THE POWER OF ONE

 

Marcella Ward   May 26, 2021 

 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.  Joshua 23:10 KJV

 What is the power of one?  The power of one is about individuals who have taken a stand and because of this, they have changed the world or the sphere in which they live. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, David killed Goliath, Gideon led a small army of 300 and was victorious over the enemy. Esther was instrumental in saving the Jewish people from annihilation. Mary the Mother of Jesus, offered her body to house the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!  After an encounter with Jesus at the well, the Samaritan woman became an evangelist to bring the Good News to her people.  Even though these had the power of one, they depended and were given strength by THE ONE GOD. 

It does not have to be a famous person or a person with great authority or fame.  It could be the average person like Rosa Parks who refused to go to the back of the bus.  It could be a famous person, such as Martin Luther King Jr., who stood up against discrimination. 

The power of one is also about unity.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—  I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.  John 17:22-23 NIV

The power of one is also the battle between good and evil.  The evil one seeks to steal, kill and destroy. One of his favorite weapons is division and he loves to do this in the Church.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV    The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.  1 John 3:8 NIV   All it takes is one evil person to rise up and manipulate and spew his or her ideology for the “good” of the people.  And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.   2 Corinthians 11:14 NIV

 How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1 NIV

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  Philippians 2:2 NIV

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,  so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:1-5 NIV

We need to be united as believers to stand against the plans of evil.  One thing I have noticed is that many today are not standing together against evil.  There is strength in unity.  We need to stand together to show strength for what we believe in and who we are in Christ.   Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you. Leviticus 26:8 NIV

The Body of Christ needs to be unified, especially at this time when there is so much deception.  We need to stand up for what we believe.  There are only a few leaders who are standing up.  Many have succumbed to pressure from the media.  It only takes one person to start a movement.  Be that one person who takes a stand. In so doing, who knows, you may be the spark that sets a fire for an awakening in your sphere or even the world!!

“YOU WEREN’T BORN TO FIT IT IN-----------YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT!”  (Jim Caviezel)

One Solitary Life

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant. He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30. Then, for three years, he was an itinerant preacher.

He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He didn't go to college. He never lived in a big city. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself.

He was only 33 when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his garments, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend.

Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race. I am well within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned--put together--have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one, solitary life.*

*Attributed to James Allen Francis.

Marcella Ward   Author of "Stolen Identity: Plan of the Evil One" 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                     THE BLOOD OF JESUS

• It remits sins (Matt. 26:28 NKJV).
• It gives life to those who consume it (John 6:53).
• It causes us to dwell in Christ and Him in us (John 6:56).
• It is the means by which Jesus purchased the church (Acts 20:28).
• It is the means by which Jesus becomes our atonement through faith (Rom. 3:25).
• It justifies us and saves us from God’s wrath (Rom. 5:9).
• It redeems us (Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18–19; Rev. 5:9).
• It brings those who were far away from God near to Him (Eph. 2:13).
• It grants us the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:14).
• It brings peace and reconciliation with God (Col. 1:20).
• It has “obtained eternal redemption” for us (Heb. 9:12).
• It cleanses our consciences from “dead works” to serve the living God (Heb. 9:14).
• It is the means by which we enter the Most Holy Place with boldness (Heb. 10:19 NIV).
• It “speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Heb. 12:24 NIV).
• It sanctifies us (Heb. 13:12).
• It makes us complete for “every good work” (Heb. 13:20–21 NKJV).
• It “cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
• It bears witness in the earth along with the Spirit and the water (1 John 5:8 KJV).
• It is the means by which Jesus washes us (Rev. 1:5; 7:14 KJV).
• It is the means by which we overcome the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10–11).

Thank God for the “precious blood” of Christ (1 Pet. 1:19), the “sprinkled blood” of Christ (Heb. 12:24), the blood of “the new covenant” (Luke 22:20), the “blood of the eternal covenant” shed for us (Heb. 13:20).

“The life … is in the blood” (Lev. 17:11).  (Excerpt from the book, “Jesus Now: Unveiling the Present-Day Ministry of Christ.” By Frank Viola)

The blood of Jesus is very powerful. In Buenos Aires in 1996, a consecrated host was found on the ground and then placed in water to dissolve.  Days later it was still there and had turned into bloody flesh.

