CHANGE THE WORLD MINISTRIES

Rochelle Arnold grew up in the Midwest. She is a graduate of RHEMA Bible School and the founder of a prophetic outreach called “Change the World Ministries.” Her desire is to impact the culture for Christ through music, drama and the arts. She is the author of the book, SOJOURNERS: In a Strange Land. She is also a cancer survivor and believes the Lord has kept her for such a time as this.

Spontaneous prophetic music ministry and inspirational teaching are a large part of her vision as well as leading the lost to Jesus. She continues to grow and develop her gifts and talents seeking balance and unity among the body of Christ. To find out more about Rochelle and see excerpts from her book visit www.rochellearnold.com

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears; for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. Psalm 39:12

A sojourner is one who resides as a foreigner or stranger in an unknown land. God called Abraham out to a place where he was to receive an inheritance. He went out not knowing where he was to go. “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.” (Hebrew 11:9)

A few days later in the bathroom I was looking in the mirror when I heard the Lord’s voice behind me say, “Do you not trust me for the timing of your next child?” I became pregnant shortly after and that is when I noticed some irregular bleeding. I promptly went to my doctor.

Upon examining me, the doctor startled me with the detection of what appeared to be some sort of lesion on my cervix. He recommended that I get a biopsy right away. The next day I got an urgent call from the hospital. The lesion was in fact a malignant tumor. As my husband and I arrived at the hospital, I felt as if I was completely out of my body. It was surreal. I could not believe this was happening to me. I was in a daze. All I remember was the tormenting fear that was now setting in.

In those first few hours after the diagnosis of cervical cancer, I was broken and frightened, crying out to the Lord to have mercy on me. That night I held my Bible very close and slept with it by my side. I felt as if the living Word was now sustaining me through this traumatic ordeal. I kept hearing the voice of the Lord saying to me, “You shall live and not die.”

Later, I remember being taken away on the stretcher into surgery. I knew then I had to rely on God to see me through. The next thing I remember was waking up and hearing my husband say, “I have good news; the cancer did not spread and they found no baby.”

After the surgery to remove my uterus, the doctor came out scratching his head saying, “We don’t understand this, but we found no embryo, only a placenta.” It was as if the embryo had just miraculously disappeared. The pregnancy brought on growth hormones that caused the hidden tumor that was growing inside the cervix to surface and be detected early. I was stunned because only three short months earlier I was given a clean bill of health with a normal pap smear. How could this be?

Since then, I have rebuked the cancer and commanded it never to return and I am confident that it never will. By His stripes I am healed. I would encourage anyone going through a life threatening illness or injury, believe in the Lord. He is able to rescue you.

One evening as I was relaxing and reading the Bible shortly after my cancer ordeal, the Lord spoke to me through Psalm 91:14-16 which reads, “Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.”

Often times we run around in this crazy world from one task to another, never really acknowledging the Lord in our plans. We live in a microwave society in which the majority of people, including Christians, run like chickens with their heads’ cut off in many different directions. I am also guilty when it comes to preplanning my day, my week and yes even my year!

It’s funny how we preplan and arrange everything in our day, only to have the weather or some other unseen event reschedule it for us.

Do you ever take the time to really inventory all the blessings God has bestowed upon you? He’s ever watching, ever waiting, ever supplying, ever protecting and ever longing for our intimate time. So today all is well with my soul as I sit, watch, wait and listen for His voice. It’s a blessing to be a child of God and a follower of Jesus Christ.

The Lord reminds me by His presence and His Word to acknowledge Him in all my ways. He will then make my path straight. He is saying here in essence that in order to stay on the right path, we must have regular intimate conversation and time with Him. It is easy to get so busy with our schedules, that we forget to trust and seek the Lord, especially now with the Holidays approaching.

With all the fear driven media in our unstable world, it is easy for the enemy to try and lure us away from the wisdom of the Lord.

