Footsoldier Ministries

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This is a pic of the Altar call in Asturias on March 11. An estimated 1,000 plus souls raising their hands to receive salvation. We fed approx 3,200…….Very thankful!

Jesus stood in the midst of the poor, the down trodden, the lonely, the confused, the frustrated and the heartbroken. His words came out of His mouth like fifty caliber bullets out of a machine gun; strong, fast, powerful and deadly to your enemy the devil himself.

“The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they (you & me) might have life, and they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 KJV)

Bless the Lord Oh my soul! What a promise! I speak it, I want it, I crave it, I hunger and thirst for it; gimmie, gimmie and gimmie again!

When I read this scripture I get like a spoiled three year old having a fit in the candy store screaming, Mama, Mama, Mama….I want it! I want it! I want it!

And I really don’t think God has a problem with this; matter of fact I think it pleases him for us having a “want fit” when it comes to His unlimited promises.

Jesus himself cried out, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Mat. 5:6 KJV)

“If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.” Nora Roberts, the best selling author

Gaby Compres writes, “There are stars you haven’t seen and loves you haven’t loved. There’s light you haven’t felt and sunrises yet to dawn. There are dreams you haven’t dreamed and days you haven’t lived and nights you won’t forget and flowers yet to grow. There is more to you that you have yet to know.”

In his three and one half year trek, teaching and preaching here on earth, Jesus seemed to run across many who had stopped and huddled in their little “give up” coral. Lame from no movement, no vision, no dream and no hope.

Most of us have been in somewhat the same place, for at least a short period of time. And that is not good!

The word “arise” which threads it’s way through your King James, touching down some 158 times, was in many cases the urgent, strong and powerful command of God himself. “Then saith him to the sick of the palsy, Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thine house.” (Mat. 9:6 KJV)

And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, “Talitha cumi, which is being interpreted, Damsel, I say to thee, arise.” (Mark 5:41 KJV)

In good old red neck language we often say, “My get up and go has got up and went!” And how true that is….who wants to plow on this farm of life another day and who wants to grind at this mill another ten minutes let alone another day. Who cares about this relationship that is going nowhere and this dead end job that doesn’t even pay my bills. Where is the good life and how do I obtain it or as one wise man asked, “How do I get to where I want to be, with what I have?”

Our bibles teach that, “Where there is no vision, the people perish..”(Prov. 29:18) Also that, when Holy Ghost time came on Pentecost morning and an upper room in Jerusalem got filled with Holy Fire from Heaven; the human race was changed forever.

Jesus came alive in 120 souls and every one of 30 trillion plus cells in each of those human bodies was saturated with Holy Ghost power from Heaven. Like the burning and lighting fire from the sun, it was power unlimited to learn, preach, save, deliver and heal every living soul inhabiting our world from then to now.

The only limitation that has hindered all of this being done is the lack of curiosity and hunger for enough of this unlimited energy to burn in the souls of the redeemed.

Our nation, The United States of America is under attack as never before in this 240 plus years of our existence. But when God’s people get into total obedience and get God’s power everything changes and it changes for the good.

It is time as the late tennis great Arthur Ash wrote, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.“

God has demonstrated in times past, as written in His Holy Word that common men and women have access to His world changing power.

It says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (Jas. 5:16 KJV)

And, “Elijah, was a man of like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”

And he prayed again, and the Heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” (Jas. 5:16, 17 & 18 KJV)

Stopping the rain and shutting up Heaven is what kind of stuff our Bibles are speaking of in these scriptures. Not only was this an actually happening but also a demonstration of what our Lord can do in the circumstances of our everyday living.

At this moment changing the weather is not on my need list; and probably never will be. But being healthy, healed, full of God’s Holy Ghost power and comfort is. Having good loving and strong relationships with wonderful people is there too. Having a hunger and thirst for God stuff, wisdom, godly knowledge and Holy Ghost prayer power is on it too.

Yes Lord, give us this day! And make it a good one!

In the second book of Chronicles, chapters five through seven, we find some of the most powerful acts of the God of Heaven happening here on earth among His people.

Holy Ghost fire power from Heaven so strong and hot that it lapped up “..sacrifices of sheep and oxen which, could not be told nor numbered for multitude.” (2 Chron. 5:6 KJV)

“And…. a sacrifice of twenty and and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep…” (2 Chron. 7:5 KJV)

Just to give you an idea of what those figures are, the twenty two thousand oxen would be around 25,000 tons of beef making a loaded line of semi trucks with sixty foot trailers lined up for about twenty five miles; a lot of beef, and it sure took a lot of fire from Heaven to lap it up; and this was the small load!

