I hope this message will help you think the thoughts of God because His thoughts destroy the thoughts of the enemy. They 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, so what kind of preparations do you need to 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 saints?—because He wanted you to go back into the Word of God and study their lives. How did they use such great faith, and how did they come into it? What did that faith mean to them? How did it work, and what did it accomplish? How powerful and great was it? Studying the characters of the Bible to whom God gave His 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, and it is the result 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 gone on to 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 for great, divine faith. Diligently seek the Lord and serve Him. When you look to the Lord and seek Him with your whole heart, you will find Him. That is what He promised. The saints of God were human men and women just as we are, but they were people who gave their whole selves completely to the Lord and held nothing in reserve.

A Prophet Was on the Scene

There had not been a true prophet of God in the land for years until Elijah appeared on the scene. When Elijah was 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, but it takes great faith to repeat what God tells you and to stake your very life on it; and 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. However, when it didn’t rain and the water became so scarce and precious as everything was drying up, Ahab wanted Elijah back. “Bring him to me, and I will deal with him!”

Fed by Ravens

Elijah wasn’t to be found because 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). Elijah used divine faith and followed God’s instructions. It was the faith God had delivered to His saints in Old Testament days and the faith God is telling us to contend for. Would you have gone to the brook and trusted birds to feed you and bring you meat in the morning and in the evening? The brook had dried up, but Elijah’s faith had not.

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 poor widow’s house, and she 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 would starve. There was no one they could turn to because people were starving all around them.

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 the woman what God had prophesied—that she would have all she needed during the famine and that the meal barrel and the cruse of oil would stay filled. Did she have the kind of faith she needed to believe him? Yes, she did. You don’t have to be a prophet to have that faith.

The Lord is telling the saints of God in the New Testament to come before Him and contend for the faith once given to the saints. To contend means to struggle and fight for it. The devil will come after the saints in a great way when they seek God with their whole heart for that kind of faith. He knows when you receive it 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; and he knows that after Calvary, it will be much worse for him.

When the widow woman baked Elijah a cake, she had to have known it was for the Lord’s work; or she never would have baked it. She had the faith to believe it 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 woman’s meal barrel and cruse of oil could never stay full, but Elijah believed. The widow woman had a lot of faith, and I’m sure she took on more faith through what Elijah told her. The anointing from the man of God flowed more of the greatness of God to her, and she went forth with gladness and with a song in her heart as she scraped the bottom of the barrel to make Elijah a cake first. She passed up her hungry, little boy who was waiting for something to eat, and she gave the cake to Elijah.

It takes a lot of faith to pass by loved ones who don’t understand the kind of faith you have. They don’t know what it means or what it will do. 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 great faith, she rushed back to look at her meal barrel. Her faith told her that it would have meal in it and that the cruse would be full of oil through the miraculous power of God, and that was true. 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).

Nothing can compare to the fire of the Holy Ghost. Elijah needed that fire then, and we need that fire to work for us today. We need to use the great faith of God. Elijah had fire of the Holy Ghost faith.

Elijah told the prophets to prepare their sacrifice, call upon their god and see what would happen. He told the people, “Don’t halt between two opinions. Make up your mind about who you’re going to serve.” You too have to decide how you’re going to walk, talk and live. Decide how you’re going to think and charter your life and what 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 and pleaded, O Baal, hear us (I Kings 18:26). 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 mocked them a little bit, but they deserved it. The prophets of Baal were so desperate to reach their idol god that they cut themselves with knives and lancets until their blood gushed out.

It isn’t necessary to mutilate yourself to reach God. All you have to do is say, “In the name of Jesus, I come.” Then you will be in touch with the Father’s throne. Elijah was in touch because 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 is a great type of Jesus. Elijah was Elisha’s master, and Elisha is a type of the Bride. The Bride is listening for and watching every move that Jesus makes, and Elisha was watching every move that his master, Elijah, made.

