GLADNESS AND JOY

LAY HOLD
“And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?” (Joshua 18:3).

The finished works of Christ are available to you now. Lay hold of what belongs to you and possess it!

“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22).

Faith is the access key to the grace of God and all of its benefits.

Believe God’s Word in spite of what your five senses perceive.

“Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son” (Genesis 18:14).

With God nothing is impossible. He turns even the most impossible situations into possibilities and tangible realities.

“And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would” (John 6:11).

Thanksgiving and gratefulness are keys to releasing more of God’s miraculous power in your life. Thank Him for all that He has done, is doing, and will continue to do.

Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips” (Proverbs 22:17, 18).

When you devote yourself to discovering the truth found in God’s Word, the results will be a successful life.

“Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go” (Isaiah 48:17).

God will lead you into a place of abundance and prosperity. Acknowledge Him as the one who empowers you to prosper.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah” (Psalm 68:19).

God bestows benefits and blessings upon us every day. Believe you receive them by faith!

“I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, LORD, for you are a faithful God.” (Psalm 31:5).

God is faithful. You can trust Him for your protection and deliverance.

“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers” (1 Peter 3:12).

When you are in right standing with God, you have a right to get your prayers answered. Come to God with your requests that are in line with His Word, in the name of Jesus, and He is faithful to grant them.

“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets” (Romans 3:21).

Righteousness is right-standing with God. It is a free gift that is received by faith.

SEE YOUR GIANTS AS BREAD

…do not…fear the people [giants] of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them. – Numbers 14:9

The 12 men whom Moses sent out to spy on the promised land all saw the same thing. They all saw the same big houses, the same huge grapes and yes, the same giants standing in their way! But unlike the others, Joshua and Caleb saw the giants as bread. The rest saw the giants as insurmountable, impossible obstacles. As a result, Joshua and Caleb were the only ones of their generation to enter the promised land.

When you see a “giant” today in your business, health or ministry, I challenge you to see it as bread that will only make you stronger. Don’t run away in fear, but face your giant head-on—knowing that you are armed with the Lord’s unmerited favor and the powerful promises of your faithful God!

Beloved, meditate on today’s verse. Let God’s Word drive out all timidity and give you the same spirit of faith that Joshua and Caleb had. Let it change the way you see yourself—not as a tiny grasshopper, but a giant-killer—and step into your promised land!

FACTS CHANGE BUT GOD’S WORD REMAINS :

JOHN 8:32 – “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Consider the cold, hard facts that these three people faced: The aunt of a lady in our church saw her X-ray which showed that one of her two kidneys was cancerous. A couple in our church read their medical reports which said that they would never be able to produce a child. A lady in our church who acted as a guarantor ended up being asked by the finance company to pay it S$34 million.

When such situations hit us and we allow the facts to settle in our hearts, we end up feeling greatly troubled. But when we let the truths of God’s Word settle them all, we will sense the Holy Spirit bearing witness to the truths that we are believing. He is the Spirit of truth. (John 16:13) He is not the Spirit of facts and does not bear witness to facts.

It may be a fact that you are sick. The doctors say that you are sick. The X-ray film shows that you are sick. But God’s Word says that by Jesus’ stripes you are healed! (Isaiah 53:5) That is the truth about your situation. What is the difference between fact and truth? Facts change, but truth —God’s Word—remains!

When God’s people choose to defy the facts and walk instead in His truths regarding their situations, the Holy Spirit in them will bear witness to the truths that they are believing.

The lady with the cancerous kidney underwent an operation to remove the organ. But praise God, she received supernatural restoration as later X-rays showed two healthy kidneys instead of one! God had formed a new kidney for her!

The childless couple received their miracle bundle of joy after seven years. Today, they are proud parents of not one, but four children!

The church member with the S$34 million debt told the finance company that it was not being fair to her and that God would protect her. The company’s management miraculously decided to cancel her debt!

The next time you are hit by disturbing facts, let God’s Word settle the truth about your situation. And as the Holy Spirit bears witness to the truths that you are believing, the facts will change and you will receive your miracle!

OUR DAILY BREAD — THE DISCIPLINE OF WAITING

I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. —Psalm 40:1

Waiting is hard. We wait in grocery lines, in traffic, in the doctor’s office. We twiddle our thumbs, stifle our yawns, and fret inwardly in frustration. On another level, we wait for a letter that doesn’t come, for a prodigal child to return, or for a spouse to change. We wait for a child we can hold in our arms. We wait for our heart’s desire.
In Psalm 40, David says, “I waited patiently for the Lord.” The original language here suggests that David “waited and waited and waited” for God to answer his prayer. Yet as he looks back at this time of delay, he praises God. As a result, David says, God “put a new song . . . a hymn of praise” in his heart (40:3 niv).
“What a chapter can be written of God’s delays!” said F. B. Meyer. “It is the mystery of educating human spirits to the finest temper of which they are capable.” Through the discipline of waiting, we can develop the quieter virtues—submission, humility, patience, joyful endurance, persistence in well-doing—virtues that take the longest to learn.
What do we do when God seems to withhold our heart’s desire? He is able to help us to love and trust Him enough to accept the delay with joy and to see it as an opportunity to develop these virtues—and to praise Him. —David Roper

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay;
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Waiting for God is never a waste of time.

GET GOD’S WORD FOR IT :

…He [Jesus] answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” – Matthew 4:4

When the devil tempted Jesus, Jesus turned the Word of God on him, saying, “It is written… It is written… It is written…” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10)

Likewise, should the devil remind you of the pain in your body, say what God’s Word says: “It is written, ‘By His stripes I am healed!’” (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24) And tell Daddy God, “I have Your Word for it and I am standing on Your Word. I am not trying to be healed. My healing has already happened. I don’t care what this body says. It has to line up with Your Word because by Jesus’ stripes I am healed!”

And if the devil says to you, “Look at the meager balance in your bank account. How are you going to pay your bills?” just say, “I am not trying to be rich. I am already rich and I have God’s Word for it. It is written, ‘My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 4:19) It doesn’t matter how much I have in the bank. God’s Word tells me that as the need arises, the supply will be there!”

When fear grips you, don’t say to yourself, “This fear is stupid. Come on, what are the chances of it happening to me?” Don’t try to rationalize or reason your fear away. Instead, speak God’s Word into the situation. Say, “It is written, ‘For God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.’” (2 Timothy 1:7) What if the fear returns? Speak God’s Word again. Say, “It is written, ‘For God has not given me a spirit of fear…’”

When the devil tries to deceive you, give him the Word of God. There is something about the Word of God that causes him not to want to hang around those who use it. It reminds him of Jesus, the Word made flesh (John 1:14), who rendered him powerless and of no effect when He said, “It is written…”

Thought For The Day :
Turn the Word of God on the devil when he comes to tempt you. You will render him of no effect!

THE WEAPON OF THE WORD :

Luke 4:4, “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”

Jesus answered every temptation with, “It is written.” The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17). It is the only offensive spiritual weapon that we have.

Since Jesus was the Word of God (Jn. 1:1), anything he would have spoken would have been the Word. He could have said “scat” and the devil would have had to go, yet He quoted the written Word of God three times.

This gives us great assurance that the written Word of God is sufficient for us. Jesus, in the face of the greatest temptations that Satan had to offer, did not need to say anything that was not already recorded in scripture.

It is likely that when Jesus returns to this earth and destroys His enemies, He will just speak the Word that has already been given in scripture. No wonder Satan tries to keep us from studying and knowing God’s Word. Even our good works will hurt us if they keep us from really knowing the scriptures.

God has given us this mighty weapon of His Word! When we speak the Word in faith, hell shakes. Satan and his minions have already experienced what the Word can do. They know its power. We need to know it, too.

