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Which is the same. So how do you overcome the world?

By being born again.

Being born again or saved, and then by having faith. Okay, but is there a difference between having faith and using your faith?

Yes.

There's a difference.

Huh?

There's a difference.

There's a difference, isn't it?

Big difference.

Big difference. Because everything you have, you don't necessarily use, do you? Like, you can have cooking oil in your, in your kitchen, in a cabinet, and not use it, right? Just because you have it don't mean that you're using it. So when John the Apostle talks about overcoming the world and he mentions you overcome it by your faith, then he must be referring to the fact that you've got to use your faith in order to overcome, because overcoming means that you're doing something to gain the victory. Overcoming means you're doing something. You're in the process of obtaining the victory. And if you're in the process of obtaining the victory, then you're obtaining it because you not only have faith, but you're doing something with the faith you have.

Amen.

Otherwise, you're not overcoming. And everyone who has faith doesn't overcome. Because everyone who has faith don't use their faith. And having faith and not using it is like having money and not spending it. Some things you have, you got to use in order for it to benefit you. Amen.

Okay.

Hello, Elder Holloway. Professor, you gave us some steps what you're talking about, and you didn't give us the feeling what you're talking about. You said when we like this verse you was talking about, you gave us we need to triumph. We conquered and we gained the victory.

You didn't give us the other 2.

Maybe, maybe I didn't want to give you the other 2 yet.

Yet.

Maybe they're being saved for another day. But, uh, but I like the fact that you know what you're talking about and you write your notes down. And you bring your notes back to class with you. When you look at that verse, and this is where we're going tonight, it really has a lot to do, or your overcoming has a lot to do with your faith. Although being born of God is the initial process of overcoming, because you can't overcome if you're not born of God. But being born of God is where it starts. It's not where it ends, because everybody born of God is not using their faith.

Right.

And sometimes people get baffled or confused when they feel like that they should have a certain level of victory in their life just because they're saved. But just because you're saved or born of God doesn't mean you're just going to automatically have victory. There's some things you have to do. Um, just like if you go to the doctor and the doctor prescribes a certain medication, you, you got the pills or the medication in your possession, but if you don't take them, then it does you no good.

Amen.

Yes.

And when you were talking about, we was just talking about that, Holy Spirit brought me into remembrance of when I was going through something after I was born of God, and then I was going through a situation, and I was thinking about scriptures and thinking about how I'm going to overcome this. But it's when I start saying with my mouth, like using my faith with the word of God. Because the scripture that always was coming in my spirit, and I wasn't saying it, but I was just thinking. And then it came to a point when I really had to start saying it, which is, Lord, you which have begun a good work in me, you're gonna finish it. And I was like, I don't know. And I used to be in the mirror And I thought about one time when you— and when I did this, I thought about one time when you said that when you were getting over drugs and you said, I remember one time I was in the mirror and I was doing cocaine and I was like— you were shaking your head and you was like, I want to stop, but then you felt yourself doing it. You were like, man, I know I need to— you know what I'm saying?

I said that?

Yeah, a long time ago.

You remember too much. That was a long time ago. Some things you, some things you, you, you have to forget along the way.

But that, you know, that was a good testimony because it helped other people overcome.

Yeah.

You know what, what they was going through too, knowing that it was a spirit fighting against you.

Yeah, right.

It wasn't what you really wanted to do and you found yourself in that tug of And it was only by the word of God that I found myself saying, okay, Lord, I can't get out of this on my own, but I remember a scripture you said. You which have begun a good work in me, you gonna finish it.

Yeah.

And every time I felt myself in a place where I know it wasn't right, I would say that scripture. I would just keep saying it, keep saying it. Sooner or later, I came out of it. Yeah, just like that. It didn't happen right then because, like you said, when we say, we think it's supposed to happen instantly. But it sometimes it happens just like that, and sometimes it doesn't right happen just like that. But you just got to keep using your faith on it and keep thinking, thinking it, and plus speaking it. Yeah, you can't just think it. And I since I've been saved. I always had a struggle with that area in my life of just thinking about what the Word's saying and then saying it with my mouth. Because I used to be like a quiet Christian, just thinking, you know what I'm saying, Lord, you love me. Lord, you said this and said that. But then it was beating me up in my mind. He was still beating me up. He was still overcoming me, and I wasn't an overcomer because I wasn't Speaking what I already knew. So it's, it is important that you use your faith and what you know and what you read. You have to say it with your mouth.

Yeah.

And that's how we overcome quicker.

Yeah.

Than just thinking.

Yeah, that's good. And the, and the thing about using your mind or thinking it is that you allow for your mind to get renewed. And that's what the Word does. It renews your mind. It regenerates it. It gives you a new mind or a new thought life, a new thought pattern. And the way that works is that when you have an old way of thinking, right, and you put the Word in your mind, the Word washes out your old way of thinking.

Mm-hmm.

And then it builds up a new way of thinking.

Yes.

When that new way of thinking begins to grow in your mind, uh, the things that you once had a struggle with, that struggle goes. Because the only way a struggle exists is because of old way of thinking still there. And a struggle implies that it's something that you contend with from day to day.

Right.

Something that exists from day to day. But when that new way of thinking gets in your head, then it washes that struggle out, and you start thinking new, and you start seeing yourself differently.

Yeah.

And you start speaking differently.

Yeah.

And then you start living differently. And then you have different circumstances and different situations and different opportunities and different seasons and different breakthroughs and different blessings and different life styles that you enter into, all because of the renewing of the mind. So that's where it starts at, um, with overcoming a struggle. Uh, and I said this on Sunday, Proverbs, I believe it's 23:6, says that as a man thinketh, so is he, which means your mentality determines your reality.

Amen.

Good, good.

Okay.

Okay. Take a look at, take a look at Isaiah 54:15-17. Now, this is a verse of Scripture that most Christians know or like, in quotes, which is verse 17. But you can't start at verse 17, you have to start at verse 15.

Amen.

Isaiah 54:15. Are you there? Okay, read it. What does it say?

Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me.

All right, stop right there. Who are they? Who are they? Who the Bible referring to when it says they?

Enemy.

Enemy, yep. Anybody else? Who have you had to gather together against you? How about people on your job?

The world.

The world. How about people in your community?

Yeah.

Okay. How about people that are classified as haters?

Amen.

How about people who want to try to cause physical damage or bodily harm? Okay, so when you see they, it's referring to people who wants to offset your safety, your well-being, or your relationship with God. They shall surely gather together. So God is saying now That you will find in your lifetime that folk will gather together against you.

Amen.

