Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is very good again today!

Is Your Ability to See God Blinded?

Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things… —Isaiah 40:26

The people of God in Isaiah’s time had blinded their minds’ ability to see God by looking on the face of idols. But Isaiah made them look up at the heavens; that is, he made them begin to use their power to think and to visualize correctly. If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades, if we will only begin to use our blinded thinking to visualize it.

The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control. Is your mind focused on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Is it your work? Is it your idea of what a servant should be, or maybe your experience of salvation and sanctification? If so, then your ability to see God is blinded. You will be powerless when faced with difficulties and will be forced to endure in darkness. If your power to see has been blinded, don’t look back on your own experiences, but look to God. It is God you need. Go beyond yourself and away from the faces of your idols and away from everything else that has been blinding your thinking. Wake up and accept the ridicule that Isaiah gave to his people, and deliberately turn your thoughts and your eyes to God.

One of the reasons for our sense of futility in prayer is that we have lost our power to visualize. We can no longer even imagine putting ourselves deliberately before God. It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others. The power of visualization is what God gives a saint so that he can go beyond himself and be firmly placed into relationships he never before experienced.

As born again, Spirit-filled believers in JESUS as Lord and Saviour, we have Holy Spirit living IN us! He is ready at all times to TEACH us what the Word of God says and means - to us! He instructs us in the unique and individual ways that each of us can put the Word of God into practice. One very important part of that involves our meditation. God designed us with the ability to 'daydream'! We can, as Holy Spirit leads us, 'picture' the Word we are reading and studying. We can 'see' the results in our imaginations, which is what we have those for! When we fill our ears, eyes, hearts and minds with the Word of the Living God as Holy Spirit leads, guides and directs, we will begin to SEE with the eyes of our FAITH, and then God can cause it to come to pass! AMEN! Work on spending more time in His intimate presence, allowing Holy Spirit to show Himself strong for you, and believing the God of the Bible will become the most natural thing EVER! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Irresistible":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is EXCELLENT for those in ministry! Especially for those just starting out. This advice, if heeded, will cause you to NEVER be drained dry!

Are You Exhausted Spiritually?

The everlasting God…fainteth not, neither is weary. — Isaiah 40:28

Exhaustion means that the vital forces are worn right out. Spiritual exhaustion never comes through sin but only through service, and whether or not you are exhausted will depend upon where you get your supplies. Jesus said to Peter — “Feed My sheep,” but He gave him nothing to feed them with. The process of being made broken bread and poured-out wine means that you have to be the nourishment for other souls until they learn to feed on God. They must drain you to the dregs. Be careful that you get your supply, or before long you will be utterly exhausted. Before other souls learn to draw on the life of the Lord Jesus direct, they have to draw on it through you; until they learn to take their nourishment from God. We owe it to God to be our best for His lambs and His sheep as well as for Himself.

Has the way in which you have been serving God betrayed you into exhaustion? If so, then rally your affections. Where did you start the service from? From your own sympathy or from the basis of the Redemption of Jesus Christ? Continually go back to the foundation of your affections and recollect where the source of power is. You have no right to say — “O Lord, I am so exhausted.” He saved and sanctified you in order to exhaust you. Be exhausted for God, but remember that your supply comes from Him. “All my fresh springs shall be in Thee” (PBV).*

*PBV: Prayer Book Version. The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England includes a translation of the Psalter, or Psalms of David.

Make sure that YOU are never forgetting or letting go of your FIRST LOVE! Today's Psalm 40:3 is an excellent place to begin returning to that complete reliance on  the God of the Bible! 

3 And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord.

Amen! Begin every new step in your walk with HIM with praise, thanksgiving and worship and you will NEVER find yourself empty! You will ALWAYS have more than enough of the presence of  God for YOUR needs AND to minister to others! AMEN! Children's songs always re-energize me, so here is Hillsong Kids with "I Give You My Hallelujah":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share from Andrew Womack's Daily Devotional. This is SO good!

HE LEFT JUDAEA

John 4:1,3 "When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized disciples more than John...He left Judaea."

This is an interesting passage of scripture. On the surface, it might look like Jesus was running from a fight. Now that John the Baptist was out of the way (he had been imprisoned), it was inevitable that the Pharisees would attack Jesus.