Elijah and Elisha both knew that God was going to take Elijah to Heaven. Elijah told Elisha that if he saw him 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). When you abide with, live with and stay with the Lord, you are abiding in His love, in His grace and in His promises. However, you have to truly abide; you can’t be in and out and up and down with God.

Elisha was abiding in all the holy words that his 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).

Holy Ghost Power

Great, divine faith took Elijah and Elisha to Jordan where Elijah struck the waters with his mantle, and the waters separated. Elisha had never seen such a miracle before, and he thought it was most wonderful. After Elijah and Elisha walked across Jordan, the waters closed back in.

When Elijah and Elisha got to the other side of Jordan, that bank was a type and shadow of Rapture ground. They didn’t get to say much to each other before a chariot of fire and horses suddenly appeared. It swept down to Elijah and caught him up to Heaven.

You will need the power of the Holy Ghost dwelling within you for you to be changed in a moment and in the twinkling of an eye and for you to be taken up on Rapture Day. It was Holy Ghost power that changed Elijah and took him to Heaven, and Elisha was a witness of that great event.

Just as Elijah’s mantle of power fell on Elisha, the mantle of the Master, Jesus, fell upon the disciples. They were assembled together with Jesus on the Mount of Olives; and He told them, 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). Then they watched Jesus ascend to Heaven, and He dropped the mantle of the Holy Ghost’s power on them.

Earlier, Jesus had commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me (Acts 1:4). Then they did return to Jerusalem; and they tarried in the Upper Room until the Holy Ghost came, until they knew they had that mantle of power and how to use it.

Elisha Received a Double Portion

The faith of Elijah was delivered to Elisha in the double portion he had asked for. Then Elisha took that power and went back to Jordan where he 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, but you do have to live holy and have Heaven’s confidence and assurance that you can use that power the right way to deliver people and set the captives free. Elisha used that power in a great way.

Many people today mock children of God, but we don’t care. People mock the Rapture too just like people did in Elisha’s day after Elijah was taken to Heaven in the chariot, but it doesn’t matter because judgment will soon fall. Forty-two children mocked Elisha saying, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head (II Kings 2:23). I’m sure they had been told that the rapture of Elijah wasn’t true, and he was simply hidden away somewhere; but God’s judgment fell on those children when two she-bears came out of the forest and tore them up.

At one time in Jericho, the waters were bitter and undrinkable. 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.

Elisha Used Divine 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 received Elijah’s mantle of power, he would be able to use it and raise the dead too...but it worked.

God also used Elisha to perform miracles. At one time, Elisha sent his servant to tell Naaman, a captain of the Syrian army, to dip in Jordan seven times and be healed of his leprosy. Naaman didn’t want to follow those instruction at first; but when he finally did, he was healed. To have the kind of faith where you know the thoughts of God and His directions, you must have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith (Revelation 2:11).

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. Adam and Eve were able to behold the reality of God because everything about Him was reality to them. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit were real. It is necessary to have the faith of the saints without one doubt as we hurry to move on.

The miracles 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 and go after it knowing I will have to fight against the power of the devil as I seek this greatness.

Elisha had so much power and faith that when he died, those things 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 people are spiritually dead in trespasses and sins today, and they need help. They must have a resurrection from that death and from their sin and ungodliness. Jesus came to make it possible because He came using the kind of divine faith that contends. At first, the disciples had a hard time believing all Jesus said. They studied Him; and just about the time they thought they had Him figured out, something new would happen. Then 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 was finally pared down to just 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 know when you need more strength to use more faith, and 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.

According to the instructions of the Lord, he [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 all those men knew how to blow a trumpet. It doesn’t take much training to hold a candle in an earthen vessel, but playing a trumpet takes training. Study the Word with the same faith those three hundred had. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15).

The enemy was all around Gideon and his three hundred. And 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). Numbers of people don’t matter. You must yield to God until your heart beats in rhythm with God’s heart. Then you and God will make a majority, and you will have nothing to fear and nothing to worry about.

