I hope this message will help you to think the thoughts of God. The thoughts of God destroy the thoughts of the enemy; God’s thoughts help to clear your mind and keep it stayed on the Lord. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee (Isaiah 26:3).

You have been chosen by God to be part of His great plan in this final hour. What preparations need you make? Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints (Jude 1:3). Why does God want you to contend for the faith? Why did He mention the Old Testament’s saints? Because He wanted you to go back into the Word of God and study their lives. How did they use that faith? How did they come into it? What did that faith mean to them? What did it accomplish? How did it work? How powerful and great was it? To study the characters of the Bible to whom God has given greatness will help you so very much in serving His greatness to the world.

Faith Pleases God

The fruit of faith is wonderful. Faith is one of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit, the fruit of righteousness. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God (Hebrews 11:5). The faith of Enoch pleased God, and that’s all that really needs to be said about Enoch. In fact, that’s all that needs to be said about anyone who has served the Lord and left for Glory: He or she pleased God.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6). Earnestly contend; diligently seek and serve Him. When we look to the Lord and seek Him with all our hearts, we will find Him; He promised.

The saints of God were human just as we are, men and women. They gave their whole selves to the Lord completely, holding nothing in reserve.

A Prophet Was on the Scene

Not in years had a prophet been in the land until Elijah appeared on the scene. Standing before King Ahab, Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word (I Kings 17:1). That confrontation took strong faith. It takes great faith to repeat what God tells you and to stake your very life on it, but that’s the way it has to be. Elijah spoke God’s truth. When he said, It’s not going to rain but according to my word, he meant according to the word that God had given him. Ahab must have smirked thinking that he had heard all kinds of things from these so-called “prophets,” and here’s yet another one. So Ahab brushed Elijah aside and forgot about him.

But when it didn’t rain and didn’t rain, when the water became so scarce and precious as everything was drying up, King Ahab began to want Elijah back. Bring him to me and I will deal with him!

Fed by Ravens

Elijah wasn’t to be found. God had told Elijah, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook (I Kings 17:3-6). Using real faith, Elijah followed God’s instructions. That was the faith that God delivered to saints of God in Old Testament days, the faith God is telling us to contend for. Would you have gone to the brook, trusting that birds would feed you, bring you meat in the morning and meat in the evening? The brook dried up, but not Elijah’s faith.

And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee (I Kings 17:8,9). God sent Elijah to a widow’s house, not a wealthy widow, but a poor widow who had only a handful of meal and a few drops of oil left to cook with. The woman was getting ready to make one last cake for her and her son before they starved. People were starving all around them; they knew of no one they could turn to.

A Miracle of Supply

Elijah told the widow woman, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die (I Kings 17:11,12).

It took great faith for Elijah to say to her, Make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days (I Kings 17:13-15). Elijah told her what God had prophesied, that she would have all she needed during the famine, that the meal barrel and the cruse of oil would stay filled. Did she believe? Did she have that kind of faith? Yes, she did. You don’t have to be a prophet to have this faith.

The Lord is telling the saints of God in the New Testament to come before Him and contend for this faith once given to the saints. To contend means to struggle, to fight for this faith. The devil will come after the saints in a great way when they seek God with their whole heart for this kind of faith. He knows when you get this kind of faith that he and his kingdom are in big trouble. He knows the great bombs of miracle power that struck his kingdom in Old Testament days; he knows that since Calvary it will be much worse for him.

The widow woman baked Elijah a cake. She had to know that cake was for the Lord’s work, or she never would have baked it. She had the faith that this was God speaking to her through Elijah; she recognized a true prophet of God.

It’s wonderful when God speaks to you. Many would have thought that the meal barrel and the cruse could not stay full. But Elijah did. The widow woman had a lot of faith and probably took on more faith through what Elijah told her. The anointing from this man of God flowed more of the greatness of God to her, and she went forth with gladness, with a song in her heart as she scraped the bottom of the barrel to make Elijah a cake first. Passing up her hungry little boy who was waiting, she baked the cake and gave it to Elijah.