One thing we can be sure of is that there was no fear on our Lord's part. On other occasions He demonstrated that no one could do anything to Him if He didn't allow it (Luke 4:29-30; John 7:30, 44-46; 8:20, 59; 10:39).

Therefore we can assume that Jesus left because He knew it was God's will. On another occasion when His half brothers dared Him to go to Jerusalem and confront the Pharisees, He told them that it wasn't time for Him to go yet (John 7:1-6). A lesser man would have been intimidated into showing His superiority.

Jesus was the most selfless person who ever walked the earth. He did not come to earth for Himself, but for us. If He would have defended Himself, we would have never been saved. The humility of Jesus was surely interpreted by some to be weakness, but in truth it was love. Not love for Himself, but love for a dying world of which He was the only hope.

Such a powerful TRUTH! EVERYTHING that JESUS did during His earthly ministry was for OUR benefit! The very best way that we can even begin to give honor to JESUS for all that HE has done for us is to honor HIS greatest desire! 2 Peter 3:9:

The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.

AMEN! Let's simply be about our Father's business and preach the GOOD NEWS to everyone we know! HE knows that not ALL will come to Him, but He rejoices over every single ONE! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "No Reason To Hide":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share one of my very favorites from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional! 

Swinging Free

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" (Ephesians 6:10). 

One day in 1932, 200 sailors were holding onto ropes attached to the dirigible, the USS Akron, as they attempted to moor the giant airship to a steel mast in San Diego. 

Suddenly, however, the dirigible shot straight up into the air. Some of the men hung onto the lines and were swept up with the ship, soon falling to the ground. Several were killed. After all the rest had fallen, one man kept hanging on. He could be seen as the dirigible soared high in the sky. People were screaming and fainting. They knew this sailor couldn't hold on much longer, and any minute he might fall back to the earth and certain death. 

But after an hour and forty-five minutes, when they were able to pull the dirigible back to its mooring, the sailor was still dangling from the airship. An ambulance was waiting to take him to the hospital, but he said he was all right. 

People asked him how he had held on for so long. He told them he had found he had about four feet of rope, so, while holding on with one hand, he tied the rope around his waist with the other, and the rope held him. He had just been swinging free the whole time!

Many Christians are also trying to hold on and hold out, but instead they give out. Some even fall. But all we really need to do is to wrap ourselves in the promises of God and swing free like this sailor, enjoying the scenery! 

Confession: I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I am swinging free in His strength and in His power! 

Learn to be "strong in the Lord"! HE has promised to never leave you or forsake you! He has promised that you will not go through anything that you are not fully equipped to handle! And He has promised to ALWAYS give you a way of escape! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "God Is Able":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Yesterday we spoke of Saul becoming Paul and leaving his previous 'dead man' behind! Today I want to reinforce that radical change with THIS from Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest"!

Are You Ready To Be Offered?

I am already being poured out as a drink offering. — 2 Timothy 4:6 (R. V. Marg.)

“I am ready to be offered” (kjv). It is a transaction of will, not of sentiment. Tell God you are ready to be offered; then let the consequences be what they may, there is no strand of complaint now, no matter what God chooses. God puts you through the crisis in private, no one person can help an other. Externally the life may be the same; the difference is in will. Go through the crisis in will, then when it comes externally there will be no thought of the cost. If you do not transact in will with God along this line, you will end in awakening sympathy for yourself.

“Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.” The altar means fire — burning and purification and insulation for one purpose only, the destruction of every affinity that God has not started and of every attachment that is not an attachment in God. You do not destroy it, God does; you bind the sacrifice to the horns of the altar; and see that you do not give way to self-pity when the fire begins. After this way of fire, there is nothing that oppresses or depresses. When the crisis arises, you realize that things cannot touch you as they used to do. What is your way of fire?

Tell God you are ready to be offered, and God will prove Himself to be all you ever dreamed He would be.