Consider the rewards of wisdom found in Proverbs 3: “Do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

To not lean on our own understanding can prove to be quite challenging. The world teaches us from a very young age to reason and understand our environment. We are educated, so we can better reason and come to intelligent conclusions. We are trained to be self-sufficient and solve our own problems. Our natural inclination is to try and figure things out on our own.

The Word of God, however, turns our worldview upside down. The Lord commands us to trust Him and rely not on our own understanding. In order to do this we must truly be humble. We cannot be smug and just push on with our own agenda and then expect the Lord to bless us. We must not be wise in our own eyes. (Ouch! That hurt!) “We are to fear or reverence the Lord and turn away from our wicked ways. When we acknowledge the Lord in all our ways, He will bring healing to our bodies and refreshment to our bones.” (Proverbs 3:7-8)

Have you ever noticed when people are rushed or over scheduled; they tend to be unkind or just down right rude? Too many people today, including Christians, are just too busy being too busy, if that makes sense. Like Joyce Meyer teaches, many of us have the “What about me, what about me?” mentality.

Many of us are looking for the fountain of youth and/or holistic ways to live longer. I am all for holistic and natural ways of healing, but as the Holy Spirit reminded me; we should be very careful not to make holistic or natural ways our god. Natural supplements and vitamins are fine as long as we don’t put them before the Lord. The danger occurs when we put our faith in other things before we believe the Word of God. As the Scripture says we are required to acknowledge the Savior in all our ways:

“Do not forget the Lord’s teaching and commandments. For length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. (Proverbs 3:1-2) Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.” (Verse 7)

“How blessed is the man (or woman) who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire compares with her. Long life, is in her right hand, in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace.” (Proverbs 3:13-17)

Proverbs is filled with many glorious rewards of wisdom. The Lord becomes our confidence and he keeps us from the snare of the enemy. We are instructed in Proverbs 3:25 to not be afraid of sudden fear nor the onslaught of the wicked when it comes. Instead, we are told to be kind and helpful toward each other. We are told to be full of love and compassion towards those the Lord has put around us.So this Christmas season, amidst the hustle and bustle of the world and the church, remember to stop and listen for His voice. “He is intimate with the upright.” (Proverbs 3:32-33)

I've cried, I've pleaded, I've been lied to, I've been lied about, I've been delivered up to the officials and the courts, I've been called names, I've been disregarded and I've been in desperate prayer; all over the bullying that goes on in our schools. Now it's time to fast and intercede like never before. If you feel led, join me over the next several weeks in intensive prayer. This is a time to start doing something in the spirit, not the flesh...to come against bullying and all it's evil outcomes. I don't know about you, but I have had enough!

To be honest, sometimes I’m embarrassed to call myself a Christian. I understand that people in the world have only reflected back what some of us “Christians,” project. Sadly, there are many extremely religious people, who call themselves by this name. These misguided ones do not pattern themselves after the true nature of Christ. I will even go as far to say that they really don’t know Jesus, yet call themselves a Christian anyway.

The Jesus I know from the Bible is full of love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. He is not harsh or heavy handed. He is not damningly critical or judgmental. He is slow to anger and by His goodness, will draw humanity to Himself.

THEREFORE YOU have no excuse or defense or justification, O man, whoever you are who judges and condemns another. For in posing as judge and passing sentence on another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge are habitually practicing the very same things [that you censure and denounce].

2[But] we know that the judgment (adverse verdict, sentence) of God falls justly and in accordance with truth upon those who practice such things.

3And do you think or imagine, O man, when you judge and condemn those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God's judgment and elude His sentence and adverse verdict?

4Or are you [so blind as to] trifle with and presume upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering patience? Are you unmindful or actually ignorant [of the fact] that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repent ([a]to change your mind and inner man to accept God's will)?

I was recently watching a program about a couple of guys who run into an alien in the desert. The show was witty and heartwarming at first. Then about half way through I became painfully aware that the writers of the movie saw Christians as radically unbalanced, stupid haters of mankind.