It takes much faith to pass by loved ones who don’t understand the kind of faith you have or what it will do, what it means and how it will produce. They don’t know the great fruit that comes from that kind of faith, the wonderful fruit of righteousness.

The widow woman served the man of God, and then in that great faith she rushed back to see the meal barrel; her faith told her that the meal would be there, and that the cruse would be full of oil through the miraculous power of God. During the whole famine, the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah (I Kings 17:16).

Elijah Challenged the Prophets of Baal

Consider Elijah and the greatness of his faith, how he withstood the wicked king Ahab and challenged all the prophets of Baal. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken (I Kings 18:21-24).

Let the God that answers by fire be the true God. Nothing can compare to the fire of the Holy Ghost. We need that fire to work for us; we need to use that kind of faith. Elijah had it, the fire of the Holy Ghost faith.

Elijah told the prophets to prepare their sacrifice, call upon their god and see what happens. Don’t halt between two opinions, he told the people. Make up your mind whom you’re going to serve, how you’re going to walk, talk and live. How are you going to think and charter your life? What do you want to do?

Elijah watched the prophets of Baal trying to contact their god. They had called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, pleading, O Baal, hear us! But there was no response.

And they leaped upon the altar which was made. And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked (I Kings 18:26,27). Elijah needled them a little bit, but they deserved it. Trying to reach their idol god, the prophets of Baal cut themselves with knives and lancets until the blood gushed out.

It isn’t necessary to mutilate yourself to reach God. All you need do is say: In the name of Jesus I come, and you’re in touch with the Father’s throne. Elijah was in touch; he had the faith that was given to the saints in Old Testament days.

Types and Shadows

The Old Testament is filled with types and shadows of things to come. Elijah, the master, is a great type of Lord Jesus. Elijah met Elisha, a type of the Bride. The Bride is listening for and watching every move that Jesus, Elijah, makes. Elisha was told by his master that if he saw Elijah when he was translated he could ask what he wanted and it would be granted. Jesus said, If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you (John 15:7). If you abide, if you live, if you stay with the Lord, then you abide in His love, in His grace, in His promises. You have to truly abide; you can’t be in and out, up and down with God.

Elisha was abiding in all the holy words that the master, Elijah, spoke, and his faith was tested. Remember, Elijah tried to get away from him more times than one. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho (II Kings 2:2,4).

The Hour of Total Reality

To have this kind of faith that was once the faith of the saints, you have to have total reality of God with no doubts concerning Him. He is God; He is. Then you must have total reality of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Savior of the world, your own personal Savior. Reality of the Holy Spirit Himself is a must as is reality of the divine blood. When you have this reality, the promises of God will become real. With this kind of reality, what can hinder you from receiving the faith that was once delivered to the saints? The greatness of divine reality is the highway into the faith that was delivered to the saints.

They Crossed Jordan to Rapture Ground

That faith took Elisha to Jordan with Elijah. Elijah struck the waters of Jordan and the waters separated. Elisha thought it was most wonderful. He had never seen that miracle before. After they walked across Jordan, the waters closed.

Now Elijah and Elisha are on the other side of Jordan, Rapture ground. They’re talking, but they don’t get to say much, for suddenly a chariot of fire and horses appears sweeping down to Elijah and catching him up to heaven.

You will need the Holy Ghost to take you up on Rapture day. You will need this power, the power of the Holy Ghost, to be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. It was Holy Ghost power that changed Elijah and took him to Heaven. Elisha was a witness.

Elisha Received a Double Portion

The faith of Elijah was delivered to Elisha in the double portion that he had asked for. Elisha took that power, went back to Jordan, struck the waters, and the waters separated for him, too. You don’t have to be afraid to use the power of God. When you have it, when you live holy, you have Heaven’s confidence and assurance that you can use God’s power to deliver the people, to set the captives free. Elisha used that power in a great way.

The world mocks us but we don’t care. People mock the Rapture just like they did in Elisha’s day after Elijah was taken to Heaven in the chariot, but judgment will fall. Forty-two children came saying to Elisha, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head (II Kings 2:23). They had been told the rapture of Elijah wasn’t true; he was simply hidden away somewhere. Two she-bears came out of the forest and tore up the children. It was God’s judgment.