AMEN!!! Let's make sure that we have gotten ourselves 'READY' by receiving JESUS as Lord and Saviour and then by receiving the Infilling of His Spirit! NOW commit YOUR ways into HIS hands and allow HIM to make us and mold us into His very image and likeness! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Who You Say I Am":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we read this about the Saul who would become the apostle Paul in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! Acts 8:1-3:

And Saul was [not only] consenting to [Stephen’s] death [he was pleased and entirely approving]. On that day a great and severe persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (special messengers). 2 [A party of] devout men with others helped to carry out and bury Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul shamefully treated and laid waste the church continuously [with cruelty and violence]; and entering house after house, he dragged out men and women and committed them to prison.

As I was meditating on these verse today I saw something in a new light! In yesterday's reading in Acts 7 we read that Saul was a witness to the stoning of Stephen and here we see here that he was all in favor of this, Even after hearing how wonderfully Stephen presented the Gospel! What was I thinking about this? That Saul knew of the ministry of JESUS. He also KNEW about, and may have been present at, the Crucifixion! Do you remember how the crowd, when asked if they wanted JESUS released by Pilate, SCREAMED "Crucify Him"! Saul would have been right there, screaming in frenzy himself!  Now fast forward to PAUL, who had already had an encounter with JESUS on the road to Damascus, and was born again! He had been taught by JESUS directly about the Gospel before he ever met with the CHURCH! Can you even imagine the thoughts and taunts that the enemy hurled at him? Paul had to have developed a very strong and powerful thought life to be able to resist every time the enemy reminded him of his previous words and actions! BUT, because he KNEW the Gospel, He was totally convinced of the TRUTH that he was a NEW MAN and that the old man was completely dead! THAT is the most vital TRUTH that every born again believer must have inside! When we really KNOW that, then the enemy has nothing with which to trip us up! We KNOW how bad we WERE! We were DEAD! We needed a SAVIOUR! And we have JESUS! AMEN! Continue to remind yourself, and others, of this TRUTH so that you can share the Gospel with all of the boldness that is available to you - IN HIM! AMEN! HE will confirm what you speak with signs, wonders and miracles! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "You Are Life":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin is excellent! 

I Can

"I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

Many years have come and gone since I cast my cares upon the Lord, and although I will confess that I've been sorely tempted, I have not worried. I have not fretted. I have not had the blues. I have not been discouraged, no matter what. (Some people said I didn't have enough sense to worry. But, thank God, I had too much Bible-sense to worry!) 

Worry was the most difficult sin for me to give up. Worry is the greatest temptation you will ever face too. But you can resist it. And you must. 

Your worst enemy is the flesh. The flesh and natural human reasoning would limit you to your own ability. You look at the circumstances, influences, problems, cares, tests, storms, and winds, and you say, "I can't." 

The language of doubt, the flesh, the senses, and the devil is, "I can't. I don't have the ability, the opportunity, or the strength. I'm limited." 

But the language of faith says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 

Confession: I can! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

If JESUS is YOUR Lord and Saviour, then you truly CAN "DO ALL THINGS"! NOTHING is impossible for those who will DARE to BELIEVE and RECEIVE! AMEN! Here are Hillsong Kids with "Made In Your Image":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share from Joseph Prince's "Grace Inspirations" today!

WORSHIP GOD AS YOU ARE

Ephesians 5:2 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Have you been to a worship service where you stood with your hands raised, ready to worship God, only to hear the worship leader say, “Before we worship God, let’s all search our hearts”? Then, as you search your heart, before long, you dig up something that you don’t like. The next thing you know, your hands are no longer raised and soon, you find yourself sitting down—you don’t feel good worshiping God any more.

My friend, I have good news for you. Come and worship Him as you are. Come into God’s presence Jesus-conscious, forgiveness-conscious and grace-conscious! Come into God’s presence bringing only Jesus the spotless Lamb of God as your offering.

Your worshiping God is like the times God’s people in the Old Testament brought their offerings to the priest. The priest examined the animal sacrifice to ensure that it was without blemish. The priest did not examine the sinner. If the animal was without blemish, God accepted the animal sacrifice as well as the offerer who brought the animal.

So when you come into God’s presence, don’t do any self-examination and be discouraged when you find faults in your life. God does not examine you. He sees you through the full value, and all the loveliness and acceptance of His Son (see Ephesians 1:6). He sees you holy and without blemish!

Remember the woman who was referred to as a sinner, possibly a prostitute? She went to the house of the Pharisee who was hosting Jesus and wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair (see Luke 7:36–50). That was her act of worship.