Not All Shall Repent

God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies; The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet. Nahum 1:2-3

“And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” Mark 6:11

Through out the word of God we see a dichotomy with God. He blesses some and curses others. He demotes and He promotes. He kills and gives lives. Now redemptionists who love to look at things from only side of the picture love to portray God as a person who is out to save the whole world. But as the expression this goes ‘just ain’t so”

As  God is also a pragmatists and knows that this will never be. For He knows too well the nature of man. We have a good example of man’s stubbornness and pride and resistant to change in the word of God:

And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed-by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.

But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. Revelations 9:17-21

Men have not changed since the days of Noah in their life styles nor in their attitudes towards others men or God. But God  who “will render to each one according to his deeds. He  will give  eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality. While  those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness- shall have indignation and wrath,  tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil for God is no respecter of person.

Nevertheless the words spoken by Jesus will not pass away even though this heaven and earth shall. For God’s word is true:

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, “and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. “Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. Matthew 24:35-42

He rebukes the sea and makes it dry,  And dries up all the rivers.  Bashan and Carmel wither,  And the flower of Lebanon wilts. The mountains quake before Him,  The hills melt,  And the earth heaves at His presence,  Yes, the world and all who dwell in it.   Who can stand before His indignation?  And who can endure the fierceness of His anger?  His fury is poured out like fire,  And the rocks are thrown down by Him.

The LORD is good,  A stronghold in the day of trouble;  And He knows those who trust in Him. But with an overflowing flood  He will make an utter end of its place,  And darkness will pursue His enemies.   What do you conspire against the LORD?  He will make an utter end of it.  Affliction will not rise up a second time.  For while tangled like thorns,  And while drunken like drunkards,  They shall be devoured like stubble fully dried. Nahum 1:4-10

As surely as God lives the righteous shall be rewarded with good things and the evil and wicked shall be rewarded with bad things. For God is not to be mocked whatsoever a man sows so shall He reap even in the current time of life.

But some protest that this can not be for God is a good God. While this is true God as the judge of all the earth can be terrible and is greatly to be feared. His word is true:

‘Thus shall My anger be spent, and I will cause My fury to rest upon them, and I will be avenged; and they shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it in My zeal, when I have spent My fury upon them. ‘Moreover I will make you a waste and a reproach among the nations that are all around you, in the sight of all who pass by. ‘So it shall be a reproach, a taunt, a lesson, and an astonishment to the nations that are all around you, when I execute judgments among you in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I, the LORD, have spoken. ‘

When I send against them the terrible arrows of famine which shall be for destruction, which I will send to destroy you, I will increase the famine upon you and cut off your supply of bread. ‘So I will send against you famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I, the LORD, have spoken.’ ”  Ezekiel 5:13-17.

Now hedonistic religious ones seem to forget that God is the original avenger He kills and makes alive. He wounds and heals and none can deliver from His hand. His word is true:

‘Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me;  I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal;  Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.  For I raise My hand to heaven,  And say, “As I live forever,  If I whet My glittering sword,  And My hand takes hold on judgment,  I will render vengeance to My enemies,  And repay those who hate Me. I will make My arrows drunk with blood,  And My sword shall devour flesh,  With the blood of the slain and the captives,  From the heads of the leaders of the enemy.” ‘

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people;  For He will avenge the blood of His servants,  And render vengeance to His adversaries;  He will provide atonement for His land and His people.” Deuteronomy 32:39-43

God is not responsible for what men think or teach. He is only responsible for His word which states that He does not change. That  He will render vengeance to His enemies and He will repay those who hate Him. For He has done it in the past. He will do it in the future and He even does it today. As  His word is in the now:

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore  “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;  If he is thirsty, give him a drink;  For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:19-21

Just because God’s people do good does not mean that God will not render vengeance and repay His enemies as He promised even in the New Testament day of grace.  For the nation of Israel, the city of Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed after Jesus had returned back to heaven and the Holy Spirit had been poured out. Just like Jesus said it would happen.

God’s grace and mercy are one thing but His judgments and vengeance are another thing. For God’s word records:

“Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. “Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. “And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. “Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them.

“Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ “But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ “So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”   Matthew 21:33-41

How long does God have to put up with wicked men especially money changers and wolves in sheep’s clothing in the House of God? Until He returns or until they have been warned? Obviously the answers is when they have been warned for God’s word is true:

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:26-31

For God is God and this is His planet and He rules over it and not men. The government is on His shoulders . Hence he the Wonderful, Counselor, mighty God will order and establish His kingdom with judgment and justice.  For God’s word is true:

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;  And the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called  Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace  There will be no end,  Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,  To order it and establish it with judgment and justice  From that time forward, even forever.  The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6-7

In order words God can walk this planet when and wherever He wants and bring His judgments with Him just like He did with Sodom and Gomorrah. He can bless some and destroy others. For His word is true:

Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, “since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? “For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”

And the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, “I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. Genesis 18:6-22

The same God who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah made John the Apostle to write a letter to the seven churches in Asia Minor telling them all basically almost the same message:

“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Revelations 1:18

These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. “Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent.

Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ‘  Revelations 3:2-6

GOD’S P’S

The answers of life are not in men’s wisdom or the world’s system. It is not in the abundance of what one possesses. It is in Jesus Christ, His truth and His wisdom and person in one’s spirit. This closer walk with God and His person brings a person into a position of unity with Heaven that is yet untapped and totally miss-understood.

God doesn’t want His teachers and preachers to point to themselves but to God. He wants His sheep to turn to Him and He will give them their marching orders. Then, they will find victory in battle and they will do the right kind of service to Him. They all have a part in His great plan and purposes. Yet, God is left with a weak and hurt people. This will not be forever. He is coming through to strength His people and unite them in a way unprecedented in the history of the church. He has ordained it from the beginning. The church, His body, will learn to learn and hear His voice and follow their true shepherd. This day is coming and all will see it.

But His true ones are not to be shy. They are to ask God what they will and He will do it because He loves them so much. He has promised to do whatsoever they ask in Jesus name. They can come to His throne boldly and He will hear their prayers and He will deal with their concerns. For they have His promises, His person and Him. Hence they can walk in the assurance of God’s Presence in their life. For as God walked with Noah, Joseph, Moses, Daniel, Elijah, and Jesus so now He walks with them. God in Christ Jesus has given to us His P’s. The P’s of His presence, promises, person, power, protection, provision, prosperity, providence and promotion:

His Presence – God is always with His own. He has commanded them to be strong and of good courage and not to be afraid, nor be dismayed. For the LORD their God is with them wherever they go and His presence goes with them to give them rest and victory.

His Promises – Every promise and every line in the bible is theirs including that no weapon which is formed against them shall prosper and those who rise against them shall become a nonexistent thing.

His Person – God is a Good God who is for them, with them and not against them. He is on their side no matter what they are facing. There is no searching of His understanding. His ears are open to their prayers and His eyes are upon the righteous to bless them.

His Power – When God’s true ones have His presence, promises and power they can trust Him to use His power for their good in all kinds of circumstances and situations. Just like God did for Jesus on Calvary when He raised Him from the dead, gave Him victory over all His enemies and seated Him at His right hand.

His Protection – God is the shield and exceeding great reward of His true ones, as well as He is their rock, refuge, strength, tower security and inheritance. He will bless and promote His own and He will deliver and honor them.

His Provision – God has promised to meet and supply all their need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus and He unlike others is able to keep His word.

His Prosperity – God is not poor or stupid and neither should His children be. He is their security and inheritance and provision in the deserts of life. He is their hiding place! He will move out every mountain and deal with every enemy and dispel every lack in their life. Their prosperity will come upon them as the dawning of a bright and new day. They will not be able to contain their joy and ecstasy at the provision and security He is providing. He will multiply back to them a hundred fold all they have done for Him.

His Providence – The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and though he fall God will not allow him to stay down but will lift him up.