“Doctor Castañón took it to the San Francisco Forensic Institute without telling anyone there what it was or where it came from. After testing, he was told the samples constituted heart muscle, specifically from the myocardium of the left ventricle. Further, the tests showed the blood was human, with human DNA, and of the rare AB-positive type — the same as found on the Shroud of Turin.”

“Following those results, the Host was taken to Dr. Frederick Zugibe, an esteemed cardiologist and forensic pathologist at Columbia University in New York. According to Dr. Castañón, Dr. Zugibe tested the samples he was given and said the person whose heart it came from must have been tortured. Further, Dr. Zugibe was reportedly amazed that when he studied the samples, they were pulsating like a living, beating heart.” (Eucharistic Miracles Confirm Real Presence Of Jesus Christ.”)

For more detail about this amazing miracle, the following is a link to an article, “Eucharistic Miracles Confirm Real Presence Of Jesus Christ” by Ryan Fitzgerald, April 24, 2016, Church Militant.com:

https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/eucharistic-miracles-confirm-real-presence-of-Jesus-Christ

My husband Marty and I have experienced a manifestation of this years ago when we received the Eucharist in the form of the body (Host) and the Blood (consecrated wine) in the Chalice.  We were at a Mission Church around 15 miles from the southern Border town of Douglas, Arizona.

When I looked down to receive the consecrated wine, I noticed that it looked like blood and the water, that the Priest adds to the wine, did not mingle with the blood.  My husband noticed the same thing without me talking to him about it.  Was it blood?  We don’t know but we have never experienced this before.  Whether or not it was or was not blood, I believe in the true Presence of the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist!

But when [the soldiers] came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. ~John 19:33-34

“In this regard, a retired cardio-thoracic surgeon, Dr. Antony de Bono, feels that there is a simple reason for the outpouring of the “blood and water.”

He writes: Jesus had a haemothorax, which in the stillness of the dead body, had separated out as they do into two layers: the heavier red cells below and the light watery plasma above. The haemothorax was the result of the savage flagellation.  It is well known that blood in these circumstances in a still dead body starts to separate out, to sediment, the heavier red cells sinking to the bottom leaving a much lighter, straw colored fluid, the plasma above.”  “(A Doctor on Why “Blood and Water” Gushed From Jesus’ Heart” Kathleen N. Hattrup, 6/22/19)

PLEADING THE BLOOD OF JESUS OVER THE HEALTH OF YOUR BODY

 Heavenly Father, I come before You in Jesus’ name. Father God, thank You that Your Word says I should prosper and be in health, even as my soul prospers. Thank You that Your Word says I am healed by the stripes of Jesus, and that You sent Your Word, Jesus, and healed my disease.

So Father God, because of the blood Jesus shed on Calvary—that same blood that made a way for me to approach You and receive forgiveness for all of my sins—and because of the terrible, bloody scourging Jesus endured to purchase my healing, I ask right now that You would heal my body. Let Your healing power course through my veins right now, and heal me from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.

Lord Jesus, because You paid the price with Your blood and body for me to be healed right now, please make my body come into alignment with the perfect healing You paid for me to have. Let my brain think right in every area. Let my organs function perfectly. Let my blood be full of the right things and free from the wrong things. Remove every invading germ, virus, bacteria, malfunction, and malignant cell from my body, and restore any damage done to my body by past sicknesses.

Thank You, Father. Thank You that these things are done for me by the blood of Jesus. I receive Your healing right now, and I give You all the praise. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Our Heavenly Father is merciful and gracious. He is also a fair, just, and righteous Judge. And when we present our “case” before His throne of grace in prayer, we can insist that He carry out His will for us based on the legal evidence of Jesus’ blood.

The price for Father’s will to be done was completely paid on the cross. The blood of Jesus is all-sufficient. And when we present that blood to our Father in faith, He will move Heaven and earth to bring Jesus the reward of His suffering in our lives. (Jamie Rohrbaugh February 23, 2017)

 Marcella Ward January 26, 2022

Author of Stolen Identity:Plan of the Evil One

 

                                                     THE POWER OF PRAISE

“I have personally felt the benefit of rejoicing in the Lord. I have seen it destroy the devil. He cannot stand it. I really believe that God inhabits the praises of His people (Ps. 22:3). God is so pleased when we look beyond the natural and see things in the light of faith. That blesses God.

