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How to Overcome the Fear of Lack

Author: Dr. Creflo A. Dollar

Summary:
Negative news reports of recession and economic chaos are constantly broadcast through various media outlets with the objective of planting fear of lack in your heart. However, you do not have to allow fear to take root in your heart. Fear is contaminated faith and will create an access point for the enemy into your life. Overcome the fear of lack by refusing to receive any words that contradict what God's Word says about provision.

A. Fear is a spirit that does not come from God (2 Timothy 1:6, 7). 1. If you tolerate fear on any level, it will contaminate your faith. a. b. c. d. e. Fear gives Satan access into your life. Fear and unbelief are tied together. It is impossible to please God without faith. Identify the areas in which you do not believe God's Word. The primary fear Satan wants you to receive is the fear that God's Word will not work in your life. B. Overcome the fear of lack. 1. Recognize lack is an enemy and God will wipe it out. a. b. 2. The Lord will cause the enemies that rise against you to be smitten before your face (Deuteronomy 28:7). The plagues of the world shall not be upon you; or destroy you (Exodus 12:13, 14). The power of God is available to supply all your needs. a. b. For 40 years the Israelites did not lack anything in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 2:7). Jesus told the disciples to go on a journey and take nothing with them (Luke 9:3-5). i. c. d. 4:12). If you seek the Lord, you will not lack any beneficial thing (Psalm 34:10). The disciples lacked nothing while on their journey (Luke 22:35). Walk honorably toward others and you will lack nothing (1 Thessalonians

e. f.

God says people are destroyed; or cut off because they lack knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Seven tribes did not receive their inheritance because they were slow to believe and receive (Joshua 18:2, 3). i. ii. To be slack is to be slow to move, inactive, lazy, dull of perception, and slow to believe. If you do not deal with unbelief, you will not receive God's best.

Scripture References:

2 Timothy 1:6, 7 Deuteronomy 28:7 Exodus 12 :13,14 Deuteronomy 2:7 Luke 9:3-5 Luke 22:35 1 Thessalonians 4:12 Psalm 34:10 Hosea 4:6 Joshua 18:2,3

Winning in Battle
Creflo Dollar

There is no point in trying to avoid battles because, in life, they are inevitable. As Christians, we are guaranteed to experience affliction, persecution, adversity, and trials. However, God has promised us absolute victory in every situation we face. Our job is to fight the good fight of faith and remain steadfast where Gods Word is concerned. By refusing to be moved from what God has said in the Bible, activating our faith, and rising up in the authority invested in us through Jesus Christ, we can walk out of any battle triumphant.

Many times, the dilemmas we find ourselves in have nothing to do with the devil; but, they have everything to do with the bad choices we have made. When we refuse to follow Gods instructions and do things His way, we can end up going through unnecessary affliction and

hardship. But even when this happens, Gods love is in hot pursuit of us. His grace is His willingness to get involved in our situations and circumstances. We can have confidence He is standing by to help us, even when we make senseless mistakes.

How you handle yourself in the midst of the battle makes the difference. One of the most important things we can do is be mindful of the power of words. Second Corinthians 4:13 says, We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak. Whatever you believe, you must speak. Actually, what is in your heart in abundance will come out of your mouth eventually and make known what you really believe anyway. As it relates to the Believer, our faith is evident by what we say. If we claim the promise of God that says we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, we demonstrate our belief first and foremost by declaring it.

Using the Word of God during spiritual battles is guaranteed to get results. It is the sword of the Spirit and will cut to pieces the snares of the enemy. Whatever is coming against you, find out what God says and put it in your mouth. When you speak what you believe, you send a message to the devil that says you are fighting back and you are winning.

Verse 15 of that same chapter reveals another important key to victory in battle, For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. I dont know about you, but I need God to get involved in my battles! This scripture clearly says that when we actively engage the power of thanksgiving by giving God thanks for everything He has done and for who He is, it releases His grace, which is His unmerited favor. Its not that we deserve it, but He loves us so much. He cant help but intervene when we use the big gun of thanksgiving as a weapon.