In Jericho the waters were bitter, undrinkable. And Elisha said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him. And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land (II Kings 2:20,21).

I have had the privilege of visiting that spring in Jericho a number of times, and clear water is always gushing forth. No matter how hot it gets, that spring is bubbling.

The Disciples Got the Holy Ghost

The disciples climbed to the Mount of Olives and watched Jesus ascend to Heaven. Jesus dropped the mantle of the Holy Ghost’s power on the disciples. He had told them to go to Jerusalem and stay there until the Holy Ghost came, until they knew they had that mantle and how to use it. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8). In the Upper Room the disciples received that power. The mantle of the Master fell upon them just like the mantle of power had fallen on Elisha.

Elisha Used the Power

God performed many great miracles through Elisha, even the raising of the dead. Elijah had raised the dead, and Elisha knew this, but he didn’t know that when he got that power he would be able to use it and raise the dead, also. But it worked.

Elisha sent his servant to tell Naaman to dip in Jordan seven times and be healed of his leprosy. To know the thought of God, the direction of Him, to have this kind of faith, you must have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying.

The Lord gives us ears to hear like the first Adam could hear. He gives us eyes to see the marvelous works of God like the first man and woman saw the glory of the Lord. They were able to behold the reality of God, for to them it was all reality. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit were real. Make no room for doubt; this faith is a necessity as we hurry to move on.

Those miracles that Elisha performed did wonders. Read them and realize they were the result of the faith once delivered to the saints. The Lord is telling me to contend for it, struggle for it, fight for it, go after it, knowing I will have to fight against the power of the devil in going for this greatness.

Elisha had so much of this power, so much of this faith that when he died, it still lingered in his bones. And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet (II Kings 13:20,21). This kind of faith gives life.

Many, many people spiritually dead in trespasses and sins need help. They must have a resurrection from that death, that sin, that ungodliness. Jesus came to make it possible; He came using the kind of divine faith that contends. At first the disciples had a hard time believing all He said. They studied Him. About the time they thought they had Him figured out, something new happened and they weren’t so sure; it was beyond them.

Gideon’s Three Hundred

Consider Gideon and the faith he took on. He started out with an army of thirty-two thousand that were finally pared down to three hundred. But when you trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, God will work with you. He will let you see if you need strength to use more faith; if so, He will see that you get it. He worked with Gideon until Gideon grew strong in the wonderful faith that the Lord is telling us to contend for.

Gideon divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon (Judges 7:16-18). Every one of the three hundred had a trumpet, the Gospel trumpet, and everyone knew how to blow a trumpet. It doesn’t take much training to hold a candle in an earthen vessel, but to blow a trumpet takes training. With faith like the three hundred had, study the Word. Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not be ashamed.

The enemy around Gideon and his three hundred, the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude (Judges 7:12). It doesn’t matter about numbers. When you will yield to God until your heart is in rhythm with God’s heart, you and God make a majority. Indeed, then you have nothing to fear, nothing to worry about. Gideon had that heart. He had an obedient people, three hundred who had yielded and bowed to everything that God had said through Gideon. They had no trouble blowing the trumpets; there was no mix-up, no doubt, no fear or misgivings. They took on the faith that the Word of God is telling you about, that faith that soars above all weakness, all doubt, all storms and all the powers of the devil.

Gideon’s three hundred won; God had said they would; God had ordained it to be so. You know in your heart that the kingdom of Satan must come down. God tells us so. We can declare the Word of God in all boldness.

The Early Church prayed for holy boldness and they got it because they yielded to God. Many of them received this kind of faith that was once delivered to the saints in Old Testament days. They suffered persecution, knowing the only way out was for the Lord to anoint them with holy boldness so they could stand against any powers of the devil.