The alien character announced that we have all come from extraterrestrials, therefore there are no absolutes. He was implying that there was no Heaven or Hell, no God or devil. After all, if we were not created by God, then it was all just by chance and circumstance. Essentially, he was saying there is no right or wrong.

What was disturbing the most about the movie was that it depicted Christians as pathetic, mindless beings who were only worthy of humiliation and the butt of jokes. When those in the world see hate, judgment and fanaticism in people who call themselves Christians, it does great damage to our witness for Christ!

The enemy of God does all He can to magnify the bad behavior in these religious Pharisees. I will be the first to say that there are those extremist out there, who spew garbage out of their mouth faster than a New York minute. These extremist are not being led by the Spirit of God, but by the spirit of the enemy. Their wicked and unloving behavior is a sure sign of this. The Bible says that there will be those, who in the last hour, profess to be followers of Christ, but will be rejected by Jesus.

21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (wickedness).

Some ministries try to use the “fear factor,” to win souls for Christ. Father God, however, did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) So if we think that scaring people will drive them into the arms of the Lord, we are sorely mistaken. Though we may be able to temporarily startle them into believing in Jesus, it will never last.

It will never stick because the very nature of Christ goes against what they are teaching. They are false teachers and false prophets. Jesus is not an evil dictator waiting to slam you over the head with a hammer. Fear does not come from God and anyone who tries to manipulate people through fear is not projecting the character of Christ.

If the true Body of Christ does not rise up and reflect the honest nature of the Lord, then we are in great jeopardy of seriously endangering millions of souls’ eternal destination. Young people today need to see the compassion of Christ. The world already has enough violence and hatred. We as followers of Christ have an obligation to represent Jesus as He really is not as these religious nut jobs have painted Him out to be. In order to do this we must grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ. We cannot just know about Him. We must genuinely know Him and He must genuinely know us to be worthy to be called a Christian.

I encourage everyone who reads this and claims to be a Christian to really evaluate what it is you are doing to win people to the Lord. Are you walking with Jesus or walking away from Him. What kind of witness are you?

For more writings by Rochelle go to www.rochellearnold.com. Online book available called: SOJOURNERS: In a Strange Land.

The Bible says no man knows the day or the hour. So for future reference, if someone claims to know the timing of the Rapture this is a sure sign that they are a false prophet! We are living in the days of grace and the acceleration of knowledge. According to Kim Clement, who is a proven true prophet, we will continue to see new cures for diseases such as HIV and Alzheimers. The Bible also says that God does not want one person to perish. (Matthew 18:14) He wants everyone to come to the knowledge, relationship and understanding of who Jesus Christ really is and what He has done for us. That is my prayer for you today. Amen. The Lord did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders so as to deceive and lead astray, if possible, even the elect (God's chosen ones) See, I have warned you beforehand. (Matthew 24:24)

So if they say to you, Behold, He is in the wilderness (desert)--do not go out there; if they tell you, Behold, He is in the secret places or inner rooms--do not believe it. For just as the lightning flashes from the east and shines and is seen as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.(Matthew 24:26)

And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect (His chosen ones) from the four winds, [even] from one end of the universe to the other.(Matthew 24:31)

But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For just as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah went into the ark, And they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away--so will be the coming of the Son of Man. At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.

Two women will be grinding at the hand mill; one will be taken and one will be left. Watch therefore give strict attention, be cautious and active, for you do not know in what kind of a day whether a near or remote one your Lord is coming. But understand this: had the householder known in what part of the night, whether night or a morning watch the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be undermined and broken into.You also must be ready therefore, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him. (Matthew 24:36-44)

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans10:9)

Forgive me for my sins and come into my heart today. I believe you are the way, the truth and the life. I ask you to be Lord of my life and direct my path. I believe you are the Son of God and you died for me. Help me to find Your destiny for my life in this world. Help me to have life more abundantly in You. Protect me from the snares of the enemy and teach me all your ways.