After all of this, God appeared to Soloman by night, and said, “I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.” Then proclaimed, “If I shut up Heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence (pandemics)among my people; If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked way; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7: 12, 13 & 14 KJV)

Again, these happenings in our bible are genuine, but they also serve as a metaphor as to His unlimited power to what he can do in our personal lives.

In my heart and soul; and in yours also, we know that God’s Word is true and His promises are for real. But we also know that obtaining these great and unlimited promises is not a cake walk on easy street. We have to go through some “stuff” and sometimes it is “tough stuff” and “long time stuff!”

Abraham Lincoln, thought to be by many the greatest president ever of our country; prior to his presidency, in deep depression, wrote: “I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on earth. Whether I shall be any better, I cannot tell. I awfully abode that I shall not. To remain as I am is impossible. I must die or be better, it seems to me.”

Great and not great people go through great trials, deep valleys, the dark unknown, battles with the powers of darkness, spiritual wickedness in high places, the rulers of darkness and more.

Many, many times we find our spiritual strength to carry on through the words of an anointed song written by an anointed man or woman who is going through or has been through a gut wrenching trial of life; a time spent in darkness and the fear of never coming out.

One of my favorites goes like this:

“If you’ve knelt beside the rubble of an aching broken heart, when the things you gave your life to fell apart. You’re not the first to be acquainted with sorrow, grief or pain. But the master promised sunshine after rain.“

“To invest your seeds of trust in God, in mountains you can’t move, You have risked your life on things you cannot prove. But to give the things you cannot keep for things you cannot lose, Now that’s the way to find the joy God has for you.“

This is the old hymn, “Joy Comes In The Morning,” written by the great Bill & Gloria Gaither; What truth, what revelation!

To go through the “tough stuff” of life is just our assignment; a simple must.

His word proclaims, “…In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings…..” (2 Cor. 6:4 & 5 KJV)

It was in his battle of life and death that God stopped the sun and put brakes on the moon for Joshua.

It was in Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace where Jesus welcomed Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego and in the lion’s den where God robbed their appetites to save his Daniel.

It was a blind Samson, grinding at the mill growing his second head of hair when his strength came back double strong to wreck the the Philistine arena and double the killing of his demon possessed enemy.

Bottom line; it all comes down to our faith; and Bless the Lord, we got it! Maybe a small amount; but we got it! Maybe not so strong; but we got it! So weak we can hardly put one foot in front of the other but bless God, we got it! In the middle of the day; we got it! At three am, we got it! All day and everyday; we got it! Victory over sin; we got it! victory over sickness and pain; we got it! victory over finances; we got it! Victory over the negative forces of hell; yes, we still got it. Are all things possible? yes we got that too! The problem that has been driving me crazy and keeping me awake; yes we got it so relax and sleep well!

Get in your bed in the fetal position, wrap your arms around your Jesus Bible and receive every blessing contained in His word and then you got it! Now and forever! Speak it, affirm it, declare it, proclaim it, embrace it and Thank God for it! AMEN!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

Elijah was a man who prayed and the Heavens shut down it’s waterworks. No rain and no dew for some three and one half years.

This was a man with faith so strong that he actually raised the dead, called fire from heaven, mocked and killed demon prophets and eventually called down the rain to end the drought.

He was also a man, that when faced with a death threat on his life, headed for the woods, went into a state of depression and told God to take away his life that he had had enough. (1 Kings 19:4)

America is no stranger to this malady. At the moment we lead the world not only in Civid19 cases but also in depression and/or mental illness cases.

It amazes me to find so many great men and women that have suffered or are suffering from this horrible sickness.

Abraham Lincoln, maybe the best US president ever, told Robert L. Wilson, Illinois state Representative,“….that he was so overcome with mental depression, that he never dare to carry a knife in his pocket.”

On another occasion Lincoln said, “If I could spread the way I feel across the whole human family there would not be one smile on one face.”

Listen to the Great King David right out of your bible, ”For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.

For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.

I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.” (Ps. 38: 2 thru 8 KJV)

King David, the man after the very heart of God, also had a fault and/or a weakness here and there. During his seven and one half years in Hebron he had six sons from six different wives. (1 Chron. 3:1 thru 4) It looks as though he was after a few hearts other than God’s; and we all know the story of his deal with Bathsheba where his voyeurism, turned to adultery and eventually into murder. (2 Sam. 11:2 thru 18)

Moses lost his cool and took a two by four or whatever, beat an Egyptian to death, turned fugitive and headed for the back side of the desert to spend his next forty years.

