RULED

Ruled By The Spirit

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.  And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.  For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:11-14

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Ephesians  5:18-21

Unlike others God doesn’t force things upon people. He is a Gentlemen who respects their choices and wishes. However He has given them not only His Son Jesus Christ and His wonderful Holy Spirit but His word which details His will for them including not to let sin reign in their mortal body, that they should obey it’s lusts!

We are to be filled with Spirit of God and not with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness and are not to be backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful! (Romans 1:29-30). We are to be doers of the Word not hearers only and to walk in the Spirit! God’s word is unchanging:

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:12-14

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-25

Yes we are to make choices even on a daily basis to put to death our members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience! We  are to put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of our mouth (Colossians 3:5-8) and are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and are to demonstrate His character, His love, His kindness and His patience. God’s word is unchanging:

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.   Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Colossians 3:12-18

“The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. “The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.  “Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you.”And the LORD will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.  “The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.  “And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. Deuteronomy 28:8-13

When our character, deeds, works and actions correspond with the word of God, then we have the right to expect the blessings of God upon our lives and land! Then we will know the truth of what David said:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3

The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. Psalm 118:14

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. Phillipains 4:6-8

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.  These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:12-16

The carnal mind is enmity with God for it cannot please God. The mind is a battlefield which the enemy tries in infiltrate with many things including negative thoughts and dreams. But God’s people can put on the mind of Christ and think and meditate on whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report.  Nature abhors vacuum. Our mind is never on break; it is either charged with concerns of things of this life or overtaken with affection for the kingdom. Rather than being anxious and concerned with the things of this world, it is be concerned with the things of God and of His kingdom, so every other thing can be “added to you.” God’s word is unchanging:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew  6:33

“But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Luke 12:21

Blessed is the man  Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;  But his delight is in the law of the LORD,  And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season,  Whose leaf also shall not wither;  And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.  Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:15

The brain is always engaged, either positively or negatively. All we need to do is to make our choice on what occupies our mind and it should be the word of God. Prosperity is promised to those who delight in the word of God and meditate on it day and night.  When we mediate on something it goes from the realm of the mind which is just usually intellect ascent to the realm of our heart where it becomes faith and moves the mountains out in our lives when it is authoritatively spoken out. Yes, when the word of God is mixed with faith and acted on God’s miracle working power is released to bring about great change. The power in the Word is only released through the process of meditation. Until we ponder on the truth contained in the Word, get an understanding of that Word, and act on it, we cannot display miracles, signs and wonders. God’s word is unchanging:

Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16

The word meditate means “to consider deeply, to reflect upon, to revolve in the mind.” It is akin to the physical process of food digestion. Food when eaten undergoes three major processes before the nutrients in it can benefit the body. They are: digestion, absorption and assimilation. Often we think that the taste of food in the mouth and its weight in the stomach is all that there is to food. But until these three processes take place, food taken in offers no value to the body.

Similarly, until the Word of God we hear or read is broken down to assimilable forms and we contact the gems in it, our life can not be bettered by it. The meditation process is what breaks down the Word into assimilable forms, equipping us to walk on the highways of the miraculous. It’s the word of God that breaks into pieces the different rocks in our lifes. God’s word is true:

“Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak;  And hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.  Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew,  As raindrops on the tender herb, And as showers on the grass. For I proclaim the name of the LORD: Ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He. Deuteronomy 32:4

Then David spoke to the LORD the words of this song, on the day when the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. And he said: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence.  I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. 2 Samuel 22:1-4

“Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? Jeremiah 23:29

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:  “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Matthew 7:24-24

WALTER KAMBULOW
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Word of Faith Teacher

Jesus preached and expected faith not unbelief!

God’s Word is His will. And faith is what activates the promises of God. Jesus was the biggest Word of Faith Teacher. He majored in faith. He taught it all the time. To say that telling people faith can’t guarantee answered prayer is to say that Jesus is lying or didn’t really mean what He taught. Show me one time Jesus said that faith sometimes doesn’t work. You cannot. Evangelicals don’t preach the word of faith but the word of unbelief and as a result are devoid of miracles, signs and wonders and even prosperity!

Only deceived anemic evangelicals who deny miracles and tongues are for today  advocate that we can’t take Jesus’ teaching out of the context.  We  must ask who He was speaking to and under what circumstances. When the truth is Jesus faith teachings in the gospel  are for everyone and for today!  Jesus preached and expected faith not unbelief! And unbelief limited His mighty works!

Matthew 13
53    Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there.
54    When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?
55    Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
56    And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?”
57    So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”
58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Matthew 17
14    And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying,
15    “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.
16    So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
17    Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”
18    And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
19    Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
20    So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
21    However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Mark 9
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

GOD’S WORD

HARD KNOCKS OR GOD’S WORD :

Luke 15:17 “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!”

God’s Word makes it clear that the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). Romans 1:18-20 reveals that even those who don’t know God’s Word have an intuitive knowledge of right and wrong and God’s judgment against sin.

Therefore, for anyone to live in sin, as depicted by this prodigal son, they have to be deceived. This is exactly what the Bible says is the case in 2 Corinthians 4:4. When Jesus said, “he came to himself,” He was referring to the deception being removed and the son’s spiritual eyes being opened.

Like this story of the prodigal, tragedy often brings people out of deception and back to their senses. It’s not that God sends the tragedy. God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah, “Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee” (Jer. 4:18). However, tragic situations do clearly illustrate that “it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer.10:23), and they cause us to look somewhere else for help. Although turning to God is always beneficial, regardless of what provides the motivation, “hard knocks” are not the best teacher.

Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” God’s Word was given for reproof and correction and if we will submit to it, we can “be perfect, thoroughly furnished” without having to experience tragedy first.

MUSTARD-SEED FAITH :

If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the see’ and it will obey you. – Luke 17:6. NIV

A mustard seed is a very small thing. But when it’s planted, it grows into a huge tree. In the same way, Jesus is saying in this verse that a little bit of faith can bring tremendous results!

