FAITH

  LESSONS FROM THE PRODIGAL SON (3)

‘When he finally came to his senses…’ Luke 15:17 NLT

The Prodigal Son’s journey to ruin didn’t happen overnight. It was a slow, steady build-up, like cholesterol in your arteries. He took his father’s blessings for granted and stopped being grateful. No wonder David wrote, ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities… heals all your diseases… redeems your life from destruction… crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies… who satisfies your mouth with good things…’ (Psalm 103:1-5 NKJV) The Prodigal Son was from one of the best families in town, yet he ended up penniless, friendless, eating with pigs, trying to satisfy a legitimate hunger in an illegitimate way. Why do we get involved in extramarital affairs, go on drinking and drug binges, or work ourselves to death and sacrifice our families in the process? Because inside each of us is an emptiness that nothing and no one but God can fill. Jesus said, ‘When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself…”I will go home to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned'”…’ (Luke 15:17-18 NLT) If you let Him, God will stop you in the nick of time. He will remind you of who you are and you belong. You will start seeing the mud you’re wallowing in, the false friends, the empty achievements, the people around you who are no happier than you. If that’s where you are right now, come home. Your Father is waiting to wipe your slate clean. He still loves you. Tell the devil, ‘I’ve changed my mind. I’m going home.’

DROP YOUR BAGGAGE :

…let us strip off every weight that slows us down… – Hebrews 12:1, NLT

What’s happened in your past is not nearly as important as what is in your future. Where you’re going is much more significant than where you’ve been. But if you stay focused on the past, you’ll get stuck where you are. This is the reason a lot of people don’t have joy or enthusiasm for life. They’re dragging around all of this negative baggage from the past. Somebody offended them last week, and they’ve got that stuffed in their resentment bag. Last month, they lost their temper and said some things they shouldn’t have. They’ve got that in their guilt and condemnation bag. Ten years ago, they lost a loved one. They still don’t understand it. They’ve got that hurt and pain in their disappointment bag. They carry around their bag of regrets, all the things they wished they would have done differently.

Life is too short to live that way. Learn to travel light. Every morning when you first get up, forgive the people that did you wrong the day before. Forgive your spouse for what they said. At the start of the day, let go of the disappointments, the setbacks from yesterday. Start every morning fresh and new. God did not create you to carry around all that baggage. Let it go and move forward in the life of blessing He has in store for you!

ONLY JESUS IS ALTOGETHER LOVELY :

LEVITICUS 2:1 – ‘When anyone offers a grain offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour…

I love the symbolism of Jesus as fine flour. Fine, even flour comes from wheat that has been pounded and beaten again and again, and sifted several times. Doesn’t that remind you of Jesus’ sufferings and sacrifice for you?

And like fine flour, there is nothing coarse about the person of Jesus. Everything about Him is in even proportions. Every word that He spoke when He was in this world, every thought of His, every action of His, was so fine! When He was kind, He was not soft. When He was assertive, He was not overbearing. He is steel and velvet, meekness and majesty. Like a perfect diamond, every which way you turn Him, you see flawlessness, beauty and brilliance. There is no one altogether lovely like Jesus!

What about Bible greats like Moses and Abraham, or Peter, John and Paul?

Moses, whom the Bible says was more humble than any man on the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3), was once so furious with his people that he struck a rock twice, something he was not supposed to do. (Numbers 20:1–12) His temper got the better of him on that occasion.

Abraham, whom Christians regard as a man of faith (Hebrews 11:8–10), lied about his wife being his sister when a king coveted her. He endangered her life just to save his own skin. (Genesis 20:1–18)

Peter, who was deeply zealous for Jesus, denied Him three times. (Matthew 26:33–34) John, the beloved disciple who leaned on Jesus’ bosom, was all ready to call down fire from heaven to destroy the inhabitants of Samaria who had rejected Jesus. (Luke 9:52–54)

What about Paul, the apostle of grace, who blazed the missionary trail which future missionaries would follow? Even Paul went to Jerusalem when he was told not to by the Holy Spirit through some disciples and the prophet Agabus. (Acts 21:4, 10–11)

Beloved, the best of us can miss the mark. The only one who is faultless, flawless and altogether lovely is Jesus. And because He never misses the mark, you can look to Him. He will never disappoint you!

WHEN YOU SEE GOD’S GRACE, HE SEES YOUR FAITH :

Ephesians 2:8 – For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Many a time, people ask me, “Pastor, I know that God’s promises are true, but how can I be sure that His promises will come true in my life?”

My friend, if you want God’s promises to be sure in your life, you cannot depend on yourself. If you depend on yourself — your obedience, goodness, service and even faith — you will not be able to receive God’s promises. But when you depend on God’s grace — His unmerited, unearned, undeserved favor toward you — that is when His promises become sure in your life.

This was true of the woman with the issue of blood. (Matthew 9:20–22) She didn’t go around saying, “I must have faith… I hope that I have enough faith… I will have faith… I will not lose faith.” No, she was only conscious of the grace of Jesus — how He always healed the sick, how powerful He was in raising the dead and how willing He was to use that power for her healing.

She just saw His grace abounding toward her, so much so that she said, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” And when she came behind Jesus and touched the very hem of His garment, she was healed. At that same moment, Jesus stopped, turned around and said to her, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.”

When the woman saw His grace, God saw her faith! And so it was by grace, through faith, that God’s promise became sure in her life.

God wants you to see His grace. And when you see His grace, He sees your faith. God says, “For by grace are you saved through faith.” The Greek word for “saved”, sozo, doesn’t just mean to save from hell, but also to heal, preserve and make whole. So it is by grace that you are made whole, kept healthy, preserved and blessed. It is by grace through faith that God’s promises become sure in your life.

My friend, don’t worry if you feel that you lack faith. Begin to see God’s grace in your situation and He will see that as faith. And because He sees your faith, you will receive the breakthrough you need!

GOD DESIRES FAITH :

Luke 2:7, “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

What an amazing account! God Almighty was born of a virgin and placed in a feeding trough in a stable. Who would ever expect the Creator of the universe to make His entrance into the world in such a humble fashion?

Men always seek to proclaim their glory as far and wide as possible. Yet here is the only one who really has any glory to proclaim, and He comes humbly. It wasn’t because He didn’t have the power to do things otherwise.

He could have chosen to be born in a fashion that would have brought all creation to their knees in worship. He could have announced His birth to the most powerful and famous men of the day instead of lowly shepherds. He could have had the most luxurious accommodations instead of a stable. But that is not the way of our God. It would not have taken any faith on the part of men if Jesus came in such a manner that His deity was obvious.

Likewise with us, the Lord could manifest Himself to us in such a way that we couldn’t miss Him, but that wouldn’t please Him. God desires faith and, “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6).

Today, let’s please our Heavenly Father and acknowledge His presence in faith just because of His promise (Mt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5).

GOD CAN DO IT AGAIN

PSALMS 45: 40    The people asked, and He brought quail, And satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41    He opened the rock, and water gushed out; It ran in the dry places like a river.
42    For He remembered His holy promise, And Abraham His servant.
43    He brought out His people with joy, His chosen ones with gladness.
44    He gave them the lands of the Gentiles, And they inherited the labor of the nations,
45    That they might observe His statutes And keep His laws. Praise the LORD!

GOD WHO BLESSED HIS PEOPLE WITH THE LANDS, HOUSES, AND VINEYARDS OF THE GENTILES FOR WHICH THEY DIDN’T LABOR AS WELL AS SILVER AND GOD OF THE EGYPTIANS, CAN DO IT AGAIN FOR HIS PEOPLE. BUT HE HAS COMMANDED THEM TO  SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS:

MATTHEW 6: 25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
26    Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
27    Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28    “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
29    and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30    Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31    “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32    For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33    But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

BELIEVING IS RECEIVING :

Mark 5:28–29 :28For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” 29Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

You have heard people of the world say, “I will believe it only when I see it.” Generally, that is the way the world thinks. But God’s ways are not like the ways of the world. The world says, “If I can’t feel it or see it, I cannot believe the miracle is here.” God says, “If you believe it before you feel it or see it, you will see your miracle.”

Believing first before seeing the evidence of what we are believing for is called faith. Faith is like a spark and Jesus is the dynamite powder.

In the story of the healing of the woman with the issue of blood, there were many people who touched Jesus (Mark 5:31), but nothing happened to them. They didn’t touch Him in faith. But when the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years came to Him and touched Him in faith, He felt power leave His body (Mark 5:30), and it sparked off an explosion of healing in the woman’s body!

