Tag Archive for: battles

Lose the Battle, Win the War

Reflecting on the legendary battle at Thermopylae, where 300 Spartan soldiers faced insurmountable odds against the Persian army, one cannot help but admire their courage and sacrifice. Despite their eventual defeat, their actions paved the way for the ultimate victory of the Greek forces in the war against Persia.

The memory of the brave Spartans inspired the Greeks to persevere, even in the face of overwhelming opposition. This historical event teaches us a profound truth: sometimes losing a battle is a necessary step towards winning the war.

Dear readers, let us pause and contemplate the paradox of losing a battle. While it may seem counterintuitive, there is beauty in embracing defeat for the sake of a greater victory. As Apostle Grace Lubega eloquently preached, we must learn to lose battles to achieve the grander vision of winning the war.

Consider the everyday battles we face in life. A young man may win a trivial argument with an elder but lose the opportunity to honor and respect wisdom. Similarly, fleeting gains obtained through deceit or conflict often result in long-term losses of trust and integrity.

Imagine the joy of indulging in immediate pleasures, only to realize the cost of sacrificing long-term blessings. These stories serve as cautionary tales, reminding us of the importance of discerning between temporary victories and enduring triumphs.

For instance, let's reflect on the scenario of a young man who carelessly argues with an elder over an issue in which he is technically correct. Yes, he may win the battle of the argument, but in doing so, he loses the deeper respect and wisdom that come from honoring one's elders. The principle of respecting elders, often touted in various cultures, is not merely about winning or losing arguments but about nurturing relationships and gaining invaluable insights for the future.

Similarly, consider the allure of immediate gratification at the expense of long-term consequences. Stealing a few coins from your boss might provide temporary financial relief, but it jeopardizes the trust and integrity crucial for sustained professional growth and advancement. In essence, the fleeting gains of the present can pale in comparison to the enduring losses of the future.

Furthermore, think about the dynamics of personal relationships. Insulting an adversary might offer a momentary sense of satisfaction, but it plants seeds of bitterness and resentment that can haunt us indefinitely. The power of words, whether used to uplift or tear down, carries lasting consequences that shape the course of our interactions and connections.

Even in seemingly trivial situations, the principle holds. Imagine the joy of indulging in a sumptuous meal on Christmas day, having slaughtered a cow for the occasion. However, in doing so, one sacrifices the milk and sustenance that the cow would have provided for the entire following year.

If you fought for ice cream with a young child, you'd get the ice cream with its sweetness and lose the Child with their love and trust.
These examples illustrate the trade-offs we face between immediate gratification and long-term sustainability in various aspects of life.

In conclusion, let us strive to adopt a perspective that transcends the momentary struggles and setbacks we encounter. By surrendering our desire for immediate gratification and trusting in the greater plan, we can truly lose the battle to win the war.

To delve deeper into this topic, I was inspired by a sermon preached by Apostle Grace Lubega of Phaneroo Ministries International at the 2018 annual Men's Conference themed “Eye Can See.” You can watch the sermon here.

Warm regards,

Bethwel Kiprono K.

Blessings and Battles: My 40th Unexpected Birthday Experience

Many of you know by now that on June 7th, 2024, I turned 40. Yay! I just finished a decade and started a new one in the Lord. I wasn’t going to make a big deal out of my birthday, but I felt it was a big deal to end a decade, especially when it was loaded with challenges, sicknesses, and many lessons, and start a fresh new one. God celebrates us daily, monthly, yearly, and decade-wise. He cherishes our time on earth and considers it a valuable asset for His glory. I know a birthday is precious because it reminds us of God creating us, but I always thank the Lord for my second birth 20 years ago! Both are important.

So, my birthday is on June 7th, and this time it fell on a Friday, which is a Sabbath, entering the rest of God. Also, 7 means completion, and turning 40 is meaningful because it is the number of ending a wilderness, and it feels like that. Not only that, the month of Sivan 5784 started on my birthday!