Think about this: As a believer, you already have enough faith on the inside of you to overcome any obstacle. It doesn’t matter if you grew up in church or not; it doesn’t matter what you know or don’t know; God wants to work in your life today. You may not see how things will work out, and that’s okay. All you have to do is believe God. With God, all things are possible!

Today, put your faith into action by declaring that your trust and hope are in Him. Thank Him for working behind the scenes in your life. Use your mustard-seed faith, and it will go stronger and stronger. Always remember, you have everything you need when you have mustard-seed faith

BE SEPARATE :

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. – 2 Corinthians 6:17

We’re surrounded by a world which is ruled for the most part by Satan. How can we avoid getting caught up in it? How can we stand apart?

You’ll find the answer in John 17:17. There Jesus was speaking to the Father about all those who would believe on Him. “Sanctify them through thy truth,” He said. “Thy word is truth.” Sanctify means “to separate unto.” So Jesus was saying, “Separate them by the Word.” The Word separates!

When you initially believed the Word of God, you were born again. You were separated spiritually from the kingdom of darkness and separated to the kingdom of Light. Now that’s where a lot of people stop. They let the Word of God do its initial separating work and then go right on living like everybody else. Spiritually, they’re still separated from death. But physically and mentally, they’re up to their necks in it. They’re poor. They’re sick. They’re worried. They’re confused. They’re upset. In other words, they’re just like everyone else in the world.

But if you’ll give the Word of God first place in your life, it will continue to separate you from the poverty and the anxiety and the sickness and the hatred and the darkness of your old habitat.

There’s something else that the Word of God will do for you too. It will not only separate you from the things of this world, it will separate you to the things of God.

You can’t simply separate yourself from any old destructive habit without separating yourself to something else. You can’t turn away from the things of the world unless you turn to something stronger. I’m telling you, you can scream and squall and kick the altar bench and everything else trying to get rid of the sin in your life. You can cry, “Dear God, take this sin away from me.” But all the begging in the world won’t separate you from your sin. It’s the Word that does it!

Make a decision to give the Word first place in your life. Make it a quality decision, a decision from which there is no retreat. Lock into the Word and let the Word do its work. Let it separate you from the things of the world and to the things of God.

DIVINE PERSPECTIVE

For the vision is yet for an appointed time; . . . it will surely come. —Habakkuk 2:3

Jason took a trip to New York during spring break. One afternoon he and some friends piled into a cab and headed for the Empire State Building. To Jason, the ride on the ground seemed chaotic and dangerous. But when he got to the observation deck of the skyscraper and looked down on the city streets, to his amazement he saw order and design. What a difference a change in perspective made!

Habakkuk learned a similar lesson. When he looked at life from his earthly vantage point, it seemed that God was indifferent to the evil permeating society (Hab. 1:2-4). But God gave him a divine perspective and showed him that life is more than what it seems. The deeds of men cannot thwart the purposes of God (2:3).

Those who don’t show any regard for God may seem to prosper at the moment, but God will ultimately right all wrong. God acts sovereignly in all that comes to pass so that everything works toward His good purpose. God’s plan will surely take place and be on schedule (v.3).

We can’t sort out the whole picture from where we are in life; only God can. So let us continue to live by faith and not by sight. From His perspective, all things are working together for the believer’s good and for His honor.

Sovereign Ruler of the skies,
Ever gracious, ever wise,
All my times are in Your hand,
All events at Your command.

Our times are in God’s hands; our souls are in His keeping

PRAYER FOR THE DAY :

“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalm 139: 9-10)

Dear Lord God, I praise You. I honor You. I thank You God for another beautiful day. I see Your holy face in every sunrise. Your smile breaks through the cloud with radiant sunshine this morning. Your light brightens up the world and the whole earth be blessed. Let the unfailing love of God cling to me like morning dews cling to flowers. Make me be Your humble servant and a brilliant masterpiece in Your hand O God!

Gratefully, in Jesus’ holy name. Amen !!

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GENTLE

Gentle And Lowly In Heart

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 1 Peter 5:2

Many of us have experienced abusive pastors or religious leaders who have believed that a gift from God or some anointing has made them better than others, and they abuse the power and position that has been given to them in love.  True ministry must be done in the same spirit that Jesus ministered to others. He who is gentle and lowly in heart never verbally beat his disciples into any form of submission to achieve His own stated purposes. Jesus Christ who was meek and mild had numerous occasion to rebuke and tell off impetuous Peter who didn’t always control his tongue, but He didn’t! Hence Peter learned by experience what the true shepherd was like and told all religious leaders, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly.”

The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word overseer as:

o·ver·se·er n. 1. One who keeps watch over and directs the work of others, especially laborers. 2. A supervisor or superintendent.

A supervisor or superintendent is not a king, never mind a benevolent dictator? He is an employee who has been given the task to keep watch over and direct the work of others. However he should heed the words of Jesus who told us what would happen to bad supervisors:

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?  “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.  “Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.

“But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’  “and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, “the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,  “and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:45-51

Since the “once saved, always saved” teaching is a doctrine of demons, then any unfaithful Christian leader can find himself cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Yet God’s word is unchanging:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?  “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  “Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:15-20

In his book, Churches That Abuse, sociologist Ronald  M. Enroth ( Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1992) identified 10 sets of features he found in abusive churches: control-oriented leadership, spiritual elitism, manipulation of members, perceived persecution, life-style rigidity, emphasis on experience, suppression of dissent, harsh discipline of members, denunciation of other churches, and the infliction of painful exit processes. An overview of the churches described indicates that control was obtained over every aspect of temporal life—ranging from dress codes, the space between parishioners in pews, the kinds of cookies eaten, the assigning of marital partners, the destruction of marriages, the separating of families—to the point that the readers see that individuals were led to replace their conscience and internal accountability with leader-dominated dictates that reflected that man’s personal desires. (Few were woman pastors, and most of the pastors were self-appointed rather than ordained. Mind you, quite a few ordained pastors had been put in jail for other crimes including murder and rape.)

A common protest thrown at those who take a stand for the truth is that we are not supposed to judge. However there are innumerable verses in the Bible dealing with false teachings and refuting the errors. Hebrews 5:14 tells us that mature believers, those who are of “full age,” are those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern (judge) both good and evil.” Jesus Himself said: “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). In 2 Timothy 2:17 Paul not only warns of the heresies of two men, he also names them. He also states “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” (Titus 1:9). “That you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine” (1 Timothy 1:3).