In the new testament we find Saul who later became the Apostle Paul coming at God’s new church with the vengeance of a wounded lion, trying with everything within himself to stop what he would later spend his life and his every possession to pioneer.

In our bibles we find that these giants of faith had weaknesses and frustrations as we all do. When we learn of their battles, sufferings, losses, reversals and their victories it helps us to know that we are all in a growing stage and are likely to be facing more situations that will help us to mature and strengthen on this journey to eternity.

At one time or another we find ourselves in Elijah’s, “..It is enough..” and “…Take away my life..”situation. Times when we face the impossibilities of life and are overwhelmed with the enormity of problems that are at times, not of our own making.

The Apostle Paul, right in the middle of his calling, right in the middle of God’s perfect will and acting in total obedience to God’s voice speaking in his heart; penned these words: “…When we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.” (2 Cor. 7:5 & 6)

When the disciples were traveling to Jerusalem with Jesus, forsaking everything in life to be close to him and to learn of him and his works, found themselves in a situation where “..They were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid.” (Mk. 10:32)

Jeremiah was ready to give up; to quit his preaching; tired of the trials and persecutions, like Merle Haggard, ready to walk off this city job today, said, “I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.” (Jer. 20:9)

When God saw Elijah’s situation of falling asleep in weakness and depression he had an angel to start cooking up a meal right there in his swamp. While Elijah was in the woods, depressed, discouraged, suicidal, looking for Prozac and ready to end it all, God was cooking up a Holy Ghost meal that was going to get in his spiritual digestive system and give him a refueling that would carry him onward to do the work for which he was called.

We are living in a time and season of “Mind Battles.” Hundreds of millions of prescriptions for anti depressants and anxiety attacks are being written for hundreds of millions of distraught people both young and old.

Years ago, the late Og Mandino wrote, “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, or a hell of heaven….Friends dead, jobs failed, words that wounded, money lost, sorrows unhealed, goals failed, ambitions destroyed, loyalties betrayed…Why have ye allowed such cobwebs of infamy to gather in the attic of your mind until there is scarcely room for a happy thought about this day.”

Some twenty six percent of Americans are suffering from this malady of depression and anxiety. If the devil can get our minds he can get us. If he can mess up our thinking he can take control. If he can get in our heads for very long he will move into our hearts. We have to fight this battle like a cornered wildcat. We have to come out swinging, clawing and scratching with both guns blazing.

Our bibles has its solution to these situations. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus..” (Phil. 2:5) and “ ..Who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor. 2:16) Another says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (1 Tim. 2:7)

It also gives us some instructions on what to let our minds dwell upon.

“….Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”(Phil.4:8 & 9)

Elijah went to the woods of depression. He was in a transitional phase of his life. We all have been there or will be there in the near future. This is a very precarious position. At times depressing and scary. An “Everything is gone“, “What in the world happened,” or a, “What did I do now?” deal. But God was there as he always is; touching, talking, cooking and giving directions. Encouraging and motivating him to begin the next stage of his God called assignment. To arise, to eat and drink. To get a super sized spiritual dinner that would give him forty days of strength to endure his journey and fulfill the calling and the labor of his life.

We know so little about God and his ways. They are so much higher than our thinking. The bible proclaims that, “…His judgments are true, righteous and unsearchable and his ways are past finding out.” (Ps. 19:9 ) & (Rom.11:33)

When we are overwhelmed, sleeping, weak, discouraged, depressed and feel so lonely; he is wide awake and mapping out great plans for a future with mountains, valleys, battles and victories that he alone knows and understands. Heights much greater than we have ever experienced and lows to keep us in balance.

This is what he had for Elijah and he has the same for you and me. Elijah headed for the mountain of God but somehow ended up in a cave. This is where the dynamite question from God exploded. “What doest thou here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9)

In our lingo the question is, “What are you doing here?” “What are you doing stopped in the cave?” And this leads to questions about our stopping places. What are you doing in a relationship that is going nowhere? What are you doing in a church that doesn’t win ten souls a year? What are you doing on a dead end job with a dead end attitude? What are you doing in a rut ministry with no anointing or excitement from Heaven? What are you doing depending on drugs to crank you up and more drugs to crank you down? What are you doing sitting here playing a do nothing game of checkers when I have a world that needs changing?

We could go on and on. There are too many stories of lives falling by the wayside. We see them everyday, preachers who quit, Christians who give up, visions dimmed, dreams dead, hope gone, faith gone with no more glint or twinkle in the eye and joy in the soul.