Scripture: For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Now find a Bible based Christian church and begin to walk out your faith. Learn about Jesus and get to know Him. It is very important to begin reading the Bible for yourself and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding into the Word of God. It is not about religion. It is about having a relationship with Jesus.

Shake It Off!

By Rochelle Arnold

The batter comes up to hit the ball and misses twice! Now his fellow teammates are shouting to him, “Come on, just shake it off, shake it off!” You are in the outfield and you miss the fly ball and fall on your back. Now you are hurt and embarrassed, but still your teammates shout, “Shake it off, shake it off!” You think to yourself, “What do you mean shake it off!” It seems kind of cruel to say to someone who is hurting, “It will be all right just shake it off,” but that is exactly what Jesus tells us to do!

Consider the instructions that Jesus gave the twelve disciples for service in Matthew 10:14. “Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or city, shake the dust off your feet.” The Lord had summoned the disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal every kind of sickness and disease. (Matthew 10:1) The Lord also said while they were doing this he would supernaturally provide for them. (Matthew 10:9-10)

"And whatever city or village you enter inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. As you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace."(Matthew 10:11-13)

Jesus is saying here that we are to minister to others in peace and love. We will know if we are received or not. As we go out in our God given authority operating in the gifts of the Spirit, some will receive us others will not. If those we attempt to minister to are worthy, they will see that we are sent by the Lord and receive our peace and blessings. If they are not worthy, they will not receive the healing and deliverance sent to them by God. In that case we are to take back our blessing of peace. (Matthew 10:13) Don’t let anyone steal your peace!

If they do not receive you or heed the words the Lord has given you, then shake it off! When the Lord sends us out, he knows we are going out as sheep in the midst of wolves. So he instructs us to be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. (Matthew 10:16) To be shrewd is to be one of keen discernment. We are to be wise and skillful in our service to the Lord. To be innocent as a dove is to be pure in our motives. We are to do our work for the Lord in a way that reflects best his nature of love and compassion for others.

Even as we go on our mission empowered by the Holy Spirit we are told to beware of men.

"But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles."(Matthew 10:17)

So the Lord has a purpose for our persecution, which takes place in both the church and the world arena. We will be brought before people in high authority and be accused of being evil, all in the name of Jesus. The people who persecute us truly believe they are doing God a favor! However, in that very hour the Holy Spirit within us comes forward as a testimony of the power and authority of Jesus Christ. The same betrayal that Jesus experienced we will also experience.

It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household.
(Matthew 10:25)

The religious minded of Jesus day accused him of operating by the power of the enemy. So too today you can find website after website accusing the brethren of evil. Everyone from Benny Hinn to Billy Graham are being accused! The Lord warns us of the hatred we will endure because of His name! He promises us though that he will reveal all things to us and bring justice. We should not fear but instead rest in His faithfulness!

"Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops."(Matthew 10:26-27)

The Lord is saying here to shake off all the persecution, condemnation and guilt that others try to put on you! Shake it off and move on doing the work the Lord has instructed you to do. Jesus will supernaturally meet all your needs despite hindrances and roadblocks the enemy throws in front of you.

When Jesus sends us out to do his work, he will also provide, protect, bless and accomplish his purposes through us. We on the other hand need to be of keen discernment and wise as to how we minister to others. The enemy will try to hinder the work of the Lord, but greater is He that is in us then he that is in the world! The Lord instructs us to go out and heal the sick and deliver those who are oppressed, depressed and yes even sometimes possessed by the enemy! Satan cannot stop the progress of the Holy Spirit whom empowers believers to change the world!

Paul Shake’s Off a Serpent

In Acts 28 Paul and the disciples find themselves shipwrecked while sailing to Rome. They end up swimming to an island called Malta. They had been through a terrible storm and barely escaped with their lives. Now they find themselves in a strange place with some natives building a fire for them.