For the record, Jesus taught His disciples to beware of false prophets, who would come to them in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they would be ravenous wolves. The false ones will be known their fruits. Those who reject and deny what God has not denied including apostles, prophets, gifts of healing, miracles and speaking in tongues cannot be true prophets, but rather false ones. Those who rob, rape and use the sheep to build their own kingdom rather than those of the sheep cannot be true shepherds. For God’s word is unchanging:

“As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:15-16

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;  nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1 Peter 5:2-4

True shepherds of the flock of God serve as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to them, but being examples to the flock. Unfortunately as seen by the many religious scandals in America true shepherds are very hard to find.

But there are those foolish religious leaders who teach  “Judge not, that you be not judged” or “touch not my anointed?” But if you don’t judge a religious leader how can you be a fruit inspector? You cannot! No, God’s word is unchanging about the whole counsel of God:

“For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.  “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.  “Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.  “Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.  “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.  “Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.  “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “  Acts 20:27-35

Take heed, watch and remember are not passive verbs but active verbs and is something that God’s word instructs all of God’s people to do. They have a divine calling to be fruit inspectors. For God’s word is unchanging:

“Remember Lot’s wife. “Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. Luke 17:32-33

Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business.  When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables.  And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”

Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” John 2:13-17

No, Jesus Christ was not very kind and nice to moneychangers in the house of God. Rather He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. He gave an example what His true disciples were to do also! To be like Jesus is to do what Jesus did? God’s word is unchanging:

Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”

But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?  “Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up?  “Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up?  “How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?-but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 16:5-12

“Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, “who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” Luke 20:46-47

Being dumb and stupid and not taking heed and being beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees is not something that would please Jesus or God? Otherwise Jesus would not warn His disciples about the false ones and their deeds and teachings!  God’s word is unchanging:

Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the allotment of your inheritance,” When they were few in number, indeed very few, and strangers in it. When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people, “He permitted no one to do them wrong; yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes, Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.”  Psalm 105:11-15

For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.  But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:30-32

The Word of God tells us Miriam, the wife of Aaron, spoke against Moses and she really put herself in a lot of trouble with God. The bible records:

Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream.  Not so with My servant Moses;  He is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face,  Even plainly, and not in dark sayings;  And he sees the form of the LORD.  Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?”

So the anger of the LORD was aroused against them, and He departed. And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper. Numbers 12:6-9

Because Moses was faithful in all God’s house God spoke to Moses face to face and treated him differently from others who only heard about God. Now many presumptive idiots who think that because they are in leadership they are automatically the anointed ones like Moses was and anybody who speaks against them is going to be zapped by God and lose their life.  But the Word of God tells us that we are all anointed ones and God’s word states:

“He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD” (Proverbs 17:150

The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge” (Proverbs 18:15)

And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:28

Foolish ones, including religious leaders, fail to appreciate the fact that when they harm of God’s true apostles or prophets by word or deed they harm themselves and cause the judgment of God to fall on them. A prudent person would do well to ensure that he or she harms no one and obeys God’s word that states:

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:8-10

WALTER KAMBULOW
EXTRACT FROM Called To Inherit A Blessing
http://walthope.tripod.com/called.htm
https://walthope.wordpress.com/
http://walthope.tripod.com/
FACEBOOK: WALT KAM

SUN AND SHIELD

YOUR SUN AND SHIELD :

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. – Psalm 84:11, NIV

God wants to pour out His favor and goodness in your life. He longs to be your sun and shield. What does that mean? The sun lights our way; it keeps us warm; it nourishes the plants of the earth so that we can have food. The entire earth is sustained by its relationship to the sun, and God wants to sustain you through your relationship with Him. He wants to be your shield of protection against all the fiery darts of the enemy, and He wants to light and direct your path.

Is there someone or something else you’ve been relying on for protection or direction? Why don’t you let go of whatever you’ve been leaning on and choose to lean of God. Open your heart and trust that He has great things for your future. Receive His favor, blessing and protection today because He is your sun and shield!

THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP :

Luke 14:28 “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?”

The parable of the man building a tower is a continuation of the teaching regarding what it takes to be a disciple of Jesus. This parable stresses commitment. “Jailhouse religion,” where a person is only sorry he got caught and is trying to get out of a bad situation, will not produce true discipleship. It takes a forsaking of all to be Jesus’ disciple. Jesus is simply saying, “count the cost.”

Jesus’ teaching on discipleship emphasizes commitment. Just as a king wouldn’t engage in war without thoroughly considering all the possible outcomes, so no one should attempt to become a disciple of Jesus without counting the cost. It would be better not to start following Jesus than to start and then turn back.

When a person first comes to Jesus, it is impossible to know everything that following Jesus might entail. No one, however, should be fearful of making a total commitment because of some imagined problem that may never come to pass. There should be a willingness to forsake everything to follow Jesus.

Once we make that decision, then Christ begins to live through us (Gal. 2:20) and we find a strength that is not our own, equal to whatever test we may encounter.

THE WORK OF OUR HANDS

Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, . . . the harvest will be a heap of ruins. —Isaiah 17:10–11

Spring had just turned into summer and crops were beginning to produce fruit as our train rolled across the fertile landscape of West Michigan’s shoreline. Strawberries had ripened, and people were kneeling in the morning dew to pick the sweet fruit. Blueberry bushes were soaking up sunshine from the sky and nutrients from the earth.

After passing field after field of ripening fruit, we came to a rusty pile of abandoned metal. The harsh image of orange scrap metal poking out of the earth was a sharp contrast to the soft greens of growing crops. The metal produces nothing. Fruit, on the other hand, grows, ripens, and nourishes hungry humans.

The contrast between the fruit and the metal reminds me of God’s prophecies against ancient cities like Damascus (Isa. 17:1,11). He says, “Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, . . . the harvest will be a heap of ruins” (Isa. 17:10-11). This prophecy serves as a contemporary warning about the danger and futility of thinking we can produce anything on our own. Apart from God, the work of our hands will become a pile of ruins. But when we join with God in the work of His hands, God multiplies our effort and provides spiritual nourishment for many.