Gideon had that kind of heart. He had three hundred obedient people who had yielded to and bowed to everything God had told them through Gideon, so they had no trouble blowing the trumpets when they were told to do so. There was no mix-up; and they had no doubt, fear or misgivings. They took on the faith the Word of God tells about—faith that soars above all weakness, doubt, storms and powers of the devil.

Gideon’s three hundred won just as God had said they would. God had ordained it to be so. You must know in your heart that the kingdom of Satan will come down because God tells us so. You never have to worry about declaring the Word of God with boldness.

The Early Church was being persecuted, so the disciples prayed for holy boldness. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word (Acts 4:29). Those disciples received that boldness because they yielded to God. Many of them also received the kind of faith that was once delivered to the saints in Old Testament days. Although they suffered great persecution, they knew that 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 David had when he went up against the giant, Goliath. David was a mere lad, and his only weapon was a sling and five stones, which represented J-E-S-U-S. Many Goliaths abound today. There are giants of darkness; giants of sicknesses and diseases; and giants of despair, depression and oppression, and people must be delivered from them.

David had faith to go after Goliath in the name of the Lord, knowing the Lord would deliver that giant into his hands; and that is the same faith the Lord is telling you to contend for. All you need is Jesus, and He proves that through the great faith He offers you.

Jesus brought nothing less than great faith when He came. It was a faith born in Bethlehem for you and me, and it’s yours if you want it above everything else; but you must be willing to pay the price in obedience and humility. You must be willing to do God’s whole will and 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 and letting you know you can have that kind of faith? The Bride needs that faith to bring in the lost in her final walk just before Rapture Day. David won and you will win too.

Here I Am; Send Me!

When the Lord called on Isaiah the prophet to go and speak to the Israelites, he didn’t want to go because the people were rebellious. Then Isaiah explained 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).

When the angel placed the fire of the Holy Ghost on Isaiah’s lips, he pleaded with the Lord to let him go. He took on the faith the Lord is telling you about, and he used it. 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 his heart wide; and the great faith he needed entered. He had a yearning to go wherever the Lord would send him and to do what God wanted him to 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 and sinned against God. God had warned them that He would deliver them into the hands of their enemies to become slaves if they continued to spit in His eye, and that is exactly what happened when the Israelites became slaves in Babylon.

Babylon was a wicked, devilish place, but it couldn’t destroy the great faith 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 talked to God three times a day. Today, we can open a window toward the New Jerusalem; and when you are a child of God, you will always have it in sight.

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

When the Lord first started taking me into this miracle power years ago, I would look and see a hole in the sky. The Lord would take me through the hole, and then I would see miracles; but I couldn’t stay in that realm. I would have to come back down, and then came more fasting and 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 it took to get to that place in the Lord. I never ask God what the price tag is on anything He has to offer because I will pay no matter what the price is. When you have a spirit like that, you don’t have to worry because you’ll be all right. You’ll be in the palm of the Lord’s powerful hand, and He will be your mighty shelter in time of storm.

Daniel Slept with the Lions

Going back to Daniel...wicked men plotted to have him thrown into the lions’ den, but he had faith to overcome their scheme; and that is the kind of faith the Lord is offering you today. There are violent, vicious lions of the devil in the streets today, and they’re everywhere. The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets (Proverbs 22:13, 26:13). You must have the kind of overcoming faith that makes those lions too weak to harm or destroy you. Daniel had that great faith; and that night, he slept with the lions. The king was the one who didn’t sleep.

The faith 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, and people must have thought Daniel would be destroyed the minute he hit the bottom of the den. That is why the den was closed off in a hurry after Daniel was thrown in.

As the night passed, the king was tormented; but he knew he had to let Daniel stay in the den until the morning. In the meantime, Daniel rested on his great faith; and what a bed of rest it made! 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.

Early in the morning, Daniel heard the voice of the king calling, 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 him raised up out of that pit. It’s hard to tell how many people have been fed to the lions of sin today just because someone didn’t like them.