It was rainy and cold when Paul joined in to gather some sticks for the fire. As he put his sticks into the fire a snake came out from among the sticks and attached itself to his hand. The natives were sure this meant Paul was cursed and must have done something evil. They were shocked however when Paul simply shook the viper off his hand and into the fire, leaving him unharmed!

They kept on waiting for Paul to swell up and die, but he never did! Praise God, thank you Jesus! Can you imagine their dismay to see a viper apparently bite Paul and then he just shakes it off! They had just witnessed the supernatural power and protection of the Holy Spirit! The Lord protected Paul during this very important mission to Malta. The natives soon changed their mind about Paul and greatly honored and favored him. Even to the point of calling him a god. This was of course a misconception on their part.

Paul then goes out and proceeds to heal the father of Publius, the leader of the island. This leader’s father was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery. Paul then prayed and laid his hands on the sick man and he was healed! “After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to Paul and getting cured.” (Acts 28:9)

Paul soon left the island of Malta with everything he needed. God had given Paul and the other men great honor among the natives. They had all the supplies they needed for the journey ahead. The Holy Spirit enabled Paul to be able to shake off the deadly serpent and move on in his work for the Lord fully equipped and blessed with plenty of provision.

So too today we need to shake off discouragement, shake off depression, shake off persecution, shake off fear, shake off sickness and shake off disease! We do this by the power of the Holy Spirit not by our own power or strength. Shake it off in the name of Jesus then allow the Lord to equip you for the rest of the journey.

___________________________________________________________________

GIDEON’S ARMY (Judges 6 and 7)
02/02/09
By Rochelle Arnold

WHO WAS GIDEON?

Gideon was the fifth judge of Israel after Deborah the prophetess. Gideon was a military strategist who had once defeated the Midianite army. He had both strengths and weaknesses, just like any of us. Gideon had a little bit of an inferiority complex. He was afraid that his own weaknesses and limitations would hinder God from working through him.

WHO WERE THE MIDIANITES?

The Midianites were a desert people who were always at war with Israel. They oppressed God’s people causing great suffering. The Lord called Gideon to deliver the Israelites from the hands of the Midianites.

THE CALL

One day as Gideon was threshing wheat the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” As I said before, Gideon definitely had an inferiority complex and did not see himself as a “mighty warrior.” The Lord on the other hand saw Gideon as more than a conqueror.
Gideon did not understand how the Lord could be with his people yet they were all still being oppressed. In fact Gideon was hiding out, when the angel appeared to him. When the Lord commanded Gideon to deliver His people, this mighty warrior began to argue with the Lord. Gideon said, “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” (Judges 6:15)

Many of us as believers, including myself, can relate to Gideon’s feelings of inadequacy. For example, when the Lord called me to challenge the school system and present an elective Bible course, I was afraid that I could not do it. I had excuses similar to what Gideon had. I said to myself, “How can a housewife and mother with a very small ministry make much of a difference in the school system?” I was very intimidated with the idea of going before the school board and speaking!

The Lord answered Gideon in his uncertainty and said, “I will be with you, and you will, strike down all the Midianites together.” Still Gideon was unconvinced and he asked for a sign from the Lord. In fact, he sent out a couple fleeces to be sure he was hearing from the Lord. Through it all, the Lord was very patient with Gideon and delivered on all of his requests. (Judges 6:36)

PUTTING TOGETHER THE ARMY

Gideon’s army started out at thirty two thousand men. The Lord, however, was not pleased with so many soldiers. He said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce to the people, “Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave. (Judges 7:2-3)

Twenty two thousand men left because of fear, while ten thousand remained. The majority of the army was full of fear and the Lord did not want fear in the camp. Fear will sabotage faith and becomes a hindrance to our progress.

