Church of the Word Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Pastor Syd shared a prophetic word from Kim Clement from 2007 about the U. S. government, followed by prayer for President Trump. Teaching: P. C. Nelson's leg was run over by a car. A pentecostal believer prayed for his leg, and it was instantly healed and whole. He became a healing preacher. Healing is an essential thing to know. We have God's Word on it. Mark 11:23-24 tells us that faith and the words we say in faith can move mountains. Most people miss it in their speaking, rather than in their faith. We are stepping into creative miracles and a move of God. Whoever can have whatever. In Joshua 10:4-15 the Lord killed many of the enemy with large hailstones, and Joshua spoke to the Lord. In the sight of Israel he said that the sun and the moon were to stand still so they could fight longer. What did he need to have in order to speak to the sun and moon? Or what about Elijah telling Ahab it was not going to rain until he said so in 1 Kings 17? It was spiritual authority. There is a revelation of spiritual authority that is greater than what we are walking in. Some people were mocking William Branham and tried to set him up by having him minister to a man who pretended to be blind. Branham asked if he truly was blind, and the man said "yes," and he became blind on the spot. Spiritual authority means knowing the power of words. Speech and the immune system are connected. Jesus spoke with great authority. He wants us to walk in that same kind of authority over the work of the enemy. We are the army of the Lord. Jesus gave us authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt us (Luke 10:19-20). Satan is stripped of his authority, and Jesus has triumphed over sickness, depression, cancer, and pain. He has given us authority over our bodies. We live in the world but are not of it. We are to rule and reign over circumstances and sicknesses. Start ruling and reigning. When Brian was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he went to the top hospital, where his parents were told there was no cure. A tumor grew to the size of a basketball in seventy-two hours, his organs were shutting down, and he had tumors throughout his body. When the doctors saw the x-rays, they said nothing, left the room, and told his parents there was nothing to be done for him, and that he would be dead in three days. He had seen God's healing power in services before, so his faith was built up. His parents did not tell Brian the doctors' report but only spoke the Word over him and had him repeat it aloud, over and over. He needed to know his authority. Faith is found in the heart and mouth. The heart needs the mouth's cooperation. The heart says to the mouth, "Don't deceive me. Don't go against this agreement. Don't disconnect." James 1:25-26 says to not deceive your heart with your tongue. If you talk about spiritual authority, you need spiritual maturity. Brian told of missionaries in Mexico and how their words cost them. In healing, people often disconnect. We get a wrong mindset, back off of faith, and relinquish the healing. Brian's father was diagnosed with cancer a few months before Brian's diagnosis. He was healed, but years later, he started having problems with eating. He said, "That's it," and he died that night. We have authority. Our faith must be in both our hearts and our mouths. Brian's parents did not allow TV or visitors in his room. They spoke the Word aloud. Brian told of a woman who confessed and declared the Word over her invalid daughter from birth. She said, "I call these crooked legs straight. She will run and be like other children." After fourteen years, the daughter was miraculously healed. Disease is under your feet. Do not let your mouth deceive and disconnect from your heart. Do not be moved from the simplicity of the gospel, and watch who you follow. Declare the Word of the Lord. God's methods get God's results.

Psalm 23 only applies to you if Jesus is your Shepherd. He is the God of abundance. He provides what you need. He restores your emotions, wills, and minds. He causes your life to return. He leads rightly for His name's sake. Even in the scary places, you do not fear any evil. He has a rod and staff to protect you and to bring you into safety. You resist the devil, if He is your Shepherd. You can eat an abundance in the presence of your enemies. He anoints you. Your cup overflows. He is the God of more than enough. [In OT times, covenanted kings would eat a covenant meal before going out against the enemy of either one of them. Take communion when you are fighting sickness. It is covenant.] Only goodness and mercy, His faithful love, shall chase or follow you all the days of your life, and you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. He will extend your days.| Matthew 28:16-20 is the Great Commission. The accurate translation is "Having gone," which is an expected action, then disciple all nations, baptizing them, teaching them to observe (keep) all that He has commanded you. A "keep" was the most secure building. We are to make sure the teachings are followed. We are to make disciples, not converts. Disciples forsake everything and follow Christ.| Ephesians 4:11-16 tells about the five-fold ministry which is for the training of the saints in the work of serving, until we all reach unity. CWI's vision is to Transform, Equip, And, Mobilize people for the work of the ministry. The benefits of having home groups are that they are: a way to get the Word into us in a more intimate way; a way to build the Kingdom of God and reach out (your own family is a great place to start); a way for more people to operate in their gifts; a way of building relationships within the church by doing life together; a way of providing greater accountability; and a way to plant churches. [Pastor Syd gave details about the home groups starting later in February.]

