Oral Roberts - Attack Your Lack

By Oral Roberts
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Copyright !"#$ by %ral &oberts 'll &ights &eser(ed BK )!) *rinted in the United States of 'merica
+'B,- %. C%/+-/+S
1 Do You Know What Your Real Problem Is?...7 2 You Attack Your Lack With the aith You Alrea!" #a$e.......................................................2% % Learn rom the &ible #ow to 'tart Your Attack....................................................................27 ( #ow a )other*s aith Attacke!+An! Won,%- You .an Attack Your Lack With Your /i$in0 ...............................................................................(1 2n Rea3in0 Your #ar$est4 /o! 'a"s4 5/I67 It 8ime, an! Don*t /i$e 93,5.................................-7 You #a$e a Di$ine Ri0ht to Ask4 5L2RD4 What*s in It :or )e?5...........................................7% ; Roses Will &loom A0ain,.................................;7
< Do You Want )iracles b" the 8eas3oon or 8rainloa!?............................................................<1= 8he /o!>Kin! o: Pros3erit" an! the )an> Kin! o: Pros3erit"+#ere*s the Di::erence.....1=1 11 When You 8hink You*re 2ut o: 23tions+the Wor! o: /o! 'a"s You*re ?ot.........................111 12 #a$e You #ear! About the )an Who 'owe! in amine an! Rea3e! a 1==> ol! #ar$est?..............................................................121 1% #ow to Attack Your Lack b" 9sin0 /o!*s 6ocabular".........................................................1%1( What*s Your Decision?.................................1-1 1- 'umme! 93@ 8wel$e '3iritual 8ools to #el3 You Attack Your Lack.......................................1-I Will A88A.K )" Lack..................................111
0o 1ou Know 2hat 1our &eal *roblem 3s4
Chapter 1
0o you 5now what your real problem is as a Christian belie(er4 6etting to hea(en4 '(oiding hell4 0eath4 +he national go(ernment budget deficit4 +hreat of nuclear war4 /o7 +he single most urgent problem you face as a Christian belie(er is not whether you are going to hea(en when you die. 1ou 5now in your inner self that your faith in Jesus Christ of /a8areth, who recei(ed you into 9is 5ingdom, guarantees your eternal destiny will be with 6od. 0eath holds no fears for you. 3t is only a transition to a greater life 6od has for you.
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Attack Your Lack
'nd while national and international issues are important, they are not the 5ey issue of your life, e(ery hour of e(ery day. +he most urgent problem facing you is 9%2 +% 6-+ YOUR /--0 :-+ 293,- 1%U ,3V- %/ +93S -'&+9 %/ 1%U& 2'1 +% 9-'V-/ S*3&3+U',,1 *91S3C',,1 .3/'/C3',,1 'S 1%U 23+/-SS .%& C9&3S+ '/0 C'&&1 %/ 93S 2%&K. +housands of persons write me e(ery month. +hey are from the mainstream of the human race, but e(ery one of them, without e;ception, e(entually gets to the Key Issue...to the main thing they are facing and must o(ercome in order to be a happy and successful person. 3t is a need they are facing that they can<t handle and they want help from 6od. +hey as5, =Can you help me4= +he need changes from time to time, but the fact of life is that when one need is met, another need presents itself. 1ou are ne(er without a need. 1our need challenges your wal5 with the ,ord. 3t ta;es your ability to get along in life successfully. +his need, in its ne(er>relenting opposition, seems li5e a storm cloud blotting out the sun. 3t tries to hide 6od from your (iew. 3t fills you with an;iety and fear, and it births doubt that causes
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Do You Know What Your Real Pro le! Is"
you to question if you are sa(ed, if 6od cares about your e;istence on earth, if you can ma5e it in a world filled with unbelief, cursed with sic5ness and disease, filled with lac5, and which defies you e(ery day of your life. 2hen this need?in whate(er form spiritually ...physically...financially?is not being met in a way that gi(es some breathing room, some peace of mind, some e(idence that you are going to ma5e it, there is a feeling of gi(ing up. #rustrat$on arises inside because the need @ust won<t go away. =2hy has this happened to me4 2hat ha(e 3 done to deser(e it4= +hese questions, often unanswerable, increase your frustration. +hen the bottom>line question begins to rise up in you, =2hy me4 3s there something wrong with me4=
When the Doubter Comes

't this point the 0oubter of all 0oubters, Satan, slips in and begins to insinuate that being born again is not so great...wal5ing with the ,ord doesn<t pay...many who don<t e(en belie(e in the ,ord are getting along better than you are... your prayers are not being answered... so where is 6od4
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Attack Your Lack
/eed after need hits you with hammer>li5e blows...day after day...wee5 after wee5...year after year. 3t pounds at you, wears you, wea5ens you, scares you, pulls you down... down... down. 1ou go to church and often you find you can<t relate to the preacher<s message. 9e doesn<t appear to be tal5ing about you or your needs or where you are in life. %thers appear to en@oy the message and the church ser(ices. +he fact that the church is e(en there is comforting. 1ou greet friends, someone says hello to you or gi(es you a =6od bless you.= 1ou go home, howe(er, to the same old problem...your need is still facing you. %(er a period of time you may begin to feel as if you<re @ust a fi;ture in the church ser(ices, li5e the chair you sit on, or the hymnboo5 you sing from, or the choir singing, or the ushers recei(ing the tithes and offerings, or the building being there. 1ou<re there, but the life of 6od is not pulsating in you. 1ou don<t feel the -AC3+-:-/+ of being a Christian. %h, you en@oy the atmosphere where Christians gather. 1ou especially li5e the stories in the sermon. 'n occasional point made from the Bible ma5es sense to you or gi(es you inspiration to hang on to your faith in 6od. But o(erall you begin to de(elop a face when
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you tal5 about 6od or the church that is different from the one you li(e with the other !)B hours of the wee5 when you face your problems outside the church ser(ice. 3t<s li5e your =Christian= face is wearing a mas5. 1ou<(e learned to conceal what you really thin5 and feel, what you hurt o(er, are frustrated by, the fears that haunt you, the pain you bear, the feeling that things are not getting better and probably won<t. Satan slips in again with his insinuations. =2hy doesn<t the sermon get down to where you li(e in the nitty>gritty of your day> by>day needs4 +he singing lifted you up, but why are you so down again4 +he prayers at church inspired you that better things are coming, but where are they4 2hen are they going to get here4 1ou heard all this the last time you were at church and the times before that. But nothing is happening. 2hy4 2hy4 2hy4= 1ou cry, =2hy doesn<t the de(il lea(e me alone4= 1ou open the Bible to do what a good Christian shouldC read and study and let 6od spea5 to you from 9is 9oly 2ord. 1ou read, but you wonder what it means. 1ou read where it all happened bac5 there thousands of years ago to people you question as being a real person li5e yourself. 0id they go through the things the Bible says
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Attack Your Lack
they did4 2ere their problems as real as yours4 0idn<t they ha(e mighty prophets who said, =+hus saith the ,ord, do this and things will wor5 out for you e(en if 6od has to gi(e you a miracle7= 2here are such mighty men and women of 6od today4 2ho can get a prayer through to hea(en in these mind>boggling times4 2hy isn<t the Bible easier to understand or to apply to my situation 3/ +9- /%24 Can 3 really e;pect a miracle to happen to me4 +o my life4 +o my physical body4 +o my finances4 +o my family4 +o my spiritual life4
When Things Look So Easy

+ele(ision ma5es e(erything loo5 so easy. +he instant crimes, one>night se;, (iolence, and horrors come right into your li(ing room...yet you feel no sting of hate, anger, or grief. 1ou see people shot or mutilated...and you don<t care. 3t<s @ust ma5e>belie(e. 1ou see wars brea5ing out, world leaders trying to 5eep the lid on and smiling cheerfully...but if you loo5 closely, their faces show their fear that the world is out of control. =:y 6od, what<s going to happen ne;t4= +he commercials suddenly appear, momentarily shutting off the ugly stories, gi(ing you the most powerful sales pitch you<(e e(er
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had about enticing cosmetics, instant foods, glamorous clothes, the newest touch>button cars, and e(ery sort of gadget that promises if you will only run out and buy it, it will fi; you up and you<ll be happy... happy... happy. =%h, really4= %nly after you<(e seen so many of them, you finally figure out the commercials are better than life and you feel cheated that you don<t ha(e all that =stuff= that you can reach out and touch on +V but can<t possess. 1ou feel poor. Sic5ness hits. +he @ob mar5et gets bad. +a;es go up. Bills pile up. +rouble in your family. +here<s too much month left and the money has run out. *ain. Bad news. /oise. 9eadaches. :ore bad news. /o (acation. Vacation but it was horrible. Car brea5s down. &oof lea5s. Cop stops you for a taillight burned out, running a red light, going DE miles an hour in a FE mile 8one. :ore doctor bills. ' flat tire. Church wants more money. 'nother sic5 child. /eed new clothes. Shoes hurt your feet. Sore throat. Burnt the roast. /o roast. .ood prices up. 9ow to cut out something else4 :ore sic5ness. Cancer. Shoulder hurts. 'rthritis. Colon trouble. Surgery needed. *rayed, no answer. &ead Bible again. =2hy doesn<t 6od
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Attack Your Lack
spea5 to me4= 2o5e up feeling good. 't F o<cloc5 got more bad news. Couldn<t sleep last night. 3t<s raining again. Car<s in the shop. =Blah, blah, blah. 2hat<s the use to go on4= ' relation died. :ore di(orces. 2ill 3 be ne;t4 0rugs. 'lcohol. =2hy don<t they get off my bac54= +ried to pray. .elt better. 0idn<t last. =2hy me, ,ord4= 9eard this preacher on +V. ,i5e him. +al5s about miracles. =:iracles4 &eally4 2onder if 3 could get one, @ust one4= 1ou begin to thin5, =:iracles. +hey<re for somebody else. 6od doesn<t 5now my address. 0oesn<t care anyway. 2hy should 9e, what ha(e 3 e(er done for 9im4 3<(e done a lot, always helping somebody. 6a(e G$ in church. 'lways thought it<d be nice to tithe. /e(er ha(e enough money for myself, how could 3 gi(e a tenth to 6od who doesn<t need it anyway4 %h, great, @ust what 3 needC another problem.= *ain in my chest. Coughing. Bad breath. +hat 5id of mine, will he e(er straighten out4 :y neighbor<s nosy, always buttin< in. Car won<t run again. 9urt my leg. So>and>so wouldn<t spea5, loo5ed right at me and wal5ed on by. =2ho
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cares4= ,oo5 at that on +V, another terrorist bombing. =2hy doesn<t the go(ernment do something4 .at chance7= Bill collector called again. Snow predicted. 2ish summer was here. 2ish 3 wasn<t here. :y brother wants me to loan him some money. 9is wife has b.o. =2hy don<t they wor5 li5e 3 ha(e to4= 6otta go to a funeral. 2e all die...sometime. =2ill 3 die4= 2on<t thin5 about it. 3<m hurting again. Can<t sleep. =3<m ner(ous. 3 need help. 2ho can 3 tal5 to4 2rite to4 2ho<ll help me4 0oes prayer really wor54 *lant a seed4 2hat<s a seed4 +al5ing about my faith being a seed 3 plant, what does that mean4 Source4 6od being my Source4 9ow<s that4 6od can meet all my needs4 6o on. &eally4 'll my needs4 'll4 9%24 29-/4 6od help me... please4= +his is the world we li(e in, not the hea(en we<re going to someday. +his is where you hurt... where you lac5 health, money, friends, hope. +his is nee%. +his is where the battle is. +his is where the struggle ne(er goes away. +his is the real world.
Is There An Answer?
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Attack Your Lack
3s there an answer4 3s there a Bible formula for success and prosperity4 're there 5ey principles of Seed>.aith you can apply and 5now they will wor5 for you4 Seeds you can plant out of your need and get yourself in position to -A*-C+ ' :3&'C,-4 'nd recei(e miracles4 1ou4 9ere4 /ow4 1es, there is an answer. +he 2ord of 6od is as close as your reaching out and pic5ing it up and opening it and loo5ing up that Scripture that spea5s directly to you at the point of your need. *reachers are in churches and on tele(ision who do 5now 6od and care for you and are able to help you into .aith>+al5 rather than doubt>tal5 or fear>tal5 or gi(e>up>tal5. +he F Key *rinciples of Seed>.aith are profoundly simple and they wor5 if you will only wor5 them by ta5ing a step of faith beginning right now. 6od is real and 9e means e;actly what 9e says when the 2ord says, &'y (o% shall supply all your nee% accor%$ng to h$s r$ches $n glory y Chr$st )esus& H*hilippians DC!"I. But you ha(e to ta5e control of yourself and say, =Self, belie(e it. Self, go for it. Self, you can do it. Self, you will do it, for 6od will help you do it.=
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1ou must order yourself to belie(e the 2ord of 6od is true, that 6od still spea5s today, and that 9e spea5s to you if you<ll only ta5e time to listen. 1ou must accept the ser(ants of 6od who are called and empowered by 9im to help you as a person, as one created by 6od and for whom Jesus died and rose again and is closer to you in your need than your breath. 1ou must... and you can if you will to do it... belie(e in your heart the 6od 3<m tal5ing about e;ists...9e is at wor5 on this earth...9e is a rewarder of you when you see5 9im with your whole heart...and 9e will multiply the seeds of faith you sow and 9e<ll gi(e you?yes, you* miracle after miracle so that you will say, &(reater $s +e who $s $n !e than ,atan who $s $n the worl%& H! John DCDI. 3f you will listen with your heart to what 3<m about to tell you ne;t, 3 5now that 3 5now that here on earth, while you<re on your way to hea(en, you will disco(er 6od<s ways to meet your needs time after time after time. But if you hold bac5... if you ta5e the Scriptures in the 2ord of 6od 3<m about to gi(e you and say they<re not for you... if you refuse to let me minister 6od<s miracle power to you, then
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Attack Your Lack
3 can<t help you and we<ll both miss the golden opportunity to ma5e miracles happen in your life in the here and now. 3 as5 you again, do you 5now what your problem is4 1our problem is your /--0. 'nd another way to say need is to say ,'CK. 1ou ha(e a ,'CK of health... a ,'CK of enough money... a ,'CK of good friends... a ,'CK in family relationships... a ,'CK of @oy and peace of mind in your soul ...a ,'CK of feeling close to 6od. 'nd when you ha(e a ,'CK, it<s li5e a (acuum in your life. +rouble comes rushing in to fill up the ,'CK 0isease ta5es hold. 0ebts o(errun you. 2orry, doubt, bitterness ta5e hold. 'ngry words lodge in your spirit. 1our need comes because of your ,'CK. 'll of your lac5 ta5en together ma5es up +9- /--0... the cont$nual pounding of Satan against you as he uses the ,'CK in your life as his entry point to stri5e against you. ,et me gi(e you an e;ample. 1ou are alone. 1ou don<t seem to ha(e any friends. +hat<s a lack. 2hat happens4 ,oneliness begins to brew in you. 1ou start feeling sorry for yourself. ,ethargy ta5es o(er. 1ou @ust don<t feel li5e getting up, getting dressed, and going out of your home. 1ou
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begin to get more and more depressed. Suddenly you find yourself ill. Something doesn<t -eel right in your body. 1ou stop to thin5, =/obody cares. 3 don<t ha(e any friends who care.= +he sic5ness gets worse. 1our depression gets dar5er and deeper. By now you ha(e a ma@or pro le!. 1ou ha(e a great need. +hen what happens4 1our sic5ness dri(es you to see5 medical help. Bills come. +here isn<t enough money. 1ou begin to worry. +he worry piles in on top of the loneliness, depression, and sic5ness. 0o you see how it is4 'nd it all stems from a ,'CK in your life. 1our need has rushed in because of a (oid of something good. ,et me point out something to you. ' weed can only grow because somebody didn<t plant a 6%%0 S--0 in that plot of soil. +hin5 about it. 3f somebody had planted a 6%%0 S--0, one that would bear fruit?something useful or beautiful for our li(es?a weed couldn<t grow in that spot. 2hat about another e;ample4 1our employer needs to cut bac5. 1ou lose your @ob. 2hat happens4 1ou ha(e a ,'CK of wor5. 1ou ha(e a ,'CK of wages. 1ou suddenly ha(e a ,'CK of money.
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Attack Your Lack
1ou start to thin5 about it. 2hy did 3 lose my @ob4 2hy not someone else4 2hat<s wrong with me4 2hat<s wrong with 6od4 1ou start to loo5 for another @ob. /obody has anything. 1ou get more depressed about it. 1ou try to put on a cheery attitude, but somehow your depression shows through. 3s it what is 5eeping you from finding another @ob4 1our wife and children get discouraged too. :ore pressure. +he angry words start. +he frustrations pile up. +he cupboards get bare. +he bills multiply. 1ou need e(en :%&- money. 1ou get more discouraged. +hen sic5ness starts to ta5e hold. -(en more bills. 1ou ha(e a ma@or problem. 1ou try alcohol or drugs to get rid of the reality. +hat doesn<t help. 1ou still feel miserable, but now you<re hoo5ed. 1our problems begin to ha(e problems7 0o you see how it is4 'nd it all stems from a ,'CK in your life. 1our /--0 comes because of your ,'CK 2hat can we do4 !. 6% %/ +9- '++'CK7 3 5now a way to get at your need in its changing forms, yet deal with it as one continuous need... one continuous lac5. 3t<s to go
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on the attac5. 29-/ 1%U '&- .'C-0 23+9 ' ,'CK...'++'CK7...'++'CK7 ...'++'CK7 0uring the dar5 days of the Ci(il 2ar, the bloodiest war in our nation<s history, when 6eneral U. S. 6rant, commander of the .ederal forces, saw his armies being thrown bac5 time and time again, he sent word to his officers, ='ttac57 'ttac57 'ttac57= 2hen *resident ,incoln<s ad(isers urged him to fire 6rant, he answered, =3 can<t fire that man. 9e<s the only general 3 ha(e who will fight.= 'fter the Ci(il 2ar of the United States was o(er, after 6eneral 6rant had ser(ed two terms as *resident, after his bad debts had piled up and he seemed a hopeless old man, after he was struc5 with cancer in his @aw and he sat brooding day after day, re@ected and alone...he attac5ed7 +hrough the 5ind offer of a friend he went to a house up in the mountains north of /ew 1or5 City. 9e went there alone to write his memoirs, which still pro(ide the best history and description of the Ci(il 2ar conflict. Suffering agoni8ing pain, and often so cold he had to wrap himself in blan5ets as he wrote, he hung on to life by sheer faith and determination. 9e held off cancer until he had finished the last page, assured that all his debts would be paid by the sale of the
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Attack Your Lack
boo5. 2ith a 5nowing in his heart that he had helped sa(e the nation, he bowed his head and let his soul go to 6od. +here was a lac5 in 6eneral 6rant that had dogged him all the days of his life. 3t was the belief of people that he was a no>good, a man without ambition or goals, a person who was destined to be a failure and fade into obli(ion. 3t caused a ,'CK of feeling self>worth. 'gain and again he attac5ed that lac5. 9e attac5ed and attac5ed and attac5ed. 9e ne(er quit until on that lonely mountain he gathered his last strength to push his pen across the pages until the final detail was written, the last word said. ,oo5ing the last time at the sun muted by the mist o(er the (alleys, he bowed his head and died, a man of faith and courage. +he lac5 he had attac5ed all his life was gone. 2hat is your need today4 2hat ,'CK did it grow out of4 2hat does 6od say about your lac54 9ow can you begin to '++'CK 1%U& ,'CK4
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1ou 'ttac5 1our ,ac5 2ith the .aith 1ou 'lready 9a(e
Chapter .
,et me tell you four things about how 6od sees your lac5 and your faithC .irst, 6od has ordered that you &lack -or noth$ng& H! +hessalonians DC!JI. 2hat does that mean4 3t means 6od is on your side. 9e doesn<t want you to ha(e lac5. Second, 6od has set in motion the power to =supply your lac5= H*hilippians JCFEI. 9e shows us here that 9e sends men and women of 6od across your path to show you 9is pro(ision for your lac5 and to show you how to get it. 3t is no accident you are reading this boo5. 3t is part of 6od<s SU**,1 for your lac5. +hird, 6od calls to your attention the time when 9is people belie(ed and &they lacke%
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Attack Your Lack
noth$ng& H0euteronomy JCBI. 'fter Jesus< death, resurrection, ascension, and 9is sending the 9oly Spirit, we are told &ne$ther was there any a!ong the! that lacke%...& H'cts DCFDI. 1es, it<s possible to o(ercome your lac5. 3t doesn<t happen automatically or e(en easily, but it is poss$ le to attac5 and win. 'nd fourth, 6od has pro(ided the :-'/S for you to use in o(ercoming your lac5. 2hat is that :-'/S4 3t is your faith. But, you say, how do 3 get faith4 :y friend, you already ha/e it. *aul said in &omans !JCF, &(o% hath g$/en to e/ery !an the !easure o- -a$th.& +hat includes you. 3 used to pray for 6od to gi(e me faith. 3 pleaded, 3 begged, 3 cried for it. +hen one day 3 opened my Bible and read &omans !JCF. 3 was so e;cited that 3 too5 my pen and wrote my name ne;t to the (erse so it read, =6od has gi(en e(ery man?that includes %ral &oberts?the measure of faith.= 3t came li5e a flashC faith is not something 3 ha(e to get, it<s something 6od has already put inside me. 3 ha(e faith, you ha(e faith, we 5now it because 6od says we do. 'nd we 5now it because
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You Attack Your Lack W$th the #a$th You Alrea%y +a/e
we ha(e the ability to release our faith to 6od?to send it up from our heart to 9im. 2e 5now it because we see other ordinary people, warts and all, do mighty wor5s for 6od because they release their faith. .aith in what4 'ctually it<s faith in 29%:. 3t<s ha(ing faith in a good 6od, who is the Source of your life, now and fore(er. 'nother Scripture that opened my eyes to the faith 3 already had is 9ebrews !!C), &#or he that co!eth to (o% !ust el$e/e that he K6odL $s... an% that he K6odL $s a rewar%er o- the! who earnestly seek h$!.& 3 began to reali8e 3, you?e(en you?can belie(e 6od $s... because 9e said 9e had gi(en us the ability to belie(e that 9e e;ists. 'lso, 9e ga(e us the ability to belie(e 9e is a rewar%er when we belie(e 9e is 6od, 9e is our 6od, and we earnestly see5 after 9im7 .aith is that part of you that responds to 6%0 and to 6od alone. 3t<s that part of you that longs to communicate with 6od...to please 6od...to feel 6od<s presence. 3t<s that part of your will that you can commit to doing things 6%0<S way. 3t<s the part of you that B-,3-V-S 6od<s 2ord... B-,3-V-S Jesus Christ is the Son of 6od...
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Attack Your Lack
B-,3-V-S that the shed blood of Jesus co(ers your sins... B-,3-V-S that 6od can ma5e a way for you when there doesn<t seem to be a way... B-,3-V-S that 6od is 6od and that 6od is always 6od and that 6od is always your 6od and that 6od is still 6od no matter the circumstances or situations surrounding you. 1our faith is, therefore, your number>one tool to attac5 your lac5. 'nd as a Christian belie(er, you ha(e this 'C+3V- faith. 1ou can use it to '++'CK. 1ou already 5now your lac5 is attac5ing you, causing needs to rise up that will destroy you if you don<t do something about them. /ow you 5now something greater. 1ou can attac5 your lac5...and 6od will reward you for it. 6od intends for you to win7 1ou already ha(e all the tools you need to go on a .'3+9 '++'CK?a .'3+9 2'&, a .'3+9 .369+. 1ou ha(e what it ta5es. 3 urge youC 'ttac57 'ttac57 'ttac57
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,earn .rom the Bible 9ow to Start 1our 'ttac5
Chapter 0
3n J Kings ) and B, we are told the city of Samaria was surrounded on all sides by the o(erwhelming forces of the mighty Syrian army. +he people of the city were shut up inside the walls, slowly being star(ed to death by the Syrian bloc5ade. +hey had gi(en up and were now eating the flesh of their own children. /o more hideous scene of lac5 is described in the Bible. .i(e men rose up and struc5 a blow for deli(erance. +hese fi(e men attac5ed their lac57 .our of these men were lepers sitting at the entrance of the gate of Samaria and the fifth was a man of 6od li(ing inside the walls where all the gi(ing>up was. +he man inside was -lisha the prophet who was sent there by 6od to sit where the people sat, to feel what they felt, to gi(e a word of
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Attack Your Lack
&e(elational Knowledge that would destroy the brutal forces star(ing the city into submission and to sa(e the people?if only someone would as5 for his help. 2hen all human hope was gone, someone in the 5ing<s court remembered 6od and 9is prophet, -lisha. Se(eral people finally felt their need enough to as5 for di(ine inter(ention. +hey called on -lisha. 3mmediately he interceded before 6od and recei(ed the word of deli(erance by &e(elational Knowledge. 9e boldly said to the 5ing and the peopleC =3n JD hours 6od is going to send deli(erance. .ood that is now so scarce no amount of money can buy it, will be so plentiful by this time tomorrow that you can buy all you need for pennies.= 'n aide of the 5ing, full of doubt and totally re@ecting these words of &e(elational Knowledge by the man of 6od, sneered, =3f 6od were to open windows in hea(en, could this thing be done4= +he prophet replied, =1ou doubter7 3n JD hours you will S-- the deli(erance of the people with your own eyes, but you won<t get any of it7= 3n other words, if he held on to his doubt when he could throw it away and start belie(ing the words of the man of 6od, he wouldn<t get a thing. 3n fact,
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Learn #ro! the 1$ le +ow to ,tart Your Attack
he would die before his time7 3t was his choice to ma5e.
When Things Are at Their Worst Attack!

