As I was reading Isaiah 55:11 my spirit was stirred to write “Seven Things For Seven Days.”

“So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

You can’t send forth what you don’t know.

Your mouth can’t send forth what you heart doesn’t understand.

Let’s look at the verse in greater detail.

# 1       “So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth. . .”

It’s the Word that goes forth. . .not in a written form. . .but spoken.

And these are not just any words. . .they’re the words of God from the Word of God.

It’s not enough to know the Word. . .you must speak the Word.

The Message Bible translation of Isaiah 55:11 begins with this sentence.

“So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed.”

In fact, it occurred to me there are seven things we should know about the Word and it’s going forth.

I'll always reminder the day when a couple of friends and I stopped at Bojangles, my favorite fast-food restaurant.

As a seed of appreciation for their kindness in providing transportation for the day. . .I indicated I wanted to buy breakfast for them.

One of the two. . .said "no, thank you" even though she hadn't eaten breakfast and for the record, she is a generous person.

In a spirit of fun. . .I called her a “blessing burglar.”  Once those two words came out of my mouth. . .I knew God had just given me an incredible word for the Body of Christ.

Here are seven things blessing burglars need to learn. (seven things blessing burglars must overcome or seven ways to avoid being a blessing burglar.

1.      Learn to receive.

John 1:12 in the Amplified Bible says:

“But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name.”

According to Strong’s Concordance the Greek word for receive is H2943 and it means:

Failure is an event. . .it’s not who you are.  Failure is never final if you have the God-given desire and direction to change your destiny.

Here are the A to Z’s on how to turn failure straight into success.

A-Admit it when you mess up.  The best way to overcome failure is to face it, learn from it and move on.

Proverbs 28:13 in The Living Bible says:

“A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.”

B-Boldy refuse to accept failure as final regardless of how badly you may have messed up. 

On May 29, 1953, Sir Edmond Hillary was the first man to climb Mount Everest. . ..29,000 feet straight up. He was knighted for his efforts.

People remember his triumph but few people know that he failed in his first attempt a year earlier.

Later he was asked to speak to an audience that recognized his first attempt at greatness. But Edmund Hillary saw himself as a failure.

He walked to the edge of the platform, made a fist and pointed at a picture of Mount Everest. Then he said in a loud voice:

How’s your vision?

I’m not talking about your natural eyesight but your spiritual vision.

Do you know God’s vision for your life?  And if not, why not?

If you already know His vision for your life. . .what are you doing to bring it to pass?

The word vision appears in the King James Version of the Bible a total of 96 times.

Genesis 15.1 says:   “… the Lord came to Abram in a vision.”

Genesis 46.2 says:  “And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night…”

Daniel 2:19 says:

“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.”

Hosea 12:10 says:

“I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.”

On today's program we're going to discuss seven "G's" to overcome if you want to walk in victory over your past.

# 1  Ghosts. . .something from the past (sin or otherwise) which you feel is real though it isn't visible to you or anyone else.

Popular culture is filled with talk of ghosts. . . on television programs and in movies. . .especially this time of year.

Let's just look at what the scripture has to say about ghosts.  And for the record, there are a lot of Christians who faithfully attend church, believe in God, who also believe in ghosts.

Matthew 14:25-27 in the New International Version says:

“Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Jesus did not believe in ghosts; He knew the truth, but His superstitious apostles had evidently bought into that folk tale.

When they encountered something they couldn't understand, they immediately assumed it was a ghost.

Luke 24:37-39 in the New International Version says:

We’re going to make a profound statement and we want you to write it down.

Moses is dead. . .but you’re not.

You are part of the Joshua Generation ready to claim your Promised Land. . .flowing with milk and honey. . .having every need met. . .with more than enough to share and bless others.

Joshua 1:1-8 fires me up and fills me with an incredible, never-ending expectation. 

I strongly encourage you to put these eight verses in your smart phone, iPad, tablet, note card or whatever tool is available to you.  Refer to these verses frequently. . .get them engrafted in your spirit.

On your outline. . .I’ve listed them in order. . .but I will refer to the various verses at different times during this teaching.

1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,

2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

A new chapter is about to unfold in the lives of the children of Israel.  The leader they knew. . .the deliverer they followed … is dead. . .but the promise, the vision is not.

Never base your pursuit of a vision on the man or woman of God who taught it but on our great God who promised it.