Still the Lord was not satisfied with the number of men in the army. So he told Gideon to take the remaining men down to the water. The Lord said, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongue like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.” (Judges 7:5)

Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. The Lord said, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.” (Judges 7:7)

What is the significance of keeping the three hundred men who lapped like dogs? The men who lapped the water from their hands apparently remained standing like a dog would. This allowed them to be ready and alert to battle as opposed to those who bowed down upon their knees. Those who bowed down upon their knees would have looked better, but the Lord chose the three hundred men who lapped instead. The men who knelt down to drink were more concerned about their comfort and personal needs rather than being ready for the battle.

The King James Study Bible says this of Judges 7:3-8: “Gideon’s strange mobilization strategy had both scriptural precedent and practical principles: (1) The fears of some can infect the rest. (2) The practical wisdom to be alert to battle conditions must take precedence over the gratification of personal needs. The selection of the three hundred men who lapped the water may also have eliminated those who were still fearful.”

LIFE APPLICATION

I had worked about one year to collect signatures for a Bible elective course in the school system. My goal was to get a minimum of one thousand signatures. After the year was up, I was only able to get five hundred seventy six signatures. I was a little disappointed with that number, but went before the school board anyway. Then I heard the voice of the Lord say to me, “Just like Gideon’s army, I am narrowing down my soldiers.” He is looking for those without fear and concern about their own reputation. He is looking for those who don’t care about what others think about them.

So, I went before the school board with just two other warriors. The Lord says, "A threefold cord is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12) We presented the Bible curriculum and the signed petitions to the board members. A few weeks later the story broke across the nation and was on the front page of the Courier newspaper, on a Sunday no less! Some of the headlines read, “Woman vows to push Bible Course in school.”

I was astonished at what the Lord was able to do in the media. The story took on a life of its own. I was reading blogs about myself which were heated debates between believers and non-believers across the United States. I even found my story on an Islamic Network as well as the Chicago Tribune and the U.S.A. Today websites. Multitudes of people were discussing the possibility of a Bible elective course in our public schools. Looks like my request before the school board caused quite a stir around the country. I found out that there were many more out there in support of what I was doing. Words of encouragement poured in.

The point is I was initially very fearful and felt inadequate to take on such a big project, but the Lord was with me and He exposed an overall hostility towards Christianity in the public school curriculums. The story opened up much needed dialogue on the subject of the Bible in our schools. As a result, I have organized a Parent Curriculum Review Committee. We are trying to educate ourselves and others about what is currently going on in the content of our public school textbooks

.
Like Gideon, I asked the Lord for signs and encouragement and He was faithful to deliver just that. Even though our ministry, at this point, is small in number, it does not matter because the Lord is with us and strengthens us by His Spirit. The Lord has given us supernatural insight and the ability to gain wisdom and win the battle.

OPERATION: Psych Out

In Judges 7:9 the Lord had Gideon go into the camp of the Midians before the actual “battle.” The Lord’s plan was to further encourage Gideon to attack the enemy’s camp. Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend about his dream. “I had a dream; a round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.” (Judges 7: 13-14)
*Special Note: (Barley grain was only half the value of wheat, and the bread made from it was considered inferior. In the same way, Israel’s tiny band of men was considered inferior to the vast forces of Midian and Amelek. But God would make the underdog (Gideon’s army) seem invincible.) NIV Life Application Study Bible.

I am convinced that this dream the Midianite man had was all orchestrated by God. It was part of the Lord’s strategy to overtake the enemy’s camp. How great is that? The Lord was psyching out the enemy on Gideon’s behalf. Three hundred men divided up into three groups of one hundred and surrounded the Midian camp. They blew trumpets and broke jars to sound like a huge army. They then shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.” (Judges 7:20-21) With only three hundred men, Gideon’s army defeated thousands and drove them out of the territory.