Faith to Kill a Giant

Consider the faith that David, a mere lad, had in going after a giant. His only weapon was a sling and five stones, J-E-S-U-S. Many Goliaths abound today, giants of darkness that people must be delivered from, giants of sicknesses and diseases, giants of despair, depression and oppression. David had faith to come after the giant in the name of the Lord, knowing the Lord would deliver Goliath into his hands. That is the faith that the Lord is telling you to contend for. All you need is Jesus. He proves that through the great faith He offers you. Jesus brought nothing less than this great faith when He came, a faith born in Bethlehem for you and me. It’s ours if we want it above everything else and are willing to pay the price in obedience and humility to do His whole will, to take all His orders. Don’t you think the faith once delivered to the saints is worth contending for? Aren’t you glad the Lord is speaking to your heart, letting you know you can have this kind of faith? The Bride needs this faith to bring in the lost in her final walk just before Rapture Day. David won and you will win.

Here I Am, Send Me!

When the Lord called on Isaiah the prophet, he didn’t want to go. The people were rebellious. Isaiah tells what changed his thinking: Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me (Isaiah 6:6-8). The angel placed the fire of the Holy Ghost on the lips of Isaiah, and now Isaiah was pleading with the Lord to go. He took on the faith and used the faith the Lord is telling you about; it was faith that stood up against the whole house of Israel and all the powers of the devil. When Isaiah got the fire of the Holy Ghost, he opened wide his heart, and in came that great faith he needed. He had a yearning to go where the Lord would send him, a desire to go for the Lord no matter what happened.

Daniel Talked to God Openly

Study the faith of Daniel. Through no fault of his own he was sold into slavery. He was a dedicated, consecrated lad, but his people had failed God, sinned against God. God had warned them He would deliver them into the hands of their enemies to become slaves if they continued to spit in His eye.

Although Babylon was a wicked, devilish place, it couldn’t destroy such faith that Daniel had. That kind of faith prayed in a way the enemy had never heard before. That kind of faith opened a window toward Jerusalem, and we can open a window toward the New Jerusalem. We have it in sight.

Daniel didn’t hide away to pray; he talked to God openly. Because wicked men couldn’t find any fault in him, they brought lies against him. The devil will try to destroy you with lies, but march on. This kind of faith stands tall and gives you heart, lifts you above the weaknesses of humanity into the realm of the power of the miraculous God. It’s marvelous to go into this miraculous power!

When the Lord first started taking me into this miracle power years ago, I would look and I would see a hole in the sky. The Lord would take me through the hole. I then would see miracles. But I couldn’t stay in that realm; I would come back down. Then came more fasting, more seeking God.

Again and again, the Lord would take me into that realm and let me dine on the greatness there. Seeing that realm was worth all the fasts, all the fasting it took. I never ask God what the price tag is on anything He has to offer. Whatever the price, I will pay. When you have that spirit, you don’t have to worry; you’ll be all right. You’ll be in the palm of His powerful hand, and He will be your mighty shelter in time of storm.

Daniel Slept with the Lions

Think about it: Wicked men plotted to have Daniel thrown into the den of lions. Faith to overcome their scheme is the kind of faith the Lord is offering you. Lions are in the streets; they’re everywhere today, violent, vicious lions. We must have the kind of overcoming faith that makes them too weak to harm or to destroy us. Daniel had this great faith and that night he slept with the lions. The king was the one who didn’t sleep.

The faith that God delivered to the saints kept Daniel safe in the lions’ den. I’m sure it was a big den with a number of lions. People must have thought Daniel would be destroyed right away when he hit the bottom of the den, but he wasn’t. Hurriedly the den was closed off, and so the night passed. The king was tormented but he knew he had to let Daniel stay till morning. However, Daniel rested on that great faith—what a mattress it made! What a bed of rest he had! He was better off with the lions and his God than he had been outside with those evil men who were seeking to destroy him.

Through contending for this faith you’ll have joy unspeakable, joy full of God’s glory. To the people who are not spiritually minded, miracles are insane, unthinkable nonsense. But to you who believe, miracles are the greatness of God’s salvation, the might of His power, the depth, the height and width of His love. The greatness of this faith is everything good, wonderful, glorious and nothing bad. It is the faith once given to the saints, and it can be yours. Contending for this faith should become top priority to each sincere child of God who wants to win the lost at any cost.

