Shalom,

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

COMFORT ONE ANOTHER

Blessed be God…who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
— 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

I was a university freshman when my Grandmother Renner was hospitalized over the Christmas holiday with a heart condition and my wonderful Grandpa Renner — a man who had a strong impact on my life — was home alone for several weeks. Everyone in our family noticed that he had begun to act oddly during those weeks, but we simply attributed it to the medication he was taking for severe arthritis. He seemed to be thinking irrationally a lot, lost in the fog of his imagination while he was home alone and Grandma was in the hospital.

One day while I was home on holiday break, my father called me and said, “Grandpa doesn’t answer the phone, and he hasn’t been to the hospital to see Grandma today. She’s worried about him, and it’s not normal that no one has heard from him. Would you please meet me at your grandparents’ house so we can make sure that everything is all right?”

Without going into the details, I’ll tell you that everything was not all right. The house was locked, and since Grandpa was nowhere to be seen, we ventured into his beloved garage to see if he was doing something in there. It was there that we discovered that my grandpa had taken his life. I’ll never forget that moment, and the great grief that overwhelmed my father. However, in that moment, the Holy Spirit filled me with a tangible sense of His power so I could be a supernatural support to my father in that moment of intense grief and shock.

Dad stayed with Grandpa’s body and asked me to call our pastor. Within minutes, our pastor rang the doorbell to announce his arrival. Not long after that, medical workers arrived in an ambulance to examine my grandpa’s body and transport him to the morgue. As if that day had not already been difficult enough, Dad and I then had to go to the hospital to break the sorrowful news to Grandma. When we told her, she and Dad simply held each other and cried — a sight I shall never forget as long as I live.

That next year, we all dreaded Christmas because we knew that it would remind us of the previous year’s tragedy, and we knew that we would feel the absence of Grandpa and potentially live through the pain of those emotions all over again.

However, God was with us in a mighty and faithful way that Christmas season. His grace was simply upon us — comforting us and helping us move forward with no great, crushing grief. It was truly miraculous to see how God worked to help us through what could have been a very difficult time.

When I think of that heart-wrenching moment, my thoughts go to Second Corinthians 1:3 and 4, where Paul wrote, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

In verse 3, Paul called God the Father of “mercies.” This is the Greek word oiktirmos, which describes compassion, lament, or sorrow. It tells us that God completely understands and identifies with the suffering soul. The word “comfort” is paraklesis, which describes the encouragement, consolation, and comfort that one provides to another who is undergoing bereavement, hardship, or suffering. It is encouragement in a time of desperate need. When these words are used together, they tell us that God Himself comes to the assistance of those who are suffering difficulty, whether physical or emotional.

In verse 4, Paul continued, “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

The word “tribulation” in Greek is thlipsis, and it depicts a crushing pressure — far beyond what the normal human being could undergo or survive. It tells us that when Paul wrote these words, he was suffering immensely. But God “comforted” him — that is, God stood by Paul and gave him the strength he needed to go through the trial successfully. As a result, Paul was able to “…comfort them which are in any trouble.”

Perhaps there is nothing more powerful than a personal testimony, and Paul could testify that God had sustained him through a crushing period of his life. He had been “comforted by God” — God stepped forward to personally sustain and encourage Paul and assure him that he would make it through the end of his trial.

This is precisely what my family experienced when Grandpa Renner took his life. At the time, it felt crushing, debilitating, and so very painful. However, God stepped forward to personally strengthen us through that crushing ordeal. As a result, we are able to tell others that, regardless of what they might face or have to deal with in life, God will be with them and will sustain them to the end! He is the God of all comfort, and He is faithful to help us through each and every trial!

My prayer for you all is that you will trust the God of all comfort to comfort YOU in every sad and trying situation! He LOVES you more than you can now even comprehend and He is ever willing to show you so! Here is Brandon Lake with "God Is Not Against Me":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share fromour partner, Jerry Savelle's, devotional!

BE DETERMINED TO WIN

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. Hebrews 10:35-36 NKJV

So you’ve made the decision to believe and act on what the Word of God says about your situation. You’ve prayed in faith, believing you’ve received the promised outcome, but you don’t yet have it.

This is where determination comes in.

The Greek word for determination means a firmness of purpose. It also means to give definite aim or direction; an unwavering resolution, and to set a boundary. In other words, it’s time to become determined, to set a boundary, and then not compromise. Stay with the unwavering decision that you will agree with the Word and be made completely whole in every area of your life.

