficult to identify with their heavenly Father, who is technically; physically absent, and must be touched by faith. It takes faith to serve God and faith is something you can't see, touch or feel--you just have to believe and trust.
Jesus told the disciples to pray: “Our Father, who art in heaven” because “if your earthly father knows how to give you good gifts, how much more will your heavenly father give you the things that you ask of him (Luke 11:13).” It’s regrettable that some Christians did not have good earthly fathers and hence may find it difficult to believe that God is the loving, caring, compassionate Father He claims. But it is true. “God is not a man that He should lie.” It may be difficult for some new believers, who are babes in Christ and not yet mature to reach out to a God they cannot see, touch, or feel. So, when Luke 11:13 says “if your earthly father knows how to give you good gifts, how much more will your heavenly father give you the things that you ask of him,” it may be hard for some to believe that’s true; because they can’t get pass what their earthly fathers did or did not do for them. This may be an underlying reason why some new converts remain babes, or carnal Christians for so much of their Christian life. They just can’t trust God because they haven’t taken the time to really get to know Him.
The journey to knowing God
Taking the time to know God is very rewarding. It helps us to live a victorious life, and it helps us to have victory over Satan and his demonic host. I can honestly say that I have taken time to know my God, and the things of God. It requires becoming students of the Word. We must “study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” as stated in 2 Timothy 2:15.
Over the three decades that I have been serving the Lord, I have spent countless hours studying the scriptures, in pursuit of the truth and an increased knowledge of God. I have rejoiced, and sometimes labored in the presence of God through prayer and fasting, communion, and intercession to find small nuggets of wisdom that have been of great price to me. I have read and studied the writings of other godly men and women, who have revealed much to me about the character and the personalities of the Godhead: God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Through these spiritual giants, I have learned much about God, but it was only when I spent personal time with Him that I gained revelation knowledge of some of those deep truths prescribed to by these scholarly giants, such as R.A. Torrey; Evangelist Billy Graham; Kenneth Hagin; Kathryn Kuhlman; and contemporaries like Bishop T.D. Jakes; Dr. Myles Munroe and others.
Jesus instructed all his disciples to “take up my yoke and learn of me,” even though the twelve disciples had followed Him; ate, slept, and ministered with Him; some of them still did not know Him. One day Jesus asked them: who do men say that I am; and by-the-way, who do you say that I am? Peter had the correct answer, which was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, but others didn't have a clue that He was God in the flesh.
Philip saith unto Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake (John 14:8-11).
To tout that I know everything about God would be foolish, because God does not reveal himself totally to any man. The bible says; For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:11-14). No man knows “the things of God… but the Spirit of God” and for us to know “the things of God” we must know them by His Spirit because no natural man can receive or neither know spiritual things unless they are “spiritually discerned” as it says in the preceding verses.
None of us have the exact same experiences with the Lord. God reveals Himself to each individual in whatever way He deems necessary for that person to benefit and grow thereby. We not only experience the Lord and gain personal knowledge for ourselves, but we can learn from the experiences and testimonies of others and receive insight into the character and personality of our God.
Yours and my personal experiences and encounters with God may be limited but there are a great cloud of witnesses that know God in ways that you or I may never experience. God is nigh to us and will reveal Himself to us if our hearts are right before Him. He revealed Himself to the patriarchs in various ways. And to some, He chose not to reveal certain things, as is indicated in Luke 10:24. God revealed Himself to man through Jesus, through His word, through His prophets, His pastors, His evangelists, and others; as a testimony to His unfailing goodness, grace and love to all who will call upon His name. Just as importantly, He left us the Holy Spirit who is our comforter and our guide to lead us through many dangerous waters and victories as well.
All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. (Luke 10:22-24).
God does not want His children to know about
Getting to know God intimately
God wants His children to know Him. He wants us to know Him in an intimate and personal way. For the individual who wants to know God in a very intimate and personal way; it takes a commitment. It takes a commitment to prayer, to studying the word of God; in some cases, a commitment to fasting, and in other situations learning God through personal crises and in times of victory; and learning Him even from the experiences of others. Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1).
These practices lead us to the path of spirituality, maturity, and of knowing our God; which brings me back to Daniel 11:32, that says; “and they that do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt, but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” This scripture is encouraging and lets us know that when we get to know our God, we will be a people of great power and strength. We will be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might (Ephesians 6:10). Satan knows those that have reached that level. Those are the ones who have moved past the infancy stage of milk, and have become such that are skilled in the Word; because “strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age” according to Hebrews 5:14.
When we know our God it helps us to be successful in fighting the devil, and we don’t have to be worried about him overtaking us. Knowing God and His word gives us faith to know that when we come up against the enemy that God will be with us, just as he has been with others who fought against their enemies. Deuteronomy 20:1-4 lets us know that when we go out to battle the enemy, we can expect the Lord to be with us. It is the Lord God that goes with us to fight for us against our enemies, and to save us. Moses reminded the children of Israel “When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee…when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, and shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”
This is an excerpt from my new book:
How to Whup the Devil: A Spiritual Weapons Guide.
