Shalom,

Today's devotional on our partner Jerry Savelle's website is EXCELLENT!

Established in the Word

He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies. (Psalm 112:7-8 NKJV)

Psalm 112 is a word picture of those whose hearts are established in God’s Word: they are not afraid of evil tidings; they are not afraid of bad news; they are not moved by contradictory evidence; they are not moved by the woes and cares and pressures of this world; their hearts are fixed and settled, trusting in the Lord.

I want you to grasp this vital truth: as a believer, you can live in the midst of all the turmoil and pressures of his world without being shaken. You can live without fear when you choose to trust the Lord and establish your heart in God’s Word.

The established heart knows that—in every situation—God is more than able to meet every need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (see Philippians 4:19). I am convinced this is the intention of the Father God for every believer.

The apostle Paul was established in the Word, and it made him able to stand victoriously, more than a conqueror in any situation. You too can stand in the midst of any attack the enemy launches against you—demons, sickness, bondage, and even death itself—and declare, “I am not afraid because my heart is established in the Word; therefore I will see my desired victory over the enemy!”

Confession: Father, I choose to establish my heart in Your Word as I trust in You. I refuse to fear any evil tidings or bad new, choosing instead to believe You will turn every situation for my good and for Your glory.

AMEN! Once you have established that the Word of God is TRUTH (John 17:17) and have made this Word YOUR top priority, you will begin to experience victory in every area of your life! 1 John 5:14-15 reveals to us that our God ONLY hears what lines up with His will. THAT would be His Word! Find out what the Word of God promises you, as a born again believer, in every area of life. Now set yourself in complete agreement with that Word, DOING what the Word says to do in every situation. This give the God of the Bible freedom to confirm His Word in your life (Mark 16:20)! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Falling Into You":

[FALLING INTO YOU

[Verse 1]

I've lived my life to the limit

Well I'm at the end of myself

I see the end that I know below me

Your love is waiting to catch

[Chorus]

I'm falling into you

Cause no one's gonna

Love me like you do (alright)

I've got nothing to lose

So I can't stop, won't stop

Falling into you (alright)

[Verse 2]

The rush I've felt in the free-fall

As I lost control of my life

Jesus, I've found that

You've always had me

Your love is never in doubt

[Bridge]

I wanna love you like you love me

I wanna love you like you love me

[Chorus]       [Bridge]     [Chorus 2x]

[Outro]

I'm falling into you

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Proverbs 14:5-8 gives us admonition against trusting in the deceiver, the  foolish, the scoffer, the liar and the self-confident person!

5 A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness breathes out falsehoods. 6 A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain [for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it], but knowledge is easy to him who [being teachable] understands.  7 Go from the presence of a foolish and self-confident man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips. 8 The Wisdom [godly Wisdom, which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of [self-confident] fools is to deceive.

Now that we have this Wisdom from the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible, we can make a more informed decision about who we will trust as we make important decisions in our lives AND for our Nation! If you still don't understand, then pray some more until you do! We should ALL be praying unceasingly anyway (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)! That simply means to be constantly aware of the Spirit of God Who lives IN us as born again believers and to be listening and paying attention to His leading. He will NOT leave us to our own simple, human understanding unless we choose to be ignorant! Choose WISDOM! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Stand In Awe":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's post will be a little longer, but I want to share one of my most valuable resources for studying the Word of God. Our ministry partner, Rick Renner, is an outstanding Greek scholar. He knows and understands the Word of God from an historical and extremely accurate word study perspective! His devotional "Sparkling Gems From The Greek" is packed with extra bits of knowledge that will make your study of the Word of God so much more meaningful and rewarding! Here is today's lesson:

How Badly Do You Want To Win Your Race?

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but only one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. — 1 Corinthians 9:24

When runners run in a race, they have one thing foremost in their mind — the finish line! It was with this thought in mind that the apostle Paul wrote and told the Corinthians, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but only one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain” (1 Corinthians 9:24).

The word “run” is the Greek word trecho, which means to run and indicates a constant and continuous pace. This word trecho often depicted runners who ran a foot race in a huge stadium before crowds of adoring fans. In order for the runner to run successfully and finish triumphantly, every ounce of his strength and his complete attention were required. Paul had this example in mind as he wrote this verse.

