Bill I Know

Given September 5, 2007
During the closing prayer at church last night, our pastor made mention of us, as believers, being able to cast out devils, speak with other tongues, and lay hands on the sick and see them recover, Mark 16:17-18. It reminded me that we should be taking more control over things in the earth than we are.

The verse in Acts 19 came to mind where seven sons of Sceva tried to cast out a devil using Jesus' and Paul's credentials and got whuped, (a southwest Virginia term). The evil spirit said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? Acts 19:15". As a believer, I want to be known by the evil spirits and have them say, "Uh oh, there's that Dotson guy. Don't mess with him, let's get outta here."

Do we really believe we can get to that point? What did Jesus say? "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12". He that believes, those who believe...

I heard it said by a famous preacher regarding Mark 16, "These signs shall follow those who believe that these signs shall follow them." We've got to believe! Jesus I know, Paul I know, and Bill I know. May it be so Lord.

Stumbling Block

Given August 15, 2007
First, I'd like to apologize to any who've noticed I've not posted in awhile. Adjusting to retirement has had me extremely busy but I hope to be back to regular posting now.

I pray each morning for the Ministering Angels, (Psalms 91:11, Matthew 4:11, Hebrews 1:14), to give me and my family direction around dangerous obstacles. Recently, I took a load of tree limbs to the dump and one small log fell out of my truck onto the road. Cars were slowing down and maneuvering around the obstacle so as not to hit it and possibly damaging their car. If someone had not noticed the log, they may have had trouble.

It made me think that that small log would be a big problem to someone on a bicycle but nothing to a large truck. The obstacles the devil drops in our path can affect us in different ways. The key is what we're driving, so to speak. It's the condition of our lives that make the difference. Luke 10:19 says we can "trample on serpents and scorpions" and "nothing shall by any means harm us". If we're prayed up and strong, a little log thrown in our path by the devil will be nothing to us; we can trample it!

I remember when I drove a school bus and, around Halloween, kids on my road would put logs and debris in the road as a roadblock for a prank. If I was driving my small car, I'd have to get out, remove the debris, and go on as the kids laughed from their hiding place in the bushes. But when I was driving the big bus, I'd just run right over it and go on to the disgust of the perpetrators.

When the devil puts something in my path to deter me from what God's called me to do, I want to be in the big vehicle and run right over Satan's plans. It drives him crazy!

I Can't Stands No More

Given July 15 , 2007
I heard something at church this morning that was a different kind of revelation. I was getting an update from a guy who has been in a great battle over his health. I posted about it here. He told me of a vision he had.

He said he felt like Popeye who was getting beaten up by Brutus, (the devil), and was in his clutches. At the last minute, Popeye says, "That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more!", pulls out his can of spinach, eats it, gains strength, and pulverizes Brutus. My friend said, this week, he was at the point where he "couldn't stands no more". He said Jesus was his "spinach" and he was tired of getting beat up. "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19". It was encouraging for me to hear him and his wife talk like this. Speaking the Word of God is very important no matter what the circumstances look like.

We have the power and authority to use the name of Jesus to put Brutus in his place. My friend is going to make it!

So, What' The Problem?

Given February 10, 2007

Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33". Yes, we'll have trouble if we live in this world so there's no getting away from that and we know where this trouble comes from; the devil, the prince of this world.

However, there's a couple of truths that make me feel a lot better about the situation. In Genesis, we find that we look like God; we're made like Him, "Then God said, let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. Genesis 1:26". So, we look like God and we're supposed to rule over all the earth. Now, of course, Adam and Eve gave that rule over to Satan but Jesus got it back for us.

The Bible also tells us that the Spirit of God lives, abides, dwells in us. "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:11". That's awesome! The most powerful entity in the universe lives in me!

So, what's the problem? Why are we still having to put up with so much stuff from the devil? Jesus said we'd have trouble here but because we look like God and His Spirit is in us, we don't have to put up with it! Let's start realizing who we are, what we have and what we can do and put the devil in his place; under our feet, Psalm 8:6.