I want to encourage you to remain immovable when youre going through a tough time. Trouble wont last always. You have been equipped with Gods Word, which is more than enough to fight off anything the devil throws at you. You win!

Be sure to stop by our online bookstore for resources to help you be victorious in every area of your life!

Dealing With Hurt in the Family

Author: Creflo A. Dollar

Summary:
The family is a force wherein its members do good to one another without conditions. The two most powerful forces on Earth are love and selfishness. The family is to be built on the foundation of the love of God. The institution of the family cannot exist successfully on a foundation of selfishness. God's love is the foundation for every successful promise He has made in His Word.

A. Agap love will resolve any family problem. 1. 2. Carnal, emotional love comes with conditions. With agap love, there are no conditions. a. b. 3. a. b. c. 4. Agap love pays no attention to the wrong done to it. It is not self-centered and it endures through everything. Develop in agap love, which is our foundation. Selfishness only produces more problems in relationships. Obey the Word of God as a Christian first, then as a husband, wife, mother, father, or child. When you have a successful relationship with God, you can have successful relationships with others. a. b. c. 5. Treat your spouse as your brother or sister in Christ. Eventually, you will have to respect your children as brothers and sisters in the Lord. Children are assignments; God gives you the opportunity to train them up in the principles of God's Word. Satan is using the same weapons he used in the Garden of Eden to destroy families today (Genesis 3:1-8). a. b. c. d. e. f. g. Satan came in as a serpent. Emotions are the "serpents" that attack our minds. Emotions are feelings on the inside caused by pain or pleasure, designed to move you in a certain direction. Negative emotions move you away from the will of God. Emotions talk to you; you cannot depend on feelings because they change. The curse that took place in the Garden of Eden was the curse of being emotionally- ruled. God gave us emotions, but they are not to govern our lives.

If the foundations are destroyed, what shall the righteous do?

B. Deal with hurt the right way. 1. Words can pierce like a sword (Proverbs 12:18, AMP).
a. Hurt comes in like a serpent and robs people of all God wants them to be. i. ii. iii. iv. v. Hurt is based in selfishness. Do not use your hurt as an excuse to be selfish. Do not try to build relationships on a foundation of hurt. Hurt will distort your decisions and perspective on life. Hurt will make you bitter and prevent you from going forward.

vi. vii. 2. a. b.

Hurt causes you to make bad decisions and wear your emotions on your sleeve. Hurt causes you to protect your feelings and not your future.

The wrong way to deal with hurt: Hurting others. i. i. ii. iii. c. i. ii. You will reap what you sow. You cannot hear from God when your heart is hard. You will feel pitiful and then block healthy relationships. Hardening your heart is fear-based. This puts you out of touch with reality. It invites more hurt or mistreatment. Hardening your heart.

Pretending you are not hurt.

3.

Hurt turns to anger. a. b. c. When you are angry, you start to feel sorry for yourself. Anger turned inward becomes depression. Satan's plan is to bring you down through negative emotions.

4.

We are new creatures in Christ and old things are passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17). a. b. c. d. e. f. Refuse to use your pain as your point of reference in life. You have been given authority; overcome hurt in your life (Luke 10:19). You can change; you are not powerless. With the Word, you can become emotionally invincible; success comes from within. Love will give you authority over hurt. Allow a strong brother or sister to speak a Word to you when you need it.

Scripture References:

Genesis 3:1-8 Proverbs 12:18, AMP 2 Corinthians 5:17 Luke 10:19

Conquering Lack
Creflo A. Dollar Did you know that you have the ability to overcome every negative situation that you face? Battles are a part of life, and you must be equipped by God with might in order to win them. The act of winning the battle is called conquest. It is the act of conquering, and is yours by faith. As a Believer, you have been made a conqueror through Jesus, and you can trust that He will enable

you

to

get

the

victory.