Either the Word of God is true or it isn’t. Either God can be trusted or He can’t. Well, the Word of God is true and He can be trusted—so why waiver?

Make a firm resolution in your heart and mind that you are not going to compromise. Decide that you are not going to be moved by what you see, feel, or hear. Make the determination right now that the only thing that is going to move you is God, and you will see the wholeness that is yours in Jesus Christ.

Confession: Father, I am determined to do Your will and live according to Your Word. My trust is in You alone, and I refuse to be moved by anything else. I hold on to my confidence, knowing that in due season I will receive all that You have promised me.

AMEN! After receiving JESUS as LORD and SAVIOUR, this is the  most important decision that you can make! Believing, receiving and acting on the Word of God will put you in position to walk in the BLESSING of the New Covenant! Here is Brandon Lake with "I'll Praise You Anywhere":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

I was REALLY BLESSED by today's "Daily Grace Inspirations" from Joseph Prince's website! 

Rightly Divide the Word

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

When our Lord stood in the synagogue in Nazareth and read from the book of Isaiah, He proclaimed the acceptable year of the Lord and stopped reading just before the words, “and the day of vengeance of our God.” In doing so He showed us how to rightly divide the Word of God as today’s scripture instructs us to do. He made it precisely clear that we are in the age of grace.

When you learn to rightly divide God’s Word, I believe that you will begin to see His grace, His love, and His security flood every area of your life. Let me share with you a precious testimony of restoration that illustrates this. Valerie, a lady from Illinois, shares:

'I became a believer almost twenty years ago and my life changed tremendously. Despite being saved, I felt that something was still wrong because I was repeatedly diagnosed with cancer—four times in all.

After my last relapse of cancer, I watched Pastor Joseph Prince on television and ordered his materials. The first thing I remember learning was that all of my sins have been forgiven! Before that, I was taught of the need to repent and receive forgiveness from God whenever I sinned. I also learned that God was not looking at my performance to accept me, love me, or bless me, but at Jesus’ finished work on the cross. What a deep blessing these truths were to my heart, body, and soul!

I became a partner with the ministry and today, I have all of Pastor Prince’s teachings and I meditate on them all the time. Now, my walk with the Lord is amazing! I no longer feel condemned or guilty and I am no longer walking in fear! I also have a revelation of Christ’s love for me and I have an intimate relationship with Him.

With God’s help, my finances have also improved. I am fifty-six years of age and I now have my first home! On top of all this, I am cancer-free, have witnessed salvations in my family, and am enjoying better relationships with my family members.

I can’t express in words how much Pastor Prince’s ministry has blessed my life. It is forever changed! My eyes have been opened to GOD’S GRACE and I will never go back to my old beliefs and ways of thinking.'

Isn’t it amazing that as Valerie began to learn how to rightly divide God’s Word, she began to experience God’s abundant restoration in quite literally every area of her life, that included an intimate relationship with Him, restoration of physical health, and blessed family relationships?

This is such an encouragement to my team and to me because preaching the gospel of grace is all about helping and lifting up God’s precious people. I am deeply humbled and grateful to be a part of this grace revolution that is transforming one life, one marriage, and one family at a time across the entire world. All honor, glory, and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ!

I hope that you were blessed by this testimoy, too, and that YOU will make it a top priority to 'rightly divide the Word of God'! Here is Hillsong with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share another "Faith Food" devotional from Kenneth E. Hagin!

Long Life

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore. . . . With long life will I satisfy him . . . . — PSALM 91:14-16

“But, Brother Hagin,” someone said, “I knew a minister who was a wonderful man of God, and he died at age forty-two.”

That doesn’t mean I have to die young. I don’t know what that minister believed — but I know what I believe. And I know that the God who is more than enough said, “I will satisfy him with long life.”

Someone else will say, “That just means we’re going to live forever in Heaven.” No, even sinners are going to live forever. They’re going to live in one place, and we’re going to live in another. That scripture is referring to our enjoying long life here upon this earth.

A reading of Proverbs reveals that the Word of God says that doing certain things will lengthen your life, but doing certain other things will shorten your life. Ephesians 6:1-3 tells children to honor their parents, “That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” Peter quoted the Psalms assuring us that these promises belong to us (1 Peter 3:10; Psalm 34:12).

