Hold your hands up. . .what do you see?

Something to cover your mouth when you yawn. . .something to eat with. . .something to comb your hair with. . .something to help you work . . .something to help you play.

When God looks at your hands, He sees unlimited potential for blessings, miracles, and prosperity.  We already have that authority as believers!

John 3:35 says:

“The Father loved the son and placed everything in his hands.”

When the soldiers came to take Jesus captive in the Garden of Gethsemane, the first thing they did was to bind his hands.  Why?

. . .those hands had made mud, placed it on the eyes of a blind man that allowed him to see instantly.

. . .those hands took the five loaves and two fishes from a young man and fed thousands of people.

. . .those hands had been laid upon a great host of people who found His healing touch brought instant relief to their sick and suffering bodies.

. . .those hands  stopped a funeral procession. . .touched the body of a young boy and gave his mother great joy and him a new life.

. . .those hands had resurrection power -- but so do yours.

John 14:12 says:

“He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” 

In 2 Timothy 1:6 in the Amplified Bible we are encouraged to “. . .fan the flame of God through the laying on of hands.”

“That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].”

Would you like to have spiritual boldness?

You don’t need an expensive seminar or weekend conference to gain spiritual boldness.

There have been some good books written on developing boldness and confidence but the best book on the subject. . .was written thousands of years ago.

Developing spiritual boldness is not an outside job. . .but rather. . .an inside work.

Ephesians 3:12 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear).”

Our 24/7 access to our Heavenly Father. . .was made possible by the blood of Jesus on Calvary’s cross.

2 Corinthians 3:12 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“Since we have such [glorious] hope (such joyful and confident expectation), we speak very freely and openly and fearlessly.”

Confidence in God and His Word. . .gives us a boldness to be about Kingdom business.

Acts 28:31 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

Do you want to be an effective witness for the Lord?  Of course, you do.

So what’s the key?

Handing out tracts in the workplace or leaving them wedged in the mirrors of public restrooms.  Maybe.

How about telling people how Jesus has changed your life?  Okay, we’re on the right track.

What about when you laugh and sing praises to our Lord?

Can that be an effective witness for the Lord?

Yes, according to Psalm 126:2 in the Classic Amplified Bible which says:

“Then were our mouths filled with laughter, and our tongues with singing. Then they said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them.”

Some people say. . .Brother Harold, things are so stressful that I can’t be filled with laughter.  There’s nothing to laugh about.

That’s simply not true.

If you're drawing breath on planet earth...there will come moments...times of adversity when you wonder what to do next.

In these moments...your solace will not be found at the local watering hole commiserating with someone as lost as a goose in a blizzard.

Your answer will not be found in extended conversations with friends about why it's unfair you have to deal with these situations.

Here are seven things to do when trouble strikes.

1.      When you’re disappointed

Here’s the great news. . .regardless of the intensity of the enemy’s attack. . .you never need to be put to shame or disappointed.

I realize that’s a bold statement. . . but there are eight verses in the Classic Amplified Bible translation which say exactly that.  Here are three of them to claim and put your confidence in.

Psalm 25:3 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“Yes, let none who trust and wait hopefully and look for You be put to shame or be disappointed; let them be ashamed who forsake the right or deal treacherously without cause.”

Psalm 25:20 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“O keep me, Lord, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed or disappointed, for my trust and my refuge are in You.”

Jeremiah 29:11 has always been one of my favorite scriptures and today the Lord showed me 9 powerful thoughts He has toward YOU. 

1. God is thinking about you

You’re very blessed if you have a Mom and Dad who think about you. . . you’re blessed when your spouse and children are thinking about you. . .it’s nice when your boss is thinking about you. . .it’s a joy knowing that you have friends who are thinking about you.

But the best thing of all is when you have the scriptural assurance that the Master of the Universe. . .the Creator of Heaven and earth. . .your Jehovah Jireh, your Provider. . .you Jehovah Shalom. . .your God of peace. . . is thinking about you . . . that is so awesome it defies description!

Jeremiah 29:11 says:

^“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

I want you to get this . . . God is thinking about YOU.

You may have felt that nobody knew you were alive.  Maybe that includes your family.  . .but that’s just not true . . . because God, your Heavenly Father, is thinking about you.

Psalm 40:17 in The Living Bible says:

“I am poor and weak, yet the Lord is thinking about me right now!”

Make no mistake about it. . .if God promises you something. . .makes a covenant with you. . .it’s going to happen.

Your circumstances don’t matter. . .the problems that you’re currently facing can’t keep you from them/  Only be obedient to His Word.

Having said that. . .let me tell you there are going to be times when you wonder what’s going on. . .simply because you may not be able to perceive that God is working to manifest them to you.