Just as it takes full concentration and a stride that is paced for a runner to run a long distance, Paul now uses the word trecho to tell us that if we are going to run our race as God expects, it will require 100 percent of our attention and will mandate that we learn how to run at a constant and continuous pace. In other words, we can’t try today, stop tomorrow, and then give it another shot a week later. We must be constant and consistent. Once we are in the race, we must run ferociously. On the other hand, to stay in the race on a long-term basis, we must learn to pace ourselves so we can stay consistent and avoid wearing ourselves out!

Paul tells us that we are to run until we “obtain.” The word “obtain” is the Greek word katalambano, which is a compound of the words kata andlambano. The word kata describes something that is coming downward, and the word lambano means to take or to seize something. When compounded together into one word, it becomes katalambano — a very powerful word indeed!

For example, the word katalambano can picture someone who has found something he has searched for his entire life. Rather than lose it or pass up the opportunity to possess it, he pounces on it with all his might, latching hold of it and seizing it with joy! Or once again, this word can portray a runner who runs fiercely, using every last ounce of his energy as he strains forward toward the finish line. At last he reaches the goal and crosses the finish line. The prize is now his! He won the reward because he put his whole heart, soul, and body into obtaining it!

In light of the words trecho and katalambano found in this verse, First Corinthians 9:24 carries this idea:

“Don’t you know that those who compete in a foot race run with all their might and strength against the other runners, but only one wins the competition and takes the prize? In light of this, run with all the might you can muster! Go the distance, and pace yourself to make sure you have enough energy to get to the finish line, where you will finally latch hold of and possess that which you have been so passionately pursuing!”

At the end of Paul’s own life, he wrote, “I have finished my course” (2 Timothy 4:7). He triumphantly exclaimed that he had done it! His race was finished! He had given his spiritual race all he had to give; he had run with all the might he could muster; and he had run so consistently over the years that he had finished a winner! All those years of being concentrated and focused finally paid off! If Paul had approached his race with an attitude of lazy complacency, the prize would have gone to another. But because he had “run to obtain,” he obtained!

Paul looked at his divine destiny that lay before him like a runner looks at the finish line. Rather than approach his spiritual race lazily and half-heartedly, Paul did everything within his power to preach the Gospel. If it meant getting a job on the side in order to be able to preach, that’s what Paul did (Acts 18:3). If it meant becoming as a Jew in order to able to preach to the Jews, that’s what Paul did (1 Corinthians 9:20). And if it meant becoming as those without law to win those who were without law, that’s what Paul did (1 Corinthians 9:21). He became all things to all men in order that he might win some to the Lord (1 Corinthians 9:22).

Paul suffered hardship, persecution, lack, cold, hunger, nakedness, homelessness, trouble from false brethren, trouble from true brethren — in the city, in the wilderness, and even at sea. He was beaten, afflicted by persecution, and troubled by religious people. Yet Paul never lost sight of the fact that he was called of God and that he would one day account for what he did with that calling. The finish line was always before him! He kept one thing foremost in his mind and preeminent in his thinking: I must obtain the prize. I must fulfill the purpose for which I was born. I must achieve the plan of God for my life.

Likewise, if you want to achieve God’s will for your life, there isn’t room for any other attitude than one of boldness and determination to keep running toward the goal with your eyes fixed on the finish line! This alone will take you through every obstacle and attack of the enemy and ultimately bring you to the place God desires for your life.

Like Paul, you must have resolve, strength of will, determination, backbone, high morale, courage, devotedness, persistence, tenacity, and an unrelenting mindset. You must put your foot down and take your stand as a no-nonsense kind of person who puts your whole heart into your calling. Sitting around hoping for something to happen isn’t going to produce anything! You have to jump in the race, fix your eyes on the goal, and run with all your might to the finish line so you can take the prize!

It’s time for you to “take the bull by the horns” and then hold on for dear life all the way to the goal! Make the decision that you are going to run the race, go the distance, and finish first place! Only you can make this choice, so why not get started today?

AMEN! Isn't that fascinating? Now Rick Renner has come out with "Sparkling Gems 2"! I am VERY excited to get this one when it comes out! In the meantime, here is Hillsong United with "Here Now":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share something today for all of those who have ever been tempted to give up and quit! This is the website devotional by Jerry Savelle:

Why Quit?