Our promised lifespan is seventy or eighty years (Psalm 90:10). But don’t compromise. Don’t settle for anything less. And believe God for all you can!

Confession: Because I have set my love upon God, El Shaddai will satisfy me with long life. Unless the Lord Jesus Christ returns before I die, I will live out my years in service to God. I will live and work together with God in carrying out His will upon the earth.

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Tear Off The Roof"! I desire to operate in THIS kind of FAITH, TRUST and CONFIDENCE!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share agin from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional. This has been my 'Go To' dcevotional for many years now and the simple, powerful teachings here have never lost their power! 

He Honors

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore . . . I will set him on high. . . . and honour him. — PSALM 91:14-15

I’d rather have God honor me than to have all the acclaim this world can offer.

The story is told that one day Napoleon was reviewing his troops when his horse began to buck. A young private stepped over, took the horse by the bridle, and quieted him down. Napoleon said, “Thank you, Captain.” And the private moved into rank of a captain. But the other officers shunned this young man. They had earned their rank, but his had been granted to him. Napoleon noticed this and called for a full, gala review of his army. He sat this young man on a horse by his side, and they rode out to the parade grounds together. The other officers then began to say, “That fellow’s a favorite with Napoleon.” And they began to court his favor.

The world may not know it, but the time is coming when they are going to find out that we are favorites with the King of kings and Lord of lords. And they’ll wish they had courted our favor. Jesus Himself said, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Revelation 3:21). Jesus’ favor far outshines any that this world can bestow.

Confession: Because I have set my love upon God, He will set me on high. He will honor me. I am a favorite with the King of kings and Lord of lords. I am a favorite with the God who is more than enough!

AMEN! There IS no greater LOVE than HIS for us all! Let's be partakers of ALL that JESUS gave His life for! Here is Brandon Lake with "Miracle Child":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I really love Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional!

The Temple Of The Holy Ghost

Only in the throne will I be greater than thou. — Genesis 41:40

I have to account to God for the way in which I rule my body under His domination. Paul said he did not “frustrate the grace of God” — make it of no effect. The grace of God is absolute, the salvation of Jesus is perfect, it is done for ever. I am not being saved, I am saved; salvation is as eternal as God’s throne; the thing for me to do is to work out what God works in. “Work out your own salvation”; I am responsible for doing it. It means that I have to manifest in this body the life of the Lord Jesus, not mystically, but really and emphatically. “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection.” Every saint can have his body under absolute control for God. God has made us to have government over all the temple of the Holy Spirit, over imaginations and affections. We are responsible for these, and we must never give way to inordinate affections. Most of us are much sterner with others than we are in regard to ourselves; we make excuses for things in ourselves whilst we condemn in others things to which we are not naturally inclined.

“I beseech you,” says Paul, “present your bodies a living sacrifice.” The point to decide is this — “Do I agree with my Lord and Master that my body shall be His temple?” If so, then for me the whole of the law for the body is summed up in this revelation, that my body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.

AMEN! WE are HIS and HE has the right to expect us to line up with HIS WORD and not our own feelings, thoughts or ideas! We are here on earth representing HIM! So let's do it well! Here is Brandon Lake with "Adoption Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

He Answers

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore. . . . He shall call upon me, and I will answer him . . . . — PSALM 91:14,15

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. — JEREMIAH 33:3

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. . . . . — MATTHEW 21:22

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

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you . . . ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. . . . . — JOHN 16:23,24

These are by no means all of the scriptures on the subject of prayer. But these scriptures alone are enough to set our hearts on fire. They’re enough to start us praying. Why? Because El Shaddai said to us, “I will answer.” The Almighty God — the One who is more than enough — has promised to answer those who set their love on Him!

Confession: I have set my love upon Almighty God; therefore, He answers me. I call upon Him, and He answers me. I ask, and He gives me. I seek, and He causes me to find. I knock, and He opens it to me. What things soever I desire, when I pray, I believe that I receive them, and God causes me to have them. Whatever I ask in Jesus’ Name, Almighty God gives me. My joy is full!

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Praise You Anywhere":

Shalom in Him

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace INspirations" devotional!

Oh, What Joy!

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:7

The moment you invited Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior, all your sins were forgiven—your past sins, your present sins, and your future sins. Once you are born again, you are in Christ. You do not have to try to get forgiveness. You have the forgiveness of sins through His blood, and this forgiveness of sins that you have is not according to what you have done, but according to the riches of God’s grace—His unmerited, unearned, and undeserved favor!

