Report from Honduras

I have been in LaCeiba, Honduras one week now and can report what was accomplished last week. I wrote early in my visit that I was working on the compound in which I am staying. Yeah, mission work is not all preaching and teaching. Sometimes you have to get up to your elbows in labor! It’s always a joy to be able to bless Allen and Vicky Skelton with chores they need to have done. So, I not only tackled the laundry room and got it organized, I also got the kitchen ready for a new season. It too, had lost it’s semblance of order. So I pulled everything off the shelves, cleaned the shelves, cleaned the contents of the shelves and re-assigned the location of a lot of the items. It is now clean, orderly and ready for the next visitors.

About the middle of the week, I took a break from cleaning and joined the ministry team to visit the Home for the Aged in town. I love to visit them because they are so precious. They are all Hondurans and have no family to visit them, so Vicky visits every week to sing, give an encouraging word and give them a special treat to eat. There was a new (to us) lady missionary, Brenda, who gave them a little message that day.

We also held the weekly Bible Club for the neighborhood children. It was the first since they returned back to school after a two month break. There were over 50 children that attended. They love to come and learn songs, Bible verses and stories and have a craft that end with a cookie and juice. They have learned a lot about the Bible, thanks to the efforts of Vicky and her ministry team.

At the end of my first week, there were three meetings planned where I was able to teach. The first, on Friday morning, was for the neighbor ladies. They came from all kinds of spiritual backgrounds and some had none at all. Three of us lady missionaries spoke in the space of two hours with a break in , but somehow they folded together in a wonderful way. There were two salvations among the 23 in attendance.

The second was a meeting held on Friday night was for the men leaders of a local church. They were here for 3 hours while Allen Skelton and I spoke. I spoke on the Keys of the Kingdom and they really listened and responded well. They also did something else very well – eat! We had fruit and cupcakes and they ate every last bit we set out.

The last meeting was for the women of that same church who came on Sunday morning and stayed until 2 p.m. Louise Skelton and I spoke; she on Fear vs Faith and I spoke on . . . you guessed it, the Keys of the Kingdom. I actually had two sessions with these women and was able to get into more of the message. We had a wonderful time with these precious saints of God.


Saturday, Bob was finally able to join me. He is here to do some carpentry work for the compound and to just take a break from the regular routine in Georgia.

I appreciate the prayers of all of you. It is such a pleasure to serve the Lord in such a beautiful place and know that what we are doing will increase the Kingdom…if not now, definitely in the future.

In His Service
Debbie

LaCeiba, Honduras

I am in LaCeiba, Honduras after a delightful flight from Atlanta to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. I am traveling with good friends and fellow missionaries, Hugh and Louise Skelton. We are visiting their son and daughter-in-law who have moved fulltime to LaCeiba to minister to the people of Honduras.

The weather here is delightful. Breezy and mid 80's in temperature. We are located about two blocks from the Caribbean ocean. Walked to the beach today with a new friend, Brenda, who is also a missionary, however she has a few years on me. She's been on the mission field 44 years. Hugh and Louise about 60 years. So, I'm just a novice compared to them.

Sometimes being a missionary isn't real attractive. Yes, we can share the gospel or Bible stories with children, but it is about being a servant in whatever capacity would bless your hosts. So today, instead of going with the team to a very poor village where they were going to minsiter, I chose to stay at the base. My host, Vicky Skelton has a "to-do" list that I am more than happy to help knock out.

So, besides getting to know Ms Brenda, and eating a wonderful lunch with the team, I cleaned out, sorted and re-organized the laundry room. The rainy season here has been long and very wet, so a lot of the sheets and towels smell musty or mildewy. I ran a lot of loads of laundry (with bleach) and aired out others. I cleaned off all the shelves, then restacked in sorted piles the towels and sheets. It looks and smells much better.

Whilie they were away, I also made dinner. They just arrived, so we'll sit down to a wonderful bean soup. Tonight we'll have some devotions then hit the sack because tomorrow will be another full day.

MISSION UPDATE

I will be traveling to LaCeiba, Honduras Monday, February 16, 2009 where I will be ministering to Hondurans for two weeks. I'll also be helping out with other ministry as I am needed. Please be praying for souls to be touched and knowledge expanded. I will keep you informed through this blog, so keep checking daily.