His Promotion – God has promised that for those who set their love upon Him He will deliver them and set them on high because they have known His name. He has promised to make them head and not tail and above and not beneath. They shall call upon Him and He will answer them. He will be with them in trouble and deliver and honor them. With long life He will satisfy His true ones and show them His salvation.

As a result, the psalmist stated it very well about those who put their trust in God alone and not others for their deliverance:

Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the LORD his God, Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever, Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. The LORD shall reign forever- Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD! Psalm 146:5-10

For after all is said and done God has not changed. He still is a miracle working God who gives the best to those who ask Him for the best. He gives His all to those who give Him their all and believe Him for His all. His word does not change to His true ones:

“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them-the children of Israel. “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. “From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.

“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.

“Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:2-9

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

MY HELP

I will lift up my eyes to the hills- From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore. Psalm 121:1-8

The Lord who is the Lord can do anything but fail for His true ones. For those who trust in Him and look only to Him for Help. He is their Rock, Reward, Strength, Shield and more than enough for what ever they need. His word is true:

“The LORD your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the LORD has said. “And the LORD will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them. “The LORD will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you.

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:3-6

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You! Psalm 84:11-12

The Lord will not leave nor forsake His own for He is their sun and shield. He will give grace and glory and not good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. His own are to hold to their faith and trust in the Lord who is the Lord. He never let His own down as He is their loving and compassionate Father!

But the other side of the coin is that God wants His people to be compassionate but not stupid nor fools. God’s word records:

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” “Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. “And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. “But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.

“The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ “Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ “So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ “And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.

“So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. “Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. ‘Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’

“And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” Matthew 18:21-35

Contrary to what many think and say, forgiveness for all sins is not an automatic thing to be done by God’s people. For God’s word states:

“Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. Luke 17:3

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” John 20:21-23

As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” Romans 9:13-15

Some sins are to be forgiven and other sins are to be retained. For the principle of the word of God is that if a brother sins he is to be rebuked. If he repents He is to be forgiven. Jesus gave to His own by the Holy Spirit the same power He had to forgive the sins of any and to retain the sins of any. God in His wisdom and love showed mercy and compassion on whomever He willed and it was not necessarily universal.

Forgiveness by God and by His true ones is a discretionary thing. God’s word clearly states that Jesus and His true ones would judge and act by the Spirit of the Lord and not by their own wisdom:

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.

His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist. Isaiah 11:1-5

“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns-broken cisterns that can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13

Those who forgive people of sins that they have not repented off, will find themselves incurring the wrath of the Lord for condoning and accepting what God has not accepted. For God’s word is true:

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, “Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who enter in at these gates to worship the LORD!’ ” Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. “Do not trust in these lying words, saying, ‘The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD are these.’

“For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, “if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, “then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.

“Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. “Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, “and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations’? “Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” says the LORD. Jeremiah 7:1-11

Those who say they are righteous must demonstrate righteousness and be righteous . They must thoroughly amend their ways and their doings. They must thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor. They must not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in God’s House or nor walk after other gods to their hurt.

But if they steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, walk after other gods and then come and stand before God in His house and say that they have done no wrong He will cast them out of His sight and close His ears to their prayers and to those who support and befriend them. The Lord shall not help, bless, preserve and prosper them but rather judge them for their sins and doings. For God’s word is true:

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Hebrews 10:26-27

It is the behavior and real choices of God’s people which determine the resulting consequences for them both good and bad. As a result God’s word states:

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Hebrews 12:1-7

God has not changed and He does chastise and rebukes his true sons and daughters and it is not a pleasant thing but painful. God’s word records:

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. Hebrews 12:11-17

Not all profit or benefit from being chastised and some fall short of the grace of God. Some do not purse peace with all people and holiness. Some allow the root of bitterness to spring up. Some become fornicators or profane persons who sell their birthright for them temporary things of the world.

But to others chastening yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Such as these are truly blessed and prosper and will see the Lord. For the LORD, shall do good to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts.. But as for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity. As a result God’s word states:

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning- Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. 130:7 O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities. Psalm 130:1-8

CONFESSION

God has given us a powerful method to obtain His promises, and it is up to us to use it. That method is confession. Confession, as it pertains to the Bible, is when you speak the Word of God out loud. Words are spiritual containers that release either fear or faith. Every time you speak, you are activating spiritual forces that will affect your life. This is why it is so important to be mindful of the words we speak and to make sure we are only saying what God has said in His Word.

Similar to the law of gravity, the law of confession will work for anyone who will get involved with it. Many Christians who have been defeated in life are defeated because they believe and confess the wrong things. They don’t realize that their words are activating a spiritual law that is working against them. We must understand the law of confession if we want things to work for us. We have been given access to the power of God through our words, which are weapons against the enemy.

Satan is constantly applying pressure to our minds in order to get us to quit in these last days; however, we do not have to allow hard times or pressure to defeat us. We can use the Word of God as a weapon against the enemy, and win.

In order to be victorious over the attacks of the enemy, we must think, believe, and speak in line with God’s Word. In fact, believing the Word in our hearts is the prerequisite for our confessions having a significant impact in our lives. Mark 9:23 says, “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” Faith is the force that must be in operation in order for our confessions to come to pass. Sometimes people confess God’s Word religiously, mechanically, and out of fear; however, these types of confessions don’t accomplish anything. We must believe that the things we confess from the Bible are coming to pass as we pray and speak them.

We can look to God as an example of how faith-filled words cause things to manifest in the natural realm. In the biblical account of how God created the earth, the Word says that He spoke and whatever He spoke came into existence (Genesis 1). God’s words are full of faith, which is what caused them to become actual physical substance. The things we see in this earth today, from the sky to the trees, are the result of words that were spoken by God.

The same creative power that God possesses has been invested in us. As spiritual beings who possess the nature of God, we have the ability to speak things into existence just like God did. This isn’t some mystical, New Age idea; it is scriptural. When Jesus walked the earth, He imitated His Father by speaking what the Father spoke. As a result, He saw results everywhere He went. Likewise, we must be imitators of God, who think, act, and speak like Him. When we speak His Words, we release His creative ability into the earth, and something always happens. When we believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that the words we speak will come to pass, we will see what we are speaking (Mark 11:22-23).

The Bible says that all things are possible for those who believe. Confessing God’s Word is so powerful because every time we hear ourselves speaking the Scriptures, we are actually planting faith in our hearts. The more we become established on the Word of God through speaking it on a consistent basis, the more our faith will grow. And faith, when acted upon, will always produce the desired results.

There shouldn’t be a day that passes that the Believer does not speak the Word of God. It is the Word that strengthens our faith, and releases the power of God into our situations and circumstances. By making daily confessions, we frame our worlds with the Word of God, shut the devil out of our lives, and plant faith in our hearts. It is the key to victory and supernatural manifestation

1. God loves me so much that He gave His only Son for me. I believe in Jesus, therefore I will not perish. I have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

2. Christ, the Anointed One and His Anointing is in me. He is my hope and expectation of Glory. (Col. 1:27)

3. I am not conformed to this world. I am transformed as I renew my mind to God’s Word. I experience the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom. 12:2)

4. I can do all things through the Anointed One and His Anointing which strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

5. I do not allow the worries of this world or the deceitfulness of riches or the lusts of other things to enter into my heart and choke the Word. I am determined to bear much fruit. (Mark 4:19)

6. I hearken unto the Word of the Lord my God. All the blessings of the Word come on me and overtake me! (Deut. 28:2)

7. I am a believer. All things are possible to me! (Mark 9:23)

8. The Holy Spirit comes to my aid and bears me up in my weakness when I do not know how to pray as I ought. He intercedes on my behalf according to the will of God. (Rom. 8:26-27, AMP)

9. All God’s promises to me are yes and Amen! (II Cor. 1:20)

10. The blessing of Abraham comes on me through Jesus Christ. I receive the promise of the Spirit through the faith. I am an heir to the promise! (Gal 3:14,29)