The word surely means it's going to happen. He didn't tell you specifically who would do it, but he says it will happen. Okay, but not by me, which means what? God is saying that he gonna be the one behind it, right? Okay, read the rest of it. What that means? Yeah, yeah. See, it coming out you, ain't it? He said, "Whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake," which means when people dig a ditch for you, what happens? They fall in it. So what is that telling you? What is God saying? You don't have to. Fight your battle, right? Okay, read verse sixteen. Okay, what what what does verse sixteen gives reference to when it talks about the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire? and the instrument that is used for His work, and the Creator that destroys. What is He referring to? Just— He's a protector.

Huh?

He's a protector.

He's a protector. Yep. Okay. Anybody else? What is God referring to? I know that's asking a big question, but just give a shot at it.

For me, it means that no matter whatever it is that comes against you, he created it.

He's in control of it. Shut your mouth and keep on talking. That's exactly what it means. See, what God is saying is that there will be times where you will find yourself under attack by people who maliciously Try to bring devastation in your life, right? And He's saying, listen, I got you.

I got you.

Like those that will try to use weapons against you, He's saying that the weapons are formed, but I rigged every weapon to make sure that I take the damage that it could do to you. Out of the weapon. In other words, I didn't allow for the smithmen to create a weapon that could work or be effective against you. There are weapons created, but they are not going to be successful against you. Yes, sir?

I was wondering about that word, Smith, a smithman, that don't really say anything about a gun, does it?

Huh?

Say that again. It don't reference a gun. Well, a smithman makes guns, knives, javelins, spears. A smithman is someone who creates weapons. Yeah, just like a goldsmith is someone who forms and makes gold. Yep. Maybe that's where we get Smith Wesson from.

So when you see like different terms, is that— when you see like different terms, like he give you different analogies, like different things, that means that he's saying that I can do all things?

Yep.

He's giving me like more than one thing that he's talking about?

Yeah, yeah.

And he's calming your nerves to know that no matter what it is, he's your protector, that he's your security guard, that he's your armed forces, that he's your Brink home security system, that he's going to look after you. And not only is he going to look after you, but before there was ever a weapon formed, he already set the strength of the weapon to make sure that the weapon formed would not be successful against you. Yes, y'all want to say something? Oh, the little man had his hand raised. I thought he wanted to say something. Okay, so, you know, those are our little preachers right there.

Yeah, amen.

Pastors, assistant pastor, and now elder.

Okay.

So God wants you to have a sense of peace and assurance that no matter what weapons are formed against you— okay, let's just read the rest of the verse before I get too far ahead. Verse 11— verse 17. That's proof that I need glasses, ain't it? So how many weapons formed can prosper according to verse 17? None. All right, so let me ask you this question. Do you believe that?

Yes.

Really?

Yes.

You believe that?

Yes.

Okay, let me challenge you.

Most times.

Huh?

Most times.

Who said that? Most of the time. Why you say that?

More so— I'm saying that more so now because of just a lot of the shootings that we've experienced with police brutality. Me personally, I feel for my brother because I know how he has— he doesn't necessarily control his anger as best as he could. And he's a tall, kind of like semi-buff guy, dark skin, he has long dreads. So he, you know—

He looks intimidating.

Yeah, that he would, you know, be a So when all that was coming, I was, you know, I was just worried about him. And so that's why I say that concerning my thoughts about this picture.

That's an honest statement, and that's also a true answer that you gave. And that's why I want to challenge y'all on this thought of overcoming, because If you believe verse 17 that no weapon formed against you shall prosper, then why do you stress? Why do you worry? Why do you fear? Why do you doubt? How many of you be honest with yourself? How many of you stress? Okay, put your hand down. Alright, how many of you fear at times? Put your hand up. Okay, how many of you worry? How many of you get depressed at times? Okay. All of those things that I just named, which most of them are emotions, one of them is a spirit, which is fear. They are evidence and proves that you don't necessarily at all times operate within the realm of your faith as it relates to this verse. Because if you believe that no weapon formed shall prosper, and you're operating in your faith, then you're not stressing, depressed, worrying, or in fear.

Amen.

Now, I know that it is human nature to first react, and sometimes reacting means to give way to doubt, fear, worry, and stress, and unbelief, and things like that, which is oftentimes the first resp— the first action.

Yes.

But again, if that's your first reaction, then you're not in faith. And although you believe this verse, verse 17, that no weapon formed shall prosper, you believe it More so when you've calmed yourself down and have either prayed, been ministered to, read your Bible, been counseled, or got into a place of worship and allow for God to deposit into your spirit the assurance that all is well.

Mm-hmm.

But that goes to show you that You're not necessarily operating in faith first. Because if you're operating in faith first, then you tend to respond versus react.

Mm-hmm.

Like you pull yourself back, and before you get worried, stressed, upset, and your emotions start running. You kind of grip yourself and say, "Hold, hold! Wait a minute! Timeout! We're not going to do this today." You know, I'm not going to react. I'm not going to yield to my emotions. I'm not going to yield to fear. I'm going to stand on the word, and I'm going to believe the word, and I'm going to act on the word. So if the verse tells me, and I'm coming together, if the verse tells me that no weapon that is formed against me shall prosper, then this is part of. the process to me overcoming, then I must not allow for fear to overtake me because fear is on an assignment to withstand me from overcoming.

Mm-hmm.

Fear wants to overtake me so that I can't overcome. Stress wants to overtake me so that I can't overcome. Worrying wants to overtake me so that I can't— because I can't be overtaken and then overcome at the same time. It's one or the other.

Amen.

So which one is it going to be? Am I going to be overtaken by a situation or am I going to overcome? If I'm overtaken, then it is a statement that I'm really not believing or standing on this verse or practicing this verse or walking in this verse. Like I say I am, because I can't fear the weapon, stress about the weapon form, if I believe that the weapon that is formed won't prosper. Okay, other fish and dance with the Jenkins. First Peter five and six. Because he cares for me, and I give I give God everything.

I don't hold back nothing.

I walk in peace.

I get startled by something, but you know it's nothing.

I walk in his word.

His word says cast all who cares upon him. Mm-hmm. That's a good verse. Can we put that verse up on the screen? 1 Peter 5 and 6. Go ahead, Elder. Oh, you're done? Okay. 1 Peter 5 and 6. Humble yourself. Okay, uh, go to, go to verse 8. Go to verse 8.

Humble yourself.

It must be verse 7. Go to verse 7. There it is. There it is. Casting all your cares upon Him, for He careth for you. See that word casting? See the -ing part on there, the suffix? That part -ing means a continual process. It means continue to do it. Which means sometimes it's day after day that you have to continue to cast your care. Now, here's the thing. Care is the key word. Casting all your cares upon him. So what does that word care mean?

Concerns.

Things that bothers you. Things that stress you. Things that tends to weigh you down. Doesn't matter what it is.

Right.

He says cast it upon him, which means the only reason you're walking around with stress, fear, anxiety, worry, and all of these things is because you have not cast your care upon him, which is indicative of the fact that you must have Part of you that initially don't necessarily believe that the weapons formed won't prosper. Because if you do, then you're in faith and not in fear.

