THIRTEEN POWER QUOTES BY DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed - we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.”

“If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live.”

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

"Let no man pull you low enough to hate him."

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness:  only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

"There comes a time when silence is betrayal."

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven played music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”

“Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just
take the first step.”

“The old law about "an eye for an eye" leaves everybody blind.”

“Most of these people will never make the headlines and their names will not appear in Who's Who. Yet when years have rolled past and when the blazing light of truth is focused on this marvelous age in which we live -- men and women will know and children will be taught that we have a finer land, a better people, a more noble civilization -- because these humble children of God were willing to suffer for righteousness' sake.”

“Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illumines it.”

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

One of my favorite signs says:

“Good morning!  I’ll be handling all your problems today.  So relax and enjoy your day.  Blessings, God. P.S. I love you.”

Someone once said:

“Do not face the day, until you have faced God in prayer.”

When you woke up this morning. . .did you expect this to be your best day ever?

What was your expectation for the day?  Was it different than yesterday or the day before?

Did you have any expectation for today or were you just glad you made it through another night?

Do you expect to feel better today than you did yesterday?  And, just as importantly, do you expect to feel even better tomorrow?

Do you expect God to move in the lives of your loved ones?

Do you see your days filled with previously unknown opportunities where you can tap into previously unused potential?

Do you expect to make divine appointments or supernatural connections?

Do you expect to receive divine revelation or direction during your morning prayer time?

One of my favorite scenes from the classic Christmas movie It’s A Wonderful Life in which George Baily, played by the late great Jimmy Stewart, begins to pray.

He starts: “Dear Father in heaven, I’m not a praying man, but if you’re up there and you can hear me….

At that moment, Stewart begins crying and then says:

“Show me the way. . .show me the way.”

Truthfully, that’s what God wants to do for each of us . . . show us the way.

The movie contains so many life lessons that we need to be reminded of that watching it yearly is a great idea. 

The purpose of tonight’s teaching is not to create a review of It’s A Wonderful Life but we encourage you to watch it yourself with your family or friends.

It’s A Wonderful Life has a message that’s timeless which brings me to tonight’s teaching.

Many years ago now the Lord gave me an amazing Christmas sermon. My fine wife Bev, my parents and I had taken a long weekend get-away to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

We started looking for a hotel room and were unable to find one.  We traveled for over 60 miles along Interstate 40 but nothing was available. 

This is the time of year for Christmas lists…from the youngest family member to the oldest.

As our family members grew in age. . .so do the price of their toys.

Roy L. Smith, a renowned Methodist writer of Sunday School literature, once said:

“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.”

During this season. . .we know the “first four gifts” rule comes to play- something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read

Over the years there are tons of gadgets, gizmos and electronic toys … and so many things that start with the letter i --

iPhone have been out for years. . . iToys came along… we all know why.  Cause people love that letter “I”.

Here’s our list of the seven things better than any gadget, gizmo, electronic toy or goofy gift with a new twist on the letter “I.”

1.      iThink.

A few days ago, I was rejoicing about how God reaches out to us. . .in so many ways.

God reaches out to us when we’re distressed.

2 Samuel 22:7

“But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I cried to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.”

Jesus reaches out to heal sickness and disease.

Matthew 8:3

“Jesus reached out, touched him, and said, “I’m willing. So be clean!” Immediately, his skin disease went away, and he was clean.”

Reached out to strengthen our faith.

When God stirred me for us to teach. . .seven keys to being a receiver. . .I thought it was for a Rich Thoughts for Breakfast call. . .BUT GOD always has a better idea.

Out of curiosity. . .I Googled “I’m a Receiver” and was surprised to find the lead post was a song by the same name performed by a group called Apologetix. . . whom I’d never heard off.

Imagine my surprise as I discovered the song was sung to the music of “I’m A Believer” by the Monkees.

The lyrics go like this. . .

“I thought God was only Jewish fairy tales

Meant for someone else with lots more faith

All my doubts depressed me…that’s the way it stayed

Till a voice said, ‘Honey, call my name’

Then I got His grace. . .now I’m a receiver

God replaced. . .the doubt in my mind. . .I’ve been loved”

And so the song goes. . .

When you wake up in the morning. . .what are you thinking about?

Be mindful of Proverbs 23:7 in the New King James Version:

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he ….”

We decide how and what we want to think about and our thinking habits make up who we are.

Do you ever wonder what winners think about?

Here are seven things that you should think about today and everyday FOREVER, if you are seeking to have a winner’s mentality.  It’s also a great way to have the best day possible.

1.     Wisdom

I must confess to you there are occasions when I wonder why I’m teaching what I’m teaching when I first start. . .reading, studying, praying and writing.

Tonight we’re going to expose the seven favorite weapons of the enemy.

But as I got deeper into this teaching. . .I marveled at the things God revealed to me to share.

I know this teaching will help heal and comfort many who’ve been under a major assault from the enemy.

Here are the seven favorite weapons of the enemy.

1.      Deception

Who deceives you?

Every Monday and Tuesday night for twenty-one seasons. . .millions of people tune into a television program called The Voice. . .to see who will be accepted, rejected and will ultimately succeed.

However, the Voice that we should be waiting, watching and listening for. . .isn’t a television show. . .but a Voice which ensures our success in the battle ground here on planet earth.

This Voice we listen to makes every person a winner. . .He doesn’t reject anyone who confesses their sins. .and He declares everyone who asks in faith believing. . .a winner in life.

The Voice of the Holy Spirit. . .is one that will direct us through every adversity as we embrace every opportunity using previously untried potential for greater success.

Interestingly enough, there is also a Bible translation entitled “The Voice” that you can find at your favorite Christian bookstore such as christiansoldierbookstore.com

Here are seven questions that will determine your destiny for the remainder of 2021 and beyond.

First, what’s the first thing you do in the morning?

What is the most communicable disease in the world today?

Your thoughts….

Proverbs 23: 7 says:

“As a man thinketh in his heart so is he…”

For years, I’ve taught that a debt free mentality….is not determined by where you work, where you live, what you drive, what you wear or who your parents are.   Your mentality is not determined by how smart you are but by the dominant thoughts in your mind.

Whatever thoughts you allow to dominate your life will have a direct impact on who and what you draw into your life.

Like a magnet, your thoughts will draw to you the people and circumstances that harmonize with your dominant thoughts.

Life is not determined by outward acts or circumstances.  Each of us creates our own life by our own thoughts.  They can be stumbling blocks or building blocks. 

But the good news is we can tear down stumbling blocks and make building blocks from them just because we’ve been born again.

2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 says: