HOW TO FINISH
Apostle Handley
Aug 10, 2003  

While in prayer during the writing of this newsletter, I had a vision. The vision was of a dry, extremely parched, land. It was so parched that there were deep cracks throughout the land where the dry ground had separated due to lack of moisture. The deep cracks were consistently spaced every foot (30 centimeters) or so apart, with smaller cracks between them. It was truly a “dry barren land.” However, in the middle of the land there was a fresh bright stalk of corn with ears ready to open and leaves luxuriantly bright from perfect nourishment.

Then, from the stalk of corn there began to come forth not only its own fruit (other ears of corn) but ALSO moisture which watered the dry parched ground ... and then, to my amazement, other stalks of corn began to rise up from the ground and to grow and flourish.

Then God spoke to me:

“This is a picture of the future of many people reading The Apostles Newsletter. Many are productive now ... but nothing compared to what will be happening through them in the future.

On the other hand, many have given up; they once had a vision that I gave them for their ministry. Some of them have seen others fulfilling what they once prayed about doing and often fasted, seeking my face for the fulfillment of the same. But the enemy of mankind and of all righteousness has discouraged them. He has spent years planning attacks against them, even using those who at one time were their friends, companions, or fellow ministers. Some of them have fallen due to sin, disobedience, misunderstanding, and attacks due to jealousy of enemies; some of the enemies have been My people.

But I am about to rearrange the lives of the faithful ones: the ones who have persevered. They are going to be like the fresh bright stalks of corn with ears ready to open and leaves luxuriantly bright from perfect nourishment. I have seen their discouragement and disappointment. I have seen the attacks of the enemy, even the attacks of My people against them. And just as Joseph’s brothers meant it for evil, I MEANT IT FOR GOOD THAT I MIGHT SAVE MANY PEOPLE spiritually, mentally, and physically.

I am about to deliver many people - masses of people, hundreds of millions of people - from among the nations, tribes, and families of the earth. Tell My people there is hope, to seek my face again, and to START NOW. I will use them GREATLY and in ways they have not expected.”

That is the vision and the message the Lord gave me. Now ... if that applies to you, where do you go from here?

1. START NOW

It doesn’t matter if your ministry is one of the five-fold gifts to the church as apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher ... or whether you have the ministry of helps ... or whether you are involved in a labor of love that is hidden from the eyes of many.

You are to START NOW believing God for the anointing upon the work you are doing to bring torrential rains of the Spirit upon mankind. And PRAY that it is multiplied around the world. Get SERIOUS about yourself, your ministry, and your influence!

“Behold, the former things are coming to pass, and NEW things do I declare: before they spring forth I will tell you of them.” [Isaiah 42:9]

The Hebrew word “chadash” for “new” here means exactly that: “new, fresh, a new thing.” The God of Israel doesn’t deal in stale commodities; He is the Creator. He is going to create NEW works through you ... and He will get ALL the glory. You and everyone around you will know it’s not you.

The Holy Spirit is God’s agent on Planet Earth to supply the resurrection power of Christ. START NOW asking God what you can do to be a “nesting place” for the Holy Dove. If nothing comes to mind right away, then start with humility!


2. FIGHT

If God is telling you to start now, that means He is going to help you and nobody can successfully withstand you.

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” [Romans 8:31]

The Greek word “kata” here for “against” denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity. Many times the devil will distribute evil agents to oppose you, with the goal of destroying you and thereby nullifying the work of God through you. Sometimes these agents will attack you from different sources and avenues simultaneously. Since the NEW work which God will be doing through you is GREATER than anything you have been involved with in the past, the opposition is [super]naturally going to be greater.

This verse in Romans 8:31 is literally telling you in the original language in which it was written that God regards YOU as the very chiefest ... very highly ... and for YOUR SAKE He is FOR YOU!

If you’re experiencing weariness then cast it away in Jesus’ name. It is no more than an attack of Satan: a lie of Satan to get you to believe you can’t go on, that you can’t take on any NEW work(s). If you are plagued with gossip as a result of past sins or disobedience then turn to your Father in Heaven and remind yourself of His love and forgiveness. Then remind the devil of his future. If you’re experiencing doors shut to you by men and committees of men, rejoice. Those shut doors are just direction for you into the GREAT OPEN DOORS of ministry for God in these last days!