Lord, I want to be a part of what You are doing in Your world. Apart from You, my work is nothing. Lead me, fill me, use me. Nourish others through me.

“Without Me you can do nothing.” —Jesus (John 15:5)

FEAST ON THE WORD :

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. – Matthew 4:4

The Word of God is to your spirit as bread is to your body. When your body feeds on physical food, it produces a physical power called strength. When your spirit feeds on the spiritual food of the Word, it produces spiritual power called faith. And just as you can’t eat one meal and then feed on the memory of it for several weeks, you can’t just remember what the Word says and stay strong in faith. You have to read it. Even if you’ve read it a hundred times, you need to read it again.

Try this: Close your eyes and see yourself slicing a lemon. Now stick that lemon slice between your teeth and when I say, “Three,” bite down on it so hard that the juice squirts into your mouth. One. Two. Three. Bite!

Chances are, you have such a vivid memory of what it’s like to bite on a lemon that your mouth is watering right now. But let me ask you this, “Have you received any nourishment from that memory?” No.

Remembering the Word of God isn’t enough. You must continually feed on what it says. Get it out and read it. Go to church and hear it preached.

One day, you’ll read a familiar verse…a verse you’ve read thousands of times before…and suddenly God will give you the greatest revelation you’ve ever had. A completely fresh revelation from that old familiar verse! And it’s likely to be exactly what you needed to know about your current situation.

Yes, you can feed on the Word that is on deposit in your spirit. But remember this: You can’t get continued results if you don’t spend time in prayer and in the Word of God allowing the Spirit to nourish you daily.

Don’t try to live on the memory of your last spiritual meal. Replenish the force of faith within you. Feast on the Word of God today.

JESUS HEALS AND RESTORES

Jesus came to heal the broken heart. He said, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted.” When Jesus said this, He was reading from Isaiah 61. The word heal that Jesus used here can also mean restoration. When something is healed, it is restored to its previous condition. It is completely fixed and whole. In other words, Jesus came to fix, to mend, to complete the thing that has been broken. Jesus came to mend the broken heart completely.

The world teaches that if you have a problem, you will always have that problem. All you can do is to modify your behavior so that you won’t drink, you won’t take drugs, or you won’t have crying spells.

Jesus came to heal all that. Jesus does not cover it up, but He heals it. Jesus did not come to modify your behavior. He came to heal you completely so that you will be just as healed as someone who has never had the problem. You do not have to live with disappointments and discouragements or a broken heart. We must deal with all disappointments quickly or they will develop into discouragement and a broken heart.

But the good news is this – Jesus can restore and fix your broken heart. He can make it “shalom.”

PRAYER FOR THE DAY :

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.” (Psalm 100: 1-3)

Dear Lord God, I praise You. I honor You. I see Your holy face in every sunrise; Your smile breaks through the cloud with radiant sunshine. Your holiness brightens up the world and Your righteousness purifies everyone’s heart. O God, let Your servant flourish like palm trees and make me grow strong in Christ day by day.

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

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PEACE VICTORY

God’s Purpose is Peace and Victory

Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:  “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,  For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us  In the house of His servant David,  As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,  Who have been since the world began,  That we should be saved from our enemies  And from the hand of all who hate us,  To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant,  The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:  To grant us that we,  Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,  Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. Luke 1:67-75

God’s word tells us that Apostle Paul exhorted of us of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4) Yes, it’s God’s will that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence and serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life..

Through His Word, we know what God’s will is for us in every area of our lives, including our health. God reveals His will for us is to be well and whole, just as it is His desire that all might come to know Him. He wants His people to be well, in their spirits, in their hearts, and in their bodies. The blood that Jesus shed upon the cross provided for our salvation, which includes both our physical and spiritual health.  His death was the price that had to be paid in order for us to be set free from the bonds of sin and death, of sickness and disease.  With His resurrection came true life for all those who will come to Him.  Not just life-after-death, but the overcoming life that begins the very moment we invited Jesus into our heart. And as we plant the seed of God’s word in our heart and nourish it by spending time with God we receive a bountiful harvest of what we desire including health, wealth and prosperity.  God’s word is unchanging:

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God.  “Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  “But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.  “Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.  “But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. Luke 8:11-15

We don’t look at any negative conditions that may surround us for they are a deception of the enemy to keep us from our inheritance including healing and prosperity. Rather we swing the sword of the Word of God against the enemy and look instead to the life-giving promises of God, boldly claiming them out loud and standing on them in faith. God’s word is unchanging:

“Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.  “Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him.  “But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.  “For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off.  “You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars.  “So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.  “No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.   “I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. Exodus 23:20-27

Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; As your days, so shall your strength be.  “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,  Who rides the heavens to help you,  And in His excellency on the clouds.  The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms;  He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, ‘Destroy!’  Then Israel shall dwell in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone,  In a land of grain and new wine;  His heavens shall also drop dew.  Happy are you, O Israel!  Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD,  The shield of your help  And the sword of your majesty!  Your enemies shall submit to you,  And you shall tread down their high places.” Deuteronomy 33:26-29

It is God’s will that we be delivered from the hand of our enemies. It’s His will that we indeed obey His voice and do all that He speaks, and then He will be an enemy to our enemies and an adversary to our adversaries. It is His will that we serve the LORD our God, and He will bless our bread and our water. And He will take sickness away from our midst and put it on all those who hate us. God’s word is unchanging:

“And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you. Deuteronomy 7:15

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’  “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, “leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.  “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. “Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:21-26

God’s will for us is not judgments or prison but blessings and prosperity for God has expressed His will for us in His unchanging words:

“Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the LORD:  Look to the rock from which you were hewn,  And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.  Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him.”   For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places;  He will make her wilderness like Eden,  And her desert like the garden of the LORD;  Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody. Isaiah 51:1-3

So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s,  “who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time-houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions-and in the age to come, eternal life. Mark 10:29-30

It’s not God’s fault if His people have not claimed and used their inheritance when they became sons of God but have chosen to live in poverty and desolation? It’s their fault for allowing the devil to steal from them the great, precious and wonderful promises that God has given them! God’s word is unchanging:

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,  that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.   For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,  saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”  And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. Hebrews 6:11-15

WALTER KAMBULOW
EXTRACT FROM Called To Inherit A Blessing
http://walthope.tripod.com/called.htm

 

STRONG

GROWING STRONG IN FAITH :

No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his
faith as he gave glory to God. – Romans 4:20, ESV

In scripture, Abraham’s circumstances were beyond his control. He was way too old to have a child, but God promised him that he would have a son. What did he do while he
was waiting? Scripture says, “He grew strong in faith by giving praise to God.” He got up  every morning and said, “Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness.