Hearing about how good, kind and loving Jesus was fired her faith to believe that He could and would heal her. So convinced was she (even when the condition in her body was still evident) that she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Did she experience her healing first before she believed? No, she believed first in Jesus’ goodness and power, acted in faith and only then felt the healing in her body.

In the same way, God wants you to believe in His goodness and love toward you. He wants you to know how willing He is to act on your behalf to bless you, and how, with Christ, He will freely give you every good thing. (Romans 8:32)

He wants you to declare by faith that all is and shall be well with you, and to expect to see just that. And then, no matter how long you have had the problem, no matter how bad the experts say it is, an explosion of healing and restoration will take place, and you will receive what you are believing for!
 

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GOD’S PLAN

The Gift of Faith

The third gift of the Holy Spirit as listed in 1 Corinthians 12 is the gift of faith. (v.9.) Like all the other gifts of the Holy Spirit, there is a parallel flow of faith. The natural flow of faith is faith that is available to every believer. This natural flow of faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).

There is a second flow of faith called the gift of faith. This special faith is limited to the will and distribution of the Holy Spirit: “To another faith by the same Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:9). Faith can be measured. The Bible refers to little faith and great faith. In fact, at one time the disciples of Jesus asked to have their faith increased. (Luke 17:5.) So obviously, faith is something that grows. How does it grow? Remember, it grows through hearing the Word of God. (Rom. 10:17.)

Before we go any further, let’s look at the two flows of faith.

1) Natural Faith

In the natural life of all believers, faith is extremely important. Everything a Christian receives must be received by faith. Ephesians 2:8 tells us that we are saved through faith. Hebrews 11:6 says that we need faith to please God. James 5:15 says the prayer of faith will heal the sick. James 1:6-7 says if we don’t pray in faith, we won’t receive anything. Romans 14:23 says that anything that is not of faith is sin. Then Hebrews 4:2 makes an astonishing statement: it says that without faith the gospel is unprofitable. And finally, 1 John 5:4 tells us that faith is our victory that overcomes the world.

Is faith important? Of course it is! According to the Bible, without faith we are lost, sick, in lack, in sin, unpleasing to God, defeated, and have a gospel that doesn’t work. Do we have to live this way? No, we do not because faith is available to every believer. If you want faith, all a believer has to do is hear the Word, and allow the Word to saturate his heart. Then faith grows.

2) The Gift of Faith

The gifts of the Spirit are not received by asking and begging. They are imparted to each believer as the Holy Spirit desires and wills to do so. For every gift and gifting there is a purpose. The Holy Spirit imparts them where they will not be quenched and will fulfill the purpose for which they were given.

Let me illustrate the gift of faith. Several years ago, Loretta and I went to Quincy, Illinois, for a Saturday evening meeting in the student union of a university. The next morning I was to speak at one of the local churches and then we would go to the airport and fly home. Meetings like this were always a joy for me. Not only did I enjoy the meetings, but I enjoyed flying. In fact, I especially enjoyed flying to Quincy, Illinois. The airport was large with long and wide runways and very little traffic. Several times I flew to Quincy just to get a piece of lemon meringue pie ala mode at the little café in the terminal.

However, this ministry trip was different. It seemed like anything that could delay me, was delaying me. It took longer to get the airplane ready, there was the threat of storms, and by the time I got to the meeting, I was not in a good mood. Quite honestly, that’s not my nature. I’ve always had a reputation for being a happy guy. In fact, sometimes I’m so happy it irritates people.

Anyway, as I was sitting on the platform waiting for the meeting to begin, a gentleman in his fifties slowly came through the back door. His arm and back were twisted, one leg was turned so much that it looked backwards, and his head was tilted to one side. It almost embarrasses me to admit this, but as he walked in the back of the auditorium, my attitude was so poor that under my breath I said, “God, don’t let this man come forward for healing!”

A friend of mine, who is a senator, had received a flyer saying that I was going to be in Quincy. Although he couldn’t attend the meeting, he encouraged a friend of his who was a businessman from the Middle East to come, and he did. As the music and meeting progressed, there was an anointing from God that came into the auditorium that changed the atmosphere and my attitude. The Middle Eastern businessman got very excited about the word for healing that I was sharing. Although he had never seen the crippled man before, as soon as the invitation was given, he grabbed him, brought him forward, and stood in the line next to him.

People were lined up all across the front of the auditorium. As I looked at the crippled man to my left, the Spirit of God imparted to me the gift of faith. This was not faith that had been built by me reading the Word, although I had been reading the Word. I knew this man would be healed.

Confidently, I walked to him. I calmly pointed my finger in his face and said, “If you will believe you can be healed, you will be healed.” He looked at me and said, “I believe.” I stretched out my hand to place it on his head, but his head was twisted so far to the side that I actually put my hand on his neck and I quietly said, “In the name of Jesus, be healed.”

Over the years I’ve prayed for thousands to be healed. But the confidence I experienced at this healing was different. His twisted hand and arm began to straighten out. His leg turned around until it was completely normal. His back and neck became straight and within thirty seconds, the crippled man stood before me straight and tall, with both hands, both feet and his entire body completely normal.

Every eye was on this man. A quietness fell upon the entire auditorium. A miracle healing had taken place that could be measured. The man was complete. His body was shalom -well and whole and in good health.

The man looked at me and said, “Thank you!” I said, “Don’t thank me. Thank the Lord.” So the man looked up and said, “Thank you, Lord,” and started walking across the auditorium in front of the long line of people who were waiting for ministry.

The side wall at the university was glass from ceiling to floor. Every eye was still on the man as he opened the glass doors, walked through them and down the long hallway and out of the building, 100 percent healed by the power of God. The gift of faith had been distributed to me. I was totally confident that his healing would be complete. What looked impossible an hour earlier became reality within me even before I saw the healing take place.

The gift of faith imparted on the inside changed the circumstances on the outside

Excerpt from Larry Ollison’s book, “Life is in the Blood.”

Agreeing with the Word of God

As a minister of the gospel, my responsibility is to repeat what God says in His word. I must do what He says to do and I must say what He says to say.

His Word is His will. Look at the confidence God allows us to have in what we say when we speak His Word. First John 5:14 says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

We must be Word-minded people. Word-minded people are steady because the Word of God is steady. Sense-minded people are ruled by how they feel as perceived by the five senses – what they taste, touch, hear, smell, and see. Sense-minded people are up and down. I call them “roller coaster” or “yo-yo” Christians because they are driven by their senses.

If the Word of God is what you believe, you’ll be steady because the Word of God doesn’t vary. God doesn’t say that one day He’ll bless you and the next day He’ll curse you. The Word of God says it is His will to heal you. Therefore, if you’re attacked with sickness in your body, you’re going to be steady because you know it’s God’s will that you be healed, set free, and live a wonderful life. You’re going to be steady in your mind regardless of how you feel in your body if you are Word-minded.

People who are driven by their senses say what they see. When they feel good, they say they feel good. When they feel bad they say they feel bad. They have thought the same thoughts so long that the thoughts are down into their hearts. And out of the abundance of their hearts, they have spoken it over and over. Their heart becomes so negative and full of doubt that it seems like nothing will ever change.

Jesus said in Mark 11:23 that we get what we say. That means that if we keep saying what we see, then we will keep seeing the same thing. Since it seems like nothing will ever change, then these sense-minded people believe nothing will ever change. Because they see nothing changing in their life, they believe nothing will ever change, and they continue to speak that nothing will ever change and the result is, nothing changes.

Once I was counseling with a person who was full of doubt and unbelief. He thought he was worthless and his life was a mess and he spoke that he was worthless and his life was beyond repair. After much teaching and explaining to him about how he would get what he spoke, his comment was this, “That may work for some people, but it won’t work for me. I’ve tried to understand God’s Word, but I haven’t been able to and I don’t think I ever will.” In the years since this counseling session, I must confess, he was right. He received what he believed.

Choose to speak the Word of God out of the abundance of your heart and not what your five senses tell you and you will begin to see victory in your life.

“A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.” (Proverbs 18:7)

Excerpt from Larry Ollison’s book, “Life is in the Blood.”

God’s Plan is to Receive the Holy Spirit

Several years after the experience of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Church was still growing greatly. Saul was legally taking Christians captive and the apostles were stationed in Jerusalem. It was during this time that Philip went to Samaria as an evangelist or missionary and preached Christ to the Samaritans. He had great success!

In Acts 8:6-8 the Bible says, “The multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city.”

Then in verse 12, it says, “But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.”

If this would have happened today, most evangelists would have thought they had one of the greatest revivals ever. Look what had happened. First of all, they heeded the things spoken by Philip. In other words, they believed what he said and acted on it. Then miracles took place. Unclean spirits, or demons, were cast out and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. This was a supernatural time. These things were happening daily and, according to verse 8, there was great joy in that city.