Mm-hmm.

And everything that comes against you is a weapon formed. But the bottom line is, it won't prosper. And if you believe it, although it is a concern of yours, although it is a care or something that you care about, or it's something that is bothering you, even though you know it is something that concerns you, you still gotta give it to God.

Amen.

And you give it to God through prayer and faith. Sister Jenkins.

Um, I'm gonna go back, uh, I think it was back in '06, one time you had— you was preaching on faith real a long time. You always preach faith. And I remember when I came to you one time and I was telling you about we was trying to buy this property, and you told me, say, Sister Jenkins, you got to stand on the word. And then I remember what you had preached. And remember I told you I went to see the people and they said no at first, but I took steps off and I said, no, the word don't get preached and all my pastor don't preach faith. I said, and I know what it say, I got to hold on to this. So what I did, I remember what you preached and that built my faith.

Yeah.

Until I just turned right around, by my faith working, they had to say yes. Yeah. And then another time we was on 16th Street when you had preached on faith, when I used to tell you I was scared to fly.

Yeah.

And I was afraid to get on, on the ship.

Yeah, I preached the faith factor back then.

And I came here, I said, Pastor, I ain't giving you— say, Sister Jekyll, you want to go? And then I thought, if I ever want to travel the world, if I ever want to go somewhere, I just got to get rid of fear.

Yeah.

And ever since those 2 times you preach fear, about fear and how you use faith, I don't fear for anything. My husband tell me, you ain't let nothing bother you. I don't worry, because when my mother was sick, I stressed and I worried so bad. And then I found That she worried, and when she was battling with cancer, cancer eats you up faster when you worry. So I learned not to worry. I don't worry. I don't get stressed. And it just like you know things come up against me, and I sometimes don't say nothing about them. I just don't say anything because I just believe. When I heard faith, I got saved in a good church, and I knew about faith. But when somebody come along, keep pumping faith, faith, faith, and you eat it, and you receive. receive it, then when you get so much faith into you, so you can weather whatever come your way. It might shake you, but I don't give into it. Yeah. And I, I can't afford the worry, for worry is a sin for one thing.

And worry will kill you.

Yes, it will kill you quicker than anything.

Yeah.

I'm glad I'm an overcomer. I got faith against all the worry and the stress and the aggravation. I don't let nothing bother me. People can't get next to me because You come to me, I can say something at you tonight and just come back the next day and be all right with you. I don't hold stuff in my heart on nobody. I'm just like that. You know, he say he can't understand, I just do it.

Yeah.

You know, it's easy for me to do it.

So you, so you, you tell them off in the morning and, and, and then have lunch with them in the evening?

Tell them off in a nice way.

Yeah.

Still be all right with them.

I heard that.

Okay.

All right, go ahead.

I was just, um, as you were going over the scripture right here, 1 Peter 5:7, casting all your care upon him. And as I was seeing it, and like you said, casting is a continual process, and then we know all means that it's more than one thing, it's a lot. But then I see how God said care. He didn't say cares, right? He said your care.

Right.

So it just let me know that it will be— what is a care? It's just one thing as far as God sees it. You know, we think we have a million different concerns and stressors and everything, but as far as God sees it, it's just one thing.

Yeah.

But it's so, you know, it's so big.

Yeah.

Because it seems like it's always coming at us, but it's the same thing. Yeah, in different ways that God is telling us to just cast it on him. It's the same thing. It's the same thing you went through last month. It's the same thing you went through last year. But you got to keep the process of casting it.

Yeah.

So like the rainfall out the sky, it's not the same raindrop that hit you 30 minutes ago, but it's still raining.

You know what I mean?

So I just, as I was reading that and looking at it, because when I see the word, I try to look at it to see. see, you know, the little stuff that don't just jump out. And I see how God said casting all your care. So that let me know that our care is a big thing and it's going to be a continual process. So we're never really going to be done casting, right?

Right.

We're gonna always be— it's something that's gonna always be coming against us for us to cast on God. But as far as God sees it, it's the same old thing.

Yeah.

So if we can handle that then we need to handle everyone that comes the same way. Cast it on God and just see it as, you know, don't put it in a category of big and small.

Yeah.

As far as God is concerned, it's all small and the same old thing.

That's right, that's right. That's an interesting point, and just hold your thought for one minute. Put up on the screen for me Lamentations 3:21. What is one of the ways that we could Keep moving forward with trusting God. What is one of the things that we can do to help us to move forward with trusting God?

Yes.

That's exactly. Get out of my head, Trina. But that's exactly what I want to say. There's a there's a saying that that sometimes preachers say. You've heard me say it. And then it's a— I think it's the Psalms. When I think of the goodness of Jesus.

Yes.

Which means— which is what Jeremiah the prophet is saying right here. Sometimes you gotta remind yourself of what God brought you through in the past and let that be your encouragement to your faith to trust that this too shall pass. So he says, what did— read that verse.

His mercies are always mine, therefore I have hope.

Okay, hope now in this verse literally means faith, which means sometimes my faith is developed off of my remembrance or my memory concerning what God did for me in time past. All right, read verse 22. Put verse 22 up. Verse 22, Lamentations 3:22. Okay, what does that say? It is of the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed, because his compassion is faithful to the covenant. Okay, so we know that God is a merciful God, right? And we know that it is according to God's mercy that the things we've had to deal with in our past, that it did not defeat us, right? And that we were victorious. Okay, next verse, verse 23. He's talking about God's mercy right here. What's new every morning?

His mercy.

His mercy. His faithfulness.

Yes.

His dedication, his grace, his strength, his goodness, his covering, his protection, all of the above. So, when Jeremiah began to write these verses, he wrote these verses to remind himself. And you know, David did that same thing when he said that he encouraged himself in the Lord.

Amen.

He encouraged himself. Because sometimes when you're going through something, you may not necessarily have a preacher or your pastor or a friend that can remind you of what God said. Sometimes you have to reach into your own treasure house, your own storehouse, and pull out a word to encourage yourself, to remind you. Sometimes you have to go in your mind and say, well, I remember before. When the enemy attacked me with this sickness, that God healed me of it. So why would I doubt or stress or worry or fear that this time the outcome is going to be different? So the test.