Look for release on February 6, 2010.
Books NOW available for the low price of $12.95 plus $2.99 shipping in USA.
Contact Dorothy Bracy Alston at CISBA Communication Services
Email: CisbaAssociates@gmail.com
But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits (Daniel 11:32)
As a Spiritual Weapons Guide, I've written a book that is principally aimed at knowing Satan and the tactics he uses against believers. But in order to be able to triumph over him, it is paramount that we know our God, who is a Spirit, and who occupies the same spiritual realm as Satan. Therefore, to be effective, we must understand the entire spiritual realm and the personalities of those in that realm, which includes God, as well as our chief enemy, Satan, who are both spirits. It's within that realm that spiritual battles are fought, and either won or lost.
Successful spiritual warfare necessitates us knowing God; knowing His character, His personality, His divinity, and His works so thatwe may receive clear direction as He guides us in our spiritual battles. One character trait of God is that He is a man of war (Exodus 15:3), as well as a Father to His sons (Matthew 6:32). As a man of war He goes with us into battle and fights on our behalf. As a Father, He loves, protects, provides for us, wants us to know Him, and to enjoy an intimate relationship with Him. God the Father wants His sons and daughters to be able to talk to Him about anything; to be able to depend on Him at all times and in all circumstances, just as we do our earthly fathers.
I have learned to love God with “all of my heart, all of my soul, all of my might, and all of my strength” as we are instructed in His word. It didn’t start out that way because I didn’t know Him. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. It took a long time to really get to know my Him and to enter into a personal relationship with Him. As a new convert, I learned to talk to God about almost anything; so I wasn’t afraid to believe the word of God that says “ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). But, it took years until I learned to worship Him in “spirit and in truth.” It may be the same for you. But, we're all on a journey, and our heavenly Father is loving, patient, and longsuffering. So, He waits on us.
We serve God with our spirits
Paul said, “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit” (Romans 1:9). This lets us know that God is in a realm other than the natural realm. He is spirit, so we have to serve Him with our spirit. The Word of God says plainly that “God is a Spirit.” And because God is a Spirit, it requires using our spirits to draw near Him and to learn of Him. John 4:24 says that “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
With earthly fathers, we can touch them physically, we can speak to them personally, and we can see them with the natural eyes, but with our heavenly Father, we must touch Him by faith; we must talk (pray) to Him by faith; we must see Him not with our physical eyes, but with our spiritual eyes, which requires faith. Thus, it takes faith to know God. That’s why the scriptures says on three occasions, that “the just shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17 and Paul says it again in Hebrews 10:38): “now the just shall live by faith: but if any draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” God wants us to trust Him and to live by faith.
Building up the type of relationship God wants us to have with Him requires us to touch Him and to commune with Him through our human spirits, as Paul spoke of in Romans 1:9. Why? Because, God is Spirit. Spirit only can touch spirit. So, as believers, we need to do as Paul did; serve God with our spirits. It takes faith, and we have to learn to do so. Jesus suggested that we “take my [His] yoke upon you, and learn of me:... for my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30).
Increase our knowledge about God and how to approach Him
We need to increase our knowledge on the subject of God; to be familiar with spiritual things, and to understand the realm in which God resides. God is a Spirit and if we never learn to serve God with our spirits, then we will rarely touch Him, because we can only touch Him with our spirits. As Sons of God, who are made in the image and likeness of our Father God; we too are spiritual beings. We have an open door to touch Him and to come boldly into His presence at any time. So, if we never learn to touch Him with our spirits, we will not have direct access to His throne. We will then have to behave as commoners and other subjects who live within a kingdom; they have to wait to be invited into the king’s presence. But, those who are aware of their sonship never have to wait for Him. We can come directly into the presence of He, who is “King of kings,” or approach Him at any time. We have access to Him 24-7; 365 days a year. Let’s begin the journey of getting to know our God so that we may do those mighty exploits in the spirit as spoken of by Daniel.
Children’s expectations of their fathers
Most children are accustomed to their fathers taking care of their needs. It has only been in recent times that we have faced such a crisis of far too many absent fathers who are not there for their children; and in any many unfortunate cases, the children don’t know who their biological fathers are. That is unfortunate because children who grew up in homes with an absent father may find it difficult to identify with their heavenly Father, who is technically; physically absent, and must be touched by faith. It takes faith to serve God and faith is something you can't see, touch or feel--you just have to believe and trust.
Jesus told the disciples to pray: “Our Father, who art in heaven” because “if your earthly father knows how to give you good gifts, how much more will your heavenly father give you the things that you ask of him (Luke 11:13).” It’s regrettable that some Christians did not have good earthly fathers and hence may find it difficult to believe that God is the loving, caring, compassionate Father He claims. But it is true. “God is not a man that He should lie.” It may be difficult for some new believers, who are babes in Christ and not yet mature to reach out to a God they cannot see, touch, or feel. So, when Luke 11:13 says “if your earthly father knows how to give you good gifts, how much more will your heavenly father give you the things that you ask of him,” it may be hard for some to believe that’s true; because they can’t get pass what their earthly fathers did or did not do for them. This may be an underlying reason why some new converts remain babes, or carnal Christians for so much of their Christian life. They just can’t trust God because they haven’t taken the time to really get to know Him.