But since you KNOW that God has commanded you to START NOW and that He is FOR YOU, then all you have to do is be willing to FIGHT the good fight of faith. Stop global whimping! Stand up and fight. And, after you have done all, STAND.

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” [Ephesians 6:13]   The Greek word “histaymee” here for “stand” means “to continue, covenant, establish, hold up.”

3. BELIEVE

The only one that can cause you to lose is YOU! Jesus said unto him, “If you can BELIEVE, all things are possible to him that believes.” [Mark 9:23]

Put some MIRACLES in your account. Use your faith to put supplies and people (everything and everyone) you need “in trust” ... that is, in “YOUR heavenly bank account” ahead of time. That’s what the word “believe” in Mark 9:23 means [Greek “pisteuo”]. Have FAITH ... establish some credit ahead of time ... by believing and receiving what you need ahead of time. Be specific!

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” [Mark 11:24]

The word “lambano” here for “receive” means “to take, to get hold of, attain, obtain.” The SECRET is WHEN YOU PRAY! That’s the TIME to RECEIVE! When you’re in your prayer closet that’s the TIME to receive those BIG things from God ... some may come into play years later ... but you receive in faith NOW ... WHEN you pray ... and you SHALL have it!

Later in the day, the devil will try to challenge your faith and tell you “Those things you prayed for this morning are TOO BIG ... God isn’t going to do that for YOU!” That’s when you want to say to the devil, “Thank you, Mr. Liar, for reminding me that I RECEIVED those things in my prayer time this morning; now I KNOW I have them ... Jesus, The Truth, promised me.”

The only one who can cause you to win is YOU! God is already for you; that is a given fact! You KNOW this ... now YOU are the one who must do your part: START NOW ... SEEK HIS FACE ... FIGHT ... BELIEVE ... ACT!


4. DREAM BIG

Dream BIG ... it may be your last chance!

“Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not.” [Jeremiah 33:3]

My transliteration of Jeremiah 33:3 is as follows: Call God out by His name, cry out [“qara”] to Him, pronounce to Him your cause. He will pay attention to you with His eye and respond to you [“hanah”] by announcing His answer. He will manifest to you boldly [“nagad”] exceedingly great things [“gadol-gadol”] that are strong and inaccessible [“batsar”] to you except by His miracles.

“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us ...” [Ephesians 3:20]

How BIG can you ask? How BIG can you think?

Start challenging God. Quit insulting your Father. Give your Heavenly Father the opportunity to show you Who He is!

Litigate. Got to the Heavenly Court. Plead with God. Tell Him you are wanting to be involved with His program to bless the nations: to reach the world for Messiah Yeshua.

Tell Him you won’t take anything LESS than every nation, tribe, tongue and dialect for your Lord!  “Put me in remembrance: let us plead together. You make a declaration, so that you may be justified.” [Isaiah 43:26]

5. LIVE HOLY

Set yourself apart so that you can be used for “special” works for the Lord.

“If a man therefore purge himself from these [dishonorable practices], he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” [2 Timothy 2:21] “Sanctified” [Greek: “hagiazo”] means purified or consecrated.

Resist the devil. Realize the enemy’s tactics. Remind yourself, “The enemy is a liar and a loser!” Give glory to God by living holy. Through holy living you accomplish the following:

[] You please God;
[] You establish a testimony;
[] You enable yourself to be used for “special” works.

EXHORTATION

For those of you who are "starting again" let me encourage you. You will be stronger this time. You will have the "eye of the tiger." The enemy will never take you captive again .. and he will never take you alive! You've already been close to death at the hands of the enemy. You will never let it happen again. You will be one of God's key generals. You will serve Him out of love, appreciation, and thanksgiving.

If God used Moses (who was a murderer and repented) and if God used King David (who was both an adulterer and murderer who repented), then God can use you! On the last day of his life Samson killed more of the enemy Philistines that in the previous times of battle. Let God avenge you for the times the enemy has wounded you!

“For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded. Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. He is near that justifies me; who will contend with me? Let us stand together: who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? Lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.” [Isaiah 50:7-9]

“And even to your old age I am He; and even to grayish-white hair will I carry you. I have made and I will bear; even I will carry, and I will deliver you.” [Isaiah 46:4]

“Behold, all they that were incensed against you shall be ashamed and confounded; they shall be as nothing. And they that strive with you shall perish.” [Isaiah 41:11]