I just I just want to say this: when when we talking about like overcoming and I love that scripture when it say we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony, because through hearing other people's testimonies, that's how I overcame a lot of situations too, by knowing that somebody done went through what I went through and overcame. Because like through the whole time that I've been saved, And you say I remember a lot of stuff, but I remember a lot of testimonies that you, you, um, you gave, a lot of advice that you gave, a lot of your preaching. And then I pulled a little stuff out of preaching, and that's what helped me overcome being stressed out about bills, because I used to be to the point where if a bill wasn't paid, I tell my husband, look, The light bill could be due 3 weeks ago, 3 weeks out, and then I'm telling my husband, well, the light bill needs to be paid, and I'm stressing out and worried and stuff like that. And I remember you used to— you said one time, you said, why would you be hot for these 3 weeks and not run your air conditioner, and then the bill ain't due for 3 weeks? If you stressing out about a light bill does not do. So that kind of stuff helped me to overcome about being stressed out, being stressed out about money. So now money don't bother me like that. I don't stress out about money. And I remember when I used to stress out about paying my bills, and then one day it just clicked in my spirit and said, when the Lord start blessing me and my husband and bringing us out of situations that I was worried about. I said, now I spent all this time worrying about this and God can bring you out just like that.

Yeah. So I don't—

I don't seriously— I don't worry about money. I say, well, Lord— and that's— that comes with maturity, that comes with just, you know, staying in the word, staying, uh, prayed up and, and fasting and reading your word and coming to church, coming to Bible study, listening to people's testimonies. That's where it comes from. It just don't happen just like that.

Yeah.

And another thing, when we was talking about yesterday, because it'll come back to you like an unclean spirit when it's gone out of man, it'll come back. That same thing will come back around. That same bill will come right back around. And it comes— the enemy comes and say, look, I I bet she stressed out about this. I bet she worried about that. But sooner or later, if they know that that's not— if he knows that that's not going to get you, that won't even be a problem no more.

Once you pass that test, you don't have to take it again.

You don't have to take it no more. So it comes in different ways. And you were saying like that can be like through your children. Now the enemy knows I love my children and I was in— been in a situation financially and stuff. So he knew that he couldn't mess with me financially because I'm like, Lord, if you did it one time, you can do it again. I'm not stressing out about that. So then he comes for my children. Then I got to the point I said, Lord, I give them to you. Them your children. That's right. I can't— I'm not going to be stressed out about that. I'm not going to be worried about that because then that takes me out of my realm of peace and then that takes me into another, and I don't like that feeling. And it's something about when you, when you've been walking with God and then something tried to get you out of that, it's uncomfortable to you. You say, I don't, I don't like that feeling. And sometimes you might get— have to get in your secret place and catch your mind or catch your thoughts and say, no, I can't go there no more.

Yeah, yeah, you have to check yourself.

Yeah, you have to. Yeah, you have to check yourself. And I— and when I said that I don't worry about that. I'm not saying that it don't come to me, but then I, I catch myself real quickly and say, no, I ain't gonna do that.

Yeah.

I ain't gonna be, you know, I ain't gonna worry about money. And one, one more thing, one thing that my daughter taught me too. I used to tell my daughters, I say, um, y'all just have money thrown all over the place, but they keep money. They don't be worried about it. The wallet be I see everyone, I say, you left your wallet here, whole paycheck in the wallet. They don't be saying, I can't find my wallet. They don't be stressing out about it, right? Always have money.

True.

One day my daughter told me, say, uh, Ma, you should get like us then.

Then you won't be stressing about money.

And then you know what? Then what they said was true.

And then I thought about it.

I said, I should do that. Don't worry You worry about where you purse— where my purse at? Don't put your purse on the floor, it ain't gonna have no pockets.

Is that a belief? Is that like superstitious or something?

But that kind of stuff— my children have money all the time, but they don't worry about it. They don't stress about it. They freely be giving, you know what I'm saying?

Ma, you need this.

Ma, you need that. But they always have because they don't worry about it.

Praise God. That's good. That's good. Let's put that verse on the screen, Revelation 12:14, the one that she quoted.

Yes, sir.

Revelation 14:12. Oh, Revelation 4:12. I'm sorry, Jermaine. Revelation 4:12. Let me get this right. Revelation 4:12.

Yeah, I'm a definition person, so I like to look up the word or the definition of the word. And the word care means the provision of what is necessary for health, for wealth, for welfare, or for maintenance, or for protection of someone or something. So it's not the health, it's not the wealth, it is that provision that we need to have health or wealth or maintenance or protection, you know what I mean? So when God says cast all your care, what he's saying is that you got to cast, you know, what you need for to provide for whatever situation it is that you need him to provide for. So, you know, a lot of times we go to God and we say, Lord, I need you to fix this particular Situation, and we're casting the situation on God. We're trying to give God the whole situation.

That's a good point.

As opposed to giving God the answer, yeah, to the situation.

Yeah.

You know what I mean? So we got to go to God and say, "Hey God, I need X amount of dollars to fix this situation." Mm-hmm. Because that's the care. The care is what I need.

Yeah.

Not not what's going on.

Yeah.

It's it's what I need to fix the situation.

That's a good point.

Situation is fixed, then I'm happy.

You know what I mean?

So I need to cast what I need on God. Yeah. God, I need eight hundred and some dollars in my life. So I thank you for providing me with eight hundred and some dollars to fix my life. Yeah. And then God gives you the wisdom, the knowledge, the understanding, or whatever it is that you need to go and get that particular thing to fix the issue.

Yeah.

And a lot of times we go to God and we We cast the care, we cast the problem on God. Yeah. As opposed to casting the care on God, which is the solution to the problem.

Yeah.

You know, so we got to go to God, we got to give God the solution.

And cast the faith for, for, for the provision.

Exactly.

Yeah.

Knowing that he's able to give us what we asking him for.

Yeah.

Because that's what we need. We really need the finances. We don't need, we don't need the Problems, and we need you to give us the finances to fix the problem. I can fix the problem if you give me the money. Yeah, if you give me $900-something, I go fix it.

That's about, that's about 3 months, that's about 3 months light bill right there.

Exactly.

You tell them what you need. Don't tell them what you really need. Don't go to God and just tell him the problem. He already know the problem. He know, he know what you going to need of him before you even ask. Yeah, so you know, he know the problem before you even came to him. So you need to go to him and Right.

That's good. That's good. Put Revelation 12 and 11 on the screen, if you will. That's a very good point, because what God receives from us that causes for him to act on our behalf is our faith in him to provide for the issues or the problems or the bills or whatever it is.

Amen.

Without— and this goes back to, uh, Hebrews 11:6, where it says, without faith it's impossible to please God. Very good point. And that's the solution.

Amen.

That is the solution. That is the answer.

Amen.

Instead of going to God and telling God all about your problems, why don't you go to God and tell him all about your faith in him to give you the victory for the problem? Amen. Because he is— it's been said that, uh, Jesus provide answers, like he'll give you the answers. But I believe that Jesus is the answer, and he becomes whatever answer you need. He is the solution. He doesn't just give solution, he is the solution. He don't just give victory, he is the victory. So this is the verse that Sister Chastity has been talking about. And it's a very powerful verse, and it says a couple of things. And they overcame him, number one, by the blood of the Lamb. That's the blood of Jesus Christ.

