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Summary:

God originally wanted Adam and Eve to flourish in the Garden of Eden. However, Satan invaded their peaceful environment in the garden and derailed that plan. Jesus came to restore God’s original intent for mankind. Therefore, when we put God’s kingdom first in our lives, His presence causes us to prosper.

1. God blessed mankind by speaking words of blessing over Adam and Eve; they were destined to reproduce and be productive in the garden (Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:8, 15).
   1. Adam had the responsibility of cultivating the garden and keeping out all intruders.
      1. God blessed Adam and Eve and gave them dominion over the earth; this was God’s plan for mankind.
   2. However, Satan came and derailed the plan (Genesis 3:1).
      1. Just as Satan came to destroy Adam and Eve’s prosperity, he still comes to destroy our prosperity today.
      2. However, Jesus came to the earth to restore what Satan stole. Through Him, we have victory over Satan.
      3. God has a specific plan for each of us. We must pray about those assignments in order to carry them out.
   3. We must become kingdom-focused instead of self-focused.
2. When Jesus came to the earth, He preached about the kingdom of God being available to us (Matthew 3:2, Matthew 4:17)
   1. He wants us to change our thinking from that of a democratic perspective to a kingdom-of-God perspective.
      1. The kingdom of God is God’s domain, in which laws are executed according to His will.
   2. Therefore, we must seek first the kingdom of God, with the confidence that He will supply our needs (Matthew 6:25-33).
      1. To “seek” in this context means to desire something and to understand it.
3. The Lord was with Joseph, and he prospered as a result. God’s blessing could be seen in Joseph’s life (Genesis 39:1-23).
   1. Joseph served in the house of an Egyptian officer named Potiphar.
      1. God gave Joseph unusual wisdom. Joseph used the wisdom he had to manage Potiphar’s household.
      2. Joseph was promoted as a result.
   2. God uses servants to restore His intent in the earth.
      1. Joseph served ungodly men. Through Joseph, God established a territory within their domain.
      2. When we find ourselves in an environment in which we are serving ungodly people, we are establishing His territory.
      3. We will always influence people around us, whether we recognize it or not.
   3. Joseph was eventually promoted to the highest governing position in Egypt, the second in command, next to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:55-57).
      1. Because of the wisdom God gave to Joseph, Pharaoh (and surrounding countries) depended on Joseph’s wisdom during a severe famine.
      2. God’s presence should be seen in our lives. We must be focused on God’s kingdom, and He will ultimately promote us in due season.

Scripture References:

• Genesis 1:26-28
• Genesis 2:8, 15
• Genesis 3:1
• Matthew 3:2
• Matthew 4:17
• Matthew 6:25-33
• Genesis 39:1-23
• Genesis 41:55-57

The man accused of shooting a pastor and his assistant in Lakeland, Florida is now in jail.  Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says Jeremiah Fogel murdered his wife Theresa at their home, then went to the Greater Faith Christian Church where he shot Pastor William Boss and associate pastor Carl Stewart while both men were kneeling in prayer.  Two members of the congregation were able to tackle Fogel and hold him until police arrived.  Pastors Boss and Stewart were last listed in critical but stable condition with gunshot wounds to the head.  Fogel faces charges of murder and attempted murder.

Convicted Georgia cop killer Troy Davis’ best hope for avoiding execution on Wednesday goes before the Georgia Pardons an Paroles board today.  Davis was sentenced to death 20 years ago for the murder of Savannah Police Officer Mark MacPhail.  Since then, the case has gained worldwide attention with dignitaries including former President Jimmy Carter and Pope Benedict the Sixteenth saying Davis should be granted clemency.  Since Davis’ conviction in 1991, seven of nine witnesses have either recanted or contradicted their testimony.

Summary:

We can no longer belittle the Word of God and think we will succeed in these last days. The systems of the world are rapidly failing. However, there is a better way to live and thrive. God has abundantly supplied our needs through His Word. We can reap benefits beyond anything that the world has to offer by aligning with the kingdom of God.  

