DECLARATION OF DEPENDENCE

Today July 4, 2012 the United States of America celebrates the birth of this great nation. On this day in 1776, 236 years ago the Continental Congress released a statement that declared the thirteen American colonies independent from the British Empire. This statement has been known ever since that day as the Declaration of Independence. The men who gathered in Philadelphia, as representatives of the American, declared the American people free.

As I was leading the congregation of the New Mine Creek Church on this past Sunday I was led by Holy Spirit to declare over God's people that we are free. Free from sin and free from eternal death through the declaration of Jesus Christ. On the cross Jesus declared, "It is finish." When that declaration was released in both the earth and the heavens it set every person, who would believe on Jesus Christ as the Savior and Lord, free.

And as I was praying on July 1 I released a declaration, not of independence, but of dependence. I started declaring our dependence on the kingdom of God. Today as the citizens of the United States of America celebrate independence and the forming of this nation I invite you to stand in agreement with me and make your declaration of dependence.

America declare its independence because it no longer wanted to be under the sovereignty of the British Crown. But for we who are free in Jesus Christ we need to be dependent on God our King. We need Him to help us be who we are called to be. We need Him to lead us where we are going. We need him to heal our hearts. The body of Christ cannot afford to be independent form the Lord. He is our vine and we our His branches. Our very life flows from Him.

Today I make a declaration of dependence:
1. I declare that I am chosen in Him to be holy and blameless before Him in love.
2. I declare that I am predestined to be a son of God.
3. I declare that I am accepted in the beloved.
4. I declare that I am redeemed by the blood.
5. I declare that my sins are forgiven.
6. I declare that I know God's will for my life.
7. I declare that I am an heir and joint heir with Christ.
8. I declare that I am sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

I declare, with heaven and earth as my witness that I need You Father. I need You. I come to Your throne of grace for help in my time of need. Abba Father I need You to order my steps. I need You Holy Spirit to lead me in all truth. I declare in the earth that I am dependent on Your grace Lord Jesus and Your resurrection power. I need You Father. I need You every hour.

Abba I stand in the gap for the United States. I declare that this nation needs You. Abba we need a restoration of values that reflects Your love and truth. Abba I declare unity and cooperation in our government. Abba I declare national deliverance from the strongholds of opposition and I declare that You are building a stronghold of cooperation. Abba I declare that Your righteousness is flowing in America. Abba I stand before You as an intercessor for this country that I love and I humble myself under Your mighty hand for this nation and I declare Abba that You are exalting this nation when You see humility in this nation. Abba I declare that where curses have been released in this nation because of its disobedience Your blessings are overtaking America.

FINANCE FRIDAY

FINANCIAL FREEDOM

This Monday we will celebrate the independence of the United States and the forming of this great nation. In America we value the ideas of liberty and freedom. We are proud of being citizens of the greatest country in the world. But in this midst of all of this freedom many citizens are slaves. We are held captive by poor financial management. We are chained to poverty and we are the victims of consequences that were brought on by a lack of knowledge and discipline in the area of finances.

I hope that I don't sound as if I am judging because I can't. I too am bound by certain practices and decisions that I have accepted as normal. But this year I am declaring my freedom and I'm coming out of financial slavery. My exodus started in February of this year. I was writing a sermon to deliver at the church on the last Sunday of the month . The text of my sermon was Saint Luke chapter 19: 11-27. As I was writing the sermon God spoke to me from this passage about making an investment and calling the church to do the same. 

The next step to my freedom came when I started watching a a pastor on television named Gary Keesee (http://faithlifenow.com ) Pastor Keesee teaches about the Christian's role in the marketplace and God's call to Christians to walk in dominion in the earth. One element of his teaching has been revolutionary to me, he teaches about the "earth curse system." (If you want to know more about this biblical concept read the book FIXING THE MONEY THING).  After following Pastor Keesee's teaching I purchased his book that I mentioned previously. Although I own many books on finances and stewardship this book has planted many seeds in my heart for the season I'm in. Old truths are being renewed and new truths are being brought to light. When I started to implement some of Pastor Keesee's instructions I started to save money immediately.

The next step toward my financial freedom was to bring the group in the church to an understanding of the kind of investment that we needed to make. The Sunday that I preached the message from St Luke 19 I shared with the congregation how God was speaking to me about us making investments and watching those investments grow. I told everyone that I was led to ask each of them to make a commitment to set aside a certain amount of money each month and together we would see how God would lead us. Twelve members agreed to join me. I wasn't sure where we was going but I knew that God would make it plain. By the end of April He did.

A financial teacher that I had the privilege of meeting at a financial empowerment conference fifteen years ago came to my mind. I had been receiving mail from his firm for a few months. His name is William Thompson and he is the Co-owner of Dynamic Financial Training.  (http://www.dynamicfinancialtraining.com ). I contacted William and told him about the group that I had formed and I asked him would he be interested in coming to our church and mentoring us in finances to which he readily agreed. We had our first meeting on Monday June 6, 2011.

We met for two hours and William challenged us to make the first step in becoming financially free by changing our mindset. His teaching was electrifying. He taught us the NINE LAWS OF FINANCIAL TRANSFORMATION. He taught us about the four houses that God wants us to bless. Two of the most impacting things that he said was "When you learn how to help others you create wealth." That's a great principle. The other was , "Money is an idea, those who lack money lack ideas."

Our group will be meeting with William for six months. Our next meeting is Monday July 18, 2011. And I can't wait. Our homework assignment was to activate the LAW OF RECOGNITION (One of the laws that William taught from the NINE LAWS).  

I want to share with you what I'm being different this year to become financially free:

1. I've been reviewing our household bills to see what cuts can we make in our monthly expenses. 

2. I've devoted a great amount of our finances to paying off debt.

3. I've increased my offerings to ministries that are doing the work of the Kingdom.  

4. I've been talking to my son more about the financial picture in our family.

I feel the breeze of liberation blowing over me. I'll be sharing more with you as I take this journey toward financial freedom.