When Pentecostal fire fell from Heaven and the Holy Spirit of God began to fill and anoint the disciples, there was something in this package other than a time of shouting. With God’s touch comes dreams for the young, visions for the old and an outpouring of spiritual power on the handmaidens and all flesh. This package contains a challenge and a power to turn our world upside down. To get in the devil’s prison and free the slaves.

God gave Elijah a wind, earthquake and fire experience and then he gave him a communication experience with God’s still small voice being the teacher; and this is where it is. Don’t look for the skies to light up and the earth to shake when you are looking for something from heaven. It is not likely to happen. But be very careful when you get still and quiet in his presence. Be careful when you are in your little private intimate place of prayer because you are about to crank up a sound from heaven directly to your heart. You are about to hear something that will comfort you like nothing else can comfort you and guide you with a heavenly tug at the heart.

ON THE OTHER SIDE

We never know how deeply out lives effect those with whom we are connected or the ones with which we are going to be connected in our future.

While Elijah was going through his ordeal of depression, doubt and self pity there was a young man plowing in a field some distance away. He was in last place on a twelve team agricultural operation fighting heat, dust, bugs and fatigue; wondering if God was ever going to get him out of his round and round dead end rut job. Wondering if he would ever realize his dream of doing his God called assignment. He was in a spiritual holding pattern waiting and working until the God of Heaven sent his prophet and felt the touch of his mantle.

To some degree we are all in similar situations. We are the ones in waiting or the ones in ministry. There is a battle on both sides. Doing God’s work stirs the evil forces of this world. If Satan can stop our ministry his goal is accomplished. Without our work, no matter how simple or insignificant it may seem; we die. Our labor for him, no matter if we are on the cutting edge or in a no name support position; it is our spiritual lifeline.

Elijah persevered and won over his depression and suicidal tendencies and Elisha stayed at the plow until his word came from God’s prophet. When these battles were over it was time to have an ox killing, plow burning, tell mama good bye going away party. A time to cut strings from the past and to travel their world doing miracles from Heaven and in Elijah’s case, go to heaven.

A mission accomplished, a mission in motion and life goes on; generation after generation doing heavenly work trying to make our world a heavenly place. So rewarding, so fulfilling and satisfying to the human soul; yet such a mystery.

The very thing that fulfills our every desire can look so boring and laborious to our world. And to we that labor for him, the world can look so empty and vain. It rings out the truth from our bibles; “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God…” (Deut. 29:29) and the question from this same book, “Hast thou heard the secret of God?” (Job 15:8)

This thing we feel in the depths of our soul; this indescribable joy that wells up in the very depths of our being; this “whatever” that we know that the world’s gold cannot buy. This little heavenly secret that nestles itself in our hearts in our most trying times. This is the thing that brought Elijah out of his depression and moved him to his next level of service and it is the thing that will do the same for you and for myself. There is a miracle in process in those whom God himself is living…it is so wonderful and it is for right now at this moment!

Prayer: Lord, move me into your perfect will, let your angels feed me with heavenly food and get me out of this wilderness of depression. Take my past, my present, my mistakes, my failures; and most of all my sins. Forgive me and give me new life. Jesus, I now receive you into my heart and your instructions to show me the way. Please teach me how to live. Amen

(Now text me, Jim Hobby@863-510-6950)

We have started a Sunday Morning 10:00AM Footsoldier Inter-Faith Outdoor service at 2702 Savannah Dr.

Plant City, FL 33563

And we need your help!

We are outdoors with plenty of room for social distancing for a limited number of folks.

Southern

Gospel Music

Music

(Recorded)

If you decide to join us.

Give us a text @ 863 510 6950

For a reservation

Thanks a mil!

Pastor Jim Hobby

Email; [email protected]

Text: 863 510 6950

Website: footsoldierministries.org

Facebook; Jim Hobby/foot soldier ministries

Bring your own seatin!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE FOOTSOLDIER

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

IT AIN’T OVER

by jim hobby

One of the most inspiring stories in the bible is the story of Sampson. Most of us can relate to him because of his weakness and seemingly failure in his effort to fulfill God’s calling upon his life.

What started out like a barn burning story of power and success drifted into weakness, bondage, blindness and failure. A young man called of the Lord to deliver his people falling into the devil’s trap of lust, immorality and guilt.