Each man in Gideon’s army held his position. My NIV study Bible says this: “Gideon’s warriors simply watched as the army of Midian fell into a panic, confusion and a disorderly retreat. Not one man had to draw a sword to defeat the enemy. Gideon’s small army could never have brought about such a victory in its own strength. God wanted to demonstrate to Israel that victory depends not on strength or number, but obedience and commitment to him.”

God wants us to rely totally on Him and be obedient so we can walk in our true authority by the power of the Holy Spirit. Before we even draw our sword for battle, the enemy will flee from us in many different directions. I pray for the release of a modern day Gideon’s army, which will go forth and possess the land. The Bible says everywhere that our feet shall tread, we shall possess that land. (Joshua 1:3)

____________________________________________________________________

I Am the Light of the World
Revealing Hidden Deception and Wrong Mindsets
Co-teaching by Chris and Rochelle Arnold

Perfect love casts out fear! Fear brings torment and we get out of line and out of the shelter of the Most High when we entertain fear! Here we begin with a Word from the Lord about His Light and how he is exposing hidden things. Nothing hidden shall remain hidden. The Light of the world has come to expose these evil forces and thus render them ineffective. We have the authority of Jesus Christ by his name and the blood shall we overcome. The Scripture also says we shall love not our lives unto death. NO FEAR!

No fear of man, no fear of the enemy or your surrounding circumstances. We must first learn how to love ourselves and then we are able to love our neighbors.

Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 12Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."

The Greatest Commandment

Mark 12
28One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" 29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind and with all your strength. 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." Husbands must first love themselves and then they can love their wives.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

The Woodpecker Spirit Pecks at our Love

Testimony: Chris was ministering to a young man when he had a vision of a woodpecker on the man’s face. Chris was sharing this with me over the phone and the Holy Spirit quickened us and we began to pour out this Word from the Lord. I immediately remembered when I lived in East Moline there was this woodpecker who would constantly peck on the wall of my bedroom. That bird drove me crazy sometimes! I would be in a deep, peaceful sleep and boom here that woodpecker comes just a pecking away. We tried many different things to get rid of that woodpecker but he always seemed to come back.

The Lord began to show Chris and I how this “woodpecker spirit” pecks on us and pecks on us until he pecks a hole in our armor. Then once there is that hole this allows for more demons in like the “spirit of fear.” The characteristics of a woodpecker: hard to get rid of, persistent, determined and causes damage to whatever it is pecking creating an opening. This was witnessing to me because I have suffered with chronic anxiety for a while now although for the most part I have gotten a lot better thanks to the power and counsel of the Holy Spirit. But often I will be tormented from this continual pecking in my mind saying things like, “Your not good enough, you will never fit in the ministry, people do not like you, you are an idiot!” Stuff like that would run through my mind and then I would entertain the thoughts and the next thing you know I had a full-blown anxiety attack.

The Lord began to speak to Chris about the importance of “identifying the spirit.” Like in Mark 5 “Legion” the Lord only asks the name and then casts out. When the Lord identifies a specific spirit or adversary, we no longer are enslaved to it! The Lord shines his light on it as the Word says in Proverbs 20:27 “The spirit of the man is a light of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.” Identification = the Light of Truth. No darkness can reside in the light. Light = Truth The name of something or somebody reveals something or has meaning or identity. The name reveals its characteristics

We must abide in the shadow of the Almighty for protection and strength. (Psalm 91)
The Lord looks upon the heart of a man or the man’s spirit. While the world looks upon the outward man, Jesus searches the inward man. The Holy Spirit knows exactly what a specific person may need. Discerning of spirits is a gift of the Holy Spirit and enables the believer to discern or identify specific demonic personalities to cast out.

In many cases after we are set free from a demonic oppression or sickness, we fail to leave the prison. For example in John 11:43 when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus was bound with bandages, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Jesus is saying to the captives today, “Take off your grave cloths or old sin nature and be free. I came to set the captives free.” Then we come to the question of strongholds. What are strongholds? They are set patterns or behaviors (habits) that are destructive and ungodly. For example we may have a stronghold of unbelief rooted in us. In other words, we have practiced unbelief for so long that now we have this rut or groove made. Just like an album that has a groove for the needle it automatically goes back into the groove. Or a farmer who tills the field and makes grooves. The tractor will automatically fall back into these grooves.