The journey to knowing God
Taking the time to know God is very rewarding. It helps us to live a victorious life, and it helps us to have victory over Satan and his demonic host. I can honestly say that I have taken time to know my God, and the things of God. It requires becoming students of the Word. We must “study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” as stated in 2 Timothy 2:15.
Over the three decades that I have been serving the Lord, I have spent countless hours studying the scriptures, in pursuit of the truth and an increased knowledge of God. I have rejoiced, and sometimes labored in the presence of God through prayer and fasting, communion, and intercession to find small nuggets of wisdom that have been of great price to me. I have read and studied the writings of other godly men and women, who have revealed much to me about the character and the personalities of the Godhead: God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Through these spiritual giants, I have learned much about God, but it was only when I spent personal time with Him that I gained revelation knowledge of some of those deep truths prescribed to by these scholarly giants, such as R.A. Torrey; Evangelist Billy Graham; Kenneth Hagin; Kathryn Kuhlman; and contemporaries like Bishop T.D. Jakes; Dr. Myles Munroe and others.
Jesus instructed all his disciples to “take up my yoke and learn of me,” even though the twelve disciples had followed Him; ate, slept, and ministered with Him; some of them still did not know Him. One day Jesus asked them: who do men say that I am; and by-the-way, who do you say that I am? Peter had the correct answer, which was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, but others didn't have a clue that He was God in the flesh.
Philip saith unto Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake (John 14:8-11).
To tout that I know everything about God would be foolish, because God does not reveal himself totally to any man. The bible says; For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:11-14). No man knows “the things of God… but the Spirit of God” and for us to know “the things of God” we must know them by His Spirit because no natural man can receive or neither know spiritual things unless they are “spiritually discerned” as it says in the preceding verses.
None of us have the exact same experiences with the Lord. God reveals Himself to each individual in whatever way He deems necessary for that person to benefit and grow thereby. We not only experience the Lord and gain personal knowledge for ourselves, but we can learn from the experiences and testimonies of others and receive insight into the character and personality of our God.
Yours and my personal experiences and encounters with God may be limited but there are a great cloud of witnesses that know God in ways that you or I may never experience. God is nigh to us and will reveal Himself to us if our hearts are right before Him. He revealed Himself to the patriarchs in various ways. And to some, He chose not to reveal certain things, as is indicated in Luke 10:24. God revealed Himself to man through Jesus, through His word, through His prophets, His pastors, His evangelists, and others; as a testimony to His unfailing goodness, grace and love to all who will call upon His name. Just as importantly, He left us the Holy Spirit who is our comforter and our guide to lead us through many dangerous waters and victories as well.
All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. (Luke 10:22-24).
God does not want His children to know about
Getting to know God intimately
God wants His children to know Him. He wants us to know Him in an intimate and personal way. For the individual who wants to know God in a very intimate and personal way; it takes a commitment. It takes a commitment to prayer, to studying the word of God; in some cases, a commitment to fasting, and in other situations learning God through personal crises and in times of victory; and learning Him even from the experiences of others. Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1).
These practices lead us to the path of spirituality, maturity, and of knowing our God; which brings me back to Daniel 11:32, that says; “and they that do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt, but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” This scripture is encouraging and lets us know that when we get to know our God, we will be a people of great power and strength. We will be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might (Ephesians 6:10). Satan knows those that have reached that level. Those are the ones who have moved past the infancy stage of milk, and have become such that are skilled in the Word; because “strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age” according to Hebrews 5:14.
When we know our God it helps us to be successful in fighting the devil, and we don’t have to be worried about him overtaking us. Knowing God and His word gives us faith to know that when we come up against the enemy that God will be with us, just as he has been with others who fought against their enemies. Deuteronomy 20:1-4 lets us know that when we go out to battle the enemy, we can expect the Lord to be with us. It is the Lord God that goes with us to fight for us against our enemies, and to save us. Moses reminded the children of Israel “When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee…when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, and shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”
This is an excerpt from my new book:
How to Whup the Devil: A Spiritual Weapons Guide.
Look for release on February 6, 2010.
Books NOW available for the low price of $12.95 plus $2.99 shipping in USA.