1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1, 39. Pastor Syd told how Socrates taught a man how to be a great success. Do I desire the things of God? Be honest and not deceived by how you answer that question. We are to earnestly desire spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are for you [to minister to others]. Jesus said, "Come," to all the disciples in the boat, but only Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and His word. The gifts of the Spirit are for all believers who desire them. They are: speaking, power, and revelation gifts. Discerning of spirits is not the same as discernment, but is a supernatural ability to see spirits, such as angels or demons. (See December 18th's sermon notes for the definition of discerning.) Discerning of spirits enables the person to perceive the source of what is seen. It is about the spirit realm. Revelation 1:9-18 tells about what John saw (discerned) in the spirit realm. That gift was in operation when Stephen saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:54). It was working when Philip ministered to the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26-40). The gifts of the Spirit of discerning of spirits, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, and working of miracles were in operation when Saul was converted and Ananias was dispatched to minister to him (Acts 9). Cornelius's life was changed by various gifts of the Spirit working in him and Peter (Acts 10). Peter was freed from prison through the gifts of the Spirit (Acts 12:5-19). Other examples of discerning of spirits in action are found in Acts 13, 16, and 27. The gifts of the Spirit, including the discerning of spirits, can operate through any believer who desires to minister to unbelievers and to saints. They can be used effectively in the marketplace. (Leadership Training School graduation; testimonies of God's provision - Pastor Syd and Mike Frede.)

Larry Hostetter shared a testimony of taking authority over death in the name of Jesus Christ. Pastor Sydney shared some prophetic insights into 2017. We will reap where others have sown. There will be shakings. He encouraged us to pray over the news we read and hear. He declared 2017 to be a year of prayer. Jesus prayed that His will would be done on earth as it is in heaven. God hears our cry. Lift others up to Him. We speak in an awakening to God and the things of God. Islamic nations will not be known as Islamic years from now. Jesus caused multiplication to feed the five thousand (Mark 6:30-44). There were twelve baskets left over, more than enough. God wants to show off. The key to miracles is obedience to God and to His Word, spoken and written. Pastor Syd shared about an elderly woman who was choking and how he obeyed the prompting of the Lord to pray in the Spirit and to take authority over death. The woman came out of unconsciousness and could breath without anyone helping her in the natural, and she was okay. Be prepared and ready to obey. Follow God's promptings. Pastor Syd also told of a time when he was just recently filled with the Holy Spirit. He was not a pastor at the time. He had torn his ACL and reinjured it playing flag football. It was swollen, painful, and could not bend. He remembered just learning about taking authority, and he laid hands on it and commanded it to be whole. The swelling went down immediately, and the pain left, and he could not make it hurt! Thank You, Jesus! After he started pastoring, he prayed for a three or four year old child, who was brain damaged. He prayed for the child to have normal brain activity and blood flow. For the first time in her life, her forehead was warm and pink. She was healed and caught up developmentally with the other children her age. OBEY!

Colossians 1:26 tells us that the mystery is Christ in me. Am I acting like I believe that Christ is in me? How much different would we live if we really believed and acted like we believe that Christ is in us? Would we expect people to be healed when we lay hands on them? We do not go by our feelings but by faith. Hope is confident expectation. Christ in you is the confident expectation of glory. What brings glory? It is when the Body of Christ defeats the enemy, such as sickness. Mark 16 says that we shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Christ is in me. He hears my prayer. God shares His glory with you. Other Scriptures about Christ being in us: John 17:2; Romans 5:2; 9:23; 8:9-11; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 2:20; 4:4-7; Ephesians 3:16-20. Do we act on what we say we believe? God dwells in our hearts. We receive Jesus Christ into our hearts by saying, acting, and believing in our hearts that Jesus Christ is the Messiah (Romans 10:9-13). Pastor Syd read a children's story

A word was given about CWI being a special church, a church after God's own heart, one that teaches the Word. Keep on keeping on. Seek His face. Know the Holy Spirit and trust God. Sermon: 1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1, 39; 12:1-11. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one as the Spirit wills, wherever you may be. It is a knowing of something. There are three speaking, three revelation, and three power gifts. There may be several gifts working together at one time. To reveal means to uncover what is hidden. To discern means to detect with the eyes or other senses; to identify or separate or make distinction; to know or recognize; discovering, being sharp sighted. To discern the spirits is a supernatural ability, [not one seen or sensed by the natural senses]. We must be aware of the spiritual realm in order to be used in the spiritual gifts. Discerning of spirits means to see angels or evil spirits. Pastor Syd used wearing a glove to explain that what we see is the physical covering for the spirit of a person. The real person is a spirit, who is wearing an earth suit. Become aware of the unseen realm, so the gifts can come through you. Praying in tongues makes you more sensitive to the spiritual realm. We need to be able to discern the spirit in order to perceive the source of a spiritual manifestation, whether God, Satan, or man. It is important for us to realize our authority in Jesus Christ. There were testimonies: Paul Burkholder (supernatural healing from prostate cancer), the team who went to Guatemala; prayer for the security team.