We Are Released to Speak Authority

And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me. ---Luke 22:29

My nephew just finished boot camp in the United States Air Force last week. He is just a good kid to his family, a son and brother to his mom, dad and sisters. But last week, there was a transformation in how he was looked at. In a few short weeks, he turned from “just a kid” into a highly regarded member of the United States Air Force. He is saluted and honored in the town of the base he is located. Suddenly, he carries the authority of a military soldier to the citizens of the United States and around the world!

Authority! That word has an air about it. It means privilege, force, capacity, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right and strength. Just as a member of the United States military or the police force has authority to enforce law and order, we have been given authority, the right and power, to enforce law and order in the spirit realm. As believers we have gained entrance, through Jesus Christ, into the Kingdom of God. As a result we have been given authority to exert our power over the dominion of the devil and our lives.

Jesus gave the disciples, and the Church, the authority to use the name of Jesus. But would it do any good to just “think” His name? Would it do any good just to “think” about the authority we hold? NO! Does a traffic police officer stand in the middle of the intersection and just “think” about the power he holds over those cars? No! He has his uniform and badge in which he is dressed, but he also uses his hands, has white gloves, and his whistle. He has to use those tools as well as being cloaked in the uniform and badge.

Authority and power is not just thinking and knowing, but it is action! Jesus has given us all authority and to exert that authority, we must move beyond knowing and step into action! In Mark 11:22 Jesus said, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” Jesus said, we must speak to our circumstances without doubt or unbelief. We cannot doubt our abilities, doubt God, doubt the Word or doubt our authority. Look what happens when we believe and speak “those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”

Our 5th and last Key is Commanding Power. When we understand our Covenant with God (Key 1) and walk with the cloak of the power of the Holy Spirit (Key 2) and use the Name of Jesus (Key 3) knowing we have all the Authority that Jesus delivered to us (Key 4) then when we speak to circumstances, disease, the devil and even living things God created like animals, they must obey! If we use our mouths to speak the will of God, every knee must bow.

I wouldn’t say this with such conviction if I haven’t lived it for the last several years. It is amazing, but the Word works!!! I have had dogs growling and ready to attack, but I calmly but firmly with all the conviction in me said, "In the name of Jesus I command you to be still!" And the dog’s muscles relaxed and the tail started wagging. I have spoken to a terrible storm that was threatening a ministry team while on a boat on the Amazon and with these words I commanded the storm to stop. “In the name of Jesus I command the rain to cease now!” Bob can confirm this, but the rain stopped within a minute. I have spoken to pain in my body and it would leave within minutes. And, yes, you also have that authority and power over your own life and circumstances.

In the coming days, months and years, our faith is going to be challenged. We must be totally convinced that what Jesus did for us on the cross was done not only redeem us and reserve a space for us in heaven, but give us a life of victory here and now. In order to make it through the coming hostility against Christians, we must be completely confident in these Keys of the Kingdom. I challenge you to read the gospels, with new eyes, as Jesus shares about the Kingdom of God and see if you will look at your life in a totally different way.

Confession: I will incorporate the Keys of the Kingdom in my daily walk. I have authority to command my circumstances with my knowledge of my Covenant with God, the Name of Jesus and the experience of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I praise God that my life will never be the same again.

Authority Has Been Delivered to Us!

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go…”

Jesus was crucified! The disciples thought (as we would have thought) that it was over! They had dedicated their lives to this man for three years and now it has come to this!!! He has been put in the grave and now they are asking what will they do with their lives? They were about to experience the greatest and most thrilling life…beyond their imagination. After only thee days in the grave, Jesus Christ rose from the dead and appeared to the disciples several times continuing to teach and explaining all that he taught before the cross. Then it came time for Him to leave and return to the Father in heaven. But, before He left mankind to their own on this earth, He had to transfer His Authority so that mankind would have Key #4 of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus told them before He went to the cross what was to happen. Unfortunately, we have short memories and they were living by feelings at that time. But look what Jesus told them just before the experience of the cross. "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said the He will take of Mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:12-15) Peter, the representative of the Church received the same authority that Jesus worked with. Which means if you are part of the Church, you and I have that authority as Believers and by being a part of the Kingdom of God here on this side of heaven!

What do we do with that authority? Well, we have been authorized to overthrow the works of the devil! We have been authorized to heal the sick. We have been authorized to cast out demons. We have been commanded and authorized to GO and preach the gospel (good news) of the Kingdom. This is what Jesus did and He has declared what He did and had back to us. We are not to wait until we get to heaven…because we won’t need that authority in heaven!!! It is on earth and in our lives that the devil is roaming around seeking whom he will devour. (1 Peter:8) Remember we have been crowned as heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Sounds like we have authority to me, how about you?