:eanwhile the four lepers were sitting at the gate of the city. +hey were doomed to die. 's lepers, they were not allowed inside the city. +hey relied on those going in and out of the city gates to toss them morsels of food. But now the in(ading armies surrounded the city. /obody was going in or out. /obody inside had food. +al5 about being stuc5 between a roc5 and a hard place7 +hese men li(ed on the edge of disaster? caught between a cruel enemy army and a star(ing city?with bodies riddled by disease and discouragement o(erwhelming their souls. .inally they as5ed themsel(es, =2hy sit we here until we die4= +hen they said, =3f we continue @ust to sit here, we w$ll die. 3f we go bac5 into the city, we will die. Come, let us march to the enemy camps. 3f they sa(e us, we will li(e. 3f they 5ill us, well, we<re going to die anyway7= +he Bible tells us they =rose up= in the twilight to go against the army of the Syrians. +hey didn<t 5now about the &e(elational
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Attack Your Lack
Knowledge of the prophet -lisha promising deli(erance in JD hours. +hey didn<t e(en ha(e the hope of his prophecy in their hearts. 'll they 5new was that if they did not attac5 their lac5 at that (ery hour, they would die. 2hat %$% they 5now4 +hey 5new they?as four men, all lepers? were no match for the !EE,EEE fighting men of the enemy army. +hey also 5new twilight was not a good time to march. +he brief time between sundown and dar5 made it hard to see where they were going. -(en facing all these negati(es, they 5new they must attac5 their lac57 So they too5 a step of faith. By the sheer force of their will and their faith, they went from a step of faith into a !arch o- -a$th. 9ad you seen them as the sun was going down lea(e their so>called =safe= place at the gate of the city and go stumbling in their hunger and disease toward the enemy, it would ha(e been hard to belie(e theirs was a march of faith through which they were attack$ng the$r lack. =,oo5 at those cra8y guys7 +hey<re going to get themsel(es 5illed.= +hey were hurting, but they attac5ed. +hey were scared to death, but they attac5ed.
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+hey stumbled, fell, got up, fell again, but they attac5ed. 3t was twilight, the worst time of all, but they attac5ed.
Remember the umb!ebee