Sermon: Acts 12:6-10. Peter was in prison with not much hope. His hands were chained to two guards, and there were guards at the door. Like Jesus in the boat on the stormy sea, Peter was sleeping. An angel gave him a "swift kick," telling him to arise quickly, and his chains fell off his hands. He told him to get dressed and to follow him. Peter did what he was told to do. When they got to the city gate, it opened for them, and the angel departed. God will not do for you what you can do for yourself. God will do what you cannot do. God did for Peter what Peter could not do, but Peter had to do what he could do. Sometimes we need a "swift kick." Apostle Dale told of a salesman he discipled who was miraculously delivered from cocaine, but because he could not get delivered from cigarettes, he thought it was all a waste. Remember, your problems are not unique, and you are not special. We are all King's kids. Understand Jesus more than your problems. Worship Him and not your problems. Do not worship your suffering. Bring your problems to Jesus, because He is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to handle. If the chains do not fall off, you can make it on your own. Baby chicks must peck through their egg shells in order to strengthen their neck muscles. Otherwise, they will die. You will come out better when you come through a struggle. God gives you to the problem to teach the problem. Are you bringing peace to the storm? You are a product of what you do when things happen to you. Change the environment and take dominion (Genesis 1:26). Be diligent. God never blesses lazy people. Be diligent. Prosperity is connected to diligence. There are things to be acted on today. The blessing is in Genesis 1:28. Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, subdue it, and have dominion. Say no to circumstances and weak areas. Take what belongs to you. Being a Christian means taking dominion, changing things, saying no, and taking a bold stand. Sometimes we just need a "swift kick." Offering message: Be quick to obey a word from the Lord. It will quicken the reaping of what you sow. God wants to use what you have for His ministry. Simon Peter, in Luke 5:1-8, repented to Jesus when he saw the miracle He did when Peter obeyed, even though it would have been easy not to obey. Your efforts are not good enough. If God directs you to do something with your finances, obey.

Romans 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. The condition of not having any condemnation is that we walk according to the Spirit. We need to respond to the voice of God without looking backwards. We are to take the territory, and as a church, we should be sending people out. In creation, God said, and it was. God did not speak man into existence, but formed him and breathed into him. When we are in Jesus Christ, His breath and Spirit are in us, leading us and telling us what to do. We are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if we are led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:2-17). We present ourselves as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1). God inhabits our praise. Praise opens the doors to the fullness of His power. Enter into the House of God with thanksgiving and praise. The pastor confirms what God has already been speaking to you. We have a lazy form of worship and praise. The church has reacted to what the devil has done. God has equipped us with a preemptive strike. That strike is prayer. We all know 2 Chronicles 7:14, but before that statement, Solomon had asked for wisdom. He asked for God to restore the Israelite people for when they fall away from Him. Praying is a two-sided conversation. We need to be quiet and listen to Him and not be distracted. Praying in the Spirit is a preemptive strike. We have one mortal lifetime to change our eternity. Be what you were created to be. Do not try to fix the problem, but after you have prayed, be quiet with the person you are praying for and trust God to do what you have prayed. Do not make so much noise that someone else's voice cannot be heard. The Word does not return void. Sometimes it takes another person's voice for the person to actually "hear" what you had been repetitively saying. We are beings of the Spirit. Do not be conformed to this world, but allow the Spirit to transform your mind (Romans 12:2). Conformity is giving into outside pressure, whereas transformation is an inward change. God breathed life into you so you can live where He is. Worship is going up to where God is. The more we change on the inside, the more the outside will change.