The anointing does not come without a price! Faith works through God’s unconditional love.
Psalm 85:10 Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.

Once we are able to experience His love, then we can love our neighbors and ourselves. Our faith works because he loves us. Though our love may fail, His love never fails. I recently ordered a teaching by Pastor Gregory Dickow entitled, “Love Thyself.” He speaks about how many of us continually cut ourselves down with self-hatred. This self-hatred then turns into hatred towards others. Self-hatred short-circuits our faith walk because you cannot have faith without love. God is love!

Lamentations 3
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

Warning Against False Teachers of the Law

1 Timothy 1: 3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith. 5The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
8We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

So just like the slaves of old and people who have suffered under communist regime, they have a difficult time leaving the bondages that were put upon them. Let us pray that the “Light of the World,” Jesus will shine his glorious light on all of our hidden, inward parts and set the captives free. Then once we are free let us pray that the strongholds in our bodies, minds and cities will be torn down. Let us tear down the altars of the enemy and build an altar to the Lord. If you find yourself struggling in a specific area, rest assured the Lord will reveal the root cause of the stronghold and deliver you. Then it is up to us to abide in His Presence and renew our mind in the Word so as to tear down every stronghold, bad habit, wrong mind set and sin in our lives.

_____________________________________________________________

I pray this prayer in the power of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ, I bind, rebuke, and bring to no effect, all division, discord, disunity, strife, anger, wrath, murder, criticism, condemnation, pride, envy, jealousy, gossip, slander, evil speaking, complaining, lying, false teaching, false gifts, false manifestations, lying signs and wonders, poverty, fear of lack, fear spirit, murmuring spirit, complaining spirits, hindering spirits, retaliatory spirits, deceiving spirits, religious spirits, occult spirits, witchcraft spirits and spirits of Antichrist.

I bind all curses that have been spoken against me, the body of Christ, and His church. I bless those who curse me and pray blessings on those who despitefully use me. I bind all spoken judgments made against me and judgments I have made against others. I bind the power of negative words from others and I bind and render useless all prayers not inspired by the Holy Spirit; whether psychic, soul force, witchcraft or counterfeit tongues that have been prayed against me.

I am God’s child. I resist the evil one. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. I put on the whole armor of God. I take authority over this day, in Jesus name. Let it be prosperous for me, let me walk in Your love, Lord.

The Holy Spirit leads and guides me today, I discern between the righteous and the wicked. I take authority over Satan and all his demons and those people who are influenced by them. I declare Satan is under my feet and shall remain there all day and every day. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

I am God’s property, Satan; you are bound from my family, my mind, my body, my home and my finances. I confess that I am healed and whole. I flourish, am long lived, stable, durable, incorruptible, fruitful, virtuous, full of peace, patience and love, Whatsoever I set my hand to do shall prosper for God supplies all my needs. I have all authority over Satan, all demons, and beasts of the fields.

Lord, I pray that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.

God, I pray for the ministry that You have for me. Anoint, me, God, for all You have called me to do for You. I call forth divine appointments, open doors of opportunity, God ordained encounters and ministry positions.

I claim a hedge or protection around myself, spouse, children and grandchildren throughout this day and night. I ask You, God, in the name of Jesus, to dispatch angels to surround my spouse, our children and me today and to put them throughout my house and around all our cars, souls and bodies.

I ask angels to protect my household from any intrusion and to protect me and my family from any harmful demonic or other physical or mental attacks.

I pray for the protection of my home, city and nation. I lift up Israel to be protected and for all those who are lost without Jesus. I pray that the blinders of deception will be removed and the glorious light of truth will shine through.

I ask this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Amen

E-NEWSLETTER