Shalom,

I love today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin!

Changing of Lords

"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 6:14).

Another translation of today's text reads, "For sin shall not lord it over you."

Sin and Satan are synonymous terms. Therefore, we could read this verse, "For Satan shall not have dominion over you," or "Satan shall not lord it over you."

The reason why Satan cannot lord it over you is found in Colossians 1:13 - the Father has delivered you out from under Satan's control and dominion.

The moment you were born again and became a new creature in Christ Jesus, Jesus became your Lord. Now He is the One who dominates you; Satan is no longer your lord.

Satan can no longer lord it over you. When you were born again, Satan's dominion over you ended - and Jesus' dominion over you began!

And anything that is of Satan - sickness, disease, bad habits, or whatever - can no longer lord it over you!

Confession: Jesus is my Lord. Thank You, Father. Thank You for delivering me from the power of Satan. Thank You because Satan can no longer lord it over me. Thank You because sickness, disease, and bad habits can no longer lord it over me. Thank You because Satan has no dominion over me!

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "The Great I Am Can":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share this from Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace Inspirations" devotional on healing!

Receive His Healing Power

When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? 1 Corinthians 10:16 NLT

I would like to share a powerful truth that I believe will help to keep you in God’s love and drive fear out of your life: whenever fear tries to creep up on you, go somewhere quiet and meditate on how much the Lord loves you as you partake of the holy Communion.

Right off, you might be wondering, If God loves me, why do I have to pray or partake of the Communion at all? What difference does that make? And if it’s His will to heal me, why am I not automatically healed?

May I first answer the question of why you are not healed automatically? My friend, we know it is God’s will for everyone to receive salvation, to receive the gift of eternal life that was freely given to the world (John 3:16). But we all have the choice to accept or reject God’s offer. Nobody gets saved “automatically.” God is a gentleman, and He will not force His salvation on anyone. He will not force His gifts or blessings on us. He will not force His health or goodness on us.

So what difference does prayer and partaking of the holy Communion make? When we pray and partake of the holy Communion, we are actively releasing our faith to be aligned with God’s will, God’s Word, and God’s power. We are not begging Him to heal us or trying to persuade Him to heal our loved ones—we already know it is His will to heal.

Prayer is about building an intimate relationship with Him. When we pray and partake of the holy Communion, we are receiving His love for us and receiving His healing power into our physical bodies. Talk to God today (that’s what prayer is) about your health challenges, and let Him impart boldness to you and confidence in your heart that He wants you healthy.

So when fear grips your heart, go somewhere quiet and find rest in the intimate love of Jesus through the holy Communion. Talk to your Savior, and as you lift up the bread, tell Him, “Lord Jesus, thank You that You love me so much You allowed Your body to be broken so mine can be whole. Right now, I receive Your wholeness, Your strength, and Your divine health.”

As you lift up the cup, say, “Thank You for Your precious blood, which has cleansed me of every sin. Right now, I can come boldly to Your throne of grace, knowing I am completely righteous, knowing my prayers avail much!”

AMEN! There is no need that you and I can possibly have that JESUS hasn't already provided the answer for! ONLY BELIEVE! Here is Brandon Lake with "Tear Off The Roof":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Here is Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional for today!

Purpose

"...That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:2-4).

God doesn't tell us to do something just to fill up space in the Bible. He has a purpose in mind. We are to pray for those in authority so that we who are Christians may lead a quiet and peaceable life.

God is concerned about us, and He will work on our behalf, even when those in authority are not Christians.

God's ultimate purpose is that we be able to spread the Gospel freely. If we do not live under a stable government, the spreading of the Gospel is hindered.

For example, times of political upheaval, war, travel restrictions, and other limitations hinder the spreading of the Gospel. Jesus said, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matthew. 24:14).

The devil will try his best to see that this is not accomplished. Therefore, we are exhorted to offer intercessory prayer, supplications, and the giving of thanks for those who lead our nation.

Confession: Father, I thank You for our leaders. I thank You because You hear and answer prayer, and because You are working on my behalf.

AMEN! Here is Benjamin William Hastings with "That's The Power":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Rick Renner's devotional from "Sparkling Gems From The Greek - Volume 2".

Do Not Budge From Your Post.

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season…. — 2 Timothy 4:2

After Paul’s very long, detailed description in Second Timothy 3 of the things that would become more and more prevalent in the last of the last days, he made this charge to Timothy in Second Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season….”

The word “instant” is from the Greek word ephistemi, and it means to stand at your post. The word ephistemi is a military term. That’s important because standing at your post entails engaging in spiritual warfare. I won’t delve into a deep study of the subject of spiritual warfare here, but I will say that declaring the Word of God in faith is the highest level of spiritual warfare there is. That’s why it’s especially important for a preacher, or any believer who has God’s Word planted deeply in his heart, to stand and to keep on standing at his post without moving an inch!

The declaration of God’s Word from the pulpit is another form of spiritual warfare. The preaching and teaching of God’s Word can have a life-changing, yoke-destroying effect on people’s lives. When you proclaim the Gospel, it touches people who are in sin. The Word of God breaks down strongholds, releases His supernatural power, and transforms minds and lives.

That’s why Satan is always after the pulpit. He attacks it not so much because of the individuals who stand in the pulpit, but rather because of what they declare from their position in Christ and the authority Jesus has delegated to them as ministers of the Gospel. The enemy wants to stop the light from going forth because of the high level of warfare that’s effectively demonstrated when truth penetrates the human spirit and enlightens a person’s mind.

There’s power in the proclamation of the Gospel to snatch a person right out of a lifetime of bondage and plant his feet firmly on the right path, where there is light for his feet, freedom for his mind, strength and resolve for his will, and vision for a bright future. That’s what God’s Word can do, so it’s no wonder that Satan tries to stop the preaching, teaching, and ministry of the Word! Mental, emotional, and spiritual strongholds are demolished when the Word of God is proclaimed!