So, here’s the point. The people heard the gospel about Jesus and the kingdom of God; they believed what they heard; they acted on what they believed; miracles and healings took place; there was great joy; and in verse 12, all the men and women who believed were baptized. By New Testament standards, these people were Christians. They met all the requirements to be born again.

But then, in verse 14, we find where the news of this great evangelistic crusade got to Jerusalem. Keep in mind that at that time, there was no Internet, no fax machines, and no cell phones. News traveled slowly. So, after much time had passed and the news finally did get to the apostles in Jerusalem, the apostles decided to send Peter and John to Samaria. But why? Why would Peter and John need to go if the people of Samaria had already accepted Jesus and His teachings and were baptized?

We find the answer in verses 14-17: “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

When we open the Word of God and read experiences like this one that happened in Samaria, we must read God’s Word in truth. Too often when we read passages like this, we try to mold and twist them to fit the man-made doctrines of our own denominations. This should not be. We should approach the Word of God openly, without preconceived ideas of what we want to hear. We must accept everything that God’s Word says. Only then will we know the heart of God.

Ask yourself this question. If you find something in God’s Word that goes against your tradition, will you change your belief? Will you deny the truth of God’s Word in order to keep the man-made doctrines and traditions that you have become accustomed to?

Jesus said, “If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The truth is there is a second experience after salvation that’s referred to in Acts 8:15 as receiving the Holy Spirit. We know this is true because God’s Word says it. And God’s Word always takes dominion over the words of man.

Excerpt from Larry Ollison’s book, “Life is in the Blood.”

 

 

REFUSE

REFUSE TO BE DEFEATED

“Satan’s strategy is to keep you out of your promised land, to prevent you from inheriting all the blessings God has promised you…

He will cause you to doubt God and His Word.
He will temp you to murmur against God.
He will cause you to turn away from God.
He will cause you to refuse to hear God’s voice.
He will cause you to reject God’s voice and reject God’s Word.
He will steal the fear of God out of your heart.
He will cause you to fear man more than you fear God.
He will cause you to reject God’s will and follow your self-will.
He will deceive you into compromising what God has spoken to you.
He will try to steal your vision.

God will bring us to a new level of spiritual destiny. He has positioned us to victory. He has placed His Spirit within us, giving us the will, desire and power to obey. God has set a new powerful spiritual dimension before us and is saying, “Go up and possess it!”

Your Spiritual destiny is in your hands. You have a choice….
…to obey God and, by faith, take full possession of your spiritual inheritance and enter this new spiritual dimension, or..
…to rebel and disobey God and, though your unbelief, forfeit your inheritance and live in defeat.

Go forward and take offensive action and defeat satan’s strategy to lead you into rebellion and disobedience against God.

Know the voice of God.
Hear the voice of God.
Obey the voice of God.
Walk in the manifestation of God’s glory.
Believe God’s promises.

Behind us is a life of struggle, failure and defeat. Before us lies new spiritual territory.

A place of peace and security.
A place of blessings and provision.
A place of power and victory.
A place of joy and contentment.

Go forward in the power of the Almighty God and take possession of your spiritual inheritance! Refuse to be defeated! He has promised, He will be with you always!”

ABOUT THOSE PHARISEES :

John 9:34 “They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.”

Much of the Pharisees’ problem was spiritual pride, as is very evident by this statement. They were so blinded by their arrogance that they couldn’t believe anyone who hadn’t been through their “seminary” could teach them anything.

The name “Pharisees” comes from a Hebrew word meaning “separate.” This term was applied to this sect because of its extreme devotion to the Mosaic law and commitment to leading a separated life. This was a reaction of the devout Jews who came back to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity, and saw the pagan customs and influences of the Babylonians everywhere. Not only their religion but their identity as a nation was being threatened. The Pharisees were patriots as well as religious zealots, who in the beginning served a very needed function in the Jewish nation which was struggling for survival. However, over the centuries the Pharisees had departed from the Mosaic law and had written their own interpretations of the law – interpretations which they held to be God-inspired and equal to that of Moses. In Jesus’ day this group was characterized by hypocrisy and self-righteousness. They, as a whole, persecuted Jesus and His followers and received the Lord’s most stinging rebukes.

The Pharisees, like many people today, were ignorant of achieving right standing (righteousness) with God through the simple act of receiving His forgiveness by faith and were trying to earn salvation by their own acts. No one can fulfill God’s commands (Rom. 3:23) except Jesus (Heb. 4:15). Therefore, to be righteous, we must put our faith in what He has done for us.

TAKE A STAND AGAINST STRIFE :

The beginning of strife is as when water first trickles [from a crack in a dam]; therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarreling breaks out. – Proverbs 17:14

Throughout the Scriptures, God warns us about the danger of strife. Yet, it’s still one of the most common problems among believers. We let it get into our homes, our work places, our churches…everywhere!

Of course, we don’t purposely let it in. We don’t wake up in the morning and say, “I think I’m going to stir up some major strife today.” We just inadvertently let it slip up on us one minor irritation at a time.

So, I urge you today to take a big stand against those little opportunities for strife. If you have a tendency to let things irritate you, decide to overcome that tendency. Arm yourself against them with the knowledge that this world isn’t perfect, that there are people in it that aren’t going to be nice to you. There are people who are going to stir you up and annoy you on purpose or by accident.

Make up your mind that, by the power of God, you’re not going to let them get your peace. That peace is so important to your well-being. It will keep your body healthy. It will keep your relationships healthy. It will put you in a place where God can guide your steps and save you from some very grave mistakes.

If you’ve spent a lifetime getting your feathers ruffled over every little thing, it may take a while for you to break that habit. You may have to work at it a moment at a time. But you can do it.

I know. I had to do that where worrying is concerned. I’d worried for so many years and had come from such a family of worriers that I did it almost without thinking. When I learned worrying went contrary to the Word of God, I had to give it up one minute at a time. With the help of the Holy Spirit, every time a worried thought would come to me, I would overcome it with the Word of God. And I did that until I broke that worrying habit for good.

You can do the same thing with strife. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you start to notice and overcome it one moment at a time. Then, every time you start to get upset about something, rebuke that strife in the Name of Jesus and resist it. Say right out loud, “I am walking in the peace of God today.”

You’ll be surprised how much more wonderful living can be.

JESUS HEALS WILLINGLY ALL SICKNESS

MATTHEW 8:5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,
6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.
9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
14 Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever.
15 So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.
16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ” He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”

Scriptures tells us that Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today and forever heals all sickness and casts out all demonic spirits. Jesus said to Centurion and says to all believers “I will come and heal him.” Remember nothing is too difficult or impossible with God who raised His friend Lazarus from the dead. So believe God for your healing and/or deliverance in Jesus name!

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. —Psalm 46:1
An acquaintance of mine was hunting with friends near Balmoral, the country estate of the queen of England. As they walked, he twisted his ankle so badly that he couldn’t go on, so he told his friends to continue and he would wait by the side of the road.

As he sat there, a car came down the road, slowed, and stopped. The woman driving rolled the window down and asked if he was okay. He explained and said he was waiting for his friends to return. She said, “Get in; I’ll take you back to where you are staying.” He limped to the car and opened the door only to realize that it was Queen Elizabeth!

As shocking as receiving help from the queen of England may be, we have an offer of help that is even more astounding. The Creator-God of the universe descends into our world, sees our trouble, and offers to marshal His resources to help us. As the psalmist confidently affirms, “God is . . . a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). Our Savior helps by giving us grace to endure, His Word to sustain us, friends to encourage and pray for us, and the confidence that He will ultimately work it all together for our spiritual good.

Next time you feel stranded along life’s road, look for your Helper.

Lord, I’m thankful that when I experience trouble You are waiting and wanting to help. Teach me to look to You and to rest in Your kind and loving care until You deliver me safely home.

Rejoice! Your God is a helping King!