Contact Dorothy Bracy Alston at CISBA Communication Services
Email: CisbaAssociates@gmail.com
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Prayer and Praise Reports
Praise Reports & Answers to Prayer
Help! I Want to Get Pregnant
A disciple of Worship Center Ministries (WCM) requested prayer to become pregnant. She had been married for two years. She and her husband were trying to become pregnant. On the day prayer was offered, it was three weeks before Christmas and she and her husband were leaving town for a Christmas shopping trip to Branson, Missouri. They planned to stay overnight in a local hotel to be fresh for a full day of Christmas shopping the following day. Prayer was offered that the next time she and her husband came together that the sperm and the seed would come together and produce a healthy baby girl, because they wanted a girl. Exactly nine months later, after this trip to Branson, which was September of the following year, the family welcomed a beautiful, healthy, baby girl named Karleigh Rae. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer.
I Need A New Place To Live
A sister in Christ stated she had been paying rent every since she left home, and she wanted to have her own home. She began attending the WCM prayer and bible study and was being blessed from the teaching and prayer. She requested prayer for God to bless she and her husband with a home. At this time she had not been paying her tithes. She was instructed on the blessings of being a faithful tither. She made a commitment that she would start being faithful to paying her tithes. Not long after making this commitment and becoming a faithful tither, she was blessed with a free home on an acre of land. She states it all started when she began paying her tithes and being consistent. She believes that her financial harvest has begun. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer.
I've Got To Get Back In College
A sister in Christ saw how God was blessing one of her siblings who had been attending WCM prayer and bible study. One day she asked her sister if she would agree with her in prayer that God would make a way for her to return to school and get her nursing degree. After praying together, the next day at work the sister who asked for prayer approached her boss, who owned the medical clinic she worked for, about returning to school and she was told that same day that the clinic would pay for all of her schooling if she returned to school. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer. We have not because we ask not.
Miracle Healing
A disciple of Worship Center Ministries asked for prayer for her brother’s girlfriend, who we will call Ms. A. At the time of the prayer request Ms. A. had been hospialized and in intensive care for five to six weeks. Her condition was considered critical because her blood pressure was out of control, and it had taken her into a coma. She also had heart problems, was on a breathing machine because she could not breathe on her own, and with a device inserted into her throat. During her hospital stay, Ms. A. had also contracted a staph infection and everyone entering the room had to put on surgical gowns and masks. A request for prayer was made on a particular Saturday for God to heal her and give Ms. A. a miracle. Two days after prayer had been offered for Ms. A, which was the following Monday; the praise report came in stating that Ms. A. received a miracle the day prayer was offered.
The WCM disciple called the hospital’s intensive care unit the day after prayer was offered, on that Sunday, to check on Ms. A.'s condition. The intensive care nurse said Ms. A. had been moved into a regular room on Saturday because her condition started improving and she kept getting better and better. To the disciple’s dismay, she asked when did Ms. A. begin improving? The intensive care nurse said it began on Saturday evening about 7:00 p.m., which was the same time prayer was going up on Ms. A.’s behalf. The disciple asked to be transferred to Ms. A.’s room. To her surprise, Ms. A. answered the phone; said she was feeling fine and she was sitting up in her bed reading the newspaper. God still work miracles and PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer.
Jesus has the power of life and death (Part 1)
Early one morning about 6:00am, the pastor of Worship Center Ministries received an alarming and urgent call from a hysterical relative saying I need you to go into pray immediately because my son, who’s away at college, has been shot and the doctor says he’s not going to make it. With no time to waste, the pastor went immediately into spiritual warfare prayer to fight for this young man’s life; and the Lord began working immediately on behalf of this family. Immediately every door began to open as God was preparing the way for a miracle report for this son and the family.The family had to leave town and travel 600 miles to another state where the son was hospitalized. The mother who's afraid of flying said she had to get a flight out immediately, the other family members said they would drive. Through a course of miraculous events, the mother was able to get a flight out that day and everyone ended up arriving to the hospital later that afternoon, at the same time. Upon arriving to the hospital, and seeing her son in intensive care, the news was grim but hopeful. The doctor’s stated that the bullet went into his chest and came out of his shoulder. It barely missed his heart by a few inches, but he was still in danger. Prayer was being offered continually for a miracle. The mother called two days later to report her son was out of danger. He was being monitored for a couple days to be sure he could be released. It was a miracle. Less than one week after this hairying ordeal, this young 19 year old was back at home with his family. Within two weeks, he was back to his regular actitivies, as if nothing happened. PRAISE GOD! The power of life and death is in the hands of Jesus, and He gave us that power also, if we will believe Him. He answers prayer and still works miracles.
Jesus has the power of life and death (Part 2)
Six months after this young man receives a miracle that brought him back from death to life, and having received the frantic call about his near death situation, the WCM pastor gets another frantic and desperate call from this same relative. And you will not believe it, but the same thing has happened a second time. This same mother's son, who has since left one college and transferred to a college in a different state, has been shot a second time. Different circumstances, different situation, and different people involved, but nonetheless, again, this is critical and even more serious than the first situation. This young man has been shot and once again the team of doctors offer no hope and say he is not going to make it. A miracle is needed for his survival.
