If you are truly walking with the Lord, nothing can really hurt you or destroy you; so be not dismayed. Never let discouragement hinder you because you can be victorious over anything that comes against you. The Bible says, Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:9).

Life will throw many stones at you, and Satan will shoot his fiery darts; but you can stop all of those with the shield of faith. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked (Ephesians 6:16). Not even Satan himself can have more power over you than God’s provisions and protection when you are walking with the Lord.

God paid a great price to redeem you and claim you as His own, and He promised He would protect and stand by what He paid for. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him (Isaiah 59:19).

God promised to be your help in time of trouble. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). You must unload all your troubles and carry only the burden for lost humanity throughout the world. There is just a limited time to bring in the harvest, so you have to work hard; and God will give you the strength you need.

God puts a protective hedge around each of His children just like He did around Job, and Satan knows that. Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side (Job 1:9,10)?

Now, God may allow your hedge to come down a little bit at times to try you and make you stronger, but don’t resent that. Just know that it is a time of testing and enlargement in the Lord. Even then, nothing can really hurt you unless you allow it to because God does not allow His children to endure more than they can bear. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (I Corinthians 10:13). Always remember that temptation is not sin unless you give in to it.

Faith Brings Victory

Faith is all you need to do all God wants of you. The three Hebrew boys were full of faith, and they trusted in God completely. King Nebuchadnezzar was going to throw them into a fiery furnace because they would not bow to an idol, but they would not compromise. The fire was raging, and they knew it could kill them; but if they lived or died, they knew they would be alright with God. They knew the only thing that could really hurt them was to bow, so they put their lives in the hands of God and trusted Him; and God moved in a great way.

The king had commanded that the furnace be heated much hotter than ever before, and it was so hot that it killed the men who threw the boys in; but the fire didn’t hurt the boys at all. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God (Daniel 3:24,25). When the Lord makes you free, you are no longer bound by the devil.

Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them (Daniel 3:26,27). Their clothing didn’t even smell like smoke—that is God’s deliverance!

You Belong to God

Daniel is another servant of God who did not compromise in the face of great danger. He was thrown into the lions’ den and left there all night, but he trusted God. In the morning, the king commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God (Daniel 6:23). You have to trust God completely if you want Him to take care of you.

When Daniel was brought up out of the den, the king declared, He [God] delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions (Daniel 6:27).

Daniel had no fear, and you can’t have any either. The Lord said through Isaiah the prophet, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour (Isaiah 43:1–3).

The Lord wants to be so close to His children that He calls each one of us by name. He calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out (John 10:3). When the Lord seems to be afar off during times of trouble, you need to get quiet and hear Him saying, “I am here.”

God Is in Control

I say again that nothing can really hurt you when you are walking in God’s will because you will have His help all the way. God promised, Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed [discouraged]; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness (Isaiah 41:10).

Discouragement can eat the very life out of you, so never allow it to take over. God’s almighty power is in His right hand, and there is no power greater. When He raises His right hand, anything can happen; so don’t lose courage when fear strikes because God is God. He will strengthen you and lift you up.

It does not matter who or what may be against you; God can move anyone or anything out of the way. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)? He has all power in Heaven and on Earth, and nothing is impossible for Him. Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me (Jeremiah 32:27)?

When you dwell on the promises of God, they will destroy anything the devil tries to bring against you. Some may have to die for the cause of Christ in this last hour, but Paul actually said that would be a blessing to him. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). Now, don’t think you are going to leave all God’s work behind and slip off to Glory. God needs all the dedicated workers He can get in this final hour.

God Makes Testimonies

God is our strength and our Redeemer. Take note of what He told Joshua when he agreed to take on the mighty task of leading the Israelites. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee (Joshua 1:5).

Jesus told the disciples, But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake (Luke 21:12). Whatever comes your way, Jesus said, It shall turn to you for a testimony (Luke 21:13). The three Hebrew boys’ trial turned into a testimony, and so did Daniel’s; so whatever God allows you to go through will turn to a testimony as well if you face it God’s way.

Jesus went on to say, Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist (Luke 21:14,15). When you are being persecuted, God will anoint your tongue to use the wisdom He gives you.