LESSONS FROM THE PRODIGAL SON (2) :

‘…[He] wasted his substance…’ Luke 15:13 KJV

The Prodigal Son told his father, ‘I want it all, now!’ To know whether something is good for you or not, you need to understand where the desire for it came from. Loving parents don’t give their children things because they cry for them; they reward them for acting responsibly. They know what’s age-appropriate. And God is a loving parent. We all know good, well-intentioned people whose talents elevated them. Yet they crashed and burned because of some immature, undisciplined area in their life. Please listen to your heavenly Father and don’t leave home until He says you’re ready! The Prodigal ‘wasted his substance with riotous living.’ Note the word ‘substance’. Satan is after more than your material possessions: he’s after your character, your self-esteem, your staying power, and your life’s purpose. Like the Prodigal Son, you can reach a place where you lose your very desire for life itself. It’s possible to bask in the accolades of others and think you’re going places in life, yet be only a few steps from the pig sty. The Bible says, ‘…He…joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.’ (Luke 15:15 KJV) Note the word ‘joined’. To gauge where you are spiritually, look at who you’re ‘joined’ to. The company you keep is like a compass that points you in the direction you’re headed. And that compass doesn’t lie. But there’s hope. When the Prodigal Son returned home, his father was waiting for him with open arms. And your heavenly Father is waiting for you too, so come while you still can.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY :

“May God be merciful and bless us. May His face smile with favor on us.” (Psalm 67:1)

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You. I honor You. I see Your face in every sunrise. Your smile breaks through the cloud with brilliant sunshine this morning. The Light of God brightens up the world and makes everything on revival. Let the morning brings me the unfailing love of God for I put my truth in Him; show me the way I should go for I lean on Him.

Gratefully, in Jesus’ holy name. Amen !!!

 

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DON’T

DON’T TELL IT LIKE IT IS :

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. – Proverbs 18:21

Words are serious business. And, as believers, we need to get serious about learning how to use them. We need to begin to put them to work for us like God Himself does. The Bible tells us that He uses words to “call those things which be not as though they were” (Rom. 4:17).

Most of us don’t have the faintest idea how to do that. We’ve spent our lives “telling it like it is.” We’ve constantly used our mouths to report on the sorry state of affairs around us. Thus, the very thought of calling “things which be not as though they were” seems a little crazy.

“You mean I’m supposed to say, ‘I’m healed’ when I’m feeling sick? I’m supposed to say, ‘I’m prosperous’ when I’m penniless?” we say. “That sounds like lying to me.”

No, no. There’s a vast difference between lying and speaking by faith. A lie is meant to deceive someone. It’s designed to make someone believe something that’s not true. But to speak by faith is simply to speak words that agree with the Word of God instead of the circumstances around you. It’s speaking from your spirit instead of from your mind.

As the Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:13, “We have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, I have believed, and therefore have I spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak” (The Amplified Bible).

Now that’s important. Read that verse again. “I have believed, and therefore have I spoken.”

There are some folks who speak the words, but they don’t have the faith to back it up, and as a result, they fall flat on their spiritual faces. They didn’t actually “call things that be not as though they were.” They called things that be not the way they wished they were.

Those are two very different things. The words may be the same. But just wishing and hoping won’t get the job done. You’ve got to “believe.”

Begin today bringing both your tongue and your heart in line with the Word. Stop “telling it like it is” and start speaking and believing the promises of God. Put the power of words to work for you.

Choose to speak the Word of God out of the abundance of your heart and not what your five senses tell you and you will begin to see victory in your life.

“A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.” (Proverbs 18:7)

WISDOM FROM ABOVE

The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable. —James 3:17

If Kiera Wilmot had performed her experiment during her high school science class, it might have earned her an A. But instead she was charged with causing an explosion. Although she had planned to have her teacher approve the experiment, her classmates persuaded her to perform it outside the classroom. When she mixed chemicals inside a plastic bottle, it exploded and she unintentionally unsettled some fellow students.

The Old Testament tells the story of another case of peer pressure. David and his men were hiding from Saul in a cave when Saul entered (1 Sam. 24). David’s companions suggested that God had delivered Saul to them, and they urged David to kill him (vv.4,10). If David killed Saul, they thought they could stop hiding and David could become king. But David refused to harm Saul because he was “the LORD’s anointed” (v.6).

People in our lives may sometimes suggest we do what seems most gratifying or practical in the moment. But there is a difference between worldly and spiritual wisdom (1 Cor. 2:6-7). Wisdom from above “is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy” (James 3:17). When others are urging us to take a certain course of action, we can invite God to influence our response.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.

One is truly wise who gains his wisdom from above.

VEINS OF GOLD

If we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. —Romans 6:5

While visiting the charming Cotswold area of England, I purchased some bone china mugs as souvenirs. I used them carefully, but eventually one fell into the sink and shattered. I thought about that mug recently when I learned about the Japanese art of Kintsugi.

Usually when something breaks we are happy to repair it enough to make it functional again. But several hundred years ago, a Japanese artist decided he would make broken china beautiful. So he started using golden resin to hold the fragments together. Pieces repaired by using his method have intricate veins of gold.

Early in the human story, sin entered the world (Gen. 3). Theologians refer to the event as “the fall.” The inevitable result is brokenness. Life is painful because we keep getting hurt and hurting others with our sharp, jagged edges. But God doesn’t want us to stay broken, and His repair work turns our brokenness into beauty.
Like a Kintsugi artist, God repairs us. But He uses something more precious than gold—the blood of His Son. Instead of having veins of gold, we are united by the very veins of Christ. “We have been united together in the likeness of His death” (Rom. 6:5). Nothing is more beautiful than that.

He shed His blood, poured out His life;
He gave His all at Calvary;
Oh what can we give in return
For love so rich, so full, so free?

The price of our freedom from sin was paid by Jesus’ blood.

JESUS GOES BEFORE YOU :

JOHN 10:4 – And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him…

Have you ever seen a farmer trying to drive a bunch of geese from one location to another? He goes behind the geese, doesn’t he? Compare this to a shepherd who leads his sheep. He goes before them and the sheep simply follow him.

Jesus is our shepherd and we are His sheep. He does not drive us, but He leads us. Legalistic people drive others. Jesus leads. He goes in front of us. He is not like the sergeant who says, “Men, cross this river. I’ll cover you from behind,” because he suspects that the river is infested with crocodiles. Jesus is not that kind of leader. He goes in front of us.

In the Old Testament, Jesus led the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt. Do you know how Jesus appeared back then? He appeared in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Where was that pillar? It was in front of them. In fact, the pillar of cloud shaded them from the hot desert sun so that they were kept cool during the day. At night, when the desert got very cold, Jesus, the pillar of fire, gave them light as well as warmth. Whether He was the pillar of cloud or fire, He went in front of them.

As long as they followed Him, the Israelites did not have to worry about anything. Jesus took care of all their needs. He gave them water when they were thirsty, and bread and meat when they were hungry. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. They were kept in good health throughout the 40 years of their wandering in the wilderness.

My friend, Jesus your shepherd wants you to just follow Him. As long as you allow Him to lead you, all your needs will be taken care of. He is your provision, healer, counselor, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification…He is everything you need Him to be!

DEMONIC

ANY REVIVAL OR RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT THAT DOESN’T DEAL WITH DEMONS IN IT OR IN THE PEOPLE IS NOT OF GOD BUT IS DEMONIC SENSUAL FLESHLY AND DANGEROUS

Matthew 4:24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.

JAMES 3:15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

DONE AS YOU HAVE BELIEVED :

MATTHEW 8:13 – Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

What are you expecting God to do for you today? Do you believe that God will respond according to your expectation? When Jairus, distraught at the sickness that was claiming his daughter’s life, fell at Jesus’ feet, he entreated Jesus to personally come to his house to lay His hands on his daughter so that she would be healed. (Mark 5:23)

But do you know that Jesus can heal at a distance? He didn’t need to go to Jairus’ house to heal his daughter. Still, Jesus went and didn’t even chide Jairus for his little faith. He met Jairus’ expectation—his little daughter was raised from the dead that day. (Mark 5:41–42)

Why do I say that Jairus had little faith? Because there was a Roman centurion who came to Jesus about his servant suffering at home. He recognized the power Jesus had and asked only that Jesus “speak a word, and my servant will be healed”. (Matthew 8:8) Jesus told him, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” True to the centurion’s expectation, his servant was healed that same hour.

My friend, there is no particular level your faith must reach before God gives you what you are asking for. Your faith does not initiate God’s giving. He has already given to you all things that pertain to life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3) His blessings are pressing on you already! Regardless of the level of faith you are at, He will respond. Jairus needed Jesus to go to his house to lay His hands on his daughter, and Jesus did. The centurion only needed Jesus to speak a word for his servant to be healed, and Jesus did. He met both their expectations.

My friend, don’t fix your eyes on how much or how little faith you have. Fix your eyes on the One who loves you, who has already given you what you need. When you come to Him, simply believe that He is waiting to meet your expectation. He will say to you, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.”