Now you can better see why Paul would go to such great lengths to urge and admonish Timothy to “stay put” — to remain in his place of ministry, or stay at his post. It’s obvious that he wouldn’t exhort Timothy to stay put somewhere unless Timothy was being tempted not to stay put. Believers in the church of Ephesus were suffering intense persecution for their faith in Christ. But Paul said to Timothy, “You be instant” or, “Stay at your post! Don’t leave the position where God placed you!”

Then Paul’s next words — “in season, out of season” — give us further clues as to why remaining continually stationed where God places us is so important. The phrase “in season” was translated from the Greek word eukairos, which basically means in good times.

For those of us in the ministry, it’s so much nicer to preach when everyone in the congregation is on our side and thinks we’re great! When everything in the church or ministry is running smoothly with no challenges to distract us, those are good times! But when people in the church start gossiping about us and about each other; when newspapers are writing stories about us or a family member that are untrue; or when your well-being, or the well-being of your family, is threatened either financially or physically — those are not very good times.

That’s why Paul said we need to stay at our posts even when things seem to be “out of season.” That phrase was translated from the word akairos, and that prefix a puts a negative spin on kairos. It means when things have changed and they are NOT so wonderful. The whole phrase could be translated “in good times and bad times!”

What are you supposed to do when pleasant times begin to shift? What do you do when dark storm clouds begin to form in skies that just moments before were clear and blue? You do the same thing you were doing before when times were good! You remain at your post, refusing to budge!

In fact, Paul wrote previously in Second Timothy 3:14, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.” In other words, Paul was telling Timothy, “Don’t you budge! Don’t move from the place where God has called you. Stay put!”

Paul wrote these words to Timothy, but through these Spirit-inspired writings, He is also saying to us: “Stay at your post and don’t budge an inch! Stay there and do what God has told you to do when times are good — and if times turn bad, remain steady and unflinching.” One thing is sure: If you’ll remain faithful to the call and to the place where God has assigned you — if you will decide to stay put and refuse to budge an inch — He will empower you with inner strength that will enable you to see that divine assignment through to a glorious conclusion!

AMEN! What a powerful and needful teaching! Here to help you with this is Brooke Ligertwood with "Like Incense - Sometimes By Step":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Here is today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin!

First of All

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority..." (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

When we follow the directions in God's Word and put first things first, we get results. This is especially true in regard to Scripture. If we follow the directions and put first things first, we can expect to receive from God the things He has provided for us.

"First of all" means first of all.

But also notice that along with supplications, along with prayers, along with intercessions, the Word inserts, "giving of thanks."

Lest we misunderstand exactly who he is talking about, Paul goes on to tell us exactly who these "all men" are. "Kings" would include presidents, rulers, and other leaders of nations. "All that are in authority" would include state, county, and city leaders, etc.

If we as Christians want to please God, who will we place as number one on our prayer and thanksgiving list? Ourselves? Our children? Our grandchildren? Our church? No. If we want to please God, we will have to do exactly as God said to do. We will have to pray and offer thanks first of all for all who are in authority.

Confession: Thank You, Lord, for our president. Thank You for all who are in authority.

AMEN! Make sure that YOU are being a DOER of THIS Word of God! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Bless God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Here is another great message from Joseph Prince!

Good Things Happen when You Believe God Loves You!

. . . to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:18–19

Once, when I was preparing to preach, the Lord shared this with me: “good things happen to people who believe that God loves them.” My friend, good things happening to you does not depend on who you are, what academic qualifications you hold, or what your profession is. Good things simply happen to you when you believe that God loves you! He loves you all the time. Even when you fail, He loves you! His love is not like our love. Our love is conditional, but His love is not. It is not contingent on our behavior.

It is contingent entirely on His grace and the work of His Son, Jesus Christ.

When Paul prayed for the church of Ephesus, he prayed that they might be able to comprehend “what is the width and length and depth and height” of “the love of Christ” (see today’s scripture). Notice Paul’s emphasis on the love of Christ. In other words, it is not about our love for Christ. Paul was praying for them to have a revelation of Jesus’ love for them and not their love for Jesus. Now, observe closely the result of them knowing the Lord’s love for them: they would be “filled with all the fullness of God.” I have heard many sermons saying that if you do this and do that, you will be filled with the fullness of God. But that is not what the Bible says. It says that when you know the love of Christ, you will be filled with the fullness of God. You will see Him provide for your needs in big and small ways.

I want to share a praise report from Kimberly, who lives in Florida, that demonstrates this truth. She and her husband had received the revelation of the gospel of grace and began to see financial breakthroughs where they had previously struggled. On their eighth wedding anniversary, Kimberly’s husband had surprised her with a new wedding ring. He got the new three-carat diamond ring at a supernaturally low price—almost nothing over their trade-in, half-carat diamond! To Kimberly, it was a symbol of God’s favor on their marriage and lives. So you can imagine her dismay when she lost it! Kimberly recalled:

I was choking back negative thoughts as I feverishly tried to find the ring. We tore our house apart. The more I searched, the more stressed I became. I remember hearing the Holy Spirit say, “Stop trying to find it. Just rest and I will bring it back to you because I love you.” This gave me peace for about a day and a half but by the third day, I was in tears and frantic again! I cleared my bathroom vanity area three separate times to look for it!

I went to the bedroom in tears, looked up, and said, “Jesus, I know that You love me, and You don’t have to help me find my ring to prove that. But because You love me, will You bring my ring back to me?” I prayed that simple prayer, walked back into the bathroom, and found my ring lying on my vanity area! Completely shocked, I immediately called my kids in to ask them if they had placed my ring there, and they said that they had not. I began crying and praising God because He truly answered my prayer by placing my ring in a spot that I had just checked and scrutinized three times! Jesus brought it back to me just as He had promised! I praise Jesus for loving me. Now, my ring symbolizes His grace even more.

Have you been there before? You got so frantic and stressed that God had to interrupt your frenzy of worry to remind you that He loves you and would take care of that detail for you? What made the difference for Kimberly was this very knowledge that the Lord loved her. Once she was conscious of how much the Lord loved her, she saw her prayer answered and her precious ring (which the Lord had blessed them with) returned to her.

Beloved, I pray that you have been growing in the revelation of how much God loves you as you see all that Jesus has accomplished for you on the cross. The more you realize that it is a revelation of Jesus’ love for you and not your love for Jesus, the more you, your family, and your future will be filled with the fullness and riches of His grace.

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Honey In The Rock":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Psalm 139 today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan today. Verses 13-18 are very special to me!

13 For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery].
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I could count them, they would be more in number than the sand. When I awoke, [could I count to the end] I would still be with You.

Each of us has our own unique story, personality, calling, anointing, strengths and attributes! No matter what those are, the TRUTH is that HE knows us each individually and planned for us from before the foundation of the world! YOU ARE UNIQUE! Never try to be like someone else! NO ONE can fulfill GOD'S plans for YOUR LIFE but YOU! Here is Brandon Lake with "Plans", because GOD'S PLANS for YOU are GOOD!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Psalm 138 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan and it is one of my favorites! 

[A Psalm] of David.
1 I will confess and praise You [O God] with my whole heart; before the gods will I sing praises to You.
2 I will worship toward Your holy temple and praise Your name for Your loving-kindness and for Your truth and faithfulness; for You have exalted above all else Your name and Your word and You have magnified Your word above all Your name!
3 In the day when I called, You answered me; and You strengthened me with strength (might and inflexibility to temptation) in my inner self.
4 All the kings of the land shall give You credit and praise You, O Lord, for they have heard of the promises of Your mouth [which were fulfilled].
5 Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord and joyfully celebrate His mighty acts, for great is the glory of the Lord.
6 For though the Lord is high, yet has He respect to the lowly [bringing them into fellowship with Him]; but the proud and haughty He knows and recognizes [only] at a distance.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.
8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever—forsake not the works of Your own hands.

I LOVE this Psalm, especially verse 2 because it puts the right perspective on God's WORD, and verse 8 because it is a promise that I count on ALWAYS!  Here is UNITED with Benjamin William Hastings with "Know You Will":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to shre again from Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace Inspirations" devotional.

Is There No Suffering for the Believer?

For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. Philippians 1:29

A question I'm often asked is: Is there suffering in the body of Christ?

My friend, we are called and given the privilege to suffer persecution for His name’s sake as the apostle Paul states in today’s scripture. Furthermore, Paul tells his protégé, Timothy, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12 NLT). Jesus Himself said that those who follow Him will be persecuted for His name’s sake (Matthew 10:22).

However, I want you to be clear that this persecution doesn’t involve terminal illnesses, tragic accidents, or premature death.

But Pastor Prince, wasn’t Job a righteous man who experienced terrible suffering?

What happened to Job is not something that will happen to you who are IN CHRIST today. You see, one of Job’s complaints was this: “If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together” (Job 9:33 NLT). Now, read these powerful words spoken by Elihu in Job 33:23–24, which describes this mediator: “If there is a messenger for him, a mediator, one among a thousand, to show man His uprightness, then He is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom.’”

Elihu’s description of a mediator foreshadows what 1 Timothy 2:5–6 tells us, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Job experienced his sufferings because he didn’t have a mediator. But today, you and I do—in the person of our Lord Jesus, who died at the cross to atone for our sins and made us righteous before God. He became our ransom (the Hebrew word for ransom comes from the root word kaphar, which means “to make an atonement”).

Beloved, the atoning blood of Christ has canceled all the legal rights that the enemy had against you and your family. When you receive all that His perfect sacrifice at the cross has accomplished for you, you don’t have to live afraid that you will be like Job. Unlike Job, you have a mediator—Christ Jesus. In Him you can look forward to a future full of His promises, blessings, and protection (Psalm 23:6)!

AMEN! Remember, the WORD you KNOW is the WORD that will set you free and keep you free! So get into the Word of God like your life depends on it, BECAUSE IT DOES! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Bless God":

Shalom in him!

Shalom,

We read Psalm 136 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today! Verse 1 says this:

1 O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.

"O give thanks" is the Hebrew word "yadah" which means: to worship with extended hands. Why? Because His mercy and loving-kindness (Hebrew 'checed' - "loving-kindness; steadfast love; grace; mercy; faithfulness; goodness; devotion.") is forever (Hebrew 'olam' - time out of mind, eternity)! 

So now I challenge YOU to continue with this Psalm and DO what it says! You will never be the same and HE will mean mmore and more to you every single day! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Like Incense - Sometimes By Step":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share this devotional from Andrew Wommack.

Learn The Word By Doing It

Matthew 26:55 'In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.'

The four gospels refer to Jesus teaching 43 times, preaching 19 times, and preaching and teaching in the same verse, six times. This indicates that Jesus spent twice as much time teaching as He did preaching. Teaching is the basic building block for making disciples. Jesus was making disciples, not just converts.

The Greek word for 'disciple' literally means 'a learner,' and indicates 'learning by endeavor' or what we would call 'on-the-job training.' Jesus said in John 8:31, 'If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.' Anyone who meets this criterion is Jesus' disciple.

'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 wants us to 'count the cost.' It is definitely a commitment.

What the Lord has started in you, He will also continue and complete. That is not to say that your success will be automatic; we have to cooperate with what God is wanting to do in our lives. Our faithfulness may always be suspect, but God's faithfulness is never in question. It is always God's will to continue and complete the good work He began in us.

AMEN! TRUST HIM! No one loves YOU more! Here is Brandon Lake with "Adoption Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 134 from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today!

