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IN THE MIDST OF BUSTED-UP PEOPLE
Prophet Andre Randall

1 Samuel 22:2 - All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around David, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

Ever wonder how you ended up where you are? In the beginning it looked like everything was coming up roses, and then the table turned and you found yourself hanging out with outlaws, rejected people and folk who seem to have more problems than they could count.  Some of these persons have become lazy because their hope had been deferred longer than their faith was deep. They complained a lot about all their stresses, they needed to borrow again and they can’t seem to express gratefulness or joy.  Well don’t get down in the dumps with them in spirit, but rejoice for your opportunity to be a leader. You can give what you have learned while life looked rosy to someone else. Teach someone something useful that will change their financial situation.  Walk them through the financial strategy that causes you to prosper. Teach them a life skill that will change their reality forever. 

Jesus came to preach to the poor…let the poor say I am rich, let the weak say I am strong because what Jesus has done. He taught the secrets of life to those that did not posses them. He walked with them till they were able to reproduce what they saw him do. He created after His own kind. Jesus and David had this in common--they were discipler; they did not mind spending time with others to train them to become like them. They were not satisfied until they had made leaders that could lead. David made an army of great warriors out of what he found in his less than prosperous moment in life. Jesus was such a great leader that in three years he turned twelve faithless men of various backgrounds into Apostles. What will you produce in the next three years of your life?  Remember, people matter to God.

2 Samuel 23:8 - These are the names of David's mighty men: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite. He killed eight hundred men in one encounter.

(Also read 2 Samuel 23:8-39.)

Jesus, help me be discontented about the state of the people around me to the point that I am willing to do something about it.  It is my desire to preach by example the truths of your word to those that have not known you. Help me to walk in truth that my witness may be true and that many will come to know you. I denounce and reject all idleness and laziness. I put off a callous, slothful spirit and put on the spirit of a diligent discipler. Amen.

IT IS TIME TO CAST THAT DEMON OUT!
Prophet Andre Randall

Luke 11:20, "But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Step one in casting out demons is to first repent, per Matthew 3:2: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Once you denounce the authority of the spirit of wickedness that is in operation, you are no longer subject to that spirit. When you confess Jesus Christ as Lord over that area of your life you are empowered or anointed with the authority to command it to leave. It is time to cast that thorn in the flesh out. It is time to rid yourself of the demonic influence in your life that has you continually bound to a cycle of defeat.

Matthew 8:16: "When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick;…" earlier in chapter seven of Matthew we see what one word can do, the word being the Name of Jesus.

Matthew 7:22: "Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?" These did not know him, but by the power of His name alone were able to accomplish spiritual feats. What more can we do who know Him personally?

Revelation 16:14: "for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go forth to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God, the Almighty."  Know that these are the times we live in where principalities are giving counsel to leaders that stir them away from the principles of the Scriptures, but manifest power by mystical works. These works are to imitate God--but are not of God.

Revelation 18:2: “He cried with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird!”  We must pray and work that our sphere of influence does not become a habitation of demons or a camp for unclean spirits that bread the spirit of hatred rather than the virtue of Agape.

At the beginning of each season, Mom would do a thorough house cleaning..spring cleaning, fall cleaning and a cleaning just before the holiday season. It is time to clean house and cast that demon out!

Lord Jesus the Christ, I confess my sins…I lay open the iniquity of my heart that in your name I may be healed and freed from every evil work.  Come Holy Spirit and clean my heart and house that I may be clean in deed.  Wash me thoroughly and make me whiter than snow.  I command every wicked and unclean spirit to leave me and my house, now.  Help me Lord to behold all things as new and not to return to former habits and strongholds.  Amen.

PREDESTINED TO OVERCOME

Ephesians 6:10-11 - Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

Often in the midst of a fiery trial, we find ourselves getting weary and wanting to give up. Hold on! For it’s at the point of our victorious breakthrough that the enemy’s schemes seem to be overtaking us, and we feel that we are unable to overcome. Remember this: “we are more than conquerors through him that loved us (Romans 8:37); and, in our weakness, God’s strength in us is made perfect (II Cor. 12:9).