MOVE FORWARD :

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. – Isaiah 43:18–19, ESV

Oftentimes, people get stuck in life because they’ve been hurt or betrayed, and they end up settling where they are. They allow the disappointment to keep them from the divine appointment. Don’t let that be you! Don’t let what somebody did or didn’t do for you be an excuse to live sour. Don’t let a bad break, a divorce, a betrayal or a bad childhood cause you to settle where you are. Move forward and God will pay you back. Move forward and God will vindicate you. Move forward and you’ll come into a new beginning.

Nothing that has happened to you is a surprise to God. The loss of that loved one didn’t catch God off guard. The business that didn’t make it, the relationship that didn’t work out did not stop God’s plan for your life. Now, the real question is: are you going to get stuck, fall into self-pity, become bitter, let the past poison your future? Or, are you going to shake it off and move forward knowing that your best days are still up ahead?

DON’T GET IN A HURRY :

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt…talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. …and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. – Deuteronomy 6:6-8

One of the reasons Gloria and I have seen the results we have in our lives and in our ministry is because when we realized what the Word of God would do, we literally immersed ourselves in it. We turned off the radio and television, we put down the newspaper, and spent nearly every waking moment of the time available either reading the Word, listening to tapes on the Word, or thinking about the Word.

All that time in the Word eventually had a powerful effect on us. It began to revolutionize everything about us. It began to turn failure into success.

All that didn’t happen overnight, however. It took time. A great many believers don’t realize that. They start out devoting themselves to the Word, but they make the mistake of expecting instant, miraculous results, and when they don’t see them, they get disappointed and fall away.

Don’t do that. Be patient. Give the Word time to do its work.

Jesus once said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). The Word of God feeds the spirit man just as bread feeds the body. Food has to be built into your body. The vitamins and minerals it contains have a cumulative effect on it, don’t they? In fact, almost anything that affects your body instantaneously is considered dangerous.

Much the same thing is true with the Word of God. It has a cumulative effect. Yes, at times God will act instantly and perform a miracle, but only to get things back on track. What He really intends is for you to feed on His Word to grow in strength and in faith and to bear fruit in due season.

So don’t get in such an all-fired hurry. Stay in the Word. Be patient. The results will come!

 IT’S WHO YOU KNOW

John 9:30 “The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.”

JOHN 9:28-30

The “acid test” of whether or not someone is of God is by his actions. Jesus’ actions were so miraculous and overwhelmingly consistent with God’s Word that any reservations about whether or not He was of God should have been set aside. But, as in Mark 7:13, they had exalted their own traditions above God’s Word, thereby making the Word of God of no effect in their own lives. Just as in this instance nearly two thousand years ago, theologians today are sometimes the last to accept a move of God if it violates their traditional beliefs. “The common people heard him gladly” (Mk. 12:37). “Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth” (1 Cor. 8:1).

In spiritual matters, a person can educate himself in theology to the degree that it does more harm than good. It is possible to win a theological battle and yet lose the war for a person’s heart. Arguments over points of theology often distract from the more important issues. There is no premium on ignorance, but love is infinitely superior to knowledge. We should learn all we can, but we must make our knowledge a servant to love. “The greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13).

If anyone’s quest for knowledge leads them away from knowing God, then it would have been preferable for them to stay ignorant. What we know is not as important as who we know (speaking of the Lord). Our most important goal in life must be to love God and be known of Him.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY :

“My heart is confident in You, O God; no wonder I can sing Your praises with all my heart!” (Psalm 108:1)

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You. I honor You. The heavenly blessings come down to me with the morning shower. The heaven is open as my new song from my soul turns on the button of the floodgate so blessings pour down on me. So I will wake the dawn with my song and revive all nations with my heartfelt prayers. As soon as I pray, You answer me; You encourage me by giving me strength. Bless me O God; for I am Your chosen servant and favorite Child.

Gratefully, in Jesus’ holy name. Amen !!!

 

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I AM THE LORD

 I AM THE LORD IS MORE THAN JUST A PHRASE. IT IS A DIVINE REVELATION OF WHO GOD IS AND WHO HE WANTS TO BE TO HIS PEOPLE INCLUDING SAVIOR, HEALER, DELIVERER, REDEEMER AND KING

Genesis 15 7 Then He said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.”

Genesis 28 13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: “I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.

Exodus 6:
1    Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”
2    And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the LORD.
3    I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name LORD I was not known to them.
4    I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers.
5    And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant.
6    Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.
7    I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
8    And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the LORD.’ “”

29 that the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “I am the LORD. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.”

Exodus 7:
5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

17 Thus says the LORD: “By this you shall know that I am the LORD. Behold, I will strike the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood.

Exodus 8:22 And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land.

Exodus 10:2 and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son’s son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.”

Exodus 12 12 ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

Exodus 14
4 Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD.” And they did so.

18 Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

Exodus 15 26 and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”

Exodus 16 12 “I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’ ”

Exodus 20 2 ” I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Exodus 29 46 And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.

Exodus 31 13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
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SICKNESS

SICKNESS IS NOT FROM GOD :

John 9:2 “And his disciples asked him saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?”

The disciples asked a question that still puzzles many people today. Why is a child born with a physical defect? Is it a judgment of God upon the parents for some sin, or is it possibly God’s judgment upon the child for sins that God knows he will commit?

Jesus Himself had previously linked sickness with sin. In this instance, however, Jesus said this blindness was not caused by this man’s or his parents’ sins.

This has led many people to interpret the rest of this verse as saying that God made this man blind just so that He could heal him and be glorified thereby. From this thinking, many doctrinal teachings have risen about how sickness and other problems in our lives are actually blessings from God, intended to bring glory to God and correction to us. This reasoning, however, does not line up with the other truths of God’s Word.

It was not God who made this beggar blind. This man was not born blind because of any one person’s sins but because sin in general had corrupted the perfect balance that God had created in nature. Therefore, some maladies happen, not as a direct result of an individual’s sins but as an indirect result of sin in general.

Deuteronomy 28 settles forever the question of whether sickness, poverty, and oppression are really blessings in disguise. God says that sickness and poverty are curses – not blessings from God. Christ redeemed us from these curses of the law so that now the blessings may come upon us through Him (Galatians 3:13). God’s curses have been placed on Jesus and removed from those who accept Jesus’ sacrifice. You are blessed!

MAKE YOUR TEMPLE A HOUSE OF PRAYER :

MARK 11:17 – Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves’.”

It would be great if every time we prayed, the answers came quickly. Thank God for immediate results, but what do we do when the results are not immediate? The promises of God are there for us, but when they have yet to manifest in our circumstances, what should we do in the meantime?

Jesus showed us what to do. After He had cursed the fig tree, the tree did not wither immediately. (Mark 11:14) What did He do then? He went to the temple in Jerusalem and cleansed it, saying that it should be a house of prayer and not a den of thieves. (Mark 11:15–17) After cleansing the temple, when the disciples saw the same fig tree the next day, it had dried up from its roots! (Mark 11:20–21)

Today, you are the temple of God. (1 Corinthians 3:16) And your temple should be a “house of prayer” or it becomes a “den of thieves”. These thieves, or powers of darkness, will steal and rob from your temple, which is your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19) They will steal and rob you of your strength, health, youthfulness, wisdom, hopes and dreams.

So make your temple a house of prayer by praying in tongues frequently. (Ephesians 6:18) When you pray in the Spirit, you are praying perfect prayers. This is because the Spirit Himself makes intercession for you when He prays through you in tongues. (Romans8:26)

“Pastor, how long must I pray?”

Well, how often in a day does the enemy attack you with fears, anxieties and worries? How often does that disease in your body remind you that it is there? How healthy and whole do you want to be?

Beloved, as you make your temple a house of prayer, the powers of darkness that have been stealing or robbing from you will be driven out of your life completely. You will see the manifestation of what you have spoken over your circumstances and you will see the withering of what you have cursed!

OUR FAITH IS A CATALYST :

‘…The message…did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith…’ Hebrews 4:2 AMP

A catalyst facilitates change; it makes things happen! For example, Alka-Seltzer without water has no effervescence, flour without yeast produces no bread, seeds without sunshine means no flowers, blue without yellow means no green, an egg without sperm means no baby, a spark without air produces no flame. Faith makes God’s Word work in your life. Without it, nothing happens. Talking about the Israelites, Paul said, ‘When the good news of deliverance…came to them…the message…did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith.’ Kristin Armstrong says: ‘Without specific catalysts certain results can never be achieved. To make spiritual progress, it’s not enough to read the Bible or listen to sermons. The activating ingredient to understanding is faith. After we hear God’s message, we must on it… Maybe you’re experiencing bitterness or anger because of a failed relationship and God told you to put those emotions behind you, but you lack the will to do it. Let me encourage you; trust God’s Word and act in faith. His promises will bloom in your life, once you activate your faith.’ Faith is not intellectual assent, or paying lip service to what you read in God’s Word. It’s acting on it, confident that God will do what He promised. There’s a difference between faith and trust. You may believe a chair will hold you, but, only when you sit down and put your full weight on it, are you trusting it. Getting the idea?

