DR NORM'S MID WEEK FAITH BOOSTER

All Christians are part of the great faith church since all must receive the gift of salvation through faith. [Eph. 2:8-9] Everything that God has ever offered to human beings must be received from Him by faith. Not only that, but, in order to live for Christ, the very manner of our life must be one that is of faith. [Hab. 2:4, Rom. 1:17, Gal. 3:11, Heb. 10:38, 2 Cor. 5:7].

In this week’s issue of my MID WEEK FAITH BOOSTER, I feel moved to talk about problems and negatives and how Christians, people of faith, should deal with them.

If you are living and breathing on this earth - no matter who you are - rich or poor, tall or short, big or small, young or old, male or female. No matter where you were born, it makes no difference - you are going to have problems and trouble come your way! Yes; no matter what you have been told, faith people have trouble and problems to deal with just like every one else; maybe even more so since the devil is trying desperately to stop them from doing the will of God on the earth. There is one thing that you can count on for sure: if you walk by faith, problems are going to come your way. The wonderful thing that I am so joyful about telling you today is. You don't have to let the problems and negative circumstances of life dictate your destiny!

Jesus said in John 16.33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Walking by faith in the Word of God is the most REAL way to live. God's Word is the ultimate in REALITY. It goes beyond the sense realm - beyond that which we can see or feel. God's Word goes far beyond the realm of the emotions and logic. We who live by faith are learning to live in dependency upon the author the Bible and to simply go by what He has already said. It does not matter that the circumstances are contrary because God's Word always remains the same.

1 Cor. 15:57 AMP But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The man who wrote this epistle, the apostle Paul, knew what it meant to experience great problems. Paul was one of the greatest men of faith that has walked the earth, yet we know as he served God he faced many tough problems and circumstances in his life. But, this is what I want you to get hold of here he did not let those problems and trials keep him from victory!  He had learned to live from the spirit realm.

You can experience victory no matter what has happened in your past. Even if you are presently down under problems and negative circumstances - God will give you victory!

1 John 5.4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

If you are born of God, you are BORN TO OVER COME! YOU ARE BORN TO WIN! Hallelujah! Through faith in God YOU CAN CANCEL OUT THE NEGATIVES!

What do I mean when I say cancel out he negatives?

I am talking about the negatives of this old negative world and the negatives of that old negative, doubt filled devil that have been coming against you! You can cancel them out in Christ!

Now you may say: But how do I cancel out the negatives, brother Norm? Well, for starters you just begin to refuse to let them control your life anymore.

Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?

Have you had it with being worried, defeated, and depressed?

Are you fed up with being under the barrel or down in a hole?

Do you really want peace in the midst of the storm?

That is where you start! When you have had enough of living in the negative there is hope for you. Do you REALLY want change?

You must start saying what God says in His Word about you, because your words have power for good or for the negative. They can bless or they can curse. They can heal or they can make sick. It’s all you choice what you are going to say.

Deut 30.19 I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life that you and your seed may live.

All is your choice what do you want in your life? Your life can turn around in a few short days or weeks if you do it God’s way, you’ll find it’s the best way to live.

Norman

Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh……...

Either you rule your flesh or your flesh will rule you!

If you listen to the carnal man, you will go for the things that look good but if you let your spirit man lead you and take control you will look to what you know is good! There is really only one way to bring your flesh and your emotions into subjection and that is to declare God’s Word to them.

Job 22:28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

Make a habit of talking to your flesh and telling it what to do rather than letting it dictate to you. It has been said that it takes 21 days to form a habit but 90 days forms a lifestyle.

If you want to live a successful life and not be plagued by your fleshly demands you have to go for the new lifestyle. In other words you have to spend time talking to your flesh and telling it what The Word says about it.

Ephesians 4:21 Living Bible If you have really heard his voice and learned from him the truths concerning himself,

22 then throw off your old evil nature--the old you that was a partner in your evil ways--rotten through and through, full of lust and sham.

23 Now your attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly changing for the better.

24 Yes, you must be a new and different person, holy and good. Clothe yourself with this new nature.

To clothe yourself with this new nature is to allow Christ to be IN YOU and to live out through you by thinking His thoughts in every situation.

To put on Christ is like putting on clothes, except you do this in the quiet of your prayer room. Just as your clothes protect your body from the wind sun and rain so then Christ is your defense from the enemy’s onslaught. You cannot do this dressing carelessly, hastily or superficially. It takes time, as you fellowship with Him. Learn to dress for success, and know who you are IN CHRIST, What you have IN CHRIST, and What you can do IN CHRIST!

