Friday Nite Live!

As always, there's a lot to say. But since I've gone through a day of deliverance--thanks to God and my husband, Chris--I'll keep this post kinda short.
I was so blessed for the service last night! I mean I received a breakthrough as I stood up on the altar worshipping God.

You see, I've had the craziest couple of months. We, unexpectedly, had to get a car to get to all of our appointments. Then last week, we had to spend $1500 between the two of us getting teeth pulled. $925 was spent pulling three of Chris' teeth. He had been sick for a couple of weeks. His face was swollen and wasn't going down. He went to the doctor and then to emergency, only for them to tell him that he had an ear infection. On Monday 12/17, he went to the dentist and they told him that his tooth was the cause of this infection. They said that if he had waited just another two days, he would have landed in the hospital. Then two days later, we had to spend $522 ($300 I had to borrow) to get my tooth pulled. I thought the thing had a cavity; that's why I had a three-week toothache. But no. They said it was cracked severely and would be best coming out. $1500? How crazy is that in one week? Man! I felt like we should've put our name on the Adopt a Family list, cuz we don't have anything.

Anyway, I sat at work yesterday, not feeling quite festive. There was a Christmas party being held in our other building across the street. I asked if I could stay behind. I really was bemoaning my state. I tried to call and text people that are close to me. I thought, at least I could keep giving holiday wishes or just support and no one would ever know how I felt. In fact, I thought that even I could ignore my own feelings. But it didn't work like that. After all the texting and calling and leaving messages, I was faced with my feelings. Oppression. Depression. Even sadness.

I gave in to them for a few minutes. Even shedding some tears as I sat alone eating my lunch. But it was like I heard the Holy Ghost say, "Why are you crying? As long as you have Jesus in your life, you should be one of the happiest people on earth." My tears dried up, and I began to think about this. Yes, that's true. This holiday is a time for giving, and the greatest gift we could ever receive is the gift of joy and everlasting life, because Jesus lives in us and we are born again! (john 10:10)
That gave me strength, but I still had a bit of oppression last night when I arrived at church. In fact, I won't lie. I even thought twice about coming. But, I overcame my flesh and went anyway.

And while I was singing, the Spirit of revelation hit me strong. The Lord began to talk to me about the spirit of distraction.

The spirit of distraction is a part of the antichrist spirit. It is the antichrist that wants our focus and attention to be taken off of Christ during CHRIST mas. Thus, anti- Christ. If Satan can get us all focused on gift giving, holiday festivities, or to the other end of the spectrum--what I don't have, oppression, depression suicide, and whatever is all on that end--he has done his job. Let me reiterate this in another light. If Satan can get the saints to stop being focused on their prayer, intercession, worship, praise, reading the Word, to get us all wrapped up in cooking, eating, holiday festivities, shopping, etc., he has been successful at his job. If this same antichrist spirit can get folks all depressed, oppressed, sad, hopeless and the like, once again, he has been successful at doing his job.

So instead of getting on the defensive, or getting all upset as you read this post, I believe we should do some introspection and see where we fall in this spectrum. Unfortunately, I know that many saints fall on one side or the other. We lack balance. This means it's time to repent and get refocused.

This is what I did. I began to repent right there while I was singing. I am a warrior. I do violence on the devil. I'm not supposed to allow him to do violence on me! Wait a minute! This is not in order!

Instead of allowing Satan to be successful in my life. I began to warfare in my worship. And yall thought I was singing for your breakthrough! LOL. That's why I love praise and worship. It's a two-edged sword. While you're blessing someone else by your obedience, God is breaking through in my life because of my obedience. I began to do violence against the antichrist spirit that had come to attack me. Make me think of all the stuff I didn't have. Maybe things haven't yet changed in my physical world, but they sure did a big change in my spirit! As much as I love this time of year, my focus must be on Jesus--still doing what I know to be right; reading my Word, spending time with God; praying; and if necessary, even fasting. That's right, I said fasting.

Well, I've preached enough. I know my post will ignite some nervousness, and that's good. It's supposed to. At some point, we must be so focused that we don't get distracted by the activities of the world. We are of another world. Our citizenship is in heaven. We must be kingdom-minded. We must carry on the affairs of the Kingdom at all times. Now, let's not get all deep here. There's nothing wrong with gift-giving and having a good time. God has given us all things richly to enjoy! (1 Tim 6:17) I'm just saying, that we must be a balanced people.

I rebuke laxadazical spirits from my life and the lives of others who understand this word! I curse the spirit of the antichrist and the spirits of distraction from my life! Satan, you will no longer control my focus! I have risen with Christ! Therefore, I set my affections on things above, where Christ sits! I will not think on or be wrapped up in
things that are of this world. (Col 3:1-2