A Song of Ascents.
1 Behold, bless (affectionately and gratefully praise) the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, [singers] who by night stand in the house of the Lord.
2 Lift up your hands in holiness and to the sanctuary and bless the Lord [affectionately and gratefully praise Him]!
3 The Lord bless you out of Zion, even He Who made heaven and earth.

AMEN! I hope that you are taking advantage for the Psalms as part of your own personal praise and worship! PRAISE is POWERFUL! Try it! Here is one of my favorite praise songs by Brandon Lake called "Praise You Anywhere":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Toda I want to share from Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace Inspirations" devotional.

Your Hundredfold Harvest Is Coming

“But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” Mark 4:20

When you get discouraged that you have been partaking of the holy Communion but your healing is taking longer than you hope for, the enemy can start to play mind games with you. Maybe you are starting to entertain thoughts that the Communion is just an empty ritual. May I tell you there is spiritual warfare going on to get you to give up on the very channel God has ordained to bring supernatural life and health into your body?

As I mentioned previously, miracles of instantaneous healing can take place. But our Lord Jesus tells us in today’s scripture what to expect when we are trusting Him for a breakthrough that does not manifest instantly. Notice what He says about how the seeds of the Word of God bear fruit when they fall on good ground. Luke’s gospel also records: “But as for that seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and noble heart, and hold on to it tightly, and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15 AMP).

The seeds that fall on good ground “bear fruit with patience.” “Patience” refers to perseverance and endurance. Do you know why patience is involved? Because it takes time for seeds to bear fruit. It does not happen overnight. Just as the farmer waits patiently for the precious fruit of the earth, you also need to be patient (James 5:7). Your harvest will come incrementally—first thirtyfold, then sixtyfold, then a hundredfold.

When you begin to partake of the Communion, you might see some improvements, but the pain is mostly still there. That’s a thirtyfold harvest. Don’t give up! Keep on partaking of the holy Communion by faith until you get your sixtyfold harvest. That’s when you know there has been major improvement—you can even feel it—but maybe some symptoms are still there, lingering on. That’s the time to keep persevering, and to keep trusting, and to keep putting your eyes on His finished work until you see your hundredfold harvest of blessings, and you experience full healing for your condition.

When a seed is sown, you don’t see anything immediately, but you know it will begin to sprout leaves and grow. You don’t have to keep digging up the soil to check if the seed is growing. In the same way, when the seed of the Word of God is sown, your part is to have faith in the power of His Word and to be patient, as you believe that His words shall not return to Him void. And just as the earth yields crops incrementally, “first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head” (Mark 4:28), I declare that you shall reap the full harvest of your healing!

AMEN! DARE to BELIEVE God's Word! DARE to RECEIVE all that JESUS gave His life for! Here is UNITED with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" about finainces!

Faith For Finances

Let us hold fast the profession [confession] of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised). — HEBREWS 10:23

When I’ve needed things in my own life, I’ve always stood on Mark 11:23 and said (or confessed) what I was believing God for. I’ve always just said it, and not prayed it.

(When another person is involved, however, what they believe can affect your prayers; especially if they are not in agreement with you.)

I haven’t prayed about money for years, and I’ve never been without money. I always just say, “The money will come,” and it comes. When I need a certain amount, I am specific in my confession: I specify the amount I need.

Once I needed $1,500 by the first of the month. So I said it. And I kept saying it. During times of prayer, I didn’t pray it; I just said, “By the first of the month I’ll have $1,500.”

When the first of the month came, I had $1,500! Praise the Lord!

Confession: I hold fast to my confession of faith without wavering. For He is faithful who promises. And I have what I say.

AMEN! NEVER doubt God's Word and never doubt His promises to YOU! Here is Brooke Ligertwood and Brandon Lake with "Honey In The Rock":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Here is today's devotional from Jerry Savelle Ministries!

You Are God’s Special Treasure

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. Deuteronomy 7:6 NKJV

You are somebody special to God. Why? Because the blood of Jesus has dealt with every sin and failure that you ever committed and experienced, or that you ever will commit and experience.

Religion doesn’t teach that you are special. Religion wants you to remain “sin conscious,” meaning you are acutely aware of your shortcomings before a holy God. While it’s true that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, this is the very reason Jesus had to come.

The blood of Jesus washed away every bit of sin and failure in your life—past, preset, and future. As far as God is concerned, you are now holy, blameless, and above reproach in His sight. You are God’s special treasure, whether you feel like it or not.

Religion causes you to focus on your inadequacy and failure, when you should be focusing on the blood of Jesus and all that He did for you. If you have received Jesus as your Savior, you are not a worthless sinner. If you were, then the blood of Jesus didn’t work. I would never dare say the blood of Jesus didn’t work, because it did work!

Confession: Because the blood of Jesus cleansed me of my sin, I am holy and righteous in Your sight, Father God. Thank You that I am Your special treasure.

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Graves Into Gardens":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional is another very valuable lesson if you want to walk in FAITH!

Praying And Saying

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. — MARK 11:24

Faith will work by saying without praying (notice Mark 11:23 doesn’t mention praying), but faith also works by prayer.

However, when you pray it, you still have to say (or confess) it.

Let me repeat that: Faith will work by SAYING it, or it will work by PRAYING it, but when you PRAY it, you still have to SAY it.

Mark 11:23 and 24 brought me off a bed of sickness many years ago. After I had prayed, then I began to say (not think) out loud in my room, “I believe that I receive healing for my body.” Then I specified each thing that was wrong with me: “I believe I receive healing for the heart condition. I believe I receive healing for this paralysis. I believe I receive healing for the incurable blood disease.”

And just in case I had missed anything, I concluded, “I believe that I receive healing from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.”

Within the hour every symptom of physical deficiency disappeared from my body, and I was standing on the floor beside the bed — healed!

Confession: What things soever I desire, when I pray, I believe that I receive them. I confess what I believe. I hold fast to my confession. And I never fail to receive them.