The Bible tells us that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). In other words, the punishment for sin is death. It also tells us that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22 NIV). Blood is thus necessary for the forgiveness of sins. That is why even under the old covenant of law, sin was covered temporarily through the blood of sacrificial animals.

The good news of the gospel is that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, came down from heaven to earth and sacrificed Himself at the cross. His perfect, sinless blood provided forgiveness for all our sins. You and I cannot pay for our own sins, so He did it for us. Now, whosoever believes in Him will never die but will receive the gift of eternal life. Hallelujah!

My friend, notice how David describes the blessedness of a man whose sins are forgiven:

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.” —Romans 4:7–8 NLT

Oh, what joy and what a blessing it is to receive the forgiveness of sins! Conversely, when believers start to question if they are truly forgiven, it leads to all kinds of insecurities, fears, and destructive bondages.

Fear and insecurity cannot exist in a healthy relationship with God. In a marriage relationship, for example, if a wife never feels secure in her husband’s love for her, she will never draw strength from or find joy in her marriage. Instead of thriving, that marriage will disintegrate over time. Similarly, our heavenly Father does not want us to live trapped in perpetual insecurity because we are never sure of our forgiveness.

Today, based on the Word of God, rejoice and thank God for the blessing of His forgiveness, so dearly paid for and so freely given to us. Let this truth of the gospel anchor and put strength in your heart, and drive away every fear and sense of insecurity.

AMEN! Learn from the Word of God what all JESUS has obtained for us through His death, burial and RESURRECTION! Now make it YOURS by believing and receiving! HE did it ALL for YOU! Here is Hillsong with "The Passion":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Proverbs give us the Wisdom of God for situations and also show us what happens when we forsake this Wisdom! Today we read Proverbs 3. Verses 1-6 tells us this:

1 My son, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
2 For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you.
3 Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart.
4 So shall you find favor, good understanding, and high esteem in the sight [or judgment] of God and man.
5 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

Notice that we have a choice to makeconcerning the Word of God! ('Let' means we have a choice to do so or not!) When we DO verses 1, then verse 2 is the promised result! When we obey and DO verse 3, then we will be able to walk in verse 4! All through the Word of God we are presented with GOD'S Way and given the CHOICE to do it! OUR choices produce the results we will have. Let's make obeying God's Word our top priority and walk in all of the BLESSINGS that HE has promised! THIS blesses HIM! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Bless God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really LOVE today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin! It isa all about our ALL SUFFICIANT GOD!

El Shaddai

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I AM THE ALMIGHTY GOD; walk before me, and be thou perfect. — GENESIS 17:1

The original Hebrew of this Old Testament verse reads that God said, “I am El Shaddai.”

God was revealed to Israel by seven covenant names, one of which was El Shaddai — which literally means “the God who is more than enough,” or “the All-Sufficient One.”

It will help your faith to think of God as “the One who is more than enough!”

Throughout the Old Testament, God revealed Himself as El Shaddai — the God who is more than enough. For example, as God was bringing the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage, Pharaoh’s soldiers went after them to recapture them and make them slaves again. On one side of the children of Israel was the wilderness; on the other side, mountains. The Red Sea lay before them. They seemingly were boxed in, but they looked to God — the God who is more than enough — and He divided the sea! He congealed the depths in the heart of the sea (Exodus 15:8)! He froze the waters! The waters stood up on each side like a wall, and Israel walked across to the other side. Our God is more than enough!

Confession: My Father is El Shaddai, the God who is more than enough. He’s more than any mountain to my right. He’s more than any enemy behind me. He’s more than any obstacle before me. He is my very own Father. And He is El Shaddai — the God who is more than enough!

HALLELUJAH and AMEN! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Calvary's Enough":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we begin in Proverbs again in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Verses 1-7 of Proverbs 1 says this:

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]— 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. 7 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.

As you go through this great Book, remember to mediate on the comparisons you will be seeing between the wise and the unwise! And never forget from, verse 7 above, that the Fear of the Lord is where Wisdom begins and continues! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "A Thousand Hallelujahs":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan we read Psalm 150. I ALWAYS post this Psalm when we get to it twice a year because I LOVE it! 