Yes.

Number 2, and by the word of their testimony, which has all to do with the word of God and the fact that people believed the Word, were covered by the blood, and this became their testimony that through Jesus we overcome. Make sense?

Yes.

So, it's talking about overcoming. So, when you think about it, this is another form of steps that we can use and apply to help gain victory over circumstances and situations, knowing that you're covered by the blood, which is, which is insurance, life insurance. Amen. How many of you know the blood of Jesus is your life insurance?

Yes.

See, that's why you don't have to have the fear of flying, because the blood of Jesus is your life insurance. How many of you know that because of his stripes we're healed according to Isaiah 53:5? So the stripes refers to the blood that ran down Jesus' back when he was beaten with that whip, right? So if by his stripes we're healed, then his blood is also your health insurance, right?

Amen.

Because he heals you and keeps you healthy.

Right.

He never said you won't get sick.

Right.

But he did say if you do get sick, then you have a right to be healed by the blood of Jesus.

Amen.

And then you got to know what the word says. And you got to not only know what the word says, but as Sister Chastity was saying earlier, you got to be willing to quote that word and remind yourself of that word. Then you got to stand on that word, which means when you're going through trials in your life, You've got to know that you know that you know that I'm going to win in the end. This is the process. Overcoming is a process. Overcoming is not the waving of a magic wand. Never has been, never will be.

Amen.

And it is not now. You don't overcome by waving a wand. You overcome by walking through the steps. That's why when you, when you come to church, you gotta, you gotta come to church like you're coming to school, like you're coming to learn something. And if you're coming to learn something, you got some notes, you got some stuff written down because You don't need the Word when you're in church necessarily, but you will when you go to work, when you're at home, when you're at the gas station, when you find yourself like in an emergency, state of an emergency. And you got to have the Word of God like somewhere close to you where you can get to it all the time. And the best place for it is in your heart and in your mind.

That's right.

And you got to have steps because the Word works if you work the Word.

Yes, it does.

If you work it. Yes, ma'am.

I was thinking about— I'm looking at the scripture when you say we have overcame, but so, so much now, and I don't be in other churches, testimonies is not being shared like they used to be in church.

I agree with that.

And I'm wondering why, because that's one way of glorifying God through your testimony. So now The testimony is being cut out the church, but the word say we are overcame by the blood in the testimony. So a lot of times people can be going through stuff and come to church, and they might want to share, but they say, "Oh, this church don't let you do testimony," so I better not say it. But the Bible say faith come by hearing and hearing and hearing the word. Yeah. So a lot of times you get up and you share your testimony, and you go to share it. Over and over, somebody else gonna be through that. They might talk to you and you to get out of there. They help show you how they overcame it. But when you sit back and hold a testimony, nobody never knows. So testifying should be put back in the house of God because people walking here look like nothing going on. Don't mean they don't have something to say. There's something going on with them. Yeah. So I'm wondering where the testifying of the spirit.

Well, you know, testimonies does 2 things. As you said, it glorifies God. The other thing is that it edifies people. When you share your testimonies, um, there may be somebody in the building that's, that's like dealing with or getting ready to go through what you just came out of, what God just brought you through. When you share your testimony about how God brought you through, as Sister Jenkins saying, that's a form of developing their faith. Faith comes by hearing.

That's right.

So when you share it, it inspires other people to believe that if God brought you through, he'll bring them through. Coming right to you. He'll bring them through also. Um, in the old days, we had a part of the service cut out for testimonies, testimony time. And I remember in the Church of God in Prophecy that it was a weekly thing. It's testimony time before the preacher would preach, or somewhere before the offering time, people will have the opportunity to testify. Nowadays it's not a part of the service, but it is something that is still available. Sometimes people tell Elder Jenkins or Elder Fisher or somebody that I got a testimony and I want to share it. Well, it's up to people. There are times when I would say, anybody got a testimony they want to share? You got to be willing to share your testimony because when God blesses you or bring you through or give you the victory, he does it not just so that you can benefit from it, but so that somebody else can learn from it. Somebody else can be encouraged by it. And when you don't share it, you take from God the right to receive that level of accreditation and glory about what he brought you through. Coming to you right after, um, Sister Cotton. Oh, Sister Trina, you had your hand raised. Okay, go ahead, Sister Trina.

Mine is 2 parts. I was going to mention earlier about this, though. Worrying, I learned for myself to keep some stuff from certain people that you know that may not handle, maybe like difficult or unfortunate, or just certain situations as well. Because you may be okay, you may not be worried, you may not be stressed, you may be, you know, having your mind focused that I know what the word of God says, I know what I believe in God for, and And things may not work out the way you thought they were or the way somebody else may think. And once you start sharing with a personal person, the way they respond can affect you. I experienced that myself. I had a friend, I was letting her know about my situation concerning moving and looking for an apartment. And we lived together, so the agreement was already. I'm only staying with you for 3 months. That's it. Gone. I don't want to stay here, you know, past that. You know, I appreciate the help and all that, but that's the agreement. So, you know, it got to a point where I was like, okay, well, what's one place? And, you know, I paid like— I don't know what's wrong with Florida. I paid all this money. I mean, like almost $500 to apply. They want a security deposit. They want an admin fee. I'm like, what is this? What So I paid it, and then they would say, oh well, you know, you've been approved, but now you have to pay almost $1,600 to move in. I'm like, what?

No.

So I was like, oh, I'm not gonna do it. Just give me my, you know, $400 back, and I'll go somewhere else. They're trying to give me a hard time about that, but God, you know, gave it back. So, but in the midst of that, you know, my friend was like, oh, maybe you should look for a roommate. Maybe she did this. No, uh-uh, that's not what God has for me. You know, I'm believing God for this. You know, I, I've had roommates before. I'm fine living by myself. So, you know, I was like, okay, well, I'm just gonna go somewhere else. But I had to, you know, reassure her that come the end of this month, beginning of next month, gone. You know, I said, I may not know exactly where now, but I won't be here. You know, and so I you know I reminded her, but in the midst of just having conversations with her, as she started to worry, then I started to worry. And I'm like, no, this I already know what God has in mind. Yeah. You know, so I can't stay here and focus on what you have to say or how you feel, what you think, because you know she she worries more so about stuff than I normally would. So I found myself just. I was just, you know, picking up that worry, that spirit that she has, and it started to affect me. And I was, you know, getting sad and I was getting worried. But I'm like, no, God has brought me too far. You know, I have a better paying job than I've ever had since I've been here for 4 years. I have good benefits. I'm like, it don't make no sense for me not to get approved somewhere.

Yeah.