Jesus looked over his crowd one day and these words rang out. “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:48)

Samson was very gifted and we can say he had much; but maybe we all do. When God needed a Billy Graham he first needed a no name preacher to troop through the mountains of North Carolina to find his Billy Graham. When he needed an Oral Roberts to carry his healing to a generation of people he needed a no name tent preacher to roam through the hills of Oklahoma, find a tuberculosis ridden Oral Roberts and to pray a healing prayer over him. The same goes for Billy Sunday, who was a curb stone convert, found at the time, by an unknown hallelujah bunch of God lovers led by a saintly Mrs. Clark, conducting a street meeting in Chicago.

After Thomas Edison perfected the light bulb the job of lighting up the world was just beginning. Millions were needed to manufacture the lights and to wire the world before the miracle would be complete.

Fanny Crosby wrote over eight thousand gospel songs and hymns but God still needed millions of voices and musical instruments to send her music echoing around our world.

The bottom line is; we are all in this thing and it is like a chain. The links have to hang in and do their jobs.

Maybe Sampson’s early failure was due to his lack of time in the fires of life. Maybe he had an attitude of “easy come easy go” and took the great powers that God entrusted him with too lightly. Great people like great high pressure steam lines must go through some stress relief process before they can really serve their purpose in our world.

Before Moses stretched forth his hand and parted the Red Sea he spent forty years on the back side of the desert in God’s training camp. How many nights did he look up into the stars and wonder if the God that delivered him from the Nile River was ever going to use his life to help others? How many bushes did he see that were not burning before he found the one that lit up and initiated a conversation with the God of Heaven that started giving direction for his purpose in life? God stopped the sun, put brakes on the moon and sent hail stones flying out of Heaven for Joshua but there was a forty year period where he lived with the doubters and the dying in the wilderness. Days and nights of wondering if his believing in the invisible God was going to start paying the dividends for which he hoped.

Sampson’s early life was filled with unbelievable battles and victories. Killing a lion with his bare hands, hauling the door in the gate of the city to the top of a hill, killing a thousand men single handedly with the jawbone of an ass…Catching 300 foxes and setting the enemy’s barley field aflame with their tails tied together.

Selling wine before it’s time and coming out of your wilderness early is not a short cut to maturity. We must spend our time in God’s training camp before we can accomplish our assignment to build his kingdom.

Sampson’s training was about to take on a new level as he snoozed in Delilah’s lap and began to play games with the great power with which God had entrusted him. Slowly and in her subtle way she began to question him concerning the great physical strength that he had used to kill her people. It was nag, pressure and nag some more. Get in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong person and wrong is going to win out.

The bible says, “… She pressed him daily with

her words, and urged him, so that his soul was

vexed unto death; That he told her all his heart.”

Our hearts can misguide us; they can go into a romantic spin cycle and leave us reeling until our senses return, and at times, they return too late.

Soloman writes, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Prov. 4:23)

Jeremiah says, “The heart is deceitful above all things; and desperately wicked: Who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9)

Samson was leading with his heart, and his life of fame and victory was about to take a turn into a true horror story.

As he divulged the secret of his strength being in his hair and dozed off to sleep he never dreamed that the enemy was going to job out his eyes and imprison him to be it’s slave. So subtle, so sneaky, so dirty, slimy or whatever adjective you may use to describe an evil that is indescribable.

When Delilah got him tied up and screamed, “The Philistines are upon thee…..” The bible says, “….He awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.” (Jud. 16:20)

When Samson stepped into the yard and looked to the stars he was accustomed to a Holy Ghost shake. A moving, a power, a knowing, a connection with Heaven, a goose bump hallelujah screaming surge from heaven. A gate ripping, lion killing, enemy slaughtering power over all power to wreak havoc in the devil’s territory; but it was gone. Gone. God gone. Power gone. Peace gone. Tranquility gone.

How do you describe the darkness, the fear, the uncertainty and the hopelessness that comes with lose and bondage? How do you describe the “God Gone” feeling in your bosom while the enemy has you bound and is staring you in the eye?

This is where our bibles come in. It’s words have a ring and a way of perking us up and motivating us to a deeper understanding of life and to a higher level of spiritual understanding. Deep down we know that it is God himself speaking to us through this wonderful book. The prophet Hosea wrote, “…My people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee.” (Hosea 4:6) Soloman wrote, “…Ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear cometh.” (Prov. 1:25 & 26) The Apostle Paul urged us to.”Study..” Jesus said to “Learn of me….”

