Victorious or Vanquished - What Is Your Cave Teaching You?

As you may recall, David spent some time on the run in the cave of Adullam. It was the lowest point in His life, yet a necessary one ordained by God. The word 'Adullam' comes from the Hebrew root word dalah, which means to dangle at the end of one's rope. Adullam was the place where David was dangling at the end of his rope - hiding from Saul. It served as a place of testing, growing and learning for David, so he could be prepared to go onto to the next phase of life and ministry.

1 Samuel 22:4 says: "And [David] brought [his parents] before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold." David's life was not only in the hold, but also on hold (the back burner). Without Adullam, David's time of testing and preparation, he would not have been adequately prepared to reign as king. The same is true of us. We have our own Adullams that God places us in and these seasons can either make us or break us.

Some might say that God would never allow us to be broken during our time in Adullam, however, the choice of what Adullam becomes to us, what it teaches us and how we receive it, is up to us, as it was with David.

The Hebrew word for "hold" (as in 1 Samuel 22:4) is m-s-d and it appears as masad, matsad, or masodah (remember that originally Hebrew was a consonantal language and therefore there were no vowels until they were added only about a thousand years ago). The word masada means "fortress" or "stronghold"; however the word masuda (closely related to the word masada, and both words are derived from m-s-d) has an entirely different meaning. Masuda means "snare" or "trap".

David had the choice in the hold of Adullam to make it either a masada (fortress/stronghold) or a masuda (snare/trap). Our time of testing (Adullam) becomes a masada if we chose to rejoice and find God and His purposes in that place, despite our circumstances. It can, however, easily become a masuda if we fail to comprehend God's greater purposes and allow our hearts to become bitter and filled with doubt and unbelief.

For David, Adullam became the place where he ministered into many peoples' lives, the place where God created Israel's most powerful and loyal army, and where God taught David the foundational principles He would need to become Israel's greatest king.Yet, Adullam could, just as easily, have become a place of obscurity and purposelessness for David. It was David's choice. What caused David to make his Adullam a masada instead of a masuda? It all came down to David's response to the situation and his perspective.

Psalm 142:1-2 says about David during this dark hour: "I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before Him; I shewed before Him my trouble."

When David cried out to the Lord, he used the Hebrew word , za'aq, which means "to shriek from anguish or fear". The Hebrew word for "showed" ['shewed' in Psalm 142:2 King James version] is nasad, which means to make abundantly clear". This was the turning point for David.When David wrote Psalm 142, it was during his early days at the cave of Adullam. As he spent more time there and allowed God to teach him, he gradually understood God's purposes for this appointed season and yielded to Him, allowing God to do His perfecting work.

By do so, David turned Adullam into the the greatest strength of his life and ministry. He learned to hear from God, to trust, to rest secure in His God during a very difficult hour. He also learned to be faithful. David emerged a different man from Adullam than when he first went in.

The lessons of Adullam were not lost on King David - they impacted him for the rest of his life. He took the faith and yieldedness he gained in the cave and brought that same heart and experience when he ascended the throne and thereafter ruled over the people of Israel as king and as a man after God's own heart.

God has an Adullam for each of us. It is our appointed place and time to be on the back burner (not in the forefront or in the spotlight) so God can teach us and prepare us for the time in which we are to reign in whatever ministry He has destined for us. The question is if we have the yieldedness and perseverance to allow God to do His work in us until it is completed for that season. The answer lies in what we make of our Adullam, if we let it become a masuda or chose to make it a masada.

When we understand how God used the cave of Adullam in King David's life, we see His intended purpose for our 'Caves of Adullam' experiences - to build and prepare our lives for victorious living and service.

Psalm 138:8 says: "The Lord will fulfill His purposes for me; your love O Lord, endures forever - do not abandon the works of your hands".

Jeremiah 29:11 says: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".