You know, I'm like, my credit may not be A1, but I ain't nothing And then denied an apartment. Like, so like, if God has always, you know, provided for me and I've been able to handle way more than what cost of living is here versus up north, I'm like, I'm not worried, you know. But I had to reassure her, like, wherever I'm at, it won't be here, you know. But I was like, I can't, you know, focus on—

Yeah.

You know, how do you feel, what's going on in your mind. And, you know, I learned that, you know. Certain things you have to keep from certain people because that can affect your way of thinking.

Yeah, yeah, because they may not have the same level of faith that you have where you can believe God and trust God for certain things and it haven't happened during the time you shared it, but yet your faith tells you this is what you're going to do, this is what God is going to do for you, and you share that with people who tend to look more in the natural than they do in the spiritual. And then when they have that opportunity to communicate or correspond back with you, they're not speaking on the same level that you're speaking on. You're, you're on a level of faith and they're on the level of sense and reason. And if you let it and don't protect your faith, it'll bring you down to a level of sense and reason.

Yeah.

When you're receiving the manifestation is going to be strictly because of your faith, not because of what makes sense, not because of what seems to be more reasonable. And you're right, because you're overcoming in any situation according to 1 John 5:4 is by your faith. And that's where you got to know that when you are trusting God for something that you do not have as of yet— You've got to protect your faith, and sometimes you got to keep what you're believing God for and trusting God for to yourself. You can't share it with everybody because everybody don't believe like you believe.

Amen.

And people who don't believe like you believe will pull your faith down if you are not careful. And they may not do it intentionally. They may mean well, but they're just not where you are. Sister Cotton?

No, I was just, you know, thinking like back in the days you used to hear the saints always say, you know, God, I'm dependent on God. God gonna fix it.

God gonna do it.

And nowadays you always— I mean, all the complaining and the doubts are in the It's church folks mostly that doubt sin.

Yeah.

You know, they always complain what they ain't got, but they, you know, instead of saying they believe in God or standing on faith, and then they put most of their time in doubting and talking about what they don't got and what the problem is, so they can't really focus. That's less time you can put on fixing the problem.

And, um, I, uh, Lost my train of thought.

But anyway, I used to always tell my kids, you know, about, uh, don't focus on what you ain't got.

Yeah.

It's not happening, or what's bad, or whatever. You got to focus on the good and thank God for the good that he is providing, and so on and so forth. So when my son was going through all this sickness, and then when he started— when he had— after the surgery and stuff, He told me one day, he said, Mama, you know what? He said, I'm tired of you telling people I'm sick. He said, just like you always telling us about how we sick.

Stop telling people that.

Tell them your son well.

Yeah.

You know, and he don't want to tell people, period. Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. I'm just saying, I mean, kids are turning around on you. That's what he told me one day, and I thought, hmm, you know, but he, but he was right. There was nothing I could say because he was right. And you know what, and I said, don't worry, you ain't going to hear Mom say that no more. And then when like some people ask, how he doing?

He—

I said, even he, he can be in the hospital, he doing good.

Yeah, yeah.

There's very few things I even let know when he in the hospital. And you know, he's doing good. And you know what, he overcome it all.

Yeah.

One bad report to another, and like the doctors, they don't know how I do it. Yeah. I know how I do it.

God do it.

Yeah. What? God do it.

That's it.

And that goes back to to that verse, Revelation 12:11. Overcome by the word of your testimony, by the blood of Lamb. You got to confess the word, even if you're not living in the present manifestation. You got to always say what you want.

Amen.

Not what you have. Good, good. Thanks for sharing.

Yes.

Last week I had a bill that was coming up due, and I'm the type of person I like to pay everything. Chastity know on the day it's due. So last Friday I had a bill. It wasn't no small bill; it was a big bill. So I had been worrying, stressing. I knew it was going to get paid, but I wanted to pay it on the day it was due. not 2 days, not 3 days later.

So I'm walking around, ain't talking to nobody in the house.

I'm mad with my husband. He's standing on faith because he always do, praying about it. Like, you know, don't worry about it, God got us. I'm like, I know God got us, but I'm still mad with everybody.

I can't—

I felt like I wasn't going to be able to pay this bill on the day that it's due, and I like to pay everything on the day that it's due.

So I go to sleep, folks, still mad.

I wake up early in the morning, so I wake Trina up.

So she's—

I said, can you check the emails? Because she take care of a lot of my business stuff. I was like— she woke up, I said, Trina. She said, the realtor say the check in the mail, right? So I'm like, how the check in the mail?

They ain't even did the work yet. So she told us, oh, that would—

that, that's not what I meant to say. I meant to say for that bill that you needed to pay, I'm gonna take care of it today. So not only did she take care of a big bill, I didn't even have to worry about the bill that I was stressing so hard about that my husband told me, like, God got it. Yeah, and I know that, like, I'm faithful with paying my tithes and stuff, but I just was, like, so mad. If you could have just seen me the day before— but I'm just saying, like, God worked that thing out.

Yeah.

And then when I woke up the next morning on the day that it was due, it was taken care of.

Praise God. See, that's a testimony. That's a testimony. And that's, that's not about— that's not about being childish. I think most women are like that. Most women are like that, want to get those bills paid and, uh, get it out the way. What'd she say? Oh, but that's your sister. You could say that. Thanks for sharing that. Who's next? Yes.

Um, I like to go by experience. Like when I first got diagnosed in 2001, and at that time it was a battle, but I always remember this scripture, Psalms 117:18. 1:18 and 17. I should live and not die and declare the works of the Lord. That was my favorite scripture. I was going through cancer, my boys was getting locked up one by one by one, and you would think that would have just threw me in the nuthouse. But through the word of God, yeah, and through his, his power, And me believing and not stressing, I was able to help other people. I was able to talk to people in the grocery store. My daughter always, Mom, you need to talk to this person, they going through what you going through, or you need to call this person or that. I've talked to people in Jacksonville, Georgia, everywhere. But I had asked God, if you heal my body, I will tell it.

I don't care where I am, where Wherever I go, I even got a lady in the store now.

She said, "Well, did the lady call you?" I said, "No." She said, "Because you are inspiration. You are our hero." She said, "We thank God for you because you don't look like you've been through what you've been through with, and we thank God for you." And my doctor office even sent me to the Daytona 500, and I'm like, "Day of Champions," and I'm like, "Lord, I'm just doing what I asked." You to do for me to heal my body, and I don't mind telling it.

Telling it you've been doing.

Are overcome by— somebody help me. Yeah, 30 years ago, my sister-in-law told me, 30 years ago, this is in 2001, people had breast cancer but they kept it quiet. We never knew anything about it in our race, but you need to let people know that you can Overcome this, and I thank God for it. And I thank God that I, I keep his word when I feel down or whatever. I'm like, Lord, you have not given me the spirit of fear.

I'm a power of love and I'm a sound mind.

And anytime I go to God, are you depressed?