If you knew, beyond a shadow of doubt, that your adversity was going to turn into a glorious victory, would you still quit? What looks to be a total disaster, God can turn into a wonderful victory. He can turn your tears of sorrow into tears of joy. You can even have joy in your heart and laugh at the devil during every attack because you know that you have the victory and will come out stronger in the end!

“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive” (Genesis 50:20).

Joseph went through great adversity, time after time, but ended up at the top of the nation! He held fast to the vision God had given him and saw it come to pass in the end.

I don’t know what kind of trial you’re going through today, but if you’ll be patient in it, then you will see the end of the Lord’s compassion and mercy. God can use the very thing that Satan has brought against you as a tool for deliverance and victory. In the natural, it may look like total disaster, but God can turn it into the greatest blessing you have ever experienced.

Choose to continue to stand because we have everything to gain by standing, and everything to lose by quitting. Why give up? Why quit believing the Word? The Word works!

Confession: I believe that every adversity in my life will turn around for my good. I will trust God and enjoy a great victory!

AMEN! I have heard so many testimonies over the years from people who BEGAN to stand in faith, but then chose to give up and quit because it SEEMED to be too hard. Many of them quit just before they would have seen a major breakthrough! DON'T be THAT one! AMEN! Stay the course. Finish your race.  Go hard after the things of God and then EXPECT good and godly things to happen in your life (John 10:10 AMP)! Here is Hillsong United with "Touch The Sky":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I am continually blessed and amazed by the way that the Words of God continue to be timely and right up to the minute! Proverbs 11 is a great picture of our present election situation! Verses 1-14:

1 A false balance and unrighteous dealings are extremely offensive and shamefully sinful to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.

2 When swelling and pride come, then emptiness and shame come also, but with the humble (those who are lowly, who have been pruned or chiseled by trial, and renounce self) are skillful and godly Wisdom and soundness.

3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the willful contrariness and crookedness of the treacherous shall destroy them.

4 Riches provide no security in any day of wrath and judgment, but righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) delivers from death.

5 The righteousness of the blameless shall rectify and make plain their way and keep it straight, but the wicked shall fall by their own wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright [their rectitude in every area and relation] shall deliver them, but the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity and greedy desire.

7 When the wicked man dies, his hope [for the future] perishes; and the expectation of the godless comes to nothing.

8 The [uncompromisingly] righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked gets into it instead.

9 With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge andsuperior discernment shall the righteous be delivered.

10 When it goes well with the [uncompromisingly] righteous, the city rejoices, but when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

11 By the blessing of the influence of the upright and God’s favor [because of them] the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He who belittles and despises his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding keeps silent.

13 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy andfaithful in spirit keeps the matter hidden.

14 Where no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

I am urging and encouraging you who will be voting in the elections in November to spend time in prayer and fasting, listening to that still small voice of Holy Spirit inside as to how YOU should vote! Refuse to be moved by rhetoric, threats, schemes, coercion, or any other tactic of the enemy! The God of the Bible will NOT cause you to make a decision based on fear, but He WILL lead and guide you by peace and joy! You have all of the Wisdom of God available to you to make a RIGHTEOUS and correct choice! Do what HE  instructs and YOU will continue to walk in HIS supernatural protection, provision and safety, regardless of WHO is in power and WHAT they attempt to do! AMEN! God is NOT finished with this nation and HE was the One Who founded it for HIS purposes! We should NEVER attempt to "save" it by natural minded schemes! Here is Hillsong Worshiop with "Heart Like Heaven":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin because it goes right along with the one from yesterday! 

Heart Hunger

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35). 

Before Adam sinned, he walked and talked with God. Adam had fellowship with God. But when Adam fell, his spirit became estranged, or separated, from God. Since that day, in the life of every person born into this world, there is a heart hunger - a spirit hunger. 

This heart hunger causes men to seek something to satisfy it. Some look to worldly possessions. Some look to false religions of this world. Yet nothing can satisfy this heart hunger but God. Although this heart hunger may have driven a man to all kinds of things, it ends when he finds Jesus Christ. When he becomes acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ and receives eternal life and is born again, he becomes the child of God. Man then has a relationship with God! He can fellowship with God! His heart hunger is satisfied!

