Look at the verse bellow and tell me what you think. God has given us victory through Jesus and yet many of us who claim Jesus continue to live defeated while those who deny Him seem to live victoriously. What are we gauging the appearance of victory by? Whose standard are we using? And as we used to sing, whose report will we believe? I preached at a church in New Orleans for Thanksgiving and testified of how God had delivered me from insulin dependency and was healing me of diabetes, why then 3 weeks later is my body displaying signs that my blood sugar is higher than it has ever been? Am I defeated? Did I lie on God? The answer is NO, I am healed and God is responsible for the healing, the victory comes as I continue to keep my faith in him no matter how or when the enemy comes to try my testimony. I choose to walk in victory, but I can not provide the victory, Christ can. I guess what I am driving at here is many of us continue to walk in a misunderstanding of scripture. We continue to tout the old adage, "God helps those who help themselves", but if you think about it, the greatest thing we could do to help ourselves is accept Him. Acts 1:8 says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." ISV.

 If this is the case, than why be defeated. Understand church, there is no accepting the Holy Spirit without first accepting Christ. As we go into this New Year and preachers begin to promote their latest themes and quotes, "Its all mine in 2009", "You need to stop lying in 2009", you know how we do. Anyway, as we prepare for our watch-night services, First service of the Year, convocations or just our general worship experiences, lets make it a point to get our people back to the basics of faith. We have gone off on tangents and preached some great series, but the bible reminds us: "

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." -1Corinthians 1:21

 Bring them back home. Teach Christ and Him Crucified, remind them of salvation, get back to basics. We keep trying to go to the next level and haven't graduated grade one. We keep trying to go after grown demons but haven't defeated the adolescent ones. Lets go back to teaching the word and teach it. Revelation is good, the prophetic is wonderful, but if they have no foundation, you are giving the food that they will be responsible for without the tools of how to use, apply and or regurgitate it.  I pray that this helps someone, if not, well it helped me.

We the pastor, officers and members of Abundant Faith Fellowship pray for a prosperous, joyous and favor filled New Year for all of you and yours, in Jesus' name.

Amen!!!