Psalm 150
1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the heavens of His power!
2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness!
3 Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!
4 Praise Him with tambourine and [single or group] dance; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments or flutes!
5 Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

What does this Psalm reveal to us? It reveals that there are a multitude of ways to PRAISE the LORD! The word "praise" is found 13 times in this Psalm and every one of them is the Hebrew word "halal". Strong's Concordance says: to be clear, to shine, to make a show, to boast, to be clamorously foolish, to rave, to celebrate, to 'stultify' (which means ti make or appear to be foolish or ridiculous). Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says: to shine, to flash forth light, to boast, to be boastful, to glory, to act like a madman. Now, the question is, when was the last time that YOU actually did PRAISE THE LORD according to the REAL definition of the word? I challenge you to up your praise game! Make a conscious effort to REALLY be a DOER of this word in both your private PRAISE time AND in your Church service! HE is WORTHY of it ALL! HALLELUJAH! (Which literally means to Praise GOD)! Here is a fun new song to help you do so! Elevation Worship with "PRAISE":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

The Bounty Of The Destitute

Being justified freely by His grace… — Romans 3:24

The Gospel of the grace of God awakens an intense longing in human souls and an equally intense resentment, because the revelation which it brings is not palatable. There is a certain pride in man that will give and give, but to come and accept is another thing. I will give my life to martyrdom, I will give myself in consecration, I will do anything, but do not humiliate me to the level of the most hell-deserving sinner and tell me that all I have to do is to accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

We have to realize that we cannot earn or win anything from God; we must either receive it as a gift or do without it. The greatest blessing spiritually is the knowledge that we are destitute; until we get there Our Lord is powerless. He can do nothing for us if we think we are sufficient of ourselves; we have to enter into His Kingdom through the door of destitution. As long as we are rich, possessed of anything in the way of pride or independence, God cannot do anything for us. It is only when we get hungry spiritually that we receive the Holy Spirit. The gift of the essential nature of God is made effectual in us by the Holy Spirit; He imparts to us the quickening life of Jesus, which puts “the beyond” within, and immediately the beyond has come within, it rises up to “the above,” and we are lifted into the domain where Jesus lives (John 3:5).

AMEN! There is NOTHING that we can EVER do to 'deserve' Heaven! BUT, JESUS already PAID the PRICE, IN FULL, for our SALVATION! Let's continue to BELIEVE and RECEIVE all that JESUS has paid for us to HAVE, HERE, IN THIS LIFE! And in eternity - WITH HIM! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong with "Freedom":

Shalom  in  Him!

Shalom,

Today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan has us reading Psalm 148 and I LOVE this one, too! 

Psalm 148
1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the heights!
2 Praise Him, all His angels, praise Him, all His hosts!
3 Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you stars of light!
4 Praise Him, you highest heavens and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.
6 He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away [He fixed their bounds which cannot be passed over].
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps!
8 You lightning, hail, fog, and frost, you stormy wind fulfilling His orders!
9 Mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars!
10 Beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers and judges of the earth!
12 Both young men and maidens, old men and children!
13 Let them praise and exalt the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted and supreme! His glory and majesty are above earth and heaven!
14 He has lifted up a horn for His people [giving them power, prosperity, dignity, and preeminence], a song of praise for all His godly ones, for the people of Israel, who are near to Him. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

So, what are you waiting for? PRAISE HIM!!! Here, to help you with THAT is Brooke Ligertwood with "A Thousand Hallelujahs":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to shar the devotional from The Spoken Word Church website. THIS IS VITAL!

Honor Your Word

Truth is the most powerful force on earth. It cannot be changed. Be honest. Cherish your integrity. Keep your word. Never make a promise impossible to keep.

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” {Proverbs 22:1}

AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "In Control":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we read Revelation 2 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. In his letter to the churches John had comendation for the Chuch at Ephesus, but in verse 4 he had this to say in correction to them:

4 But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love].

The MOST important decision that we must make as born again believers is to ALWAYS keep JESUS as out #1! Our first priority and out FIRST and BEST LOVE! Anything else cheats HIM of what He deserves from us and cheats US of all that HE has planned and purposed for us! Here are Hillsong Kids with a song that tells us what our priority SHOULD BE! "My Number One":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Psalm 145 in today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! Here it is:

Psalm 145
[A Psalm] of praise. Of David.