11. My heavenly Father provides me with the measure of faith and I am determined to build my faith by meditating on His Word. (Rom. 12:3)

12. I have access by faith into the grace of God. (Rom. 5:2)

13. I have faith in God. I will not fear. (Mark 4:40)

14. I repent and turn away from sin for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. (Matt. 4:17)

15. Hope is the anchor of my soul. Hope keeps me sure and steadfast. (Heb. 6:19)

16. I reverently fear the Lord. I respect and honor Him therefore I do not lack! (Ps 34:9)

17. God has bestowed His grace upon me. By His grace, I am what I am. (I Cor. 15:10)

18. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me by Jesus Christ. (Matt. 28:18)

19. I forgive those whom I have anything against so that my prayers are not hindered. (Mark. 11:25)

20. God has given me every place that my feet tread upon. Therefore, I have dominion over sin, sickness and poverty. (Joshua 1:3)

21. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me with the same anointing that Jesus has. The anointing in me removes every burden and destroys every yoke in my life. (Luke 4:18, Is 10:27)

22. God has dealt to me the measure of faith. I have the God kind of faith. (Rom. 12:3)

23. I expect the Glory of God to be poured out on my life like the rain. (Zech. 10:1)

24. I refuse to be deceived or misled by having evil associations or companions. I choose to fellowship with those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. (I Cor. 15:33, AMP)

25. Jesus shed His blood for the remission of my sins and now they no longer exist! (Matt 26:28)

26. I am filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. (Col. 1:9, AMP)

27. Jesus came and destroyed the power of death and the works of the devil in my life. He has delivered me from the bondage of fear. (Heb. 2:14-15)

28. I present my body to God as a living sacrifice. I will live a holy life, acceptable unto Him which is my reasonable service. (Rom. 12:1)

29. Jesus is the Christ – the Anointed One – the Son of the living God. He removes every burden and destroys every yoke of the devil. (Matt 16:16; Is. 10:27)

30. I am constant in prayer. (Rom. 12:12 AMP)

31. Death and life are in the power of my tongue. I determine to speak only words of life. (Proverbs 18:21)

32. I have the Holy Ghost in me. Therefore, I have power! (Acts 1:8)

33. I suffer in the flesh rather than fail to please God. (I Peter 4:1 AMP)

34. I do not let my heart be troubled because I trust and abide in Jesus. (John 14:1)

35. The Lord delivers me out of all my afflictions. (Psalm 34:19)

36. When I agree with another in prayer about anything that we ask, it shall be done for us by our Father in Heaven. (Matt 18:19, NAS)

37. Deadly habits of unforgiveness, impatience, irritation and selfishness, loose me and let me go. I choose to walk free by the power of God’s Word. (John 11:43-44, Romans 8:2-6)

38. As I receive Communion, I put myself in remembrance of what Jesus did for me through His death on the cross. Because of Jesus I am redeemed from the curse of the law. (I Cor. 11:25-56; Galatians 3:13)

39. I refuse to allow envy and strife into my heart. I refuse to give the devil a license to bring confusion and every evil work into my life. (James 3:16)

40. Jesus is the High Priest of my profession, therefore, I hold fast to it. (Heb. 4:14)

41. I flow in the fruit of the spirit. I allow love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance to grow and develop in my life. (Gal. 5:22-23)

42. I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (Eph. 6:10)

43. I am obedient to the commandment of Jesus. I love others as He has loved me. (John 13:34)

44. I give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love and mercy endure forever. (Ps 136:1)

45. I eagerly pursue and seek to acquire love. I make it my aim and my great quest in life. (I Cor. 14:1 AMP)

46. God is love. As I dwell and continue in God, He dwells and continues in me; and love is brought to completion and attains perfection in me. (I John 4:16-17 AMP)

47. What things soever I desire, when I pray, I believe that I receive and I shall have them! (Mark 11:24)

48. The Lord blesses me for I am righteous. He surrounds me with favor as with a shield. (Ps. 5:12)

49. As I speak in faith, I do not doubt in my heart. I believe those things which I say shall come to pass. I have what I say. (Mark 11:23)

50. In the presence of God there are glory and honor and strength and gladness. (I Chron. 16:27)

51. I am blessed when I come in and blessed when I go out. (Deut. 28:6)

52. I have received God’s overflowing grace and the free gift of righteousness. Therefore, I reign in life as a king through Jesus Christ. (Rom. 5:17 AMP)

53. I resist the devil steadfastly. He will not devour me, because greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. (I Peter 5:8-9; I John 4:4)

54. I am in Christ Jesus. I do not walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Therefore I am free of condemnation. (Rom. 8:1)

55. I attend to God’s Word, and incline my ears to His sayings. I will not let His Word depart from my eyes. I will keep it in the midst of my heart. I keep my heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:20-21, 23)

56. I believe that Jesus is the Christ – the Anointed One. I am born of God and I overcome the world. (I John 5:1,4)

57. God is holy. Therefore I am also holy in all my conduct and manner of living. (I Peter 1:15 AMP)

58. The day of the Lord is coming soon. He will show wonders in Heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath. I prepare myself for that great and notable day. (Acts 2:19-20)

59. Greater is He Who lives in me than he that is in the world. (I John 4:4)

60. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Therefore, I am determined to live by faith so that I will always please Him. (Heb. 11:6)

61. When I speak in an unknown tongue, I do not speak unto men, but unto God. In the Spirit I speak mysteries and receive understanding. (I Cor. 14:2)

62. I live a separated life unto God and I am like a watered garden, and a spring of water, whose waters fail not. (Is. 58:11)

63. I abide and dwell in Jesus so that I bear abundant fruit. (John 15:5 AMP)

64. Jesus, the Anointed One and His Anointing has removed every burden and destroyed every yoke in my life. (Is. 10:27)

65. I do not fear for God is my shield and my exceeding great reward! (Gen. 15:1)

66. All my children are taught of the Lord and great is their peace. (Is. 54:13)

67. I do the works of Jesus because I believe on Him. (John 14:12)

68. The Lord is my helper, and I do not fear what man shall do to me. The Lord never leaves me, nor forsakes me. (Heb. 13:5-6)

69. I am not barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord for I give diligence to let the fruit of the spirit abound in my life. (II Peter 1:5-8)

70. Because of the blood of Jesus, God forgives my sins and cleanses me from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)

71. I endure hard times as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. I stand firm for God has given me the victory. (II Tim. 2:3)

72. Jesus is not ashamed of me; therefore, I am not ashamed. (Heb. 2:11)

73. I am not ignorant of Satan’s devices. I determine to walk in love and refuse to allow him to take advantage of me. (II Cor. 2:10-11)

74. I walk by faith and not by sight. I allow God to move in my life by faith. (II Cor. 5:7)

75. God surrounds me with favor as with a shield. I am one of God’s favorites! (Ps. 5:12)

76. I determine to walk in love and to forgive others, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven me. (Eph. 4:32)

77. God has set before me life and death, blessing and cursing. I choose life. I choose God’s blessings. (Deut. 30:19)

78. Jesus took my infirmities and bore my sicknesses. By His stripes I am healed! (Matt 8:17; I Peter 2:24)

79. I do not defile the temple of God. I walk in holiness. (I Cor. 3:17)

80. My God supplies all my needs according to His riches in Glory. (Phil. 4:19)

81. I fight the good fight of faith. It’s a good fight because Jesus has already won it for me. (I Tim. 6:12)

82. I am not weak in faith, considering my own body. I consider Jesus. I believe the promises of God. (Rom. 4:19-21)

83. God has delivered me out of the kingdom of darkness and transferred me into the kingdom of the Son of His love. (Col. 1:13 AMP)

84. Jesus has destroyed him that had the power of death. Therefore, I do not have to live in bondage to the fear of death. (Heb 2:14-15)