The Word of God declares that you are more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37). Being more than a conqueror means that the victory God wants to give you will far exceed your expectations. The challenge that most Christians have is resisting the temptation to try and do things in their own abilities. They forget that it is through Him that they are able to conquer debt, lack and financial hardship.

One of the many challenging battles that people face is in the area of their finances. When the bills are piling up and creditors are calling your house nonstop, it can be difficult to feel as if you have the power to overcome lack. However, how you feel has nothing to do with what God can do. By tapping into His supernatural power, you can be victorious over what appears to be a lack of financial provision.

Though your situation may seem impossible, you have the assurance of knowing that nothing is too hard for God. When you realize that you have the ability to consistently win battles, you won't tolerate living from paycheck to paycheck and going in debt to have your needs met. Take authority over lack in the name of Jesus and ask God to give you wisdom and strategies to use. I really enjoy communicating to people the practical side of God's Word. Many times, particularly where finances are concerned, Christians are quick to work on the spiritual aspects of their breakthroughs such as prayer, making faith confessions from the Word and giving tithes and offerings, but they fail to do the natural part. Doing one without the other won't get you anywhere. In looking at your financial profile, it is important to determine where you need to make adjustments in your financial decisions. When you are responsible with what God has already given you, He will empower you to have more. For example, spending beyond your means is not going to help you overcome debt and lack but will only lead you further into a financial hole. Using credit cards all the time and buying things that you know you can't afford are all factors in the poverty equation. If you continue being irresponsible with your money, you will continue to lack the finances you need to bless others and take care of yourself. However, by doing your part in the natural, along with the spiritual aspect from the Word, you will never run out. In fact, God will increase you at every turn.

Conquerors are made by God. When His supernatural ability gets on you, you can conquer anything. First Samuel 16:13 says, "Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him [David] in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward..." Just as David was, you are anointed to be victorious over lack. Don't let the devil bog you down with what looks like an impossible situation. Receive the ability to overcome. God will bring you out every time.

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Facing Lifes Storms

Creflo Dollar Have you ever been so consumed with your problems and personal concerns that it seemed there was no immediate relief in sight? For example, Sandra is a faithful member of her local church who has a loving relationship with her family and friends and is successful in almost everything she does. Recently, however, things have taken a negative turn financially, and because the pressures of the challenge seem so great, the usually positive and proactive Sandra is struggling with bouts of depression and stress. She has tried to involve friends to help her resolve her issues, only to find that few have the time or desire to listen to her problems. While it may be hard to believe that a person can go from being a got it all together Christian to feeling down in the dumps, it does happen. All of us have experienced this at some point in our walk with God; but instead of worrying or tracking down someone to join what could easily become a pity party, use the Source you know will never failGod. Everyone should understand the value of being prepared mentally and spiritually for attacks on our lives because they will come. In John 16:33, Jesus said, In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. God has equipped you to handle the storms of life by trusting in Jesus. Similar to Job in the Bible, there are times when challenges hit us on all sides and we dont always feel like responding with the Word of God; but rest assured that Gods Word is the solution to any problem. When you allow your responses and decisions to be founded on Gods Word, you open the door for God to come in and turn your situation around. Job was a man who faced some terrible situations. His children were killed, his livestock were destroyed and he was struck with painful boils on his entire body. Job had lost everything and Im sure he was tempted to completely give up and turn his back on God. Even his wife told him to just curse God and die because he was in such a pitiful state. But Job didnt do that. While he did go through a time of complaining and questioning, he never gave up on God. As a result, God restored everything he lost. When the storms of life hit you, what will you do? Will you become overwhelmed and lose heart in the midst of worrying, obsessing and attempting to fix every problem yourself? Or will you pass the trust test and employ His help by calling on Him first? There is no challenge too great for Him to handle. He can cause all things to work out for your good when you pray and seek Him. What you find difficult to do, God can perform sweatlessly. In the midst of trusting God, know that He may not use your preferred method to solve your issues. God has numerous ways to get things done and He will change situations in order to fulfill His purposes and promises. You must be willing to get out of Gods way in order for Him to work. That means refraining from worrying, complaining and trying to fix things in your own natural ability. When you worry, you hinder Gods promises from being able to work in your life. Instead, meditate on the Scriptures, seek understanding and believe in what the Word will do for you. Everything you need to survive the storms of life is in your Bible; so put it to use during the times you need it most.