TREAD WHERE JESUS TREADS

PSALM 65:11  You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance.

Regardless of what experts say about the current economic situation, I have good news for you. As a child of God, your blessings this year are not dependent on the ebb and flow of the stock market. You can expect good things to happen to you this year because God’s Word declares it: “You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance”!

“Pastor, God’s Word says it, but how do I see it?”

Great question! The key to experiencing the blessings lies in Psalm 65:11 itself—“Your paths drip with abundance”. In order to see His paths dripping with abundance, you would need to follow Him, wouldn’t you? So to experience the Lord’s goodness and abundance this year, keep listening to and beholding His grace and finished work. It’s easy to follow His leading when you are tuned to and meditating on His grace. And when you tread where He treads, you will run right into the blessings that He has already prepared for you!

LOVE CONQUERS FEAR

John 9:27 “He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?”

JOHN 9:6-27

This man showed great courage in confronting these religious leaders. Even Peter later backed down for fear of this same group of men (Lk. 22:54-62). Certainly one thing that gave him this boldness was that he knew what Jesus had done for him. And even beyond the physical healing, he knew that Jesus had healed him because He loved him. It’s our security in the Lord’s love for us that gives us the strength to face rejection from others. As Proverbs 28:1 puts it, “the righteous are bold as a lion.” The antidote for fear of men is a large dose of the love of God.

One of the greatest truths of the Bible and one of the hardest to comprehend, is that we are the objects of God’s love. God didn’t just pity us or feel some sense of moral obligation to save us. He saved us because of His infinite love for us (Jn. 3:16). An experiential understanding of God’s love is the key to being filled with all the fullness of God (Eph. 3:19).

Paul prays in Ephesians 3:19, that we would experience the love of God which passes mere knowledge about it. How can we know the love of God if it passes knowledge? This sounds like a contradiction. It’s not. The knowing is experiencing it. The end result of having understanding and experiential knowledge of God’s love is that we will be filled with all the fullness of God. God’s love is the key that opens the door to everything that God is. God is love (1 Jn. 4:8).

It’s not just a casual acquaintance with God’s love that we need, but an intimate understanding and experiential knowledge of the depths of God’s love. Just as a tree’s roots provide stability and nourishment for the tree, so our revelation of God’s love is the foundation upon which everything else we receive from God is built.

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RESTORED

RESTORED BY THE MASTER

[You] have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. —Colossians 3:10

Over the centuries, many attempts have been made to restore damaged and time-worn masterpieces of art. While some of these efforts have skillfully preserved the original work of artists, others have actually damaged many works of genius, including ancient Greek statues and at least two paintings by da Vinci.

In Paul’s letter to the Christians at Colosse, he described a restoration process that is impossible in the world of art. It’s a restoration of God’s people. Paul wrote, “You have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:9-10).

This is no attempt at renovating the work of a deceased artist. It is a spiritual renewal from the living God who created us and gave us new life in His Son, Jesus Christ. His forgiveness brightens the colors of our lives while His grace sharpens the lines of His purpose for us.

The canvas of our lives is in the skilled hands of our Lord who knows who and what He designed us to be. No matter how sin-damaged and dirty we may be, there is hope for renewal and restoration. The Master Artist is alive and at work within us.

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
To His feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing.

Jesus specializes in restoration

SEE YOURSELF STRONG :

And we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. – Numbers 13:33

How does the devil see you? Does he see you as a terrifying and mighty warrior of God…or does he see you as a wimp he can whip in a minute?

The answer to that question depends on you. I realized that one day as I was studying the children of Israel and their failure to enter the Promised Land. The key to their failure is found in these words: “And we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in theirs.”

The reason the Israelites were so terrified to fight the giants in Canaan wasn’t because those giants were so big. It was because the Israelites saw themselves as so small! It was what they were in their own sight that defeated them.

The same thing is true for you as a believer. It’s what you are in your own sight that will make the difference. If, in your own sight, you’re a weak, powerless Christian, the devil will run over you three or four times a day or more if he’s not busy. But when you begin to see yourself as God sees you, as a conquering son or daughter of the Almighty God equipped with the very power of God Himself, the devil will want to steer clear of you.

The devil would rather do anything than come against somebody who’s bold and courageous, because he’s a coward himself. In fact, ever since Jesus came up out of that grave, Satan’s heart has melted within him at the sound of that Name in the mouth of one who has faith in it.

If you’re not strong in the Lord in your own sight, you need to change that. You need to get so full of God’s Word and so full of the Holy Ghost that you walk around like a spiritual giant. Turn the tables on the devil and let him find out what it feels like to be a grasshopper for a change.

HAVE A CHAMPION’S MENTALITY 

We all experience times in life when we feel uncertain about our abilities. We may feel less than confident about ourselves. Maybe you aren’t sure what the outcome of a situation will be, or you have an opportunity that seems a little over your head. I’ve found that anytime God wants to increase us, He has to stretch us first. He has to help us see beyond our limitations and learn to trust that He knows what is in us and how to get it out of us. He knows you better than you know yourself, and He is certain of your abilities!

Many people are familiar with world-famous boxer, Muhammad Ali and his renowned trainer, Angelo Dundee. What most people don’t know is that just before every boxing match, Dundee would write a number on a small slip of paper and place it inside Ali’s glove. That may sound like a strange thing to give a boxer right before a fight, but Dundee had a reason for what he did. The number that he wrote on that slip of paper was the round in which he predicted Ali would knock out his opponent. Dundee was so confident in Ali’s ability that he didn’t just guess whether or not Ali would win, but when he would win—and Ali knew it.

I love that story because it shows the confidence Ali’s trainer had in him and the positive effect it had. I believe that confidence played a tremendous part in the champ’s amazing success as one of the greatest boxers that ever lived. Dundee was certain of Muhammad Ali’s ability to succeed, and the confidence that he instilled in his friend helped to give Ali a champion’s mentality.

In the same way, God is certain of your ability to succeed. After all, He placed it there. Even when you’re not certain of the outcome, God has confidence in you. Let that sink down into your heart today—the God who holds the universe in the palm of His hand has faith in you. When you really embrace that truth, it will cause you to have a champion’s mentality. With God, it’s not whether or not you will have victory—it’s just a matter of when!

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57, NIV)

THE ROOT AND THE FRUIT :

‘…A tree is known by its fruit.’ Matthew 12:33 NKJV

In a letter to George Whitefield, a leader of the Great Awakening, Benjamin Franklin wrote: ‘I can only show my gratitude for those mercies from God, by a readiness to help His other children and my brethren. For I do not think that thanks and compliments, though repeated weekly, can discharge our real obligations to each other, and much less those to our Creator. You will see in this, my notion of good works, that I am far from expecting to merit Heaven by them. By Heaven we understand a state of happiness, infinite in degree and eternal in duration. I can do nothing to deserve such rewards… The faith you mention certainly has its use in the world. I do not desire to see it diminished, nor would I endeavour to lessen it in any man. But I wish it were more productive of good works than I have generally seen it; I mean real good works; works of kindness, charity, mercy and public spirit; not holiday-keeping, sermon-reading or hearing; performing church ceremonies, or making long prayers filled with flatteries and compliments…The worship of God is a duty; the hearing and reading of sermons may be useful; but if men rest in hearing and praying, as too many do, it is as if a tree should value itself for being watered and putting forth leaves, though it never produce any fruit.’ In aiming to declare that salvation is by grace and not works, never forget that saving faith always produces good works! Faith is the root of salvation. But deeds of generosity and kindness are the fruit of salvation – and ‘a tree is known by its fruit.’

PRAYER FOR THE DAY :

“Let the heaven be glad, and the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it shout His praise!” (Psalm 96:11)

Dear Lord God, I praise You. I honor You. I see Your holy face in sunrise. Your smiling face breaks through the cloud with brilliant sunshine. Your holy light brightens up the whole world after a darkness night. I sing hymns of praise with my lips of pureness on this beautiful morning. Let the morning brings me words of God and shower down abundant blessings upon me from the throne of grace for I am the chosen servant of God and His wonderfully made child. Bless me O God!

Gratefully, in Jesus’ holy name. Amen !!!