Confession: I come to Jesus. Therefore, I shall never hunger. I believe on Jesus. Therefore, I shall never thirst. I am related to God. He is my Father. I have fellowship 

The heart of a person is the combination of their spirit and their soul (mind, emotions and will). When a person is born again, the spirit of that person is recreated in the image of God. They are now in an unchangeable relationship with the God of the Bible. They have become a member of God's family rather than simply His creation. In order to take full advantage of the right to have fellowship with Him, the soul must be renewed each day. We must learn to think, speak and act like our Father by spending time in His Word, time in prayer, including praying in the spirit, and time in praise, thanksgiving and worship! What a glorious Salvation! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "From The Inside Out":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin is a very good and very basic concept that every born again believer MUST understand! 

Three Dimensions of Man

"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 Thess. 5:23). 

It will help your spiritual growth immeasurably to know the difference between your spirit and your soul. Many people believe that "spirit" and "soul" are the same thing. Even preachers believe this! They preach about the soul as if it were the spirit. But they cannot be the same thing. It would be just as scriptural to say that the body and the soul are the same, as it would be to say that the spirit and the soul are the same. But Hebrews 4:12 says that by the Word of God, soul and spirit can be divided. 

To help you understand the three dimensions of man, go through this process of elimination: 
(1) With my body I contact the physical realm. 
(2) With my spirit I contact the spiritual realm. 
(3) With my soul I contact the intellectual and emotional realms. 

Man is a spirit. The spirit is the part of man that knows God. Man possesses a soul - the intellect, the sensibilities, the will. And man lives in a body. 

Confession: I am a son of God. I am a child of God. With my spirit I contact my Father in the spiritual realm. 

AMEN! The easiest way I have learned to look at this is:

 I AM a spirit being. I HAVE a soul, which consists of my mind, my emotions and my will. I LIVE in a physical body while on the earth, looking forward to a new Resurrection body at the Rapture of the Church! Meditate on this until it gets "REAL" to you! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "This Is Living":

THIS IS LIVING

Waking Up,   Knowing there’s a reason

All my dreams come alive,   Life is for living with You

I’ve made my decision

You lift me up,   Fill my eyes with wonder

Forever young in Your love,   This freedom’s untainted with You

No moment is wasted

See the sun now,  Bursting through the clouds

Black and white,  Turn to colour all around

All is new,  In the Saviour I am found

This is living now,  This is living now

You lead the way,  God You’re right beside me

In Your love I’m complete,  There’s nothing like

Living with you,  This life You created

I choose

You take me higher than I’ve been before

It’s Your perfect love that sees me soar

God Your freedom is an open door

You are everything I want and more

See the sun now,  Bursting through the clouds

Black and white,  Turn to colour all around

All is new,  In the Saviour I am found                         2Xs

This is living now,  This is living now

You take me higher than I’ve been before

It’s Your perfect love that sees me soar

God Your freedom is an open door

You are everything I want and more

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In reading Proverbs 8 today we see that Wisdom is continually calling out to people! To the lost Wisdom tells them of their need for a Savior and Who He is! To the born again believer, Wisdom speaks of being filled with the Spirit of Almighty God so that we can walk in a deeper and more powerful understanding of the Word of God and a more powerful anointing of Holy Spirit ministry gifts for the purpose of reaching the lost! Verse 1-6:

1 Does not skillful and godly Wisdom cry out, and understanding raise her voice [in contrast to the loose woman]? 2 On the top of the heights beside the way, where the paths meet, stands Wisdom [skillful and godly]; 3 At the gates at the entrance of the town, at the coming in at the doors, she cries out: 4 To you, O men, I call, and my voice is directed to the sons of men. 5 O you simple and thoughtless ones, understand prudence; you [self-confident] fools, be of an understanding heart. 6 Hear, for I will speak excellent and princely things; and the opening of my lips shall be for right things.