+he scientists tell us that the bumblebee cannot fly. 3ts wingspread is too small for the si8e of its body. But the bumblebee doesn<t 5now it, so it goes ahead and flies anyway. +he four gaunt, hungry, sic5, and wea5 men didn<t 5now they couldn<t ma5e their march of faith. +hey didn<t 5now they didn<t ha(e what it ta5es to attac5, so they attac5ed anyway. 's they approached the tents of the Syrians, all the soldiers lay asleep, not fearing an attac5. But 6od who ne(er sleeps saw the four faith attac5ers coming against the army of Syria. 6od spo5e to 9is angels to hoo5 =horses of fire to chariots of fire= and pull them abo(e the tents of the Syrian soldiers and ma5e them sound li5e the noise of a mighty conquering army. +he Syrians suddenly awa5ened and hear% the sounds of the drumming hoofbeats of horses, the marching feet of soldiers, the rumbling roar of chariots, and in panic, =e(ery man fled in the
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Attack Your Lack
night,= lea(ing e(erything behind. 2hen the four men who came marching in faith to attac5 their lac5 reached the first row of tents, they found them empty7 1es, empty7 3 tell you... you ne(er 5now what your faith sounds li5e to the de(il...how it frightens him...how it puts him on the run. 3<m tal5ing about your faith ...your faith. +here was plenty of food and gold and clothes and e(erything they lac5ed. +hey went to the ne;t row of tents. +hey were empty too7 'nd the ne;t and the ne;t. +he entire camp was empty7 'fter they had eaten and loaded themsel(es with gold and sil(er, they said, =,et us rush bac5 to the city and tell the people.= -lisha<s JD>hour period was now at an end. +hings were happening e;actly as he had predicted. +he people rushed out of the city and plundered what the Syrian army had left behind. .ood was so abundant it was @ust as the prophet had said>pennies would buy all the food a person needed. +he 5ing<s aide who had sneered at -lisha<s prophecy of deli(erance in JD hours, and doubted it in his heart, tried to stop the rush of people out to the Syrian camp. 3n his doubt he was crying, =3t<s not real. 0on<t be decei(ed. 1ou<re cra8y to
%2
do this. Stop7= 9e got caught in the rush and was trampled underfoot and died. 9e had failed to attac5 his lac5 because he refused to belie(e the 2ord of 6od from the mouth of the man of 6od...and to act on it. 2hat does this mean to you today4 're you desperate4 're you caught in a crisis that crowds you in from all sides4 3<(e got good news from the 2ord of 6od. Because of your -a$th $n (o%2 you too can '++'CK 1%U& ,'CK. +he fact is, 6od is at the point of your need. 1our lac5 is 9is concern e(en more than it is yours. 9e cares more about you than you can possibly care about yourself. 6od is that good7 6od gets no pleasure out of your lac5. 'nd 9e has made a way for you. 2hat must 1%U do4 1ou must start to attac5. 1ou must start to arouse your faith inside you and start your march against your lac5. 1ou must rise up and ta5e action?now7 &ead the story in J Kings ) and B for yourself. 1ou<ll disco(er something important. +hese men
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Attack Your Lack
S+'&+-0 to march B-.%&- 6od caused the angels to act and the Syrian enemy to hear the sounds of soldiers, panic, and flee. +hese men did something with their faith before 6od mo(ed in. 's these men rose up, a miracle was put into motion in their personal behalf. 2hen these men rose to their feet and set their face toward the Syrians, it was li5e the 5ey being put into the ignition of a car...li5e the faucet being turned on...li5e the light switch being touched. 6od<s deli(ering power began to flow toward remo(ing their lac5. 2hen you turn all your faith loose and start to march against your lac5, a miracle of 6od is literally poured out to sweep the enemy forces away... to re(eal plenty is there for you to recei(e. But the opposite is also true. 6od cannot release 9is miracle supply until you S+'&+ to '++'CK 1%U& ,'CK7 'gain 3 say to youC 'ttac57 'ttac57 'ttac57
%(
9ow a :other<s .aith 'ttac5ed?'nd 2on7
Chapter 3
2hen a mother came before me with her little son in the healing line in the Jac5son(ille, .lorida, crusade and as5ed me to pray for 6od to gi(e him a new hip soc5et, it @ust blew my mind. She was as5ing me to pray and belie(e for a creat$/e !$racle. +here is a difference. ' healing is a reco(ery of something in the physical body that has been damaged or wea5ened by sic5ness or disease. ' creati(e miracle is when 6od creates something that has ne(er been there before. +he ,ord spea5s of prayer for =the sic5 to reco(er= and for =the ,ord to raise them up,= or to =heal them.= +here was no e;perience in my healing ministry when 3 had seen 6od put something in the body that was not there before. 3 reached down and placed my hand on this
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Attack Your Lack
young boy<s right hip and it was flat. 3 as5ed his mother why it was flat. =+he doctors say he was born without a hip soc5et,= she replied. 3 said, =2ell, 3 ha(e to tell you that 3 do not belie(e 6od will gi(e a creati(e miracle in this life. But in the resurrection, whate(er is missing will be completely restored and he<ll ha(e a new body. So in all honesty, 3 can<t pray for your son because 3 don<t belie(e 6od will gi(e him a new hip soc5et.= She loo5ed at me with a determination on her face 3 had ne(er seen before. +he tears were flowing down her chee5s, her lips were qui(ering. Suddenly her eyes flashed and she said with indignation, =%ral &oberts, 3 don<t as5 you to belie(e for my son. 'll 3 as5 is that you pray as a *oint of Contact. I4ll do the belie(ing.= 3 remember it li5e it was this morning. 3 was unmo(ed by what she said. But the !E,EEE people witnessing this were mo(ed. 3 heard a sound coming from all o(er the audience. 3t was li5e a deep sigh, li5e a release of pent>up emotions they<d had all their li(es. 3 said to the crowd, =Because this mother has as5ed me to pray, 3<ll do it. But 3 publicly state that the way 3 understand the 2ord of 6od, she is as5ing for a creati(e miracle and 3 belie(e that
%1
+ow a 'other4s #a$th Attacke%*An% Won5
will come in the resurrection.= 3 usually as5ed people to lay their hands on the bac5 of the chair in front of them as their *oint of Contact while 3 prayed. +his time 3 didn<t as5 the audience to release their faith and use that *oint of Contact. 3 simply said a few words of prayer. But the people touched the chairs anyway and their prayers ascended li5e a powerful gust of wind. +he ne;t night when 3 arri(ed for the ser(ice, one of my associates met me as 3 got out of the car. =1ou remember the little boy without a hip soc5et you prayed for last night4= =1es, what about him4= =6od has gi(en him a new hip soc5et7= =2hat4= =1es, 6od has gi(en him a new hip soc5et. 'nd we<(e had him wal5ing bac5 and forth on the platform without his crutches. 9e<s not only wal5ing but running and leaping li5e any normal boy. +he crowd has been crying and praising 6od.= 3 became angry because it frustrated me. =1ou 5now we ne(er bring someone before an audience with a healing unless we ha(e e(idence of the healing,= 3 said sharply.
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Attack Your Lack
:y associates loo5ed pityingly at me. =Come and see for yourself.= 3 heard the loud praises of the audience and hurried to the platform. Sure enough, the little boy was holding his crutches high o(er his head and wal5ing and running. 3 as5ed that he be brought behind the stage. 9is mother came with him and stood there triumphantly. +he little fellow threw his arms around my legs and began to cry. 3 was still not impressed. 3 put my hand on his right hip as 3 had done the night before when it was flat. +o my absolute ama8ement it had filled in and as 3 touched it and the left hip, they felt e;actly the same. =2hat has happened4= 3 as5ed the mother. =6od has gi(en him a new hip soc5et,= she said sweetly. =9a(e you ta5en him bac5 to his doctor to e;amine him4= =1es, 3 ha(e. 2hen we got up this morning and found my son<s hip was restored, 3 called the doctor and he said to bring him in immediately. 9e e;amined him e(ery way possible. 9e said he didn<t understand it, but from all he could determine, a new hip soc5et had formed7=
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2hen she told me this, 3 said, =Bring him on the platform again.= +o the audience 3 said, =1ou remember last night 3 prayed for this boy but stated publicly this would require a creati(e miracle and that 3 belie(e creati(e miracles are reser(ed for the resurrection.= +hey began to laugh and applaud before 3 could finish. 3 said, =2ell, here he is with a new hip soc5et7= +hat crowd leaped to their feet to praise 6od. 3 @oined in with them, weeping and telling 6od 3 didn<t understand it but 3 than5ed 9im for it. 3n this case, it was not the mother who was out of options. 'll she wanted was for the prayer of a man of 6od to be her *oint of Contact to release her faith to 6od for this miracle. 3t was 3 who thought this boy was out of options, but he wasn<t. 0uring the duration of that !)>day crusade, she brought her little son each night and let the people see him as he wal5ed normally for the first time in his life. +he faith of the people rose higher and higher until one night near the close of the crusade the :'SS :3&'C,- that 3 had been saying was coming almost happened in front of our eyes.
A "ass "irac!e
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Attack Your Lack
'fter 3 finished my sermon and made the in(itation to the people to recei(e Christ as their personal Sa(ior, 3 sat down in my chair at the front of the platform and began praying for the sic5 as they came one by one up the ramp to stand before me. +his woman had been loo5ing for a creati(e miracle for her son<s hip soc5et. .or months 3 had been loo5ing for a :'SS :3&'C,- to come and heal an entire audience at one time. +he ,ord had spo5en to me and said the time would come when entire audiences and groups would be healed in a :'SS :3&'C,-. 3 belie(ed it and was preaching it and e;pecting it. +o belie(e for a creati(e miracle was beyond meM the :'SS :3&'C,- was not. 3t<s strange how our faith wor5s, what we find oursel(es able to belie(e for and not to belie(e for. 2e<re human. 2e ha(e faith, but it<s limited by our humanness. But 6od isn<t limited to our faith. 9e is greater and 9e sometimes leaps o(er our faith in a so(ereign act of 9is own nature. 3 was nearing the end of a line of people who were coming for prayer, when suddenly 3 felt the Spirit of 6od touch my entire being and rush through me. 3t had happened before but not with the force it did this time.
(=
3n a few moments it happened again, only this time it was so strong 3 yelled at the top of my (oice. 3 remember 3 thought 3 was seeing thousands of lights flashing on and off and the power of 6od was going through me li5e an electrical current although it was not hurting me li5e electricity would. 3nstead, 3 was feeling something li5e a burst of light and energy totally engulfing me, ma5ing me feel as if 3 could lift that entire audience of !E,EEE people with my hands. +he third time 6od<s power hit me, it lifted me off my chair and 3 heard myself shouting, =*eople, it<s here. 6od<s :'SS :3&'C,- 3<(e been telling you about is near.= +hat<s all 3 remember saying. +he audience rose up together li5e a co(ey of quail and began rushing forward. 3t seemed in seconds the entire front was filled and do8ens of wheelchairs were pac5ed together before me. 3 stood there not saying a word but e;periencing the power of 6od flowing in my body and spirit in powerful currents. 's if by a signal, those in wheelchairs began coming out of them, people on crutches dropped them, and suddenly there was pandemonium as the power of 6od struc5 a mighty blow to heal that audience in a :'SS :3&'C,-.
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Attack Your Lack
+his lasted for about ten minutes. 's suddenly as the power of 6od swept down on that crowd, @ust that suddenly it lifted. ' calm, li5e that which follows a fierce wind, settled on us and soon we dismissed the ser(ice. +he ne;t morning my associates in the tent crew gathered up armloads of crutches, hearing aids, and eye glasses. +hey par5ed do8ens of wheelchairs in a section where those who no longer needed them could come and get them later. 's 3 wal5ed o(er the grounds seeing all this, 3 remembered the mother<s faith for a creati(e miracle and mine for a :'SS :3&'C,-. She got hers and 3 got mine. But 3 5new that 3 5new someday, somewhere, the :'SS :3&'C,- would stri5e again and again and again. +hat<s when 3 began to belie(e for the first time that when we thin5 we<re out>belie(ing what 6od can do? when we thin5 that what we<re as5ing for is beyond 6od<s ability?it<s not. 1ou can ne(er out>belie(e 6od. 1ou can ne(er belie(e for something that is beyond 6od<s ability to do. +he Bible tells a story of a young man who was born blind from birth. HSee John ".I 9e had ne(er had sight. 3n fact, the original 6ree5 words that the Bible was written in gi(e the impression that there were no eyeballs in this man<s eye
(2
soc5ets. Jesus too5 clay and put it in that man<s eye soc5ets. %h, can<t you see 9im. Just as in the beginning 6od too5 the clay and molded 'dam and breathed 9is life into him... Jesus now ta5es the clay, forms eyes for this man, and says, =6o wash now.= 'nd when the man went... and washed his eyes... he could see perfectly7 +he Bible tells about a man who had a withered hand. HSee :ar5 F.I +he muscles had shri(eled. +he tissues had become twisted and gnarled. Jesus spotted this man while 9e was in the middle of preaching a sermon. 9e called to him... had him stand up...and when 9e spo5e to that man to stretch out his hand, he did...the arm filled out, un5notted itself...and the use of his hand was restored7 +he Bible tells about ,a8arus, who had been dead for four days when Jesus arri(ed on the scene. HSee John !!.I ,a8arus< body had been wrapped in long strips of cloth, spices pac5ed around it. +he tomb was sealed with a stone. =9e<s been dead four days,= :artha said to Jesus, when 9e ordered the stone remo(ed. =9is body is starting to rot. 3t stin5s,= she said. =/obody who has been dead four days has e(er li(ed again.= Jesus lifted 9is head toward hea(en and prayed ...then 9e cried with a loud (oice, =,a8arus, come forth,=...and ,a8arus wal5ed out of
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Attack Your Lack
that tomb, gra(eclothes and all7 /o, friend, /%+93/6 is too difficult for 6od. 2hen you feel your ,'CK is too big for 6od to fill...it isn<t. 2hen you feel your ,'CK is too great for 6od to ma5e a way... it isn<t. 2hen you feel your problems are out of control and can ne(er be sol(ed...they can be. 2hen you feel that you<re as5ing 6od to do something 9e can<t do...9e can. +hat<s why we ne(er stop attac5ing. 2e '++'CK... '++'CK... '++'CK our lac5. 2e always ... always... always e;pect 6od to honor 9is 2ord, to 5eep 9is promise, to do what 9e has said 9e will do. 'gain 3 sayC 'ttac57 'ttac57 'ttac57
((
1ou Can 'ttac5 1our ,ac5 2ith 1our 6i(ing
Chapter 6
'ccording to the 2ord of 6od, you can attac5 your lac5 by gi(ing... and by e;pecting to recei(e bac5 from your gi(ing. =0o you really mean 3 should e;pect ack from my gi(ing4= 3<m as5ed that question more times than 3 am anything else. *erhaps you ha(e as5ed it too. 3 ga(e to 6od a long time before 3 really en@oyed it. 1ou see, 3<d been taught as a Christian that 3 was to gi(e. 3 was also taught that 3 was not to e;pect to recei(e anything bac5. 3f 3 did 3 was being sacrilegious. +he first part of the teaching was right. +he second part was wrong. 3 saw that the 2ord of 6od teaches us to gi(e, so 3 ga(e and ga(e and ga(e. 3 ne(er could understand though why it was such a one>sided affair of my gi(ing but not recei(ing anything bac5. -(en among us humans in our daily affairs, we 5now that life is a two>
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Attack Your Lack
way street. Both sides ha(e to profit or it<s a bad deal. =2hat<s wrong with 6od, anyhow4= was a question 3 held inside me but ne(er said out loud. Somewhere a light was shining inside me and 3 could hear a little bell going off in my mind. ' truth was on the edge of my consciousness but 3 couldn<t quite get it into focus. 2hat was happening4 6od was trying to get through all the bad teaching 3 had heard about recei(ing.
#our Sa!$ation Was A %art &' (o)*s Recei$ing Something ack +rom ,is (i$ing
6od was trying to show me that 9e ga(e... and 9e?6od himself?e;pected to recei(e and 030 recei(e as a result of 9is gi(ing. 3 had not been close enough to 6od to understand this. %ne reason was that in my first !B years of life 3 had ne(er wanted to recei(e Jesus Christ into my heart as my personal Sa(ior. +hat<s a sad fact but it<s a fact nonetheless. *apa was a preacher. 3 grew up in church and under the preaching of the 2ord of 6od. But 3 dreamed of being a lawyer and wal5ing in the footsteps of 'mos *leasant &oberts who had been
(1
You Can Attack Your Lack W$th Your ($/$ng
a @udge in 3ndian +erritory in %5lahoma where 3 was born and raised...and who was my grandfather and my hero. +hat dream was so big in me 3 couldn<t care less about getting sa(ed. 3n fact, 3 falsely belie(ed if 3 got sa(ed that would mean 3 would ne(er get to go to law school and become a lawyer?and later fulfill my highest dream of someday becoming go(ernor of %5lahoma. +hree e(ents changed my mind. .irst, 3 was struc5 down at !B with tuberculosis. 3 had no hope of a cure in that day when there were no medicines to cure +B as there are now. Second, after people of the church?who didn<t belie(e it was 6od<s will to heal?came to me and nearly turned me off from 6od fore(er, my sister Jewel came to my bedside and said se(en words that changed my lifeC =%ral, 6od is going to heal you.= +hird, *apa belie(ed 3 was going to die and, wanting me to get sa(ed so 3 would go to hea(en when that happened, said, =%ral, 3<m going to 5neel here and pray for you to be sa(ed tonight. 3 will not get off my 5nees unless you gi(e your heart to 6od.= 3 lay listening to my father<s prayers for me to get sa(ed. 3 felt nothing, no
(7
Attack Your Lack
desire at all to repent of my sins and as5 6od to sa(e my soul. 3 had ne(er felt any feelings that 3 wanted to be sa(ed. But as *apa raised up on his 5nees and lifted his (oice so that 3 could loo5 right down o(er my body to the end of the bed and see his face, 3 must ha(e had a (ision. Suddenly *apa<s face faded and 3 saw the countenance of Jesus, and in that instant e(erything inside me bro5e loose. Seeing Jesus, 3 wanted 9im. 3 heard myself say, =Jesus7 Jesus7 Sa(e me7= :y con(ersion was powerful and 6od got hold of my life fore(er. 3nstantly 3 5new 3 was not to be a lawyer, but a preacher of the gospel7 2hat does this ha(e to do with 63V3/6 and with &-C-3V3/64 -(erything7 Jesus is the 63.+ 6od the .ather ga(e to sa(e %ral &oberts. Jesus is the 63.+ 6od has gi(en to e(eryone who will belie(e and recei(e 9im. 3t finally dawned on me that 6od now has me, my life, my wor5s, my e(erything because 3 accepted 9is gift of Jesus into my spirit. I a! part o- what (o% has rece$/e% ack -ro! +$s g$/$ng o)esus. So is e(eryone else 9e<s e(er sa(ed and who has obeyed 9im. 'nd that<s millions of people multiplied through the centuries to this
(;
present hour...plus all those who are go$ng to belie(e on Jesus and be sa(ed7 +hat, my friend and *artner, is awesome. 3t<s stupendous. 3t<s an eye>opener on gi(ing?'/0 &-C-3V3/6 B'CK7 3t means all 6od has is a result of what 9e has gi(en. 3 am able at last to understand, and 3 belie(e you are too, that when 'dam sinned in the garden of -den and fell from his sinless relationship with 6od, all his descendants fell also. Both spiritually and organically we were lost from 6od who created us. 6od lost us all5 -(elyn and 3 ha(e lost two of our four children to death, and one of our grandchildren. +hey are gone. 2e still hurt. But we ha(e not lost ',, of our children and ',, of our grandchildren. 2e don<t 5now how that feels. 6od does. 9e lost us ',,. .rom e(ery standpoint of reason, 6od was out of options. :an, whom 9e had created and to whom 9e had gi(en 9is own nature and class, had willfully used his di(inely gi(en power of choice to say /% to 6od and go his own way, not 6od<s.
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Attack Your Lack
+he grief of 6od is indescribable, e(en as the smaller grief of -(elyn and me cannot be described but can only be e;perienced. But 6od 5new 9e was /%+ out of optionsM 9e had one left. 9e could gi(e. 'nd 9e chose not an angel, not another creation, but 93S %/,1 B-6%++-/ S%/?93S %/- S%/?and 9e ga(e 9im. 'nd here<s the punchline. 6od ga(e Jesus to get so!eth$ng ack7 9e didn<t gi(e @ust to be gi(ing. 9e was planting a seed?the promised seed of the woman, the seed of 'braham, the seed of 0a(id?so 9e could reap the miracle har(est of my sal(ation, your sal(ation, and the sal(ation of e(ery lost son and daughter of 'dam7 0o you hear me4 6od didn<t say, =Jesus, Son, 3<m going to send 1ou to die on the cross @ust to see 1ou suffer... to hear 1ou scream... to watch 1ou die. 3 want to see how 1ou<ll ta5e it.= /%... 6%0 030/<+ 63V- J-SUS ,3K- +9'+. 9e so lo(ed us that 9e ga(e Jesus for the thing 9e 0-S3&-0 to get mostC to get us bac5 from the clutches and dar5ness of Satan who had stolen us away from 9im so he could destroy us. 6od is our -;ample, our *attern, our &ole :odel in gi(ing '/0 &-C-3V3/6 B'CK.
-=
6od ga(e one Son...and 9e got bac5 many sons and daughters. 6od ga(e 9is lo(e...and got bac5 our lo(e. 6od ga(e...and 6od recei(ed bac5 from 9is gi(ing. 3 repeatC 6od ga(e to get a return. 2hat 9e ga(e produced bac5 to 9im all 9e has of us, including all those who will yet lo(e and ser(e 9im. 3n the same manner, you gi(e to get bac5 a return. 2hat you gi(e produces bac5 to you all you ha(e...plus all you w$ll recei(e through the seed you continue to plant. 9ebrews !JCJ says that Jesus endured the shame and death of the cross for =the @oy that was set before him.= +he @oy of the har(est7 +he @oy of your sal(ation and restoration to 6od7 +his is the @oy set before you too7 1ou are to recei(e, you are recei(ing, and you will continue to recei(e on and on and on. 1ou are with 6od and 6od is with you in the @oy and the power of your Seed>.aith. 1ou are gi(ing of your time, money, talents, lo(e. +herefore you are to &-C-3V-. +here<s reason for you to li(e... to be in J%1. 3<m e;cited about it and constantly feel the @oy
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Attack Your Lack
of e;pecting a miracle from the ,ord. 3n fact, while 3 was writing this chapter 3 got a call from a totally une;pected source of a gift of money 3 had to ha(e before the sun goes down this e(ening. 3t was e;actly what 3 had to ha(e, plus a little more7 *raise 6od, 3 recei(ed it7 'nd 3 had opportunity to bless the person on the other end of the line with an idea from 6od greater than his gift7 2hat does this ha(e to do with '++'CK3/6 1%U& ,'CK4 3t means that your ,'CK is '++'CK'B,-. 1our ,'CK can be o(ercome. 1ou C'/ win. 1ou C'/ find fulfillment and @oy in this life. 3t<s 0%'B,-. 3t<s *%SS3B,-. 3t<s 'C93-V'B,-. By 1%U7 1ou can e;pect your (ery gi(ing to result in recei(ing. 'nd as you recei(e the things of 6od, they begin to fill up your lac5. 1ou begin to ha(e a life that<s filled with miracles...with goodness...with 6od<s presence...with =e(erything= required to meet your need. &emember, it<s the good things of 6od that fill up the lac5. 'nd as the good things flow in to fill up the lac5, the bad things can<t ta5e you under. 3n my personal e;perience of attac5ing my lac5 through my gi(ing, then going from my act of gi(ing into my e;pecting to recei(e, again 3 had to
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start learning what 3 had not been taught. 'nd that was to attac5 my lac5 by an act of my faith? and my will?to recei(e. 2hat 3 mean is that @ust as 3 had to shift gears in my thin5ing about gi(ing...planting my seed ... then 3 had to shift gears again in my thin5ing '.+-& 3 had gi(en. 3 had to get into .aith>+al5 and say, =%ral, 6od wants you to recei(e bac5 @ust as 9e recei(es bac5 from 9is gi(ing.= +ime after time -(elyn would see me finding it difficult to recei(e, especially on a personal le(el. She would say, =%ral, you gi(e of yourself for your ministry and you eagerly recei(e for the ministry. But in our personal gi(ing you are reluctant to recei(e for our personal needs.= +here was that old bad teaching influencing me again. 3n effect, it was li5e 3 was hating myself, 3 was not worthy, 3 was not supposed to recei(e bac5 for myself. -(elyn had seen me gi(e all but a tiny part of e(erything 3 am and earned to the ministry and only a fraction to myself and family. She was much clearer>eyed on this than 3 was. 6radually 6od spo5e to me through her to practice what 3 preached to othersC 6i(e '/0 recei(e. 3t was for me too. +he way 3 began to change was to see that
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Attack Your Lack
6od had recei(ed bac5, and who was 3 to try to be different or better than 6od4 Just as it too5 an act of 6od<s lo(e and faith for 9im to gi(e, and the same 5ind of act of lo(e and faith for 9im to recei(e bac5, it too5 the same for me. 3 saw it. 3t became real and ali(e inside me. =3<(e gi(en... now 3<m going to recei(e.= 3t wor5ed and each time it drew me closer to 6od and filled me with a @oy that carried o(er to people 3 ministered to. 3<m still wor5ing at it and impro(ing all the time. 9ow do you '++'CK your lac54 1ou attac5 it by your gi(ing '/0 by your recei(ing. By your S--0>.'3+9. 2hy is it called Seed>.aith4 Because 6od shows us it ta5es a seed for you to gi(e... to plant with...to order your har(est in ad(ance. 'nd it ta5es faith both to sow it and to e;pect to reap? or recei(e bac5?from it. 1our seed and your faith are inseparably lin5ed together. %nce again 3 sayC ta5e your Seed>.aith and attac5 your lac5. 'ttac57 'ttac57 'ttac57
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%n &eaping 1our 9ar(est, 6od Says, =63V- 3t +ime7 and 0on<t 6i(e Up7=
6
Chapter 7
2hen 3 was a child growing up on a farm, 3, li5e other farm children, began early to help *apa plant and har(est our crops. 3 remember how *apa had to teach me about the grow$ng t$!e of a seed. 'fter we planted 3<d run out the ne;t day or two to see if the radishes or onions or tomatoes were already up or rush out to the fields to see if the cotton or corn or wheat had grown enough to be ready to har(est. 's a child 3 was ignorant of 6od<s laws of growth for the seed. *apa would say, =%ral, gi(e it t$!e5 6i(e it t$!e5& 's 3 grew older
--
and
became
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Attack Your Lack
e;perienced in planting seed with *apa and my brother Vaden, 3 began to understand there is a growing time that comes between seedtime and har(esttime. 0uring the growing time we would water the seed when the rains didn<t come. +hen we would hoe around the young plant to remo(e the weeds from hindering its growth. 2e tended the plant to gi(e it the best chance possible to grow and mature.
There Is a (rowing Time 'or #our "irac!es

2hen 3 became a Christian the first thing 3 did was to start tithing, gi(ing the first tenth of my earnings to the ,ord<s wor5. Unconsciously 3 re(erted to my childhood and e;pected 6od<s miracle return to come o(ernight. 3t didn<t occur to me there is a growing time in the spiritual laws of seedtime and har(est @ust as there is in the natural realm. 2orse still, 3 had no one to teach me, =%ral, gi(e it time7 6i(e it time7= 2hen the return didn<t come quic5ly 3 fell into a self>defeating habit of not e;pecting anything e(er to come bac5 from 6od from the tithes and offerings 3 was planting
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On Reap$ng Your +ar/est2 (o% ,ays2 &(I89 It :$!e5 an% Don4t ($/e Up5&
into 9is 5ingdom. 3t was as if 3<d planted corn and didn<t find a crop the ne;t day so 3 @ust wandered off. /o one in the church, including the pastors and e(angelists, taught that our tithes and offerings were seeds we sowed. 2e didn<t ha(e any perspecti(e that if we S%2-0 our gi(ing, 6od would 6&%2 it and we would &-'* from it. +herefore we didn<t thin5 about the 3/C&-'S- or 9'&V-S++3:- due us from the seed we planted. +he preachers had to bear down on paying tithes and offerings. +hey didn<t dare prosper because all the emphasis was on *'13/6 rather than our gi(ing being balanced with &-C-3V3/6 bac5 from 6od. 's a result, we made a fatal mista5e of becoming great in our gi(ing, faithful to the point of sacrifice, but poor in our recei(ing. 2e felt we =ought= to *'1 our tithes and offerings, but we had no 5nowledge that we were supposed to e;pect the increase and reap the har(est that 6od ine(itably gi(es to those who gi(e to 9im. %ften it became a burden to pay the first tenth of what we earned>and we were earning precious little. 2e had no scriptural concept that our earnings were meant to increase through regular har(est times 6od had promised us.
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Attack Your Lack
3n short, we grew poorer and poorer. 2e were ten percent poorer with each dollar we ga(e, when all the time we could ha(e been increasing our incomes had we 5nown we were supposed to reap our har(ests from our seed sown. +his was one of the chief reasons that we gradually were drawn into Satan<s net of false belie(ing that if we became a Christian we were supposed to be poor.
%o$erty Is -ot a !essing

%f course, had we really understood the teaching of the 2ord of 6od on gi(ing and recei(ing, sowing and reaping, seedtime and har(est, we would ha(e seen that if po(erty is 6od<s way to bless us, then most e(erybody in the entire world would be automatically blessed for they are poor7 3f po(erty would sa(e souls, then two thirds of the world<s population who go to bed hungry e(ery night would be super spiritual Christians already7 3t<s not po(erty that sa(es, but faith in the shed blood of Jesus and 9is resurrection from the dead. 3t<s not po(erty that meets our needs on our way to hea(en, it<s our Seed>.aith of planting our
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seeds first, then reaping our har(ests which is 6od<s a solute promise to us. +his thing of =*'13/6= 6od through our tithes and offerings has not only hurt 6od<s ministers from being seen as =wor5men worthy of their hire= H,u5e !ECBI and ha(ing their needs met to inspire others to get their needs met, it has also hurt many lay people and caused them to get a bad (iew of their ministers. ' woman put it aptly when she said to a minister friend of mine who was urging the lay people to sacrificeC =+he trouble is, preacher, you sac it and we -$ce it.= 2hen he told me this 3 replied, =6ood for her. 3 feel the same way. Because 6od<s gi(ing and recei(ing wor5s both ways for 9im and for each of us whether we<re a minister or a lay belie(er.= 9e said, =She opened my eyes and since then 3<(e got away from this *'13/6 thing, this sacrifice thing, and preached the 2ord of 6od as it is on gi(ing and recei(ing, sowing and reaping, and seedtime and har(est.= 3<(e disco(ered you can<t attac5 your lac5 as long as you are under bondage of =*'13/6= 6od your tithes and offerings. 2hy4 Because you can ne(er pay. .or that reason 6od sent 9is Son to the
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Attack Your Lack
cross and there 9e paid the debt for us. +herefore your gi(ing is /%+ a debt you %2- but a seed you S%27 +he same is true for e(ery other type of gi(ing. 3<(e used tithes and offerings here because we human beings tend to thin5 of gi(ing as relating to our money. 'nd that<s true. %ur money $s us. 3t represents our time, our energy, our wor5, our talents, our s5ills. 3t is a medium of e;change for who and what we are. But what<s true for gi(ing tithes and offerings is true for other types of gi(ing. 1ou can<t *'1 6od for lo(ing you by @ust lo(ing someone on this earth. 1ou can<t *'1 6od for sending Jesus to this earth by spending time in (olunteer ser(ice. 1ou can<t *'1 6od by being good...doing the =right things=...getting in(ol(ed in the right acti(ities. /o, you can ne(er *'1 6od bac5. 3t<s impossible. +he Bible is (ery clear on that point. 3t<s not your 2%&KS that sa(e you, but your faith in Jesus Christ H-phesians JC#,"I. 1ou can<t pay 6od off.
1=
1ou can<t pay 6od bac5. 1ou can<t pay 6od at all. 'll you can do is 63V- as a seed you sow, then e;pect 6od<s law of seedtime and har(est to go into effect to meet your needs.
Why Do We (i$e Then?