1 I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever [with grateful, affectionate praise].
2 Every day [with its new reasons] will I bless You [affectionately and gratefully praise You]; yes, I will praise Your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord and highly to be praised; and His greatness is [so vast and deep as to be] unsearchable.
4 One generation shall laud Your works to another and shall declare Your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wondrous works I will meditate.
6 Men shall speak of the might of Your tremendous and terrible acts, and I will declare Your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth [like a fountain] the fame of Your great and abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of Your rightness and justice.
8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving-kindness.
9 The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created].
10 All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your loving ones shall bless You [affectionately and gratefully shall Your saints confess and praise You]!
11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power,
12 To make known to the sons of men God’s mighty deeds and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
14 The Lord upholds all those [of His own] who are falling and raises up all those who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait for You [looking, watching, and expecting] and You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand and satisfy every living thing with favor.
17 The Lord is [rigidly] righteous in all His ways and gracious and merciful in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desires of those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him; He also will hear their cry and will save them.
20 The Lord preserves all those who love Him, but all the wicked will He destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; and let all flesh bless (affectionately and gratefully praise) His holy name forever and ever.

I challenge you today, and every day, to be a DOER of the WORD with this Psalm! Make your own declarations of HIS GLORY and keep HIM ever alive in your mind and heart! HE will NEVER let you down! Here is Brandon Lake with "Tear The Roof Off":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share again today from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional. It is especially appropriate for this Thanksgiving Day!

Thank You, Father

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. — COLOSSIANS 1:12-14

The New Covenant tells us we should be giving thanks unto the Father because He has made us able to be partakers of something. Of what? “. . . Of the inheritance of the saints in light”!

The Amplified Bible translates verse 13 as, “[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness . . . .”

God Himself has delivered us from the control of Satan! Satan’s kingdom is the kingdom of darkness. God’s kingdom is the kingdom of light. The Father has made us able to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us out from under the control and dominion of darkness. Satan has no control over us. He cannot dominate us.

And we are told to thank God for that!

Confession: Thank You, Father, for making me fit to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. Thank You for delivering me out of the authority of darkness. Thank You for transferring me into the kingdom of Your dear Son — the kingdom of light.

I hope that this has been a very BLESSED Thanksgiving Day for you and your families! Meditating EVERY DAY on all that GOD has done for YOU will make certain that your life will be SO MUCH BETTER next Thanksgiving Day than it is right now! Here, to help you along on that path, is Hillsong with "Song For His Presence":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

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! When we pray according to God's Word and in the Name of JESUS, we KNOW that we HAVE the ANSWER!!! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong wtih "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambvers is one of my favorites! 

It Is Finished

I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. — John 17:4

The death of Jesus Christ is the performance in history of the very mind of God. There is no room for looking on Jesus Christ as a martyr; His death was not something that happened to Him which might have been prevented. His death was the very reason why He came.

Never build your preaching of forgiveness on the fact that God is our Father and He will forgive us because He loves us. It is untrue to Jesus Christ’s revelation of God; it makes the Cross unnecessary, and the Redemption “much ado about nothing.” If God does forgive sin, it is because of the Death of Christ. God could forgive men in no other way than by the death of His Son, and Jesus is exalted to be Saviour because of His death. “We see Jesus…because of the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour.” The greatest note of triumph that ever sounded in the ears of a startled universe was that sounded on the Cross of Christ – “It is finished.” That is the last word in the Redemption of man.

Anything that belittles or obliterates the holiness of God by a false view of the love of God, is untrue to the revelation of God given by Jesus Christ. Never allow the thought that Jesus Christ stands with us against God out of pity and compassion; that He became a curse for us out of sympathy with us. Jesus Christ became a curse for us by the Divine decree. Our portion of realising the terrific meaning of the curse is conviction of sin, the gift of shame and penitence is given us; this is the great mercy of God. Jesus Christ hates the wrong in man, and Calvary is the estimate of His hatred.

AMEN! Never forget what JESUS has done for YOU! Here, to help you remember that is Brooke Ligertwood with another of my favorite songs! "Ancient Gates":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share from our partners, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's, devotional "From Faith To Faith":

Recall God's Mercies

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23

God is faithful. He's full of compassion. His mercies are new every morning. As a believer, you know all that. But simply knowing it is not enough.

For it to do you any good, you have to recall it. You have to remember it again and again in order to rekindle your hope and stir your faith.

So, make it a point to remind yourself of God's faithfulness every morning. Remind yourself of the benefits that are yours in Jesus.

What are those benefits? Psalm 103 spells them out:

1. He forgives all your sins.

2. He heals all your diseases.

3. He redeems your life from destruction.

4. He crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.

5. He satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6. He executes righteousness and judgment for you against oppression.