The Lord has been talking to me a lot about rest and entering my promised land, and I couldn't wait for a fresh new beginning in the Lord. As many of you saw, I even created a webpage declaring and prophesying all those goodies. You can still leave me a birthday prayer there and enjoy my gifts for you. (Click here)

Friday came, June 7th arrived, and I NEVER expected that instead of experiencing the goodness of the Lord and the promised rest and freshness, waves of demonic temptations would bombard me. Oh my God, pressure from every side, sexual temptations, oppression, ups and downs, swirling emotions, and even the strong feeling of going back to Egypt, my place of bondage. My soul was in agony, confused, asking the Lord what was going on. I even told Him, “This is not real because I feel like 20 years of being on the potter's wheel feels like a waste.” Wow! What is going on, Lord?

I forgot that a new beginning and new levels are a threat to Satan. Forgot! I, who teaches the Bible and about the ways in the Spirit, was caught off guard. The devil was at the gate of this NEWNESS of Life to abort it and destroy it. To discourage me and compel me to hate it and expect nothing but death, pain, and curses.

Please read this carefully because you will learn something powerful here:

I am a free man. Not that I won't be tempted anymore—everyone will—but it took me years to establish my transformation and freedom in my character and mind, especially in my places of bondage. I greatly appreciate my freedom because sin was never fun and will never be. It was a tormenting cycle! Pleasant to the eye and feelings but deadly when you partake of it. This is how sin works! Remember when we all fell in Eden?

So when you feel a sudden urge to go back to Egypt after years of freedom and enjoying your transformation, KNOW that there is a demonic presence and oppression here because it doesn't make sense why there is this strong stirring in you to do something this strong you forgot about, prayed over with tears for long, went to conferences for freedom, read the books, rebuked the devils, etc. So when it is a sudden urge, discern that there is a demonic activity. But if you are still in your journey toward freedom, know that you still have strongholds and wrong mindsets that are not yet touched by the Lord or renewed. So it is natural to feel frequent desires to sin. Those urges can sometimes be demonic but not necessarily. It is mainly because you are not there yet and your flesh is still active.

This was not the case on my birthday—three days of oppression, entertaining sin, and old behaviors. Sometimes I made it, sometimes I couldn't. I never experienced a level of oppression like that before.

Why am I sharing my vulnerability with you here? Because many of you are and will start a fresh NEW strong beginning for the glory of the Lord, and the devil is at the door, not just the Lord. You need to be aware of this, be watchful in prayer, and seek help, intercession, and a faith community to take out your giants.

We all want to enter the promised land, but no one wants to confront the giants. I was focusing on my promised land and forgot giants were waiting for me. But greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. Even though you go through battles, the final say is the Lord's. Remember that the dragon is WAITING for the woman to give birth to kill the baby(Revelation 12) and tried his best and caused lots of trouble, yet we have read the last chapter and Jesus wins!

Don't feel discouraged because with God things will get better and right on track if you keep pressing in. I am writing you this in the belly of the whale, knowing that any moment now, with your prayers, love, support, and giving, I will experience resurrection life and power because it is my portion and yours in Christ.

God bless you,
Tony Francis

We'd love to hear from you! Share your experiences, new beginnings, and thoughts in the comment section below.

Prophetic Word For The Month of March 2024

Hey everyone, I'm thrilled to share what I received during my prayer time with the Lord for March 2024. Isn't it incredible and beautiful how God renews each day, month, and year, offering us new beginnings, mercies, and specific blessings for each appointed time? Who else cares for us like the Lord does?

Here's what I believe the Holy Spirit is conveying to us for March 2024 in Jesus' name: it's a month of OWNERSHIP! The anointing of possessing things is upon us. Some will acquire their homes, while others may gain ownership of businesses, and so forth. What seemed challenging to own before, you'll MARCH into this month, possessing the land in Jesus' name. Everywhere you turn, blessings abound! It's springtime, with fruits and flowers blooming. Some will reclaim ownership of themselves after enduring cycles of torment, bondage, battles, addictions, depression, worry, and anxiety. It's a favorable month to reclaim your DIVINE HEALTH in Jesus' name.

I also sense that there are GIVERS among us. Many will give generously, and it's not limited to monetary gifts. There's a divine release to GIVE, GIVE & GIVE, why? Because in spring, the ground is fertile for sowing seeds, and you'll be guided by the Spirit to sow many seeds that will return to you as a bountiful harvest. So, be led by the Spirit in Jesus' name!