AMEN! Knowing that it is GOD HIMSELF Who said it, we can take GREAT CONFIDENCE! Here is Brandon Lake with "Tear Off The Roof":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "From Faith To Faith" devotional.

The Hidden Things of God

Blessed art thou...for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 16:17

Remember when you went to school and learned your ABCs? You learned them by using your five senses and your logical abilities to gather information and sort it out. That kind of knowledge is called natural knowledge and it's the only kind most people know anything about.

But in the kingdom of God, there's another kind of knowing. One that works its way from the inside out instead of from the outside in. It's called revelation knowledge.

Jesus spoke about this kind of knowledge in Matthew 16. He'd just asked the disciples, "Who do you say I am?" Peter had answered Him by declaring, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

"Blessed are you, Simon," Jesus responded, "because flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father which is in heaven."

In other words, Jesus was saying, "Peter, you didn't learn this information through your physical senses. You received it another way. You received it directly from God."

If you've ever had a revelation like that, you know that when it comes, it changes things. It makes you see old things in an entirely new light. It gives you such unshakable confidence that, as Jesus said to Peter, "The gates of hell can't prevail against you."

But revelations like that don't come easily. You have to meditate the Word and search the Spirit of God for them because they are "hidden" in Him. The Bible says God has hidden His wisdom for the saints (1 Corinthians 2:7-9). Notice, He's hidden it for you, not from you. He wants you to have it.

Don't think, however, that God is just going to drop great revelations into your lap while you're watching television. You have to seek Him.

If you're hungry for revelation knowledge, get yourself in a position to receive it by meditating the Word, praying and fellowshiping with the Lord. Begin to receive those revelations from Him. It's the most exciting kind of learning there is.

AMEN! I remember being told when I was younger that we were NOT supposed to read the Bible because it was just for the priest or pastor. How incredibly wrong that was! Our GOD has made HIS WORD available so that every born again beleiver can KNOW HIM! He desires for us to feed on His Word so that we KNOW Who HE is, what HE has done for us, how to do His will, how to operate in His Word and to be the BEST we can BE! I hope that YOU are taking the Word of God seriously! HE hopes so, too! Here is Hillsong Worship  with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional!

A Good Report

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. — NUMBERS 13:30

And Joshua . . . and Caleb . . . spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it,
is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not. — NUMBERS 14:6-9

Joshua and Caleb were the two spies who had a good report. They didn’t deny that giants were in Canaan; they simply added that the children of Israel would be able to overcome the giants.

“We are well able to overcome them,” they said, “for the Lord is with us!” That was their good report.

Similarly, we believers must not stick our heads in the sand like ostriches and deny that problems and difficulties exist in our lives. Yes, the “giants” are there — but we are well able to overcome them, because the Lord is with us!

When you face the giants of life, don’t have a negative confession. Don’t talk doubt and have an evil report. Faith always has a good report!

Confession: I am well able to overcome the giants in my life — because the Lord is with me! Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Tear Off The Roof":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Joseph Prince's "Redeemed From Every Curse".

Redeemed from Every Curse

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13–14

Do you know that Jesus loves you and has borne every imaginable disease upon His own body on the cross so you need not suffer them? Today, I want to show you how you can turn to the cross for any and every medical challenge and condition.

In the verses above, we see that our Lord Jesus redeemed us from every curse of the law so that the blessing of Abraham might come upon us. Now, Deuteronomy 28 has a long and detailed list of curses, and I want to focus on the curses that cover sicknesses and diseases that Jesus has redeemed you and me from:

• Consumption (diseases that cause your lungs to waste away), fever, and inflammation (Deuteronomy 28:22)

• Boils, tumors, scurvy, “the itch, from which you cannot be cured” (Deuteronomy 28:27 NLT)

• Madness, blindness, and panic (Deuteronomy 28:28 NLT)

• Severe boils that cannot be healed (Deuteronomy 28:35)

• Great and prolonged plagues, and serious and prolonged sicknesses (Deutonomy 28:59)

Christ has redeemed you from every single one of the diseases and afflictions mentioned here. If you think your particular condition is not quite covered, the Bible goes on to mention “all the diseases of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 28:60). Egypt is a picture of the world. As the people of God, we do not have to be afraid of the diseases the world suffers because He has brought us out of the world, and now we may be in the world but we are not of this world (John 17:11, 14).

Not only that. It also goes on to include “every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law” (Deuteronomy 28:61).

Hallelujah! Can you see that every disease and every condition is part of the curse of the law and that Christ has redeemed us from every curse? God wants you so blessed in your health that just as He put all your sins on Jesus’ body, He also put all your diseases on Jesus’ body. God loves you so much He allowed His own Son to become a curse so you can be redeemed from the curse of the law.

That doesn’t mean the enemy won’t try to enforce symptoms of the curse in your life. But whenever the enemy tries to bring on a symptom of the curse, you can reject it. Refuse to accept it. You have already been redeemed from that symptom in Jesus’ name!

AMEN! Find out from GOD'S WORD what belongs to YOU as a born again child of the Living God! NOT from other people, but directly from HIS WORD so that when the enemy brings doubts, YOU will have the firy TRUTH of GOD'S WORD to burn that lying devil! Here is Tauren Wells with "Take It All Back":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional again!

What To Say

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. — 1 JOHN 4:4

What is the Holy Spirit doing in you?

Is the Holy Spirit just a “spiritual hitchhiker?” Does He just hitchhike a ride through life with you? Is He just some excess baggage for you to carry through life?

No! The Holy Spirit lives within you to help you!

He lives within you to strengthen you!

He lives within you to comfort you!

He lives within you to put you over in life!

Make positive confessions like this instead of talking failure and doubt.

Confession: I believe that the Greater One lives in me. I believe that He is greater than the devil. I believe that He is greater than the tests and trials I may be facing. I believe that He is greater than the storm I may be going through. I believe that He is greater than the problems that may be confronting me. I believe that He is greater than the circumstances which may appear to have me bound. I believe that the Greater One is greater than sickness and disease. I believe that the Greater One is greater than anything and everything! And the Greater One dwells in me!

