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Tuesday, 16 February 2016

Your Word is Power

© Howard Sands 2016

Intro
You have the power to do good or to do evil
James 3.3-5 The Tongue has power to create or destroy
It boasts great things
Matt 8.8 Centurion said, speak the word only

A miracle is something that happens outside the natural laws
- we say God did that. 

Today we will see what God says about it. 

1/Speaking Creative Words
I have taken many team trips to India and Africa - we spoke creative words, even before we went we said , we will Go, see 100's saved, healed, Baptised in Holy Spirit, receive revelation.

"What you say is what you get" Jesus said that
Mk 11.22/24 Jesus publicly said, no one eat fruit of you ever again.
When they came back that evening, tree was withered and dried up, Jesus gave them a powerful truth.
Peter says He cursed the fig tree.
He just spoke death to it.
It had to obey him.
We have cursed ourselves and others by the words of our mouth,
“Its getting worse... there is no cure … I have to take this medication for the rest of my life … I'm feeling this cold coming on.”

Stop saying what the devil puts in your mouth and start confessing what God gave you to say.
Because whatever you say – Jesus said you can have.
Jesus said, Have faith in God, or more literally, "Have the God kind of faith."
Jesus explained how it works.
Speak God's words until they become part of you, "...out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."
Some people say they can't, they're right.
Some people say they can, they're right.

If you say you can't, you don't, not because you can't but because you won't.
What you say is what you get.

eg. Flight, Sri Lanka to India, we were not allowed to confirm, we said we're going on that plane, plane 10hrs late, finally allowed on, we went.

Phil 4.13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Today you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

If you'll believe it you'll receive it; If you don't, you won't.

2/ Planting the word as seed in you
Today we are going to do some implanting into you, what the word of God says about you.
Today we are going to help you
AVOID STINKIN THINKIN AND HARDENING OF THE ATTITUDES. (Zig Zigler)

IF YOU SAY ABOUT YOU WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT YOU, YOU'LL RECEIVE WHAT HE SAYS YOU'LL RECEIVE BECAUSE HE SAYS SO.
What are you believing
Do you fear, people, circumstances, your inabilities or do you say,
2 Tim 1.7 God has not given to me a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.

What about healing.
Do you believe God will heal you or can heal:
will is definite, can is a maybe.

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that healing is the children's bread? 
... that Christ bought your healing on Calvary.

Rom 10.9/10 with the heart man believes unto Righteousness with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Your confession is saving you every day, but what is it saving you into. 

3/ Praying in faith.
Prayer is your legal right to use faith filled words to bring God on the scene on your behalf.

May Mark 11.24 live in you so you know that whatever YOU say, you will have.

Jesus said ask the Father in my name.
I want you you to see this -
Matt 10.33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. NIV
but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. ESV

Harsh words but He's not talking about salvation.
God and His word are one. Jesus is the word. So he who denies the word that God gave him denies Jesus.

Better read, but whoever denies me and my word (for they are one) before men (fails to say before men the word that I have given him about his circumstances), I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. (deny to give his negative, failing unbelieving prayer to the Father).

Jesus confesses to the Father what we say provided it agrees with the word. Then our prayer is made by Jesus to the Father, the Father cannot do anything but grant that prayer.
If you confess my word before men, I'll confess what you say before the Father. Your prayer gets an audience with the Father presented by Jesus the intercessor.

4/ But I need more faith
Its OK for you but ….
stop right there.
Don't 'but' the word of God.

You may not have got to the place where you immediately and instictively say the word of God at your situation as soon as it arises, if not there's something you can do about it.
Follow what the word says to do to get more faith. Rom 10.17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

If you don't put it in in the good times you cant get out in the tough times.
Develop your faith muscle by speaking the word of God aloud to your circumstances, to your body, finances, family.

Mk 11.23 but believes that what he says is going to take place, it will be done for him  .
He doesn't have it now, its still coming.

Start saying what you want to happen NOT the worst that you fear might happen.
That's unbelief and you're believing in it.

5/ Salvation is in every area: Its a package deal,
you don't get one bit without the other

saved, Gk. sozo, saved, healed, delivered, made whole, preserved.

Nobleman's son near death
Jn 49/50 He believed Jesus word.
Matt 8.13 Centurion, as you have believed, so be it done.
Matt 9.22 woman with issue of blood, your faith has made you whole.

Captured on video, Mission to India
- a woman had a pain for many years, she came to the first day meeting,
we prayed for her, she believed, next day she testified of being healed
Man with heart condition took God at his word, came forward for prayer, believed and received his healing
Many received their sins forgiven because they dared to believe God's word and act on it, in 4 crusades about 500 people.