Confession: I am an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ. What Jesus had in authority and power, I have received because I am in the Kingdom of God as a Believer. I will walk in the authority that Jesus transferred to me and will not let the enemy of my soul lie to me, bully me or destroy my life any more!

Name Above All Names

“Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now, you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” ---John 16:23,24

The disciples knew Jesus three years and watched Him do wonderful and mighty acts. As long as Jesus was with them, they were learning how the Kingdom of God changed lives, and watched Jesus use power and authority over sickness, disease, and the devil. They were even given a measure of power when they were sent two-by-two to minister to the villages and realized that they, too, were empowered to do what Jesus did. (Mark 10:1-2) These men were given authority to “preach, saying ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.”

As time was drawing near to the crucifixion, Jesus wanted to “wean” His disciples from depending on Him and to realize that they will be empowered with the Holy Spirit in the future through His baptism in Jerusalem. He said in John 16:23 “Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” With the understanding that there was to be power in the name of Jesus, disciples received the 3rd Key of the Kingdom, “The Name of Jesus.”

Once the new Church experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem on Pentecost, because they were bolder and confident, they began doing things they never thought was possible. Let’s look at Peter and John walking up to the synagogue in Acts 3:1-10. I have no doubt that Jesus walked past this lame man at the gate called Beautiful on many occasions without ministering to him. But now, Peter and John, full of the power of the Holy Spirit, knowing they can use the name of Jesus saw this poor beggar with new eyes. “Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.” (Acts 3:6-7)

Everyone was astonished that this man, who had been begging for his entire life, was dancing around, leaping and praising God. This drew a crowd and Peter took the opportunity to preach! This is not the same Peter that denied Jesus at His crucifixion. This was the Peter that received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and now used the name of Jesus. Let’s look at a portion of what he told these inquisitive bystanders. “And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.” (Acts3:16)

The name of Jesus has not lost its power over time. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 1:8) When we know that we are in Covenant with God and He with us (Key #1) and when we are empowered with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Key #2), when we use the name of Jesus (Key #3) all of Heaven stands at attention and is at the ready for action. Phil. 2:9-11 says, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Confession: I am convinced that there is power in the name of Jesus. I will use His name with confidence knowing that God has given me the permission and authority to use the name of Jesus to advance the Kingdom and to exert my dominion over sickness, disease and the devil.

Power From On High

“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” ---Luke 24:49


As we have watched the disciples walk, talk and live with Jesus Christ, we see that have gone through a tremendous metamorphosis. They began to “know” (in their head) Jesus as a friend and companion. Then they began to “know” (in their heart) Jesus as the Messiah. After Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, He continued to teach and show more on the Kingdom.

As the disciples were sitting in the upper room, they were fearful that the Jews would come after them because of their association with Jesus. Suddenly, He appeared mysteriously in front of them and showed them His hands and side. In John 20:21 Jesus said, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” It was at this moment in time that when Jesus presented Himself in front of the disciples, they accepted Him as the Messiah, their Lord, and their Savior. They could do that now because Jesus had completed the redemption of their souls, had conquered Satan and it was now up to mankind to accept Jesus on their own. Jesus breathed on them to receive that initial infilling of the Holy Spirit that we all receive when we believe on Jesus that we can be saved.

In our verse for today, Luke wrote that Jesus said there was to be another encounter with the Promised One, the Holy Spirit that will happen when they reach Jerusalem. Jesus said it would be there they would be “endued” with power. The original word, “endued” means to clothe or cloak. The word power here is “dunamus” in the Greek which means explosive, miracle-working power.

Jesus was well aware that the disciples were only human, that they had issues with fear, timidity, pride, brashness, etc. Look at Peter! He exhibited all those traits while with Jesus, so Jesus knew that in their own human-ness they were weak and would fail in their future development of the Church. They needed a LOT of HELP! So, He sent them to Jerusalem to wait. We pick up the story in Acts. As the “new Church” came together on the day we call “Pentecost” a supernatural event took place. A loud sound accompanied a wind and filled the whole house where they were sitting. “Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:3

From that moment on, Peter and the rest of the disciples were bold, confident, and strong in their convictions and saw miracles wrought at their hands. The Holy Spirit that had clothed them gave them what it would take to be “Jesus-in-skin” but multiplied on that very first day by 5,000 when people believe on Jesus after Peter gave an incredibly bold message.