Notice that the Amplified Bible here contrasts Wisdom (in verse 1) with the loose woman that we have already been warned about in previous Proverbs. Remember that Solomon wrote these Proverbs to share the Wisdom that he had received from his father David and his mother Bathsheba. Some of their Wisdom came from the Word of God and some came from their own life experiences of going contrary to the Word! At one point Solomon was very receptive to their training. How do we know that he moved away from that Wisdom? Read the Book of Ecclesiastes and see Solomon's perspective in his old age after a long life of neglecting the Word of God and the things of God! Another way that we KNOW that he turned from this Wisdom is found in 1 Kings 11:1-4:

1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; 2 Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. KJV

With all of the warning that his parents had made to Solomon about these foreign and "loose" women, they were exactly who he went after! With all of the godly Hebrew women in his kingdom to choose from, Solomon was enamored by these worldly women, and they did exactly what Wisdom had warned him they would do! The good news is that Solomon repented in his old age and came back into fellowship with God. There is a great warning here to any born again believers, men and women, who are attracted to an unbeliever. If you do not make a stand to wait for a believer, you will not change them, they WILL change you! What should you do? You should surrender your will to God, Who has excellent plans for your life (Jeremiah 29:11) and trust HIM explicitly! The unbeliever you know MAY become a believer if left alone to see that He needs a Savior, but God's choice for you is so far superior than any you could pick for yourself! Fall in love with JESUS first and MOST! Now trust HIM to bring the right person to you, all the while YOU are digging into His Word, prayer, praise and worship, and fellowship with HIM to BECOME the right person for YOUR "right person"! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Real Love":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

We read Proverbs 7 in today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Verses 1-4 say this:

7 My son, keep my words; lay up within you my commandments [for use when needed]and treasure them. 2 Keep my commandments and live, and keep my law and teaching as the apple (the pupil) of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Say to skillful and godly Wisdom, You are my sister, and regard understanding or insight as your intimate friend—

We are instructed here to "keep" the Word . This is the Hebrew word "shamar", which means: to hedge about; guard; to protect; to attend to; to observe; to treasure up; to celebrate; to perform. We are told here in Proverbs that skillful and godly Wisdom comes from the Word and that we are to treat the Word as a treasured friend! THIS was an Old Covenant instruction and promise. We have a better Covenant than they did, that is based on better promises than they had (Hebrews 8:6)! So what does our new Covenant have to say about how we should treat the Word of God? Look at John 17:17, also from today's Bible Plan:

17 Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.

The Word of God IS Truth itself, no matter what the world thinks about it! This verse also tells us that it is by the Word of God that we are sanctified, which simply means that we are set apart from the rest of the world and set apart unto the God of the Bible! We are HIS! He IS our Source of supply, our Provider, Healer, Deliverer, Protector, our LORD, our God and our King! Continue to put the Word of God first place in your life and you will stay in position to receive ALL that God has for you! AS you do this, you will draw people around you to HIM! THAT is His #1 priority,, and it SHOULD be ours! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "One Thing":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession [or confession], Christ Jesus. Hebrews 3:1

Very few believers today understand the mystery of the apostleship and priesthood of Jesus. We think that an apostle is some kind of super-saint. But apostle actually means “sent one.” So, Jesus has been sent from God to do something for us. He’s been sent to serve as our High Priest. Again, many believers don’t have the first idea what a high priest does. They picture a person walking around in strange clothes performing religious rituals.

In reality, a high priest is much more than that. He is one who is authorized to administer, to execute, to implement and to carry into effect. Now, you may wonder what it is that Jesus is authorized to administer, execute or carry out on your behalf. Hebrews 3:1 says that Jesus is the High Priest of our confession. He’s been sent to put into effect, to execute, to carry out the words that you say. But, chances are, you’ve been speaking what you feel, instead of speaking words of faith. If, for example, you’re speaking sickness, what’s He going to do with that? He’s not High Priest over sickness. He can’t execute that. If you’re saying, “I’m so weak, I’m so tired,” He can’t carry that out. The Bible says, “Let the weak say, I am strong!” The minute you say that, Jesus can administer strength.

Jesus is not going to administer sickness or disease or poverty or sin. He’s defeated all that. He is High Priest over deliverance and righteousness and freedom. Consider that. Then as you come before Jesus, don’t speak words of defeat. Speak words He can implement—words of victory. That’s what He’s been ordained by God to bring to pass in your life.

