Anthony Wade Ministries

Now that I have your attention, let me explain why I make the salutation to keep looking down. The greeting is based on our position “In Christ.” It is a salute to you as someone who is Blood washed, and bought by our “Lord and Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ.”

The salutation is an encouragement for you to maintain your position “In Christ.” When we were “Born Again,” there were benefts that we inherited by virtue of receiving “The Lord Jesus Christ”(Psalm 103). One of the things we inherited is a position far above the beggarly elements of this world. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand safe against all strategies and tricks of satan. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies-the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world. So use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will still be standing up. (Ephesians 6:11-13 The Living Bible).

Our position “In Christ,” gives us the ability to maintain standing up. Even so, before we can stand, we must learn to sit. What could I possibly be talking about? The Bible tells us we are seated with Him.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His Great Love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and SEATED us with Him in the Heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4-10 – NASB) See also Ephesians 1:3-4, 17-23

EAGLE CHRISTIANS
Have you ever noticed the mannerisms of an eagle? An eagle doesn't flap up. The eagle mounts up! Which is indicative of it's strength. The eagle soars above the turbulence that comes it's way. Each time it is challenged with negative circumstances that gives it the opportunity to move up higher. The eagle looks down on it's problems (Isaiah 40:31).

KEEP LOOKING DOWN
I want to encourage you to keep looking down. Why? Because you are seated in Heavenly places. Which means you are already above any and every circumstance that you would ever encounter — you win.

Years ago one writer coined the phrase sit, walk, stand. We must learn to sit, so we can walk, and then stand “In Christ.” In essence we must learn to take our positions. “Keep Looking Down.” AWM

“He Raised Us Up With HIM, And SEATED Us With HIM In The Heavenly Places, In Christ Jesus.” — Ephesians 2:6 (NASB)

Copyright © 2010 Anthony N. Wade Ministries — All right reserved.
No portion of this teaching may be rewritten, or reproduced without the written approval of the author

STRESS: THE ABSENCE of PEACE… Isaiah 26:3 (21st Century King James Version) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.

In 1 Samuel Chapter 30 we have the story of David and his army at Ziglag. The Amalekites had invaded it and set it on fire. They had taken the women, wives, sons and daughters captive. That was such an emotional disturbance that David and his men wept. They wept so much that it drained them of their strength– their weeping wore them out.

David was in a serious predicament, because the men that were with him got so indignant, that they spoke of stoning him. One writer says that they were in an ugly mood. It has been said that everything rises and falls on leadership. Certainly David had no control over the Amalekites but the overall outcome was in his control; under his watch. When the going got tough, David got rough. What did he do? The King James Bible says that he encouraged himself in the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:6).

Other translations put it this way:

David emboldened himself …– Rotherham
…doth strengthen himself … –Young’s Literal Translation
David relied on the Eternal his God and took courage … — Moffat

If David encouraged, emboldened, strengthened himself — and took courage, how did he do that? Where did he get his ability?

He talked to himself
He sang to God, and himself
He played on his harp until his troubles went away

There are a number of Psalms that confirm that this was exactly what he did.

Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by your strength. Hear my prayer O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen up against me, And oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Behold God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life. He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in your truth. I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O Lord for it is good. For he has delivered me out of all trouble; and my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies (Psalm 54:1-7 NKJ).

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trust in You; and in the shadow of Your wings will I make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. I will cry out to God Most high, To God who performs all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah

God shall send forth His mercy and His truth. My soul is among lions;
I lie among the sons of men who are set on fire, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above the earth. They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; they have dug a pit before me; into the midst of it they themselves have fallen.My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise, Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. For your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the Heavens; let your glory be above all the earth (Psalm 57:1-11)

The results of David encouraging himself can also be found later in 1 Samuel 30.

And David inquired of the Lord, saying, shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives. And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small or great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor anything that they had taken to them: David recovered all (1 Samuel 30:8, 18-19 KJV).

Everything that David did was under the “Old Covenant.” However, Hebrews 8:6 says that you and I have a “Better Covenant,” established upon better promises. If God came through for David, He certainly will come through for you and me.

In John 14:18, Jesus said that He would not leave you comfortless (KJV).

Other translations put it this way:

“I will never forsake you or leave you helpless. I will come back to you. — Johnson
“I will not leave you desolate.” — The American Standard Version
“I will not leave you orphans.” — New King James

In the Acts of the Holy Ghost, Chapter 16, we find the story of Paul and Silas who were thrown into prison because the Apostle Paul cast the spirit of divination out of a slave girl that was possessed. As the story goes, at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God; better yet they were encouraging themselves, and everyone was listening. Suddenly, there was an earthquake; the place quaked so much that the foundation of the prison was shaken. Immediately the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were loosed.

When the keeper of the jail was awakened he saw that the doors were opened and knew for certain that everyone had fled. He drew his sword and was about to kill himself when Paul the Apostle yelled, “DON’T DO IT…WE ARE ALL HERE.”

That was such a testimony to the Philippian jailer that he wanted to know what he must do to be saved? They said “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you and your household will be saved.” The word was preached to his whole family and they got saved and baptized immediately. What a turn of events. The man who was in charge of their incarceration was now washing their stripes, feeding them his food, and received the Lord Jesus Christ into his life.

When you are bold enough to encourage yourself, many times their will be others that are set free as well as you. Time and again our deliverance is only a small part of why we should encourage ourselves. We never know who is watching, or who is listening to us as we deal with the things that we are sometimes faced with. A part of me would like to think that the Philippian Jailer became the Pastor of the church at Philippi. It is recorded that Paul had an on going relationship with them. They supported his missionary work, and were commended for their generosity. – AWM

Copyright (c) Anthony N. Wade Ministries 2010 ~ All Rights Reserved. This publication may not be rewritten or reproduced without the written approval of the author.

EMAIL: hgflow@gmail.com

Our first Pastor used to say on numerous occasions the title of this article — “The Devil Can't Eat a Praying Man.” Over thirty years have passed, yet I can still hear this man saying this. Why? Because it made an indelible mark upon my spirit — a mark that will never be erased.

What is the origin of a statement of this magnitude? It's birthplace is found in the story of Daniel in the Lion's den. Most of you know that Daniel was thrown into a den of lion's to be devoured by them because he would not bow to King Darius. So King Darius signed a decree that anyone praying to any other god would be thrown into a lion's den. Well, Daniel was thrown in, but the lions didn't have supper the day Daniel was thrown in.. God locked the lion's jaws (Daniel 6). The Bible makes reference to the fact that Daniel was a praying man. The lion's represent the devil and his crowd. The devil can't devour us if we will commit to a life of prayer.

Most of you know that there is a conflict between the enemy of our soul — the devil, and our Lord and Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ. Because we have a relationship with Him, the devil wants to render us powerless. But not so says 'Holy Ghost.' We are more than conquerors (Romans 8:35-39). AWM

Copyright (c) 2010 Anthony N. Wade — All Rights Reserved. No portion of this teaching may be rewritten or reproduced without written approval from the author.
Email: pneumaman@hotmail.com

God’s desire for our benefit is best stated by the psalmist when he wrote of the Lord: “…no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.” – Psalm 84:11