85. I obey God and keep my heart perfect toward Him. The Lord shows Himself strong in my behalf. (II Chron. 16:9)

86. The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but God’s mercy and kindness do not depart from me. Neither is the covenant of His peace removed from me. (Is. 54:10)

87. When I am afflicted or in trouble, I pray. The Lord delivers me out of all my afflictions. (James 5:13; Ps. 34:19)

88. God has given me all things that pertain to life and godliness. (II Peter 1:3)

89. I am firm in faith. I am rooted, established, strong, immovable and determined. I am determined to triumph over the devil. (I Peter 5:9)

90. I lay aside every weight which so easily besets me. (Heb 12:1)

91. I live the kind of life God intends for me to live by exchanging my thoughts and ways for His. (Is. 55:6-11)

92. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me! (Luke 4:18)

93. God’s Word is forever settled in Heaven. It will never change. (Ps. 119:89)

94. Jesus has given me His peace. I do not let my heart be troubled, neither am I afraid. (John 14:27)

95. I will be ready when Jesus comes. Therefore, I set my affection on things above, not on things of the earth. (Col. 3:2)

96. I am determined to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection. (Phil. 3:10)

97. The Lord has pleasure in my prosperity. I prosper in every area of my life. (Ps. 35:27)

98. I open my mouth boldly and make known the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Eph. 6:19)

99. I am willing and obedient. I always eat the good of the land. (Is. 1:19)

100. I walk by faith and not by sight! (II Cor. 5:7)

~HOLD ON TO JESUS~

When trials of life assail you
or storm clouds come your way,
Hold on by faith to Jesus
you’ll have a brighter day.

When problems of this world
seem to weigh you down
Look up to the Savior,
He can always be found.

The trying of our faith works patience,
it gives hope in our life,
We have a blessed Redeemer
who took away our sin and strife.

Though circumstances may look bleak
remember, things are not always as they seem,
For we have a Loving Savior
He is always working behind the scenes.

There is nothing God cannot handle
No problem is to big for Him to work out,
Look up to the King of Kings,
trust fully in Him and never doubt.

Jesus is the door which leads to life eternal,
there is only one way to God
When we enter through the straight gate,
we find help in this land we now trod.

The enemy may rage
but greater is our God within,
Hold on to the Lord,
storms of life always have to end.

Blessings In Christ,
Jo Ann Kelly

THEREFORE

GET IN THE GAME :
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us – Hebrews 12:1, NIV

Is there a desire that you placed on the shelf, so to speak? Have you been sitting on the sidelines of your dream, celebrating everybody else’s victories, content to see the promises come to pass in their lives? It’s good to celebrate with others, but God wants to do something amazing in your life, too. He wants you to be celebrated. You don’t have to sit on the sidelines watching everyone else. You have treasure inside of you.

Think about the promises that God has spoken over you; dreams that He wants you to give birth to. It’s not too late. You’re not too old. It may look impossible, but our God can do the impossible. When you believe, favor is released. When you believe, hidden treasure comes forth. Don’t waste another day sitting on the sidelines of life. It’s time to get back in the game. It’s time to run your race. It’s time to press forward into the promises that God has in store for you!

And remember when we have a problem, we can worry about it, or we can choose to trust God.

GOD BLESSES WHAT YOU TOUCH :

“The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. – Deuteronomy 28:8

Do you remember the story of King Midas and his golden touch? He made a wish that everything he touched would turn into gold, and his wish came to pass. He touched his food, the trees in his garden and his palace, and they all turned into gold! Then, he hugged his daughter whom he loved very much and she immediately turned into a gold statue!

God’s way is better and it has no side effects. He wants to bless everything you touch. The Bible says, “The Lord will command the blessing on you… and in all to which you set your hand…” This means that whatever you touch, whatever you set your hands to, God will command the blessing upon it, be it a person, thing or business. So if you touch your child, he is blessed. If you touch your guitar, anointed music flows forth. If you touch your business, it prospers. When you touch a sick person, he gets healed. When you touch someone who is facing lack, his needs are met.

In the Bible, everything that Jesus touched prospered. He touched the eyes of two blind men and their eyes were opened. (Matthew 9:28–30) He touched the open coffin of a widow’s son, and the young man sat up and began to speak. (Luke 7:12–15) He touched the leper and the leprosy departed. (Mark 1:40–42) Under the old covenant laws, no one was supposed to touch a leper as lepers were considered unclean. If you touched the unclean, you became unclean. But Jesus touched the leper and the unclean became clean!

Everyone whom Jesus touched received a blessing. And because Jesus lives in you by His Spirit, what you touch will be blessed too. He paid the price for you to have this blessing. His loving hands which imparted blessings to so many were nailed to the cross so that today, God can command His blessing on all to which you set your hands!

Thought For The Day :
Because Jesus lives in you by His Spirit, what you touch will be blessed.

STANDING ON NO-CURSE GROUND :

Then the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat. – Genesis 8:4

For 40 days and nights, it rained so hard that the whole world perished, except for Noah and those who were with him in the ark. At the end of 150 days, on the 17th day of the seventh month, the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat.

In Hebrew, the word “Ararat” means “the curse is reversed”. The waters of judgment receded, causing the ark to rest on the mountains of Ararat, on new ground where the curse is reversed. And it happened on the 17th day of the seventh month on the Feast of Firstfruits — the exact date that Jesus rose from the dead 4,000 years later!

When Christ rose from the dead, we were raised together with Him. (Colossians 2:12). We who are in Christ our true ark stand on resurrection ground where the curse has been reversed (Galatians 3:13), where diseases, poverty and failures have no right to operate!

A church member shared how God delivered him from cervical spondylosis, a medical condition which causes the neck section of the spinal cord to deteriorate. An X-ray taken four to five years back showed that that area of his spinal cord was deteriorating fast. He was in pain and had to take medicine to manage the condition. And whenever he had a relapse, he would get depressed.

During his last relapse, he went to the doctor, trusting God that he was already healed, had another X-ray taken and was given some medication. He took the medication, still believing God that he was healed. The following morning, the pain in his neck was gone and he was able to turn his head. When he finally collected his X-ray results a week later, his doctor actually told him that his spinal cord looked better than the doctor’s own! The doctor was very surprised because patients with this condition usually don’t get better. God had reversed the curse of cervical spondylosis for him!

My friend, as a believer, you are on no-curse ground. You stand in the blessings zone where it is very easy for God’s blessings to rain all over you!

Thought For The Day :
We stand on no-curse ground where diseases, poverty and failures have no right to operate!

DON’T LOOK TO YOUR FAITH, LOOK TO JESUS:

HEBREWS 12:2 – looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…

If you are sick, you must know that you are already healed because of the finished work of Christ. Don’t ask, “Do I have enough faith to be healed? Do I have the right kind of faith to be healed? What if I am lacking in faith?” You are focusing on yourself and your faith, instead of Christ and His finished work.

You should be asking, “Did Jesus take away this sickness? If He did, then He must have done a perfect work.” In other words, fix your eyes on Jesus and His perfect work.

AB Simpson, who lived in the 19th century, wrote an article entitled Himself. In it, he mentioned his exhausted nervous system, and broken-down heart which could have proved fatal any time. So he sought the Lord for healing. God showed him Matthew 8:17, which says that Jesus “Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses”.

AB Simpson said that though he believed that Jesus had borne away his sicknesses, he saw many hindrances which stood between him and his healing. And they all boiled down to one thing—his preoccupation with his faith! He had believed that if only he had the “right” kind of faith, he would receive his healing instantly.

He eventually came to the realization that he had to remove that last hindrance—his focus on his faith—and just rest in the finished work of Christ. That revelation marked his complete recovery from his sicknesses.