Daniel, early in the morning, heard the voice of the king: O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? [Daniel answered,] My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt (Daniel 6:20,22). The king knew that Daniel served the Lord continually, and the king had Daniel drawn up out of that pit. It’s hard to tell how many people have been fed to the lions of sin just because someone didn’t like them; someone crossed up the king a little and was destroyed.

One day the lid will go off the lions’ den that we’re in and Jesus will appear in midair and say, Come on up, Children, come on up! We’ll be out of this place of ugliness and despair, out of this disobedient world.

Jesus Will Be in the Furnace with You!

King Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image of himself and commanded that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace (Daniel 3:5,6). And there stood a great image; people were bowing before it, worshiping it as though it were God. But it was not the God of three Hebrew men, God’s soldiers. Examine closely the faith that was used in this situation. The three stood tall while others fell on their faces before the idol. The king offered to play special music for them so they would bow.

The devil will play a special tune to get you to bow, to worship him. He seeks to deceive by many means; he tried to deceive Jesus. Again, the devil taketh him [Jesus] up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve (Matthew 4:8-10). Just fall down and worship me, Satan was saying, and all the kingdoms of the earth will be yours. The devil didn’t own one of them; they weren’t his to give. The devil doesn’t own anything on this earth that is worthwhile. He owns none of the land, none of what he claims to own.

The Hebrew boys wouldn’t bow even though they knew the consequence of not bowing was being thrown alive into the blazing furnace. What was their response? If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king (Daniel 3:17).

Furious, the king had the fiery furnace heated seven times hotter than ever before. What a dreadful furnace it was!

The three Hebrew boys were thrown into that fiery furnace bound, and the men who threw them into the fire were killed by the heat; it was that hot. But when you have the faith that was delivered to those boys, you are blessed. Jesus was already in the furnace. Jesus will already be there when you face life’s trials.

It’s hard to tell how many times you may be thrown into the fiery furnace in this last hour. But, remember, the Son of God, the Son of Righteousness, the Only Begotten of the Father will be there, the Fourth Man to rejoice with you. By using such faith, people will see the glory.

The king was so amazed at the miracle that he rose up and exclaimed, “Didn’t we throw three men into the furnace?”

“Yes,” his counselors replied.

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 3:25). The faith that the three Hebrew boys used couldn’t be burned up, couldn’t be destroyed or cast down. That’s the faith the Lord is offering you, Saints of God, in this final hour.

The endtime signs are all around us; it’s time to realize that we must hurry and get this faith and use it. In World War II the United States was rushing to get the weapon ready that would end the war and save thousands of lives that would have been lost had the war not been shortened. And we’ve got to rush so that this great power of faith can be used through us to destroy the powers of the devil, to set the captives free. Jesus came to set the captives free, and that’s our mission, too. The faith the Lord is telling us to contend for is this faith that was delivered to the saints in Old Testament days.

How Did Samson Lose His Great Faith?

Study the eleventh chapter of Hebrews; don’t just read it; study it. Study each life mentioned there. See how this great faith worked in Samson’s life in unbelievable ways, and then take heed that once you have this faith you don’t lose it. Samson had this faith, did great things for God, but through disobedience lost it, was captured by the enemy, who put out his eyes. Until he humbled himself and asked God for that faith again, that power one more time, he was made to grind in the mill as a slave. But the time came that his captors became rather careless with him because they didn’t know God. People who don’t know God don’t understand the language of this message. They may mock it, but we pay them no mind. We’re listening to the voice of Heaven. We have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying.

Samson was brought out of the prison house so people could make sport of him. But when people make fun of God’s power they are on the wide, wide road of total destruction. Have pity for them. The power that Samson lost in the hands of the devil was the power that once had taken the jawbone of an animal and with it killed a thousand of the enemies. The enemy feared him, feared that power and sought to find the secret of it. The secret of that power was this faith that God is telling us to contend for. Samson had God’s heart of power, God’s heart of faith, and the fruit of righteousness; and he was ready to go forth one more time now, to lose his life for it. In losing his life, Samson won his final battle, the greatest victory ever in his life. He would give his life to get that power back. Anything you’re willing to give your life for should be very valuable. Most people will do anything to spare their lives.