? Who is stronger, God or Satan ?
then why do some Christian folk still say: "the devil made me do it."
"The devil is having a go at me."
"I have this pain, disease etc."

1 Jn 4.4 Greater is He that is in you, than he than is in the world.

The devil didn't make you do, You believed his lie
2 Cor 2.14 God always causes me to triumph

1 Pet 2.24 By His stripes you WERE healed

2 Cor 3.17 Where the spirit of the Lord is their is liberty

Rom 8.1 There is therefore now, NO CONDEMNATION

Why do we say I can't:-  do it
                                       believe it
                                       afford it
when God says ask and you will receive,

Ps 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Phil 4.19 My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Church in Kovalam: no natural means, meeting in little hut, tiny piece of ground
stepped out in faith, put 1500 Rs down on bigger piece of ground, Our first crusade, BFTF team and ministry gave donations to land purchase, raised funds through sales of pictures when we returned. Since sent them enough to buy land to increase size of church.

Pastor told me later they have bought land for 25,000 Rs an impossible task in the natural
They believed and acted in faith, God provided
Things with man that are impossible; are with God Himpossible.

According to your word, because your word is power.


Lets confess what we are
I am as bold as a lion
I have the mind of Christ
God is for me
Greater is He thats in me than he thats in the world
I am the righteousness of God
I am speaking His word
I am filled with faith, power and the Holy Spirit
I am an overcomer
I am more than a conqueror
I am born again by His Spirit
His life flows through me
I've been redeemed and set apart & I'll love and serve God all my life
By His stripes I am healed
I have no lack, His abundance is mine
I invoke blessing on my life by being a generous giver
I am set free from pain, sickness, disease. 


I would love to read your comments below how this message has impacted you.
You can listen to a live recording of this message here. 


Dr Howard Sands is the International Director of Beautiful Feet Task Force, is available as a speaker for churches, outreaches, business & missions. 

For more details or to book Howard for your college, church or event see how to frame an invitation here.
If you would like to assist BFTF in its mission to equipping African and Asian ministers with the word of God to empower their own generation you can donate to BFTF here.

Thursday, 28 January 2016

LEARN TO SPEAK WITH YOUR EYES

Either your spirit or your mind is going to dominate your body. 
Which is it going to be? its up to you. 

When you were born again your spirit was recreated brand new (2Cor5.17) with the righteousness of God (2Cor5.21) made a participant in His Divine Nature (2Pet1.4) and was supposed to dominate your mind (Rom12.2) and body and bring them into subjection to the Kingdom of God. . . . . but. . . . sometimes your spirit doesn't dominate because you fail to act on what you know. You fail to speak the Word of God as God has put it in your heart, (Mk11.23) for if you did speak it in faith you would put God's own creative power to work in your circumstances. I'm not talking about blab it and grab it, I'm not talking about positive thinking or positive confession; I am talking about what the faith eye sees, the faith mind believes and the faith tongue speaks until it actually creates a living vital thing was was first seen by the eye of faith. 

What can you see with your faith eye? What are you believing? People can tell what you are believing because they can hear what you say and see what you do. Your spirit can be seen by how you speak and act; is it taking control or is your lazy, unfruitful, backslidden, unregenerate, carnal mind taking charge? The best practise for changing your circumstances is to let your faith eyes do some speaking. 

Dr Howard Sands 










Howard Sands is the International Director of Beautiful Feet Task Force, is available as a speaker for churches, outreaches, business & missions. 
For more details or to book Howard for your college, church or event see here.

Saturday, 16 January 2016

What is Your Life Motivator


An unlikely farm labourer becomes warrior, hero, liberator, general and judge.


Shamgar – faithful and full of faith

Although the land we are told v30 had rest 80 years, we are also told Ch 5.6 that the roads were abandoned,
It seems that the rest (according to Matthew Henry) was not in the south east part of the land where Philistines still marauded, but rest in the north west from the Moabites. The Israelites had abandonded the roads because of these looting, pillaging Philistine thieves that controlled the highways.


Apparently one day Shamgar saw a raiding party and got up a Holy Spirit inspired anger.

The word says he killed 600 with an ox goad, 

(This implement, Mr. Maundrell informs us, in Palestine and Syria is of an extraordinary size. He measured several, and 'found them about eight feet long; and at the bigger end about six inches in circumference. They were armed at the lesser end with a sharp prickle for driving the oxen; and at the other end with a small paddle of iron, strong and massive, for cleansing the plough from the clay. In the hand of a powerful man such an instrument must be more dangerous and fatal than a sword. )



He took what was at hand.
The impulse was sudden and strong, He had no sword only the tools of his trade

God can make those whose family, finance and position are of no consequence (he was following the plough) and save a nation with them.
God can make ploughmen into judges and generals
Shepherds into kings,
Fisherman into apostles
It doesn’t matter how weak the weapon is if God directs and strengthens the arm that uses it.
Then the ox goad does more than Goliaths sword ever can.
Sometimes God chooses to work by unlikely means that the excellency of the power may be seen to be of God and not of men.