Norman

If you are looking to your own resources or man’s wisdom and power then you are limited by the natural powers of this world.

The Lord Jesus in His Word has given you the power to call upon Him in each and desire and every need you will ever face on this earth!

Romans 8:32 God says through Paul, He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

The Lord Jesus Christ is always at the right hand of God watching over you with constant prayers and intercession on your behalf!

For His power to be released on your behalf you must acknowledge Him by calling out to Him. When you acknowledge Him through prayer and calling out to Him you give Him the legal right to intervene in your life. When you acknowledge Him you are also declaring to all of creation who your Lord really is and where you have put your trust.
God will not share His Glory with the powers of this world or man’s pride or the self-seeking people. When you acknowledge Him you are giving Him all the glory for what He has promised to do for you.

The enemy has already been totally defeated at Calvary so he can only try to confound or confuse you by getting your attention off God’s Word and unto the circumstances.

Rom 8.34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 34:17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Norman

Romans 8.32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

The Lord Jesus Christ paid the price for us to receive the blessings and gifts of God.  He has provided so many marvellous blessings for us and they are available to all who will partake of the miracle power and healing promises of the Word of God. 

Our expectancy is a key that can either increase or limit the power of God in our lives.  The more we understand and meditate on the Word of God the greater our expectancy grows.  We serve a wonderful God of love and compassion and His desire is for all of his children to abide and walk according to Ephesians 1:19: and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.  

John 15:7-9 Jesus said, If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.  As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

Are you ready to receive today? Just get your expectancy working it is a key to help you receive all that God has for you.

Norman

Someone has said When you discover you have been leading only half a life, the other half is going to haunt you until you develop it.

Self-discovery is what Paul had in mind when he wrote in Eph 1.11-12 The Message Bible It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.

You were made by God and for God. Until you understand that, your life won't really make much sense. Too many Christians are still living life without any real victory because they have not discovered their true identity in Christ.

It's only In Christ that we discover our purpose, our significance and our destiny. In other words, we discover our true selves!

Norman

The truth is this: Whatever trial or task comes our way in life, we will receive the ability we need to face it. He is always adequate, He is always sufficient, and He is always more than enough.

There are several promises that give this assurance.

Deut 33:25 Your shoes will be as iron and brass and as your days so shall your strength be.

This means that the help that God gives you varies according to the tasks and trials of the particular day. God fits His blessing to your days.

Isa 40:29 When you are weak, He increases your strength.

2 Cor. 1:3-6 When you are sorrowful, He gives comfort.

Ps 32:7 When you are in danger, He grants protection.

Matt 11:28 When you are weary, He gives rest.

2 Cor. 12.9 My grace is sufficient for you.

No matter what you are facing right now, the loss of a loved one, a financial crisis, a sickness or whatever it may be, God has the answer and sufficient grace for you today.

The word sufficient is a word whose meaning expands and amplifies with the measure of the need. No need is so small that it can’t be included; and none is so great that it can go beyond the capacity of the blessing that is promised.

God has a plan and an assignment for each of His children, the enemy will try to get us a way from that assignment by various means but don’t allow him to take you away from it. No matter what he throws at you or your family, God gives the ability to carry on to see it completed.

Norman

Numbers 13:33 There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.

Numbers 13:2 The LORD said to Moses, Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.

Considering the statement God made to Moses, you will realize that God himself was the one giving the land of Canaan to Israel. Consequently, the end of the matter had already being determined in God’s mind, all they had to do was to be able to see things through the eyes of God and possess the land by faith.

Have you ever wondered why God commanded Israel to go and spy or explore the land? God could have just commanded them to go and possess the land straight away, since He was the one giving it to them.

Moses’ words to the twelve leaders of the tribes that were going to spy the land were: Numbers 13:18-20 see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many; whether the land they dwell in is good or bad; whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or strongholds; whether the land is rich or poor; and whether there are forests there or not. Be of good courage. And bring some of the fruit of the land.

God is a God of purpose who creates each of us with a specific purpose.

His words to Jeremiah were: Jeremiah 1.5 before I formed you… I knew you and I set you apart for my holy purpose. However the truth is, the purposes of God for you do not just drop on to you from heaven. God equips you with all that you need to possess that purpose, in terms of talents or gifts. Your duty then is to plan and work with God to possess that destiny with wisdom and faith.

