Dear Sisters and Brothers in Jesus the Christ,

“Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also it’s Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection].”   Hebrews 12:2 (AMP)

 The Amplified Bible’s version of Hebrews 12:2 emphasizes the fact that, ‘though there be distraction, putting the Lord Jesus at the center of it all assist us in developing the faith by which we walk or live and navigate by the power of God. Although it ought to be easier for citizens of God’s Kingdom of Light to recognize that Satan is at the center of distraction, a significant number of kingdom citizens continue to attribute to God, the works of Satan and his cohorts which are designed for the sole purpose of drawing away from the Will of God as evidenced by doing or behaving contrary to the WORD. The only original thing of Satan is the lie (John 8:44); hence he uses trickery or deception to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10a). One big deception is the thought that God uses test and trials to strengthen us. A test or trial is defined as: “To subject to a test or trial; try.”¹ As a man of God further clarified, “Many trials that Satan causes make people weaker instead of stronger. If it were the trials and tribulations that make us strong, everybody on earth would be a spiritual giant. Certainly there have been enough trials and tribulations to perfect the saints. That must not be the avenue through which God perfects the saints.”² Man is a spirit with a soul (i.e., emotions, intellect), and lives in a body (1Thess 5:23). A test or trial is anything that applies pressure on the desires of the flesh that “houses” the spirit. Due to worldly indoctrination and/or orientation to the natural realm, the body is accustomed to wanting its way and adept at getting it. However, the reborn spirit together with a renewed mind (in the WORD by the teachings of the Holy Spirit) is fully capable of standing against the lust or desires of the flesh by the things of God which include: the blood of Jesus, the Name of Jesus, the sword which is God’s WORD, the gifts of the Spirit, the fruit of the spirit, anointing oil, truth, salvation, righteousness,  every kind of prayer and entreaty (i.e., prayer in the Spirit-praying in tongues [1Co 14:14-15]; prayer of faith-the prayer of petition-the prayer to change things [Matthew 21:22, Mark 11:24]; prayer of worship [Luke 24:52-53, Acts 13:1-4 (NIV & NLT)]; prayer of agreement [Matthew 18:18-20]; prayer of supplication-for ourselves concerning both natural and spiritual needs-for God’s people-for those in authority [Phi 4:6, Eph 6:18, 1Ti 2:1-2]; intercessory prayer-standing in the gap to hold back judgment as prompted by the Holy Spirit [Ge 18:16-33, Ex 32:7-14, Nu 14:11-19])³, and faith. Whereas sin provokes God; faith invokes God.

Speak the promise . . . Harriet

¹  Funk & Wagnalls. (1989). New international dictionary of the English language. USA: J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company.

² Copeland, K. (1992). Faith and Patience: The Power Twins. (p.17). Fort Worth, TX: Kenneth Copeland Publications.

³  Hagin, K.E. (1992). The Art of Prayer: A Handbook On How To Pray. (pp. 5-18). Tulsa, OK: Faith Library Publications.