Dont forget that God is a prayer away. No, there is no quick fix for every obstacle you will face in life, but if you are a Believer, you have the very thing that will bring peace in times of trouble (John 14:27). Pray to God and He will answer. He promised to never leave or abandon you. Develop a closer relationship with God by finding out more about Him and His promises. Visit our online bookstore and Bible Study Center and get equipped and prepared for the storms of life!

Scripture References:

John 16:33 John 14:27

The Law of Saving, Planning Ahead, and Anticipating Potential Setbacks

Author: Dr. Creflo A. Dollar

Summary:
In order to experience financial breakthrough, there must be a marriage of spiritual and practical principles. Saving, planning ahead, and anticipating potential setbacks are necessary steps to positioning yourself to receive financial increase from God.

A. It is God's desire for you to prosper (3 John 2). 1. 2. 3. The level of your prosperity in life depends on the prosperity of your soul (mind, will, and emotions). Soul prosperity is achieved by renewing your mind. Your success in life is based on what you know. a. You can't do better, until you know better.

B. Faith without works is dead (James 2:17). 1. 2. Your faith must have corresponding action to effectively operate. You must do something to demonstrate what you believe! a. Example: If you need a job, you must get out and look for one.

C. One practical aspect of achieving financial freedom is having a savings account. 1. 2. God promises to bless your storehouse (savings account); but you must have a storehouse to begin with. Everyone has the ability to save; however, you must make a decision to do so. a. Examine your life, and make the necessary changes.

3.

Why open a savings account? a. b. c. d. Your money is safer in a savings account, and protected until you decide to use it. You'll make money off your money through accrued interest. You will avoid the temptation to spend your money because it's not easily accessible. You will be prepared when emergencies arise.

4.

When you open a savings account, be diligent to put something in it on a consistent basis. a. b. c. Diligence will cause you to rule, and have control over your finances. Consider using automatic deductions. You will accumulate wealth by gathering little by little.

D. Be ready for unexpected expenses. 1. Plan ahead for things that may come up. a. Example: When God told Joseph that a seven year famine would take place, Joseph took immediate action and began making provisions for the future by storing food (Genesis 41:33-36). b. c. d. 2. 3. Joseph didn't pray for the famine not to come; instead, he covered his bases. Joseph was discreet and wise. Set aside money each pay period for emergencies.

The Christians in the city of Corinth were prepared to sow into the Apostle Paul's ministry when he came because they had put money aside (1 Corinthians 16:1, 2). Observe the ant, and be wise (Proverbs 6:6-8). a. Ants are smart enough to prepare for winter during the harvest (Proverbs 30:24, 25).

E. A foolish man wastes his resources (Proverbs 21:20). 1. Consider what you are wasting. a. b. 2. 3. 4. Debt is enjoying today at the expense of tomorrow. An investment is something you do today, so that you can enjoy tomorrow.

Examine your spending habits, and realize what you could be putting into a savings account. Stop trying to keep up with everybody else. a. a. b. c. Don't allow greed to rob you of the opportunity to save. What have you stored up for future generations? You should strive to save enough money for your grandchildren to live well. A wise person will have an inheritance (Proverbs 17:2). A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children (Proverbs 13:22).

Scripture References:

3 John 2 James 2:17 Genesis 41:33-36

1 Corinthians 16:1, 2 Proverbs 6:6-8 Proverbs 30:24, 25 Proverbs 21:20 Proverbs 13:22 Proverbs 17:2