And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them. Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport. And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life (Judges 16:26-30). Samson was willing to give his life to have that kind of faith working one more time. What value he now put on it! Samson got his best spiritual sight when he was blind and humbled grinding at the mill. Suddenly he had that power again; he knew he had it, and he gave his life for it.

We’ll give our lives, not necessarily in death, but in yielding all to the Lord. We are needed in this hour, we’re special to God, so special that we can wear the shoes of Jesus. There is a pair of His shoes to fit everyone who is dedicated, consecrated to the Lord, living free from all sin and walking in the righteousness and holiness of God. In the fellowship of His grace, wear His shoes.

Peter Had the Call of God

The disciples came into this greatness. Peter used the great faith that had been delivered to the saints. He was the one who went down to the water and pulled out the fish of supply, the fish with money in its mouth, money to pay their taxes. To be able to believe for such a fish of supply, Peter had to have this faith that once was delivered to the saints; Peter had the call of God. He dropped his nets of the world and all that went with them to follow Jesus. Many a day and night he followed Him. Then he failed completely.

Remember, Peter thought he needed to defend Jesus in Gethsemane, and he cut off an ear of one in the crowd who had come to arrest Him. Peter was angry. But when he saw Jesus reach down, pick up that ear and put it back on the man, had Peter used the faith he used when he pulled out the fish, he would have delighted in Jesus and stood right by Him.

Peter saw the manifestation of this great faith that was delivered to the saints, but he passed it up because he was mad at Jesus. He could have said, I was just trying to help you, Jesus, but if you don’t care, I don’t care either. His disobedience called for another disobedience and then another. That was his spirit at the time. He lived to regret it. Thank God, the blood of Jesus picked him up later. All the way to Calvary Jesus went for you and me to set us free, and He set Peter free. Peter was with Jesus those forty days and nights after the Resurrection. He believed the power of the Resurrection—that is the faith you need, the faith the Lord wants you to contend for.

Paul said, That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection (Philippians 3:10). Let this great anointing come upon you. This power that was delivered to the saints was used by Peter and others recorded in the Acts of the Apostles.

People couldn’t get all the sick to Peter for him to touch, insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one (Acts 5:15,16). It wasn’t the shadow that healed; it was this great faith once delivered to the saints, the great power that comes with it.

When Peter and John went to the temple to pray, they met a beggar over forty years old who had never walked. He was begging for a little money, Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God (Acts 3:6-8). You have to have this faith to be able to serve it. Peter knew he had it. The man walked, leaped and praised God like the little crippled boy who received a miracle in a recent crusade service in Africa.

On the last night of the crusade, it happened. His eyes were on the servant of God while Daddy was holding him. I felt no doubt in him; his faith was high. The faith that God has given to me would bring about the miracle he needed, and then it happened. His daddy didn’t need to hold him up; he had been afraid to let the little boy go, but now the boy scrambled around and got loose. He found out he was free, and he walked. Then he began to jump, and then to run. The faith once delivered to the saints brought it about. Think how the people were blessed that night!

Faith Moves Mountains

This Bible is the Word, the thought of God. You must take it all, doubting none of it. Since you can find this greatness in the Old Testament, it shouldn’t be any trouble to find this faith after Calvary. Jesus came saying, Only believe. Faith will move mountains!

Faith will move mountains of despair, sickness and defeat, mountains that have hedged in people down through the years. Faith can move those mountains out of the way—not dirt and rock mountains, what blessing would that be? Faith will move the kind of mountains the Lord was talking about. Faith is all you need. This kind of faith the Lord is telling us to contend for will bring everything else within reach, and you will have faith that reaches out with full assurance, wisdom, knowledge, and the thoughts of God, the faith that was once delivered to the saints.

When I received the gifts of healing I had just come off a long fast. It hadn’t been many weeks since the Lord had stayed the hand of death and healed me all over. He told me then that later I would go on a long fast and when I came out of that fast I would have His power for the healing of the people. I knew without a doubt when I started the fast that I would have that power. The Lord said it; I knew He couldn’t lie; I knew He had visited with me, made me whole.