The inspiration and information for the above article comes from a course I just completed titled "Training for Reigning" as taught by Dr. Ron Cottle of Beacon University, Columbus GA. The information contained in this article is, in great part, taken from Dr. Cottle's book titled Anointed to Reign, pages 49-60

The Down-Loadable God

We all know how important computers and digital devices are in our lives. We feel like we really can't live without them. Information, communication, and the ability to create, all at our fingertips, in real time.

Yet these systems require, like most things; care, maintenance, updates, and occasional repair. With my computers over the years, I've had more than one virus infect my system. I've also lost valuable data due to backup failure and have had a motherboard crash on me.

In some respects, we can compare our lives to computers and digital devices. While we aren't machines, we are extremely complex beings who perform many high-level functions. Like the computers and digital devices that we rely upon so much, we too require care, maintenance, updating, and occasional repair. If our lives aren't maintained on a continual basis, our performance can be compromised and we can even break down.

Fortunately, our lives don't have to break down - they can be protected. We can, if you will, install and update our "software". We can also have adequate firewall protection against the equivalent of the worst Trojan viruses; as well as protection against emotional, spiritual, relational malware. So, where can we get this protection for our lives?

Fortunately, we have a down-loadable God. He enables us to reformat the hard drives of our hearts and minds by coming into relationship with Him through the salvation He provides in His Son, Jesus Christ. When we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we receive the initial download of the Holy Spirit who continually helps, teaches, and encourages us. Jesus called Him the "comforter". Every day, we need to download God's Word so we can know all about Him. He uses His Word to teach us, remove malware and clean up our systems so as to enhance our performance on every level and to reflect Him in our lives.

He really is the down-loadable God who we can access 24/7! His 'Customer Support Center' is open all the time, available in every language, and we don't even have to worry about a techy on the other end who can barely speak English. As we hot sync into God all things are made new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

2 Peter 1:3 says: "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness".

Ephesians 1:3 says: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ".

By turning from our ways, which are flawed by the effects of sin, and by turning to God, we give Him our lives and every care. In doing so, we can download the very presence and power of God which transforms us. This is living life and living it abundantly (John 10:10).

Life was designed to be full of God's purpose and joy. So, don't forget to down-load, on a continual basis, everything He has for you.

Why Knowing God's Word Is So Important

"Fill your head and your heart with the Scriptures. Memorize passages from the Word, with the name of the book, the chapter, and the verse, so that you can quote the Scripture correctly in addresses or in open-air meetings.

As you do this, you are sowing in your heart seeds, which the Spirit of God can germinate. He can bring to your remembrance from time to time that which you have once memorized. You must be so soaked with the Word of God, you must be filled with it, that you yourself are a living epistle, known and read of all men.

Believers are strong only as the Word of God abides in them. The Word of God is spirit and life to those who receive it in simple faith, and it is a verifier of all who own its sway. Know your Book, live it, believe it, and obey it. Hide God's word in your heart. It will save your soul, quicken your body, illumine your mind. The Word of God is full and final, infallible, reliable, and up-to-date, and our attitude towards it must be one of unquestioned obedience.

If a thing is in the Bible, it is so; it is not even to be prayed about; it is to be received and acted upon. Inactivity of faith is a robber, which steals blessing. Increase comes by action, by using what we have and what we know. Your life must be one of going from faith to faith."

Smith Wigglesworth

Excerpt from "Smith Wigglesworth - Apostle of Faith." Author: Stanley Howard Frodsham.

Jesus Conquers Every Fear

(you may want to exercise discretion before showing this video to young children)

The Transformation From Fear

Fear vs. Faith

You become a slave of whatever you fear. But for those who chose faith, they are liberated from their fears to serve the Most High God in love.

John 10:10 - The thief come only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Fear vs. Faith

"Fear is a fruit of holding onto your life -- faith will be there when you let go."

Geri McGhee
Abiding Life Ministries
www.abidinglifeministries.org
Lindale, TX

John 12:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat (representative of our life) falls into the earth and dies (to the flesh), it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (Galatians 5:22,23)."