She came to Him as she was. Yes, she knew that she had sinned, but she worshiped Jesus first because of who He is. She was Jesus-conscious. Then, she heard Jesus say, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48). She received the forgiveness she needed from Him.

Whatever you need from the Savior, come to Him as you are. Worship Him for who He is and then you will hear Him say, “Go your way. Your restoration has come. Your provision is here. You are healed. You have been made whole!”

AMEN! Only the enemy would bring up sin in the middle of a Worship Service! Rather than fix your mind on those things, fix it istead on who God has made YOU to be - IN HIM! THAT will put the enemy on the run! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with a great reminder for the enemy!! "Not Today":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Kenneth E. Hagin's "HealthFood"! Both "Faith Food" and "Health Food" contain vital 'doses' of what is necessary for spiritual growth! Feat on these nuggets of God's powerful Word and you will find yourself getting stronger by the day! 

You Can Initiate Healing

...with his [Jesus'] stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

God wants you to be well. Some people say, "If God wants me well, why doesn't He heal me?" Well, according to the Bible, God wants everyone saved. Then why aren't all saved? Because they have something to do with it. God has provided salvation for all, but they have a part to play in receiving it. 

In the same way, when it comes to healing, we often want to leave it all up to God. Well, although God may initiate healings on His own some of the time, that's not the main way that God heals. This is where a lot of people miss it: They know God initiates some things on His own, because they've seen Him do it, so they're waiting for Him to initiate something for them. Unfortunately, they might die while they're waiting. 

But you can initiate healing yourself. You don't have to wait for God to initiate it; you can claim what belongs to you based on His Word. 

Isaiah 53:4 says, "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows...." The original Hebrew says, "Surely He hath borne our sicknesses and carried our pains, yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted." 

Verse 5 says, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." 

Confession: I know what belongs to me. I claim what belongs to me based on the Word of God. Health and healing belong to me. Thank You, Father, for health and healing.

Find out what belongs to YOU as a born again child of the Living God! Learn how to appropriate it, and then learn how to present this wonderful life to others! After all, That IS why we're here! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Lost Are Found":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Casting

"Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). 

"Casting the whole of your care, all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully" (1 Peter 5:7 AMP).
Some people seem to take comfort in thinking that God knows and He understands, while they continue to hold on to their cares. And they never get free from them. 

It's not enough to know that God understands and cares. If you want to be free from your cares, you must do what God said to do about them: You must cast all of your cares, all of your concerns, all of your anxieties, and all of your worries upon the Lord, because He cares for you. 

This isn't something you do every day. It's a once-and-for-all proposition that enables you to get rid of your cares - it puts them over into God's hands. 

I've done that. God has my cares. He's figured it all out, and He's working it all out. And I'm shouting while He's doing it! God is doing the work, and I'm shouting. 

Confession: I cast the whole of my care - all my anxieties, all my worries, all my concerns, once and for all on God. 

I LOVE the Amplified Bible for this one! If you had any question about what 'cares' are, they include ALL of your cares, anxietes, worries, and concerns! EVERYTHING! And don't think for one second that the God of all the universe did not mean exactly what HE SAID! ALL of your cares! ALL of your anxieties! ALL of your worries! ALL your concerns! ONCE AND FOR ALL over onto Him! Why? Because: "HE cares FOR you affectionately and cares ABOUT you watchfully!" TRUST HIM! Here is Hillsong with "You Are Life":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to look at Andrew Womack's devotional.

DO WHAT HE SAYS

John 2:5 "His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do [it]."

Mary knew Jesus as no one else did at this point. The Bible supplies no details of the childhood of Jesus except his trip to Jerusalem at twelve years of age, but it is certain that Mary knew Jesus was no ordinary man. Her request of Jesus to provide the guests with more wine reflects her belief that He could do things others could not.

Her instructions to the servants were, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." This shows that she not only knew Jesus could work miracles, but she knew His way of doing things did not always conform to conventional thought. Sure enough, Jesus told the servants to fill the pots with water and then take it to the governor of the feast.

This defied logic! Everyone there knew the guests wanted more wine, not water. Yet these servants, at Mary's bidding, did exactly what Jesus told them and the results were wonderful. This miracle would not have taken place if the servants had not done what seemed foolish to them.