AMEN! After Jesus ascended into Heaven, His disciples did this in Mark 16:20:

20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied [it]. Amen (so be it).  AMP

And then HE confirmed the Word that THEY spoke! Make sure that YOUR words line up with His Word, so that He can confirm your words for you, too! HE said that IF His word lives in His people, they can ask what THEY will and HE will do it (John 15:7)! Check YOUR words! They are VITAL to every area of your life! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "In God We Trust":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read John 15 for today. The Gospel of John is my favorite Gospel. Verse 7 is very powerful! Here is it in a few translations:

7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.  KJV

But if you live your life in me, and my words live in your hearts, you can ask for whatever you like and it will come true for you. J.B. Phillips

But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. The Message

7 “If you remain united with me, and my words with you, then ask whatever you want, and it will happen for you. CJB

My very favorite is the Amplified Bible:

7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. AMP

There is the real key to this verse! IF, and the choice is the responsibility of each one of us individually, we become vitally united with Him in the New Birth and meditate (Joshua 1:8) on His Word until that Word LIVES in us, THEN we will be asking what is according to His Word, which IS His will (1 John 5:14-15) and THEN we will have what we have asked for! Just being born again is NOT enough for that level of answered prayer! Just being born again AND Spirit filled is not enough for that level of answered prayer wither! We MUST be born again, we MUST be Spirit-filled, and we MUST have the Word of God ALIVE in us in order to walk in that level of answered prayer! My prayer for YOU is that you will make whatever adjustments are necessary to get yourself in THAT wonderful position! Here is Hillsong United with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Would you like to know THE most important requirement for getting Wisdom from the Word of God? Look at Proverbs 4:7 from the Amplified Bible:

7 The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation).

The MOST important aspect of "getting" Wisdom is to realize that you DO NOT have it yet! In the same way that a sinner must realize their need for a Savior before they will ever receive Jesus as Lord and personal Savior, every born again believer must realize that they DO NOT know it all! In fact, we will NEVER, in THIS life, come to a place of "knowing it all"! I have an idea that we will all be spending a great deal of time in Heaven learning things we never knew! So. realize that you DO have a lot to learn, and then get busy setting yourself up with a time and a place for your own personal study each day, because the next step is to GET Wisdom! AMEN! This is the Hebrew word "qanah", which means: to procure, especially by purchase. We do NOT have to 'buy' the Word of God with money, but we DO have to pay the price to get it inside o us! "Get" also means: to possess, to acquire, to obtain. Spending time studying the Word of God will not only bring Wisdom, but will also bring "understanding, discernment, comprehension, and God's interpretation" of what HE has already said! AMEN! I would also like to remind you today of the vital importance of sharing the Gospel with everyone that you know! John 14:6 tells us this very vital TRUTH!

6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.

Jesus IS the ONLY way to get to the Heaven of the Bible when we leave this life AND the only way to have any access to the God of the Bible here in this life! refuse to be concerned with how people receive YOU when you share the Gospel, make sure that they have the opportunity to receive HIM! AMEN! Remember, ALL of the angels in Heaven rejoice when even ONE unbeliever gets reborn and receives true LIFE! NEW LIFE! GOD'S LIFE! {Luke 15:7 and 10}! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Rule":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers gives some instructions in the second half for being led by the Lord that we have always given at The Spoken Word Church! 

The secret ["friendship," rv] of the Lord is with them that fear Him. — Psalm 25:14

What is the sign of a friend? That he tells you secret sorrows? No, that he tells you secret joys. Many will confide to you their secret sorrows, but the last mark of intimacy is to confide secret joys. Have we ever let God tell us any of His joys, or are we telling God our secrets so continually that we leave no room for Him to talk to us? At the beginning of our Christian life we are full of requests to God, then we find that God wants to get us into relationship* (see below for a correction) with Himself, to get us in touch with His purposes. Are we so wedded to Jesus Christ’s idea of prayer — “Thy will be done” — that we catch the secrets of God? The things that make God dear to us are not so much His great big blessings as the tiny things, because they show His amazing intimacy with us; He knows every detail of our individual lives.

“…him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose.” At first we want the consciousness of being guided by God, then as we go on we live so much in the consciousness of God that we do not need to ask what His will is, because the thought of choosing any other will never occur to us. If we are saved and sanctified God guides us by our ordinary choices, and if we are going to choose what He does not want, He will check, and we must heed. Whenever there is doubt, stop at once. Never reason it out and say — “I wonder why I shouldn’t?” God instructs us in what we choose, that is, He guides our common sense, and we no longer hinder His Spirit by continually saying — “Now, Lord, what is Thy will?”

