I will always remember the first person who said to me. . .you don’t know the problems I’ve got.

I said, “you’re right and I don’t want to know.”

It’s not that I wasn’t compassionate about his situation … but I knew I had to provoke this man’s thinking because his focus was on his problems and not his solution.

I told him that circumstances are defined as the circle you’re standing in . . . but if you’re moving from glory unto glory. . .you will be leaving your circumstances and problems behind.

Then I shared with him Romans 8:26 in The Living Bible which says:

“And in the same way—by our faith—the Holy Spirit helps us with our daily problems and in our praying. For we don’t even know what we should pray for nor how to pray as we should, but the Holy Spirit prays for us with such feeling that it cannot be expressed in words.”

I’m not sure why this event came to my remembrance, but it prompted me to share with you four ways to deal with whatever problems you’re facing.

First, you can run away from your problem.

You have an enemy of your destiny who wants you to fail in everything your hands find to do. He uses three weapons. . .temptation, accusation and deception.

One you get born-again the devil wants to neutralize your effectiveness for the Kingdom of God. He will lie to you about everything. . .because after all, he's the father of lies and the truth is not in him.

John 8:44 Classic Amplified Bible says:

“You are of your father, the devil, and it is your will to practice the lusts and gratify the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all that is false.”

The devil is not stupid. . . but he keeps using the same tricks, traps, lies, wiles and deception all the time.

In this teaching. . .we’re going to expose twelve of the greatest lies of the devil. But, first, we want to encourage you in the midst in any adversity with two powerful scriptures.

First, Colossians 3:16 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

On a recent Rich Thoughts for Breakfast call the word increase was in the text four or five times and so was the word capacity.

Later, as I was meditating, the Lord led me to Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 in the Message Bible which says:

“After looking at the way things are on this earth, here’s what I’ve decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that’s about it. That’s the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It’s useless to brood over how long we might live.”

As I’ve read and re-read these verses. . .I was stirred by Ecclesiastes 5:19 which says:

“Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it.”

The word capacity ignited in my spirit and God showed me seven ways to increase our capacity for success as we move in His blessing flow.

But first, let’s lay a foundation for this teaching.

I’ve read Isaiah 54 many times. . .generally focusing on verse 17 particularly in the Classic Amplified Bible which says:

When I was dating my fine wife Bev. . .there was a popular song by Diana Ross entitled “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

“If you need me, call me

No matter where you are

No matter how far

Just call my name

I'll be there in a hurry

On that you can depend and never worry”

The lyrics to the chorus are:

“Ain't no mountain high enough

Ain't no valley low enough

Ain't no river wild enough

To keep me from you”

Was there a moment, a point in time when you wanted to be somebody special or to do something bold, daring or humanitarian. Maybe you want ed to go places where others could only wish about...and achieve your greatest dream.

What was it? What was your dream?

My first dream career was to be an archeologist. This was long before Indiana Jones (not too long, I’m not that old). . .though he would have been certainly more inspiring than the real source of my motivation.

The original source was “The Mummy” and I don’t mean the one of the past ten years.   During my childhood I watch the movie with Christopher Lee and Boris Karloff. It was a time when horror movies used real suspense and not that the gore of today. The idea of finding the tombs of hidden Pharaohs intrigued me.

But that dream so gave way, to my determination to be a professional baseball player. . .I was going to play first base for the New York Yankees. A back surgery ended that dream.

Next, it was to be the youngest United States Senator ever elected from North Carolina. . .when I was in high school, I made a list of the 19 steps it would take me to make that dream come true. I had completed 16 of them when things changed rather dramatically in my life.

Recently. . .early one morning. . .the Lord gave me a very clear message for every believer.

He said:

“During this coronavirus many of my children are living in fear. Since most church services are online. . .many of my children are not doing the one thing that will protect them financially. . .no matter what’s going on around them. While some of my children are still tithing. . .many of them are not being spontaneous in Holy Spirit led giving.”

In fact, He directed me to share a teaching on spontaneous giving.

“Spontaneous giving” is much more than giving when it’s time to receive the offering. That’s not spontaneous.

A regularly scheduled offering is when you know ahead of time you’re going to give. . .you have prepared to give and you give into the offering. . .what God directed you to sow.

When I say spontaneous giving. . .I’m talk about Holy Spirit led giving in a spontaneous manner.

It might be helpful if we understood what the word spontaneous means.

According to dictionary.com the word spontaneous is defined as:

What a glorious Resurrection Sunday. That statement is not a reflection on the current weather conditions in your part of the world.

It’s not the sunshine. . .the rain or even snow or the lack thereof that make this a glorious Resurrection Day.

1 Corinthians 15:20-22 in the King James Bible says:

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

That’s what makes this day and every other day. . .a glorious Resurrection day.

On Easter Sunday several years. . .I sent a text to my spiritual father and mentor, Dr. John Avanzini wishing he and Sister Pat. . .a Happy Resurrection Sunday.

Almost immediately, I received a five-word return text that provoked my thinking.

Have you ever read a scripture that just ignited a mental firestorm. . . stirring your spirit and energizing your fingers on a laptop keyboard?

Here’s the scripture that fired me up today.

Proverbs 12:24 in the New Living Translation says:

“Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.”

As I read that scripture I began thinking about the differences between successful and unsuccessful people.

Brian Tracy, the noted author and success teacher, said:

“Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, 'What's in it for me?'”

Being successful is not necessarily the result of your education, experience, family background or luck. . .but neither is being unsuccessful the result of those same things.

My plan tonight was to teach on COVID-19 otherwise known as (Christ Overcomes Virus & Infectious Diseases) Joshua 1:9 but God directed me to teach this message instead.) Maybe, it's for you.

Over the years, I’ve counseled so many partners to wait for the Isaac God promised because they don’t need to impatiently substitute an Ishmael in their lives.

It’s always best to wait for God’s best. . .because life is too short to do anything without God's best.

Recently, I came across a quote which not only fired my imagination but confirmed the advice I’d given over the years.

“It's best to wait for the one you want than settle for one that's available. Best to wait for the one you love than one who is around.”

As I was meditating on waiting for God’s best. . .I began to type the “Experiencing God’s Best.NOW.”

1.         20/20 Vision

I’m a great driver. . .probably have driven close to if not over, a million miles.

For most of my life I was taught that talents were gifts of abilities and had nothing to do with financial gifts.

Sometimes people can teach things that are sincere but sincerely wrong. The word translated as talents as discussed in Matthew 25 is clearly defined as money.

If you have any doubt about the accuracy of what I’m saying… consider Matthew 25:16 in the New English Translation Bible:

“The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work and gained five more.”

Next, take a look at Matthew 25:18-19 also in the New English Translation Bible which says:

“But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money in it.”

I realize some people might say, “Well, yes but you’re just quoting those new-fangled translations. What does the King James Version say?”

Glad you asked.

Matthew 25:18 in the King James Version says: