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Hi this is Bishop Bob Coulter with another TMCI say word of encouragement for the week.
I pray that you, your family and those you minister to have been protected from the virus.
I encourage you to pray the blood over your family, and over those whom God given you to shepherd. Our example is what the Israelites did during the Passover by putting the blood of the lamb on the doorpost to protect themselves. Let us pray the blood of Jesus Christ over our family, friends and the people we shepherd.
Our prayers of intercession are very important! I am reminded of Numbers 16:46 “Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put incense in it, along with fire from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started.”” Moses and Aaron interceded for the people and the plague stopped.
Rev 5:8 tells us that the golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints, are released in the throne room of God. Therefore, let us intercede for our loved ones by praying God’s word and the blood of Christ over our family, friends, and the people God has given us to shepherd.
The most powerful tool to change things around us is the word of God, and it is ours to use. Eph 6:17-20 tells us: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints — 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Yesterday when Cheryl and I were reading our devotion from Sparkling Gems, by Rick Renner, he had an interesting teaching I’d like to share with you:
_Rick emphasized the “sword of the Spirit” seen in Ephesians 17 — it is a supernatural sword that has the power to drive back the enemy and deal a blow to his attacks against your life. When you have what I’m about to describe, it gives you supernatural sword power against the devil!_
_In order to fully understand Paul’s message regarding the sword of the Spirit, let’s look at what the apostle had in his mind when he used the word translated “sword.” In the Greek it describes the type of sword that Roman soldiers used in battle._
_Because the Roman army was so committed to warfare, Roman soldiers continually practiced the arts of warfare. One daily exercise was sword practice, which they undertook both in the morning and the afternoon. This is a good example for us to be committed to read and use God’s word daily in our lives. _
_The soldier’s job in practice was to learn how to take advantage of his enemy, hit him at his weakest point, and strike him so he could not respond. His aim was nearly always directed toward the area of the post that represented vital parts of the body. _
_The practices I just described are exactly what Paul had in mind when he wrote, “And take… the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…” (Ephesians 6:17). How vital it is that we understand the sword of the Spirit!_
_Notice particularly where Paul said, “…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” This word translated “word” is rhema in the Greek, which refers to a specific, quickened word. In order to have a sword that penetrates a blow to the enemy, we need a rhema — a specific, quickened word from the Scriptures — placed into our hearts and mouths by the Holy Spirit. With a rhema from God placed in our hearts and mouths, we have “sword power”!_
Rick’s teaching reminds us, like the Roman Soldier we must practice speaking forth the word of God daily and, as verse 19 points out, we need to speak it BOLDLY. When praying, ask God to fIll your mouth with the word He wants you to pray. For example, when troubles come your way you can pray Ps 138:7, “I thank you Lord, Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me.” (NLT)
Remember when satan tempted Christ? Christ’s response all three time was “it is written”, and He then quoted God’s word to defeat him. Let us do the same.
So, remember your greatest tool is the word of God. As Heb 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (NKJV)
Let us use the most powerful tool the Lord has given us, and use it more effectively in our lives,
Have a blessed week.
Bishop Bob
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