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!” Then we will be changed and taken out of this disobedient world of ugliness and despair.

Never Bow to the Devil

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).

That great image stood before the people, and most of them were bowing before it and worshiping it as though it were God; but it was not the God of the three Hebrew boys because they were soldiers of the true and living God. Closely examine the faith those boys used in this situation. They stood tall while others fell on their faces before the idol. The king even offered to play special music for those boys to convince them to bow before the image, but they would not.

The devil will gladly play a special tune for you to get you to bow and worship him. He seeks to deceive people in any way he can, and he even 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).

Satan was saying, “Just fall down and worship me, and all the kingdoms of the Earth will be yours.” Of course, the devil didn’t own one of those kingdoms, so they weren’t even his to give. The devil doesn’t own anything on this Earth that is of any worth. He owns none of the land or anything else that he claims to own.

The Hebrew Boys Did Not Burn

The Hebrew boys would not bow even though they knew the consequence of not bowing was being thrown alive into the blazing furnace. They told the king, 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).

The king was furious, so he called for the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than it had ever been before. How dreadful! Then the three Hebrew boys were bound and thrown into that fiery furnace. The fire was so hot that the men who threw them into the furnace were killed, but not the Hebrew boys. Jesus was already in the furnace when those boys were thrown in; and when you have the same faith that was delivered to those boys, you will be blessed too. Jesus will already be there for you 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. Just remember that the Son of God, the Son of Righteousness, the Only Begotten of the Father, the Fourth Man will be there to rejoice with you. When you use that great faith of the saints, you 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.

Then the king answered, 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 the three Hebrew boys used couldn’t be burned up, destroyed or cast down; and that is the faith the Lord is offering you, Saints of God, in this final hour.

The end-time signs are all around us, and it’s time to realize that we must hurry to get this faith and use it. In World War II, the United States was hurrying to get the weapon ready that would end the war. Because of that, thousands of lives were saved that would have been lost had the war not been shortened.

We too must hurry today so this great power of faith can be used through us to destroy the powers of the devil and set captives free. Jesus came to set captives free, and that’s our mission too. Again, I say that the faith the Lord is telling us to contend for is the faith that was delivered to the saints in Old Testament days.

Samson Lost His Great Faith

Read the eleventh chapter of Hebrews and take time to really study it. Study each life mentioned there. Samson is one of those mentioned there, and you can go back to Judges 14-16 to see how this great faith worked in Samson’s life in unbelievable ways. Then once you have this faith, take heed that you don’t lose it.

Samson had the faith once delivered to the saints, and he did great things for God; but he lost that faith through disobedience, and he was captured by the enemy. They poked his eyes out, chained him and made him grind day after day in the mill as a slave. The Bible doesn’t tell us how long it took, but Samson finally humbled himself and asked God to give him that faith and that power one more time.

Samson’s captors had become rather careless with him because they didn’t know God, and many people today don’t know God either. They don’t understand the language of this message, so they may mock it; but we don’t pay them any mind. We’re listening only to the voice of Heaven, and we have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying.

One day, Samson’s captors brought him out of the prison house so people could make fun of him; but when people make fun of God’s power, they are on the wide, wide road of total destruction. You should have pity on them. The power that Samson lost when he allowed himself to fall into the hands of the devil was the power that once had taken the jawbone of an animal and used it to kill a thousand of his enemies. Because of that, Samson’s enemies feared him and the power he had; and they sought to find the secret of his power. The secret was this faith that God is telling us to contend for.

On the day Samson was finally brought out of the prison, he had God’s heart of power and faith; and he had the fruit of righteousness. He was ready to go forth against his enemies one more time, and he was ready to lose his life for it. 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 lost his life, but he won his final battle; and it was the greatest victory of his life. He was willing to give his life to have that kind of faith and power working through him one more time, and anything you’re willing to give your life for should be very valuable. Most people will do anything to spare their lives, so that shows how much value Samson put on God’s faith and power. Samson had his best spiritual sight when he was physically blind and humbled by grinding at the mill. Then suddenly, he had that power working in him again, and he knew he had it; and he gave his life for it.