During these times. . .it’s critical to understand there is an enemy waiting in the shadows hoping to veer you off course – his goal is knock you out so you NEVER manifest God’s promises.

God miraculously delivered the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage.  His promises were confirmed through signs and wonders and finally the children of Israel were marching out of tyranny into freedom. . .destined for the Promised Land as His promises were manifested.

The children of Israel encountered some adversity in their journey to freedom and abundance.  They may have felt dismayed but that never altered the promises of God.  His goal was the same as in the beginning.  They may have wondered but God never wavered.

Exodus 34:10 says:

Make no mistake about it. . .if God promises you something. . .makes a covenant with you. . .it’s going to happen . . . unless you somehow violate His instructions or turn from your course.  Your circumstances don’t matter. . .the problems that you’re currently facing don’t matter. . . but your obedience to His Word does.

Having said that. . .let me tell you there are going to be times when you wonder what’s going on. . .simply because you may not be able to perceive that God is working in and through your life to manifest His precious promises.

During these times. . .it’s critical to understand there is definitely an enemy waiting in the shadows hoping to veer you off course – his goal is knock you out so you NEVER manifest God’s promises.

God miraculously delivered the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage.  His promises were confirmed through signs and wonders and finally the children of Israel were marching out of tyranny into freedom. . .destined for the Promised Land as His promises were manifested.

The children of Israel encountered some adversity in their journey to freedom and abundance.  They may have felt dismayed but that never altered the promises of God.  His goal was the same as in the beginning.  They may have wondered but God never wavered.

Exodus 34:10 says:

We have taught the story of Isaac sowing in the midst of an economic famine and reaping a hundredfold return many, many times to audiences around the world.

I’ve spoken, taught and preached how God told Isaac in Genesis 26:2 to “. . . Go not down into Egypt. . .” more times than I can remember.

However, as I was listening to Dr. Mark Barclay talk about this scripture at the 2011 Kenneth Copeland’s Ministers Conference, something stirred in me.

I wrote down exactly what the Lord was giving me at that very moment and it is the outline for this message. . . “Seven Reasons To Stay Out Of Egypt.”

At a time when everyone else was following the world system by heading to Egypt to escape the economic hard times . . . God told Isaac to stay put. 

Unfortunately, way too many believers follow the “wisdom” of the world when it comes to their personal finances as opposed to following the instructions found in the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

People. . .even born-again, Holy Spirit filled, church-going believers. . .tend to value the advice of their banker and financial planner more than they do their man or woman of God showing them principles God put in His Word.

The Bible is not a book of exceptions, exemptions and excused behavior.  It is a book of principles that work.  The Bible says what it means and it means for you to obey without hesitation.  It is not a book of convenience . . . obeying its instructions when you feel like it.

Like others you may have prayed for change during this year. One where you could birth a new habit, turn lack into more than enough and accomplish the goals you set for 2023.

In a time of prayer, God directed my attention to Daniel 10:12-13 where He drew a direct parallel to what happened to Daniel and what may have happened to you.

“Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind and heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come as a consequence of [and in response to] your words.”

Here are seven keys to getting your prayers answered.

1.      Fear Not

In the King James Version of the Bible we’re told nine times that we should be “born again.”  So I think it’s fair to say that being born again is significant and obviously important to God.  After all, He paid the ultimate price by sending His only begotten Son that we should not perish but have everlasting and abundant life. . .by being born again.

Would it surprise you to know that in the King James Version of the Bible were told SIXTY-THREE times to “fear not?”

Let’s look at some of those verses.

First, God wants us to eliminate all fear of failure.

Have you ever been in a situation where you needed an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) to administer immediate assistance or provide transportation?

I remember when a volunteer Rescue Squad was formed in my hometown of LaGrange, North Carolina.  This dedicated group of men and women donated their time for training and responding to emergency situations.

I also remember that every time the LaGrange Rescue Squad was dispatched on an emergency call. . .it was reported in our local newspaper, The Weekly Gazette.  It’s a bit humorous (kinda) that everything reported from having a baby to having a heart attack was referred to as a “sudden illness.”

Over the years, the title of the organization evolved into EMTs. . .truthfully, the name does have a little more pizazz.

The protocols used by EMTs has an amazing parallel to spiritual EMTs otherwise known as “Emergency Miracle Technician.”

Now you’re probably wondering who in the world is an Emergency Miracle Technician and how in the world. . .do you become designated, trained and identified as such.

Is the spiritual EMT your pastor. . .it could be.

Is the spiritual EMT anyone operating in any of the other ministry gifts listed in what we traditionally refer to as the five-fold ministry offices. .  .apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher and pastor. . .it could be.

Actually, an Emergency Miracle Technician is anyone who believes the Word of God and has the faith to manifest the promises in the book.

Daniel 6:27 in the New Living Translation says:

“He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”