The Lord's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). To see His miraculous power in our lives, we must do "whatsoever" He tells us to do regardless of how foolish it may seem. The foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men and the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Corinthians 1:25). Today, whatsoever He says unto you, do it!

I LOVE this! ALL of the promises of God are YES! And AMEN! In JESUS! WE receive the WORD and FAITH comes! WE meditate on the Word and BOLD ASSURANCE comes! WE SPEAK this Word and HE CONFIRMS it with signs, wonders and miracles! AMEN! When we add our AMEN (SO BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD!) HE does what only HE can do ! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Shadow Step". EXPECT the UNEXPECTED! HE is ready and waiting! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Joseph Prince's "Grace Inspirations". 

GOD WANTS YOU CROSS-CONSCIOUS

1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthian church, said that he determined to know nothing among them except “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” In other words, Paul, who wrote two-thirds of the New Testament, had his mind full of Jesus and His finished work.

Beloved, God wants your mind full of the cross of Jesus. He wants you cross-conscious.

But what does it mean to be cross-conscious?

To be cross-conscious is to see Jesus, who loves you so much that He willingly died for you on the cross. To be cross-conscious is to look to Jesus, who offered His own body to be punished, so that your body can be free from all punishment.

To be cross-conscious is to fix your eyes on Jesus, who has provided for your deliverance and victory at the cross. At the cross, all your enemies were vanquished. All your diseases were destroyed. Your poverty was removed at the cross. Your sins were wiped out at the cross.

When the Israelites tasted bitterness in the waters of Marah, God showed Moses a tree, which he cast into the waters, making them sweet (see Exodus 15:23–26). The tree represents the cross, which turned the bitter waters sweet. Today, Calvary’s tree has turned your bitter situations sweet. Because of the cross, you can expect to see the bitter situations in your life made sweet!

When the Israelites were bitten by serpents in the wilderness, God told Moses to put a bronze serpent on a pole. The pole represents the cross and bronze speaks of judgment. Those who beheld the serpent on the pole lived because they saw their problem—the deadly serpent—nailed and put to death on the cross (see Numbers 21:6–9).

Today, you too will not die but live when you see all your sins judged at the cross, and with them, all your sicknesses, diseases, pains, failures and defeats! At the cross, all that is deadly in your life has been removed!

AMEN! Being "cross-conscious" is NOT continually seeing JESUS still on the cross! It is seeing what He DID, and then seeing Him, and YOU, off the cross, set free, made new, healed, delivered, anointed and appointed for GOD's great plans! I hope that you will make this your determined purpose so that your faith will grow so strong in the accomplished work of that cross that you will never allow yourself to sit under the enemy's feet again! HE is under YOURS, when YOU are IN JESUS! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "At The Cross":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food":

The Lord at Work

"For the battle is the Lord's" (1 Samuel 17:47). 

"Don't get into any trouble," my mother called after me as I went to face a family crisis. "So-and-so almost whipped Dub." 

"I'm not going to have any trouble," I answered. "I'll never have any trouble. I'm going to put the Lord to work." 

As I approached the driveway, the wife of the man who had caused so much trouble met me. She began to rant and rave, and just plain old Texas, "cuss."  I thought, Dear Lord, here is this poor old soul, full of hate and selfishness, and she can't help being that way. She can't help having the nature of the devil in her, because she's a child of the devil.  I didn't say a word to her, but I said to the Lord in my heart, "Thank God, the Greater One is in me" (1 John 4:4). And I acted like the Greater One was in me. And He is greater. 

She must have sensed the compassion rising up in me, because she suddenly looked up at me and sputtered to a stop. Then she took hold of my hand and fell on her knees, crying, "My God, put your hands on my head and pray for me. A poor old soul like me needs something. Oh, my God, pray for me!" 

I hadn't said a word to make her say that. All I had done was acted like the Bible was true. 

Confession: The Greater One is in me. And I'm going to act like it! 