“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.” Malachi 3:10-12. If this ministry is a blessing to you and is feeding you, we appreciate your generous giving:

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God bless you,
Tony Francis

Decades of Peace

Once you carve a realm, it is yours forever! I think this is fair enough as a reward for your sufferings, pains, struggles, battles, fights, and victories. In the systems of this life, once a student passes a year successfully, he is promoted to higher levels of testing until the completion of the whole realm of education. Once a year is finalized successfully you have the authority and right not to retake it but to advance instead. You don't need to go through that year again, thus you redeem your time because you conquered that level and now new realms are opening up to you. This applies to every educational year when marked successful. Then comes the last year at school and after that, you have carved and conquered the whole educational realm to move to specialization and then career life.

I have gone through it all, I have no more fear of going back to school again or university. It is not even on my radar anymore plus I am now a seasoned businessman and I advanced way far from my education and learning. I will never go back to school this I know!

The same thing applies spiritually when you carve certain realms successfully with the Lord. The enemies you saw you will see no more, the challenges you went through you will go through no more, and the pain you felt is now replaced with joy, fulfillment, and ownership! Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of your faith, he is the Alpha and Omega, and he starts and finishes cycles and seasons in our lives and takes us from glory to glory. How do I know that the pain and the season you are going through will come to an end? It is because I know Jesus is the finisher!

Why am I telling you this? Because I went through a long season of health issues and chronic inflammation and pains with lots of medical care and in those moments, almost 5 years, I felt I was stuck forever, that did not seem to be breaking. I understand how hopeless we can get when it is intense and LONG (emphasis on LONG). Yet not only did the Lord spare me and come through to me and end my suffering but also he promised me divine health all the days of my life. You are talking to someone who will know sickness no more, I will age but never get old. I paid the price, I stood by faith for a long time for my health and thus I will have decades of peace and youth in my health. I carved the realm of health and energy with the Lord and it was a very tough battle yet it is worth the cost. Let me clarify one thing for you please, you don't need to battle in your health to carve a realm of healing because Jesus Christ made you the HEALED OF THE LORD by his stripes and this is your portion in him. Yet what I am trying to tell you is that the enemy fights us in our prophetic promises and blessings.

That health storm came against me because the Lord marked me for youth, divine health, and high energy because I am called for ministry and for special things in the Lord, like coming and going and flying to places, etc. The storm you are in now can tell you what blessing is waiting for you. Satan fights you with the opposite spirit always. Another battle was on my identity all my life, why? Because God called me to father nations and on. I hope those little examples from my life are helping my point to be clarified.

In the battle, you are going through now, not only God will give you the victory but also the REALM of it. You will also have the authority to be able to minister to others in this very thing. Your ceiling will be the threshold for others by way of impartation. Don't you love it that the Lord kept us in the bible stories of messed up fathers to learn from them and avoid their mistakes? Not only that but in Christ, we are connected to the redemptive blessings side of those forefathers. We receive their inheritances and grace over our lives multiplied. Oh, I pray you will understand what I am communicating with you here!

We read in the bible on and on how peace was established between two parties or nations after their war and they lived in peace for decades. You can expect a long satisfying peace after this or that struggle, battle, or war.

For me, I will live in decades of peace in my health, and identity. Halleluiah! What about you?

God bless you
Tony Francis

If you need more encouragement around this, feel free to watch this powerful short prophetic word on YouTube by Patricia King titled “Your War is Ending”. Watch Now

Overcoming Fear: A Christian Woman’s Journey to Trusting in God

As a Christian woman, fear can be a constant battle. We are bombarded with messages of fear from the media, our peers, and even our own thoughts. Fear can be paralyzing, causing us to doubt ourselves and our faith. However, as believers, we have the power to overcome fear through our relationship with God.

One of the most common fears that Christian women face is the fear of not being enough. We may feel like we are not good enough mothers, wives, friends, or even Christians. This fear can lead to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. However, we must remember that our worth is not based on our performance or accomplishments. Our worth comes from being a child of God, and He loves us unconditionally.

Another fear that Christian women face is the fear of the unknown. We may worry about the future and what it holds for us and our loved ones. However, we must trust in God's plan for our lives. He knows the plans He has for us, and they are plans for good and not for harm (Jeremiah 29:11). We must have faith that God will guide us through any challenges that come our way.

Fear can also manifest itself in our relationships with others. We may fear rejection or judgment from others, causing us to hold back and not fully engage in our relationships. However, we must remember that God calls us to love one another and to build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). We must trust in God's love for us and allow that love to overflow into our relationships with others.