When the spies that went to survey the land came back, the general report about the land was: Numbers 13:27-33 it is indeed a bountiful country, a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces (a branch with one cluster of grapes had to be carried between two of them on a pole). But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too’.

But Joshua and Caleb differed in their perception; their words were, let’s go at once to take the land…we can certainly conquer it! All the twelve spies saw the same thing in the land of Canaan but the difference was in their perception or interpretation of what they saw. Ten of them focused on the giants that they thought could not be conquered, but Joshua and Caleb focused on a bountiful land that God had given to them. They saw things through the eyes of God and therefore had the right perception. The ten saw themselves as grasshoppers in the presence of the giants, forgetting that, the God they served is greater than the giants they saw. They focused on the challenge instead of focusing on the God’s promise to them.

What you see is determined by what you focus on.

What are you focusing on today?

Are you focusing on your problems or God’s promises?

The God you serve is greater than the giants you see. If He has given you the land, then know that you can surely posses it, come what may. He has never promised and failed anyone before? He is a faithful God. God’s faithfulness is not going to change.

With obedience, faith and wisdom you will possess your promised land.

Remember the just shall live by faith not by sight. So what’s your perception today?

Norman

Suddenly he became aware of someone following him. The faster he walked, the faster they walked. Frightened and frustrated, he finally turned to see who was there. But when he did, there was no one there. As he turned to continue home, he heard the noise again. That's when he realised that what he was hearing was just his corduroy pants legs rubbing together.

You may smile, but so often fear is just the result of two things:

(1) Your imagination. [It can play tricks on your mind].

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Amplified For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

This verse gives us a very basic principle of faith. Fear is a spirit and it is not sent from God.

(2) Your failure to understand how God works. 1 john 4.18 AMP There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection].

Isa 54.14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.

Message You'll be built solid, grounded in righteousness, far from any trouble--nothing to fear! Far from terror--it won't even come close!

Fear is what is used by the enemy to paralyze, immobilize and cause our faith not to function. Terror, bad reports, and all negative words are for the purpose of developing fear. Fear will break you down physically, mentally, and spiritually. The enemy wants to destroy as many Christians as possible. Even though he cannot steal you salvation, he can render you ineffective on this earth if he can only get you into fear.

Fear and faith are opposites. I am told that in an airplane, there is ONE gauge that gives the rate of ascent and the rate of descent. The reason there are not two gauges is because you cannot be doing both at the same time. The plane is either climbing to a higher altitude or descending to a lower altitude. It's the same way with our faith. We are either facing faith with our backs turned to fear, or we are facing fear with our backs turned to faith.

Someone has calculated there are 365 FEAR NOTS IN THE BIBLE, that’s ONE for each day of the year so God does not want you to have fear any day of your life ever.

Norman

I was reading a short article some time back from a health organisation and they stated: it is possible for a human being to live to 120 given the right conditions with proper food and sufficient exercise.

The word longevity is sometimes used as a synonym for life expectancy in demography or known as long life, especially when it concerns someone or something lasting longer than expected.

God spoke to the Children of Israel in Psalm 90.10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off and we fly away.

He said this to them because they were rebelling against His Word. He had previously planned man to live to a minimum of 120 years according to Genesis 6.3 And the LORD said, My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.

Prov 10.27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.

When asked about the benefits of living to be 100 years old, one centenarian smiled and said, 'There's very little peer pressure here.'

With advances in medical science people are living to their eighties, nineties and beyond much more often today. But living longer means dealing with the realities of ageing. Our youth-orientated culture often gives older age a bad image, but clearly God doesn't agree. To Him, old age is the reward for a life well lived, a privilege earned, an accomplishment worth celebrating, and wisdom shared to benefit succeeding generations.

This is how God sees ageing. He views long life as evidence of His favour. He says, Proverbs 9.11 Through Me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

Longevity, even if it has aches and pains, is a real blessing. But you can believe for no aches or pains in your later years. Don’t get in the habit of saying ‘old people’ sayings as you rise up from your chair or from your bed.

You may be saying, 'But who will take care of me when I get old?'

Don't worry God will be there for you:

Isaiah 46.3-4 NLT I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born.

⁴ I will be your God throughout your lifetime until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.

I call that a real good insurance policy!

So does God! The Psalmist says Psalm 37.25 Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread.

Deuteronomy 34:7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

Because god is no respecter or persons what He did for Moses He can do for you if you walk according to The Word.

So live long and live strong, starting today, decide to be strong and pain free.

You can do it.

Norman