WCM pastor goes immediately into spiritual warfare prayer again but this time she senses that there is a more serious battle between life and death than the first instance. The pastor is not so sure he is going to be able to pull out of this. Nevertheless, she perseveres in spiritual warfare prayer. Keeping in mind, this is not just anybody calling for prayer, this is also a relative of the pastor also. After several hours in spiritual warfare, the pastor sensing the strong presence of death and the battle intensifies in the spirit. The pastor asks God for a Word, a specific Word to fight off Death. Shortly thereafter, the pastor senses a Word coming from God. The Word is from Hebrews 2:14 which says; Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him [Satan] that [once] had the power of death, that is, the devil. This was the ammunition that the pastor needed to defeat the power of death. The pastor began to take authority over death and remind Satan that he no longer had power over death, and that he lost that power when Jesus came to earth as a man and died on the cross.
This spiritual warfare battle had been going on for over three hours in the spiritual realm, but after this revelatory word, the pastor began to sense in the spirit that victory had come. The Holy Spirit gave the pastor a peace that the young man was fine and that he would recover completely.
Later the same day, while attending the regular WCM prayer and bible study, the Holy Spirit gave the pastor a word of knowledge as another confirmation that the young man would be fine. She now had to wait to hear a praise report from the mother. And it came a couple days later. The mother called to report that the doctors were baffled. They do not know how he made it. The doctors even said it was a miracle. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer and still works miracles.
Financial help for college bound student
Prayer was offered on behalf of one of the WCM disciples' children who had completed a two year college program on a full scholarship, with an associate's degree, but now she needed financial aid to complete her remaining two years at another institution, which was beginning the next semester. Shortly after prayer was offered on behalf of this college student, the student received notification she had received a full volleyball scholarship to complete her bachelor’s degree at a four year institution. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer. He is Jehovah Jireh, our provider.
God supplies every need according to His riches
The niece of one of WCM disciples called requesting prayer for GOD to bless her with relocating back to her hometown in Centralia, IL. She had moved to another city, approximately sixty miles away for a change in hope of a better quality of life. After living in this city for six months, she felt she had made a mistake and needed to move back home to Centralia. She was specific in her prayer request and needed God’s help in obtaining a house, a job for she and her daughter, and to catch up on her back car payments. She and her family were living in an apartment and upon moving back she decided that she wanted to live in a brick home, with a two-car garage, in a nice neighborhood, which was on her list of everything she wanted in the home. She also needed a job, along with a way to catch up on her back car payments. Her specific prayer request was that she wanted to be re-hired with the school district as an Attendance Advocate, which was a job that she had been hired for prior to moving to the new city. During prayer, God gave a Word of Wisdom to WCM's pastor that this young lady would have a miracle in two days. Several days passed without getting word of her condition. This young lady called over a week later with a praise report stating that God had answered her prayer request. She reported that two days after prayer was offfered, she had found the house with her specifications. She was moving into a brick home, with a two car garage in a nice neighborhood in Centralia, and she gave me her new address. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer.
She also called about the job as Attendance Advocate in the school district, and was told by the school principal that the position was still open and she would be notified about the rehiring process as soon as possible. Her desire was to be hired before the school year began. The praise report on this is still pending. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer.
God’s intervention on behalf of two of His servants with a puzzling illnessA friend of WCM called asking prayer for her church friends, a husband and wife team who just returned to the states from a missions trip to Cambodia. After returning to the states, both the husband and wife began to develop some puzzling neurological problems. The husband collapsed at the airport and was taken directly to the hospital. His wife was experiencing some similar feelings of weakness, headaches and so. Both were facing extreme financial difficulties due to loss of employment and insurance cost for hospitalization and the battery of neurological tests needed by both husband and wife. A few days after prayer was offered on their behalf, WCM pastor received a praise report via email indicating that God had intervened for this couple. The medical conditions had been resolved, the husband was out of the hospital, back to work and feeling great, the wife had returned to work, and her body was coming back to normalcy. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer.
The blessings of the Lord makes rich and adds no sorrow
A WCM disciple, who has experienced the power of answered prayer; called wanting prayer for God to bless her with a new job that offered many benefits and career opportunities. The new job offered an opportunity to become a licensed clinical social worker, and to have all of her outstanding college bills (both undergraduate and graduate) be paid in full. What an opportunity for God to cancel over $60,000 in college loans! After discussing the opportunity and assessing the pros and cons of the new job, prayer was offered that God would intervene and open up this door of opportunity for her. Several days later, she sent an email with a praise report stating that God blessed her with the job, she will receive the benefits of her college loans being paid off, and she received the salary she requested. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer.