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Too Good To Not Believe":

Shalom in Him

Shalom,

I LOVE our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! We have been using this plan for MANY years and I learn something new each time we go through it! GOD'S WORD IS ALIVE and POWERFUL! This verse from today's reading in John 2 is the MOST  important instruction you will ever receive from the LORD! Verse 5: 

5 His mother said to the servants, Whatever He says to you, do it.

Whatever YOU find in the WORD of GOD to do  - DO IT! Now you cannot obey that instruction unless you are actually IN the WORD! So dig in, grow up and BE BLESSED! Here is Brandon Lake with "Turnaround":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional again!

What I Say

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; HE SHALL HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAITH. — MARK 11:23

Let’s examine what Jesus said in today’s text: “. . . and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe [that is, believe in his heart] that those things which he saith shall come to pass . . . .” Those things that you say are your words — your confessions — and those words give you power over demons, disease, and circumstances.

What is it Jesus says you shall have? What you believe for? No. Many people think, If I believe strongly enough, it will come to pass. But at the same time, they are talking unbelief, so what they are asking for cannot come to pass!

Jesus did not say, “He shall have whatsoever he BELIEVETH”; He said, “. . . he shall have whatsoever he SAITH.”

For you do receive what you say. If you’re not satisfied with what you have in life, then check up on what you are saying — what you are confessing. All you have and all you are today is a result of what you believed and said yesterday!

Confession: I believe in my heart. I believe in my words.

AMEN! You CAN do this IF you truly believe in HIS Word! And you do that by being IN HIS WORD on a dialy basis! Joshua 1:8 AMPC says it this way:

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.

Here is Brandon Lake and Cody Carnes with "Too Good To Not Believe":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambers give a very good perspective of pleasing the LORD!

Authority And Independence

If ye love Me, ye will keep My commandments. —John 14:15 (RV)

Our Lord never insists upon obedience; He tells us very emphatically what we ought to do, but He never takes means to make us do it. We have to obey Him out of a oneness of spirit. That is why whenever Our Lord talked about discipleship, He prefaced it with an IF — you do not need to unless you like. “If any man will be My disciple, let him deny himself”; let him give up his right to himself to Me. Our Lord is not talking of eternal positions, but of being of value to Himself in this order of things, that is why He sounds so stern (cf. Luke 14:26). Never interpret these words apart from the One who uttered them.

The Lord does not give me rules, He makes His standard very clear, and if my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without any hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love some one else in competition with Him, viz., myself. Jesus Christ will not help me to obey Him, I must obey Him; and when I do obey Him, I fulfil my spiritual destiny. My personal life may be crowded with small petty incidents, altogether unnoticeable and mean*, but if I obey Jesus Christ in the haphazard circumstances, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God, and when I stand face to face with God I shall discover that through my obedience thousands were blessed. When once God’s Redemption comes to the point of obedience in a human soul, it always creates. If I obey Jesus Christ, the Redemption of God will rush through me to other lives, because behind the deed of obedience is the Reality of Almighty God.

*mean: as used here, something or someone ordinary, common, low, or ignoble, rather than cruel or spiteful.

AMEN! We obey HIM because we LOVE HIM because HE fisrt loved US! HALLELUJAH! Here is Brooke Logertwood with "A Thousand Hallelujahs":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share this great message from Rick Renner's "Sparkling Gems From The Greek - Volume 2".

End Time Advice

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. — 2 Timothy 4:5

Today I want to give you some end-time ministry advice — advice that is very pertinent for the present times. You might want to go back and review what we discussed in the September 26 Sparkling Gem, because it is foundational to what I will share with you today. As we saw, the Holy Spirit prophesied in Second Timothy 4:3-4 that doctrine would change in the last days.

The Holy Spirit inspired these writings in Second Timothy 4 to prepare us for what lies ahead, much of which is already happening right now. He told us that when it comes to our stance on the infallible, incorruptible Word of God, we should be dedicated to correct interpretation and to teaching and preaching that is done with the power of the Holy Spirit.

This is very important instruction for us in a day when people are abandoning the sound teaching of doctrine. Regardless of what others do, we must decide that we will remain clear channels for the truth, even if it means we must put up with accusations that we are too traditional and stuck in the past. This is God’s command to us.

Then Paul wrote in verse 5, “…Make full proof of thy ministry.” The Greek word for “full proof ” is plerophoreo, which simply means fulfill. Paul was urging Timothy to complete his ministry and bring it to its fullness. Although Paul was addressing Timothy directly, he was also talking very specifically to us — to those who would be alive at the end of the age. I believe this refers to our generation, and it certainly explains why we see so much nonsense going on in the world around us concerning the way people think and believe. This kind of deluded thinking and believing has even crept into the Church.

The pure preaching of doctrine is often replaced today with motivational speaking — nice, uplifting messages. In fact, the majority of people in modern congregations are ignorant of the most elementary aspects of New Testament doctrine. And very often, those who occupy the pulpits — although they may be masterful communicators and rate highly among motivational speakers — are equally uneducated in basic Bible principles. Many of those who do know the Bible don’t preach it as strongly as they once did because it’s not as popular as other types of messages. The result of this compromise is a drift from the Holy Scriptures. And this drift continues, seemingly unabated, while the doctrinal vacuum in the Church is being filled with motivational messages and “new-and-improved” church-growth programs. Yet when everything is said and done, only the Bible has the power to permanently transform a life.

Friend, the Bible has not changed. It’s still sharper than any two-edged sword (see Hebrews 4:12), and it’s still the answer for everyone, whether it’s in written form or on your computer or smart phone! The Bible is still the Word of God that has His very breath infused within it. And if you’ll take it into your heart and release it, it will put you on your feet again. It will heal your body, deliver your mind, and bring peace and order to your children and your household!