AMEN! Now we know what is missing or lacking when we don't see answers to our prayers! We must act like the Bible is TRUE! If we TRULY believe the promises, then we will be just as bold about declaring and standing on His Word as those loyal and faith filled friends who brought their crippled friend on a pallet and, when they couldn't make their way to JESUS, proceeded to climb to the roof and make a hole IN SOMEONE ELSE's ROOF and lowered him down right in front of JESUS! They had great faith in what GOD can do! Their faith was greatly rewarded when JESUS healed their friend! Are YOU ready to MOVE in answer to the call of faith inside of you? Move for your own healing and deliverance! Move for your loved ones! Move for your family and your church and your friends! MOVE FOR the LOST! AMEN! Here, again, is Hillsong UNITED with our clarion call! "GO"!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We are ending Matthew today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! The very last thing that JESUS said to those disciples who were present when He ascended to Heaven to sit down as WE take up His cause is this:

18 Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).

JESUS instructed them, and US, to take HIS authority and preach and teach the Gospel! WE have HIS authority to do so and HE will confirm HIS Word that we speak with signs, wonders and miracles, just as He did when HE ministered His Word on the earth! Only now those who hear can be instantly born again! The instruction to 'baptize' is NOT referring to water baptism, which is an outward declaration of our New Birth. This instruction IS the New Birth! Baptizing them 'into the Name' means that they become fully immersed in the Name of JESUS and all that HE is! He IS SAVIOUR! Baptizing into the Name makes Him MY SAVIOUR, the Father MY FATHER and Holy Spirit MY COMFORTER, COUNSELOR, INTERCESSOR, ADVOCATE, STRENGTHENER, STANDBY, LEADER, TEACHER AND GUIDE! I now am fully equipped, fully supplied, fully anointed, called and appointed to take this GOOD NEWS to every area of my world, and wherever else He sends me! I will leave you today with two things! THIS from today's Psalm 28:7-8:

7 The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him. 8 The Lord is their [unyielding] Strength, and He is the Stronghold of salvation to [me] His anointed.

And, from Hillsong UNITED, the song, OUR SONG, "GO"! Let's DO IT! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is a very good reminder that we have an enemy out there who has only ONE weapon! That weapon is the lie (something contrary to the Word of God, which is TRUTH {John 17:17}) and he has worked on his tactics, tricks, schemes, traps and strategies for using it. 

Look Again and Think

Do not worry about your life… —Matthew 6:25

A warning which needs to be repeated is that “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches,” and the lust for other things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22). We are never free from the recurring waves of this invasion. If the frontline of attack is not about clothes and food, it may be about money or the lack of money; or friends or lack of friends; or the line may be drawn over difficult circumstances. It is one steady invasion, and these things will come in like a flood, unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the banner against it.

“I say to you, do not worry about your life….” Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing— our relationship to Him. But our common sense shouts loudly and says, “That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, and I must consider what I am going to eat and drink.” Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing yourself to think that He says this while not understanding your circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life. Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship to God first.

“Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). How much trouble has begun to threaten you today? What kind of mean little demons have been looking into your life and saying, “What are your plans for next month— or next summer?” Jesus tells us not to worry about any of these things. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the “much more” of your heavenly Father (Matthew 6:30).

AMEN! The enemy has his lies, but WE have the Father of all TRUTH, the Living Word of God and the indwelling Teacher to help us always and instantly recognize the weapons of our enemy, understand his strategies and schemes, and then know OUR weapons that are LIGHT and able to defeat the enemy EVERY time! So, let's maintain a strong, steady and deep fellowship with the One, True God, keeping our relationship with HIM as our #1 priority! We will never be overcome by evil when we heed this! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Look To The Son":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share one of my favorite testimonies from Kenneth Copeland from today's "From Faith To Faith" devotional:

CHRIST IN YOU

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

Some years back, I was praying and walking the floor of our little house in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was walking up and down confessing 1 John 4:4, "Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world." Greater is He.... Greater is He.... Suddenly, revelation knowledge welled up in me and I knew, Oh! God is in me!

It hit me like someone walked up and slapped me with a wet rag. It just shook me awake. I started to stomp grandly around that old house. All of a sudden, I wasn't just a poor preacher living in a shack anymore! I was the dwelling place of the Most High God! That changed my thinking about so many things. I looked at my hands and it hit me. His fingers are in my fingers! I looked at my legs. His legs are in my legs. His feet are in my feet! If I walk into danger, He walks into danger.