Finally, as Christian women, we may fear the spiritual battles that we face. We may feel like we are not equipped to handle the attacks of the enemy. However, we must remember that we have the power of the Holy Spirit within us. We can put on the armor of God and stand firm against the enemy's schemes (Ephesians 6:10-18).

In conclusion, fear is a common struggle for Christian women. However, we must remember that we have the power to overcome fear through our relationship with God. We must trust in His love for us, His plan for our lives, and His power within us. With God by our side, we can face any fear and come out victorious.

Finding Peace by Removing your Goliath

I had a very interesting dream recently, about a happy puppy that picked up a large egg and carried it to his master. Wagging his tail in energetic anticipation, he dropped the egg at his masters feet.  What happened next was surprising. The egg cracked open and scorpions came out, stinging the puppy!

I asked “what should he do??”  I then watched in amazement as the dog curled up and went to sleep at the foot of his master, resting peacefully.

I then heard his master say “rest now until I give you a new command, then your actions will be from me and you will know it is my command by the peace that I give you.”

I knew immediately upon waking, that the dream had significance.

No doubt my horrible fear of stepping on a scorpion growing up in Arizona, where they frequently show up in desert homes crossed my mind, however I knew there was more to this dream.

While walking into my kitchen a couple of days later you will never guess what happened! Exactly… I stepped on a Scorpion!! What was really amazing is that after screaming loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear and catapulting onto my kitchen counter, it occurred to me…why wasn’t I feeling any pain of it’s sting! How was that possible?

When I looked at the place where I was stung, I realized that there was a huge callous formed where the scorpion’s stinger met my foot. This was because of numerous painful blisters I had received from new hiking boots I had broken in on some treacherous hikes.

What a strange analogy I know, but sometimes God has to go outside of the norm to get His message to sink in with me. As you can imagine this scenario really got my attention!

I couldn’t stop thinking about my dream and this strange incident that followed.

I finally came to understand that the dog in this dream represented me and the egg represented all of my good intensions in trying to handle things on my own; frequently jumping ahead of God’s plan instead of waiting for wisdom and direction. While my intentions were good, the results were never as good. “The wrong thing at the right time, is still the wrong thing” as a dear friend once told me.

Not only have these efforts not been helpful (despite my good intentions) but because of my impatience, they have ended up hurting me.
After humbly repenting for jumping ahead of God’s plan in thinking I knew better, I opened my bible, and turned to Jeremiah 6:14. “They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people, saying, peace, peace; when there is no peace.”

I then understood the meaning behind the real scorpion that I stepped on!  I realized that the scars from the battles I’ve fought are there to protect me against the enemy’s sting just as the callous formed from my painful blisters protected me from the poisonous venom of the scorpion.

I have lost so many family members and friends,  many in the most tragic of deaths. However the analogy came to mind where it says in scripture “death where is your sting? “

My horrific lifelong fear has not only been disempowered, but it has now been replaced with a new courage that comes from the lesson I have learned in this strange story.

I have found a new peace that only God can give.

I also realized that this dream not only applies to me but also many others, including many church leaders who have shared similar stories.

We are all going through a time of restlessness, confusion, chaos and loss. Just as I have experienced, many are seeking after God’s provision without necessarily having His direction or having experienced  His peace in the process.

This is not just futile but it can be very dangerous!

I once heard my pastor say “A peace-keeper ignores his Goliath but a peace-MAKER REMOVES him!!!”

This is where we are today!!

Is it possible to engage in the battle that we are called to in this time, yet still do so with an underlying peace? That seems contradictory doesn’t it?
It’s not only possible but it’s imperative!! We can ask for His peace when there is no peace! This is how we will know we are walking by His spirit and not in our own flesh. Doing so with a responsibility to face our Goliath & REMOVE him!
We must understand that being at peace doesn’t mean being passive.

NOW is not a time of passivity!! It is time for us to lock arms and stand for what we know to be true and REMOVE our Goliath!

A shalom that truly passes all understanding in a time where chaos and fear abound, will then go before you and surround you!

So what is your Goliath today?

What is holding you back from removing your fear and stepping into a place of Shalom and removing your Goliath once and for all?