So much of what “creeps” into your home today is just a treadmill of information designed to keep you in a continual state of learning, never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (see 2 Timothy 3:6-7). So if I could leave you with some valuable end-time advice today, it would be to continue in the truth you know — found in God’s holy, infallible, incorruptible Word.

You can rest assured that the Word of God is, has been, and always will be unchanging, and it will produce fruit in you if you will abide in it. God’s Word will perfectly equip you to stand strong, unfaltering, and unwavering in the days that lie ahead. Your part is simply to abide in His truth and continue in that which you have learned from Him.

AMEN! We are SO extremely BLESSED to have the Word of God! Let's take full advantage of HIS WORD! There IS no other TRUTH! Here is Hillsong again with "Your Word":

Shalom in him!

Shalom,

We read Psalm 121 today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today. This is the second of the Psalms of Ascents where it is believed that the pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for the Feasts would sing these songs as they made their way. Here is this Psalm:

A Song of Ascents.

1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah]—From whence shall my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved; He Who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand [the side not carrying a shield].
6 The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

AMEN! What a positive and exciting promise we read here! TRUST HIM! If HE said it, it WILL come to pass! Here is Brandon  Lake with "Coat Of Many Colors":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Daily Grace Inspirations" by Joseph Prince is another fantastic lesson!

The Law Demands, Grace Supplies

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8–9 NLT

In Luke 18, we read about a rich young ruler, who came to Jesus saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18). I believe that through this story, the Lord wants to help us understand that we can be justified only by faith and not our works.

Justification by faith produces hope, peace, and joy and a heart for Jesus that results in good fruit. Attempting to be justified by works produces fear, anxiety, and an inability to produce lasting fruit.

When the rich young ruler came wanting to be justified by his works, the Lord gave him the law to bring him to the end of himself. Jesus said to the rich young ruler who thought he had kept all the laws, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

The rich young ruler was found lacking in one thing. The very first commandment is, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). Yet money was his god—he walked away sorrowful when the Lord asked him to sell all that he had (Luke 18:20–23).

There is no record that he gave even one nickel to the poor. But look at what happened when Jesus invited Himself to Zacchaeus’s house. Not one commandment, just pure grace was given. And it resulted in Zacchaeus’s giving half his wealth to the poor and making a public commitment to repay fourfold to everyone he had stolen from!

The law demands, grace supplies.

The law demands, and it results in fear, guilt, and sorrow. Grace supplies, and it produces generosity, holiness, and inward heart transformation.

Now, you tell me, which gospel should we preach? Justification by works through the law? Or justification by faith through the power of God’s grace?

Unfortunately, there are many believers who after they have been saved are taught and believe, like the rich young ruler, that they can be justified before God only by their works. They end up conscious of failing Him and with a fearful expectation of God’s punishment and judgment.

Every bad thing that happens to them reinforces that fear. Even when things are going well, they are fearful of losing God’s blessings or protection because of a mistake they may have just made.

The result? Insecurity, dread, anxiety, and all kinds of fears become constant companions that rob them of the joy of living, let alone living life with boldness and confidence.

Beloved, no man can meet the demands of the law and be justified. We can be justified only by faith in the blood of the Lamb. If you are not anchored in this truth and if your conscience is not washed by the Lamb’s blood, you will always be fearful.

Our justification is from faith to faith, not faith to works. It is “accomplished from start to finish by faith” and faith alone (Romans 1:17 NLT)!

Here is UNITED with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin!

Strong Faith

He [Abraham] staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. — ROMANS 4:20-21

“I’m weak in faith,” one woman said to me. “Will you pray that I’ll grow stronger in faith?”

“No,” I said, “I won’t. To tell you the truth, you are strong in faith! You just don’t know it. May I ask you some questions?”

“Yes, of course,” she said.

“Are you fully persuaded — fully persuaded — that what God has promised He is able to perform?”

“Certainly,” she said. “I know God can do anything He said He would do. And I know He will do it.”

“Can you say, ‘Glory to God,’ and praise God for His promises?”

“Certainly, I can. I do that every day.”

“Then you are strong in faith,” I said, “according to Romans 4:20 and 21.” Abraham was also strong in faith. What is strong faith? Giving glory to God. And being fully persuaded that what God has promised He is able also to perform. If you can meet these two requirements, then you are strong in faith too.

Confession: I am fully persuaded that what God has promised, He is able to perform. I can give glory to God. I am strong in faith. I have the Abraham-kind of faith. I have a measure of the God-kind of faith.

AMEN! Strong faith comes from the Word of God by Holy Spirit causing the Word of God to come alive IN us! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "A Thousand Hallelujahs":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read  Psalm 119:1-88 today and these verses really ministered to me:

63 I am a companion of all those who fear, revere, and worship You, and of those who observe and give heed to Your precepts.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy and loving-kindness; teach me Your statutes.
65 You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your promise.
66 Teach me good judgment, wise and right discernment, and knowledge, for I have believed (trusted, relied on, and clung to) Your commandments.

All of Psalm 119 is speaking of God's Word! Make His Word your top priority every day by reading it, meditating on it, speaking it to yourself, discussing it with others and DOING IT! Blessings abound to those who obey HIS WORD! Here is UNITED with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read 1 John 2 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today and verses 4-5 really stood out to me!

4 Whoever says, I know Him [I perceive, recognize, understand, and am acquainted with Him] but fails to keep and obey His commandments (teachings) is a liar, and the Truth [of the Gospel] is not in him. 5 But he who keeps (treasures) His Word [who bears in mind His precepts, who observes His message in its entirety], truly in him has the love of and for God been perfected (completed, reached maturity). By this we may perceive (know, recognize, and be sure) that we are in Him

My prayer for you today is that you will continue 'keep' His Word, as the Amplified Bible says in Psalm 119:56 'hearing, seeing, loving and obeying them'!