Now, when I hear people say, "Brother Copeland, my prayers aren't getting any higher than the ceiling," I want to say, "Higher than the ceiling? They don't need to get any higher than your nose! He's inside you! The Author of your prayers, the Author of your faith, Jesus of Nazareth has taken residency inside you. Hallelujah!"

Some people think you don't get filled with the Spirit until you receive the Baptism in the Holy Ghost. But that's not so. The Holy Spirit came into you when you made Jesus Lord of your life. He came into you when you were born again. Getting baptized in the Holy Spirit is another thing. It's when the power of the Holy Ghost comes upon you to empower you for service (Acts 1:8).

That means even if you've just been born again two seconds, Jesus is in you! He's living there, and He will be from now on. Can you fathom that? If you'll spend some time thinking about it and meditating on it, you can receive revelation of it just like I did. It will start growing in your spirit and eventually change your whole life.

"As God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (2 Corinthians 6:16). Jesus is in you. That's the most glorious truth in the Word of God. Let that truth come alive in you today.

 I hope that YOU will meditate on this TRUTH until it becomes so very real to YOU that it will change the way look at everything in your life! WE ARE living, breathing, walking and talking TEMPLES of the Living God! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Children Of The Light":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have shared this many times before, but it bears repeating! Psalm 25:4-5 from today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan is a great prayer t pray before you study the Word of God!

4 Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. 5 Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You [You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly] all the day long.

1 John 5:14-15 tells us this:

14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. 15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.

We KNOW that if we ask ANYTHING that is in line with God's will, then he HEARS US! IF He hears us, we HAVE what we have asked for! How simple and clear is that? Look at The Passion Translation:

14 Since we have this confidence, we can also have great boldness before him, for if we present any request agreeable to his will, he will hear us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we also know that we have obtained the requests we ask of him.

So all that we have to do to ensure that our prayers are answered is to make sure that it lines up with His will! His Word IS His will! So, fins out what the Word says and then ask it! AMEN! So, going back up to Psalm 25:4-5, we KNOW that this is God's will for us! He has instructed us to know His Word and to DO His Word, so this prayer is one that He is SO excited to answer! Even more than we are to ask it! Make that request of the Lord before you get into His Word and you will find that you are learning and growing at a faster rate than you ever have before! The only thing that will hold you back is if you LEARN and then don't DO what the Word says! James 1:22 tells us that if we do that then we will be deceiving ourselves! Thinking that we know something, when KNOWERS are DOERS! Be a HEARER and then a DOER! You will never regret that decision! AMEN! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "So Will I":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really loved reading today's Psalm 24 from The Passion Translation!

David’s poetic praise to God

1 God claims the world as his.
    Everything and everyone belongs to him!
2 He’s the one who pushed back oceans
    to let the dry ground appear,
    planting firm foundations for the earth.
3 Who, then, ascends into the presence of the Lord?
    And who has the privilege of entering into God’s Holy Place?
4 Those who are clean—whose works and ways are pure,
    whose hearts are true and sealed by the truth,
    those who never deceive, whose words are sure.
5 They will receive the Lord’s blessing
    and righteousness given by the Savior-God.
6 They will stand before God,
    for they seek the pleasure of God’s face, the God of Jacob.
Pause in his presence

7 So wake up, you living gateways!
    Lift up your heads, you ageless doors of destiny!
    Welcome the King of Glory,
    for he is about to come through you.
8 You ask, “Who is this Glory-King?”
    The Lord, armed and ready for battle,
    the Mighty One, invincible in every way!
9 So wake up, you living gateways, and rejoice!
    Fling wide, you ageless doors of destiny!
    Here he comes; the King of Glory is ready to come in.
10 You ask, “Who is this King of Glory?”
    He is the Lord of Victory, armed and ready for battle,
    the Mighty One, the invincible commander of heaven’s hosts!
    Yes, he is the King of Glory!
Pause in his presence

AMEN! Who IS the King of Glory? His Name is JESUS, the Christ, the Messiah, the Living Lord, the Great I AM, the Saviour of the world, the KING of all kings and LORD of all lords! But, most importantly, He is MY KING and MY LORD! I hope that YOU have made Him YOURS!!! Soon and very soon, we are going to see our Kings and we are going to rise to meet Him in the air and to be with Him FOREVER!!! Are you ready for this!? Here is Hillsong Kids with "My Best Friend":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share THIS from Jerry Savelle!