God has given His people power over life and deathThere was a great move of God during a WCM prayer and bible study meeting when a friend and minister associate of WCM pastor was a guest. The power of God was moving in this meeting. Others present were being slain in the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit were in operation: the gift of prophecy, divers tongues; interpretation of tongues; discerning of spirits, gifts of healing and faith were all present to bless those present and to cast out demons. This friend was under heavy attack by demonic forces in her body, in her personal life, and spiritually, but God moved on her behalf. The pastor of WCM took authority over the demonic forces and cast out the spirit of infirmity that was attacking her body. This minister instantly got better, as others present also received special blessings from God. It was a service full of the presence, power, and anointing of the Holy Spirit. We ended the service full of joy and continued expectation from God. Everything was fine, but in the car, on the way home, the guest minister became short of breath, began sweating, and began passing out into an unconscious state. She flipped the seat back in the car and laid back on the car seat as her body became limp and lifeless. She then looked up and spoke with a very weak voice and said, “I’m passing.” Much to the dismay of the pastor, who said, “you’re what?” And the guest minister repeated it again; “I’m passing.” The pastor thought she must have meant she was passing gas; but she was actually saying that she was dying. When the pastor understood what was really going on, the pastor took authority over the spirit of death and said, “oh no you’re not.” “You’re not going to die on me...not on my watch.” The pastor immediately began to go into spiritual warfare prayer in the car and pray in what she describes as unknown tongues of spiritual battle; taking authority over and rebuking the spirit of death, and commanding this minister to live and not die. All of this happening, as the pastor is driving and trying to find a place to pull off the road. After five or ten minutes of this, we approached a rest area. We got out, and the pastor had to help the other minister to put on our coats and hats, and to walk toward the restrooms. The guest minister's body was still limp and almost lifeless. The entire time, WCM pastor was rebuking the spirit of death and commanding her body to live and not die. By the time we walked, with the pastor almost dragging the minister, from the car to the restroom; life, strength, and the peace of God had been restored to the guest and the WCM pastor. The minister washed her face and reported she was feeling fine.
She expalined to the pastor what had happened during this near death experience and said that the prayer had saved her life. She said it was a miracle and it was. It happened so fast and right before the pastor's eyes. It was the resurrecting power of God that brought her back from death onto life. The guest minister stated she is including this praise report in her upcoming book. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer.
God performed so many miracles during this time of prayer, praise and bible study, that it's hard to remember the specifics of each one. All I know is that when we believe God and come into agreement with what His Word says, He always shows up and blesses His people. My favorite scriptures are found in Matthew 16:19 and Matthew 18:19-20, where Jesus is telling the disciples about the power that He has given to the Church. Jesus calls it "the keys to the kingdom of God," that whatsoever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatsoever we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. That's power. Let's begin using it!!!
You are invited to submit your prayer request to worshipcenterministries@gmail.com.
Help! I Want to Get Pregnant
A disciple of Worship Center Ministries (WCM) requested prayer to become pregnant. She had been married for two years. She and her husband were trying to become pregnant. On the day prayer was offered, it was three weeks before Christmas and she and her husband were leaving town for a Christmas shopping trip to Branson, Missouri. They planned to stay overnight in a local hotel to be fresh for a full day of Christmas shopping the following day. Prayer was offered that the next time she and her husband came together that the sperm and the seed would come together and produce a healthy baby girl, because they wanted a girl. Exactly nine months later, after this trip to Branson, which was September of the following year, the family welcomed a beautiful, healthy, baby girl named Karleigh Rae. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer.
I Need A New Place To Live
A sister in Christ stated she had been paying rent every since she left home, and she wanted to have her own home. She began attending the WCM prayer and bible study and was being blessed from the teaching and prayer. She requested prayer for God to bless she and her husband with a home. At this time she had not been paying her tithes. She was instructed on the blessings of being a faithful tither. She made a commitment that she would start being faithful to paying her tithes. Not long after making this commitment and becoming a faithful tither, she was blessed with a free home on an acre of land. She states it all started when she began paying her tithes and being consistent. She believes that her financial harvest has begun. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer.
I've Got To Get Back In College
A sister in Christ saw how God was blessing one of her siblings who had been attending WCM prayer and bible study. One day she asked her sister if she would agree with her in prayer that God would make a way for her to return to school and get her nursing degree. After praying together, the next day at work the sister who asked for prayer approached her boss, who owned the medical clinic she worked for, about returning to school and she was told that same day that the clinic would pay for all of her schooling if she returned to school. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer. We have not because we ask not.
Miracle Healing
A disciple of Worship Center Ministries asked for prayer for her brother’s girlfriend, who we will call Ms. A. At the time of the prayer request Ms. A. had been hospialized and in intensive care for five to six weeks. Her condition was considered critical because her blood pressure was out of control, and it had taken her into a coma. She also had heart problems, was on a breathing machine because she could not breathe on her own, and with a device inserted into her throat. During her hospital stay, Ms. A. had also contracted a staph infection and everyone entering the room had to put on surgical gowns and masks. A request for prayer was made on a particular Saturday for God to heal her and give Ms. A. a miracle. Two days after prayer had been offered for Ms. A, which was the following Monday; the praise report came in stating that Ms. A. received a miracle the day prayer was offered.