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COMPASSION

Moved With Compassion

And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. Matthew 14;14

“Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. Matthew 18:27

Jesus never taught nor gave blanket forgiveness to any one. For forgiveness with out repentance and restitution is nothing but cheap grace. Jesus said to the man who had an infirmity thirty-eight years at the pool at pool, Bethesda after He had healed Him:

“See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” John 5:14

Even to the women who was caught in adultery and Jesus had compassion on her and said to her:

“Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” John 8:11

Mind you it seems that some people do not listen to the words of Jesus and give offense to another brother numerous times. 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?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  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 18:22-35

Now the bottom line is that Jesus said that those who did not forgive from their heart their brother their trespasses would be dealt with by God. For it seems that some people when they forgive others they do it grudgingly. Their sin seems to be a hardness of heart that does not allow them to have compassion on others and measure the same measure to others that God has measured to them. But forgiveness of a person does not invalidate the Word of God which states:

‘You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. ‘And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. ‘You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning. Leviticus 19:11-13

‘You shall not steal.  ‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.  ‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’ Deuteronomy 5:19-21

“You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep going astray, and hide yourself from them; you shall certainly bring them back to your brother. “And if your brother is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall bring it to your own house, and it shall remain with you until your brother seeks it; then you shall restore it to him. “You shall do the same with his donkey, and so shall you do with his garment; with any lost thing of your brother’s, which he has lost and you have found, you shall do likewise; you must not hide yourself. Deuteronomy 22:1-3

God requires honesty, integrity, truthfulness and restoration from those who are called by His name.  They are not to steal, bear false witness, nor covet nor desire what belongs to their neighbor be it their wife, servant, or possessions.  Those who have accepted Christ are to put of their old nature and its deceitful lusts and are to put on the new man according to the Word of God:

But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,  and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.  Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.

“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,  nor give place to the devil.  Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Ephesians 4:20-28

Men cannot continue doing things which are wrong and sinful and not repenting about it and then asking others for forgiveness. They have to stop lying, stealing and are to work with their hands so that they might give something to those who have need. For God’s word is true:

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:20-32

Weakness of character is one thing and is to be forgiven but a life style is another thing and is not to be so easily forgiven. For God’s word is true especially of those who are religious leaders:

For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.   For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,  whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,  not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.  They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. Titus 1:7-16

Paul not only did he not forgive those whose life style was unChrist like but he also advocated that these liars, evil beasts and lazy gluttons be rebuked and their mouths stopped. Especially for subverting others in deceiving and  teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. Now this is something which those who talk continually about the importance of love and forgiveness never talk about rebuke and dealing with those who are false. But those who walk in the Spirit of the Lord have put off the old man which grows corrupt according to deceitful lusts. They put on the new man which was created in God in true righteousness and holiness. They have put away lying and speak truth to one another. They do not give place to the devil and do not steal from others. They labor with their hands so that they might give something to those who are in need.  They do not grieve the Holy Spirit  and  have renounced the hidden things of shame. They do not walking in craftiness nor handle the Word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commend themselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Those who do not do justice but injustice become the adversaries and enemies of God on whom He will take vengeance and turn His hand against them. God does not forgive His enemies. Especially those who disobey His commands and have become murderers, rebels, thieves and prostitutes and do not defend the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

God does not forgive those who have not put  away the evil of their  doings from before His eyes by not ceasing to do evil, learning  to do good,  Seeking  justice nor rebuking the oppressor. Such as these are not His people no matter what they call themselves. The other fact of the matter that such as these never consider that Jesus told the truth when He stated

“For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” Mark 4:25

Yes! Even what they have will be taken away from them while for others who already have too much, more shall be given. Isn’t life wonderful?

 

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I AM

GOD MADE FLESH :

John 8:58 “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

Jesus didn’t seek to clarify the Jews’ misunderstanding of His previous statements. Instead, He made a new statement that those who would not accept that Jesus was God in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16) could not possibly understand. “Before Abraham was, I am.” He not only said that He existed before Abraham, but He was again associating Himself with the great “I AM” statement of Exodus 3:14. This statement could leave no doubt that Jesus was claiming deity in the highest sense of the word.

Jesus proclaimed “I am.” This is how Jehovah identified Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14. When spoken under the anointing power of God, Jesus’ pronouncement that “I am he” knocked all of those who came to arrest Him backwards to the ground (Jn. 18:5-6). Jesus was the great “I AM THAT I AM” of Exodus 3:14 manifest in the flesh!

When the Jewish authorities heard Jesus call God “my (own) Father,” they immediately understood that Jesus claimed for Himself deity in the highest possible sense of that term. That claim was either blasphemy to be punished by death, or Jesus was who He claimed to be.

The purpose of the fourth gospel is clearly stated, “that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (Jn. 20:31). The object of John’s gospel was to show that Jesus is “the true God” (1 Jn. 5:20) who was “made flesh” (Jn. 1:14).

LOOK TO THE WORD, NOT NATURAL FACTS :

NUMBERS 21:9 – So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

“Pastor, I know that God is my healer. But why is this sickness and pain still in my body?” If you have been looking at your sickness and pain all this while, stop looking at yourself and start looking at Jesus. Did He or did He not take upon Himself your sickness and pain?

God’s Word declares, “Surely our sicknesses he hath borne, and our pains—he hath carried them…” (Isaiah 53:4, YLT) Since Jesus has already taken your sickness and pain at the cross, then He cannot “untake” them. Even if you find it hard to believe that Jesus has paid for your healing, especially when the pain is unbearable, the truth is that it is still paid for. It is a finished work!

God is not saying that your sickness does not exist, nor is He asking you to pretend that it is not there. He is asking you to look away from the sickness, painful as it may be, and look to the truth that it has already been judged at the cross in the body of His Son.

Once, while still in the wilderness, the children of Israel were bitten by deadly desert serpents. The serpents were real. The bites were painful and deadly. So God told Moses to point the people to the bronze serpent put on a pole—a picture of the cross. (John 3:14) Bronze signifies judgment. In other words, the serpent—their problem—was already judged at the cross.

Those who kept their eyes on the bronze serpent lived. Those who focused on their wounds died. So stop looking at your sickness. Instead, look to the cross and see your sickness already judged in the body of Jesus. Surely He has borne your sicknesses and carried your pains! That is the truth of God’s Word. And His Word supersedes natural facts.

My friend, you let natural facts rule or establish God’s truths over your problem by what you choose to focus on. So decide today not to focus on the facts concerning your problem. Instead, establish the truth of God’s Word and Christ’s finished work over your problem—and live!

THE DAY MY DAD MET JESUS

I obtained mercy . . . as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. —1 Timothy 1:16

My grandfather, my father, and his brothers were all tough men who, understandably, didn’t appreciate people who “got up in their faces about faith.” When my father, Howard, was diagnosed with a rapid and deadly cancer, I was so concerned that I took every opportunity to talk to him about Jesus’ love. Inevitably he would end the discussion with a polite but firm: “I know what I need to know.”

I promised not to raise the issue again and gave him a set of cards that shared the forgiveness God offers, which he could read when he wanted. I entrusted Dad to God and prayed. A friend also asked God to keep my dad alive long enough to know Jesus.

One afternoon the call came telling me Dad was gone. When my brother met me at the airport, he said, “Dad told me to tell you he asked Jesus to forgive his sin.” “When?” “The morning he passed,” Mark replied. God had shown him “mercy” as He had shown us (1 Tim. 1:16).

Sometimes we talk about the gospel, other times we share our story, still other times we just show a silent Christ like example, and always we pray. We know that salvation is ultimately a work of God and not something we can do for another. God is a gracious God, and no matter what the outcome of our prayers, He can be trusted.

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling—
Calling for you and for me;
Patiently Jesus is waiting and watching—
Watching for you and for me!
We plant and water, but God gives the increase.

EXPECT A HARVEST :

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. – Luke 6:38

Give and it shall be given unto you. That statement came straight from the mouth of Jesus. Yet there are a great many believers who flatly refuse to believe it. In fact, they actually have the mistaken idea that it’s wrong to expect to receive when they give.

The truth is–it’s wrong not to!

What would you think about a farmer who planted seeds, then let his crop rot in the field? You’d think he was a fool, wouldn’t you? And if he did it when others were starving, you’d think he was criminally irresponsible.

Well, it’s just as irresponsible to give financial seeds and ignore the harvest God promised. Especially when that harvest could help send the gospel to people who are starving to hear it. It’s just as wrong to ignore the key to prosperity that Jesus Himself gave us as it is to let a wheat crop rot in the field.

God wants us to receive from the financial seeds that we plant. He wants us to be prepared to require no aid ourselves and to be “furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation” (2 Cor. 9:8, The Amplified Bible). He wants us to have plenty–not so we can hoard it selfishly–but so we can give generously.