Here to help you with that is Hillsong Worship with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I was really blessed with Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace Inspirations" devotional:

The Lamb of God

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

I encourage you to start every new day with this thought: “God loves me and gave His only Son for me. Jesus is all for me today. I am saved, healed, favored, righteous, and accepted in Christ the Beloved.”

Start your day by occupying your mind with Jesus. For a season in my life, before I even got out of bed, I would repeat to myself over and over again, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ.”

Some mornings I would say it more than fifty times. I wanted it to be a revelation pulsating in my heart, an unshakable belief that God is for me and with me. When you occupy your mind with Jesus, every struggle, fear, and bondage that you are entangled with will lose its evil grasp on you!

There is a beautiful picture of Jesus hidden in the Old Testament. Under the old covenant of the law, those who sinned were told to bring a sheep that was without blemish, wrinkle, or spot to the priest.

The priest does not examine the person to see if he is perfect (without sin), because he has sinned. So the priest examines the sheep.

If the sheep is indeed perfect, the person who has sinned lays his hands on the sheep in an act of transferring his sins to the innocent sheep. At the same time, the innocence and perfection of the sheep are transferred to the person.

The sheep is then killed, and the person leaves with his conscience cleared and his sin debt forgiven. He walks away under an open heaven of God’s favor and blessing.

Can you see Jesus in this Old Testament practice? The sheep without blemish, spot, or wrinkle is a picture of the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus Christ Himself, who takes away the sins of the world.

The priest is a picture of God. He doesn’t examine you for your sins. Instead, He examines Jesus, and because Jesus is gloriously perfect, you can live today with your conscience cleared and your sin debt forgiven. You can walk under an open heaven and expect God’s favor and blessings in your life.

What a beautiful picture of God’s abundant and lavish grace.

Today, turn your eyes away from yourself and stop the self-introspection! Look to Jesus, the Lamb of God, and see His perfection as your perfection. See His innocence as your innocence, His righteousness as your righteousness. Be occupied with Him, and be transformed from the inside out.

AMEN! THAT is exactly what Jesus intended for us by HIS death, burial and resurrection! Here is Brandon Lake with "Adoption Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share this devotional from Jerry Savelle Ministries:

Diligence

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 NKJV

Did you know diligence is a key to obtaining the blessings of God? To be diligent means to approach what you are doing with eagerness, earnestness, and care.

Diligence is a matter of the heart, and a diligent heart always produces good: “In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, either this or that, or whether both alike will be good” (Ecclesiastes 11:6 NKJV).

Let’s look at what God’s Word has to say about diligence:

“The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor” (Proverbs 12:24 NKJV). 

 “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has noting; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich” (Proverbs 13:4 NKJV).

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).

Diligence is a prerequisite to seeing your victory.

Diligent people always make a steady, consistent effort to accomplish their goals.

Diligent people never give up.

Confession: I decide today to always make a steady, consistent effort to accomplish my God-given goals and to never give up. Whatever I do today, I will do it diligently and joyfully as unto the Lord.

AMEN! THAT is the attitude of faith that brings our miracle working GOD on the scene! Here is Brandon Lake with "Remember The Miracles":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambers!

The Viewpoint

Now thanks be to God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ. — 2 Corinthians 2:14

The viewpoint of a worker for God must not be as near the highest as he can get, it must be the highest. Be careful to maintain strenuously God’s point of view, it has to be done every day, bit by bit; don’t think on the finite. No outside power can touch the viewpoint.

The viewpoint to maintain is that we are here for one purpose only, viz., to be captives in the train of Christ’s triumphs. We are not in God’s showroom, we are here to exhibit one thing — the absolute captivity of our lives to Jesus Christ. How small the other points of view are — “I am standing alone battling for Jesus”; “I have to maintain the cause of Christ and hold this fort for Him.” Paul says — “I am in the train of a conqueror, and it does not matter what the difficulties are, I am always led in triumph.” Is this idea being worked out practically in us? Paul’s secret joy was that God took him, a red-handed rebel against Jesus Christ, and made him a captive, and now that is all he is here for. Paul’s joy was to be a captive of the Lord, he had no other interest in heaven or in earth. It is a shameful thing for a Christian to talk about getting the victory. The Victor ought to have got us so completely that it is His victory all the time, and we are more than conquerors through Him. “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ.” We are enwheeled with the odour of Jesus, and wherever we go we are a wonderful refreshment to God.

AMEN! MY goals! Here is Brooke Ligertwood again with "Bless God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to encourage you with Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food"  devotional!

Spirit Being

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. — 1 THESSALONIANS 5:23

You are a spirit.

You have a soul.

And you live in a body.

With your spirit you contact the spiritual world.

With your body you contact the physical world.

And with your soul you contact the intellectual world.

These are the only three realms you contact. There are no more.

Man is a spirit being who was created in the image of God, who is a Spirit. (See Genesis 1:26; John 4:24.)

You, too, are a spirit being. And it will help your faith to think like that, because faith is of the heart, or the spirit, or the inward man. (The terms “spirit” of man and “heart” of man are used interchangeably throughout the Bible.) Faith is not of the head. Faith is not of the body. Faith is of the heart!

Confession: I am a spirit. I have a soul. And I live in a body. I am a spirit being created in the image of God. With my spirit I contact God. With my spirit I believe God!

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "I Know A Name":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

The best thing thatI can share with you today is our Psalm from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan!

Psalm 113
1 Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord!
2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forever
3 From the rising of the sun to the going down of it and from east to west, the name of the Lord is to be praised!
4 The Lord is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the Lord our God, Who has His seat on high,
6 Who humbles Himself to regard the heavens and the earth!
7 [The Lord] raises the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap and the dung hill,
8 That He may seat them with princes, even with the princes of His people.
9 He makes the barren woman to be a homemaker and a joyful mother of [spiritual] children. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

HALLELUJAH!!! Lets praise Him now with Brandon Lake and "That's Who I Praise!":

Shalom in Him!