Some of your worst adversaries may be your own family members. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls (Luke 21:16–19). Always remember that tribulation worketh patience (Romans 5:3); and without it, you will never overcome.

Divine Protection

Before Jesus ascended back to Heaven, He told of the signs that would follow true believers. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues [the tongue of the Holy Ghost]; They shall take up serpents [That does not refer to deliberate snake handlers of today.]; and if they drink any deadly thing [accidentally or by force], it shall not hurt them; They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:17,18).

Never be dismayed because of the way things look in the natural; the Lord will always stand with you. Before Paul gave his life on Nero’s chopping block, he wrote, The Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion [the devil]. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (II Timothy 4:17,18).

Paul paid a great price to preach the Gospel, but he never compromised; and God took care of him. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee…And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them (Acts 18:9–11).

Be not dismayed when enemies of God come against you. Just leave them in God’s hands and let Him take care of them as He wills. The Bible says, And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled (I Peter 3:13,14).

The Psalmist said, Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him (Psalm 91:14,15). Psalm 91 also talks much of God’s care and protection, and it would be good for you to read it often.

God Can Do Anything

Jesus said, Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19). Through God, you have it all; and nothing can hurt you as long as you do His will.

The Bible says, For the joy of the LORD is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). So when you feel discouraged and sad, get off somewhere and stay with the Lord until you can rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (I Peter 1:8). That is what God is serving you, so let that joy bubble into the strength you need.

When the Shunammite woman’s son died, she did not become dismayed; she went in search of the prophet Elisha and a miracle. She was on a mission; and when Elisha’s servant greeted her and asked how she was doing, she rushed right by him saying only, It is well (II Kings 4:26).

She got to the man of God and told him about her son, and Elisha immediately went with her back to her house. And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed (II Kings 4:32). Then Elisha went alone into the boy’s room and prayed for the boy as God directed him to. And the flesh of the child waxed warm… and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. And he called Gehazi [his servant], and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out (II Kings 4:34–37). That woman had great faith. You will also have great results when you use your faith as God intends you to.

Let Jesus Lift You Up

If you are tired of being tormented and discouraged, it is time to use your measure of faith to find Calvary. I want every sinner and backslider reading this to come to Jesus today. The Bible says, Now is the day of salvation (II Corinthians 6:2). You are not promised tomorrow. Say this prayer and mean it with all your heart: Oh, God, save my soul. I am so sorry I ever doubted you and your Word, and I am sorry I have sinned against you; but I have come home, and I will serve you the rest of my life. I believe the blood of Jesus that was shed for me washes away all of my sins. Come into my heart, Jesus! Come on in!

If you meant that prayer, now you can say, “Hallelujah! Jesus is mine. Hallelujah! I’m a believer, and I am going to Heaven one day.”

Healing Is Yours

Now, you can receive a miracle. You may have AIDS, leprosy, cancer, heart trouble or some other deadly disease; but you can be delivered and set free right now. Thousands have been healed of AIDS through this Jesus ministry, and we receive reports of those who have been back to the doctor and received confirmation that they are cured.

Jesus said, All things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9:23). God can re-create any part of your body, and He has done that again and again through this Jesus ministry. Are you ready to receive? I am not the healer; Jesus is. I am just His believer, and all the praise goes to Him.

Lord, I bring the people to you. Some of them are facing death, but you can heal their bodies right now. I curse the AIDS, leprosy, paralysis and heart trouble. I curse the cancer, diabetes and all deadly diseases. Heal! in the all-powerful, blood name of Jesus. Heal! Cast those death diseases from them and impart life through faith in the living Christ who died for all. I pray in the holy, blood name of the Lord. Amen.

Now, take on the new and living way Jesus brought and serve God with your whole heart in prayer, fasting and living in His Word.

We are getting closer and closer to the end, and we must get this message to the whole world because judgment is about to fall on Earth. The end-time signs Jesus said would come are all around us now, but the Bible tells us to look up. When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh (Luke 21:28). If some do not believe, then we will have to pass them by and rejoice over the multitudes who are coming to the Lord.

Thank God, redemption draweth nigh! Joyfully, we must go forth to win the lost at any cost and bring in every soul we can in this last and final hour.