These days are certainly not for the faint of heart. We are in a battle that requires courage, perseverance and to constantly seek God’s wisdom to navigate these treacherous waters.

I pray that you will stand strong today and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, using your wounds as a protection against the enemy’s plans for destruction in your life and in our nation!

Release your faith with courage and be in peace!

Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Blessings and Shalom

Day of the Supernatural

God is a supernatural God, he was, he is and he will ever be. The supernatural may be new to some believers but this is who they are in Christ, supernatural followers!

It is important to know that how you see the Lord is how he manifests to you and through you.

The word of God urges us to “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5. Why? Because there is a war to veil the knowledge of God in every aspect and area because once God's face is revealed you will believe and see his glory. For generations many believed that eternal salvation is earned, you do good, give your land to the church, etc. Unfortunately, that is wrong and many died in this deception because they couldn’t see Jesus Christ as the savior and that his eternal life is a FREE gift we can’t earn or work for. There was a war and still in this area for many! I am not under this war anymore, I believe Jesus as is, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, he died for my sins, forgave me, I gave him my life and I received eternal life from now. The devil has lost this war with me, which is a big one.

I can’t list to you the numerous battles, the arguments and imaginations that rose and still rising to veil and block the knowledge of God. Many are struggling to see Jesus as the healer, many can’t see him as the provider, or the Hope of Glory, etc. But when you break through and see God as he is, he will manifest to you and through you the way you see him according to your faith.

Can you see God as a supernatural God? Is it hard for you to see him this way? Remember, you are in a battle NOT to see him like that because once you engage you will see the glory of the supernatural manifestations of God and the devil doesn’t want that for you.

It is a day of the supernatural, Christ is this day, in him, there is no darkness, only light. God wants to deal with your wrong perceptions and touch the way you see him in this area because he wants you to know him as supernatural and he wants you to see his supernatural activity. He wants to express his love to you through supernatural means because it is all about his love for you and not the supernatural itself.

You will overcome the lies of the enemy in the name of Jesus. You will see the Lord and put a demand on his supernatural facet and expressions. He has so much in store, you can't bankrupt him. God wants you to believe he is and he will be a rewarder to those who diligently seek him, Hebrews 11:6.

Yes, it is important how you see the Lord, very important that’s why sound theology, doctrine, and teachings are to be the foundation, the kickstart of your encounters with supernatural Yahweh. Are you under the right anointed teachings? Does your church forthtell raw truths about who God truly is? Through what lens do you look at the Lord? It is time to remove the old unbiblical lens and behold the glory of the Son of God, he is supernatural, it is a day of the supernatural!

God is counting on you to believe him as supernatural, he wants his people to pioneer in this belief and manifest him. The world is looking, searching, trying different unclean things and are groaning for the manifestations of your glory, Romans 8.

Thank you for reading.

Tony Francis

 

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Hello, May 2022: Prophetic Zoom Event with Tony Francis

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The Narrow Path

“I am the living One. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” Revelation 1: 18

The very thing you overcome, you possess its gates! Jesus conquered death and the grave for you and today he lives forever and ever and holds the keys! Keys speak of authority, the one who owns the house has its keys! You are the master, the owner because you own the house! When you overcome depression by the graceful workings of the Holy Spirit in your heart and life, then you hold the keys to joy forever and ever. You own JOY!

The narrow path is not attractive nor appealing for anyone to go through. We want the easy way and I am not saying that God doesn’t offer easy opportunities for us but going through the narrow path where you drink the cup of suffering will make you sit next to Jesus! I have good news to tell you, the hell you are going through or you went through before wasn’t meant for your destruction but a stairway to your permanent promotion, a serious preparation to give you the keys of that very thing and make you owner over it.

Authority derives from the word author and you don’t have authority over what you don’t write with the sweating ink of your sufferings! Let me ask you this: what did you overcome so far? What are you overcoming right now? Reading this devotion will open your eyes to read well your future and to position you to receive the documents of ownership God is signing for you!

You are the master, you are the owner, you have and you will get the keys and then you can offer others help the way Jesus did with John the beloved where she showed him the keys of death and grave to tap into what he conquered for him. Winning your battles are not only yours but others as well!

Toni Francis

I highly recommend you watching this message of T.D Jakes on “Serum Solutions”! Click here to watch it