No. Are you stressed? No.

I don't have to be because I'm trusting in him.

That's good. Wonderful, wonderful. Thanks for sharing that. You've certainly been testifying.

Sister Holloway, Um, Captain, do you, do you feel that, um, some Christians have little faith because when they get a revelation, they ask God for something, and, uh, bills, uh, anything that they ask God for, and they get a revelation from God or the Holy Spirit and they do not recognize it.

Some people say they don't know a blessing when they see it.

Do you think that that's why a lot of people don't have faith? Because God had given them the revelation and they don't see it, they don't understand it, or they can't receive it, or they don't know?

Because sometimes God can send somebody, some, uh, anything to you to get that bill paid or to, um, Whatever you're trying to overcome, and you don't recognize that it's there.

Yeah, yeah.

And then you become doubtful in your faith.

Yeah, especially when you expect for things to be done a certain way and, and it's not done the way you expect it, or when you expect for God to— or it to be done through a certain person and, and it's not done through that person. Or if you expect for you to have a certain way of making it happen and it don't happen the way you expect to make it happen. See, when God gives you a revelation, that revelation is a new way of looking at things, or a new way of getting something accomplished, a new way of getting something done. And if you are stuck on how things have been in the past and you got this old regime or old mentality, and you feel like, well, if it's going to happen, it's got to happen this way. And that revelation comes and you don't receive it because you feel like that's not the way it's usually done, that's not the way I've done it before, that's not the way I imagined, that's not how I envisioned that it would happen. You miss out on that revelation. The thing about the revelation is that the revelation is the discovery of how to get the breakthrough, how to obtain the victory. When God gives the revelation, that's his way of opening your understanding to a new way of making it happen. So basically, revelation is your answer to whatever it is you want from God. But if you close your mind to that revelation because you're leaning to your own understanding, Mm-hmm. you forfeit that revelation, and therefore you forfeit the blessing that you could have had. So that's true. The answer to your question is yes, and it happens all the time. Yep.

Yes.

I just wanted to agree with you.

My thing is—

Which one you agreeing with? Sister Hillary.

My sister Hillary, out my head. Um, casting on you all of your cares, for him who cares. Um, I was sitting here just listening to everybody talk. You know, a lot of things I heard people say about monetary things, bills, those are things that concern us. But I know as far as I go, this week, just in general, I knew that if I did not have a God to cast my cares on, I would probably not be able to handle some of the things. There was a time where, because I had no one, um, a bill was overwhelming, and I cast my cares on him. But like, even in just this past week, Casting your cares. I understand what you mean, Sister Hillary. When it comes to your body and your health, sometimes having the ability and knowing that he is all-powerful and all-knowing and doing all things well concerning us. I know for me this week I heard two terrible things, and cares, bills, everything else, they're overwhelming. But when you hear things that concern how you're going to live, and when they affect what you do, they can take you to a place. And even depending on the word or all the strength that you have in you, when your strength in you is depleted, the only place you can go to is to the rock.

That's right.

I had to do that this week. This week I heard I'm gonna need Vocal cord surgery. I said, okay, God, but as long as you allow me to sing, let's see what the devil don't know is I'm gonna do it anyhow. It don't matter. Um, I went to the doctor yesterday. I heard that my back surgery failed, and my doctor threw his hands up and said, well, you're crooked, you're going to be crooked, you're going to be on pain medicine, you'll probably be in a wheelchair in a few years. And I looked, every bill that I had made no difference. The fact that I can cast my cares on him makes a difference. And I'm finally at a point now that if this was last year, I would have been devastated. I would have been on the floor. I would have been— it doesn't matter. I'm at the point now that because I can cast my cares on him, he's so much stronger than I am, and he's brought me out so many times that what they said did not even matter. Because if God wants to Keep me in this state. If this is will, he's going to make sure I do what I need to do.

That's good.

And I'm not going to depend on no payments. They laugh at me at home because I will suffer if it's going to inhibit what I got to do for God. Then God will bring me through. I'll come in here limping. They laugh because I put on those heels. Because to me, coming in here with not what I want to put on means that the devil's doing what he wants. I'm going to do what I want to do. And when I get up there and get a mic in my hand, nothing else matters. We're going behind that veil. That's it. And when I'm done, I'll be singing, I'll be great. The next morning is a different story. But while I'm there, that's all that matters. Casting our cares on him is way behind the veil. It's way bigger than that. It is when you get to a certain time in your life When there's nothing else, and you know for a fact there's nothing else you can do but just lift your hands up and say, "God, well, that's what they say. I gotta believe in what you say, and I care about this. I care about this more than anything. If I couldn't sing, y'all don't know I'd rather die, and I'm being honest. I just rather it's that's all I think about.

That's all I do.

If I'm not singing, I'm writing. I'm a humming." That's it. I can't imagine me being Ramona without being able to open my mouth and say something.

Yeah.

So to have that compromise was like, what? But being able to cast my cares on him all this time— I am a believer.

I'm convinced.

There's nothing nobody can tell me. I'm gonna let them lance it off or do whatever, then I'm gonna sing my face off. It doesn't even matter. I'm not concerned about what they're saying about my back. It doesn't matter. And casting my cares on him, I just want— I don't even know why I'm saying all this. I'm saying all this because somebody needs to know.

Yeah.

That when your health is against the wall, when your life depends on it, you'll realize who God is. And casting your cares on him means everything.

Yeah.

Because I walked out the office, I couldn't even think. I was dumb all the way to Sanford. I just sat there like, really? Just back to back?

Yeah.

I started to get angry, but then I thought about it. My God is awesome and he's able, and I don't believe that. I don't receive it.

I—

all I can think about is, okay, so now when everything is opening up for me, this is what I deserve? We have to really think about what we're casting our cares on, like Sister Trina said. Bills seem big. I'm not belittling anybody's care, but trust me, there's going to be a time that comes when the enemy is going to attack. Because when he can't get through with all of the other stuff that he's been able to attack you with, he's going to come for something big. And when he does, your faith is going to have to be In our God, in your God. And when I cast my cares on him today, I just want somebody here to know that what I'm concerned about today is simple things. And I had to check myself when everybody was talking. What I heard this week, God is that good that I don't even care. I don't care about what the enemy says anymore. So I thank God for giving me and us the ability And taking loads off of us because carrying loads is just too much. So I just wanted to share that with somebody tonight so that they could be encouraged because I'm encouraging myself.

That's good. That's very good. Let me, let me say this, um, as we prepare to close here. One person's care could be this, another person's care could be that, and someone else's care could be the other. And there's a list. If there's such a word called gazillion, Yeah. then there's a list of gazillion of things that it could be. This is one of the things that I've learned to identify with over the years. When I get a bad report, and I don't get them often, But when I get a bad report, there's a check that I get in my spirit immediately after I get that bad report. And that check that I get in my spirit is a confirmation that it's not something that I need to worry about.