1. Satan sends persecution, affliction, and distraction to uproot the Word in us.
   1. A distraction is an intrusion of the mind that causes confusion.
   2. When we begin to spend time in the Word of God, and the Word starts to grow in us, it is a threat to Satan.
   3. “We must through tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).  
      1. Everyday irritations often have a satanic assignment attached to them.
      2. We must learn how to properly respond to those irritations and tribulations because there is a great reward on the other side.  
      3. Often, trials keep us away from the Word of God; however, we must learn to remain focused on the Word even through trials. 
      4. We must arm ourselves with His Word as if preparing to go to war.
   4. As Christians, we must be people who regularly pray, hear the Word, meditate on the Word, practice the Word, and operate in God’s power.
      1. The kingdom of God operates by faith. We have to do those things that keep our faith strong.
      2. We cannot be discouraged by what things look like. We must be determined to win with the Word.
      3. Life in the kingdom must become our reality. God wants us to live by His power. 
2. “For the kingdom of God consists of and is based on not talk but power (moral power and excellence of soul)” (1 Corinthians 4:20, AMP).
   1. Power is the ability to win and obtain victory in every situation.  
   2. The kingdom of God produces a life of goodness, peace, and joy (Romans 14:17, AMP).

Scripture References:

• Acts 14:22
• 1 Corinthians 4:20, AMP
• Romans 14:17, AMP

The National Football League wants to make another change in the rules this season. The league wants every fan entering an NFL stadium patted down from the ankles to the knees and from the waist up.  the move is being made to increase fan safety and security. In a statement, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy says “the enhanced security procedures” are expected to increase fan safety but “will require some additional time.” He’s encouraging the more than 16-million football fans who’ll be affected to allow some extra time for getting into stadiums.

The enhanced security might have prevented an embarrassing incident this past Sunday. A South Carolina man used a taser on fans attending the New York Jets versus Dallas Cowboys game. He was arrested.

 Summary:

Confidence and patience are a powerful duo that enables us to lay hold of God’s promises. We employ patience by holding firmly to God’s promises regardless of the circumstances. Refuse to give up in the midst of affliction and persecution.

1. “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:4).   
   1. The perfect work of patience is the act of remaining confident (in the Word) during trials.  
      1. When patience completes the job, we have the result we desire, and we are complete, wanting nothing.
      2. At times, when our circumstances worsen or seem to drag on and on with no end in sight, we feel like giving up on patience.
      3. However, we should never allow the pressure to cause us to give up or doubt God’s Word.
      4. If we are willing to stand forever, we will not be standing for very long.
      5. We must keep in mind that God is, and He rewards those who diligently seek Him.
      6. Our confidence is the key element of our faith. 
   2. When we are speaking and confessing the Scriptures, we must be sure we have confidence in them.
      1. Many times, Believers are merely saying the Scriptures without believing them.
      2. In other words, these Believers have a form of godliness with no power.
2. But Christ (the Messiah) was faithful over His [own Father’s] house as a Son [and Master of it]. And it is we who are [now members] of this house, if we hold fast and firm to the end our joyful and exultant confidence and sense of triumph in our hope [in Christ] (Hebrews 3:6, AMP).
   1. We are members of the family of God; however, we must have confidence in His Word.

Scripture References:

• James 1:4
• Hebrews 3:6, AMP

Citing a “national emergency,” President Obama is keeping the pressure on Congress to pass his new jobs plan. Speaking at North Carolina State University, the President said the American Jobs Act will help small businesses and will put Americans back to work. Obama argued that many jobs can be quickly created rebuilding crumbling schools, rails, roads, bridges and airports. Obama said the measure will also help preserve the jobs of many teachers, cops and firefighters who face layoffs in the sour economy.

The President sent his roughly 450-billion dollar bill to Congress Monday and it got a rude reception from Republican leaders. House Speaker John Boehner [[ BAY-nur ]] and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell accused Obama of aiming to pay for the measure with tax hikes. The North Carolina trek followed visits to Virginia and Ohio. All three are key swing states which Obama won in 2008.

Author: Creflo Dollar

Summary:

The world’s system is limited, which is why God doesn’t want us operating in it. The kingdom of God, on the other hand, has no limitations, as long as we operate by faith. Faith is the law of the kingdom. Therefore, we must completely understand what faith really is in order to successfully use it.

1. What is faith (from our perspective)?
   1. Faith is a practical expression of the confidence we have in God and His Word (Hebrews 11:1-9).
      1. Confidence is defined as full trust; belief in the ability of a person or a thing.
      2. Confidence is a level of commitment that must be demonstrated.
      3. Our confidence is the key element in our walk of faith.
      4. God is not a respecter of persons, but He is a respecter of faith.
      5. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. Therefore, faith and the Word are one.
2. “Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward” (Hebrews 10:35, AMP).
   1. When we stop having confidence in the Word, we stop the manifestation we desire from it.
      1. Our confidence is developed over a period of time.
      2. Our commitment to our confidence also requires development.
      3. Satan attacks our confidence because he doesn’t want us to believe that the Word works.
      4. Many times, when trouble comes our way, it is Satan’s attack on our confidence.
      5. Therefore, we need steadfast patience and endurance to continue in our confidence (Hebrews 10:36, AMP).
      6. True biblical patience is being consistently the same concerning our stance on the Word, no matter what is happening.
   2. When our confidence in the Word is attacked, we must employ patience.
      1. When we allow our patience to work during trials, we refuse to doubt, regardless of the circumstances.
      2. For example, you may be confessing, “By Jesus’ stripes I am healed!”
      3. You must continue confessing and building your confidence in that Word, even when you feel sick.
      4. Feelings, bleak circumstances, and bad reports are indications of whether the Word is working or not.
      5. The Word always works. However, we must maintain our confidence in the Word to see results.

Scripture References:

• Hebrews 11:1-9
• Hebrews 10:35-36, AMP

Previously sealed tapes of a 1964 interview with former First Lady Jackie Kennedy are being revealed.  Kennedy’s daughter Caroline Kennedy released the tapes early for the book “Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life With John F. Kennedy,” set to be released this week.  The tapes were expected to remain sealed for 50 years.  Kennedy was interviewed by White House aide Arthur Schlesinger Jr. several months after JFK was assassinated.  In the interviews, Kennedy is critical of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and says JFK feared a Lyndon Johnson Presidency.  LBJ was Kennedy’s Vice President who became President after JFK’s assassination on November 22nd, 1963.  Jackie Kennedy died in 1994.

Check out this mighty woman of God, Martha Munizzi representing for the ladies of Gospel/Christian Contemporary music at the 2011 Family Fun Day!

She sung her new single “Excellent” along  with more songs off of her new album, Say It Loud.

Check out the gallery and interview with Martha as she talks about the importance of worship with God and how it’s so imperative to have in our lives as believers of Christ!

Check out pics from gospel singer Wes Morgan singing his song, “I Choose To Worship” at Family Fun Day In The Park!

Creecy, pastor of Olivet Church in Fayette County, died of a heart attack at around 12:30 a.m. in Atlanta,  according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

New Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Movie In The Works

Creecy, 57, was elected SCLC president in January after Bernice King, daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., declined the position. Before that, Creecy had served as the interim president of the civil rights organization founded by Martin King in 1957.

Dr.King’s Daughter Rev. Bernice King Declines To Lead SCLC

When he took the helm on Jan. 30, Creecy acknowledged that the SCLC had suffered internal divisions in recent years. His mission, he said, was to help define the direction of the group in the 21st century.

Funeral details are to be announced soon.

Make sure you are following @Elev8official for stories like this and more.

We all know someone with an addiction problem. If it is not a family member, it is a close friend. And we want to help them. We can see their alcohol and drug addiction as a problem that is ruining their life.

STUDY: Recovering Alcoholics Have Trouble Recognizing Emotions

The problem: Not all of us know how to help them. The most apparent solution is an alcohol or drug rehab, but this can be a challenge for many families and friends. This page provides 6 things that can be done to help the addict in our lives.