Gal 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, FAITH, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Gen 22:2-13 "And he (God) said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son."
(ABRAHAM LET GO OF HIS LIFE. HE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A MAN WHO HAD THE PERFECT LOVE THAT CAST OUT FEAR)

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love (trust) casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
I John 4:18

Faith

Faith is believing that what lays beyond the seemingly impossible is a Holy God who turns the impossible into the possible for those who dare to stand on His Word.

-Ross

How to Stand on God's Word

When we stand on God's Word, we are simply going to God with His promises. We are simply reminding God of His Word and asking Him to give us what belongs to us. We are doing what God told us to do. In fact, in His Word, God invited us to remind Him of His promises.

Isaiah 43:26 - "Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence".

It is scriptural for a believer to take his stand on the Word of God and remind God what He has promised in His Word. In fact, God said to put Him in remembrance of His Word and what He has promised us.

You see, faith believes what God has already said; faith responds to what God has already done; and faith receives what God has already provided.

It is not arrogant for a child to remind his parents of a promise made made to him. That's not arrogance, disobedience, manipulation, or disrespect. It is simply asking for what was already promised.

Therefore, it is not arrogant for us to ask our Heavenly Father for the gifts and benefits He already provided for us. We are just claiming in faith what He has promised in His Word. It does not detract from God's sovereignty to put Him in remembrance of His Word!

Taking a stand on God's Word is not arrogant! And when you stand on God's Word against the devil, you can't be mealy-mouthed and wishy-washy about it! You must know who you are in Christ and take your authority over the devil.

You've got to be strong in the Lord! You've got to boldly declare who you are in Christ. That's not arrogance- that's faith! When we are bold in Christ, we are not taking an arrogant stance against God. We are taking a strong stance against the problem and against our enemy, Satan, based upon the authority of God's Word (Luke 10:19; Phil. 2:9,10).

Let the devil know you are not going to be intimidated by him or his devices. That's not arrogance against God; that's acting boldly in your authority over the devil. It's boldly standing in your place of authority because the Word said that Jesus defeated the devil. And because Satan has been defeated, you can be bold as a lion.

Proverbs 28: 1 - "The wicked man flees though no one pursues him, but the righteous are as bold as lions".

You are dealing with a defeated foe that is already under your feet because he's under Jesus' feet, so you can be bold in your authority! The devil has already been defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Jesus said "...All power is given to me in heaven and in earth" (Matt. 28:18). Then He said, "Go you," giving that power to His Church on the earth (Matt 28:19). So why should we we weak and afraid to deal with a defeated foe - when we have the authority in Jesus' Name to put him in his place?

It is not arrogant to scripturally come against the enemy that is trying to steal from us what God has already given us. When you know God's Word, you get bold and strong in the Lord!

But when people don't really know what God's Word says, they don't have the boldness to stand against the devil. And some believers only know what someone thought God's Word said. But if they would study the Word for themselves, they would see for themselves that they have authority over the devil in Jesus' Name!

Some believers aren't sure about their authority in Christ because they are still trying to figure out everything in their natural minds. They say, "This is how I interpret this scripture". Or, "This is what I think this scripture means".

Then they try to explain away the truth of God's Word theologically because it doesn't coincide with what they believe, and they can't figure it out with their natural minds. (1 Cor. 2:14).

But when you are dealing with faith, you can't always figure out the way God works with your natural mind. Faith doesn't always make sense. It is not always logical, and you can't always understand spiritual things mentally. But as long as you walk in obedience to God, you can claim and receive what His Word says belongs to you...

...And I'm going to be bold and declare what the Bible says I have in Christ! It's time to take a strong stand on God's Word! Are there areas in your life where the devil is trying to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10)? Then take a bold stand against the devil with the Word! He's under your feet! It doesn't matter what people say - it matters what God's Word says!