It is only by the strength of Christ who lives in us that we can overcome all the forces of evil that try to defeat us everyday. When you put on the whole armor of God, there is no stronghold in your life that can destroy you. Do you believe what God’s Word says? Then stand! Regardless of!  In spite of!

You might think, “Well, that’s easier said than done.” But, the choice to stand is yours. God has equipped you to win. The enemy wants you to become weary and believe that you cannot overcome. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:57).

Gird up your loins my sister, my brother. It’s time to stand and be effective in the Body of Christ for the Kingdom’s sake. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand; stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:13-15).

Father, I am thankful that because you overcame the world, I also am able to overcome. I declare through your word that I am not weak, but I am strong in you; I am not defeated, but I am more than a conqueror through Christ. I pray that as I face whatever this day brings, I will always remember that you will never leave me, nor forsake me, and by your strength, I SHALL overcome, in Jesus’ name, Amen. 

INCREASE YOUR MEASURE

Romans 12:1-3 KJV “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that Ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

Paul teaches in Romans 12:3 that God has given to every man "the measure" of faith. Because the Bible declares in Hebrews 11:6 that, "…without faith, it is impossible to please him;…" we can conclude that faith is essential to our Christian walk.  Let's look at faith as a vehicle. Most of us have driven, or, have at least ridden in a vehicle and are aware that certain measures have to be taken to maintain the vehicle.

A vehicle is useful in assisting a person in getting from his/her point of origin to his/her destination. As car owners, there are times that we depend on our vehicle more greatly than other times. In this instance, we must be sure that we have done what is necessary to keep our vehicle in a suitable condition to meet our needs. Neglecting oil and fluid changes, new tires and a battery will guarantee that at some point you will be halted or become stranded as your pursue your destination.

Just as the wise vehicle owner takes vested interest in caring for a vehicle, we must take vested interested in treasuring our measure of faith. Faith must be exercised to become strengthened. We strengthen our measure by adding more faith. "So then, faith cometh by hearing"…. (Romans 10:17). Faith is not a product of human reasoning, but it is a natural response of our spirit when the Word of God is heard. Faith cannot be reasoned out or understood without our spiritual senses. If we rely on our five senses to make sense of faith, we will be misled because our natural senses cannot perceive spiritual works. We must now accept that without faith, not only can we not please God, but we cannot even believe Him or his Word. So God graciously gave us enough faith to have a "running start" in order that we might believe his Word so that we could receive salvation.

If we do not treasure our measure of faith, or if we neglect to build-up our faith by hearing God's word, praying God's word, believing God's word and speaking God's word, we are merely setting ourselves up to be stranded during our transition from point A to point B or "season" A and "season" B. We will be forced to wait for someone to come along and give us a boost, a jump start or a tow, or to wait alone until the enemy comes and strips us down. He's a thief and a robber!

Can we survive just on the measure that God has gave us? Sure, but just remember that if the you leave your treasure laying around, it's available for the enemy to steal or destroy. So treasure your measure, and in so doing, your measure will grow into a faith that will not only work for you, but will also work on behalf of others. Treasure your measure. Through the grace of God this "measure" is given to every person who believes in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8). What we do with the "measure" is up to us.

Father, I am thankful that you have given to me the measure of faith. I believe your word when it says that faith comes by hearing your word. I pray for a greater desire and more sincere hunger to hear, study and know your Word so that my faith will be strengthened and increased. By faith, I confess that I am a doer of your Word and not a hearer only, because your word tells me that faith without works is dead. Father, help me to treasure the measure of faith that I have, so that I may continue to walk with you completely trusting and believing you every step of the way, In Jesus' name, Amen.