's a little boy helping plant seeds, 3 remember the e;citement we all felt about what we were going to get bac5 when har(esttime came. 3t didn<t ta5e long for me to see that the har(ests that came in late summer or fall were hundreds of times greater than the small number of seeds we had planted the pre(ious spring. .rom a few pounds of seed...we<d get +%/S of produce. *lanting time was @oyous because we thought of har(esttime. 'nd when we had pic5ed our cotton, Vaden and 3 would go with *apa to the cotton gin in town to sell it. 2e 5new *apa would get money to buy the things we needed, including gi(ing us some money to buy candy and soda pop7 3t turned the wor5 into an e;citing e;pectation of recei(ing better things for the entire family. 2e didn<t get that e;citement in church when
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Attack Your Lack
the pastor said, =/ow e(eryone pay your tithes and offerings this morning to the ,ord,= for he didn<t say anything at all about 6od opening the windows of hea(en and pouring blessings directly upon us, or that 6od would rebu5e the de(ourers for our sa5e because we had honored 9im with the firstfruits of our increase. H&ead :alachi FC!E,!!.I +his grew into a spirit of po(erty that brought us into bondage as far as prospering as 6od<s children was concerned. 3 5now one thing, it too5 a lot of the @oy out of ser(ing the ,ord. 3t was more than !J years after 3 became a tither that 3 first began to learn to accept the cross as =paid in full= for all 3 owed. +hen 3 could gi(e as a seed 3 sowed and from it e;pect 6od to gi(e me 9is rich har(ests bac5 in the form of my need. +hat<s when my wal5 with Christ too5 on the spar5ling e;citement that continues to grow as 3 learn better how to li(e in Seed>.aith day after day. 2hy do you gi(e4 1ou gi(e see%s so that we might get har(ests. 1our time. 1our money. 1our acts of 5indness.
12
1our smiles and encouraging words. +hey are S--0S. +hey are compacted bundles of miracles that can burst forth. +hey are 9'&V-S+>*&%0UC3/6 gifts unto 6od.
&ur See) (rows In$isib!y

' second important thing 3 learned as a child was that the seed we planted grew $n/$s$ ly. 's a (ery young child 3 thought when we put the seed in the ground and co(ered it up with the dirt, it disappeared7 3t was gone and we had nothing to show for our labor. 2hat 3 didn<t 5now was that 6od<s 2ord teaches that e(erything (isible came from something in(isible H9ebrews !!CFI. 3<d rush around pestering *apa about where the seed went. 9e<d say, =3t<s growing.= =*apa, how do you know"& 9e<d sha5e his head and say, =Just wait and you<ll see.= 's a Christian 3 went for those miserable first !J years of =paying= all my tithes and offerings, ne(er missing once, not reali8ing that my seeds were growing all the time. 2hen my tithes and offerings left my hands 3 couldn<t see them anymore. 3 didn<t 5now they, li5e the natural seeds 3<d planted, were now in the
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Attack Your Lack
=good soil= of the gospel. Just as my physical eyes couldn<t see the seed growing under the soil, my spiritual eyes were not seeing my tithes and offerings growing. /either did 3 5now the methods to apply to tend my seed in the spiritual realm. 3 had learned what it meant to irrigate, culti(ate, weed, and so forth in the natural?but not in the sp$r$tual 3 had to learn how to tend the soil 3 planted in, to 5eep my eyes on 6od who would multiply what 3 had sown, to spea5 .'l+9>tal5 instead of doubt>tal5, to weed out of my mind my impatience, my doubt, my worry, and my feelings that 3 was to gi(e but not recei(e bac5 a har(est. 2hat do 3 do in the =growing time= of my seed4 3 confess with my mouth that 3 ha(e gi(en to 6od my tithes and offerings of e(ery dollar 3<(e earned to date and they are in 6od<s hands as see%s o- !y -a$th. 3 confess with my mouth that my seed is sown and 6od is growing it $n/$s$ ly ut a solutely. 3 confess with my mouth that 9e is changing my seedtime into har/estt$!e. 3 confess with my mouth 9e is rebu5ing the de(ourers -or !y sake.
1(
3 confess with my mouth that my gi(ing is causing the windows of hea(en to unloc5...to open... and 6od is pouring out $%eas an% $ns$ghts $nto !y !$n% greater than 3 can contain about what to do and how to ma5e miracles happen in my life. 3t<s a miracle for the seed sown to burst forth through the soil and become plants that produce fruit into a mighty har(est? ut $t4s a !$racle that %oesn4t ;ust happen*I: 'U,: 19 'AD9 :O +APP9<5 2hat do 3 mean by =confess with my mouth=4 3 mean that 3 actually S*-'K ',%U0 those words. 3 S'1 them. 3 quote out loud the Scriptures that say 6od is at wor5 on my behalf. ,UK- )CF#. :','C93 FC!E,!!. F J%9/ J. J%9/ !EC!E. :'++9-2 "CJJ. 3S'3'9 $$C!E,!!. J C%&3/+93'/S "C#. ,oo5 up these (erses. 2rite them down. &ead them out loud. :emori8e them. Keep them where
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Attack Your Lack
you can loo5 at them often. *apa would wait until our seeds began to sprout and push their way up as plants through the earth so we could see them. +hen he<d say to Vaden and me, =Come on, boys. ,et<s go see how big the plants are.= 3 remember he<d stand there and study the field of those little shoots coming up out of the ground, often stooping down and feeling around them to see how healthy they were. +hen he would say, =,et<s go bac5 to the house. +hey<re growing good.= 3t was such a great feeling. 3t too5 me many years to throw off the old teaching?or lac5 of teaching?that 3 was to gi(e but not e;pect anything bac5. 2hen 3 finally began to get my brea5through 3 saw that 6od himself is the =good soil=?the soil 3 can<t see but which is eternal and e(er abundant and faithful in reproducing my seed sown into har(ests for me to recei(e. 3 began to lose that old sin5ing feeling that when my tithes and offerings left my hand they were gone, @ust gone. 3 gained the e;citing feeling that they were being placed in 6od<s hands, who would see that not one of my seeds would fail to grow or multiply. 3 couldn<t see it but 3 could K/%2 it because 3 saw it in 6od<s
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2ord and 3 5new 9is 2ord could ne(er fail me.
A %ersona! ,ar$est Too!

' third thing emerged from my childhood e;perience in planting seed and being part of the har(esttime. 3 came to 5now that the har(est wasn<t @ust good for my family and others in our town. 3t was good for :-. *ersonally. 3ndi(idually. 's a Christian there were many times 3 ga(e without belie(ing that 6od would not only use my gi(ing for the gospel<s sa5e but also use my gi(ing for !y sa5e. 3 ga(e belie(ing 6od would use my gift out there somewhere, for someone, to meet some need. But 3 ne(er thought about it meeting !y need or coming bac5 in a har(est that would touch my life. +hat was a spirit e;actly opposite the way 3 felt about our see%$ng and har/est$ng in the natural. 2hat happened to the har(est in the natural4 3t helped the entire family. 2e paid the rent... the utilities...put gas in the car we were able to buy. +he har(est also helped :-...%ral...the youngest son. 3 got new shoes. 3 got clothes. 3
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Attack Your Lack
e(en got that soda pop and bit of candy now and again. 'nd when we bought those things, that helped other people in our town. +hey could eat and use part of our har(est. +he har(est helped :-... and it helped %+9-&S. 3t was a dual har(est. +he same is true in the spiritual. 1our gi(ing creates a har(est for you. 3t creates a har(est for others.
The Doub!e.Re!ease
2hen 3 saw that dual har(est, 3 began to get into the habit of a %ou le=release. .irst, 3 released my tithes and offerings as seedM second, 3 released my faith to 6od, belie(ing 9e would multiply my seed sown into har(ests for others '/0 for :- to recei(e bac5 for :1 greater needs. 3 wrapped my S--0 with my .'3+9. +oday 3 call it S--0>.'3+9. 9ow happy 3<(e been in my gi(ing since7 3 5now now that recei(ing follows my gi(ing. 3 will ha(e @oy in recei(ing which in turn gi(es me @oy in my gi(ing and brings me into a more special relationship with 6od. 3 5now what 9e means when 9e says, =6od lo(es a cheerful gi(er= HJ Corinthians "CBI.
1;
+here cannot be =cheerfulness= in gi(ing unless you know that you know you will &-C-3Vgreater har(ests in return. +he entire law of sowing and reaping in the 2ord of 6od guarantees this if we will only grasp it and practice it out of the @oy of our e;pecting from our 6od who is a good 6od.
,ow the ,ar$est Comes

3 remember when 3 disco(ered Jesus< words in ,u5e )CF#, &($/e2 an% $t shall e g$/en to you> goo% !easure2 presse% %own2 shaken together2 an% runn$ng o/er2 shall !en g$/e unto your oso!...& 3<d done the gi(ing, always gi(en first as Jesus said here in ,u5e )CF#. 3<d dreamed of the good measure and running o(er that was promised. But 3<d ne(er understood the part that said, =:en shall gi(e unto your bosom.= +hen it came to me. 's a little boy going to town with *apa to sell our cotton and corn and other yields, it was always men who wrote him the chec5s. 3 remembered the change that would come o(er my father. 9e had wor5ed so hard for this har(est to come, had put in the seed, tended it, and waited through good weather and bad,
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Attack Your Lack
hoping against hope we<d ha(e an abundant har(est, one that would be =good measure and running o(er.= 2hen we put the har(est on the scales in town to be measured, it would determine what amount men>the buyers?would gi(e us in money. 2ith the chec5 in his hand *apa would say, =Come on, boys, we<re going to the store.= +hat meant we had the money to buy what we needed for the winter and for ne;t year<s planting. *apa would straighten his shoulders, lift his head, start smiling, and pat us on the bac5. :en had gi(en to our bosom and it was a great day. 's a Christian beginning to understand the laws of sowing and reaping, 3 began to see that 6od wasn<t going to rain money down from hea(en, nor would 9e rain down clothes or cars or houses and lands or food or any other material thing we needed. +hat comes from men and women? human beings>who control portions of 6od<s earth. 3t is people who are the instruments 6od our Source wor5s through to gi(e to our bosom?or to our need. 3t<s so simple once 3 saw it. 3t<s so powerful once 3 put it into practice as a way of life for my gi(ing and recei(ing. 1ou see, the things you lac5 as a Christian belie(er ultimately in(ol(e people.
7=
3f you lac5 ,%V-...you are lac5ing a lo(ing friend, a lo(ing parent, a lo(ing husband or wife. ,o(e comes to you through people. 3f you lac5 :%/-1...you are lac5ing an employer, a partnership relationship with someone, a customer, a contributor, a friend. :oney comes to you through people. 3f you lac5 +3:-...you are struggling with facing demands placed upon you by people Hincluding yourselfI. .eelings of stress and pressure come because of obligations you feel toward people, or obligations you put on yourself. 3t<s a people situation. 3f you lac5 'B3,3+1...you are lac5ing a teacher, a helper, a cowor5er. 1our lac5 of ability can be sol(ed if you are in relationship with a person who can help you. 3f you lac5 *-'C-...you are in(ol(ed in a negati(e relationship Hsomewhere along the lineI with a person. 3s it a difficulty in your marriage, in your relationship with a child, in your relationship with a neighbor4 0ifficulties with other human beings are what get us into arguments, hate, strife, war. Can you see it4 1our ,'CK is a people situation. 'nd when you gi(e... you become a gi(ing person. %ther people benefit from your gi(ing. 1our gi(ing opens you up to other people. 1ou can begin to recei(e bac5 from them. 'nd
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Attack Your Lack
when you do recei(e bac5, it comes as a flood ?=pressed down, running o(er.= :en, human beings, people gi(e bac5 to your heart, your bosom, your soul, your life, your need, your lac5. 0on<t shut off people who want to gi(e to you. 0on<t get stubborn and thin5 you can sur(i(e totally on your own and that you don<t need what others are offering to do. ,earn to &-C-3V-. 3t<s the way 6od is going to get at your ,'CK. 9ear it again and do itC 'ttac5 your lac5. 'ttac57 'ttac57 'ttac57
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1ou 9a(e a 0i(ine &ight to 's5, =,%&0, 2hat<s in 3t for :e4=
Chapter ?
' prosperous young man came to Jesus one day. 9e as5ed Jesus to gi(e him life?real life. 9e wanted an answer so badly that he came running and 5nelt down and as5ed what he must do. HSee :ar5 !EC!B.I Jesus said, =Keep the commandments.= 9e replied, =:aster, all these ha(e 3 5ept from my youth up.= &ight here 3 want to point out to you that 5eeping 6od<s commandments was the reason this young man had become prosperous. Bac5 in 0euteronomy #C!# 6od said, &1ut you shall re!e! er the Lor% your (o%@ -or $t $s he who g$/es you power to get wealth2 that he !ay esta l$sh h$s co/enant w$th you wh$ch he swore to your -athers2
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Attack Your Lack
as $t $s th$s %ay.& +his young man had 5ept the co(enant made by 6od with 'braham. 9e had 5ept the commandments 6od had laid down for 9is people. ,et me point out to you that there is no substitute for your 5eeping 6od<s commandments. Jesus said 9e came to fulfill the law, not to replace it. HSee :atthew $C!B.I +hin5 about that word -ul-$ll. 3t means what it says, =.U,,>.3,,, fully filled, no lac5.= Jesus supplied the missing parts that made the law .U,,1 .3,,-0, without lac5. 6od<s commandments are still necessary for your pro(ision and prosperity. HSee &omans 7:12.) +hrough obeying the commands of 6od this young ruler had become (ery prosperous. But now something has gone wrong. 9e feels lack2 a lac5 that is 5eeping him from recei(ing the fullness of Jesus< life in his being. &ead onC &:hen )esus look$ng at h$! lo/e% h$!.& Jesus didn<t stop lo(ing him because he had money. Jesus is not against people ha(ing money. 9e<s the one who gi(es the ability to earn money. 's :oses said, =9e gi(es you power to get wealth that he may establish his co(enant with you.= 3n
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You +a/e a D$/$ne R$ght to Ask2 &LORD2 What4s $n It -or 'e"&
other words, it ta5es money to operate 6od<s great wor5. 3n gi(ing us power to get money, 6od is enabling us to -S+'B,3S9 the co(enant of lo(e with other men.
The Lack #ou ,a$en*t Attacke) #et

+hen Jesus said to the rich young ruler, &One th$ng you lack2& meaning, =1oung man, you ha(e a lac5 you ha(en<t attac5ed yet.= Can you understand how Jesus can say this same thing to you4 =1ou ha(e done many things and you<(e got many things, but there<s only one thing you<re not doing7 +here<s one thing you don<t ha(e. 1ou<re attac5ing many things that are wrong in your life eAcept one thing.= 2e<d probably say, =Jesus, 1ou mean 3<(e done e(erything li5e 1ou want me to, e;cept one thing4 *lease tell me what it is so 3 can fi; it7= +hat is the way the con(ersation went with this man. Jesus said, =+he one thing you lac5 will come to you when you sell what you<(e accumulated in wealth and gi(e it...and come follow :e and you<ll ha(e treasures in hea(en.= &ight here is where the rubber meets the road for this man and for us today. 3n :ar5 !ECJJ we read, &+e was sa% at that say$ng2 an% went
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Attack Your Lack
away gr$e/e%@ -or he ha% great possess$ons.& /ow 'braham had great possessions, but he didn<t trust in them. 9e trusted in the 6od who ga(e them to him. 'braham loo5ed to 6od as his Source, ne(er to any man or thing. +his young man had gained his wealth the same way 'braham had, but somewhere along the line he had C9'/6-0 S%U&C-S. 9e had 5ept 6od<s commands and 6od had prospered him. /ow he has his eyes off 6od. 9e has his eyes on his material wealth and he is loo5ing to it as his source. Jesus 5new this. &An% )esus sa$% unto h$s %$sc$ples2 +ow har%ly shall they that ha/e r$ches enter $nto the k$ng%o! o- (o%5& H:ar5 !ECJFI. /ow don<t misinterpret Jesus< words here. 9e wasn<t saying that people who ha(e wealth can<t get to hea(en. 3f that were true, then e(erybody would ha(e to be poor in order to ser(e the ,ord. +hat<s not scriptural at all. 3t<s foolish to thin5 that way. 2hat Jesus really is saying is this, =9ow impossible it is for people who trust in their money as their source to be sa(ed.= +hat<s the reason this man went away with deep grief in his heart. 9e had switched from trusting 6od as his Source to trusting his money as his source. 9e
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was doing e;actly what 6od in 0euteronomy said /%+ to doC &When you are wealthy2 when you ha/e great possess$ons2 -orget not the Lor% your (o%& H0euteronomy #CB>JEI. 2hen this man got prosperous, he started trusting in his money instead of the ,ord. /ow he finds it<s not in his spirit to go bac5 to trusting in 6od. 3t isn<t that Jesus doesn<t want to supply your lac5 of money or the things you need. But when you<re trusting in material things you<re not trusting in 6od. 1ou can only put your trust in one thing. 3t is not possible to ha(e more than one Source. 3n the (ery first commandment, 6od said, &You shall ha/e no other go%s e-ore !e& H-;odus JEFI. =Before me.= +hat means nothing out in front of 6od. +hat means 6od is not first. 2hen you see other things in front of 6od, repent. +urn around. 6et bac5 to ha(ing 6od .3&S+. +his man<s money was standing in front of 6od?it was a god to him. 9e had bro5en 6od<s commandment not to ha(e any other god B-.%&- 93:. Jesus saw it and said, =3t<s impossible for people to get to hea(en who trust in riches or anything else as a source. 6od is the
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Attack Your Lack
only S%U&C-.=
It*s -ot Either/&r

1ou don<t ha(e to ma5e a choice between 6od and ha(ing the money you need. 3t<s not eitherNor. .or e;ample, the disciples said, &Who then can e sa/e%"& Jesus answered, &W$th !en $t $s $!poss$ le2 ut not w$th (o%@ -or w$th (o% all th$ngs are poss$ le& H:ar5 !ECJ),JBI. 't that point *eter spo5e up, &)esus2 we who -ollow you ha/e le-t all. What shall we ha/e there-ore"& H:ar5 !ECJ#I. 3 lo(e what *eter said here. 9e was saying, =Jesus, we ha(e ta5en e(erything out from in front of 6od. 6od is .3&S+ in our li(es. 9e<s our Source. 2e ha(e ceased trusting in anything as our Source e;cept 1ou. -(erything but 1ou we ha(e left behind.= +hat<s terrific7 3t<s the position 6od wants you and me to be in today so that 9e may bless and prosper us. 3 lo(e *eter<s question that followedC =,ord, what<s in it for us4= 3t<s the right question. ' lot of Christians feel *eter was sacrilegious. 3 don<t. Certainly Jesus didn<t. 6od does not e;pect us to put 9im first?putting nothing in front of 9im?and then to e;pect /%+93/6 bac5 from 9im.
7;
Jesus was quic5 to answer *eter in the most positi(e wayC =+here is no man...not you *eter ...not any of you my followers...there is not a person who has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sa5e, and the gospel<s...but he shall recei(e?9- S9',, 6-+?a !EE> fold now in this time?3/ +9- /%2 %. +93S ,3.-? houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands H&-', -S+'+-I, with persecution ?HS%:- 23,, B- J-',%US %. 1%U *&%S*-&3/67I and in the world to come eternal life= H:ar5 !ECJ",FEI. 2hat Jesus is doing here is putting e(erything in proper order. 9e is e;plaining that as we 5eep 6od<s commands and put 9im .3&S+ in our li(es, trusting only in 6od as the S%U&C- %. %U& +%+', SU**,1, 9is eternal law of prosperity will wor5 e;actly as it has from the beginning. Just as 6od blessed 'braham with prosperity by his 5eeping 6od<s commands and doing it by faith, @ust as there was something in it for 'braham far more than he ga(e up, so Jesus is telling us there<s something in it for us. 9e says, =/obody who turns from trusting material things or lo(ed ones as a god or a source loses. 1ou get something in return.= Jesus says, =3f you ris5 e(erything to trust in :e and ma5e :e your Source, then in gi(ing li5e this 3 will cause greater things and !ore things to come bac5 to you now... in this life... but there will be !EE>fold
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Attack Your Lack
persecut$on with the !EE>fold blessings 3 gi(e you. Satan won<t li5e it. Some people won<t li5e it. But 3 don<t intend for you to gi(e e(erything to :e without :e gi(ing e(erything 3 ha(e to you.= *raise 6od7 Jesus ne(er planned for 9is disciples then, or us in the now, to be in po(erty. 6od did not say, =3t is 6od who gi(es you power to get po(erty=?/%7 9e said, =3t is 6od who gi(es you power to get wealth? prosperity.= 6od ne(er planned for you to be co(ered up with sic5ness, loneliness, worry, guilt, fear, depression. 9e wants you to ha(e 93S B-S+. Jesus personally and clearly promised us 9is !EE> fold return in this life of following 9im with our whole heart. 9e tells us to attac5 our lac5, to attac5... attac5... '++'CK.
Don*t ,ate #ourse!'