We too must be willing to give our lives for God, not necessarily in death but in yielding all to the Lord. We are all needed in this final hour. We are so special to God that we can wear the shoes of Jesus; and there is a pair to fit everyone who is dedicated and consecrated to the Lord, living free from all sin and walking in the righteousness and holiness of God. You must wear His shoes in the fellowship of His grace.

Peter’s Faith Wavered

The disciples came into this greatness, and Peter was one who used the great faith that had been delivered to the saints. He was the one who went down to the water, as Jesus had told him to, and pulled out the fish of supply that had money in its mouth that he was to use to pay the taxes for Jesus and the disciples. Peter had to have the faith that once was delivered to the saints to be able to believe for such a fish of supply.

Peter received the call of God. And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him (Matthew 4:18-20). Peter dropped his nets of the world and all that went with them to follow Jesus. He continued to follow Him for many days and nights, and then he failed completely.

Peter thought he needed to defend Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane the night the soldiers came to arrest Him, and he cut off the ear of one of those soldiers. Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear (John 18:10). Then Peter watched Jesus reach down, pick up that ear and put it back on the man; and Peter was angry.

If Peter had used the same faith he had used when he pulled out the fish with money in its mouth, he would have delighted in what Jesus had done and stood right by Him; but he didn’t. Instead, he ran away and denied Jesus later that night. When someone asked Peter, Art not thou also one of his [Jesus’] disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not (John 18:25).

Peter saw the manifestation of the great faith that was delivered to the saints, but he passed it up that night because he was mad at Jesus. He was probably thinking, “I was just trying to help you, Jesus; but if you don’t care, I don’t care either.” Peter’s disobedience then called for another disobedience and another. That was the spirit he had at that time, and he lived to regret it.

Thank God, Peter later repented; and the blood of Jesus picked him up. Jesus went all the way to Calvary for you and me to set us free, and He set Peter free. Later, Peter was with Jesus when He was on Earth for forty days and nights after His resurrection. Peter believed the power of Christ’s Resurrection, and that is the faith you need and the faith the Lord wants you to contend for.

Faith That Heals

Paul knew all about Christ’s resurrection; and he said, That I may know him [Jesus], and the power of his resurrection (Philippians 3:10). Paul, Peter and others used the power that was delivered to the saints; and you must let that same great anointing come upon you.

It was impossible to get all the sick people to Peter so he could touch them. That is why 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 Peter’s shadow that healed; it was the great faith once delivered to the saints and the great power that goes with it.

When Peter and John went to the temple to pray, they met a beggar who was asking for a little money. He was over forty years old and had never walked. 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 must have this faith to be able to serve it, and Peter knew he had it. Through that great faith, the lame man walked, leaped and praised God.

We saw a miracle like that for a little, crippled boy in one of our African crusades. It was the last night of the crusade, and the little boy’s eyes were on this servant of God during the service while his daddy held him. When I prayed for that boy, I felt no doubt in him; and I realized he had great faith. That faith and the faith God has given to me would bring about the miracle he needed, and it happened. His daddy was afraid to let the boy go, but he didn’t need to hold him any longer. The boy wiggled loose; and when he was free, he started to walk. Then he began to jump and run. The faith once delivered to the saints brought it about. Think about how much the people who were watching must have been blessed that night.

Divine Faith Moves Mountains

The Bible is the Word; it is the thought of God. You must accept it all and doubt none of it. You can find so much greatness in the Old Testament before Jesus came, so 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; and mountains that have surrounded and imprisoned people down through the years will be moved out of the way. I am not talking about mountains of dirt and rock. What kind of a blessing would it be to move those? 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 you to contend for will bring everything you need within reach. It will reach out to the Lord with full assurance, wisdom, knowledge and the thoughts of God. It is the faith that was once delivered to the saints.