GPS Principles 101

Deuteronomy 31:8 - The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Have you ever been lost in unfamiliar territory? For many drivers, being lost is a frightening experience. Often the only thought permeating their mind is, “Help, I don’t know where I am.” Would you agree that a GPS device comes in handy when lost? GPS (Global Positioning System) is the revolutionary tracking system that uses satellites to find you wherever you are. The system provides the assurance that you need to go into unfamiliar territory. It lessens the fear and frustration of getting lost. In His loving effort to help us grow, God often moves us into unfamiliar territory—in our spiritual, personal or physical lives. Upon recognizing that we are in a different place, fear often grips our minds and immobilizes us physically. We ponder over the assignment, look for familiar landmarks, and may even seek out others who have been down this road before. We may feel lost and think, “God, what are you doing with me? I’ve never been in this place before.” When God moves you into unfamiliar territory, do not fear, but count it all joy! He knows that you are up to the challenge. Successful chartering of unfamiliar territory can be accomplished by applying basic GPS principles: Be God-centered, Purpose-driven and Self-disciplined. In other words, keep your eyes on God, your mind on His word, and your ear tuned to His voice, through prayer. Remember, FEAR is merely False Evidence Appearing Real. God knows the plans he has for you. He knows that your outcome is victorious. All that you have to do is agree with God.

Father, I thank you that you have not given me the spirit of fear, but of love, and of power and of a sound mind. Today, I commit to trusting you whole-heartedly and allowing you to orchestrate every area of my life. I commit to practicing being God-centered, Purpose-driven and Self-disciplined, so that when I find myself in unfamiliar territory, I will remember that you've already seen my end, and I am victorious. But in the hour that false evidence appearing real comes, help me to draw on your Holy Spirit within me that I will not be moved. In Jesus Name-Amen.

TRUE STEWARDSHIP

Luke 16:9-10 - He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon (riches or material wealth), who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Does the grass really seem to be greener on the other side? Or, is it that regardless of what we have, we often find ourselves looking for what we believe is better, or more. Some people find themselves moving frequently from job to job or house to house or even church to church because at first glance, it seems to be better than what they have.  God wants us to prosper, but God’s blessing of prosperity is our reward for good stewardship over what he has already provided.

So how can we be sure that we good stewards? To begin with, we must remember that God has entrusted us with things down here on earth, and it is our responsibility to do something good with them - whether is our time, our finances, our children, our gifts and talents our jobs, and even our health.

One way to do a self-check on your stewardship is to ask yourself, “do I find myself doing the same things I do when I know people are watching that I do when I think no one is watching?  We must always be good stewards. God is always watching. He’s omnipresent. And it is He who rewards us for good stewardship. If you have received Christ, you become a steward--whether you realize it or not. You have been bought with a price, and you should glorify God with all of your resources (1 Cor. 6:19b-20). If you have never done so before now, you should personally agree with God about this and present yourself to Him as His steward.

As I good steward, I learn contentment, generosity, discipline, and seek Godly counsel when uncertain.

Set your heart on becoming a good steward of everything God has given. Not only will you find His favor on earth, but you’ll also hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

Father, I realize that you have called me to be a good steward over everything that you have given me. I ask for Godly wisdom to guide me in all of my decision-making. I know that if I put you first in my life, you will be faithful to meet all of my need. I commit to being faithful. I will not become weary in well doing, for I believe that in my due season, I shall reap if I faint not. Thank you for the strength to endure, in Jesus’ name – Amen.

HOPE IN THE LORD

Psalm 43:5 - Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Have you ever sat in a room full of people and observed different facial expressions? Many times, expressions give away what a person is thinking. As hard as we may try to conceal it, our expression, rather subtly or obviously, reveals our initial reaction to something we hear or see. Our countenance can often say what we may choose never to say out of our mouth.

Just as fear, hurt, anger, and other emotions show on our faces, our confidence in God will also show. On three occasions (Psalms 42:5, 42:11, 43:5), we find the psalmist asking the same question concerning the state of his inner-self, and then encouraging himself to hope in God.