The Battle Is Yours, Lord

By Steve Millar

We know the devil is going to come against us in this life. The question is, “Are you going to let God be in control of the battle?” It’s easy to say, “The battle is yours, Lord”; but it is another thing to let Him be in control. When someone or something comes against you, it is human nature to rise up and retaliate; but that usually results in saying and doing the wrong thing instead of letting God handle the situation His way.

God wants you to trust Him so He can use you the way He wants to. When you really trust God, you will not lag behind or get ahead of Him. You will be in step with Him and follow His directions. The Holy Ghost will give you Heaven’s directions, so it is important to have the Holy Ghost living and dwelling on the inside of you.

When you yield to the Holy Ghost, He will prepare you for the battles ahead. When I look back on my life, I can see how God prepared me for each battle I had to face. Our battles are the Lord’s, and He uses us as we put our faith in Him.

David Killed a Lion and a Bear

God prepared David for each battle he faced. When he was just a shepherd boy watching his father’s sheep, a lion came by and carried off a little lamb. David went after that lion and killed it and then rescued the little lamb out of its mouth. David didn’t consider his own safety; he just wanted to save that little lamb. Shouldn’t we all be more concerned about others than ourselves? After all, God wants us to save as many “little lambs” as possible.

Later, a bear came and carried off another little lamb, so David went after the bear and killed it and rescued the lamb. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and David had a heart like Jesus. In fact, God said David was a man after His own heart. I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will (Acts 13:22).

God could have prevented each one of those wild animals from coming in contact with David’s father’s flock, but He didn’t because He was getting David ready for the battles ahead. In the natural, you would think there was no way that a young lad could conquer a lion and a bear, but David didn’t rely on self; he relied on God. That is the key to having victory. When Jesus was on Earth, He took on a human body; and He had to rely on God to help Him do what His Father wanted Him to do. If you don’t rely on God, how can the battle be His?

God Chose David to Be King

When David was out tending his father’s sheep, God sent Samuel the prophet to Jesse, David’s father, to anoint one of his sons to be king. The oldest son came before Samuel first; and Samuel said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him [God] (I Samuel 16:6). Samuel thought that young man was a good fit to be king, but the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart (I Samuel 16:7).

Jesse had his sons pass before Samuel one by one, and Samuel let Jesse know that the Lord had not chosen any of them; so Samuel wanted to know if he had any more sons. Jesse said that his youngest son was in the field tending their flock of sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither (I Samuel 16:11).

All of this was done under the direction of the Lord; and when David arrived, the Lord let Samuel know that he was the one to be anointed as king. So Samuel anointed David with oil; and the Bible says, The Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward (I Samuel 16:13). David had the Spirit of the Lord to guide and direct him in every battle. God was preparing David for many battles to come, and he was going to be a leader of God’s chosen people.

David Had Confidence in God

God has ways of preparing us for different situations. Sometimes, He will prepare us to face an enemy who comes against us. At other times, He will get us ready to rescue a soul; but whatever the reason may be, God wants us to be ready for Him to use us.

When David was called upon by his father to deliver food to his three older brothers who were in the Israelite army and at battle with the Philistines, he was ready. I’m sure David wasn’t expecting to fight a giant that day, but that was what was going to happen.

The champion of the Philistines was a giant named Goliath. When he called out for someone in the Israelite army to fight him, all the soldiers were afraid, including David’s brothers. Even King Saul was afraid, but young David was ready to answer the call. He told King Saul, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine (I Samuel 17:37). God can’t work with fear; He only works with faith.

It didn’t matter to David that he was small in size compared to the giant or that he was young in age. It didn’t matter that one of his older brothers was jealous and giving him a hard time or that Saul had no confidence in him. It didn’t even matter that Goliath was mocking him because David knew the battle was the Lord’s.

David Prepares for the Battle

David had confidence in God; and he boldly told Goliath, This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands (I Samuel 17:46,47).

David let Goliath know that the battle was the Lord’s. Do you have that same confidence in the Lord? David put his life in the Lord’s hands to be used however God wanted to use him when no one else was willing to do that.

Each one of the Israelite soldiers had an opportunity to step up and be used by God. The Bible says that the Philistine [Goliath] drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days (I Samuel 17:16). They had plenty of time to think about their decision, but fear prevented them from letting God use them. David was the only one who had no fear.