GOD'S HEART IS A FATHER'S HEART

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him (Matthew 7:11 NKJV).

Knowing God as your loving heavenly Father is essential if you want to enjoy your walk with Him and fulfill all the wonderful plans He has for your life.

Your Father is for you: He is behind you every step of the way.

Your Father is always motivated by His love for you. When it seems He is spoiling your fun, He is actually protecting you from something that will harm you.

Your Father wants you to succeed at all you set your hand to do. He will show you how to be successful; He will encourage you to keep going and to never quit.

Your Father will pick you up when you fail or fall. He will bind your wounds and set you on your feet again.

Your Father wants the absolute best for you in all you do. He is disappointed when you settle for less than what you could have.

Your Father delights to have you come and talk to Him. He loves to share His wisdom with you; He loves to counsel you and show you the way.

Regardless of how you may have once viewed God, the Word says He is the perfect Father. Will you let Him be a Father to you?

Confession: Father, I receive You as my loving heavenly Abba (Daddy), and I take my place as Your precious child. I trust in the truth that everything You do for me is motivated by love. I believe You are good, and everything you give me is good.

AMEN! Understanding the Father's great love for us is key to being able to comprehend all that He has DONE for us and PROVIDED for us! When we meditate on this great goodness and love, we will begin to EXPECT His favor and blessing, just because He's FATHER! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Father":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers goes right along with yesterdays' piece and addresses our fellowship with the God Who made us, saved us and continues to pour His love out upon us! AMEN! 

Am I Looking To God?

Look to Me, and be saved… —Isaiah 45:22

Do we expect God to come to us with His blessings and save us? He says, “Look to Me, and be saved….” The greatest difficulty spiritually is to concentrate on God, and His blessings are what make it so difficult. Troubles almost always make us look to God, but His blessings tend to divert our attention elsewhere. The basic lesson of the Sermon on the Mount is to narrow all your interests until your mind, heart, and body are focused on Jesus Christ. “Look to Me….”

Many of us have a mental picture of what a Christian should be, and looking at this image in other Christians’ lives becomes a hindrance to our focusing on God. This is not salvation— it is not simple enough. He says, in effect, “Look to Me and you are saved,” not “You will be saved someday.” We will find what we are looking for if we will concentrate on Him. We get distracted from God and irritable with Him while He continues to say to us, “Look to Me, and be saved….” Our difficulties, our trials, and our worries about tomorrow all vanish when we look to God.

Wake yourself up and look to God. Build your hope on Him. No matter how many things seem to be pressing in on you, be determined to push them aside and look to Him. “Look to Me….” Salvation is yours the moment you look.

LOOK TO HIM and be SAVED, HEALED, SET FREE! Our God is NOT holding things back from us! He IS the God Who has already healed and delivered us! ALL of us! BUT, only 'whosoever will" will EVER  be saved! BE ONE! Here is Hillsong with "Look To The Sun"                

                                                                    
Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is a gauge for how much of our 'first love' we still retain and nurture for the One, True God!   

Recall What God Remembers

Thus says the Lord: "I remember…the kindness of your youth…" —Jeremiah 2:2

Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me? Does everything in my life fill His heart with gladness, or do I constantly complain because things don’t seem to be going my way? A person who has forgotten what God treasures will not be filled with joy. It is wonderful to remember that Jesus Christ has needs which we can meet— “Give Me a drink” (John 4:7). How much kindness have I shown Him in the past week? Has my life been a good reflection on His reputation?

God is saying to His people, “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were.” He says, “I remember…the love of your betrothal…” (Jeremiah 2:2). Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him? Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me? Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him?

As I recall what God remembers about me, I may also begin to realize that He is not what He used to be to me. When this happens, I should allow the shame and humiliation it creates in my life, because it will bring godly sorrow, and “godly sorrow produces repentance…” (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Just how much time do YOU give to nurturing your fellowship with the One, True God? THIS is, BY FAR, the MOST important relationship that you can EVER work on! Make it RIGHT! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "I Surrender":

Shalom in Him!