But what if Shamgar didn’t respond that day.
What if he hid in fear and the Philistines ravaged the land yet again.
Who knows how many times they had done it before and how many other men God had put the impulse in but they had shied away from the task.

Are we taken with a passion and love for His house that we won’t allow the marauding armies of the Philistines to plunder our land.
Are we the people who will stand and deliver a nation, a people, a community, an individual person.
Are we the ones that see ministry as doing what ever God requires (not just some high position that inflates our ego).

Are we consumed by a passion for His House that we come and do the work so that the house looks good, not out of a sense of duty,
Not out of a sense of “its my job”
But because I want to serve my Lord and do whatever it takes to make His house
  • a place of praise,
  • a place of excellence,
  • a place of real spiritual worship,
  • a place where others can find the presence of God that heals their hurts, bathes their emotions, softens their spirit and enables them to find the God who cares.


1 Cor 4.17 Paul spoke about Timothy as His faithful son, “faithful in the Lord”
he spoke about Moses as "faithful in all his house."
Faithful:- those that have the Lords best interests foremost in everything they do.

We are building His house full of this kind of people, not merely doing a job in church but faithful in a ministry to the Lord.




Here this message live here.

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Sunday, 11 October 2015

"There are only two things, God & Violet Crumble."

I heard an interesting statement in church today, 
"There are only two things, God & Violet Crumble."

Now that is not what Pastor Ian said, its what I heard. He said, "There's only God and nothing else matters."  My involvement in advertising for so many years took that slogan that Violet Crumble made famous "Nothing else matt...." and interpreted it in my brain to the Violet Crumble product in Ps Ian's statement, (maybe it had something to do with winning a Picnic bar in answering a question in one of Ps Ian's famous church quizzes). Therefore there is not just one thing, there is God and then if nothing else matters there is Violet Crumble.  Video ad



How our brain works is a fascinating thing, word / product / image association.
What is the image that comes to your mind when I say Africa.
Well that depends on what things to do with Africa have made an indelible impression on your mind, let me not put images into your mind of what it may be in your mind (we're all different), but allow me to share with you an image, impression and concern in mine when I hear of or think of Africa. (I have already done 6 missions trips to 4 African countries)

I think of thousands of ministers passionate for the gospel message of Jesus Christ that saves to the uttermost even the worst of sinners, I think of some difficult situations from rural villages  to major cities,  I think of humungous gatherings of people hungry for the gospel truth, I think of leaders crying out for help on how to teach their congregations that Jesus has already won their victory. For most, they know it but they don't know it. I mean they have heard it, they even give a mental assent to the truth of it but they themselves don't know how to live in it so how can they impart the revelation of truth of it to the congregations. They are hungry for revelation knowledge of the word that will sustain them.

On the other hand I also think of many churches where the pastors are almost worshiped, they adore adulation, sitting mightily on throne like chairs before their congregations and having their members do everything for them; gaining at least three titles is tantamount to dictatorial rule and as a consequence substantial financial gain, these doctrinally shallow leaders keep their people in the same shallowness so that their position in the pecking order is not disturbed, it just too good being adored and having everything materially conceivable even through many of their congregations are often struggling to put food in their children's mouths.

Whilst there are people in every country and from every walk of life that abuse privilege Jesus showed us a form of leadership not like the world, he demonstrated and taught servant leadership. Paul the apostle of Bible writings was first of all a persecutor of the church than an advocate of it. He received revelation of who we (the church) were in Christ, that other disciples who were disciples before him said, "some of Paul's teachings are hard to understand." Yes they are, for they are not to be understood with the soul/mind but with the spirit. Paul said these things are spiritually discerned.

My heart and passion is to help people become spiritually minded enough to receive the revelation of who they are in Christ, that they know how to live in it daily, that they don't need to be lording it over others but can in true humility help believers to have the confidence in Christ for every situation that He intended for us. When you mention Africa to me, the picture I see is of thousands of leaders receiving understanding of what Christ has done for them and how to both appropriate it themselves and release others into the freedom it brings for them.

To this end Beautiful Feet Task Force is again ministering in Africa the revelation of Jesus Christ to hundreds of pastors and leaders. I expect there will be all types there, some there for good intent and others for selfish. Some there who are healthy strong servant leaders and others who have not yet realised that releasing people into their destiny actually releases you into yours.