That same experience is available to us today. It didn’t stop when the last disciple died. Remember, Jesus said that it was upon Peter that He would build His church. Peter was a “symbol” of the Church. We are still the Church generations later. When you experience the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, you will have access to the 2nd Key of the Kingdom to make a change in your world. You will become bolder, more confident, totally convinced and have miracle-working power available to you.

Confession: I understand that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a separate experience from the initial infilling of the Holy Spirit. I rejoice at the knowledge that I can be a strong ambassador for the Kingdom of God and that there is miracle-working power available to me when I accept the wonderful gift of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Kingdom Key - Covenant

And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” ---1 Corinthians 11:24,25

On the night that we refer to as “the Last Supper” Jesus was instituting a new covenant through the bread and the wine. This, Jesus said, we are to do often, in remembrance of Him. What is it Jesus did? He established the Kingdom of Heaven on the earth in order for those who believe upon Him would have not only eternal life, but a victorious life on this side of Heaven. When we keep our mind on the life of Jesus, we see that He did only good, that He taught about the Kingdom of Heaven everywhere He went, healed the sick, cast out demons and gave life to the oppressed. That must give us some idea of what the Father’s will is for our life and the covenant He made!

Covenant means a legally binding contract. Once we accept the birth, life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus the Christ…the Messiah…we have stepped out of the darkness and into light. We have stepped out of the world of Satan’s dominion and into the world of the dominion of the King…the Kingdom of God! When that happens, we are bound legally to God the Father and He is bound to us. Our job in this covenant is to reverentially fear God, obey and trust Him in all areas of our life. When we do that, God is bound to do what He promises which is to protect, provide, heal, set free, and bless our lives.

The first KEY is COVENANT. When we understand that by keeping our commitment to God then God is watching our back and making a way for prosperity in our life. Prosperity means “Shalom” which means safety, well-being, friendly, healthy, and to find favor among man. This is how God wants us to live our life. Our part is to defend God, obey His laws and trust Him. With that knowledge we can walk with our head held high, our back straight and a voice that will ring out with confidence and truth.

Look at the transformation in Peter’s life. As a disciple of Jesus he had to learn what the Kingdom was all about, believe that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, and then accept Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection as the ultimate sacrifice. Peter was impetuous, cowardly and got into trouble with his outbursts, but once Jesus ascended to heaven, Peter began to change. Just before Jesus went up into heaven, he told the disciples to “Go and make disciples…teaching them to observe all things…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Peter became confident, bolder and a strong evangelist for the Gospel. He knew he was in covenant with God the Father. How about you? Do you know you have all the backing of heaven simply because you stepped into the Kingdom of God? Did you realize that you are bound to God and He is bound to you? Will you start living your life with the confidence that God is with you always?

Confession: I am a child of the Most High God and a part of His Kingdom. I will walk and talk as though I am a King’s child and know that God will protect, provide and restore me. In return, I will defend God, obey His laws and trust Him with my life, the life of my family and my possessions.

The Power of Heaven

Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. ---Matthew 18:18

Whenever Jesus makes the same statement twice, then we must rise up and see what it is that Jesus felt was so important to convey. The verse today comes from Matthew 18, but look at Mathew 16:19 where the identical words were spoken to Peter when Jesus gave him the authority to use keys to the Kingdom. Jesus said “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth, will be loosed in heaven.”

First of all, the keys are a symbol of authority that has been transferred to Peter as the representative of the new Church. We must look at heaven to use as an example of how we are to live on this earth. We can ask ourselves, what is heaven like? Well, it is peaceful there, no sorrow, tears or torment. There are no sick folks there and there is no stress or strife. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Jesus gave us those keys of the Kingdom to use to make a change in our circumstances.

Well, reason with me then. Jesus said that He came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) so that we can live and that we can have life more abundantly. (John 10:10) The Bible also tells us that the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he can devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Jesus knew this and that is why He wanted us to be armed with knowledge, armor and the backing of heaven. The Church as a whole hasn’t understood this; otherwise we would be well equipped, healthy, have a sound mind, live in love and unity and be an awesome ambassador of the Kingdom of God.

We can overcome the strategies of the enemy by first realizing that we have been given this power and authority because Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for us. It is through Him that we live and can be victorious in life. So when Jesus himself said that whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven, He is saying we must exert our authority over our circumstances, our bodies, and over the devil. We can bind sickness, we can bind calamity, and we can bind Satan and his maneuvers.

