From a Book by Joel Osteen

Satanic forces and the presence of demons encompassed me. Fear came on me. It was such hellish fear that I had never imagined could exist. Fear would grip me regarding every area. The devil told me I had a brain tumor. The devil told me I had a fatal illness. Then the devil told me I was dying of an unknown, incurable disease. Sleep went from me. Insomnia is a terrible thing. When morning would come, I would wish for night. When night would come, I would long for morning. My heart would pound as if it would come out of my chest. I was not a baby Christian; I was a minister that needed to use the Word of God. While all of this oppression was on me, I was trying to minister.

We are to demonstrate that Satan is defeated. God has given us His Word. We are to remain in the arena of battle with His Word until we make up our minds to use it and deliver ourselves by the power of the Holy Spirit. When you act on fear, fears takes possession of you! Fear is the devil's tool. Never act on fear. Fear is a vapor, a lie.

I would cry out "Lord, why haven't you heard me or rescued me?" God wanted me to become a oreacher of faith. He wanted me to take the Word of God and help the children of God rise up against the pressures of the devil and demonic forces. He wanted me to be able to unfold the truths that I am now sharing. He wanted me to be a helper to the Body of Christ. The only way I could do this was to come out of it by the Word of God.

If God had run to my rescue and lifted me up like a baby, I would still be a baby. There comes a time when God says, "You are grown up. I have more confidence in you than you have in yourself. I am going to prove you in the field of battle with the Word of God."

This is the reason why some of you have felt that your prayers have not been answered. This is why some of you are still suffering. This is why some of you are wondering why God has not heard you. He is letting you know who you REALLY are as a new creature in Christ