When the long fast came to an end, my dear wife, Angel, bent over, asking, “Honey, do you have the power?”

“Yes, Darlin’, I have it.”

I knew I had it; the Lord had said so.

We had many miles to travel to the next crusade that I had scheduled, knowing that when I got to that crusade I would have His power to deliver the people. I felt great as I rode along. When I would see someone afflicted I would want to get to that person, for God had given me this faith to deliver.

Finally it was the first night of the crusade. A woman in attendance, crippled and using two crutches, was made whole. I’ll never forget the sound of the crutches as they hit the hard floor. What a racket they made! She needed them no more. I saw greatness and more greatness.

Now this greatness is going to the people from this Jesus world outreach ministry. People are being healed, delivered. Many put their hands against mine on the television screen and this great power flows into them. I want all of the faith that was delivered, don’t you? Contend for the faith. I am contending night and day for all of it. We must have it all in this final hour; too much is at stake to do otherwise, too much to be lost if we don’t get this kind of faith. It is a must to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. But first, to contend you need to make sure you are really born again. If you’re not sure, pray the sinners’ prayer with me.

Oh, God, I am lost! I’m so sorry that I sinned against you, but I’ve come home. I’m going to serve you, Lord, the rest of my life. I believe that Jesus died for me, and I will live for Him, for I know the blood of Jesus washes away all my sins—all of them! Come into my heart, Jesus! Come on in!

If you meant that prayer, He has come.

You who need healing, get ready for the Lord to move for you now. Lord, I bring the sick and afflicted, the cancer victims, the diabetics, the heart patients, the HIV/AIDS victims, those afflicted with other diseases. In the name of Jesus, heal! Heal! The healing power is flowing, flowing. Get well. Write and tell me what you received from the Lord. May God’s richest blessings be yours.

God Wants to Anoint You with His Greatness

My Spirit prayeth for thee, saith the Lord. I am here to anoint you to receive my greatness. I am here to anoint you with the courage and determination to seek and contend for the faith that my servant has told you about. I moved on him and gave him the message for you, a message of truth for you to contend for the faith that I delivered to the saints so many, many years ago. And now for your final hour, it is a must, saith the Lord.

He is here; know the reality of your Lord. Know the presence of your Lord, know the love and faith of your Lord. Open wide your heart’s door now and the Holy Spirit will flow this mighty anointing into your innermost being for you to do the work that He has ordained you to do. You need this anointing, this great anointing. Receive, only believe and receive.

You must have the reality of Jesus the healer. Use that anointing that the Lord has just given to you and touch yourself, taking any miracle you need. Hold out your hands; let them be anointed to serve. Now praise God for the anointing of miracle power! Wilt thou be made whole? The Lord can make you whole all over just as He made me whole that night. He reminded me later that He healed me of everything. Let Him heal you now. Reach up and accept the healing flow of miracle greatness. Take whatever you need, only believe. This is your hour of visitation, your hour of revelation. How marvelous it is! Take the holy sacredness of this anointing, be mindful of it. Let it keep working to get you completely well. How marvelous are your ways, oh, God; how wonderful you are! Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid in this hour of God’s greatness.

Lord, we love you. We’re so mindful that you need us in this hour. We did not choose you; you chose us. It’s wonderful to be chosen and ordained to carry out your holy will to bring in the harvest of lost humanity. Winning souls means more than anything else in the world.

Lord, we bow low in your presence. We pray for the afflicted. Lord, lay healing hands upon them. Set them free. Fill the people with the Holy Spirit.

I call the Spirit down; I call the Holy Spirit upon you now: Righteous and holy are thy ways, oh Lord, and our souls doth magnify the great God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We are in His very presence. As you bend low in His presence, He will lift you up, the Lord, the God of all flesh. Lord, move for the people now. Draw me, we will run after thee (Song of Solomon 1:4). The Lord Jesus is drawing on us; we must not just walk after Him, we must run in this hour. We have no time to waste. There is much the Lord has for us and much He wants us to do. That’s why God told us to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.