And when I find out what God's Word says about any subject, then I know that is God's will. I'm going to claim God's will for my life and walk in it! And I'm going to enjoy the triumph in every circumstance because God promises me the victory!

1 Corinthians 15:57 - But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

...Whatever you need, receive it from the Word of God. Boldly declare the Word over your circumstances! Boldly declare your faith, whether you can see your answer, feel it, or taste it! Take it by faith!

You see, when you base your faith on God's Word, you can say, "It's mine! I have my answer now! How can you be that bold in your faith declaration? Because Jesus already made provision for your every need to be met. That's why you can receive your answer in faith when you pray (Mark 11:24).

Grab hold of God's Word with the tenacity of a bulldog with a bone. Don't let go of His Word! Tenaciously hold on to God's promises. That's when you receive results!

Written by Kenneth W. Hagin, "Another Look At Faith", pp. 79-83

Standing on the Promises of God

I've listened to this song many times over many years. This is a great gospel song sung by Pastor Daryl Coley based upon his walk, faith, experiences and hope in God. I hope it ministers and blesses you as you hope in God.

Faith in God Overcomes Every Problem!

Faith in God does not mean you will never face another problem. Faith in God simply means you know how to deal with problems and triumph over them. Everyone is confronted with problems from time to time in life. But your faith in God allows you to overcome problems-not be overcome by them.

Actually, the first step to victory is recognizing that you have a problem! Only then can you begin to use your faith to reverse the situation! You see, faith is not denial. That's why you must first identify the problem. Then put your faith to work for you. Nothing is too hard for God! But if you never admit you have a problem, you'll never put your faith to work against the problem. Faith does not deny the existence of problems; it just overcomes them by the power of God's Word!

When you are in faith, you realize that problems exist, but you know the greater truth of God's Word that says, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:57). You know you don't have to be defeated by problems!

Faith-Bible faith - is a matter of making a choice to believe God's Word rather than the problems that confront you. Yes, you will have to stand on God's Word until the problems come in line with the Word. But you don't have to be defeated by problems and negative circumstances!

And sometimes standing on the Word in the midst of trials requires some perseverance and patience. But having done all to stand on God's Word, then begin declaring your faith: "God said it. I believe it! Therefore, I receive my petition according to the Word of God, and I count it as done!

When you can't see your answer, feel it, touch it, or taste it - you must still stand on God's Word, praising Him that He has already answered your prayers! That's real faith in God! Thank God, He will meet your every need.

I don't mean to minimize the problems that confront all of us from time to time. And little problems are just as real to someone as a tremendously big problem is to someone else. We all face problems in life no matter who we are. But what I am saying is that God is bigger than any problems!

But, you see, it is easy to believe God when everything is going smoothly. But strong faith believes God even when things go wrong and the pressures of life seem to press in on every side. Any your faith in God will always be rewarded by victory if you'll just persevere in God!

Taken from "Another Look at Faith" pp.37-38. Written by Kenneth W. Hagin.

The Awesome Power of the Presence of God - Part 2

The Awesome Power of the Presence of God - Part 1

Kathryn Kuhlman shares so well about the confidence we have about the presence of God in our lives. You will be very blessed.

What Does God Want ?

Kathryn Kuhlman, a very well known woman in years past, greatly used of God in miracles and healings, shares so well her love for God. Enjoy and be blessed!

The Language of Faith

The worst enemy is the flesh. The flesh and natural human reasoning will try to limit you to your own ability.

You look at the circumstances, the influences, the problems, the cares; the tests, the storms, and the winds of adversity, and you say that you can't be an overcomer. The language of doubt, the flesh, the senses, and the devil is, "I can't. I haven't the ability or the opportunity or the strength. I have been limited and deprived in life."

But the language of faith says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13). Paul wrote that to one of the churches.

Some might say, "But Paul was an apostle." Just because Paul was an apostle doesn't mean he had more strength than you do. Being an apostle didn't give him any extra strength. Preachers don't necessarily have any more to draw from than others do. They just have a ministry and an anointing to fulfill that ministry. But ministers have to face the same storms of life that each lay member does.

Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13). Paul didn't say he could do all things because he was an apostle. He said he could do all things "through Christ." You are "in Christ" just as much as Paul was.

Second Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." If you have been born again, you are a new creature in Christ too. Christ didn't belong to Paul any more than He belongs to you.

The language of faith says, "I can do all things through Christ. My Heavenly Father strengthens me. I cannot be conquered and I cannot be defeated."

You can do all things through Christ, just as much as Paul could. I'm speaking from a spiritual standpoint. If a test or trail comes against you, it can't whip you, because there aren't enough natural forces in all the world to conquer the Greater One who dwells in you.

1 John 4:4 - "greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."

This verse declares that you are fortified from within. I've learned how to put the Greater One to work for me. I've learned how to put Him to work in me. Not only am I born of God and made a partaker of His love, but I have dwelling in me the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead.

Therefore, I have God's wisdom, strength, and ability in me. I am learning how to let that wisdom govern my intellect. I am letting the Greater One who dwells within govern my mind and speak through my lips. I am daring to think God's thoughts after Him. I am daring to say in the presence of all my enemies of faith, "God is my Ability".

Psalm 23:4,5 - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalm 27:1 - The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?

1 John 4:4 - You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you in greater than the one who is in the world.

Psalm 23 is for us. You need to make these confessions daily:
1. God prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Thank God, the Lord is my ability.
2. He is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.
3. In Christ, God has made me greater than my enemies.
4. God had made me to put my heel on the neck of weakness, fear, and inability. I stand and declare that whosoever believes on Christ shall not be put to shame (Rom. 10:11)
5. I cannot be put to shame. The strength of God is mine and in Christ I am greater than my enemies.

I am not trusting in my own strength because the Bible never said a word about my being strong in myself. Paul writes to the Church at Ephesus and said, "Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His MIGHT" (Eph. 6:10). God is your strength and your ability! So many people have the wrong idea about this. They are struggling, trying to put themselves over in life (in their own strength).



This is taken from the Faith Bible Study Course, Chapter 20 "Actions That Correspond With Faith" pp. 148-149, written by Kenneth E. Hagin

Do you want to change the world? Then pray!

We can do nothing without prayer. All things can be done by importunate prayer. It surmounts or removes all obstacles, overcomes every resisting force and gains its ends in the face of invincible hindrances.

- E. M. Bounds

Are You Facing An Impossible Situation? So What! God Loves To Do The Impossible!

"Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, and looks to God alone; laughs at impossibilities, and cries it shall be done!"

-Charles Wesley



Mark 11:23-24 - I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart and believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

God of All Glory by Jeremy Riddle

This is another awesome song by Jeremy Riddle set to the BBC video series "Planet Earth". This song really magnifies the majesty of our God! Enjoy

Sweetly Broken by Jeremy Riddle

Jeremy is one of my favorite Christian Artists and Worship Leaders. His songs are full of love for Jesus and will really draw you into worship. Enjoy!

Our God Is An Awesome God!

Does God's Word Ever Fail?

Let's be honest, sometimes we all have moments when we wonder if God's promises are true for us and if they will really be fulfilled in our lives. When we give way to these thoughts, we give way to doubt and fear and question God's faithfulness and integrity. But, enough of what we think, what does God have to say:

Isaiah 55: 10-11

(10) As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

(11) so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

So, don't look at your life and circumstances. Instead, look at the author of life itself. The One who is MASTER of ALL circumstances; the One who transforms you and your life. He is ALWAYS faithful!

Being Filled with God is at a Price

The Wisdom of Prayer

Those who know God the best are the richest and most powerful in prayer. Little acquaintance with God, and strangeness and coldness to Him, make prayer a rare and feeble thing. --E. M. Bounds

Pray, and let God worry. -- Martin Luther