Praise is not the inevitable byproduct that comes when everything is going right in our lives; it is the driving force. Praise will get our focus where it needs to be—on God. If we start praising God in the middle of our problems, our problems will shrink so much that we’ll hardly remember to bring them to God! We’ll be so busy praising Him and thanking Him for His blessings that our problems will be an afterthought.”  (“Effects of Praise” Andrew Wommack Ministries)

 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.  Psalm 42:11 NIV

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  Psalm 139:13-14 NIV

My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.  Psalm 71:8 NIV

Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.  Jeremiah 17:14 NIV

Psalm 22:3 NIV Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. 

What the Power of Praise Can Do - 8 Things:  (“What the Power of Praise Can Do: 8 Reminders from His Word” Debbie McDaniel, July 22, 2016)

 

Praise gets our focus off ourselves and back on God. 

We are living in a selfish world instead of a selfless one.  We need to get our focus off of ourselves and keep our focus on God and others.

 Praise brings us to a place of humility.

We need to recognize our dependency on God.  We need to look to Him for our strength and trust in Him to lead us and guide us.

Praise makes the enemy flee.

Praise pushes back the enemy.  Evil does not stick around if we are praising God because He will fight our battles for us.

As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.  2 Chronicles 20:22 NIV

 Praise leaves no room for complaining and negativity.  

“God knows our hearts.  And He cares about all that concerns us.  But through praise, we’re focused on Him, no longer allowing too much attention to be centered around the struggles.  We’re reminded of what He has already done in our lives.  We’re reminded that He knows what concerns us, and is capable of taking care of all that burdens us.” 

Praise makes room for God’s blessings over our lives. 

“Praise opens the gateway of blessing.”    Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  Psalm 100:4 NIV

Praise invites His presence.

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises.  Psalm 22:3 NIV God is close to us when we praise Him.

Our spirits are refreshed and renewed in His presence.

God changes our hearts and strengthens us to endure whatever our problems are.  You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.   Psalm 16:11 NIV

It paves the way for God's power to be displayed, miracles ​happen. 

We have a choice each day to live with worry or in peace knowing that God holds us in the palm of His hand.  There is the power of His presence in our lives.  God truly inhabits the praises of His people.

PAUL AND SILAS

Paul and Silas were in prison and instead of bemoaning the situation, they decided to praise and honor God and God performed a miracle in their midst!

 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.  Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.  Acts 16:25-26 NIV

THE WALLS OF JERICHO

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.  March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.  Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”  Joshua 6:2-5 NIV

JEHOSHAPHAT DEFEATS MOAB AND AMMON

He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.  Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.  You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”  2 Chronicles 20:15-17 NIV

After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.”  2 Chronicles 20:21 NIV

It appears that Jehoshaphat trusted that God would fight their battle and be victorious so he was encouraged in the Lord to send out men singing to God and praising Him and thanking for the victory yet to be won.   

DAVID AND THE PSALMS OF PRAISE

Besides David’s acts of courage such as defeating and killing Goliath, he is well known for writing many of the Psalms.  Seventy-five of the Psalms are attributed to his writings.

Psalm 145

A psalm of praise. Of David.

¹ I will exalt you, my God the King;
    I will praise your name for ever and ever.
² Every day I will praise you
    and extol your name for ever and ever.

³ Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
⁴ One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
⁵ They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
⁶ They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
⁷ They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

⁸ The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

⁹ The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.
¹⁰ All your works praise you, Lord;
    your faithful people extol you.
¹¹ They tell of the glory of your kingdom
    and speak of your might,
¹² so that all people may know of your mighty acts
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
    and faithful in all he does.
¹⁴ The Lord upholds all who fall
    and lifts up all who are bowed down.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food at the proper time.
¹⁶ You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

¹⁷ The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
    he hears their cry and saves them.
²⁰ The Lord watches over all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature praise his holy name
    for ever and ever.  NIV

The power of praise is essentially not just words that we speak, but also a lifestyle of thanksgiving and trust in God.  When we rest in God we truly trust Him to shoulder our burdens and our problems.  Praise takes us away from looking inward (ourselves) to God Who is always there to strengthen us and lift us up.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

Marcella Ward January 5, 2022

Author of “Stolen Identity: Plan of the Evil One”