King David discovered how to turn his bad into good. He said, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted: that I might learn thy statutes.” (Ps. 119:71) Also, “before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept thy word.” (Ps. 119:67)

Samson was grinding at the mill. Grinding in the darkness; hot, sweaty, slapping mosquitoes, pushing the harness round and round. No more cheers from the crowd. No more hero welcomes home. Grinding at the devil’s mill. How many billions in our world are in the same arena? Maybe not in a physical sense but bound in their spirits. Fear, drugs, alcohol, lust, poverty and sickness. Mental torment plus physical pain. Dying little by little in a life filled with the “whys,” the “if onlys,” the shouldas,” and the “couldas.”

Things happen in the mill. Character happens in the mill. Patience develops in the mill. Reflection works in the mill. Regret can turn to determination in the mill. Bitterness can turn to tenacity and grit while grinding at the mill. God takes his hammer and saw and builds you a pulpit to change your world in your mill. A fire can ignite in your bosom while in the mill room.

The bible says, “Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again..” (Jud. 16:22)

God doesn’t roll over and cry uncle when we fail. Samson belonged to the Lord and God wasn’t then nor now in the business of throwing a faulty vessel in his garbage pile. While Samson was pushing in the grinding mill harness God was pushing hair out of his scalp and pushing in hope.

Jesus said, “…I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15:10)

When a soul comes to the Lord Heaven rejoices and when Sampson was grinding at the mill the devil’s crowd was having it’s party.

Where is this Samson that has tricked and slaughtered our people? As the creek water (whisky) flowed and as the tongues got thicker the call to bring Samson to the packed out coliseum got louder and louder.

There is a scripture in the Bible that says, “…Touch not my anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” (1 Chr. 16:22)

The bible says, “….They set him between the pillars.” (Judges 16:25) Somebody should have started screaming “Haircut!” Somebody should have ran into the arena with the clippers. Somebody should have had enough discernment to scream, “ fire, help, rape, robber;” anything to set off the “get out of here” alarm. The crowd should have been breaking for the exit doors like wild road runners streaking across the desert. Unknowing to the drunk fans, God had gotten into the house. The roof ripping, fire cooling, lion taming, sea separating, dead raising Lord of Heaven and earth was bringing in His arena wrecker.

There was about to be some real sport. God sport. House wrecking, concrete falling, ground shaking, rebar bending, devil killing serious sport. Faith building, life changing, Holy Ghost, Heaven going sport.

The Bible says in the early part of this story that, “The Philistines took him..“ Now the tide is changing. It says, ““Samson took hold…” (Jud. 16:29)

Samson started an activity that was not recorded in his earlier life. He tilted his head backward with his blinded eye sockets directed to the heavens. “O Lord GOD, remember me……….. …strengthen me…I pray thee…this once…that I may be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.” (Jud. 16:28)

Samson began to pray. Slowly there was a peace and a power flooding his soul. Softly and tenderly a still small voice began to speak in his bosom. Samson, I know you can’t see, just wrap your arms around those pillars and pull. In your darkness with everything within you; pull. Pull until you feel debris sprinkling your back. Pull until you hear concrete breaking. Pull until you hear screams of horror from this crowd of demons. Pull until you feel these columns cracking and this roof crumbling. When you feel you are weakening, pull. When fear comes, pull. When you can pull no more, pull anyway! Pull until you kill every demon in this house. You were mine when things were good, you were mine when things were bad and you are still mine. It is time to come home.

The bible says, “So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.” (Jud. 16:30)

No matter how difficult things may seem….it isn’t over until God says it is over. He did not knock the ball out of the park he knocked the park out of the Philistine ball. He loves us and he is with us forever.

Maybe things are going awry in your life…bad things do happen and they happen to good people. Just take a moment to whisper this prayer to Heaven….I promise…it will help…and it may be the beginning of something wonderful!

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for speaking to my life through the Sampson story. Please help me out of my mill of darkness and bondage. Use my remaining days to labor for you. Please wrap me in your arm and forgive me of my sins as I give myself to you all over again. Amen.

Signed______________________________________

Email Jim Hobby [email protected]

Text: 863 510 6950

Website <footsoldierministries.org>

<https://www.facebook.com/jim.hobby.3>

xxxxTHE FOOTSOLDIERxxxx

BREAKING THE SPIRIT OF POVERTY(One Dime at a Time)

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ADJUSTING YOUR INCOME TO MEET YOUR NEEDS!

Not many sights disturb us any more than the sight of a child without proper food, health care, clothing and shelter; or to multiply that, the sight of a family….living on the bare necessities of life, burdened with worry, with the thoughts of the unknowns of tomorrow imbedding themselves into their everyday thinking.

Thank God, this problem which literally covers our globe; has an answer in the pages of your bible. When Jesus stood in his hometown church and proclaimed the purpose of his coming; poverty was on the top of the list. He read, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor….(Luke 4:18 KJV)

We know that the gospel is “good news” and that good news to the poor is money to buy what they need.