Thank You that my baby is on its way. Thank You that You are faithful to Your Word.” He  kept thanking God for what he heard in his spirit, and eventually, the promise came to  pass.

Like Abraham, God has put dreams in your heart. He has spoken promises over you.

Deep down you believe it will happen, but in the natural, it looks impossible. The odds are against you. It’s been so long. No, God is saying, “What I started in your life I will finish.” The key is to follow Abraham’s example and praise God while you wait. That’s one way to grow in faith. Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep expecting. Grow strong in faith and see His promises fulfilled in every area of your life!

DON’T LET YOUR FAITH SLIP :

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard,  lest at any time we should let them slip. – Hebrews 2:1

Something very serious has been happening to the Body of Christ. We’ve often let the things which we have heard, the message of faith and righteousness, slip.
I’m not just talking about those believers who’ve been so surrounded by religion that  they’ve never heard about the power that’s theirs in Christ Jesus. I’m talking about  those of us who have heard the Word and have known the thrill of living by faith.

In my own life, for example, there were times when I’d pray for healing. I’d say all the  right words, “Thank God, I believe I receive…” and all that. But inside I’d be thinking, “I  wonder why God isn’t healing me?”

You see, even though I’d said that I believed I was healed, I hadn’t really. I’d staggered  at the promise of God, believing what my body told me instead of the Word of God.

I don’t care how long you’ve been a believer or how long you’ve been practicing the principles of faith. You can easily slip into unbelief about the promises of God. And, when  you do, it will cost you dearly.

“But if slipping into unbelief is so easy,” you may say, “how can we avoid it?”
Hebrews 4:11 tells us: “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall  after the same example of unbelief.”

We must labor! Not by working with our hands and feet or struggling to get God to do something, but by spending time in God’s Word–hanging onto the promises of God by faith day after day. We must labor by hearkening to the Word and refusing to let it slip.

Don’t get casual about the Word. Don’t make the mistake of thinking, “Oh I know all that faith stuff. I know how to receive my healing.” Don’t slack off or one of these days the  devil will catch you unprepared and steal you blind.

Instead, dig more deeply in the Word than ever. Labor! Be diligent to keep your faith from slipping–and you won’t have to fall!

LOOKING FOR ZACCHAEUS

Today salvation has come to this house. —Luke 19:9

Alf Clark walks the city streets looking for Zacchaeus. Well, not the actual one in the Bible—Jesus already found him. Alf and some friends who serve with an urban ministry do what Jesus did in Luke 19. They go purposefully through town to meet with and help those in need.

Alf walks house to house in his neighborhood, knocking on doors and saying to whoever peeks out, “Hi, I’m Alf. Do you have any needs I can pray for?” It’s his way of opening up communication and—like Jesus did with tax-collector Zacchaeus—seeking to supply needed counsel and spiritual life and hope.

Notice what Jesus did. Luke simply says that Jesus “passed through” Jericho (Luke 19:1). Of course, a crowd gathered, as usually occurred when Jesus came to town.

Zacchaeus, being “height challenged,” climbed a tree. Jesus, while passing through, walked right over to his tree and told him He had to visit at his house. That day salvation
came to Zacchaeus’s house. Jesus had “come to seek and to save that which was lost” (v.10).

Do we look for Zacchaeus? He is everywhere, needing Jesus. In what ways can we share Christ’s love with people who need the Savior?

God, guide our steps toward and not away from those who need You. Then guide our  words and our actions so that we can be purposeful in our encounters with others.

God’s good news is too good to keep to ourselves.

R.S.V.P :

Luke 14:16, 23 “Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade  many: …And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

The man who made the supper symbolizes God who has invited “whosoever will” to  come to Him. The parable teaches that it is not God who fails to offer salvation to everyone, but rather it is the invited guests who reject God’s offer.

These people had feeble excuses just like the excuses of those today who don’t accept God’s offer of salvation. Therefore, the Lord’s Marriage Supper of the Lamb will be furnished with “undesirables” from the world’s point of view, not because God rejects the upper class, but because they reject Him.

Those who have an abundance of this world’s possessions don’t tend to recognize their need for God as much as those who are without.

Jesus’ parable could also be applied to the Jewish nation. God offered salvation to the Jews but they, as a whole, refused Him. Therefore, the Lord sent His servants to the Gentiles to fill His kingdom.

This very parable proves that the Lord is not advocating us using force to convert people to Christianity, because this man accepted the decision of those who rejected his invitation. Therefore, it must be understood that the Lord is admonishing us to compel them to come in by our persuasion or entreaty. The word “compel” denotes  aggressiveness, even in persuading of people. The Church, as a whole, and all of us as  individuals are not supposed to simply hang out our “shingle” and wait for the world to  come to us. We are supposed to be aggressively going into all the world with the Good

News. We have an urgent command to be a witness because the time before our Lord’s
return is short.

PRAYER TO END THE DAY :

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ

Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

Dear Gracious God, I praise You. I adore You.Thank you Lord for this fruitful evening & Blessed workday… I lift up my voice to praise God for Your matchless mercy and grace bestow upon me throughout my sojourn on the earth. I give thanks to God for Your  grace is sufficient for me in every situation. I repent before God for having rejected Your grace and tried to do-it-myself efforts as a result of failure. I regret so much. When I weep, God wipes off my tears and renew my strength to carry on the way. May God prune me and polish me with Your holiness and make me a blessing channel for others!