The key to David’s confidence was that he knew God was in control, and he knew God would bring the victory. All David had to do was be yielded to God’s thoughts and directions.

King Saul offered David his armor, and I’m sure it was the best armor man had to offer; but David didn’t need man’s best because he had God’s best. And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him (I Samuel 17:38,39).

David didn’t need Saul’s armor to protect him because God was going to protect him. He also didn’t need Saul’s weapons because the battle was the Lord’s. David had his staff, a sling and five smooth stones that he had chosen from a brook. The same weapons he used to protect his father’s flock were now going to be used to protect his heavenly Father’s flock.

Use God’s Armor

God prepares us to fight the enemy with weapons that we use every day. When we are working on the mission field, we use the Word of God to save souls and defeat the enemy. It only makes sense for us to use what we are trained to use. That is why we need to fast and live in the Word. Only then will we be prepared to face the battle just like David was.

The Bible lets us know that we are at war with the devil every day, so we always need to be prepared to fight. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Ephesians 6:12,13).

Do you have on the whole armor of God listed in Ephesians 6:14-17, or are you lacking a few pieces? Are you standing with the truth in righteousness and sharing the Gospel of peace with people? Do you have unshakable faith, and are you skillful in using the Word? You can’t have any of these attributes if you don’t first have salvation.

David Faces Goliath

David was God’s soldier, and he was prepared to use whatever God put in his hands. Even though David was skilled in using a slingshot, it was his spiritual armor that made him a threat to Goliath. He put just one stone in his sling and slung it at Goliath, and that stone was anointed with all the truth of Heaven. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth (I Samuel 17:48,49). When you use something that God anoints and puts in your hands, you will always hit the mark and defeat the enemy.

God directed that stone, and it struck Goliath in the forehead with such great force that he fell to the ground defeated. Then David used Goliath’s own sword to cut off the giant’s head. God provided the sword to finish the job because the battle was the Lord’s. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. (I Samuel 17:50,51).

The difference between David and the Israelite army was that David believed the battle was the Lord’s. I’m sure all the soldiers in the Israelite army were trained to fight, but they were looking to themselves instead of to what God could do; and they weren’t equipped with the armor of God.

God Fought for the Israelites’ Freedom

When you know without a doubt that the battle is the Lord’s, God will move for you and take control of whatever situation you are facing. God let Moses know that He was going to use him to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt, but Moses had to believe that the battle was the Lord’s.

When you look at that situation from a human standpoint, an 80-year-old Moses was trying to convince the great Pharaoh to give up all his free labor and let the Israelite people go. That seemed to be impossible, but God is in the business of doing the impossible. The things which are impossible with men are possible with God (Luke 18:27).

I’m sure Pharaoh thought he could never afford to give up all that free labor; but after God had poured out the 10 great plagues, Pharaoh realized he couldn’t afford not to give it up. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart again and again so He could show both the Israelites and the Egyptians His great power, and it took 10 horrible plagues before Pharaoh was ready to yield to God’s plan.

The final plague killed all the firstborn of the Egyptians, both man and beast. What protected the Israelites during that time?—the blood of a lamb without blemish. God told the people to kill a male lamb of the first year and spread the blood on each side of the doorpost of their houses. The blood of the lamb protected the Israelites from the plague, and God fought their battle. For I [God] will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt (Exodus 12:12,13).

Put God in Control

Today, the blood of Jesus will protect children of God, and He will fight our battles. It doesn’t matter if you are facing sickness, a financial battle or any other kind of battle, give it to the Lord. People may be coming against you and persecuting you for the faith you have in Jesus Christ, but never forget that the battle is the Lord’s.

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice when He came down to Earth and died on a cross so we can have eternal life and victory over every battle that comes our way. Jesus is the only one in Heaven who could have made that sacrifice, and God had so much love for us that He was willing to give up His Only Son so we could have eternal life.

Sinner, Backslider, there is a battle raging for your soul. The devil wants to destroy your soul in hell for eternity, and the mighty God wants to give you eternal life. Which side are you on? Will you let the Lord do battle for you? If so, you first have to give your heart to the Lord and become born again. Only then can you be a part of God’s army and have His divine protection. Say the sinner’s prayer located on page 6 of this magazine, and let the Lord begin fighting your battles.