1. Avoid Enabling – This is imperative. You want to help your addict loved one without enabling them. Many times you think you are “helping” your loved one, when you are actually making it easier for them to continue an addictive lifestyle. There are many examples of enabling. A common example is the work phone call. This is when you call in on behalf of the addict and make an excuse for their inability to work. In this, you are enabling their behavior. It is possible to help that loved one without enabling them. Make it perfectly clear that you will not help them continue in the lifestyle they have made for themselves.
2. Open Honesty – This goes right along with enabling. A common issue seen in an addiction household is a denial that the problem exists. This of course creates an ideal environment for enabling and a greater addiction problem. If you see your loved ones addiction as a problem, you have to be honest about it. Let them know your feelings and concerns. Try to avoid contention. Contention will come as a defense strategy naturally to protect addictive behavior. Continue to be open, honest and loving. This can help the addict to know exactly where you stand on their behavior, and can actually benefit from this non- enabling element in the home.
3. Getting Assistance from Family and Friends – Let the addict know they are not alone in this struggle. Involve family and friends. These individuals should also provide an open honesty in a caring, non enabling way. An addict may not be able to come to these conclusions themselves. If all of those who immediately influence them (Friends, family, employers, coworkers) show their support and willingness to help, it can be considerably sobering to the struggling addict. It is essential to create an environment of love and motivation, and best to again avoid a contentious atmosphere.
4. Offering a Helping Hand – For the addict, recovery can be scary. It means giving up something that has an emotional and psychological control of them. If they are not alone, some of that fear can be reduced. Offer assistance in attendance to 12-step meetings, or visiting an addiction therapist. For those who need an alcohol or drug rehab program, be with them every step of the way and show your support for their decision to get help.
5. Intervention – A number of addicts and alcoholics will not overcome their addiction without help. And for most of these individuals, intervention is required to bring an end to this lifestyle. The use of a professional interventionist can make all the difference of this process. An intervention is a planned meeting to assist the addict in getting proper help. Proper intervention should be motivational, caring, and done out of love. An interventionist can make all the difference. Studies have shown a much larger percentage of success when a professional interventionist is used.

We can only beat addiction with honesty.

Make sure you are following @Elev8official for stories like this and more. For more from Oretha Winston follow her on twitter here.

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A.The Word of God is a seed that we plant within us. It grows as we cultivate it (Acts 19:20, AMP).
1.We can conquer every spiritual attack against us if we allow God’s Word to grow in our hearts and minds.
2.God is calling us to spiritual battle to defeat our enemies in these last days.
a.We do not have to be afraid because He will teach us how to win in battle (Psalm 144:1).
b.Jesus has deprived the world of its power to defeat or harm us (John 16:33, AMP).
c.Satan tries to defeat us by using our past mistakes, stress, pressure from trials, and negative thoughts against us.
d.However, when we begin to speak the Word of God, we begin to triumph over the enemy.
e.It does not matter how big the problem is, God is bigger than any problem we could ever face.
3.The word prevail means “to win out or override.”
a.Through our faith in the Word of God, we have the ability to prevail over trouble.
B.The Bible gives an example of a mother who prevailed during an extremely challenging situation (Matthew 15:21-28, AMP).
1.She was a Canaanite woman, whose daughter was possessed by an evil spirit.
a.The woman came to Jesus, crying and begging Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
b.Jesus did not answer her at first.
c.What is your attitude toward God when He doesn’t respond right away? Do you become persistent in faith? Do you pass the test?
d.Although it appeared that Jesus was ignoring and insulting her, the woman remained persistent in her faith.
e.Maintaining her stance through faith and prayer, she kneeled down to worship Jesus, and He healed her daughter instantly.
C.In order for God’s Word to prevail in our lives, we must understand the following:
1.God has an answer for every problem we face; we can receive the answers we need in His presence.
2.We must understand the importance of worship. It is a mighty weapon in spiritual warfare.
3.We must know the importance of prayer, and how to persist in faith.
a.We must pray, knowing God’s promises concerning our children (Isaiah 54:13, 14).
4.We must speak faith in challenging situations when negative thoughts harass us.
a.We must guard ourselves against doubt and unbelief.
b.We must keep speaking the Word, operating in love, and refusing to allow our feelings to rule our lives.

Scripture References:

•Acts 19:20, AMP
•Psalm 144:1
•John 16:33, AMP
•Matthew 15:21-28, AMP
•Isaiah 54:13, 14