The verse simply sees “arise.”  According to Strong’s Concordance the Hebrew word for arise is (ko mmm) quwm (H6965) and it means:

One of the favorite tactics of the enemy is to create an illusion which makes you think that the problems you encounter. . .are unique to you. . .that no one else has to face what you face.

Not true.  First, let’s establish three facts.

First, the devil is a defeated foe.

John 12:31 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Now the judgment (crisis) of this world is coming on [sentence is now being passed on this world]. Now the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world shall be cast out (expelled).”

John 16:11 in the Amplified Bible says:

“About judgment, because the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world [Satan] is judged and condemned and sentence already is passed upon him.”

Have you ever been to a potluck dinner?

In North Carolina, where I was raised. . .potluck meals were often referred to as “Sunday dinner on the grounds” where everybody brought their favorite dish or dishes.  It was like a church-wide picnic.

The food was generally so good. . .it would make your tongue slap your tonsils.  Please notice that I said generally. . .that was not always the case.

I can remember on numerous occasions where I sampled a particular dish and then prayed for the family that had to eat/endure that kind of cooking.

Bottom line. . .at potluck gatherings. . .you always dine on what others were serving. . .whether the food was nutritious, delicious or just plain awful.

Now, there’s a difference when you know the background of this dish.  It was great when you know the cook … cause she fixes up one of the best dishes of chicken and dumplings in the entire county.  Then again, there were other dishes where you not only didn’t know who fixed it but it was a little questionable about what was in it.

Sadly, too many believers have a potluck mentality where they are always feeding on whatever thoughts. . .others are serving to them.

In today’s economy, you’ve got the doom and gloomers.

These folks believe the world is going to hell in a hand basket and it’s God’s judgment upon this wicked nation and world.

I’ve been teaching people how to get out of debt for almost 30 years.  I was doing so before it was cool, fashionable or even profitable.

Over the years, I’ve resisted the temptation to align myself with financial planners, insurance agents, real estate brokers and others in the financial professions to make money off referrals from those who follow this ministry.  I have at times recommended them as good … but not for a personal profit.

The Bible is an instruction manual for success. . .revealing how to walk in God’s blessing flow and experience the good life He envisions for us.  It’s all in the Word.

God’s instructions are not situational. . .they don’t vary based on current economic conditions, which party is in power, your personal circumstances or  unrest anywhere in the world.  The principles in his Word are clear and absolute.  This is important to know … now more than ever.

If you want to experience God’s power. . .you must know His Word.

Matthew 22:29 is so powerful that I’m going to put it before you in four translations because if you get nothing else but this scripture, then this teaching would have accomplished its purpose.

Matthew 22:29 in the King James Version says:

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”

The New Living Translation of Matthew 22:29 says:

“Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.”

The Contemporary English Version of Matthew 22:29 says:

“Jesus answered:  You are completely wrong! You don't know what the Scriptures teach. And you don't know anything about the power of God.”

The Message Bible translation of Matthew 22:29 says:

Growing up. . .I learned it was never good to begin a letter with an apology or a sermon with something negative.

However, I want to reveal what I call “The Circle of Failure”. . .so we can get on to the remainder of this most positive, life-changing teaching.

Here are the ten points to “The Circle of Failure.”

Circumstances lead to situations producing problems spawning worry leading to stress creating anxiety followed by ineffectiveness resulting in sickness, excuses and ultimately failure.

What prompted me to think about this. . .was the number of believers I come in contact with who are overwhelmed by stress and pressure.  These faithful saints are so blinded by their circumstances. . .they can’t fully realize how blessed they are.

As I was reflecting on how some of these believers were looking for answers in all the wrong places. . .1 Thessalonians 3:7 in the Amplified Bible was brought to my attention.  This is what it says:

“Brethren, for this reason, in [spite of all] our stress and crushing difficulties we have been filled with comfort and cheer about you [because of] your faith (the leaning of your whole personality on God in complete trust and confidence).”

In this scripture are seven reasons you’re too blessed to be stressed.

1.         Recognize you’re living in stress and with crushing difficulties.

The most destructive and sometimes deadly thing about stress. . .is that it slips up on you.

Too many people think they’re living on adrenaline and the truth is they are . . . because they’re living with too much stress.

I’m an expert on this deceitful situation. . .because I’ve been there. . .done it. . . experienced it. . .overcame it and blessed to be on the other side of it.