When you ask yourself, “Do I have enough faith?” you have already put faith as a hindrance between you and Jesus’ finished work. The more you focus on your faith, the more faith slips away. But if you focus on the finished work of Christ and see God’s grace toward you, God sees that as faith! Without realizing it, faith is there in your heart to believe that you will not die of what Christ Himself has already borne away completely for you, and you will see your miracle manifest!

GET READY TO MOVE

‘I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised…’ Joshua 1:3 NIV

Can you imagine how Joshua felt stepping into Moses’ shoes? He needed assurance, so God told him: (1) ‘I will give you every place where you set your foot.’ In other words, just step out in faith and claim it. It’s yours, if you’re willing to walk towards it and take possession. Would it be easy? Would they get there overnight? No, but their confidence came from the words, ‘as I promised’. The song goes: ‘Standing on the promises that cannot fail; when the howling winds of doubt and fear assail. Standing on the living Word I shall prevail; standing on the promises of God.’ (2) ‘No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.’ (Joshua 1:5 NIV) Will you face criticism? Yes. Will you come under attack? Yes. There were 31 kings, seven nations, and giants the size of telephone poles waiting for them in the Promised Land. But every battle you fight is just an opportunity for God to show Himself strong on your behalf. (3) ‘As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.’ (Joshua 1:5 NIV) If you’re anxious about the future, recall God’s faithfulness to you in the past. At the end of his life Joshua wrote: ‘Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled…’ (Joshua 23:14 NIV) And the God who came through for Joshua, will come through for you.

A GREATER HUMILITY :

Matthew 3:14, “But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?”

John the Baptist was overwhelmed that Jesus was asking to be baptized by him. John had already declared himself unworthy to unloose the latchet of the Christ’s shoes, and now the Christ was asking him to administer His baptism (Lk. 3:16).

Likewise, we are often overwhelmed by the idea that the Lord could use us. Who are we to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ? It is easy to disqualify ourselves and not fulfill God’s instructions. However, Jesus told John that he had to do it to fulfill all righteousness.

As wonderful as it may seem, the Lord has chosen to use us. God’s Word could not have been fulfilled without John’s cooperation. The Lord works through men.

We can do nothing by ourselves, but the Lord will do nothing by Himself (Jn. 15:5; Eph. 3:20). A lack of understanding this has caused many people to miss God’s blessings. They pray and desire God’s best, but wait on God to move independent of them. There are things that we must do to fulfill the righteousness of God in our lives.

John was not seeking to exalt himself, but his failure to baptize Jesus would not have been an act of humility. It would have been stupidity. It takes great humility to recognize the call of God on your life and let Him use you.

GOD’S WILL IS

Prosperity, Truth and Equity
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 111 John 1:2-4

God will is Prosperity for His children; but for the whole man, body, soul and spirit and not just one particular area.  He desires and wills to bring them  health, and healing and to reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth as promised in His word:

‘Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. ‘And I will cause the captives of Judah and the captives of Israel to return, and will rebuild those places as at the first.

‘I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me.

‘Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.’  ” Jeremiah 33:6-9

However, truth and righteousness and justice which are the elements of true prosperity   are words that are not spoken and sought much by God’s materialistic oriented people today; even though they is the foundational stone of God’s kingdom and character.

God loves truth and righteousness and justice so much that it cost Him the life of His only Son. Something that men take for granted that if God would not spare His own son why would He spare others who have not sought justice, righteousness and truth? It does not make sense at all the God is so loving, gracious and kind, as some propose and preach,  that He will automatically forgive all sin and rebellion by even His own.

The doctrine of automatic forgiveness and general absolution of all things that God’s people might do is a lie from the pits of hell. For God is not stupid nor is He a fool. He sees what men do and say and He has already given His word on the matter::

Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. John 2:23-25

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ “For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men-the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. Mark 7: 5-9

Even in so called Evangelical churches, traditions and commandments of men motivated by selfishness and greed of the elders, rather than love and compassion of the Holy Spirit, have become more important than the commandments of God. As a result God’s word states:

Hear the word of the LORD,  You rulers of Sodom;  Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah: “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?”  Says the LORD.  “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams  And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls,  Or of lambs or goats. “When you come to appear before Me,

Who has required this from your hand,  To trample My courts?  Bring no more futile sacrifices;  Incense is an abomination to Me.  The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies- I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.  Your New Moons and your appointed feasts  My soul hates;  They are a trouble to Me,  I am weary of bearing them.

When you spread out your hands,  I will hide My eyes from you;  Even though you make many prayers,  I will not hear.  Your hands are full of blood. “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;  Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.  Cease to do evil, Learn to do good;  Seek justice,  Rebuke the oppressor;  Defend the fatherless,  Plead for the widow.

“Come now, and let us reason together,”  Says the LORD,  “Though your sins are like scarlet,  They shall be as white as snow;  Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.  If you are willing and obedient,  You shall eat the good of the land;  But if you refuse and rebel,  You shall be devoured by the sword”;  For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 1:10-20

God even this day gives men a choice to reason together with Him about their sins and ways.  If they u are willing and obedient,  they shall eat the good of the land.  But if they  refuse and rebel,  they shall be devoured by the sword. For God doesn’t lie and He keeps His word.

The other fact of the matter is that people who are called by God’s name say and do strange things in the House of God in God’s name and they think that they speak on behalf of God. Ironically by people who have rejected Apostle and Prophets in their midst today and then they think that they have favor with God and are in good standing with Him. But they have not asked God  what He thinks about what they do for fear of finding out that they are a trouble to Him and He is weary of their ways and ideas.

A good example of all this is prayer and fasting that is done by most groups and churches which it does not line up at all with God’s word which states:

“Cry aloud, spare not;  Lift up your voice like a trumpet;  Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins.  Yet they seek Me daily,  And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness,  And did not forsake the ordinance of their God.

They ask of Me the ordinances of justice;  They take delight in approaching God.  ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen?  Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’  “In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure,  And exploit all your laborers. Indeed you fast for strife and debate,  And to strike with the fist of wickedness.  You will not fast as you do this day,  To make your voice heard on high.

Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul?  Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush,  And to spread out sackcloth and ashes?  Would you call this a fast,  And an acceptable day to the LORD?

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:  To loose the bonds of wickedness,  To undo the heavy burdens,  To let the oppressed go free,  And that you break every yoke?  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,  And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;  When you see the naked, that you cover him,  And not hide yourself from your own flesh?  Then your light shall break forth like the morning,  Your healing shall spring forth speedily,  And your righteousness shall go before you;  The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;  You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’  “If you take away the yoke from your midst,  The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,  If you extend your soul to the hungry  And satisfy the afflicted soul,  Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,  And your darkness shall be as the noonday.  The LORD will guide you continually,  And satisfy your soul in drought,  And strengthen your bones;  You shall be like a watered garden,  And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:1-11

The kind of fasting that God demands from His people is that of seeking and doing true justice, righteousness and truth; especially for the oppressed and afflicted in their midst. Definitely not the showing of partiality or being a respecter of persons; which is so common  in the house of God today by those who call themselves Christians. These are major sins which has been glossed over by so many but are  awful in the sight of God and about  which He brings judgment.

For to God each person is important to Him and He does not make much distinction between the head  and the toe or another part of the body. They are all equally important to Him. He loves them all and they all have an important part to play in His kingdom especially the lesser known parts.

But to hear the ways some people talk only the head is the important part and is to be listened too. Even though many times it is just a bunch of hot air. For as James the brother of Jesus has put it so well:

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.

Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:1-7

Those who talk and say so much, especially leaders in the House of God, have more to give an account, than those who keep their mouth shut. For God’s word states:

In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, But the lips of the wise will preserve them. Proverbs 14:3

A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident. Proverbs 14:16

Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. Proverbs 17:28

So many in the house of God are talkers only and not doers of the word of God. They do things by the flesh and in presumption and not by the Spirit and in wisdom. The results can be seen in their futile deeds or running around in circles. They  really do not  bring about a major change to their community.