Next time you give, don’t be afraid to expect a harvest! Release your faith for the financial rewards Jesus promised. Then, when they come, turn right around and plant them again. Keep the flow of giving and receiving going so the Lord can bless the world through you!

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HEAVEN’S ECONOMY

HEAVEN’S ECONOMY :

Giving thanks unto the Father .. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. – Colossians 1:12-13

If, in spite of all the Bible’s promises about prosperity…in spite of all the prayers you’ve prayed…you are still struggling financially, consider this question: Where do you think God is going to get the resources to meet your needs?

Many believers limit God without even realizing it by training their eyes on the limited resources of this world rather than the unlimited riches of God’s kingdom. Their faith fails when they think of the troubled economy on the earth, of the shortages and scarcity that surrounds them. They wonder, “How is God going to bless me in the middle of all this?”

If that’s what you’ve been thinking, here’s some news that will turn those thoughts around!

The Bible says God has “delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” To be translated means to be taken out of one place and put into another. In other words, your citizenship is not primarily of this earth. You are not primarily American or Canadian or Australian–you are first and foremost a citizen of the kingdom of God.

That means this planet doesn’t have any right to dictate to you whether your needs are met or not. The Bible says God will meet your needs according to His riches in glory! (Philippians 4:19). You can live by heaven’s economy, not earth’s economy–and in heaven there is always more than enough.

Wake up to the abundance of heaven that’s been made yours through Jesus. Wake up to the fact that you’ve been translated out of a world of poverty into a kingdom of abundance. Rejoice.

Heaven’s unlimited resources have been made available to you!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 105:37-45

LIVE LIKE JESUS :

But [Christ Jesus] made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. – Philippians 2:7

The truth of this verse hasn’t really dawned on most people. They mistakenly think that Jesus was able to work wonders, to perform miracles, and to live above sin because He had divine powers that we don’t have. Thus, they have never really aspired to live like He lived.

“Oh my,” they say with great humility, “I could never live like Jesus did. After all, He had an advantage. He was God!”

They don’t realize that when Jesus came to earth, He voluntarily gave up that advantage, living His life here not as God but as a man. He had no innate supernatural powers. He had no ability to perform miracles until after He was anointed by the Holy Spirit as recorded in Luke 3:22. He worked wonders, not by His own power but by the power of the Father, saying, “The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (John 14:10).

And when He prayed, He prayed not as a divine One who had authority as God, but as a man who walked obediently with God. And, as Hebrews 5:7 says, “His prayers were heard not because of His deity, but because of His reverence toward God” (AMP).

Jesus, the divine Son of God, set aside the privileges and powers of deity for a time and lived as a man on earth. Once you grasp that, it will absolutely thrill your soul! Why? Because it means that you, as a reborn child of God, filled with the same Holy Spirit as Jesus was, have the same opportunity to live as He lived on earth.

In fact, that is exactly what He intends. In John 17:18 He said to the Father, “Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”

Jesus has sent you into the world to live as He lived. Through the new birth, He’s enabled you to exchange the sinful nature of Adam for the sinless nature of God.

He’s given you the ability and the command to live above sin, to live in fellowship with the Father, to preach the gospel, to heal the sick, to raise the dead, to cast out demons, and to make disciples.

Once you realize that, you’ll throw off the shackles of doubt that have held you back. You’ll begin to live as Jesus meant for you to live–not as a sin-ridden son of fallen man, but as a reborn child of the Most High God. Then those around you will actually begin to see Jesus–in you.

Scripture Reading: 1 John 3:1-8

JESUS UNDERSTANDS YOUR STRUGGLES :

Hebrews 4:15 – For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Imagine meeting the new politician who is to represent your district or neighborhood only to discover that he is not familiar with your neighborhood’s needs and problems. You will wonder, “Can this guy really represent us? Does he know anything about our living conditions? Is he familiar with the various challenges that families here are facing? Can he help me get my child into one of the schools here?” I am sure that you would prefer someone who truly understands your challenges to represent you!

In the same way, I am so glad that right now at the Father’s right hand, we have someone who came as a Man to redeem us, and who fully understands what man goes through. When Jesus walked on earth, He went through every human emotion so that He could identify with us in all points. Jesus is God, but He is in the Father’s presence as a Man, representing us.

My friend, you may feel that no one understands your struggles. Listen, while this may be true of man, it is not true of Jesus. He knows exactly what you are going through and He can sympathize with your weaknesses because He was “in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin”.

None of us have been tempted in all points. But God allowed Jesus to be tempted in all points so that He can understand and identify with the struggles of every single person on this earth. He can be touched by our humanity — our weaknesses, tears, disappointments, griefs… all points!

There is no trial, difficulty, challenge or temptation that you face that Jesus cannot identify with. My friend, the moment you go through it, right there and then, He feels it too. That is the kind of representative you have in Jesus! That is the love of God so that you will draw near to His throne of grace (not judgment) to find mercy and grace in time of need! (Hebrews 4:15–16)

The moment we pray in the Spirit, the tide of the battle begins to turn. Stay in faith until you see it fulfilled in the natural!

WE NEED A GOOD OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Before God’s people do anything significant in their lives that will bring ever lasting and concrete results in their lives, they must pray and seek the will of God and win the battle and then they will see the manifestation of their victories.  Just dancing and praising the Lord for an hour is not enough!  King David danced before the Lord as an expression of his joy and faith and not to accomplish something. God never intended that dancing and praise replace good old fashion effectual fervent prayer! I have been to churches where God’s people have danced for hours and nothing changed. They were no different when they left from when they had first come in!

The same is true about being slain in the spirit and even barking like a dog. Many pastors and preachers were slain in the Spirit for hours and days and there was not change at all in their ministry or character. They were like a wet sponge where a lot of water went through but only a bit was retained. They rest of the water goes through many people because they are full of holes and are not able to retain the shower of blessing that comes upon them when they are touched by God. It all leaks out just as fast as it came in!

We need hearts like Jesus talked about “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38).  We need a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us so that wilderness becomes a fruitful field, And the fruitful field is counted as a forest.  Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness remain in the fruitful field. God’s people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places and sow beside all waters (Isaiah 32:15-19). And as a result we will have boldness and miracles, signs and wonders done through the name of Jesus.

It’s is to be noted that in accordance with the Word of God real ministry is done by the body ministering to each others. We are all ministers and can minister to each other love, joy, peace, goodness, faith, miracles, loving kindness, compassion and understanding as well as in the other gifts and fruit of the Spirit.  We can cry with those who cry, laugh with those who laugh, sing with those who sing and make a real tangible difference to one another. We can pray one for another so that we can be healed. We can prophesy to one another prophecies given to us by God. We can freely give to one another what we have received from God. We can also gracefully and in love rebuke one another or instruct one another according to God’s word. We can restore those who have been overtaken in any trespass, in a spirit of gentleness, considering that we ourselves are also tempted. We can bring back the lost and pray for the sick for the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven (James 5:15). God’s word is unchanging:

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?  “You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock.  “The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them.  “So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. “My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.” Ezekiel 34:1-6

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18

Nothing Can Stand Up To God’s Love

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:35

The pastor of our Hokkien and Mandarin congregations, Pastor Mark, used to suffer from certain health problems before he became a Christian. His doctor told him that he had to be on medication for life. He also had a huge financial debt. But when he caught hold of the teaching that he is God’s beloved, he believed it totally. He also believed that nothing could be greater than God’s love for him.

Today, Pastor Mark is off medication and completely delivered from that debt. God caused him to triumph over his sickness and debt because he cannot be defeated when he knows that he is God’s beloved.

Tribulation, distress or persecution cannot stop your heavenly Father’s love from working on your behalf. His love for you is bigger and stronger than your financial woes, marital problems or health concerns. And when God’s heart of love moves for His beloved, He opens doors that no one can shut and He makes a way when there seems to be none.

Even during lean times, you will never find the righteous forsaken. King David said, “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25) Can famine or recession stop God’s love from providing for His beloved? No! So don’t think to yourself, “I must provide for my family. If I don’t, who is going to take care of them? How are they going to survive?” God wants you to know that His love will continue to provide abundantly for you and your family.

What about deadly pestilences such as bird flu and mad cow disease, natural disasters such as tsunamis and earthquakes, or terrorist bombings? My friend, these things cannot devour you because His love protects you. You will enjoy His protection when you know that you are His beloved.

Because God’s love is greater than all the evil put together, we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. (Romans 8:37) We always win in the fight of life not because of our love for Him, but because of His love for us!

Thought For The Day
We always win in the fight of life not because of our love for Him, but because of His love for us!

Isaiah 32:15  Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, And the fruitful field is counted as a forest.
 

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