There are three main things Jesus did for us: 1) He wiped out our debt of sin; 2) He credited us with His righteousness; and 3) He intercedes for us. Scriptures on thankfulness: Deuteronomy 28:46, 47 (curses because you did not serve the Lord with joy and gladness of heart); Philippians 4:4-9; 1 Thessalonians 5:16; 1 Chronicles 16:34 ; Colossians 3:17; 1 Timothy 4:4; Psalm 100:4; Psalm 95:2; 1 Corinthians 15:56, 57. Rejoicing in the Lord strengthens you. Pastor Syd told of the history of the Pilgrims and how we have come to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. The Pilgrims wanted to separate from the state church, so they went to Holland, but their children were losing their English culture, so they decided to go to the new world. After much difficulty from both humans and nature, they arrived at Plymouth Rock. The ones who made the voyage signed a written agreement when they arrived. It was at Plymouth that they found houses and corn buried in sand, and since there was no one there to pay for it, they ate the corn and lived in the houses. Later they paid the Indians back. Their first completed building was a meetinghouse that was finished on December 25, 1620. It was a terrible winter, and many of the people died. In the spring Samoset, an Indian, walked in the settlement and spoke English to them, and they fed him. He came back the next day, which was a Sunday and wanted to trade with them, but they wouldn't, because it was a Sunday. Squanto came with Samoset, and they showed the settlers how to plant and harvest food. It was a great harvest in 1621, so they wanted to thank God for His blessings and for the Indians. There were thirty Pilgrims, only four white women, and ninety Indians who gathered for a three day feast. They found out that the reason there were provisions there when they landed was because the tribe of Indians who had lived there had died from an epidemic. There had been a prophecy warning that tribe. Concerning Pennsylvania, when William Penn's father died, the king could not pay back his debt to him, so he gave him the land of Penn's Woods. Penn bought it from the Indians, but because multiple tribes said they owned the land, Penn paid for it multiple times. Pastor Syd told of the many proclamations for days of thanksgiving. In 1863 President Lincoln issued a thanksgiving proclamation at a time of great division and death. It was after he saw the 60,000 dead at Gettysburg that he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. Be grateful to God.

If you want to hear from God, be willing to listen and be willing to record what He tells you. Ron Cohn share several incidences of dreams of or finding coins and how God told him the meanings. The government follows the church. Righteousness exalts a nation. Brother Ron talked about the super-moon which appeared around the time of the election. The last one was in 1948, when Israel was given its statehood. He said that the Lord told him that there are some conditions that are the beginning of the third great awakening. Genesis 1:14 God said that the sun, moon, and stars are signs for the seasons and days and nights. He shared how the sun, moon, eclipses, and stars are signs pointing to God. John Bevere said that passion and an eternal perspective are needed in the Body of Christ. Revelation 3:15, 16 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. God does want us to be lukewarm! You can not know where lukewarm people stand. If you are hot or cold, everyone knows where you stand. Daniel had passion for God. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego had passion for God (Daniel 3:8-30). When you are put in the fire, God is with you. God had someone in the fire before they were thrown in. Jesus' disciples had passion for Jesus (Acts 1-3). Jim Elliot was passionate for God as he ministered to the headhunter pygmies. He asked God, "Am I ignitable? Oh Lord, deliver me from the asbestos of other things." What you do with the cross determines where you will spend eternity. Obedience or disobedience, the way you live as a believer, will determine how you will spend eternity. The church has been praying for eighteen months. A country wakes up when the church wakes up. The sin that is in the world is the same corruption that is in the church. The church is the gatekeeper to righteous living. The church is poised for revival. Praying earnestly is a protest against the devil. Jesus lived in the passion of God. Gethsemane means "oil press," and that is where Jesus sweat like drops of blood. The blood of God came out of Him. Jesus took the sins on Him when He was in the garden. Other passionate men were: David, Joseph, Moses, Elijah, Stephen, and Paul. America has not known persecution, only disagreement and strife. ISIL stands for I'm Satan, I Lie; ISIS - I'm Satan, I Steal. SIGN - Secrets Indicating God's News. It is important how we treat Israel. Martyrdom is coming to America. There is only one Body. Those who are being martyred are part of us. We are not so special in America. We are part of the Body. Donald Trump's middle name is John. John was a forerunner. Trump is a forerunner of the re-establishing of a constitutional democracy. Luke 22:32 (I pray that your faith will fail you not.) We will have tribulation and persecution. Be willing to die for what you believe. Ron had a dream of a parking lot where all kinds of demonic activities were going on. He came and all the people were set free. Sick men were healed. Then he consecrated the land, and it disappeared. He had a dream of a white cloud and out of it poured blood, spraying blood over everything. Do not be afraid of dying. Be afraid of not pleasing God. Passionate living is powerful living. Between ordinary and extraordinary is passion. Deny the ordinary. Passion is the fuel to dream, the dare to believe, and goes where too many are afraid to go. Desire an understanding heart. A martyr is one who brings a witness. We think of being a martyr as being someone who dies for their faith. Live in faith, not in fear.