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

PRAYER FOR THE DAY :

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (Psalm 118:29)

Dear Lord God, I praise You. I honor You. The law of the Lord is perfect; reviving my soul this morning. I give thanks to God for waking me up for another beautiful day. Your  unfailing love wraps me up like a cloak that I feel so warm at heart and my soul shouts  out “Hallelujah” to the Lord jubilantly. May God anoint me with the oil of joy and fill me with the Holy Spirit in order to help me to achieve as many as good deeds throughout  my sojourn on the earth! Let the prayer angel pray for all my needs will be granted by God on time daily.

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

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THE LORD

Was With Him

Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. Then they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.  And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. Then the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not come in here!” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David). Now David said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief. Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it the City of David. And he built the city around it, from the Millo to the surrounding area. Joab repaired the rest of the city. Then David went on and became great, and the LORD of hosts was with him. 1 Chronicles 11:3-9

David a shepherd boy who became king and in the process developed and fought with many enemies including king Saul, was not a manipulative and controlling individual unlike many religious leaders I have known! It was stubborn, egotistic, rebellious Saul who was into control and manipulation and was concerned about himself, not others! God’s word tells us about Samuel’s prophecy and Saul’s change of heart:

“Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. “And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you. “You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do.” So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 1 Kings 10:6-10

Saul, the first king of Israel, was not seeking to serve God, he was only concerned about lost donkeys. So when he received the spirit of God and was anointed as king, he was not inwardly prepared. Because of this, he soon lost both. King Saul, even though God have him another heart and prophesied among the prophets, had disobeyed God in not listening to the voice of the Lord as given by God’s friend and true man of God Samuel. Prophet Samuel said to King Saul,

“The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the LORD. “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. ‘Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ” 1Samuel 15:1-3

Saul did not do exactly what the Lord instructed him to do in destroying all of God’s enemies per His instructions. Saul in his egotism, selfishness and greed spared the King and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and was unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless was utterly destroyed. So the Lord told Samuel:

“I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.”  1 Samuel 15:11

It also grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night. Now some will find it strange and surprising that God wants to and speaks to people  about what is on His heart. But God who created the universe and everything in it including all its emotions, words, and vocabulary created the word friendship and trust. True men of God not only have the ear of God they also listen to His voice and know what is on God’s heart just like Samuel did.

Now King Saul, also an anointed one who prophesied with the prophets and had a change of heart given by God, did not know what was on God’s heart or else he would have done things He had done. Typical of egotistical man even when Saul was wrong he was still right. God’s word recorded:

Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD.” But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.” 1 Samuel 15;13-15

But a prophet plus God is greater and carries more power and weight with God than any earthly King. So Samuel said to Saul words he never expected to hear. For those who reject God’s words will find themselves rejected:

“Be quiet! And I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak on.” So Samuel said, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel? “Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ “Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?” And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. “But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”

Then Samuel said:  “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,  As in obeying the voice of the LORD?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,  And to heed than the fat of rams.  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,  And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.  Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,  He also has rejected you from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:16-23

It does not pay to argue with God or a true man of God and to ignore God’s word which says:

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:5-10

Those who do things in secret and not out in the light are walking in darkness. They have sinned and have by not obeying the word of the Lord and being accountable, honest and true men full of integrity and truth. They do not fool God nor His true servants. For  Saul also  told Samuel something that didn’t fool God because He looks at and knows the heart:

“I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. “Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD.” But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 1 Samuel 15:24-26

Then King Saul not only sinned in rejecting the word of the Lord, but  he made another foolish mistake. He put his hand onto a real man of God who was God’s friend and prophet. This is something that even Kings can not do. God word records:

And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. “And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.” Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD your God.” So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.

Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag king of the Amalekites here to me.” So Agag came to him cautiously. And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” But Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal. Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul. And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel. 1 Samuel 15:27-35

Samuel did the job that King Saul did not do and he hacked King Agag before the Lord.  Samuel and the Lord had turned their face from Saul until the day of his death. God was sorry that he made Saul King over Israel. But life had to go on and He would raised up for His people a man after His own heart, who would do all His will. So the Lord said to Samuel:

“How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.” 1 Samuel 16:1

So Samuel did what the LORD instructed him to do and went to Bethlehem.  God’s word records:

And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the LORD’S anointed is before Him.” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him. 1 Samuel 16:8-14

Many of God’s people get into serious trouble in the area of partnership, be it in marriage, business, ministry or a church. For they miss two important ingredients for success. The first is to hear and to discern the voice of the Lord. The second is to understand that God does not see as man sees for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. A true Man of God does not judge by what he sees but by the Spirit of the Lord. He is not  be fooled by smooth words and suave appearance of preachers, performers and con artists. Neither should any of God people be deceived or fooled but should obey the word of Jesus who said:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Matthew 7:15

“But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. “You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. “But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; “for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:17-22

God’s true ones just like Jesus, Stephen and others trust in the Spirit of their Father who speaks in them and not in others. They appreciate God’s word which states:

“Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, “the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, “who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” Matthew 12:39-40

“Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Luke 12:15

The enemy, even in the House of God, feels sure he has all the answers and holds all the cards. The answer is not in man it is in the Lord. But the man must cooperate or he is a good as dead because the enemy is very present waiting to come in. He does not have to come in we can resist as Joshua did. We can be as victorious and fight until the bitter end. The enemy is not as secure as he appears to be. It is all in one’s mind if they will just see. God’s people are to open their spiritual eyes and see who is their Lord and master.  It’s not the enemy it’s the Lord.

The Lord loves His people with a pure love and he desires to take them from where they were to a place that they have never been before. But they must desire to have His best in their lives and dance with the Lord. King David danced and sang and there were those who laughed at him. But he who laughs last laugh’s best and that is always the Lord! God has all His special answers waiting for His people if they will only walk with Him and listen to His voice as prophet Samuel did. God has all the answers and though they don’t fit right now, they will and when they do they will say—they knew it all along it would be that way.