Putting our hope in God is a little different than putting our faith in him. Our hope expresses our optimism, anticipation and excitement in God while in faith we hold to our confidence, conviction, and trust in God.

Regardless of what you’re going through, even as you read this devotional, don’t feel cast down. Hope thou in God! Praise him in faith! Your countenance will reflect what’s happening on the inside of you. Remember, we are persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed…(II Cor. 4:9)

Keep your countenance (facial expressions) hope-filled, for all the promises of God in him are yes, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.  (2 Cor. 1:20)

Father, I thank you that you have given me hope; a And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost which you given unto me. Whatever I go through, help me to always put my hope with my faith and wait on you, serving with joy and gladness in anticipation of what you’ve promised me. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

It’s Just A Matter of Trust

Jeremiah 17:7 - Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

How easy is it for you to trust others? Depending on our life experiences, trusting others may be difficult or it may come easy. As a result, we are often struggle to trust wholeheartedly. I’m reminded of a story about a disciple who was on a boat with a group of friends. Suddenly, he and his friends were startled by what appeared to be a ghost walking on the water. I can imagine their relief when they discovered that the ghost was actually their good friend. Now, walking on water very likely was not the water sport of that day, so the intrigued disciple asked his friend to “bid” him to come out and join him on the water. The friend obliged. The disciple trusted his friend, and walked toward him, and miraculously and supernaturally, he walked on the water too! But something happened! The wind blew, the disciple became afraid, his trust diminished and only then did he begin to sink! But the friend extended his hand steadied the disciple.

We are no different than that disciple. Today, Jesus, is still bidding us to step out of our boat—or comfort zone—and meet him at a level of walking in him that we perceive requires the miraculous and supernatural power of God to acquire. When we step out, however, then the enemy turns on his giant fan, and things around us begin to blow, shake, rattle and may even roll. Stay focused!

 God has empowered you to accomplish all that he assigned to your hands. The thought of your stepping out and trusting God to accomplish what’s been assigned to you threatens and angers the enemy. He’s already defeated, but he never stops trying to keep us from trusting God “with our whole heart!” When we come to the resolution that no matter what, we’re going to trust God totally with our natural lives, our spiritual lives and even with the ministries we serve—we’re resisting the devil—and he’ll flee! Will he try again? Sure! But when he does, let him return to find your trust in God even more rooted and grounded than before.

 God’s record has been tested and proved through many generations. He’s bidding you today to step out of your boat and trust Him, totally, completely, unequivocally! Are you pursuing the blessings of God upon all that you do? It’s just a matter of trust!


In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defense to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me, in Jesus' name (Psalm 31:1-3).

Work Your Faith

Mark 4:30-32

Faith is the essential makeup of the things that we hope for and gives clear proof of showing what is true or false about the things we do not see with the human eye. When Jesus said for us to have faith the size of a mustard seed, He was not merely talking about its size, but rather its essence. Faith starts out as a seed; needing to be planted, watered, and given sunlight. If you carry the seed around with you wherever you go, you can truly say that you have a seed. But that ‘faith’ that you have will never grow, instead it will stay as a seed. The outer shell will never be broken for the life that is on the inside to manifest on the outside. Likewise if you keep your faith as simply having or possessing faith, but you never work your faith, it will stay as a mustard seed. This is why James 2:17 says "faith without works is dead."

Think about it; when you walk into your house, you comfortably plop down into a couch or a chair without a second thought of whether it can hold and support your weight. That is putting your faith into action. Should we place more confidence in a chair than in our Almighty Creator? If you truly have faith, it will cause you act as though you already have the proof of what you do not yet see.

Father, help me to understand that you truly cannot lie. I want to believe with my whole heart that if your Word makes a promise, it will happen. Strengthen me so I will not waver in the wind, but rest with all joy and peace in your arms. I cast my cares on you in Jesus’ name, Amen.