Christmas began with the birth of Christ in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago! The story of his birth in a humble manger, heralded by choirs of angels and witnessed by local shepherds, never grows old. Although traditions may differ, Christmas is still the most loved and celebrated holiday all around the world today.

1. All the heroes of faith began with a hope, a vision, a dream. (Heb 11) And they held fast to it in the face of contradictory circumstances! Long term vision helps get you through all of life’s short-term disappointments. (Acts 26:19) “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” It was Paul’s vision that got him up early, kept him up late, and kept him going on through all his trials.

“And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontent gathered to him. So, he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.” - (2 Sam 22:1-2)

Under David’s leadership these 3D men went from being below and beneath to above and beyond; from convenient love to covenant love; from a Hospital Church to a Family church, to a training centre, to an army like the Army of God. Every army has a hospital, but that’s not the main purpose of an army.

“Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I discipline my body and bring it into subjection.” - (1 Cor.9:25-26)

Many of our troubles occur because we base our life choices on unreliable authorities, such as:

1. Culture: Everybody is doing it. (Rom 12:2 TM) "Don’t become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without…thinking."2. Tradition: We have always done it this way. (Lk 5:38) "New wine must be put into new wineskins."3. Reason: It seems logical. (Prov 3:5-6) "Lean not to your own understanding."4. Emotions: It just feels right. How can it be wrong when it feels so good?

(Ps 50:5) “Gather My saints together unto Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” This was the scripture the Lord gave to Hazel and I when we, as new pastors, planted our first ever Victory church.

God’s first words to mankind are recorded in Genesis 1:28 “Be fruitful, and multiply and have dominion.” Whatever multiplies the most will have dominion.

From the beginning Victory Churches has sought to build on a foundation of fivefold ministries. Jesus Himself was the embodiment of the fivefold ministry. But when he ascended, He divided His ministry on the earth into five segments and delegated them to these five ministry gifts to equip, empower, and mobilize the church to do His will and His works on the earth.

Daniel didn’t have a great start to his life. He saw his parents killed by the Babylonians, then he was taken captive and made into a eunuch. But his life’s story reveals the cure for a bad past! (Dan 1:6-20) Daniel made God-honoring decisions and developed great habits that resulted in a great future.

Why would someone leave the comfort of their home, travel over a thousand miles by camel, brave blistering deserts, along with potential highway robbers and other hazards, to follow a star to an unknown destination?

When Paul was brought before Felix the Governor, the man with the power to release him and set him free, what did Paul talk about? Acts 24:25 says, “And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgement to come, Felix trembled.”

It takes courage to make moral choices in an immoral world. (Dan 1:8) “Daniel purposed in his heart he would not defile himself.” Daniel made some hard choices, but they were good choices, based upon his belief in the Word of God. Daniel’s three friends followed him because Daniel’s courageous faith was contagious! Life is made up of choices - moral, relational, financial, vocational, ministry, family, etc.

Elijah understood God's heart and he knew that prayer moved God's hand. His prayers were bold and earnest. (Jam 5:17) And when God moved on his behalf the results lasted for generations!

1 Kings 18 tells the story of Elijah on top of Mt Carmel and his contest with the prophets of Baal. It was a dramatic demonstration of the power of prayer! Here are some clues to praying with the Elijah kind of prayer-power!

Both Malachi and Luke referred to “the Spirit and Power of Elijah” being released just before the “great and dreadful day of the Lord”. This was partially fulfilled in Jesus’ first coming but will be fully manifested just prior to His second coming

I find myself thanking God for His correction that comes through the Word, the Spirit, the Church, my husband and my godly friends. There is safety and peace only under His wings. I pray that God will never give me or those I love over to our stubborn hearts to follow our own devices (Psalm 81:12).

“Let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Gal 6:9 ASV)
In Luke 4 Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days: “And when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him for a season.”

Culture: Everybody is doing it. (Rom 12:2 TM) “Don’t become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without…thinking.”Tradition: We have always done it this way. (Lk 5:38) “New wine must be put into new wineskins.”Reason: It seems logical. (Prov 3:5-6) “Lean not to your own understanding.”Emotions: It just feels right. How can it be wrong when it feels so good?