Jesus also said that we can loose things on earth and it will be loosed in heaven. We can release the angelic hosts that have been given to the saints for our use. We can loose our mouths for praise, for commanding with the Word of God, and for calling those things which do not exist as though they do. (Romans 4:17) It is important to remember that everything we bind and loose on earth must line up with the will of God. He is more interested in the hearts and minds of man that in things and possessions. When we use the keys as one who knows the purpose of their function, our lives will dramatically change.

Confession: It is time that I understand how all of heaven wants to work with me. I also want to know how to work with the plan of God so the Kingdom of Heaven will be advanced.

A Gift From Jesus - Keys of the Kingdom

I (Jesus) will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…---Matthew 16:19a

Jesus knew His future would be the crucifixion and death, but He also knew He was going to defeat the works of the devil so that those that would believe on Him would and should live a life of victory on this side of Heaven. Satan had held the keys of dominion over mankind since Adam rebelled in the Garden of Eden and within months, Jesus was going to complete the plan for the redemption of man back to His Father that would deliver the lost dominion back to mankind.

Jesus also knew that without help, this new fledgling Church would not be successful in completing that dominion. With this thought in mind, let’s look at this scene where Simon Peter and the rest of the disciples are hearing Jesus lay out a plan for the future; a “Church” that would be so powerful that even Satan and his demons couldn’t break it up. In Matthew 16:19 Jesus said, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…” Let’s stop here for a minute. There is something VERY important about this statement. Jesus just said there is an enemy of the body of Christ, the Church, but I am giving you a tool that will help you conquer and defeat the threat of the enemy.

The “keys” that Jesus said He was giving were not tangible. In fact, the keys weren’t even viable yet because Jesus had not completed His full assignment on earth yet. It was to come in the future, after His death, burial and resurrection. The keys were extremely important to the success of Simon Peter, the brand new Church and to the believers of the future…that is you and me.

Distance and time have not diminished the importance or the power of these keys Jesus delivered to Peter, who was the representative of the Church throughout the ages. In the spirit-realm, Jesus was giving a powerful tool to the Church as a whole. The Lord has helped me unwrap those keys and I have found they are incredibly necessary to each believer and for the Church to use as they were intended. Jesus gave them to us to defeat the strategies of the devil so we could live a LIFE OF VICTORY!

Next week, I will share with you each key so that you, too, may apply them to your lives and pass them on to others.

Confession: I will admit that I have been intimidated by the enemy of my soul. I see that Jesus has given me, as a Believer, tools that will defeat the enemy. I will trust that God will reveal these keys as a way to defeat the strategies of Satan in my life and the lives of my friends, family and church.

Power over the Demonic

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. ---1 John 3:8b

When Peter realized that Jesus was more than just a human friend, that He was truly the Son of God, Jesus declared that Peter would be referred to as “the Rock” upon which the Church would be built. The Rock is not Peter as an individual, but as a foundational piece, the first of many building stones in the Church.

After Peter received his new name and was declared to be the beginning of the “Church,” Jesus said another remarkable thing. He said, “…and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (the Church). By this time, the disciples had been trained and participated in the wonderful works of Jesus, but were also exposed to the spiritual world of Satan and the demons. They were very aware of the vile, devastating and humiliating ways the underworld of the supernatural manipulated, conspired to destroy, and killed mankind… those made in the “image of God.”

In Matthew 16:18, Hades was known as the grave or a place of the departed souls, which we know as hell. Jesus wanted to illustrate that the powers of Satan and his demons could not win when they tried to overpower the Church. With all the authority that Jesus carried as the Son of the Living God, He was declaring that “No weapon formed against the Church would prosper!” However when we look at the church today, we have to wonder what happened? We see the church is full of sick people dying early deaths, that there is division and rebellion among its members, and that we are not being effective in our communities where people are living a victorious lives. Did Jesus fail? Did He miss it? This was not what Jesus had in mind for His Church. The works of Satan are not to prevail against the body of Believers, and this is not why Jesus went to the cross.

The answer is “NO” Jesus did not miss it. We have missed it. We as a Church have not used the power and dominion that Jesus passed on to us to block the strategies of the enemy. Tomorrow, we are going to see the tool that Jesus gave Peter (the Church) to block and defeat the enemy of the Church. It is still available to anyone that will use it. Check in tomorrow to find out how You can defeat your worst enemy - Satan.