The enemy has an answer but it isn’t the right path. He is liberal and deceiving pointing another way. If God’s people are not careful they will follow his direction and they will be easily led like lambs to a slaughter. They are not to be fooled by his smooth words and suave appearance for he is very deadly and definitely not their friend. They are to walk in Jesus Christ who is the real truth and they will not be dishonored, dismayed and defeated for the enemy is no friend to those who walk by the Spirit of the Lord.

WALTER KAMBULOW
EXTRACT FROM Called To Inherit A Blessing
http://walthope.tripod.com/called.htm

 

HIS WAYS

HIS WAYS ARE HIGHER :

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:9, NIV

A lot of times, we have our own ideas about how things should work out in life. But God’s ways are not our ways. In scripture, God brought water out of a rock. Jesus told Peter to go catch a fish, open its mouth, and there was the money he needed for taxes. Another time, God caused a young lady named Mary to have a baby without knowing a man. He is God. He can use things we would expect, or He can make things happen another way.

With God, you don’t have to figure everything out. All you have to do is believe. In fact, it says in Proverbs, “Lean not to your own understanding.” Sometimes there is no logical solution. You’ve got to turn your mind off. If you’re constantly trying to figure it out, that’s just going to make you discouraged, depressed and frustrated. Just because you don’t see a way doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have a way. Remember, His ways are higher, and He is working behind the scenes for your good!

TALK TO GOD –

HE LONGS TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU …

One morning, I was reading in the book of Exodus. Typically, when I read the Old Testament, I read the stories filled with accounts of the awesome wonder and power of God. But this time as I read, one thing really struck me and touched my heart. I was reading about this conversation Moses was having with God about how they were going to get the people into the Promised Land. God had already brought them out of captivity, but they hadn’t gotten into the Promised Land yet.

Now, the Israelites had been through a lot over the previous generations, and their thinking was a little off. God was meeting with Moses in a place called the tent of meetings. And God said to Moses, “You know what Moses? I’m going to help you, and I’m going to be with you.” The scripture says that “God talked to Moses as a man talks to a friend.” I believe this is a beautiful picture of God’s heart. He’s saying to all of us, “I want to talk to you like your friend talks to you.”

Too many times in life, we think God is far off. We think we have to hear him booming in the clouds, or He’s so mysterious that we don’t really hear what He’s saying. But this scripture tells us what He’s saying! He wants to talk to us like a friend. He’s saying, “I am going to be with you, and I’m going to give you the victory!”

I don’t know what you need from God today. Do you have a question for Him? Do you have a need? Know this: God is the same today as He was yesterday, and He’ll be the same tomorrow and forever! He wants to talk to you like He talks to a friend. Incline your ear to Him! Sing to Him! He’s not a far-off God! He speaks to you personally and directly. But once you’re aware of that, then you can understand that still, small voice. Trust Him, talk to Him and know that He longs to have conversations with you like a friend!

“The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. . . .” (Exodus 33: 11, NIV)

LEAVE BEHIND THE PAST :

But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:13-14

Spiritual bumps and bruises. Inner aches and pains that just don’t seem to go away. Most all of us know what it’s like to suffer from them but too few of us know just what to do about them.

We limp along, hoping somehow those hidden wounds will magically stop hurting, thinking that maybe (with a little extra sleep or an extra helping of dessert) that nagging sense of depression will finally disappear.

But does it ever happen that way? No!

I know. I’ve been there.

But thank God, I’m not there anymore. You see, over the past few years, I’ve faced some fierce spiritual battles. And I’ve found out those battles can leave you bruised and beat up on the inside just as surely as a fistfight can leave you bruised and beat up on the outside.

Before I was born again, I learned just how physically devastating a real slug-it-out kind of brawl could be. Yet as bad as I felt, a few days rest would take care of me.
The healing of a bruised and beaten spirit, however, doesn’t come that easily. In fact, the passing of time often worsens this condition.

The reason is this: Instead of putting painful failures behind us, we often dwell on them until those failures become more real to us than the promises of God. We focus on them until we become bogged down in depression, frozen in our tracks by the fear that if we go on, we’ll only fail again.

But there is a way out. If depression has put you into a spiritual nosedive, all you have to do to break out of it is to get your eyes off the past and onto your future–a future that’s been guaranteed by Christ Jesus through the exceedingly great and precious promises in His Word.

Chances are, that won’t come easily to you at first. Your mind has probably had years of practice in focusing on the past. Like an old horse that habitually heads for the barn, your thoughts will probably start galloping that direction every time you give them any slack.

So, don’t give them that slack. Keep the reins tight. Purposely meditate on the Word of God. Replace thoughts of the past with scriptural promises about your future and be diligent about it. Then, instead of being a wounded soldier, you’ll become the conquering warrior God made you to be.

HE CALLS THE STARS BY NAME

He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. —Psalm 147:4

On a plateau high above the Atacama Desert in Chile, the world’s largest radio telescope is giving astronomers a view of the universe never seen before. In an Associated Press article, Luis Andres Henao spoke of scientists from many countries “looking for clues about the dawn of the cosmos—from the coldest gases and dust where galaxies are formed and stars are born to the energy produced by the Big Bang.”

The Bible celebrates the mighty power and infinite understanding of God who “counts the number of the stars” and “calls them all by name” (Ps. 147:4). Yet the Creator of the universe is not a remote, uncaring force, but a loving heavenly Father who “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (v.3). “TheLORD lifts up the humble” (v.6) and “takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy” (v.11).

He loves us so much that “He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

British author J. B. Phillips called Earth “the visited planet,” where the Prince of Glory is still working out His plan.

Our hope for today and forever lies in the loving mercy of God who calls each star by name.

The God who made the firmament,
Who made the deepest sea,
The God who put the stars in place
Is the God who cares for me.

God, who knows the name of every star, knows all our names as well.

THE DECEIVER

COLOSSIANS 2: 12    Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14    But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16    For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Revelation 3
6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ‘
13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ‘
22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ‘ ”

The devil is known as the great deceiver. And most people are deceived in one way or another especially those who rely on their carnal mind which is enmity against God. And if you don’t think you are not deceived in one area or another you are already deceived especially by politicians or pastors that you trust!  The only way to avoid deception is to pray in the spirit constantly so that you might hear what the spirit is saying to the church which is you!