The WCM disciple called the hospital’s intensive care unit the day after prayer was offered, on that Sunday, to check on Ms. A.'s condition. The intensive care nurse said Ms. A. had been moved into a regular room on Saturday because her condition started improving and she kept getting better and better. To the disciple’s dismay, she asked when did Ms. A. begin improving? The intensive care nurse said it began on Saturday evening about 7:00 p.m., which was the same time prayer was going up on Ms. A.’s behalf. The disciple asked to be transferred to Ms. A.’s room. To her surprise, Ms. A. answered the phone; said she was feeling fine and she was sitting up in her bed reading the newspaper. God still work miracles and PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer.
Jesus has the power of life and death (Part 1)
Early one morning about 6:00am, the pastor of Worship Center Ministries received an alarming and urgent call from a hysterical relative saying I need you to go into pray immediately because my son, who’s away at college, has been shot and the doctor says he’s not going to make it. With no time to waste, the pastor went immediately into spiritual warfare prayer to fight for this young man’s life; and the Lord began working immediately on behalf of this family. Immediately every door began to open as God was preparing the way for a miracle report for this son and the family.The family had to leave town and travel 600 miles to another state where the son was hospitalized. The mother who's afraid of flying said she had to get a flight out immediately, the other family members said they would drive. Through a course of miraculous events, the mother was able to get a flight out that day and everyone ended up arriving to the hospital later that afternoon, at the same time. Upon arriving to the hospital, and seeing her son in intensive care, the news was grim but hopeful. The doctor’s stated that the bullet went into his chest and came out of his shoulder. It barely missed his heart by a few inches, but he was still in danger. Prayer was being offered continually for a miracle. The mother called two days later to report her son was out of danger. He was being monitored for a couple days to be sure he could be released. It was a miracle. Less than one week after this hairying ordeal, this young 19 year old was back at home with his family. Within two weeks, he was back to his regular actitivies, as if nothing happened. PRAISE GOD! The power of life and death is in the hands of Jesus, and He gave us that power also, if we will believe Him. He answers prayer and still works miracles.
Jesus has the power of life and death (Part 2)
Six months after this young man receives a miracle that brought him back from death to life, and having received the frantic call about his near death situation, the WCM pastor gets another frantic and desperate call from this same relative. And you will not believe it, but the same thing has happened a second time. This same mother's son, who has since left one college and transferred to a college in a different state, has been shot a second time. Different circumstances, different situation, and different people involved, but nonetheless, again, this is critical and even more serious than the first situation. This young man has been shot and once again the team of doctors offer no hope and say he is not going to make it. A miracle is needed for his survival.
WCM pastor goes immediately into spiritual warfare prayer again but this time she senses that there is a more serious battle between life and death than the first instance. The pastor is not so sure he is going to be able to pull out of this. Nevertheless, she perseveres in spiritual warfare prayer. Keeping in mind, this is not just anybody calling for prayer, this is also a relative of the pastor also. After several hours in spiritual warfare, the pastor sensing the strong presence of death and the battle intensifies in the spirit. The pastor asks God for a Word, a specific Word to fight off Death. Shortly thereafter, the pastor senses a Word coming from God. The Word is from Hebrews 2:14 which says; Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him [Satan] that [once] had the power of death, that is, the devil. This was the ammunition that the pastor needed to defeat the power of death. The pastor began to take authority over death and remind Satan that he no longer had power over death, and that he lost that power when Jesus came to earth as a man and died on the cross.
This spiritual warfare battle had been going on for over three hours in the spiritual realm, but after this revelatory word, the pastor began to sense in the spirit that victory had come. The Holy Spirit gave the pastor a peace that the young man was fine and that he would recover completely.
Later the same day, while attending the regular WCM prayer and bible study, the Holy Spirit gave the pastor a word of knowledge as another confirmation that the young man would be fine. She now had to wait to hear a praise report from the mother. And it came a couple days later. The mother called to report that the doctors were baffled. They do not know how he made it. The doctors even said it was a miracle. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer and still works miracles.
Financial help for college bound student
Prayer was offered on behalf of one of the WCM disciples' children who had completed a two year college program on a full scholarship, with an associate's degree, but now she needed financial aid to complete her remaining two years at another institution, which was beginning the next semester. Shortly after prayer was offered on behalf of this college student, the student received notification she had received a full volleyball scholarship to complete her bachelor’s degree at a four year institution. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer. He is Jehovah Jireh, our provider.
God supplies every need according to His riches
The niece of one of WCM disciples called requesting prayer for GOD to bless her with relocating back to her hometown in Centralia, IL. She had moved to another city, approximately sixty miles away for a change in hope of a better quality of life. After living in this city for six months, she felt she had made a mistake and needed to move back home to Centralia. She was specific in her prayer request and needed God’s help in obtaining a house, a job for she and her daughter, and to catch up on her back car payments. She and her family were living in an apartment and upon moving back she decided that she wanted to live in a brick home, with a two-car garage, in a nice neighborhood, which was on her list of everything she wanted in the home. She also needed a job, along with a way to catch up on her back car payments. Her specific prayer request was that she wanted to be re-hired with the school district as an Attendance Advocate, which was a job that she had been hired for prior to moving to the new city. During prayer, God gave a Word of Wisdom to WCM's pastor that this young lady would have a miracle in two days. Several days passed without getting word of her condition. This young lady called over a week later with a praise report stating that God had answered her prayer request. She reported that two days after prayer was offfered, she had found the house with her specifications. She was moving into a brick home, with a two car garage in a nice neighborhood in Centralia, and she gave me her new address. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer.