3 strongly belie(e Jesus is saying you should not hate yourself. 1ou should not get a po(erty>comple; or attitude that to be 9is follower you ha(e to be poor or downtrodden. 9e wasn<t saying to the rich young ruler or to *eter and us 9is followers today that we are to ha(e nothing for following 9im. 9e was saying in this life we need
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friends, lo(ed ones, real estate, money, health, influence, etc. But we don<t ha(e a need to ma5e them a god to us?or to loo5 to them as our source. 9e is saying 6od is our 6od, 6od is our Source?period7 %nce we ma5e Jesus our personal Sa(ior, gi(e 9im our best seed and loo5 only to 9im as our ,ord and as our Source, then we ha(e a di(ine right in times of lac5 to say, =,ord, 3<(e gi(en up e(erything to ser(e 1ou and trust 1ou, what<s in it for me4= 9e lo(ingly tells you what<s in it for you. 9e authori8es you to spea5 to your lac5C =,ac5, you be gone7= 9e authori8es you to spea5 to 9is spiritual resourcesC =Spiritual power, you come into my life.= 9e authori8es you to spea5 to 9is healing resources, =9ealth, you come into my physical and mortal being.= 9e authori8es you to spea5 to 9is financial resources, bac5ed by all the riches in hea(en, =:oney, you come to me.= 9e authori8es you to spea5 to 9is angels, =:inistering spirits, bring these things into my life.= 9e told the rich young ruler if he would gi(e and trust only in 6od as his Source, =1ou shall ha(e treasures in hea(en.=
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Attack Your Lack
+&-'SU&-S7 +&-'SU&-S 3/ 9-'V-/7 Some Christians say, =2hen 3 get to hea(en 3<ll be rich.= /%, +9-1<&- 2&%/6?!EE *-&C-/+ 2&%/67 2hy do 3 say they are wrong4 .irst, rich is the opposite of poor. 3n hea(en there won<t be any po(erty. 1ou won<t lac5 anything that you need money or wealth to pay for. 9ea(en itself is rich and abundant and e(erything you need will automatically be yours. 1ou will ha(e a body that ne(er gets sic5. 1ou will ha(e all the lo(e, time, beauty, energy, and @oy you cra(e. So will e(eryone else. +he struggle, the competition for wealth and power, will be o(er. 1ou won<t <99D treasures to use and spend once you are in hea(en. Second, when Jesus says by gi(ing and following 9im you<ll ha(e =treasures in hea(en,= 9e is referring to *hilippians DC!", &#or !y (o% shall supply all your nee% accor%$ng to h$s r$ches y Chr$st )esus $n hea/en.& =1ou shall ha(e treasures in hea(en.= +hat means you ha(e them right now. 'nd it is those (ery treasures ?riches?in hea(en that 6od is going to pour out to you to supply all your need in the here and now. 1ou need treasures in hea(en to be opened up and poured out to you here on the earth. ,isten, Jesus doesn<t lea(e you with ,'CK down
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here @ust to gi(e you 9is SU**,1 up there. 9e doesn<t desert you in your need here to accept you when you reach hea(en. 9e doesn<t demand you to be poor on earth in order to ma5e you rich in the eternal world. 3 challenge you in Jesus< name, by 9is lo(e and care for you personally, ha(e the courage to belie(e the 2ord of 6od. Based on your following Jesus and gi(ing as 9e said, as5 9im, =,ord, what<s in it for me4= +hen belie(e what 9e says here in :ar5 !E and all the rest of the 2ord of 6od. See that 6od wants you to be able to say, =3<m blessed. 'll my needs are met or are being met according to 9is riches, 9is health, 9is spiritual power in hea(en.= 6et @oy in your wal5 with Jesus on this earth. .eel good about 6od. .eel good about yourself. -n@oy your blessings. +han5 6od for what money you ha(e, the health you ha(e, the spiritual life you ha(e. 0on<t separate themM they are supposed to go together in your life. 6od intends for you to be a blessed child of 6od in e(ery area of your life. 9e means for you not to accept your lac5 but to attac5 it with all your faith, all your courage and determination. 9e intends for you to win o(er your lac5 and to be successful for 9is glory7
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Attack Your Lack
,a$e #ou "a)e (o) #our Source?

But, you say, 3 don<t 5now if 6od $s my Source. 3 don<t 5now that 3<(e e(er made 9im my Source. 3 thin5 there<s something standing in the way that 3 trust more than 3 trust 6od. .riend, 3 encourage you to ma5e 6od your Source +%0'1. 0o it right now. 9ow can you ma5e 6od your Source4 .irst, repent of the fact that you<re trusting in someone or something else more than you<re trusting in 6od. +hat<s what =sin= is. 3t<s putting something ahead of 6od. 0ecide that you are going to ma5e 6od first. 'ccept 6od<s plan. Choose to accept Jesus as 6od<s Son. 's5 9im to enter your being, to fill you with 9is 9oly Spirit. 's5 9im to help you e(ery day of your life to K--* 6od as your Source. +al5 to 6od. +al5 to 9im @ust li5e you would a person who is there in the room with you. 1ou can say this prayer or one li5e it. =6od, 3 5now 3 ha(en<t put 1ou first in my life. 3 want to. 3<m sorry 3<(e put other things in front of 1ou. 3 want to ma5e a new beginning. 3 belie(e that Jesus is 1our Son and that 9e is my Sa(ior. 3 want to follow Jesus. 3 want to be filled with 1our 9oly Spirit. 3 want to
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learn to do things the way 1ou do them, to thin5 the way 1ou thin5, to get into 1our 5ind of gi(ing>and> recei(ing, to ha(e 1%U fill up my lac5 with our good things that are poured out to me from hea(en<s treasure chests. *lease forgi(e me. 3 pray this in the name of Jesus. 'men.= +al5 to 6od often. +ell 9im how you feel. +ell 9im you<re trusting 93: as your Source. +his is the way to continually attack your lack.
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&oses 2ill Bloom 'gain7
Chapter B
%ne day a pastor went to pray for a man who was suffering with a bad case of arthritis. 9is @oints were badly swollen and he was in constant pain. +his sic5 man also had a doctor friend who came each wee5 to wor5 with him. 0espite the prayers of the minister and the medicine of the physician, there came a day when the man belie(ed he would not get well and his spirit fell. +he smile (anished from his face and soon a terrible bitterness came o(er him. /eighbors who had been bringing food didn<t come anymore because he didn<t welcome them anymore. +he only person left was his nurse. 'nd she didn<t really want to be on the case because he had become so bitter and hard to deal with in both body and spirit. +he pastor said, =2hen 3 went to see &obert, 3 used my cheeriest (oice. But there he lay drawn up in a 5not. 9e refused to loo5 at me... to spea5 ...or to try to smile. 3 wanted so desperately to reach him at least one more
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Attack Your Lack
time in the hope my prayers would get through.= 2hile the pastor was still by the main<s bedside, his friend the doctor came. 'fter e;amining him again, he ga(e him a shot and then said, =&obert, you<re a (ery sic5 man. But 3<(e been thin5ing of all the good things you<(e done with your life. 3<(e got good news.= +he man whispered, =%h, yeah4= =3 ha(e a new medicine that<s going to turn your life around and you<re going to be ama8ed by its results.= =0o you ha(e it with you4= =1es.= =.or 6od<s sa5e, doctor, gi(e it to me.= =2ell, here it is. &obert, C9--& U*7 &%S-S 23,, B,%%: '6'3/7= 'nd he closed his little bag and left. 3n a few minutes the nurse came in wiping her eyes. She had been crying. She had been in another room trying to get rid of her frustrations. She had requested the doctor to release her from the case but he had refused. She wal5ed bac5 into the room, ready to announce she was quitting this case anyway, but then she loo5ed again at the man on the bed. Suddenly something began to happen. She saw him begin to open his hands... to mo(e his swollen @oints... to inch his way o(er to the side of the bed.
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Roses W$ll 1loo! Aga$n5
3n a few minutes he put his feet on the floor, then he slowly pushed himself up until, trembling, he stood on his feet. Soon he gained his balance and stood loo5ing around the room. 9e saw the nurse and smiled at her and said, =/U&S-, C9--& U*7 &%S-S 23,, B,%%: '6'3/7= +he pastor watched all this. 0eeply mo(ed, he slipped out of the room. 's he dro(e away he was e;hilarated, uplifted by the Spirit of 6od. ,ater he said, =3 had to dri(e downtown on some business. 's 3 par5ed my car and got out, a friend saw me. 9e said, <*reacher, do you ha(e a moment4<= =Sure, what can 3 do for you4= =<2ell, you 5now how bad business has been. 3<m in the process of filing for ban5ruptcy. 3t hurts. But what hurts me most are the people who ha(e wor5ed for me, some of them for many years. 3t seems those 3 ha(e to let go first need the @ob the most.< = +he minister started to sympathi8e. +hen he remembered what had happened bac5 at that house. 9e said to his friend, =,isten, 3<(e got good news.= =2ell, what is it4 +ell me.= =C9--& U*7 &%S-S 23,, B,%%: '6'3/7= 'fter the con(ersation the pastor wal5ed on down the street and met his congressman. 9e said, =9ello,
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Attack Your Lack
Congressman, how are things in 2ashington4= =2ell, pastor, 3<m sorry to tell you things aren<t good. +he deficit is soaring and nothing seems to wor5. 3t loo5s to me li5e we<re in for some real trouble. +his country may fall apart.= +he pastor said, =Congressman, ha(en<t you forgotten something4= =2hat is that4= =&%S-S 23,, B,%%: '6'3/7= +he congressman thought a moment. 9e smiled and said, =1ou 5now, 3 had forgotten the secret of life itself?that roses will bloom again. +han5 you, pastor, you<(e made my day.= ,ater as the pastor dro(e home, he decided to (isit a young couple whose child had died and been buried a few days before. 2hen he arri(ed, he found the young father home from wor5 early. 9is wife sat staring in space. 2ithout lifting her head she said, =*astor, do you really belie(e in life after death4= 9e said, =1es, 3 belie(e in the resurrection of the dead through the ,ord Jesus Christ. 3 belie(e 6od will raise the dead.= 'gain, without lifting her head, she said, =2ill you please e;plain that a little more4= =2ell,= he said, =in terms of the passing of your little child?yes, your little child li(es. 9e is ali(e fore(er
<=
with Jesus. But more than that, the resurrection means there are a series of resurrections in our li(es here on earth. :any resurrections are going to happen to you and your husband from time to time. 1ou<re going to feel inspired, uplifted, strengthened in many ways in the days and years ahead.= She still had her head down. 9e said, ='s 3 sat there loo5ing at her, 3 felt the @oy of what 3 was saying and 3 @ust smiled. 3 smiled until she loo5ed up as if to say, <2ell, what is there to smile about4< 'nd 3 said, :y dear, &%S-S 23,, B,%%: '6'3/7< and 3 left.= ' few wee5s later, the pastor was retracing his rounds and he came bac5 to &obert<s house. &obert was no longer in bed. 9e was out in the yard doing some light wor57 +he same day the pastor saw his business friend who said, =*astor, 3<m glad to see you. 3<(e had a turnaround. +he last two months ha(e been ama8ing. %rders ha(e come in from e(erywhere. 3<(e rehired all my people and e(en hired new people. 2e<re the only business in this town that<s booming li5e this and 3 hope we<re the forerunner of many more. &%S-S '&B,%%:3/6 '6'3/7= +he pastor decided he would stop by the young couple<s house and see how they were. 2hen he arri(ed they were there to meet him. +hey said, =*astor, how do you thin5 the people will feel if we
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Attack Your Lack
come bac5 to church on Sunday4= 9e said, =+hey<ll feel @ust great7 +hey<(e been (ery concerned about you and ha(e been praying for you.= +he young mother smiled. =,oo5 for us on Sunday. &%S-S '&- B,%%:3/6 '6'3/7=
(o) Is -ot Through !essing #ou

3 first told this story ten years ago on one of our prime>time tele(ision specials. &ight after the program aired, -(elyn and 3 too5 a trip across the deserts of the southwestern United States. 3n one of the most barren areas we stopped our car and wal5ed a few hundred steps into the desert. 'nd for the first time 3 saw the desert rose up close. 's 3 stood there loo5ing at it, 3 stooped down and touched it, wondering how it could grow out of that hard>pac5ed crac5ed earth. 'nd the Scripture came to me from 3saiah F$C! where 6od said.
&An% the %esert shall rose.& losso! l$ke the
.riend, it ta5es 6od to put the bloom on the rose. 3t ta5es 6od to ma5e the roses bloom again. But there<s something in this story that<s (ery important to you today, and it<s thisC
It Takes #our +aith to e!ie$e (o)

<2
Wi!! "ake the Roses !oom Again 'or #ou

2hat is 6od trying to say to you in your lac54 9e<s saying 9e<s not through blessing you. 9e<s saying 9is miracles are not o(er for you. 9e<s saying that your faith can wor5 aga$n ... and aga$n... and aga$n. &I w$ll hope cont$nually& H*salm B!C!DI. 0o you 5now who said those words4 King 0a(id. 2hat had 0a(id lac5ed in his life4 9e had lost his best friend...Jonathan. 9e had struggled most of his life to stay ali(e. 9e had been threatened by wild animals... giants and their armies...and a 5ing who was enraged by @ealousy against him. 9e had huddled in dar5 ca(es, alone with his men in the wilderness, to escape years of persecution. 9e had lost an infant son. 9e lost a belo(ed son 'bsalom who had rebelled against him. 3ncest had in(aded his family. 9e had lost battles. 9e had suffered sic5ness and in@ury. 9e saw his sons feuding. 'nd he wrote, =But 3 will hope continually.=
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Attack Your Lack
'nd what did 0a(id hope in4 &I hope $n thy wor%& H*salm !!"C#!I. 0a(id trusted 6od to be true to 9is word. 9e trusted 6od to be his rewarder, e(ery time, e(ery time, e(ery time tragedy struc5 him... e(ery time, e(ery time, e/ery time he felt ,'CK. 1ou may ha(e lost a lo(ed one. 1ou may ha(e something terribly wrong in your body. +here may be a problem that<s eating you up. +here may be some personal tragedy. 1ou may need an answer desperately. But 3 say to you... 6od is ali(e in the /%2 %. 1%U& ,3.-. 9e<s at the point of your need right now. 9e<s ready and willing to wor5 with you to o(ercome your lac5. &ise up and attac5 and attac5 and attac5.
Cheer 012 Roses Wi!! !oom Again2
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0o 1ou 2ant :iracles by the +easpoon or +rainload4

9
Chapter C
's 3 ha(e watched -(elyn coo5, 3 ha(e noticed how familiar she is with units of measure. She uses measuring cups and spoons and other utensils. She puts in a cup of this, or a spoon of that, or a pinch of something else in her coo5ing. 3 watch in ama8ement, especially when she gets it coo5ed and puts it on the table and 3 eat it. 3 say, =Ummmm, this is good.= 1et 3 wonder how the measured units she used somehow went together to ma5e the meal come out so perfectly. 6od bases 9is gi(ing on a di(ine and precise measurement. 3n ,u5e )CF# Jesus describes this measurementC
&($/e2 an% $t shall e g$/en to you> goo% !easure2 presse% %own2 shaken together2 an% runn$ng o/er2 shall !en g$/e to you.&
+hen 9e adds, &#or w$th what !easure you g$/e shall e !easure% ack to you aga$n.&
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Attack Your Lack
6od is saying a powerful thing to you here about your gi(ing and your recei(ing. 1ou, the gi(er, are the one who determines the measure?or e;tent?of how :-/ 23,, 63V- +% 1%U. =.or with what measurement you gi(e, it will be measured to you again,= Jesus said. +he question is, do you want 6od<s miracles poured bac5 to you by the spoonful, the cupful, the barrel>full, the tan5>car>full4 3n other words, Jesus is telling you that you gi(e and the way you measure or count up your gi(ing establishes the unit of measure that men will use in responding to you with their gi(ing. 6od says 1%U determine by what measure you will 6-+ Hor &-C-3V-I. 1ou establish that by the measure in which you gi(e. 2hat is 6od<s measuring unit4 .irst, 6od<s measuring unit is a *-&C-/+'6-, not an e;act amount. 9e loo5s at what you gi(e in relationship to the total amount you ha(e to gi(e. +he Bible tells a story about a poor widow woman who went to the temple one day and put her offering to the ,ord in the giant trumpet>shaped containers that were scattered about the temple for that purpose. Jesus and 9is disciples were off to the side and they noticed this woman putting in her offering. +hey also saw the rich putting in their offerings, using loud prayers and
<1
Do You Want '$racles y the :easpoon or :ra$nloa%"
gestures to call attention to their gifts. 2hat did the widow woman gi(e4 +wo mites. /ow that would be less than a penny in our money today7 Very little. 'nd yet Jesus turned to 9is disciples and said, =+his woman has gi(en more than all the rest.= :athematically that isn<t possible. But it is the way 6%0 measures. +his woman had gi(en her ',,. She had gi(en out of her need. She had gi(en out of her want. She was trusting 6od with -V-&1+93/6 she had. ' brother in the ,ord began to prosper in a big way. 't the same time he was gi(en the opportunity to plant big. 9is wife was ready. But he went to his accountant who told him he shouldn<t gi(e big because of ta; reasons. 2hen it came to my attention 3 as5ed him, ='re you a tither4= =3 was before 3 got this 5ind of money.= =1ou aren<t now4= =/o.= 3 said, =3 ad(ise you to pray about this and remember who your Source is. ' re@ected opportunity to gi(e is a lost opportunity to recei(e.=
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Attack Your Lack
9e didn<t reply. 3t came to me with such force that it scared meC this brother is in the worst danger of his life7 9e was a tither, 6od has blessed him big, now he<s stopped and he doesn<t seem to care7 3 5now one thing for certainC it<s better to deal 6od in than to deal 9im out in your gi(ing ... and your recei(ing. Consider the measure 6od used in gi(ing 9is Son on the cross for us. 9e had only one Son. 9e could ha(e used another 5ind of measuring unit. +he measurement could ha(e been gi(ing one or more of the uncounted number of angels 6od has created. But that wasn<t the type of measurement that 6od wanted to &-C-3V- by. 6od didn<t stoop to see how small 9e could gi(e...but how B36. 6od didn<t see how ine;pensi(e 9is gift might be...but how costly. 6od didn<t gi(e something 9e wouldn<t miss... but the %ne who would cost 9im the most to gi(e up7 6od ris5ed -V-&1+93/6. +hat<s the 6%0>5ind of gi(ing. :h$s $s why all (o% has $s the result o- what +e has g$/en. It $s why +e has you2 !e2 an% !$ll$ons o- others re%ee!e% ack to +$!. +e ga/e +$s l$-e to get your l$-e.
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Do You Want '$racles y the :easpoon or :ra$nloa%"
(o% ga/e +$s !ost prec$ous possess$on o- all. )esus. +e rece$/e% ack a prec$ous possess$on*YOU5 3t<s important for you to notice that 6od doesn<t lose what 9e gi(es. 6od still has 9is only begotten Son ecause 9e ga(e 9im. You too w$ll ha/e2 ecause you g$/e. +he only difference is that with 6od, if you gi(e one cupful you don<t get one cupful bac5. 9e says 9e will gi(e thirty, si;ty, a 9U/0&-0 cupfuls bac5 H:ar5 DCJEI. 3n the 6od>5ind of gi(ing and recei(ing, this is the way the measurement system wor5s. 3t runs by the law of multiplication. 6od is still getting, still har(esting souls from 9is gift of Jesus. 6od ga(e for a 0-S3&-0 &-SU,+ and 9e is still getting that desired result e(ery hour, e(ery day. 9e<s &-C-3V3/6 the reco(ery of lost souls, healing of sic5 bodies, supplying of lac5 in human beings, re@oicing of angels o(er lost sinners who repent, deli(erance of 9is masterpiece creation?man?from the clutches of the enemy Satan. 6od 6-+S by the measure 9e ga(e. 6od 9'S what 9e ga(e. +he same is true for you. 'nd for me. +his should cause us to e;amine (ery closely what we ha(e and what we gi(e of it, being sure that we plant our best seed e(ery time. 2hen 9e recei(es our best, 9e gi(es bac5 to us 9is
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Attack Your Lack
best. 2e recei(e it. 'nd that<s the way we continue '++'CK3/6 %U& ,'CK
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+he 6od>Kind of *rosperity and the :an>Kind of *rosperity?9ere<s the 0ifference
Chapter 1D
+he le(el of prosperity 6od himself has for you depends on your gi(ing and recei(ing li5e (o% does, not li5e man does. :an hasn<t learned to gi(e and recei(e li5e 6od does because, in general, man has not been =born again= by the Spirit into the 5ingdom of 6od. +he unsa(ed man<s life is caught up in the fear that he won<t get his share and he goes about scared to death he<s not going to =get enough.= 6etting enough has become his way of life. 3t hasn<t e(en crossed his mind that the 6od> 5ind of getting?or recei(ing?comes from gi(ing. 9e hasn<t understood that it<s his gi(ing that generates what he recei(es. 9e hasn<t understood that the 6od> 5ind of gi(ing and recei(ing has a B,-SS3/6 on it that goes far beyond the (isible treasures of this earth.
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3n his relentless pursuit of getting, man in general isn<t =reaching toward 6od.= 'nd the things he recei(es don<t reflect =6od reaching toward man.= 2hen you stri(e to 6-+ without 6od being in(ol(ed, the things you recei(e ne(er satisfy. +hey don<t -ul-$ll you. +hey don<t .U,,1 .3,, e(ery part of you. +hey don<t bring you rest ...peace...deep J%1 in your innermost spirit. 1es, there is a distinct difference in 6-++3/6 the man>way and in 6-++3/6 or &-C-3V3/6 the 6od>way. 3 remember spending a few days with a man who has spent his life in getting. 9e is friendly, gracious, and he won<t cheat. But when it comes to gi(ing he simply cannot find it within himself to gi(e money or time to the ,ord<s wor5. 9e holds on to his dollars li5e he<ll ne(er get any more. +his man was showing me through his beautiful (acation home one day. 3t was well appointed and e(erything seemed perfect. 9e wa(ed his hand at the house, then at the magnificent la5e out in front, and said, =%ral, this is what it<s all about.= 3 said, =3n what way4= 9e said, =%h, you 5now. +his is why 3 wor5 so hard to earn money. 3 want to en@oy it.= 3t was all 3 could do to 5eep my tongue still. 3 wanted to say, =But Jesus says in ,u5e !JC!$ that a man<s life does not consist in the things he possesses. 'nd St. *aul says in -phesians DCJ# that a man should
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:he (o%=K$n% o- Prosper$ty an% the 'an=K$n% o- Prosper$ty* +ere4s the D$--erence
wor5 so he will 5now how to gi(e.= 3 didn<t say it because 3 felt 6od would someday gi(e me an opportunity to tal5 with this man when he was not under the spell of his material possessions. Se(eral years passed. 3 made e(erything 3 earned a basis for my gi(ing. 3n other words, 3 had decided to gi(e away nearly e(erything 3 recei(ed. 3 had earned through my wor5 as much or more than this man, but 3 had poured it into building a uni(ersity where 3 could raise up young people to get an education and at the same time learn to hear 6od<s (oice and to spend their li(es in 9is ser(ice to lost and suffering humanity. 3 had poured my recei(ing into the City of .aith 9ealth>Care Center so 6od<s healing streams of prayer and medicine could be merged and miracles could abound. 'nd 3 had done it all under much persecution from people in high and low places doubting my moti(es.
The Essence &' Li'e