God is a good God and the devil is a bad devil. James 1:17 says that every good and every perfect gift comes from the Father and then it goes on to say that God does not change. Jesus said in John 8:44 that Satan was a liar and a murderer and that there was no truth in him. And according to Jesus, Satan does not change.

When someone says that sickness is of God, then they are attributing the work of the devil to our Heavenly Father. Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Once after Jesus healed a man, the Pharisees attributed this work of the Holy Spirit to the devil and Jesus said that their accusation was blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and that it was unforgivable. (Matt. 12:22-32.) When a person attributes the work of God to the devil or a work of the devil to God, he is in very dangerous territory.

Recently a minister stated in a letter to the editor that sometimes healing is God’s will and sometimes sickness is His will. This man clearly does not know God’s heart. For if he did, he would know Satan is the destroyer, but God is the healer. Satan brings death. God brings life. The devil destroys and brings defeat. God brings recovery and restoration.

NEED HEALING AND MIRACLES FOLLOW THESE  INSTRUCTIONS http://youtu.be/qth2CNaXPbU

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Gordon Williams  http://gordwilliams.com/

 

 

 

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A COVENANT

A Covenant Keeping God

“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.  “The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; “but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.  “Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;  “and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. Deuteronomy 7:6-10

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we enter into a covenant relationship with Him. From the scriptures we see God’s promises for those who enter into this covenant as well as what He expects from man in order to uphold our part of the covenant. The key here is that it takes two to make and keep a covenant. Our salvation is not all on God neither is it all on us (He gave His Son, He forgives when we repent…). Although God is faithful to always meet His part of the covenant, man is not always faithful. When we disregard our part of the covenant we have made with God, the covenant has been broken.

We see in the Old Testament for a picture of how God handles those who break His covenants. First, He patiently gives time for repentance. He sends prophets with a word of warning for the people to turn back to Him. Then, if there is no repentance, He sends forth judgment. It is the same today with us. God extends grace to us to give us time to be conformed into the image of His Son, so that we may be spared His wrath.  We can also see in the Old Testament that when Israel was in rebellion against God, he referred to them as adulterers. He uses the same terminology when referring to rebellious members of the church in the New Testament.

Looking in the New Testament, we see an important revelation from God about how he views covenants. He indicates that a covenant between a man and wife is to be honored (Matthew 19:8); however He also says that one can freely walk away from this agreement when adultery is present (Matthew 5:32). When we turn from God through disobedience and rebellion, He considers us adulterers. At that time we have chosen to break the covenant, thereby absolving God from His part of the covenant. Thankfully, due to God’s grace and mercy, He does not immediately cast us away from Him in these times. However, if we refuse to repent and change, we place our very salvation in jeopardy for God’s word is unchanging:

But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. Jude 1:5

“Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.  “And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.  “Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.  “I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. Revelation 2:20-23

God has also promised in His word for those who are in covenant relationship with them that He will bless them and multiply them and bless the fruit of their labors and be with them where ever they go. He has promised to take away from them all sickness, and afflict them with none of the terrible diseases of the world but will lay them on all those who hate them! He has warned their enemies that they would be in danger of hell fire. His word is unchanging:

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’  “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, “leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.  “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. “Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:21-26

Many people are sick and poor not because God doesn’t love them but because they are living under God’s judgments for not reconciling with those whom they have offended. For God is a faithful God who not only keeps covenant with His trusting ones and blesses them but He also judges and deals with their enemies in the current time of life just like Jesus promised:

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,  saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. “Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’  “And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,  ‘yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”  Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?  “I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:1-8

It is a fact that the teaching of most denominations are not only against the Word of God but they fail to heed the words and teaching of Jesus about the reality that God will avenge His trusting ones speedily even in the current time of life. They fail to understand what Jesus taught that those who don’t abide in the vine shall be cut off and thrown into the fire to be burnt. God’s word is unchanging:

“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.  “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. John 15:6-9

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.  “Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. “Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” Matthew 12:43-45

Those who cause the Holy Spirit to be grieved and to leave them just like He left Saul will find their state to be worst than before for seven other spirits more wicked than the first shall they enter and dwell there, in spite of the doctrine of demons of once saved always saved.  There is no sickness and poverty in heaven and God is able to heal and prosper each and every one of His children. Yet God’s word is unchanging:

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

The works of His hands are verity and justice; All His precepts are sure. Psalm 111:7

For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people,  To whom He said, “This is the rest with which  You may cause the weary to rest,” And, “This is the refreshing”; Yet they would not hear.  But the word of the LORD was to them,  “Precept upon precept, precept upon precept,  Line upon line, line upon line,  Here a little, there a little,”  That they might go and fall backward, and be broken  And snared and caught. Isaiah 28:10-13

Jesus Christ didn’t go around blessing every one but He did go around healing all those who were sick? It’s hard for some sick people to believe God for their healing when they believe that God made him sick.  If God makes people sick and also heals them, what’s left for the devil to do?  When Jesus was here on earth, He healed the sick everywhere He went.  Why would Jesus be healing the sick if God His Father was making them sick?  The scripture says in 1 John 3:8 “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”  Here the Bible clearly says that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, not to destroy the works of His Father. 1 Peter 2:24 says that Jesus died on the cross so we could live and He bore stripes on His body for our healing.  Jesus accomplished His mission in victory.  He conquered sickness and death for you and for me. James 5:15 says, “Is anyone among you sick?  Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up.”  In general, Satan destroys and brings sickness.  Jesus heals and gives life.  And the choice is ours.

Jesus also cursed the false ones and told them that their day of judgment was coming. ‘Woe to you’ doesn’t mean ‘Something good is going to happen to you?’ Rather it means trouble, affliction, hardship and distress is coming for Jesus warned all men that they would reap whatever the sowed. As a result some would be blessed and others would be cursed for God’s word is unchanging:

“Judge not, that you be not judged. “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!  “See! Your house is left to you desolate;  “for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ ” Matthew 23:27-39

WALTER KAMBULOW
EXTRACT FROM Called To Inherit A Blessing
http://walthope.tripod.com/called.htm