Amen.

For example, sometimes when you get a bad report, your first thought is, oh Lord. And then you kind of get butterflies and you, you know, as they say, your stomach drops or your heart drops, whichever one it is that's supposed to drop. Which one is it?

Both of them.

Both of them? Okay. But you just, all of a sudden, you just, you know, your first reaction is to worry, to fear, to panic. But there's a place in God that you get to over the years where when you get a negative report, a bad report, you check to see what your spirit is saying. Is your spirit telling you to worry? Is your spirit telling you to fear? Is your spirit telling you to panic? The answer is no, no, no. Your spirit would never tell you to worry, fear, or panic.

Amen.

What your spirit would do is tell you to trust, relax, Keep your cool because it's not going to end up the way it started out. It's not going to be as bad as it seems. It's not going to be like the enemy said. When you get a bad report like, like Sister Ramona did from the doctor, before you do anything, consult with God to see what he feels like your situation is going to be like. Because I guarantee you that God has a different version.

Yes, he does.

Than what the doctor said. Like, her, her, her doctor told her she gonna have to have another surgery. She's— she may be in a wheelchair. Well, that's what the doctor's saying, but God, what are you saying about that? Because whatever God is saying about that, that's what it's gonna be if you're in faith, if you believe, right? And when you get that confirmation from God, automatically your spirit is saying, I ain't gonna even worry. I'm not gonna stress. I'm not gonna fear. I'm not gonna be overwhelmed. I'm just gonna continue to worship and continue to go on about my day.

Amen.

And continue to be in a good spirit. Continue to have a positive attitude. Continue to use my faith. Continue to trust God. Because at the end of the day, it's not what the doctor said that determines what it's going to be.

That's right.

It's what God said, it's what his word said, and it's what I believe concerning what God said and concerning what his word said. So I say this, always take a moment anytime you hear something negative, a negative report, always take a moment to listen internally to the voice of God in your life. Because it's whatever God is saying to you that is going to determine what the outcome is going to be. Amen?

Amen.

Thanks for sharing that. Thanks for keeping it real with us because, yeah, there are some things that are considered to be Category 5s, not just tropical storms. But categorize, and when they come at you, you got to know where your faith is, and you got to use it like you never have before. Jermaine, you'll be the last one.

And anytime you study or anytime in school that you ever had to study, it was for the purposes of you having the answers for the test.

Yeah.

That was the real reason for any kind of study. Anytime you study in college, high school, and elementary, it was always for the purposes of you having the answers when it was time to take a test.

Yeah.

Right, so whenever we study, you know, the Bible says that whose report are you going to believe? The report of the doctor or you're going to believe God's report? But if you don't have God's report, or if you don't study to get God's report, then you have no answer to your test when he comes. You know, the test comes and he'll stop slap you right in the face. And if you haven't studied, then you have no answer for that, you know. And tests are going to come whether you want them to come or not.

Yeah.

They're going to come every day of our lives as Christians, as believers, as people. They're going to come. But it's our mission and our goal and our assignment to have the answers to every test that comes our way. Yeah, and that's what God's will is for every man's life—is to have the answers to every test. Yeah, the Bible says that heaven and earth will pass away, but His word will abide forever. He says the word that I speak unto you—they are spirit and they are life. So when you talk about the spirit of an overcomer, that's having the word or the answer to the test. Yeah, that's the spirit of overcomer—is having the answers when the test comes.

That's good.

That's having the spirit of overcoming is having the word. When the test comes, you've got the answer to that problem.

Yes, yes.

Because if you don't have the answer to that problem, then you know when that problem comes, you got to deal with it.

That's right, that's right.

You don't have to deal with it. Yeah. So you know we have to have the answer to every test that comes our way.

It's an open book. It's open book. Yes. And he gives you the answer to every test.

Yeah. You got the answers. To every test within the confinements of your own home. Yeah, but some of us walk by the Bible every day and never open it up. Yeah, we never look for the answers. You know what I'm saying? When the sickness comes, the Bible says that, hey, he heals me of all my diseases and all my disease, all my sickness. If you don't have that answer, then you got nothing to say. Yeah, you know what I mean? So you gotta have the answer that by his strike I am healed. Yeah, if you don't have that answer. Then what you gonna defend yourself with when the enemy comes? Yeah, you know what I'm saying? When when you have a financial situation, if you don't have the answer that I'm rich, then you know you don't have the answer. When when that financial situation hits your house, you have no answer for that. You know, but if you have the answer, you can stand up. You can declare, hey, yeah, like you gonna give me provision. I don't know where it's coming from, but it's coming because you've already told me that you provide me. Everything that I need, every every need that I have, you provided for me.

So I want to thank you for the answer.

Yeah, I don't know where it's at. I don't know where it's coming from, but I know you're gonna provide it for me. And then God gives it to you. You know what I mean? So and and I and I said because I had a testimony day. You know, we was at home and my back was hurting real bad. I just kept saying, Lord, you know, I thank you that by your stripes I'm healed. But while I was laying in bed. I was focusing on work because I was trying to figure out where my next assignment was coming from. I'm just laying in bed. I finally checked my email. It was like 2 days ago. So I checked my email, made a phone call back to the person that called me, and me and Brother Brendan, we went over, we talked with the guy, you know, we ended up picking up that work for our next assignment, you know what I mean? But if we— if I would have just laid in bed even though I had a problem that was bothering me and not spoke the word of God over my issue, you know, not giving him the answer to my problem, then, um, you know, I would have been laid up for the rest of the day. But I kept saying that, you know, by your stripes I'm healed. I thank you, Lord God, for healing. And, you know, right now My back don't hurt at all, but I'm talking about when I say I was my back was hurting so bad I was leaning over my bed. I couldn't hardly you know really lean over my bed because my back was really sore. But I just kept correcting or saying the answer. Yeah. To my problem because you know the problem was there, but I kept declaring the answer over my problem. Yeah. That by his stripes I can heal. Yeah. And you know God thank you. You know you provide healing. and angels with healing in their wings. I said, angels, thank you for healing me. Thank you for praying for healing in my wings. And, uh, and I just kept, you know, receiving the healing of God for my life and got up, you know, my back is fine, you know. But we gotta apply it. Sometimes we know it, but we don't apply it. We don't declare it. We don't say it, you know. And if you got the word of faith, you got to speak it. You got to declare it. You got to open up your mouth. You open up your mouth, you're going to receive it. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Amen. Good. Great. Very well put together. Well, that's going to conclude our Bible study. Thank y'all for sharing. I got a lot out of everything that was shared. Anybody else got something out of it? Now, as far as overcoming is concerned, It is a day-to-day process.

Yes, it is.

Week-to-week process, month-to-month, sometimes years.