Dear Partner,

One of the ways that the Holy Spirit guides and directs us is by giving us visions. One day earlier this year, as I was in prayer seeking the mind of Christ for the bible study I was going to teach that night, I suddenly had a vision. In this vision I saw myself teaching at the Bible Study. Not only could I see myself standing there teaching the people, but I could hear what I was saying. In this vision I heard myself saying,

"We are going to spend some time speaking the Word of God. At this point I do not want you to even try to believe it. All I want you to do is acknowledge that God's Word is True! Have this attitude: I am saying this because it is the truth. God cannot lie. When I say what He says I am not lying. I acknowledge that this is truth."

As I listened to myself in this vision, the word "acknowledge" seemed to stand out to me. As I continued in prayer, the Holy Spirit reminded me of these verses;

2 Tim 2:24-26 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

One thing is for sure. None of us want to be taken captive by the devil at his will. We all want to recover ourselves out of every snare of the devil. According to this passage of scripture, it is by "acknowledging the truth" that we escape the devil's snares. The New American Heritage Dictionary gives these meanings for the word "acknowledge":

1. To confess, avow, or admit the truth of.
2. To express thanks or gratitude for.
3. To accept or certify as legally binding.

Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVETH! It is possible for the terminally ill cancer patient to be healed. It is possible for everybody's lost children to be saved. It is possible to live free from worry and depression. It is possible for your finances to be abundantly supplied. It is possible to live free from debt. "All things are possible" Jesus said! To whom? TO HIM THAT BELIEVETH!

If we have been snared by the devil in any area of life, how do we go from being in a state of unbelief to becoming a person that "believes?" The Holy Spirit said to me,

"To acknowledge the Word of God as being the truth is the first step on the path of believing."

Regardless of the snare we are in, no matter what our present circumstances dictate to us, the FIRST STEP on the path of recovering ourselves out of the snare of the devil is to begin ACKNOWLEDGING that the Word of God is TRUTH! How do we do that?

1. By Confessing the Word of God as being truth.
2. By expressing thanks and gratitude that the Word is the truth in our lives.
3. By declaring the Word as being legally binding.

As an example, a person that had been diagnosed as terminally ill with cancer is faced with certain medical facts. We do not deny the facts. They exist. But facts are not always the TRUTH! Jesus never said, "Facts are truth." No, Jesus said,

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: THY WORD IS TRUTH.

TRUTH CHANGES FACTS! In the face of present tense "facts" a person diagnosed as terminally ill with cancer would begin "acknowledging" the TRUTH by beginning to confess with their mouth verses such as,

Psa 103:2-3 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.

As a new testament believer, he would say, "I bless you Lord. I forget not all of Your benefits. You forgive me all my sins by the blood of Jesus Christ. By the stripes of Jesus, You have healed all of my diseases. I am forgiven. I am healed. With a thankful heart full of gratitude I worship You. Your Word is the final authority. Your Word is legally binding. Cancer must leave my body. It has no choice. Father, Your Word is Truth. I am saved. I am healed."

Even if we don't actually believe it at first, this is the FIRST STEP on the path to being transformed to believing it. Once we believe, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!

Thank you for your gift to GCM. Sue and I love you and appreciate you. We thank God for your generous and giving heart. God bless you!

Your friend and co-laborer,

Gary Carpenter

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