Confession: I confess that the Church as a whole is not being effective against the strategies of the devil. We (the Church) need to know what Jesus did for us on the cross and how to keep the enemy from killing, stealing and destroying her people. Father, we declare that “No weapon formed against us will prosper” with confidence when we can employ the tools you have given us.

The Church Is Born

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church ---Matthew 16:18

Peter had just gotten the revelation that his friend, companion and mentor, Jesus, was the Son of the Living God! Jesus commended him for accepting that revelation and confessing it back to Him. Then, Jesus rewarded him by re-naming him as “Peter.” In the original language, Peter not only means stone, but also means a part of a larger rock. It was like Peter was the seed that would grow into something much larger. Jesus was waiting for someone to “get it!” With that seed of faith, the Kingdom would then be perpetuated into what God intended it to be.

Jesus then goes on to say that “…on this rock I will build My church.” In my research, I find this is the very first time the word “church” is used. Jesus has to be blowing the minds of the disciples! First He has pointed at the Pharisees and Sadducees and called them the leaven which is what contaminates the flat bread. (Matt. 16:11,12) Then, Simon (Peter) has a sudden revelation that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. Now, Jesus is releasing another element of revelation in this “outside-the-box” thinking and that is something called the “church.”

As a result of this moment in time over 2,000 years ago, we come to know that Peter went on to experience the supernatural element that is involved as being a part of the Kingdom of Heaven. We also know that throughout the generations since then, Peter is known as a representative of “the Church.” That is why Jesus cryptically said that “…upon this Rock (Peter) I will build My Church.” Jesus found a human being that had a revelation of the importance of the knowledge of Jesus’ deity. Through Peter’s coming experiences and growing knowledge of who Jesus is and what it meant, we could look at what we are to experience as participants in the Kingdom.

Hold on to your hats, for in the next few days, you are going to find out some incredible truths about what Jesus intended for Peter, the Church and YOU to do with your knowledge of the purpose of the Church.

Confession: Jesus was not just a teacher, a prophet, or a good man. He was the Son of God who was sent to this earth to restore the Kingdom of God on this earth. I desire to have a revelation of the importance of this and to know what my role is in God’s Kingdom.

Who Is Jesus?

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”. . . Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. ---Matthew 16:13, 16, 17

All of us have experienced a time when there was a dawn of understanding, the curtain lifted up, the light bulb came on, or however you want to put it. Something that we heard, saw or felt became a part of us – a revelation that would change our world.

In this scripture, Peter, who had been living, eating, and walking by the side of Jesus for months and months suddenly realized just exactly who Jesus was. A typical man from Nazareth, yes, but there was something amazingly marvelous about Him that drew people. He had such a novel way of looking at things. He was militant about religion and those who were religious. He was unique, yet something very deep and ethereal swirled around Him. One could not put their finger on just what it was until this moment in time.

Jesus was with the disciples and His devoted followers. They had just had a discussion that was intertwined between leaven in bread and religious Pharisees and Sadducees. The disciples suddenly got it! The light went on! They realized that the religious mind-set that was so cemented in tradition was a huge barrier to what Jesus came to do and that was to bring the Kingdom of God to the people of the earth.

Then Jesus made a sudden turn in His conversation and asked the disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” Not who do the Pharisees say I am, but who do the grass-roots people say I am. After hearing his friends say, Elijah or John the Baptist, suddenly, Peter got it! He told Jesus and the disciples that He was "Christ, the Son of the living God." In other words Jesus was the anointed One that came from God to this earth.

Jesus applauded Peter, congratulated and probably hugged him because he finally realized exactly who Jesus was! And with that, Jesus explained that idea didn’t come from Peter, it came from God, His Father, who is in heaven. Peter was in a train of thought or thinking outside the box, if you will, and opened His mind for the Father God to place that revelation in his mind. From that time on, Peter had a deeper knowledge of the purpose of Jesus. Even though he stumbled and faltered several times after that, Peter had a true concept of the deity of Jesus, that He was the long-awaited Messiah.

Let me ask you this: Is your mind open for the Father to place a revelation in your thoughts or your rationalization? There is so much that God wants to reveal to His children in these last days and we cannot receive those ideas or understanding until we are willing to accept the unusual, the supernatural or the ideas outside of the box.

Confession: Father, I may have been trained to think and accept religious tradition as the only way to think about You, the Kingdom, and about Jesus. But I want to be open to revelation and ideas that come only from You for the purpose of moving ahead in my destiny and expanding the Kingdom.