She also called about the job as Attendance Advocate in the school district, and was told by the school principal that the position was still open and she would be notified about the rehiring process as soon as possible. Her desire was to be hired before the school year began. The praise report on this is still pending. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer.
God’s intervention on behalf of two of His servants with a puzzling illnessA friend of WCM called asking prayer for her church friends, a husband and wife team who just returned to the states from a missions trip to Cambodia. After returning to the states, both the husband and wife began to develop some puzzling neurological problems. The husband collapsed at the airport and was taken directly to the hospital. His wife was experiencing some similar feelings of weakness, headaches and so. Both were facing extreme financial difficulties due to loss of employment and insurance cost for hospitalization and the battery of neurological tests needed by both husband and wife. A few days after prayer was offered on their behalf, WCM pastor received a praise report via email indicating that God had intervened for this couple. The medical conditions had been resolved, the husband was out of the hospital, back to work and feeling great, the wife had returned to work, and her body was coming back to normalcy. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer.
The blessings of the Lord makes rich and adds no sorrow
A WCM disciple, who has experienced the power of answered prayer; called wanting prayer for God to bless her with a new job that offered many benefits and career opportunities. The new job offered an opportunity to become a licensed clinical social worker, and to have all of her outstanding college bills (both undergraduate and graduate) be paid in full. What an opportunity for God to cancel over $60,000 in college loans! After discussing the opportunity and assessing the pros and cons of the new job, prayer was offered that God would intervene and open up this door of opportunity for her. Several days later, she sent an email with a praise report stating that God blessed her with the job, she will receive the benefits of her college loans being paid off, and she received the salary she requested. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer.
God has given His people power over life and deathThere was a great move of God during a WCM prayer and bible study meeting when a friend and minister associate of WCM pastor was a guest. The power of God was moving in this meeting. Others present were being slain in the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit were in operation: the gift of prophecy, divers tongues; interpretation of tongues; discerning of spirits, gifts of healing and faith were all present to bless those present and to cast out demons. This friend was under heavy attack by demonic forces in her body, in her personal life, and spiritually, but God moved on her behalf. The pastor of WCM took authority over the demonic forces and cast out the spirit of infirmity that was attacking her body. This minister instantly got better, as others present also received special blessings from God. It was a service full of the presence, power, and anointing of the Holy Spirit. We ended the service full of joy and continued expectation from God. Everything was fine, but in the car, on the way home, the guest minister became short of breath, began sweating, and began passing out into an unconscious state. She flipped the seat back in the car and laid back on the car seat as her body became limp and lifeless. She then looked up and spoke with a very weak voice and said, “I’m passing.” Much to the dismay of the pastor, who said, “you’re what?” And the guest minister repeated it again; “I’m passing.” The pastor thought she must have meant she was passing gas; but she was actually saying that she was dying. When the pastor understood what was really going on, the pastor took authority over the spirit of death and said, “oh no you’re not.” “You’re not going to die on me...not on my watch.” The pastor immediately began to go into spiritual warfare prayer in the car and pray in what she describes as unknown tongues of spiritual battle; taking authority over and rebuking the spirit of death, and commanding this minister to live and not die. All of this happening, as the pastor is driving and trying to find a place to pull off the road. After five or ten minutes of this, we approached a rest area. We got out, and the pastor had to help the other minister to put on our coats and hats, and to walk toward the restrooms. The guest minister's body was still limp and almost lifeless. The entire time, WCM pastor was rebuking the spirit of death and commanding her body to live and not die. By the time we walked, with the pastor almost dragging the minister, from the car to the restroom; life, strength, and the peace of God had been restored to the guest and the WCM pastor. The minister washed her face and reported she was feeling fine.
She expalined to the pastor what had happened during this near death experience and said that the prayer had saved her life. She said it was a miracle and it was. It happened so fast and right before the pastor's eyes. It was the resurrecting power of God that brought her back from death onto life. The guest minister stated she is including this praise report in her upcoming book. PRAISE GOD! He answers prayer.
God performed so many miracles during this time of prayer, praise and bible study, that it's hard to remember the specifics of each one. All I know is that when we believe God and come into agreement with what His Word says, He always shows up and blesses His people. My favorite scriptures are found in Matthew 16:19 and Matthew 18:19-20, where Jesus is telling the disciples about the power that He has given to the Church. Jesus calls it "the keys to the kingdom of God," that whatsoever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatsoever we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. That's power. Let's begin using it!!!
You are invited to submit your prayer request to worshipcenterministries@gmail.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)