Most of them times they are a laughing stock in their community? They really do not know the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob about whom it is said:

God is jealous, and the LORD avenges;  The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries,  And He reserves wrath for His enemies;  The LORD is slow to anger and great in power,  And will not at all acquit the wicked.

The LORD has His way  In the whirlwind and in the storm,  And the clouds are the dust of His feet. He rebukes the sea and makes it dry,  And dries up all the rivers.  Bashan and Carmel wither,  And the flower of Lebanon wilts. The mountains quake before Him,  The hills melt,  And the earth heaves at His presence,  Yes, the world and all who dwell in it.  Who can stand before His indignation?  And who can endure the fierceness of His anger?  His fury is poured out like fire,  And the rocks are thrown down by Him.

The LORD is good,  A stronghold in the day of trouble;  And He knows those who trust in Him.  But with an overflowing flood  He will make an utter end of its place,  And darkness will pursue His enemies. Nahum 1:2-8

The early Apostles, Prophets and disciples changed the world of side down with signs and wonder  and deeds and true integrity. While the present prominent religious ones in America  such as Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, Robert Tilton, Dr. Henry J. Lyons, W.A. Grant,  and Karl Strader  have only become wicked men who have brought shame to the body of Christ and by their foolish examples and deeds that have spoken louder than their words.

Truly they were excellent hypocrites as Jesus talked about them. They were and are false ones whose fruits spoke louder than their words. The sad part is that they never counted that the storms of life would come to them and their house would fall. As they did not built it upon the rock but upon the sands of human reason and logic and lusts.

When God brings and gives all the goodness and all the prosperity that He has promised in His word it stays. But when men achieve it for themselves it fails. For it was not wrought in God but in ideas and foolishness of men.   God is not responsible for the words and thoughts of men but only for His words and thoughts including:

“Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all the good things have come upon you which the LORD your God promised you, so the LORD will bring upon you all harmful things, until He has destroyed you from this good land which the LORD your God has given you. “When you have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you shall perish quickly from the good land which He has given you.” Joshua 23:15-16

I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God,  And steadfast forever;  His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed,  And His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues,  And He works signs and wonders  In heaven and on earth,  Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.   So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Daniel 6:26-29

Daniel unlike the others of our day was a man of integrity, faithful and true and was full of the Spirit of the Lord and he prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. While the others did not; even though they had and have their excuses. But the bottom line is that they were not walking in truth and were not blameless. For true prosperity is first of the heart and spirit and truth and character.  Then all the rest follows as it did with praying and faithful Daniel.

SEEK GOD

THE POWER AT WORK :
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…” – Ephesians 3:20, NKJV

Today’s verse tells us that God will do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or think. But here’s the key: the next part says that it’s “…according to the power that works in you.” It’s not according to the power that’s in your neighbor, your boss, your pastor, your priest, the bank or the stock market. It’s according to the power that works in you. In other words, it depends on what you’re believing. If you go around telling yourself, “I’m just average. I’m not that talented. I come from the wrong family,” then the exceeding greatness of God’s power is not going to work in you. That treasure is going to stay buried.

But when you acknowledge God’s greatness in your life, when you see yourself the way He sees you and live by the Word of God, that’s when His power works in you Remember, you’ve been created in the image of Almighty God. You have treasure on the inside. If that treasure is going to come out, you have to have the attitude, “I’ve got what it takes. I’m not waiting on it. I’m not hoping to get it one day. I’m not begging somebody to give me a break. No, I’m equipped, empowered, talented and creative, and I will fulfill the destiny He has in store for me!”

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AND HEARING?

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. – Proverbs 4:23, NLT

I can’t stress enough the importance of guarding your heart. The Book of Wisdom says that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). Jesus also said that a man is only able to “bring forth good things” in his life if he has first filled his heart with good treasure!

How then do you guard what enters your heart? You guard what comes through your ear and eye gates!

What this means is that if all the bad news on television or the Internet is causing you to despair, turn your attention to something else that’s edifying and God-glorifying. If the people you hang out with are speaking fear, doubt and cynicism into you, I encourage you to hang out with kingdom friends who are faith-filled. Just as fear is contagious, so is faith!

Beloved, store up good treasures from the Lord in your heart and you will bring forth good success!

GUARD WHAT ENTERS YOUR HEART

…whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. – Philippians 4:8

I’ve always said that right believing leads to right living. The opposite is also true: Wrong believing leads to wrong living. That’s why it’s so important what you believe or allow to enter into your heart.

It’s no wonder that the Book of Wisdom tells us to guard our hearts above all else, because what we allow to take root in our hearts will determine the course of our lives! If you’ve not been experiencing success in a certain area, check what you’ve been believing about that area or about yourself in relation to that area. Ask the Lord to reveal any erroneous belief to you and ask Him to help you replace it with the truth of His Word.

THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S :

2 CHRONICLES 20:15 – …Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

When faced with a problem or challenge, we tend to ask ourselves, “What am I going to do?” And well-meaning family members and friends will come along and ask, “What are you going to do?”

Jehoshaphat faced a multitude of enemies. But instead of focusing on what he would do, he prayed, “O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

When we turn our eyes to God, we will hear Him say, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s…You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord…” (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17)

But standing still is the last thing we want to do when the enemy is coming against us. It is also the most difficult thing to do because we feel that we cannot just stand around and do nothing—we must try to save the situation. But God wants us to stand still and see Jesus our salvation fight for us.

So what do you do the next time you are faced with a battle and don’t know what to do? Jehoshaphat sent his singers to the front of the army to proclaim, “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 20:21) Some people will wonder, “Does that mean that I just sing and don’t do anything else when I have a problem?” No, that is not what I am saying.

Do what the situation requires, but don’t worry and don’t trust in what you do. Like Jehoshaphat, rest and trust in His mercy that endures forever. When you do that, God will turn your battlefield into the Valley of Berachah. Berachah means “blessings”. The children of Israel gave the battlefield this name because it took them three days to gather all the spoils of war! God turned their situation into a great blessing! (2 Chronicles 20:25–26)

Beloved, fill your heart with only what’s pure and true from the Lord. Keep His words in the midst of your heart and uppermost in your mind. They will be life and health to your soul and entire body!

Do you have a battle to fight? Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord!

TREASURES DEEP WITHIN :

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels… – 2 Corinthians 4:7 NKJV

You have many treasures buried deep inside of you. Gifts, talents, abilities that you don’t even know about yet. But as a believer in Jesus, the greatest treasure within you is the Spirit of God. You carry the treasure of God in an earthen vessel!

He’s also deposited treasures on the inside of you that are tied to your purpose. By His Spirit, you will discover that God has fully equipped you for everything you need in this life. We have to draw out those treasures inside of us by what we speak and what we believe. We stir up the gifts by praying in the Spirit.

Don’t let those treasures lie dormant. Seek God and follow His leading. Dig deep, stir it up and move forward in the destiny God has in store for you!

SERPENTS, BROOD OF VIPERS

Why is it that demonized ones, who are sons of hell, not sons of God, who call themselves bible believing Christians, who have a form of godliness and deny its power, who don’t operate in the gifts of the spirit, and improperly judge others while they preach “Judge not”, character assassinate those who operate in the gifts of the Spirit and say they are unloving, unkind and full of evil speaking and quote Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice,  32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. and 1 Peter 2:1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking.

Do they do these things as they are blind, ignorant, or stupid or just because they are brood of vipers that Jesus talked about? Matthew 23:33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?

They talk about love and preaching but obviously character assassinating strangers is not the demonstration of love and is not preaching like Philip the layman did:
Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.