When Jesus climbed the mountainside with the multitudes giving ear to his voice booming across the land, around the world and throughout eternity; He proclaimed, “Blessed are the poor…..”(Mat. 5:3 KJV) He looked rich men in the eye and challenged them to “…Sell everything you have and give the money to the poor…” (Mat. 19:21)

God loves the poor but seems to have problems with the rich. Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (Mat. 19:23 & 24 KJV)

Yet we all need money. It isn’t whether you have money; it is whether you have money or “money has you.” Too many times the latter seems to be the case; even when there is not a lot of wealth involved.

One of the largest diamonds in the scriptures is found in Luke 6:38. Jesus said, “For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and

overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over.”

“…Whatever measure you use to give…large or small…will be used to measure what is given back to you.” (Luke 6:38 Liv. Bible.)

This is one more humongous, earth changing, life changing, super promise and it is here, right before our eyes in our bibles; God’s inerrant Holy Word.

To me, there is no better way to increase our faith than by stretching our giving. Super sizing our outgo to the Lord one dime at a time or whatever it takes to stretch your gut. Our challenge is to set a giving goal, maybe just beyond our comfort zone….making a sacrifice, something you feel when you let it go. Just choose your own level and get on with the growth. If you are needing a fifteen percent income; start giving that fifteen percent of your future income.

This may sound bad to some, but at one time in my life I loved to gamble; had a lot of fun, wasted a lot of time, won some money, lost some money and over the long haul; I lost.

When I found Jesus, I had to leave the poker game and many of my friends; but the inclination to bet kinda stuck with me.

Then I ran across this “Prove Me” scripture. (Malachi 3:10 KJV)

More to come on this one..keep reading.

God has the richest most secure business on earth and every time you put anything of value in it, the interest begins returning in many forms. Usually in the form of the one you need most, and it sure isn’t always money!

This verse of scripture mixed with some good righteous living will load our lives with the blessings of Heaven that will continue on until we exit this place for Glory Land.On my first preaching mission to the Philippines, coming from the US, I was shocked, dismayed, overwhelmed or whatever adjective you may use at the amount of poverty….so many wonderful beautiful families….without enough, in the material realm.

As I was thinking of this dilemma and praying about answers I feel the Holy Spirit spoke these words to me, “The spirit of giving will break the spirit of poverty.”

From that day to this day, I have tried to remember those words and to act on them. I started giving of what I have in both money, time, labor or whatever and telling every Filipino I know to do the same. On the money part, I forgot about giving ten percent of what I have and started giving ten percent of what I want! I challenge you as you read these words to take a tenth of what you are wanting to make each week. This means time, love, material goods and money….everyone has something to give! Give it to Jesus. This may be a neighbor down the road, your church, someone less fortunate than yourself and the list can go on and on. Ask the Lord to help you with this, and he will.

Then, we keep a sharp spiritual eye on the miracles coming over the hill to which our generosity is giving birth. Waiting on His resources to come in from whatever source he sees fit…..It will happen! You can increase your income of money, love and God’s favor by giving and then receiving God’s everyday blessings. Giving faith will slap the poverty, loneliness and negative poison right out of our lives! If this doesn’t bring resources into your life then take some scissors and cut Luke 6:38 out of your bible.

But wait a minute, you may have to cut out some more. Let me see, what does Proverb 3:9 & 10 say? “Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines.” (Prov. 3:9 & 10 Liv. Bible)

And there is more. “Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later. Divide your gifts among many, for in days ahead you yourself may need much help.” (Ecc. 11: 1 & 2 Liv. Bible)

Here is another, which is very sobering: “You have robbed me of the tithes and offerings due to me. And so the awesome curse of God is cursing you, for your whole nation has been robbing me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so that there will be food enough in my Temple; if you do, I will open up the windows of Heaven for you and pour out a blessing so great you won’t have room enough to take it in.”

And here comes our challenge: “Try it! Let me prove it to you! Your crops will be large, for I will guard them from insects and plagues. Your grapes won’t shrivel away before they ripen,” says the Lord Almighty, and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land sparkling with happiness. These are the promises of the Lord Almighty. (Mal. 3: 8 thru 12 Liv. Bible)

This one is the “Poker Player Special.” Bet that ten percent and raise it five percent! He will call your hand and you will win the pot!