3 had disco(ered that the essence of life itself is in our gi(ing and recei(ing because 6od will then see to it there are no shortages in our li(es ...no ,'CK. %ne day 3 recei(ed an urgent call that this friend had to see me on an emergency basis. 2hen he arri(ed he was deeply agitated. 9e said he had to ha(e my help. 2ould 3 guarantee something at the ban5 for him4 3 reminded him 3 wasn<t personally worth the amount of
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money he was as5ing me to guarantee. 9e said, =1es, 3 5now. 1ou<(e put your money into this uni(ersity and in the City of .aith. But you owe no money and your name is such that if you tell the ban5 you will stand with me, they<ll listen.= 3 was astounded. 9ere was a man who had earned millions. 9e had 5ept ',, he earned. 3 had helped to bring in hundreds of millions to build for 6od but had 5ept less than one tenth of one percent. 'nd here he was as5ing :- to stand up for him financially. 3 was complimented on the one hand, saddened on the other. 9e was a =getter= without any thought of being a gi(er first. So he had no way of 5nowing that it is in our 63V3/6 that we learn the 6od>5ind of &-C-3V3/6, which is the only way that what we get is going to satisfy our hearts and fulfill our li(es. 'lthough 3 did not ha(e the money he had 3 was willing to stand with him morally and to (ouch that he was an honest man. 3 could not help but remember when he wa(ed his hand o(er that beautiful (acation home and told me this was what life was all about...and why he wor5ed so hard to get money, so he could =li(e it up.= 3t didn<t help him any now. +he man who didn<t personally possess financial resources but who had wor5ed @ust as hard to earn so he could gi(e was now the only one he 5new whose word the ban5 would ta5e and help him out of his @am.
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The %!ace o' "irac!es

'nother thing this man had said to me through the years was, =3 don<t belie(e in miracles.= 3 always said bac5, =1ou will when you need one.= 2ell, sitting there that day as5ing for my help he started to say, =3 don<t belie(e in miracles,= but he caught himself. 9e said instead, =3 belie(e in miracles but they sure cost, don<t they4= 3 said, =1es, miracles cost 6od the gi(ing of 9is only begotten Son, Jesus. %ur gi(ing costs us too. 2ithout gi(ing, both on 6od<s part and our part, there are no miracles. 2ithout our planting our seed there will be no miracle har(est, the 5ind that counts when the chips are down li5e they are with you today.= 'nd 3 really belie(e that.
The (o).3in) o' (i$ing "akes 0s "ore Like (o)

6i(ing is 6od<s nature, 9is character, the essence of 9is being. +o 5eep e(erything for himself is foreign to 9is nature. 2hat 9e has 9e freely gi(es. Jesus said 6od e(en &clothes the l$l$es o- the -$el% an% $s concerne% when a lowly sparrow -alls.& HSee :atthew )CJ$>FD,!ECJ">F!.I *eople ha(e often said to me, =%ral, my problem is that 3 find it hard to belie(e in 6od.= 3 tell them, =+hat<s
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not my problem at all. :y problem is not belie(ing in 6od, but in belie(ing that 9- belie(es in :-.= 3 am so o(erwhelmed to 5now that 6od belie(es in a human being li5e %ral &oberts who went for years without a serious thought about 6od, with no feelings toward 9im, and without a single desire to consider 9im as important to his life. 1et all that time 6od was thin5ing about me, showing 9is feelings of concern toward me, carrying a deep desire that 3 would finally awa5en to 9is dream for my life and future. 'nd when 3 lay ill with tuberculosis, forgotten by the world and with no hope of reco(ery. 9e came to me through my parents and sister and two brothers with the message 9e would sa(e and heal me. 2hen 3 thin5 of that now it @ust brea5s me up and 3 want to gi(e and gi(e and gi(e?and 3 do7
The (o).3in) o' (i$ing Is ase) on Lo$e

6od e;pands himself through us and our gi(ing. 9a(e you e(er stopped to thin5 about that4 'fter we<re sa(ed by the shed blood of 9is Son at Cal(ary, we are filled with 6od<s 9oly Spirit and that means that we ha(e -A+-/0-0 6od<s Spirit on this earth through one more life. 2e ha(e -A+-/0-0 6od<s influence in the world. 2e are one more 23+/-SS of 6od<s power and lo(e.
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6od<s essential nature, the primary element of 9is personality, is that 9e lo/es so !uch +e g$/es HJohn FC!)I. 'nd as we see the 6od>5ind of lo(ing, gi(ing, and recei(ing, and consider that 6od<s nature is to be our essential nature too, then we can begin lo(ing, gi(ing, and recei(ing li5e 6od does. 2e too =so lo(e that we gi(e...=
The (o).3in) o' (i$ing Resu!ts in 4oy

/ow the 6od>5ind of gi(ing is not a one>way street. 6od gi(es and ',2'1S gi(es. But 6od also &-C-3V-S and always recei(es as a result of 9is gi(ing. 3t is 9is gi(ing that generates what 9e recei(es. +he seeds 6od sows come bac5 to 9im in har(ests of our sal(ation, in the reco(ering of our li(es that had been stolen away by Satan. 2hen 6od 6-+S me bac5, you bac5, or anyone else bac5, that is the two>way street of =gi(ing and recei(ing, of sowing and reaping, of seedtime and har(est= that 6od engages in JD hours a day. Jesus reminds us that when a sinner recogni8es that 6od<s gift of sal(ation is freely offered to him and he repents and is sa(ed, &:here $s ;oy a!ong the angels $n hea/en o/er one s$nner that repents& H,u5e !$CBI. 3f there is @oy among 6od<s angels o(er %/- of us
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repenting and returning to 6od, thin5 of the @oy that 6od gets7
The (o).3in) o' (i$ing an) Recei$ing In$o!$es %eo1!e ut as "eans5 "etho)s5 Instruments
1ou are actually dealing with 6od himself when you gi(e to further 9is wor5 on this earth. 'nd 6od alone determines which men 9e chooses to gi(e bac5 to you. +hey may not be, and usually aren<t, the ones that 1%U choose, but the men 9e chooses will go out of their way, if need be, to help you as 6od has promised. 3 remember a man who sent me a si8able chec5 for this ministry. 3 had ne(er met him nor heard about him. 3n his letter with the chec5 he wrote, =0on<t thin5 3<m gi(ing this to you because 3 li5e you. 3 wouldn<t wal5 across the street to hear you preach. But 6od showed me you are building a uni(ersity based on the 9oly Spirit and the authority of 6od, and 3<m gi(ing to you for that reason.= +hen he added that he was pretty sure that 3 would want to send his chec5 bac5. =0on<t,= he wrote. =6od told me to send it and to obey 9im. 3 must obey, whether 3 li5e you or not.= 2ell, he was reading my mind about the part where he thought 3 might want to send his chec5 bac5 to him. 't first 3 wrestled and said 3 didn<t want any
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money from a person who didn<t want me to ha(e it. +hen 6od calmed me down with ,u5e )CF# and reminded me that 6od himself causes !en to g$/e to !y oso!. So 3 recei(ed his chec5 according to 6od<s 2ord and disco(ered that it spent @ust as well as if the man had li5ed me. 9is money was planted in the good soil of %ral &oberts Uni(ersity and is still paying off in the li(es of the students and in har(ests bac5 to the man who ga(e. 3 lo(e the way 6od does things7 3t thrills me that in the final analysis 6od is in control of what we gi(e, of the seed we plant, and of the har(est we recei(e. :any a person may gi(e to you without reali8ing @ust 291 they are doing what they are doing. But now you 5now. 6od has the har(est under control. 6od is doing the multiplying. 'nd 6od is measuring out to you 93S reward. *ursue the 6od>5ind of prosperity. '++'CK...'++'CK...'++'CK your lac5 according to (o%4s way7
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2hen 1ou +hin5 1ou<re %ut of %ptions?the 2ord of 6od Says 1ou<re /ot
0o you e(er feel you<re all out of options4
Chapter 11
,et me gi(e you a story from the Bible that will spea5 directly to you when you feel that way. 3n Judges !D>!), we ha(e the story of Samson, who had e(erything going for him. +hen he disobeyed 6od, lost his power, and got into bondage so deep he felt he would ne(er ha(e another option?but he did. Samson was gifted of 6od to deli(er his people, the children of 3srael, from the oppression of the *hilistines. 's the Spirit of 6od would come upon Samson, his body recei(ed superior strength and he would successfully attac5 the strongholds of the *hilistines. .or e;ample, once he was trapped inside one of their fortified cities when they rushed to 5ill him. +here was no way out e;cept through the huge gate in the
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wall. Samson, feeling the Spirit coursing through his body, too5 hold of the hea(y door and wrenched it off its hinges and carried it off on his shoulders. 'nother time a thousand soldiers of the *hilistines caught him alone and swept down on his camp. 9a(ing no weapon and no one to help him, he pic5ed up the @awbone of a dead animal and attac5ed. 's they came at him in wa(es ...wa(e after wa(e after wa(e...he attac5ed and attac5ed and attac5ed. 2hen the battle was o(er, Samson still stood and one thousand soldiers of the enemy lay dead7 +he word swept throughout the land, =Samson will deli(er us7 Samson will deli(er us7=
3now Who #our Source Is

But Samson was not the source of his own strength. 6od was. 2ithout depending on 6od and obeying 9im, Samson was li5e any other man. +his came home to him and the people when Samson grew careless, let his guard down against Satan, and thought he could handle things by himself. +he *hilistines paid the most beautiful and cunning woman in their midst to disco(er the secret of Samson<s success. 2hen 0elilah came with her se;ual wiles, Samson got his mind off 6od, off his mission, off his dream. 9e de(eloped a sinful relationship with this woman, who was an enemy *hilistine. She too5 him
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When You :h$nk You4re Out o- Opt$ons*the Wor% o- (o% ,ays You4re <ot
easily, crying and pouting until she got Samson to re(eal to her the secret of his strengthC his (ow to 6od. Samson<s (ow was symboli8ed by not cutting his hair but allowing it to grow in se(en loc5s. 's Samson lay asleep in 0elilah<s arms, she was able to cut off his hair. +hen the alarm sounded inside him. Samson awo5e 5nowing his (ow had been bro5en. 9e felt the power of 6od lea(e him, and for the first time, he could not repel the attac5 of the *hilistines. +he *hilistines too5 Samson, gouged out his eyes, and hoo5ed him up in the place of a mule to grind at the mill of their god, 0agon. &ound and round and round he went, grinding at the mill day after day, his sight gone, his (ow shattered, his 6od>gi(en strength gone, his dream gone, the hopes of his people gone. -(erything... gone. %ne hot day he was grinding at the mill, sweating, hurting, bound to the mill wheel with brass fetters, out of options, when he felt something on the nape of his nec5. 9is hair7 3t was growing again7 9e had been sha(en by the *hilistines, stripped of the one thing that indicated his (ow to 6od. But the *hilistines hadn<t counted on the ob(ious fact that Samson<s hair would grow again. +here...@ust a wisp of hair touching the bac5 of his nec5. 'nd Samson began to belie(e again. 9e felt the Spirit of 6od mo(ing in his spirit. =3t<s 6od,= he cried. =6od is gi(ing me a second chance7=
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3n that moment, Samson made a new decision to obey 6od. Samson had been careless in the way he had obeyed 6od. 0elilah had ta5en him all too easily because he had not fully appreciated what 6od was doing in his life. +he moment he felt 6od return, he settled it in his mind that ne/er aga$n would he disobey or fail 6od.
&be)ience Is the 3ey

2hen a person starts obeying 6od, it causes Satan always to ma5e mista5es7 'bout that time the *hilistine leaders, three thousand of them, were meeting in the temple of their god, celebrating their (ictory o(er 3srael by ta5ing Samson capti(e, blinding his eyes and reducing him to a beast of burden. 's he entered the temple, pac5ed with the lords and ladies of the *hilistines, a cheer went up to the god 0agon. +he sightless Samson stood in the center alone. &An% they set h$! etween the p$llars that hel% up the te!ple& HJudges !)CJ$I. +hey shouldn<t ha(e done it7 2hile grinding at the mill because of his disobedience and brea5 with the Spirit of 6od, Samson was out of options. 9is attac5ing days were o(er. Standing now between the two pillars that
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supported the structure and height of the entire temple, his commitment to the ,ord 6od renewed, Samson saw a new opt$on. 2ith 6od<s power beginning to well up inside him, Samson as5ed his captors to let him feel the (ery pillars that were the central support for the temple<s roof. 9is captors no doubt laughed and sneered but they let Samson feel those pillars. +hey shouldn<t ha(e done it7 Samson put his arms around the two pillars and leaned his weight against them and prayed. +he Bible records his prayer as he stood alone among the three thousand who hated him. 2rapping his arms around the pillars and raising his sightless eyes, Samson prayed, &O Lor% (o%2 re!e! er !e. Re!e! er !e ;ust th$s once2 I pray thee2 that I !ay e a/enge% o- the Ph$l$st$nes -or !y two eyes.& Jesus said, &'en ought always to pray2 an% not to g$/e up& H,u5e !#C!I. 2hat is another option good for unless you and 3 pray, attac5ing with our prayers Satan who has willed our failure and destruction4 3t<s so easy to gi(e up, to lie down and declare it<s all o(er, to let Satan ha(e his way rather than 6od. 3t<s so easy to gi(e in to the feeling that you<re not worth anything anymore, the enemies are rightC you<re no good, a failure, another one to fade into obli(ion. 3t<s so easy to belie(e the de(il<s lieC you<(e messed
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it up, you don<t deser(e another chance, you<d @ust throw it away li5e you did before. 3t<s so easy to belie(e you<re out of options, that 6od himself has no more options for you. 1ut prayer st$ll changes people an% people change th$ngs. Samson could ha(e said, =Sure, 3 once carried off the gate of a city and 5illed a thousand *hilistine soldiers with nothing but a @awbone, but how can 3 belie(e 3 can pull these two pillars down and bring the whole temple down with all the enemies of the ,ord 6od of 3srael and of myself4 3<(e failed the ,ord and myself, so 3<m out of options.= 9e could ha(e refused to attac5 because his option seemed so limited, so unpromisingC @ust two pillars the temple and what chance did he ha(e to pull them off their foundation and cause that temple roof to collapse4 3nstead Samson prayed. 9e as5ed 6od to remember him in spite of his failures and mista5es. 9e as5ed 6od to grant him the Spirit to flow through his arms once more, ma5ing them li5e bands of steel, so he could pull that place down. .riend, 6od remembers you. 9e remembers you e(en if you ha(e failed and let 9im down again and again. 3 assure you in the name of Jesus Christ of /a8areth, you can confidently pray and call on 9im in your desperate need. 1ou will disco(er you ha(e a new
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option7 +he option of trying again and seeing your dreams come true after they ha(e seemed shattered fore(er. +he crowd hooted and taunted, =,oo57 Samson is struggling against those pillars. 0o you suppose he<s trying to pull the temple down4 9a. 9a. 2hat a fool7 Can<t he see how helpless he is4 0oes he thin5 he still has strength4= /o, Samson didn<t thin5 he had strength. 9e K/-2 he had it. 9e could feel the power of 'lmighty 6od coursing through his (eins. 's he put his arms around the pillars Samson whispered, =% ,ord, remember me @ust this once.= +he Spirit of 6od whipped through him li5e a wind and flashed through him li5e a fire. +he pillars mo(ed under his arms. +he building began to sha5e. =9is 6od7 9is 6od has come bac5 to Samson7 6et out of here. &un7= 2hile F,EEE 6od>hating *hilistines screamed, spectators of their own doom, Samson loc5ed himself with all his new>found might and pushed the pillars o(er off their foundation and the roof began to collapse. +he temple fell... the god 0agon crashed... the *hilistines were crushed... all because a man got a new option and attac5ed and attac5ed and attac5ed7 9ad you and 3 been there and found Samson @ust after he
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had won his greatest (ictory, 3 belie(e we would ha(e heard him say, =.or my eyes ha(e seen the glory of the ,ord.= Samson was no different from you. 9e was a man. 9e made a commitment of his life to 6od. 1ou can too. 9e had the Spirit of 6od flowing in his life. 1ou can too. 9e trusted 6od as his Source. So can you. 'nd, friend, 6od isn<t out of options. 6od can ne(er be bac5ed into a corner 9e can<t get out of. +he &ed Sea couldn<t stop 6od. HSee -;odus !D.I +he fiery furnace couldn<t destroy 9im. HSee 0aniel F.I +he prophets of Baal couldn<t ruin 9is reputation. HSee ! Kings !#.I -nemy 5ings couldn<t 5ill 9im. HSee :atthew J.I +he gra(e couldn<t hold 9im7 HSee John JE.I 3n *hilippians DC!F we read, =3 can do all things through Christ which strengthene% me.= 2ith an unlimited>options 6od on your side?as Source of your life?you are /-V-& out of options. +here<s a lot of glory of the ,ord still waiting for you. 3t<s not o(er for you yet. +here<s a new beginning
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for you. +his is your hour to attac5 your lac5C '++'CK7 '++'CK7 '++'CK7
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9a(e 1ou 9eard 'bout the :an 2ho Sowed in .amine and &eaped a !EE>.old 9ar(est4
6ood times and bad times. 6od teaches us to gi(e in both.
Chapter 1.
3n good times we may ha(e more to gi(e than in bad times but in each case we gi(e as a seed we plant, that is, a see% we sow -or (o% to grow. 6od shows us that we are to gi(e in good times not only because we<re than5ful but so that 9is supply will cont$nue to come in ad(ance preparation for bad times ?or e/en $n -a!$ne $tsel-. 9e also teaches when the bad times come?so bad we<re in famine or almost total lac5?we are still to seed7 2e are always to seed. Always to belie(e. Always to attac5...attac5...attac57
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+he Bible teaches this in the (ery first boo5. 6enesis. 'braham ga(e to 6od. +he Bible says he ga(e &t$thes o- all& H6enesis !DCJEI. 6od ga(e bac5 to him and his wife Sarah a son, 3saac, when it seemed impossible. +hen 6od told 'braham to teach 3saac how to gi(e in good times and bad times. 3saac learned the lesson so well he literally =sowed in famine.= +his is a story you should 5now and study. 3t<s in 6enesis J)C!>!D. 3t has profoundly affected my sowing and reaping...gi(ing and recei(ing. 3n 6enesis J)C! we<re told, &An% there was -a!$ne $n the lan%.& 'braham, 3saac<s father, had seen famine. But he had continued to gi(e of what he had to 6od no matter how little it was. By his faith 'braham had ta5en on 6od<s nature and the essential elements of 9is character. By his faith he refused to (ary his gi(ing according to his circumstances. 9e ga(e 6od tithes of all he had. 9e ga(e first out of gratitude for what 6od had gi(en himM second, he ga(e as a seed to generate more and on a continuing basis from 6od his Source. +his is most important for you to 5now and to practice, for it will pay di(idends to you whether times are good or times are bad. 3t will pay because 6od says, &I a! the Lor%2 I change not& H:alachi FC)I. 2hen you trust 6od as your Source as 'braham did, then good times or bad times do not affect you as
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+a/e You +ear% A out the 'an Who ,owe% $n #a!$ne an% Reape% a 1DD=#ol% +ar/est"
they do those who loo5 to the economy and to themsel(es as their sources. 1ou won<t become proud and self>centered in good times or down and out in bad times. 2ith the unchanging 6od as your Source, you can trust 9im always to multiply your seeds sown so you can recei(e bac5 to fill your lac5. 6etting it right down to where we li(e, your gi(ing must be cont$nual an% cont$nuous. 0ay in, day out. :onth in, month out. 1ear in, year out. /o e;cuses. /o gi(ing in to circumstances. 1our seeding must become as steady and constant as your belie(ing. 3 do not understand how people say, =3 belie(e, but 3 don<t gi(e.= %r they say, =3<(e trusted in 6od...but 3 ha(en<t gi(en.= 6i(ing and belie(ing go together. Seeding and faith go together. S--0>.'3+9. 1ou really can<t ha(e one without the other and e;pect to ha(e the steady flow of 6od<s power, miracles, and supply coming bac5 into your life. +he Bible teaches this. 3t says faith without wor5s is dead HJames JCJEI. 3t also says that wor5s are of no use to your eternal soul without faith H-phesians JC#,"I. .aith and wor5s are to go together. 1ou are to put
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your faith and your seeds together7 Seeds and faith are the two sides of one coin. S--0> .'3+9.
What About the +aith Si)e?