Amen! Once we receive Jesus as Lord and personal Savior, we ARE in an unbreakable relationship with Him! We are members of the family of God and the Body of Christ! What God REALLY desires after that is a close and intimate FELLOWSHIP with us! Through this fellowship, He CAN lead, guide and direct us in such a powerful and supernaturally natural way that we will have all confidence in every decision! THAT kind of fellowship takes time, effort and a determined purpose to settle for nothing less! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Where You Are":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In Proverbs 2 we find that whether or not we ever get wisdom and understanding of the Word of God depends entirely on our own choices! Look at verses 1-5:

2 My son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you, 2 Making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it]; 3 Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures, 5 Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God.

WE must decide that we are in need of MORE wisdom than we are currently operating in, then we must follow through with the study and meditation of the Word. As wisdom and understanding grows in our lives, we are in a better position to receive the specific guidance that comes to us individually directly from Holy Spirit Himself! He will guide us generally in line with the Word that we know, then specifically according to our own individual personalities, lives and situations. If our actions do not line up with the Word of God, then we are either adding to or taking away from the Word and Holy Spirit will ONLY lead us in line with the Word! How we receive the instructions from the Word and the specific instructions given by Holy Spirit is the gauge by which our maturity in the things of God is measured. Now I want to share with you something that Holy Spirit showed to me today through the devotional that we read after our Morning Prayer service. (This year we are going through "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin). 

In His Image

"And God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him" (Genesis 1:26-27). 

"For the Lord takes pleasure in his people" (Psalm 149:4). 

If man is made in the likeness of God, and God is a Spirit, then man, of necessity, must be a spirit.  God made man for His own pleasure. He made man to fellowship with Him. Man is not an animal. Man is in the same class with God; otherwise, he couldn't fellowship with God. 

Did you ever try to fellowship with a cow? Cows are in a different kingdom than you are in. They are in a different class. You can't fellowship with them. 

But we can fellowship with one another. And we can fellowship with God, because we are in the same class of being as God.  God is a Spirit. And man, created in the image and likeness of God, is also a spirit being. 

Confession: God is a Spirit, and I am a spirit. I am created in God's image and in His likeness. I am in the same class of being as God. I can give God pleasure. I can fellowship with Him. 

Now allow Holy Spirit to specifically direct YOU in YOUR life as to what adjustments YOU need to make in order to walk in the fullness of Life that comes from intimate fellowship with HIM! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Like Incense":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We begin Proverbs today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Because they are so simple, wise and make such sense, people who never read the Bible can still quote certain Proverbs to you! The first six verses of Proverbs 1 give us the purpose for this book:

1 THE PROVERBS (truths obscurely expressed, maxims, and parables) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 That people may know skillful and godly Wisdom and instruction, discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight, 3 Receive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice, and integrity, 4 That prudence may be given to the simple, and knowledge, discretion, and discernment to the youth —  5 The wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound counsel [so that he may be able to steer his course rightly] —  [Prov 9:9.]  6 That people may understand a proverb and a figure of speech or an enigma with its interpretation, and the words of the wise and their dark sayings or riddles. AMP

The Hebrew word for "proverb" is "mashal", which means: a pithy maxim, a simile. "Pithy" means: precisely, thoughtful, forceful, brief, clever. "Maxim" means: a short pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct. A "simile" is a figure of speech comparing one thing with another of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid. These are the forms that most of the Proverbs take. They are easy to read, easy to understand and easy to remember. What will take us beyond this into a real working knowledge of the Word of God is meditation and obedience. Joshua 1:8:

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. AMP

Meditation involves reading the Word, hearing the Word, thinking about the Word, speaking the Word (to yourself and others) and then, when the understanding comes, looking for ways to put that Word into practice. Holy Spirit, Who is our personal Teacher, will make the Word that we give attention to come alive and make perfect sense! THEN we will be able to do what Joshua declares and SEE and DO the Word, resulting in wisdom and GOOD SUCCESS! I don't know anyone who doesn't want that! AMEN! Set yourself to NOT just memorize the Word of God, including the wonderful Proverbs, but, but to understanding and obeying. OUR success brings HIM glory! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!