Tag: authority

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Stop Looking!

The Manna Chef

Today I want to encourage you to stop looking back at the graves in your past.  You may not call them graves, but you are familiar with many of them.  They include the graves of shame, fear, sickness, unforgiveness, struggle, low self-esteem, and mediocrity, to name but a few.  Let’s look at Luke 24:1-6a (NKJV) for a moment:

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.  But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.  Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.  Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen!”

So, you may be asking, “How does that verse apply to the challenges in my life?”  Well, I’m glad you asked that question!  I wonder if we, the daughters of the Most High God, really understand that we carry that same Resurrection power on the inside of us. 

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God, Make Me a Threat!

The Manna Chef

It’s time for us to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10).  We have taken blows from the enemy long enough! It’s time to fight back.  However, you must have a true relationship with God in order to be able to actually fight in a spiritual battle if you expect to have authority over the enemy.

When you have a moment, check out Acts 19:11-20.  It’s a great cautionary tale of why we need to be connected to God at all times and operate in obedience. The Lord did extraordinary miracles through Paul.  He was a bad brother!  Handkerchiefs and aprons that just touched Paul’s skin were taken to the sick and they recovered, and the evil spirits left them.  Now that’s anointed!  Paul wasn’t even physically present and God performed miracles through him. 

There was a group of Jews who were traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits.  They decided that they would jump on the bandwagon. “We exorcise you by Jesus, that guy Paul talks about.” (Be careful! Operate in what God has called you to do.  Don’t try to hop onto someone else’s anointing.)  Seven sons of a Jewish chief priest named Sceva joined in, but they were operating under no authority.  The evil spirit answered them, “I know Jesus.  I know Paul, but who are you?” 

With no power, they came up against an evil spirit; therefore, they were not a threat.  Are you such a threat to the enemy that he knows you by name? Those sons were caught up in the actions of the crowd. Don’t be moved simply because it’s the popular thing right now.  Move by the leading of the Spirit of God.  Never go into battle ill-equipped! 

So, what happened?

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Act Like it

The Manna Chef

We pray and seek direction from God daily.  We read and study His Word, and we truly believe that His Word is true.  And we apply His Word to our lives, right?  Well, God is saying to us that it’s time to really claim His promises and live the way He has called us to live. 

The Holy Spirit recently challenged me to walk in faith concerning something God had said to me.  “If you really believe Me, then act like it.  Don’t allow anything to take your focus away from Me and what I have said concerning you.  You say daily that I have the final say and that I am in control of all things at all times.  Well, if you really believe that is true, then ACT like it.”

I’ll admit, I had to marinate on that. God was reminding me of Who He is to me and who I am to Him and in Him.  Had I really claimed the promises that God has made to me?  If so, what is keeping me from really walking in them?  And then I wondered, “Am I really encouraging the people around me to walk in the promises of God for real?  Am I leading by example?”

God is not slack concerning His promises and He is certainly not a man that He should lie.  If He said it, it’s a done deal.  And then a thought popped into my head to justify my responses:  I’m only human, right?  Well, actually that’s not right.  That’s a copout.  I am human, but I’m not only human.  I carry the Spirit of the Living God on the inside of me.  Favor precedes me daily.  Goodness and mercy are right behind me.  I’m NEVER alone, even though I experience bouts of loneliness sometimes.  I am human, but I am one of God’s chosen vessels.  So, when the enemy feeds me that garbage to make me wallow in self-pity and despair, I just have to tap into the Holy Spirit.  He reminds me that I am more than a conqueror.  I am the head and not the tail.  I am the apple of God’s eye.  God has angels encamped around me daily.  (and I sure do need them!) 

I wish I could just tell the people of God, if God has blessed you, then ACT like it.  If God has healed your body, claim your healing and act like you are healed.  When pain hits your body, don’t ignore it.  Address the pain, do what you need to do, and remind God of His Word concerning you.  Recite healing Scriptures.  Remind God of what He said.  Whatever you have placed before the Lord, seal it with a Scripture.  Ask God that His will be done—and then prepare yourself for it.  And then when He answers, believe it and actually claim it.  Don’t get all hyped (accepting it only on pure emotion) and then forget to allow it to take root in your soul.  Allow that seed to be firmly planted so that your fruit will not only be produced, but that it will remain.  And know this, you will need to be reminded of that Word, trust me on that! 

God had to remind me that I have the authority to speak directly to the storm, to remind the winds that they are subject to Him.  And I am a vessel for His use.  I need to act like it. 

We, the people of God, have forgotten who we are.  We are walking around as if we have no authority. 

God has done so much in our lives, but for some reason we have forgotten that too.  The Bible says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.”   I think we need to do a better job of that.

We can no longer allow the enemy any room to wreak havoc in our minds, our homes, our marriages, or our jobs.  None of that!  We know what God said.  Now we have to act like it.  We have to stand firmly on God’s Word like we know that we know it’s the truth.  If we really believe Him, I mean REALLY believe that God is Who He says He is and that we belong to Him, then it’s time to act like it.

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Five Smooth Stones and a Sling

The Manna Chef

Sometimes the giants that we face seem insurmountable. The storms of life are raging all around us and it may feel like we cannot face the challenges ahead for any number of reasons. But the truth of the matter is that we may simply have to face the giants and fight for our promises. We have to rely on the Holy Spirit and quit allowing the enemy to beat us up time and time again.

In I Samuel 17, Saul and the army of Israel were standing on one side of a mountain ready to face the Philistines, who were standing on the other side. Only a valley was separating them. They were prepared for battle.

Enter Goliath. He was 9 feet and 9 inches tall. He had on a bronze helmet, and he was covered in armor. He even had bronze armor covering his legs and carried a bronze javelin between his shoulders. His armor weighed between 175-200 lbs. The head of his spear weighed 20-25 lbs. And he even had a man running in front of him carrying a shield the size of a grown man. Let’s face it, this was no ordinary foe! Goliath presented an enormous challenge.

(v. 8) Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.”

Goliath challenged the men of Israel to a representative battle. That meant they would fight one on one. The winner’s side would prevail over the army of the loser. Goliath was very arrogant, too; he believed that no one could beat him. And he issued his challenge for 40 days!! Every day he flaunted his size and his strength. Isn’t that just like the enemy? Giants of fear and worry, of depression and anger and doubt – they taunt us day and night to cause us to focus on the problem instead of the ultimate solution—God. Sometimes the giant is a person; other times it’s a circumstance.

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