1our faith must be based on the 2ord of 6od if it is going to be a steady faith...a faith that doesn<t wa(er but holds steady in good times and bad times. 1our faith must be continual, continuous. 3t must -/0U&-. 3t must ha(e staying power, steadying power, stabili8ing power. 9ow do you get that 5ind of faith4 &#a$th co!es y hear$ng2 an% hear$ng y the Wor% o- (o%& H&omans !EC!BI. -(erything 3<m telling you in this boo5 is in the 2ord of 6od. 's 3 write these words to you, you are hearing them inside yourself and they can cause your faith to co!e. 2hen 3 was a young boy 3 li(ed in *ontotoc County, %5lahoma. 3 li(ed there when the oil fields struc5. *apa sold his farm to go preach full>time one year before oil was disco(ered on it. 9is two brothers and many of our neighbors got oil on their land. 3 used to go and watch the wor5ers drill for oil. +hey would build a wood derric5 o(er a spot of ground and dri(e drill bits down through it into the ground, pushing them by force to depths that were hundreds of feet into the earth. 2hen
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the drill bits struc5 the areas where the oil was, the oil would force itself up suddenly through the drill pipe, flowing completely o(er the derric5. 2e called it a =gusher.= +his was before all the modern oil equipment began to be used that contained the oil automatically. Bac5 then the oil simply started coming up out of the ground and they had to quic5ly dig earthen ponds to hold it so it would not run off into the ra(ines and be lost. %il which had been deep in the ground for centuries would CO'9. +hat<s the way your faith is. .aith is deep in your spirit. But it<s got to =come up= out of you and go to 6od in order for it to wor5 for you. +hey used drill bits to go down and cause the oil to come up. +he 2ord of 6od wor5s in the same way with your faith. 's you study the 2ord of 6od and as you =hear= it preached, it causes your faith to C%:-... to come up out of you and be released to 6od. 3n :atthew !BCJE Jesus e;plained it li5e thisC =3f you can ma5e your faith as a seed you plant, you can spea5 to your mountain to be remo(ed and it will obey you. 'nd nothing shall be impossible to you.= 1our faith is li5e a seed, @ust as your gi(ing is li5e a seed. ' seed is ultimately what e(ery l$/$ng thing comes
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Attack Your Lack
from. 1ou came from the seed of your parents in conception and birth. 1our food comes from seed planted. So does most of your clothing and the items in the house you li(e in and @ust about e(erything else you need and use daily. Seeds are the carriers of life. .or your faith to come ali(e, it must wor5 li5e a seed. 3t must grow, bear fruit, mature, bear e(en more fruit. 1our faith must come up out of your spirit and grow and produce. +he preaching of the 2ord of 6od causes the seed of your faith to begin to grow... and grow... and grow. 3 5now this personally, when 3 preach my faith comes up strongly out of me and soars. 2hen 3 hear preaching of the 2ord by men and women who are anointed, my faith comes up out of me and S%'&S7
+o!!ow the &r)er 4esus (i$es

Jesus gi(es the di(ine order for this process. 1ou wrap your faith around the seeds of your gi(ing, you sow your seeds of faith in the good soil of 6od<s wor5, and +9-/ and only then do you S*-'K +% 1%U& :%U/+'3/ %. ,'CK and co!!an% it to B&-:%V-0 and it obeys you7 's you practice this and ma5e it your way of life /%+93/6 3S 3:*%SS3B,- +% 1%U. 1ou and 6od become a ma@ority o(er your lac57
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Isaac ,a) Stea)y +aith5 Stea)y (i$ing

2e<re told that when 3saac saw the famine in the land he wanted to lea(e and go to -gypt where there was said to be plenty. But 6od tal5ed to him instead about seeds...about staying right there and planting his seeds in the earth that was in drought, without rain, and without promise of rain anytime soon. 3saac was faced with a decision to use his S--0> .'3+9 or to get up and run. 9e had hit a famine. Bad times. 3n 6enesis J)CJ, 6od said, &Do not go %own $nto 9gypt. ,tay here an% I w$ll less you.& 6od said, =3 will prosper you e(en in famine if you sow your seeds in faith.= 'nd 6od said, =3 will do it to you from the oath 3 swore to your father 'braham, the man of faith, the man who ga(e tithes of all, who was a gi(er.= /ow loo5 at (erse !J, &:hen Isaac sowe% $n that lan%.& +9'+ land, the land of famine. 9e belie(ed 6od. +hen he went and sowed literal seeds. 9e didn<t hold bac5 but went ahead and sowed e(en when his friends and enemies would not. 2hat happened4 2hat was the result4 ,ogically he had to fail. Seed will not grow in soil that has had no
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Attack Your Lack
water and is hard and unproducti(e. +he Bible says, &:hen Isaac sowe% $n the lan%2 an% rece$/e% $n the sa!e year an hun%re%-ol%@ an% the Lor% lesse% h$!& H6enesis J)C!JI. 9allelu@ah7 *raise be to 6od of the uni(erse7 6lory be to the 6od of seedtime and har(est, sowing and reaping, gi(ing and recei(ing7
Risk E$erything to Do What (o) Says

3saac used his faith to sow in famine...to gi(e out of his need...to ris5 e(erything to do what 6od said...to attac5 his lac5. 3t was an act of the man<s faith that he would sow and trust 6od as the Source who would multiply his seed sown?and gi(e him a har(est to recei(e bac5 -V-/ 3. 3+ +%%K ' :3&'C,-7 :y friend and *artner, 3 want you to ta5e this into your being, into your faith>system, into your dreams and goals for your life. :hat sa!e year (o% ga/e Isaac a hun%re%-ol% return5 9e didn<t ha(e to wait until the second year or the third year or a lifetime. 3saac sowed in famine. 9e sowed out of his need. +e sowe% h$s nee%. 'nd he sowed his need as an act of his faith beyond himself...faith in the 6od of his father 'braham, faith in the word 6od had said to him... and he got it all bac5
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!EE times the (ery same year7 /otice, he sowed according to 6od<s word, not out of presumption. 9e didn<t say, =2ell, 3<m going to sow @ust to show fol5s it can be done.= /o. 3saac sowed belie(ing 6od spo5e 9is word to him to sow e(en in famine, e(en out of his need, yes, e/en to sow h$s nee%5 1ou<(e got to act not on your =wishes= but upon your thoughts that line up with 6od<s thoughts. ,ine up your words with 6od<s 2ord. ,ine up your acts with 6od<s acts. 'gain 3 remind you, =.aith comes by hearing, and hearing by...'CC%&03/6 +%, *&-C3S-,1 ,3K-, 3/ '6&--:-/+ 23+9... the 2ord of 6od= H&omans !EC!BI.
y the Wor) &' (o)

2hat was 6od<s word to 3saac4 6od said, =3saac, go to the land 3 show you. Stay there. 0on<t mo(e. 9old steady. 3 will bless you there. 3 will multiply your seed. 3 will do it because 3 ha(e a co(enant with 'braham. &emember how 3 too5 care of 'braham. &emember how he 5ept :y commandments. 3 will ta5e care of you the same way if you sow your seed.=
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Attack Your Lack
2hat does 6od say to 1%U today4 &(o to the place I show you" 're you in the place where 6od wants you4 0o you feel 9is peace about it4 're you in the church where 9e wants you to be4 're you acti(e in the things 9e wants you to be acti(e in4 're you doing what 9e has as5ed you to do4 &,o;ourn there.= 3n other words, stay there. 0on<t loo5 for an escape. 're you considering running away from your problem4 :o(ing to another city to escape your debts4 &unning away from your responsibilities4 +rying to escape the difficult moments of your life through drugs or alcohol4 6od says to you, don<t try to run away. Stay where you are. &I w$ll less you& 6od can wor5 out your problems w$th you where you are. 9e can turn your situation around. 9e can gi(e you a second chance in the midst of your bad circumstances. 9e can cause something 6%%0 to happen to you. 6od doesn<t want you to be in po(erty or to ha(e lac5 spiritually or physically or financially. 6od desires that all your needs be met according to 9is riches in hea(en by Jesus. 6od wants you to get into the 6od> 5ind of gi(ing and recei(ing. 6od wants to B,-SS 1%U. &I w$ll !ake your see% to !ult$plyC= 6od<s laws about seedtime and har(est...6od<s laws about gi(ing and recei(ing...6od<s laws of multiplication don<t (ary. Seeds sown in famine will multiply @ust as surely as
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seeds sown in fa(orable conditions. &I w$ll %o what I say ecause o- 'y co/enant.& 2hat is the co(enant 6od has with you today4 3t<s the shed blood of Jesus Christ. 6od is saying to you, =3 will do this because of your relationship with Jesus. 3 will do this because of your Seed>.aith through Jesus Christ today.=
,ow Do #ou (i$e in +amine?

9ow do you gi(e when you ha(e o(erwhelming ,'CK4 +he Bible says that 6od gi(es see% to the sower. 6od will gi(e you a little of what you lac5 in order for you to plant it, to gi(e it. 0o you lac5 money4 Very few people are totally penniless, totally without a single cent. Use a little of what you 0% ha(e as a seed. 0o you lac5 friends4 Very few people li(e on a desert island alone. H3n fact, 3 don<t 5now of any7I +here are people around you. Smile. 6i(e a friendly word. 1ou ha(e those things to seed. 0o you lac5 time4 1ou ha(e JD hours a day. Set aside time to 63V- it in some way that furthers 6od<s wor5 on this earth. 0o you lac5 lo(e4 Search your heart. +here<s lo(e there. 6i(e a little of it to someone who is hurting as
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Attack Your Lack
badly as you are. =3 can<t afford to gi(e,= some say to me. 3 reply, =3 can<t afford not to gi(e.= 2hen 3 ha(e a need, 3 ha/e to gi(e part of it away. %therwise 3<m @ust stuc5 with my need and don<t ha(e any hope of a seed multiplying in 6od<s hand. 3 ha(e to gi(e. +hat<s the only way 3 can 5now without any doubt and according to 9is 2ord that 6od is wor5ing in my situation for me to recei(e bac5 from 9im.
(et #our Eyes on the (o) o' the 677. +o!) Return
3 as5 you, are you fed up with your ,'CK4 0o you ha(e righteous indignation o(er your ,'CK4 're you mad at the de(il because of your ,'CK4 're you determined to '++'CK 1%U& ,'CK4 3f your answer is a positi(e 1-S, then act on 6od<s 2ord, e(en if you don<t feel li5e it...e(en if times are tough...e(en if e(erything around you is falling apart. 3 tell you, 6od 5ept 9is 2ord with 3saac when 3saac by an act of his faith went out there on those famine> struc5 fields and =sowed in famine.= 6od ga(e 3saac a !EE>.%,0 &-+U&/ 3/ +9- S':- 1-'& H6enesis J)C!JI. 3 as5 you to pay close attention that it came bac5 to
1%2
3saac =in the same year=?in a definite time period. .riend, e(ery seed has a %ue season of har(est. ,oo5 for it. .riend, e(ery seed has !ult$pl$cat$on power. -;pect it. Seeds don<t operate on a one>to>one principle. Seeds always multiply. 'nd don<t o(erloo5 the ne;t (erse. 6enesis J)C!F says, &An% the !an K3saacL waAe% great2 an% went -orwar%2 an% grew unt$l he eca!e /ery great.&
Don*t Sto1 Sowing When (oo) Times Come

3saac didn<t rest on his !EE>fold return. 9e didn<t say, =2ell, 3<m blessed. +hat<s the end of my need to gi(e.= /o. 9e ga(e again and again and again. 9e waAe% great. +hat means he grew $nto greatness. 9e got a rhythm going. 9e got a cycle started. 9e went from great to greater to greater to greater. +he final phrase says he became /ery great. 9e had floc5s and herds and ser(ants. 9e was the en(y of all the people. 9e had wells of water, which were (ery precious in the desert. 2ells meant that when rain didn<t come, you could still water your floc5s and your plants7 2ells meant the end of drought... the end of famine... the end of his ,'CK7
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Attack Your Lack
.inally, 3saac grew so great that he was e(en greater than the 5ing of the land. 9e mo(ed on. /ot to escape the famine, but to enter into e(en greater prosperity. 9e 5ept seeding. 9e also 5ept belie(ing. +he Bible says that e(erywhere he went he built an altar to the ,ord. 3n other words, he 5ept 6od first in his life. 9e 5ept his faith ali(e. 9e 5ept belie(ing. 3n good times. 3n bad times. 6i(ing. Belie(ing. Seeds. .aith. S--0>.'3+9. 3t<s the way you get rid of your lac5 and S+'1 rid of it. 3t<s the -/0U&3/6 power of attac5ing and attac5ing and attac5ing and attac5ing. 3t<s what ma5es you &-,-/+,-SS in your pursuit of miracles. 3t<s what 5eeps your needs from totally destroying you. 1ou -/0U&- because you attac5 ... and attac5... and attac5.
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13
9ow to 'ttac5 1our ,ac5 by Using 6od<s Vocabulary
Chapter 10
:y friend Charles Capps is now a noted businessman and preacher. 9e once was a dirt>poor farmer in 'r5ansas at a time when that state ran5ed among the poorest in 'merica, and he 5new nothing about the power of his faith to attac5 his lac5 and turn things around in his life. =3 was a Christian,= he said, =and had been for years. 3 went to church, 3 ga(e what little 3 could, and 3 hoped some day 3 would ma5e it to hea(en.= =3 thought a lot about hea(en then. Being on this earth brought me discouragement, sic5ness, po(erty, and a feeling that 3 was ashamed to admit that Christianity was not wor5ing for me. 3 figured when 3 got to hea(en 3 would not ha(e those doubts and troubles. 'll my needs would be met up there. But on earth 3 didn<t 5now how to use my faith for the things 3 had to ha(e to li(e before 3 got to hea(en.=
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Attack Your Lack
3nside Charles Capps had a potential no one could see, not e(en himself. 9e was in the negati(e stream. 9e said, =%ne day when my crops failed and my ban5 loan was due, 3 wo5e up sic5 in body and head o(er heels in debt. 3 was supernaturally in debt. 3 figured 3 couldn<t get in debt that bad naturally2 so it had to be supernaturally.= %ne day Charles Capps did the most important thing a person in trouble can do. 9e as5ed the right question...=3s this all there is to life4= 3n trying to find out, he went to church. 9e read the Bible. 9e went to Sunday school. But whate(er faith he had in 6od was not wor5ing in his life. 9e identified his position and it spelled ,'CK. 3n spite of belie(ing the 2ord of 6od as the truth, he didn<t 5now that the 2ord was something he could apply in e(eryday life to the nitty>gritty problems he faced. +wo small boo5s came into his hands. +he first was one by 0r. Kenneth 9agin, a leader in the charismatic and faith>teaching ministryC RI(+: A<D WRO<( :+I<KI<(. 3n that boo5 he saw how to th$nk the way (o% talks. 9e secured some of 0r. 9agin<s tapes. 9e said, =3 began to get my head screwed on straight. 3 disco(ered 3 could be right with 6od in my heart but wrong in my head with my thin5ing. 3 reali8ed when 3 thought wrong, 3 belie(ed wrong, and when 3 belie(ed wrong, 3
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+ow to Attack Your Lack y Us$ng (o%4s 8oca ulary
acted wrong in the practical matters of my life.= .or the first time he saw he couldn<t lea(e e(erything up to 6od. 9e had tal5ed this wayC =2ell, if it<s the will of 6od for me to be healed of this sic5ness, it will happen anyway. 3f 9e wants me to prosper and get out of debt, it will happen. 3f not, it won<t happen. But 3 was unable to ma5e the comparison with that way of thin5ing and my farming. 3n farming, if 3 left it up to 6od 3 was going to ha(e a bunch of weeds instead of crops 3 had planted for.=
,e egan to See Something in the Wor) o' (o)

+he ne;t step was that he began to see in the 2ord of 6od that he could pray and belie(e 6od to meet his needs, and if he belie(ed it and did not doubt in his heart, he could attac5 his lac5 and ha(e 6od<s supply. =+hat wo5e me up to the fact that 3<d been belie(ing and saying the wrong things,= he said. =3 hadn<t got hold of 6od<s position in 9is 2ord and put it to wor5 in my life of need and lac5.= Charles had turned negati(e in his life because he had been indoctrinated to thin5 wrong and he had fallen into belie(ing?an% say$ng*what other people said about 6od, instead of what 6od himself said in 9is 2ord. %ne day he reali8ed any old dead fish can float downstream. But it ta5es a li(e one to go upstream.
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Attack Your Lack
=3 began reading my Bible with an ear to what 6od said. Jesus had told us to let 9is sayings sin5 down deep into our hearts. I4% !a%e the !$stake o- l$sten$ng to what other people sa$% a out what they ha% hear% so!e o%y else say they thought (o% ha% sa$%. +hey really didn<t 5now the 2ord of 6od themsel(es and it was their tal5 about 6od that 3 was listening to. So 6od<s 2ord was not ali(e and mo(ing in my heart or on my lips. 'nd without 5nowing 6od<s words and saying 9is words 3 began to see that was where 3 had missed it.= +o hear Charles Capps e;plain these things today, 5nowing how small he had been in his thin5ing on his hardscrabble little farm, it<s hard to belie(e he could be where he is now in following>and en@oying?6od<s formula for success and prosperity as a Christian. 9e e;plained, =%ne day 3 was trying to pray, which was ne(er easy for me. 3 was ne(er comfortable with prayer. 9ere 3 was on the earth, which was something 3 could see and feel, trying to reach Someone 3 couldn<t see in a place 3 thought was so far away it was more of a dream than reality. 3 @ust blurted out what 3 was thin5ingC <,ord, things are not wor5ing. +hings are getting worse.<= 3t ne(er occurred to him that 6od would spea5 to people today. 9e was shoc5ed when he heard the ,ord say something bac5 to him in his spirit. 3t wasn<t a (oice but an impression in his spirit that ga(e him these wordsC =2ho told you that4= 9e stopped and thought a
1%;
minute. 9e said, =,ord, it sure wasn<t 1ou. 3t must ha(e been the de(il.= +he ,ord said, =1es, and 3 would appreciate it if you would quit telling :e what the de(il said.= Shoc5 wa(es went through his system. 9e had heard 6od spea5 to him?a poor little dirt farmer who didn<t amount to anything, who was sic5 and who was in debt with no way out. +he impression in his spirit came again, =1ou ha(e been quoting the de(il more than you ha(e been quoting :e. 1ou ha(e been praying for :e to do something about your finances and about your physical body, but e(erything that comes out of your mouth is negati(e. 3t<s the way the de(il tal5s. 3f you don<t change to belie(e :y words and to say :y words, it will not get better, it will get worse.= Charles said, =,ord, 3<(e had all the worse 3 can stand. 3<m ready to change my tal5ing if 1ou will show me how to do it. 2hat do 3 do4= +he ,ord<s impression in his spirit was, =&ead and study :y 2ord and find out what 3 said about it, then start saying and praying the things 3 said about you instead of what the de(il says.=
+aith Comes by ,earing