Let us not stop here, here is another:

“But remember this…if you give little, you will get little. A farmer who 8plants just a few seeds will get only a small crop, but if he plants much, he will reap much. Everyone must make up his own mind as to how much he should give. Don’t force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerful givers are the ones God prizes. God is able to make it up to you by giving you everything you need and more, so that there will be not only enough for your own needs, but plenty left over to cheerfully give to others. It is as the scriptures say, “The Godly man gives generously to the poor. His good deeds will be an honor to him forever. For God, who gives seed for the farmer to plant, and later on, good crops to harvest and eat, will give you more and more seed to plant and will make it grow so that you can give away more and more fruit from your harvest.

Yes, God will give you much so that you can give away much, and when you take your gifts to those who need them they will break out into thanksgiving and praise for your help.

So two good things happen as a result of your gifts….those in need are helped, and they overflow with thanks to God. Those you help will be glad not only because of your generous gifts to them and to others, but they will praise God for this proof that your deeds are as good as your doctrine. And they will pray for you with deep fervor and feeling because of the wonderful grace of God shown through you.” (2 Cor. 9;6 thru 14 Liv. Bible)

There you have it, but don‘t use those scissors. These scriptures are promises from God’s eternal word; these words that guide us into the pathway of forgiveness, salvation and an abundant and fulfilling life are what we and our world need in our every waking moment.

Giving is contagious, fulfilling, joyful, profitable, wonderful, a blessing, a win win, a way out of poverty, a way into prosperity and a whole lot of fun while doing it all. It brings a satisfying that is indescribable and has a size that fits all. It puts the church in the community, the gospel in the hearts of men, good jobs for good people, food on tables,clothes on backs, shoes on feet and beautiful homes to live in and beautiful vehicles in which to ride. It is God using the lives and the hands of men to distribute God’s wealth…and he has plenty. I believe there is untold wealth buried under the7,000 plus islands called the Philippines and I also believe that when a few of God’s people turn loose and turn into crazy givers and start trying to outgive God that the wealth will be exposed and the prosperity of Heaven will fill the lives of the people. This is God’s way of curing lack.

The challenge is before us. The giver in the bible that got more attention from the Lord than any other was a two peso, two penny or a two mite widow woman, and you can bet the farm that this is

one fine lady that never, never, never ever lacked for the rest of her days. The story goes like this, “As he (Jesus) stood in the Temple, he was watching the rich tossing their gifts into the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small copper coins.

“Really“, he remarked, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them combined. For they have given a little of what they didn’t need, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” (Luke 21:1 thru 4 Liv. Bible)

When we give like she did, a hundred percent giver, all that she had and out of her want; it raises the eyebrows of God. God wants me and he wants you…to have more and to give more. All of the rock star concerts, all of the governments and charities of the world and the gifts of the millionaires and the billionaires of our world has not broken this spirit of poverty….but God’s people doing Godly giving is the weapon that will do the job. God is bigger than our poverty and our faith and giving can spread like a gas fed forest fire.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, our world seems to be controlled by greed. Please use me as your weapon

of giving to bring hope and help to the poverty stricken…guide my steps and use my hands to give as you would have me. Give me seed to plant and wisdom as to where you would have me plant them. At this moment I surrender my resources to you and to your work….what I have is so small and what you have for me is much more than enough; so at this moment I surrender my poverty for your wealth….my way…for your way…my sins for your forgiveness….my hell for your Heaven. Please mold and make me as you would have me to be. Amen

I confess and speak wealth to build God’s Kingdom.

I confess wealth to feed and cloth my family.

I confess wealth to buy a house in which my family may live.

I confess wealth that my family may have dependable and safe transportation.

I confess wealth that I may feed & cloth those less fortunate than myself.

I proclaim thankfulness for every dime that I have ever possessed.

I proclaim thankfulness for every dime that is presently in my possession.

I proclaim thankfulness for every dime that my God has stored for all of my future needs.

I proclaim from this day forward that I will repeat these confessions and proclamations for the next ninety mornings of my life. My confessions and proclamations will then become a habit and I will continue this habit daily as God builds my faith and opens the windows of Heaven and honors my speaking of His promises.

Signed______________________________________

Email Jim Hobby [email protected]

Text: 863 510 6950

Website <footsoldierministries.org>

<https://www.facebook.com/jim.hobby.3>

Contact me if this message has been of any help.

I promise to pray for you…everyday!

Jim

https://www.facebook.com/jim.hobby.3

Find more Footsoldier videos on our Facebook page….Bless you much…Jim & Julieta

This was our first of five 5,000 soul feeding and preaching Crusades in the Philippines; many souls to our Lord….very, very thankful!