They say they are believers but obviously deny the words of Jesus Christ who said about true believers in Mark 16: 15    And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

It’s sad that these so called Christians cannot say what true Christians and Apostle Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 2
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written: ” Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

It is a fact that demonized ones, so called bible believing Christians, are not men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit, faith, power and wisdom, doing great wonders and signs among the people (Acts 6:3-10). So of course demonized ones, who are sons of hell, reprobates concerning the faith and men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith (2 Timothy 3:8), don’t want to know or hear the truth about themselves, and label such talk as hatred, evil speaking, unkind words, etc. Of course they find the truth about themselves annoying and disturbing and character assassinate the messenger because they don’t want to admit that they have been duped, are deceived, are on the way to hell unless they repent and get deliverance and true salvation and that is why they protest so much just like their friends the gays and lesbians in the world who are also sons of hell, sons of disobedience!

JESUS IS TO BE SAVIOR BUT NOT LORD?

Many evangelical bible believing Christians   want the benefits of salvation that God has offered which means they want a Saviour but they do not want Jesus to be Lord which requires the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus described such people when He said, “And no one drinking old wine desires new; for he says, ‘The old is good (better)” (Lk. 5: 39).  In other words, they like their old forms of worship and a life without the Holy Spirit.  Paul calls this, “holding the form of religion but denying the power of it.  Avoid such people” (2 Tim. 3: 5).

Paul mentioned such people who refused the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in 1 Cor. 14: 23 – 24. The Greek word that he uses to describe them is “idiotai” (plural), “idiotes” (singular) which means they are spiritual “idiots” but usually translated as “ungifted” of “unskilled” or laymen, amateurs, unskilled  people.  They do not want the Holy Spirit nor do they want the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.  But they want to be involved in churches and prevent the real work of God which requires the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  They are people who want what God has without coming under His Lordship which requires the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the “Signs” of the Holy Spirit.  They are like the Pharisees of whom Jesus said, “for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (Jn. 12: 3). Samuel told Saul, “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness as iniquity and idolatry.  Because you have rejected the word of the LORD (Yahweh), he has also rejected you from being king” (1 Sam. 15: 23).  This applies today who do not want to do what Jesus requires of them.

They think that because they have prayed the “sinner’s prayer” that they can ignore what the Scriptures require and not lose their Salvation.  That’s the reason why Jesus ward us in Revelation 3: 5 that when somebody turns away from Him, they can have their names blotted out (removed) from the Book of Life.  Also: Heb. 6: 1 – 8; 2 Pet. 2: 20 – 22; Proverbs 26: 11.  Jesus aptly warns us, “Beware of false prophets  which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  You will know them by their fruits.  Do men gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles” (Matt. 7: 15: 16).

As Stephen who was full of faith, the Holy Spirit and wisdom, said about them in Acts 7: 51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.

WALTER KAMBULOW
http://walthope3.blogspot.ca
http://wp.me/P2M7AJ-Uc
https://plus.google.com/100327997934214585965/posts
http://plus.topsy.com/googleplus/100302133262254344211
http://goo.gl/79oVKT
Gods Will Is Healing http://goo.gl/bSrmchttp://www.scribd.com/doc/12404063/
MINISTERING GOD AND HIS GIFTS http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-GZ
God Hears And Answers Prayers http://goo.gl/l62Q0http://www.scribd.com/doc/12779089/
The Effective, Fervent Prayer http://goo.gl/NRZMahttp://www.scribd.com/doc/19706617
The All Sufficient Christ http://goo.gl/4QgB4
ENJOY THE VICTORY http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-Zg
http://ipost.christianpost.com/news/i-dont-agree-with-john-macarthur-i-speak-in-tongues-12283/

Gordon Williams http://gordwilliams.com/

KAREN WILLIAMS http://wp.me/P2M7AJ-64

Blessing or Curses

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.28:2 “And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God: Deuteronomy 28:1-2

The Word of God is clear our blessings or curses are dependent on how we diligently obey the voice of the Lord our God and observe carefully all His commandments. Things which are impossible to do with out the help of the Holy Spirit. The promises and benefits outlined in the word of God are enormous and wonderful:

“And the LORD will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. “The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. “And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. “So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them. Deuteronomy 28:11-14

Now some hedonistic humanistic religious ones pick and choose the verses in the bible that they want and like and ignore the total truth of all the word of God. Including the other side of the coin which is:

“But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: “Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country.  “Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Deuteronomy 28:15-17

Now some dispensationalists, who have dispensed with things in the word of God which God has not dispensed with or changed, ignore the truth of God’s word which states:

“If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, “then the LORD will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues-great and prolonged plagues-and serious and prolonged sicknesses. “Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you.

“Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the LORD bring upon you until you are destroyed. “You shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven in multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God. “And it shall be, that just as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess. Deuteronomy 28:58-63

They ignore the words of Jesus who clearly stated:

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, “leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.  “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. “Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:17-28

Many at their own peril due to  foolish understanding ignore the  many truths that Jesus taught His disciples and are valid even this day. God’s blessing or curses is dependent on how we listen to His voice, and treat His word and even others. For Love works no ill to its neighbor. Love does not steal, cheat, destroy  covet nor lie to its neighbor. Love cares for the poor, needy  and strangers in their midst.

The fact of the matter is that those who do not love do not know God and they do not listen to His voice. Because if they did they would love especially those of the household of faith.  As a matter of fact God demands the impossible from His people:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'”But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? “And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

He, the God of miracles and the impossible, is able by His Spirit and power to change His creatures to be in the image and character of His son who is love. Who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil. For there is few things more important thing in life for God, than to have His children be conformed to His son and to live and walk in His Holy Spirit and not their own.

Mind you this is a continual process and no one has ever arrived to say that he or she has arrived to be, do and have all that God wills for them to be, do and have. Yet our blessings or curses are dependent on how closely we walk with His son and in His Holy Spirit so that God can do for us  all the good things that He has promised. So that we can do good things for others and bear much fruit.

But the other side of the coin is that God is shaking everything that could be shaken for He is the great shaker, mover and the one who changes all things. His word is true:

‘I will shake heaven and earth. I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms;  I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms.  I will overthrow the chariots  And those who ride in them;  The horses and their riders shall come down,  Every one by the sword of his brother. Haggai 2:21-22

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:25-29

We are not in any way to refuse Him who speaks. For if others have not escaped neither will we. For God is speaking to His people by various methods and ways and telling them to put the interests of Him and His Kingdom first. He is saying what He had said through prophets before:

“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?”  Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways!  “You have sown much, and bring in little;  You eat, but do not have enough;  You drink, but you are not filled with drink;  You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;  And he who earns wages,  Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”

Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways! “Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the LORD. “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the LORD of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. “Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit.  “For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.” Haggai 1:7-11

“But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. “Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:31-34

For too long God’s people have put their own interest first while  God’s house is in ruins. Not the house made by men but the house made by the Spirit of the living God. The House of God which is  God’s people who are His temple as His word states:

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” 2 Corinthians 6:16

Many have been concerned with bricks and mortar, with religious programs and dance and songs, and with everything else but God’s ordinary people. His chosen and beloved sheep who are starving, spiritually undernourished, hurting, lost and troubled. These are the great concern of God’s heart.  For God has put His people on the earth to return justice to the land, to set the captives free, to bring healing to the lonely and oppressed. To do the right works of justice, righteousness, truth and caring for the widows, homeless, helpless, demon-possessed and oppressed. Those who have had justice and security removed from them by the devil of lies. Such people are not found in fancy churches or cathedrals with stained glass windows but in the highways and hedges of life.

When God’s people put His house and kingdom first on their hearts then God’s blessings will  flow in abundance. Until then they are in rebellion and disobedience and curses and poverty  will be their lot in life. The choices and resulting consequences are to be made by each of God’s children. None can escape making a choice. For that is real life and not imaginary life which brings blessings or curses. For the words of Jesus are true even this day:

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it- “lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, “saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

“Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? “Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? “It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Luke 14:26-35