I'd like to take you on this journey with me, sadly for this trip you can only come in prayer, in giving and virtually, (we will be posting to facebook as much as possible during the trip - Follow here)

From 23 October 2015 Ps Howard will be heading to Bamende, Cameroon as one of many guest speakers of Dr Bernard Etta at the '40th Anniversary Global Convocation' along with guests from many parts of the world.


Then its on to Cape Town, South Africa for the jointly organised 'Kingdom Advancement Leadership Summit,' hundreds of leaders from Southern Africa particularly are expected to attend.









After this, BFTF with the Pheonix Ministers Fraternal are hosting 'Leading Without Limits' in Durban, South Africa.

During these programs and many local church functions Ps Howard will be (with others) helping many hundreds of leaders lift their revelation of who Christ is in them, what He has done for them and what He wants to do through them.

The church in Africa is growing much faster than the western church and yet the need for sound teaching and revelation of who we are in Christ has become greater than ever because of rampant poor, shallow and wrong teaching that has kept many bound in law and limited knowledge of the freedom found in Christ.

Will you help bring freedom to thousands through supporting hundreds of leaders across Africa with revelation knowledge.



You can support BFTF in these ways. 
PRAY - SEND - GO - FOLLOW


PRAY especially on days of international mission
SEND support these missions with your gifts
GO join a team whenever a team is going. 
FOLLOW BFTF on social media 


PRAY                                             
Subscribe to Prayer  Newsletter

SEND   
Two ways to contribute
direct deposit to Beautiful Feet Task Force
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
BSB 062 614  
Account number 0094 0442   

or with your credit card or PayPal account. 
 

GO
Get advance notifications of team trips

FOLLOW
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Thursday, 1 January 2015

What’s in a Seed?

Howard Sands (c) 2010

What’s in a Seed?
Great Oaks from Little Acorns Grow.

     Discover how this principle has, is, and will, apply in your life.

re discover the journey of your life, and how, where you are now is just a part of the journey to where you are going. Small beginnings, cold winters, hard times, refreshing rains and summer joys are all part ofg the journey to where you are going. 



Life is In Stages

Seeds
Genesis 1:12
The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:29
Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

The right kind of seed – every seed produces
The seed of the Holy Spirit was planted in you – keep that seed only growing

Leviticus 19:19
" 'Keep my decrees. " 'Do not mate different kinds of animals. " 'Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. " 'Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.

Deuteronomy 22:9
Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard; if you do, not only the crops you plant but also the fruit of the vineyard will be defiled.

Planting  - theres a death to self
John 12:24
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

Underground growth,  - the seasons –winter necessary
Genesis 8:22
"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."

Shooting – there’s extreme joy with new birth – natural and spiritual -
Mark 4:27
Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.
Isaiah 61:11
For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.


Seedling
Young tree – beauty and strength in a growing young tree = this is just the early phase not its destiny. 
It is still has a valid ministry – provides shade and beauty,
Birds still rest on it and make nests in it
Leaves still exchange carbon di oxide for oxygen to give life
Binds the ground together with its roots so rains don‘t destroy & degrade the land
But this is not its destiny. 

Hosea 14:5-6
I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of   Lebanon he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon

Must survive the Weather/ elements – storms of life
Young trees are supple – know how to take the battering winds


Tall mature tree  
Matthew 13:32
Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."



Luke 13:19
It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches."

1 Corinthians 3:6
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

Cut down
Isaiah 6:13
And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land."

1 Kings 5:6
"So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My men will work with yours, and I will pay you for your men whatever wages you set. You know that we have no one so skilled in felling timber as the Sidonians."

To the saw mill to be cut to lengths
1 Kings 5:18
The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram and the men of Gebal cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple.





Endure the pain – stay securely anchored in Him
Hebrews 6:19-20
19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

2 Timothy 2:3
Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Stored in the timber yard
1 Chronicles 22:14
"I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them.

Sold to the builder
Cut shaved shaped nailed
2 Kings 22:6
the carpenters, the builders and the masons. Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple.

House – a great house – a palace – a temple – a city
This is the destiny of the seed

2 Chronicles 2:3
Solomon sent this message to Hiram king of Tyre: "Send me cedar logs as you did for my father David when you sent him cedar to build a palace to live in.


Hebrews 11:10
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God


You’ve been working towards it
Don't lose heart in the winter. 
Don't stop growing through the storms of life. 
Don't give up when you're cut down.
Don't say I can't when you're being cut and shaped. 
Don't think your time will never come when you seem to be forgotten when you're lying in the timber yard,

because everything you do is determining
how your palace will work out.