3t was li5e a million lights had come on in his understanding when he heard 6od<s 2ord in his spirit,
1%<
Attack Your Lack
&#a$th co!es y hear$ng2 an% hear$ng y the Wor% o(o%.& 3t was then that Charles reali8ed that whether you hear 6od or whether you hear the de(il, faith comes by hearing. 9e said, =3 saw 3 had more faith in what the de(il had been saying than 3 did in what 6od had said.= Charles felt a strong leading to find out in the 2ord of 6od what 6od said about him as a belie(er an% to !ake a l$st o- $t. 9e wrote down e(ery Scripture he found about 6od<s promises to the belie(er. 9e then applied them to himself personally by confessing them as a fact daily. .riends learned what he was doing and said, =Charles, you<re confessing to a lie. +hose things are not happening in your life. 1ou<re sic5, you<re dirt>poor, you<ll ne(er get out of debt, yet you<re confessing them as if they are real.= 9e said, =:y life is being destroyed, yet 3<m a Christian. 3 5now 3<m going to hea(en but 6od<s got to mean something to me in a practical way here...now. 3<(e been down and beaten up by all these negati(e things hitting me. 3f there<s something to this, 3<m going to find it. 3 belie(e 3 am finding it. 3<m confessing it by my faith in 6od until 3 can see it wor5ing in my life.= 3n e(ery person<s life, the time comes when he must decide to tune out the critics and tune 6od in. +he list that he carried of 6od<s promises became a
1(=
daily part of him. 2hen he was well enough to plow and to plant seed for a new crop, he would pause at the end of the row, get out his list, and confess 6od<s words. %ften he would fall bac5 into the negati(e stream and say, =,ord, 1ou 5now 3 don<t feel what 3<m saying. 3 feel li5e 3<m lying.= +he ,ord said, =Son, how could you be lying when you<re saying what 3 said4= +hen he would reali8e what he had been saying all the years before, he<d been lying. 9e saw that in the past when he prayed he<d been praying the problem, the need, the lac5. 9e<d pray, =6od, 1ou 5now the money<s not coming in. 1ou 5now 3 won<t ha(e the money to pay the note at the end of the year. 1ou 5now 3 don<t 5now what 3 am going to do.= Slowly he began to understand that the ,ord was showing him he<d gotten into negati(e praying, the re(erse 5ind of prayer from the 2ord>of>6od 5ind of prayer. +his meant he had faith, but he was using it to belie(e he was not going to be able to meet his obligations. 9e had faith that he was going to fail e(en more than he was already failing. +ime after time he would hear in his spirit, =+urn your praying around. Start saying what 3 ha(e said about you.= Some days he carried his Bible to the fields with him. 2hile eating his brown sac5 lunch under the
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Attack Your Lack
shade of a tree, he would find a word 6od said. +hen he would pray, =.ather, 1our 2ord says, <2hatsoe(er things 3 desire when 3 pray, belie(e that 3 recei(e them and 3 shall ha(e them.< +herefore in the name of Jesus 3 pray, belie(ing that my needs are met.= 't this point there was a roadbloc5 to his brea5through. ' second boo5 fell into his hands, 'IRACL9 O# ,99D=#AI:+ Hby %ral &obertsI. 3n it he found the 5ey to act$/ate the promises of 6od. 's a farmer he understood the natural laws of sowing and reaping 6od had placed in the uni(erse, in the (ery soil he was planting to get a crop. 9e had failed to grasp in his faith>wal5 with the ,ord that when he had a need he had to plant a seed?wrapped up in his faith?to attac5 that lac5. 3n other words, if it<s a financial need, he had to gi(e finances, howe(er small the amount to the ,ord<s wor5. 's his seed left his hand to be planted in the good soil of the gospel, he was to pray o(er it and focus it on a desired result, then belie(e 6od for a return on it?in fact, to e;pect to recei(e a miracle har(est bac57 9e saw he literally had to belie(e 6od would multiply it bac5 !EE>fold according to Jesus< own words in :ar5 !ECJ",FE. 'nd he was to e;pect a return in the area he had planted.
Water in the Desert

1(2
%f all the things 6od says about gi(ing and recei(ing, ,u5e )CF# stood out li5e water in the desert to Charles. 9e wrote it down on his listC &($/e2 an% $t shall e g$/en to you> goo% !easure2 presse% %own2 shaken together2 an% runn$ng o/er2 shall !en g$/e to your oso!...& Charles had been a gi(er of one tenth of his meager income, the tithe, but without understanding it was not a %e t he owed but a see% he sowe%. Up to now he had made no confession that when he ga(e, it would be gi(en to him. 9e was a g$/er to the best of his ability, but he was not a rece$/er to the best of his ability. 9is 63V-& was wor5ing but not his -A*-C+-& or his &-C-3V-&7 %ne day he was praying what 6od said in ,u5e )CF#. 9e had read Jesus< words on when you gi(e it shall be gi(en to you so often that it was li5e he could hear Jesus tal5ing directly to him. +he words began to come ali(e in him and he was li(ing them. 's he prayed those words Jesus had said, he heard himself say, =+han5 6od because 3 ha(e gi(en, it is gi(en to me. ,ord, 1ou said if 3 gi(e, it shall be gi(en to me. 3 don<t ha(e it now. 3 don<t see it with my natural eyes. But as sure as 1ou said it in 1our 9oly 2ord, it<s already gi(en. /ow it<s a matter of my recei(ing it. So 3 now loo5 for and e;pect a miracle return to come to me.= 2hen Charles did this, it changed his confession of only words coming from his mouth to a confession of
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Attack Your Lack
an &$nner $!age& in which he began to see himself in his spirit as being prosperous before he e(er was. +9-/ when he said it with his mouth, it was the words of his spirit and his faith that he based on the absolute reality of what 6od had said about him, Charles Capps, a poor dirt farmer. 't the time, outwardly he had nothing. 'ctually, less than nothing. 9is body was sic5. 9e owed the ban5. %ther debts co(ered him. 9is land was poor. Between sic5ness bouts he barely had the strength to farm and get seed in the ground. 2orst of all he had no hope of this e(er changing. 9e could see no light at the end of the tunnel. Solomon said, &+ope %e-erre% !akes the heart s$ck& H*ro(erbs !FC!JI. Charles Capps< heart was sic5, and therefore he was sic5. But he had got hold of the 2ord of 6od on S--0> .'3+9 and it began to ta5e root in him. 2hile outward circumstances were still blea5, when he didn<t 5now if he<d be able to borrow another dollar to farm another year or whether he<d be in bed sic5 or up long enough to plow and plant, he was confessing that he had gi(en, and therefore &$t was g$/en to h$!54 9e was saying, =3 confess on the authority of the 2ord of 6od that my seeds of faith are planted. +herefore 3 ha(e attac5ed my lac5 and 3 see myself in a state of recei(ing the health and the money. 3n my spirit 3 ha(e the image of money being no problem in any area of my life.=
1((
0sing (o)*s Wor)s

+he de(il refused to gi(e up on Charles. %(er and o(er he would insinuate, =1ou<re trying to act li5e 6od. 1ou<re using 6od<s words.= -ach time Charles would say, =1eah, that<s what 3<m doing. 3<m using 6od<s 2ord. 3<(e used the words of you, the de(il, for years. 'nd it<s got me into nothing but bad situations. 'nd 3<m going to 5eep on belie(ing and saying 6od<s words until they happen to me7= 6radually Satan<s insinuations faded and 6od<s words became loud and clear in Charles as he spo5e them more forcefully daily and loosed his faith to 6od his Source for miracles. Charles 5new inwardly he was getting closer and closer to ha(ing what he confessed by his faith in what 6od said about him as a belie(er... as a S--0>.'3+9-&. 9e could sense it coming. 0ay by day, one bad situation after another, he held on for the manifestation of what he had seeded for. %ne day a woman called. =Charles, we<re going to sell our farm. 0o you want to buy it4= 9e had gotten far enough in the confession of his faith that he belie(ed he was going to reap the har(est of his gi(ing, and he said, =1es, 3<ll buy it.= 2hen he hung up the phone, his wife said,
1(-
Attack Your Lack
=Charles, what are you going to buy4= =3<m going to buy a farm.= =2hat are you going to use for money4= =:oney is no problem.= /ow what had happened4 9e had seeded to 6od, he had gi(en, and now he 5new $t was g$/en. 'lthough he had not recei(ed the har(est from what was already gi(en, he had confessed by his faith in the li(ing 6od that whatsoe(er he desired when he prayed, and did not doubt in his heart, he woul% ha/e $t. 3t came right out of his spirit into his mind and o(er his lips and up to 6od and right bac5 into his spirit and into his mind and in his words, =3<ll buy it. :oney is no problem.= 2hen he went to close the deal they as5ed for no money down, not one dollar. 2hile the deal was still in escrow, an opportunity came for him to sell DE acres of it to the school district to build a new school on, and when the title came to him he had G$B,EEE equity in the farm and he hadn<t paid a dime for it. +oday Charles Capps< fa(orite saying is, =3 am blessed.= 2hen as5ed what he means he says, =2hen 3 saw what 6od was saying to me in 9is 2ord and 3 began to belie(e and confess it and to call it into my life, in less than one year 3<d bro5en the de(il<s supernatural hold o(er me.
1(1
=3 saw S--0>.'3+9 as doing what the 2ord of 6od saysC if we gi(e, 9e will gi(e to us !EE>fold. -ach seed 3 planted 3 had gi(en, and what 3 had gi(en $s g$/en. Jesus says, <3f you gi(e, it shall be gi(en.< +hat<s future tense. But once you<(e gi(en, it<s gi(en unto you. %h, 3 didn<t ha(e it then. 3 didn<t see it with my na5ed eye, but 3 began to e;perience a know$ng inside that as sure as Jesus said it in 9is 2ord, it<s already gi(en. /ow it<s a matter of releasing our faith to recei(e it. So 3 began to loo5 and e;pect a miracle to come to get me out of sic5ness, my po(erty, my misery. 2hen 3 began doing that, it changed the way 3 felt about 6od and the way 3 felt about myself. 3t changed my inner image. 3 began to see myself healed...and being prosperous as a child of 6od. =3 mean 3 began to see myself being healed while 3 was sic5 and to see myself prosperous when 3 was poor. .irst, Satan tried to get me to thin5 3 was out of my mind and @ust dreaming. 9e was trying to tric5 me into doubt>tal5 that 3<d get sic5er and poorer. But when %ral told us to tal5 faith>tal5, to say 6od<s words rather than negati(e words, to belie(e what 6od says rather than what the de(il says, 3 saw myself in my spirit belie(ing that my sic5ness and po(erty were no problem for 6od to heal. =By the end of that year, 3 was a well man. 3 was a S--0>.'3+9 Christian, and 3 was able to pay off my debts and hold my head up. *eople began as5ing me to
1(7
Attack Your Lack
share my testimony. 3 didn<t 5now 3 could tal5 in public. 3<d had such a poor image of myself it scared me to death to open my mouth about 6od to somebody else. =+he more people as5ed me, the more 3 opened up. *retty soon some said 3 was tal5ing li5e %ral &oberts. 3 said, +hat<s %.K. %ral tal5s li5e 6od tal5s. 6od tal5s seedtime and har(est and %ral tal5s it. 6od tal5s healing for our souls and bodies and minds and finances. %ral tal5s it. 6od is using %ral and 3 want 9im to use me.= =3 was e;cited about 6od and 3 e;cited others about 9im. *retty soon about half of my friends had %ral<s boo5 'IRACL9 O# ,99D=#AI:+. 2e turned into a community of Seed>.aithers. 3n a po(erty part of this country, 6od our Source began to meet our needs, to ma5e us prosperous, happy Christians. 'nd 6od is mo(ing in our area7= 2hat about you today4 ,isten to yourself. 're you attac5ing your lac5 with (o%4s words4 're you tal5ing about 6od<s pro(ision... 9is promises... 9is blessings...9is Supply for your lac54 %r are you still in the rut of the old habit of saying the de(il<s words that you<re not going to ma5e it...you<re going to be sic5er and sic5er... poorer and poorer... more defeated than e(er.
1(;
Change your (ocabulary7 King 0a(id said, &Let the wor%s o- !y !outh2 an% the !e%$tat$on o- !y heart2 e accepta le $n thy s$ght2 O Lor%2 !y strength2 an% !y re%ee!er& H*salm !"C!DI. By thin5ing 6od<s words in your heart and spea5ing them with your mouth, attac5 your lac5. 'ttac57 'ttac57 'ttac57
1(<
14
2hat<s 1our 0ecision4
Chapter 13
2hat about you today4 9a(e you decided to '++'CK your lac54 9a(e you recogni8ed that faith is your number>one tool in attac5ing your lac5...and that you ha(e the faith you need4 9a(e you decided '++'CK3/6 right /%24 that you<ll start
9a(e you accepted 6od<s promise that your lac5 C'/ be attac5ed...that you can o(ercome your needs and problems...that you can ha(e a fulfilled?a .U,,1 .3,,-0?life4 9a(e you put your 63V3/6 and your B-,3-V3/6 together4 9a(e you started a wal5 of S--03/6 and B-,3-V3/6... of S--0>.'3+94 9a(e you started ma5ing your gi(ing a S--0, e;pecting bac5 a miracle har(est from 6od<s treasure>supply in hea(en4
1-1
Attack Your Lack
9a(e you made 6od the Source of the Supply that will fill your lac54 9a(e you determined to K--* %/ attac5ing, with faith belie(ing that things will turn around, that roses 23,, bloom again in your life4 9a(e you determined to gi(e your B-S+ seed... and then e;pect 6od<s best4 9a(e you chosen the 6od>5ind of prosperity4 9a(e you decided that with 6od as your Source, you are ne(er out of options4 9a(e you determined that you will ne(er cease to '++'CK, that you will 5eep on attac5ing the lac5 Satan tries to create in you, and that you will attac5 e(ery day of your life4 9a(e you determined that you will spea5 more about your .U,,>.3,,-0 life than about your ,'CK4 're you e;pecting B1 29'+ 1%U S'1 that 6od will meet your need... fill your lac5... sol(e your problem...gi(e you the miracle you need4 're you tal5ing about 6od<s pro(ision or about your lac54 1es or no4 3f you are answering =no= to any of these questions, go bac5 and reread the chapter that deals with that issue in your life. &ead it and reread it until it soa5s into your spirit. Use the '&S-/', %. S*3&3+U', 2-'*%/S that begins on the ne;t page.
1-2
What4s Your Dec$s$on"
'nd ne(er forget... 6od wants you to '++'CK 1%U& ,'CK. 9e wants you to 23/. 9e wants you to ha(e +%+', pro(ision. 9e wants you to ha(e a .U,,, .3,,-0 ,3.-. 9e wants you to ha(e an 'BU/0'/+ ,3.-, o(erflowing with 9is presence, 9is goodness. 'nd so do 3.
1-%
Summed UpC +wel(e Spiritual +ools to 9elp 1ou 'ttac5 1our ,ac5
15
Chapter 16
/o matter how you ha(e poured yourself into reading this boo5 or grasped new concepts and ideas with which to attac5 your lac5, 3 want to gi(e you the twel(e concepts that are in this boo5 in a way you can use them day after day the rest of your life on this earth while you are on your way to hea(en. +hey are li5e +2-,V- S*3&3+U', +%%,S in your hand as you attac5 your lac5. 3f you missed some things in the boo5, then these twel(e tools will help you pull them all together and 3 belie(e you will ne(er forget them. 9ere they are in plaque form that you can ta5e out of the boo5 if you desire. *ut a plaque on your des5 or dresser drawer or 5itchen windowsill or under a magnet on the
1--
Attack Your Lack
refrigerator where you can read it. 1ou can also use a plaque as a boo5mar5 for your Bible...for +93S boo5 you are holding... your appointment boo5. %n the inside of this plaque are the twel(e tools 3<(e shared with you in this boo5. US- +9-: +% '++'CK 1%U& ,'CK 6o to the end of the boo5 to find your tear>out cards.
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City of .aith 9ealth>Care Center +ulsa, %5lahoma .%& '**%3/+:-/+S C',,... "!# O D"F>#!#!
I Wi!! ATTAC3 "y Lack

!. 3 already ha(e the faith 3 need to attac5 my lac5. J. 3 will start attac5ing my lac5 +%0'1. F. :y lac5 isn<t beyond 6od<s ability. D. 3 can attac5 my lac5 through my gi(ing and my &-C-3V3/6. $. 6od has a personal har(est for me. ). 3 will trust 6od as the Source of my Supply. B. 3 will cheer up ?roses will bloom again for me. #. 3 will plant my best seeds7 ". 3 will pursue the 6od>5ind of prosperity. !E. 3 am not out of options. !!. 3 will plant my seeds e(en during hard times. !J. 3 will use 6od<s (ocabulary.
111

Oral Roberts - Attack Your Lack

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Oral Roberts - Attack Your Lack

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By Oral Roberts

0o 1ou Know 2hat 1our &eal *roblem 3s4

Attack Your Lack

Do You Know What Your Real Pro le! Is"

When the Doubter Comes

Attack Your Lack

Do You Know What Your Real Pro le! Is"

Attack Your Lack

When Things Look So Easy

Do You Know What Your Real Pro le! Is"

Attack Your Lack

Do You Know What Your Real Pro le! Is"

Attack Your Lack

Do You Know What Your Real Pro le! Is"

Attack Your Lack

Do You Know What Your Real Pro le! Is"

Attack Your Lack

Do You Know What Your Real Pro le! Is"

Attack Your Lack

Attack Your Lack

Attack Your Lack

,earn .rom the Bible 9ow to Start 1our 'ttac5

Attack Your Lack

Learn #ro! the 1$ le +ow to ,tart Your Attack

he would die before his time7 3t was his choice to ma5e.

When Things Are at Their Worst Attack!

Attack Your Lack

Learn #ro! the 1$ le +ow to ,tart Your Attack

Remember the umb!ebee

Attack Your Lack

Learn #ro! the 1$ le +ow to ,tart Your Attack

Attack Your Lack

9ow a :other<s .aith 'ttac5ed?'nd 2on7

Attack Your Lack

+ow a 'other4s #a$th Attacke%*An% Won5

Attack Your Lack

+ow a 'other4s #a$th Attacke%*An% Won5

Attack Your Lack

+ow a 'other4s #a$th Attacke%*An% Won5

Attack Your Lack

+ow a 'other4s #a$th Attacke%*An% Won5

Attack Your Lack

1ou Can 'ttac5 1our ,ac5 2ith 1our 6i(ing

Attack Your Lack

You Can Attack Your Lack W$th Your ($/$ng

Attack Your Lack

You Can Attack Your Lack W$th Your ($/$ng

Attack Your Lack

You Can Attack Your Lack W$th Your ($/$ng

Attack Your Lack

You Can Attack Your Lack W$th Your ($/$ng

Attack Your Lack

Attack Your Lack

There Is a (rowing Time 'or #our "irac!es

Attack Your Lack

%o$erty Is -ot a !essing

Attack Your Lack

Why Do We (i$e Then?

Attack Your Lack

&ur See) (rows In$isib!y

Attack Your Lack

Attack Your Lack

2ord and 3 5new 9is 2ord could ne(er fail me.

A %ersona! ,ar$est Too!

+he 6od>Kind of rosperity and the :an>Kind of rosperity?9ere<s the 0ifference