When I first 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 from a horrible affliction that was taking my life. One night, the Lord Himself came and made me whole. Then He told me 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 believed the Lord, and I knew without a doubt when I started the fast that I would have His power when the fast was over. The Lord had said it, and I knew He couldn’t lie. I knew He had visited with me and made me whole.

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

I answered, “Yes, Darlin’, I have it.”

I knew I had it because the Lord had said I would. We had to travel many miles to the next crusade I had scheduled; but I knew that when I got there, I would have God’s power to deliver the people. I felt great as I rode along; and every time I saw someone who was afflicted, I wanted to stop and get to that person because God had given me the faith to deliver them.

On the first night of that crusade, a crippled woman on two crutches was made whole. I’ll never forget the sound of the crutches as they hit the hard floor. They made quite a racket, but she didn’t need them anymore. I saw God’s greatness move for her, and I saw even more of His greatness throughout that crusade.

You Need God’s Faith

Today, the greatness of the faith of the saints is flowing out to people all over the Earth from this Jesus world outreach ministry. People are being healed and delivered. Many put their hands against mine or the hand of one of our other pastors on the television screen, and God’s great power flows into them.

I want all of the faith that was delivered to the saints; don’t you? If so, you must contend for that faith. I am contending night and day to receive all of it, and you too must have it all in this final hour. There is too much at stake to do otherwise and too much to be lost if all of us don’t go after that great, divine faith.

By contending for this faith, you’ll be able to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (I Peter 1:8). To people who are not spiritually minded, miracles are insane, unbelievable nonsense; but to you who believe, miracles are the greatness of God’s salvation; the might of His power; and the depth, height and width of His love. The greatness of this faith is everything good, wonderful and glorious and nothing bad. It is the faith once given to the saints, and it can be yours. Contending for this faith should become a top priority to each sincere child of God who wants to win the lost at any cost.

Salvation Must Come First

It is a must for you to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints; but to be able to do that, you first have to make sure you are really born again. If you’re not sure, pray the sinner’s prayer with me right now.

Oh, God, I am lost! I’m so sorry that I sinned against you, but I’ve come home; and 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; and 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, Jesus has come; and He is yours.

Receive a Miracle

If you need healing, get ready for the Lord to move for you now. Lord, I bring the sick and afflicted to you. I bring those with cancer, diabetes, heart disease, AIDS or any other disease or affliction. In the name of Jesus, heal! Heal! The healing power is flowing to you now. Get well. Then write, email or leave a message on social media telling us what you received from the Lord. May God’s richest blessings be yours.

God Wants to Anoint You with His Greatness

Thus saith the Lord, my Spirit prayeth for thee. 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 this 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.

The Lord 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 great anointing. Only believe and receive.

You must have the reality of Jesus, the Healer. Use that anointing the Lord has just given to you and touch yourself and take any miracle you need. Hold out your hands, and let God anoint them to serve. Now, praise God for His anointing of miracle power!

Wilt thou be made whole? The Lord can make you whole all over just as He made me whole one night long ago. 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 and only believe. This is your hour of visitation and revelation, and how marvelous it is! Take the holy sacredness of this anointing and always be mindful of it. Let it keep working to get you completely well. How marvelous are your ways, oh, God; and how wonderful you are! Let not your heart be troubled or afraid in this hour of God’s greatness.

Lord, We Pray

Lord, we love you, and 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 of bringing 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 and fill them with the Holy Spirit.

I call down the Holy Spirit upon you now. Righteous and holy are the ways of the Lord; and our souls magnify the great God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We are in His very presence; and as you bend low in His presence, He will lift you up. He is the Almighty 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 is drawing on us now, and we must not just walk after Him; we must run after Him in this hour. We have no time to waste. There is so much the Lord has for us and so much He wants us to do. That’s why God told us to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.