7. He sets you free.

8. He makes known His ways to you.

9. He gives you His grace and mercy in times of need.

Make it a point every morning to say those things out loud to the Lord. Stand before Him in prayer and recall His mercies to you. Keep it up and you'll be stronger in faith and more confident of God's love than you've ever been before.

Don't just settle for knowing God's blessings. Remember them every day and watch them come alive in you.

AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "What A Beautiful Name":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Thanksgiving

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. — PSALM 107:21-22

The forefathers of the United States set aside a day each year to offer thanks to God for His blessings on them in this new world. He had blessed them both spiritually and materially.

We should also offer thanksgiving to God for the spiritual and material blessings of life He has bestowed upon us. And we should thank God for His loving protection and care for us.

This Thanksgiving season, let’s look into God’s Word to see what He has to say about “the giving of thanks.” We’ll look into the New Testament, because we live under the New Covenant, to see what the New Covenant says we are to give thanks for.

Confession: I praise the Lord for His goodness. I sacrifice the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing. I thank Him for the spiritual and material blessings in life. I thank God for His protection and care.

AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Thank You":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's "Daily Grace Inspiration" devotional by Joseph Prince! 

He Freely Gives

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32

Isaiah 53:5 tells us that by Jesus’ stripes we are healed. Every stripe He bore as He was scourged was for our healing. And He willingly allowed stripe after stripe to rip into His body so you and I could be well. Don’t ever believe the enemy’s lie that God wants you sick or that He is not willing to heal you. At the cross, our Lord Jesus demonstrated once and for all that He wants you well.

The Bible even tells us that it pleased the Lord to “crush Him” (Isaiah. 53:10 NASB). I used to wonder how it could have pleased the Lord to crush His own Son. Then one day, the Lord showed me.

My wife, Wendy, and I had gone to a mall and the nearest parking lot we could find was quite a distance away. We did a lot of shopping that day and before we knew it, we had our hands full of shopping bags. By this time, our Jessica, who was a cherubic two-year-old then, was tired and wanted to be carried. I picked her up with one arm, and she was so exhausted she fell asleep on my shoulder almost immediately.

As we walked toward our car, I felt my arm go to sleep, and I realized the car was much farther away than I had thought. It felt like a million pins and needles were piercing my arm, and I knew I could stop the burning pain by simply putting Jessica down and making her walk the rest of the way. But she was sleeping so soundly and deeply, I could not bear to put her down. I loved her so much I was willing to “crush” my arm so my little darling could continue to sleep.

All of a sudden I began to understand how it could please God to crush Jesus, who is described in the same chapter as “the arm of the LORD” (Isaiah 53:1). It pleased the Lord to crush His only begotten Son because of His great love for you and me. That was the only way God could save us from sin and disease, and He willingly chose to give up His Son.

Today you can have full assurance God wants to heal you. The Bible tells us, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

God already gave us the best of heaven when He gave us His darling Jesus. What are our temporal needs when He has already given us a gift that is eternal? Whatever your needs are, whether it is financial provision or healing for your body, they are all lesser compared to the gift of His Son. How shall He not with Him also freely give them to you?

This makes me realize that we are actually doing our wonderful FATHER a great disservice when we don't freely and eagerly receive what HE has provided for us through His own SON! Let's step up our faith and BELIEVE and RECEIVE all that HE has provided for us, giving HIM even more GLORY!!! Here is Brooke Ligertwood  with "A Thousand Hallelujahs":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we read Psalm 138 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan and I want to share the whole Psalm with you today!

[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.

Verse 2 has always been one of my very favorite verses! We KNOW that the Name of Jesus is higher than any other! BUT, we learn here that it is the Living Word of the Living God that makes the NAME so powerful! If you will mediate on this Psalm (Joshua 1:8 AMPC) asking Holy Spirit to teach you (Psalm 25:5) you will find your self walking in a greater degree of wisdom, understanding, Grace and power! Here is Here is Hillsong with "That's The Power":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read John 14 in today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. I LOVE the Gospel of John and today verses 1-4 really stood out to me!

1 Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me. 2 In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 And when (if) I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way.

What wonderful promises we have in just these 4 verses! Remember that "let" means CHOICE! I decide in my life and YOU decide in yours whether or not we will allow troubles, situations, circumstances to affect our heart! JESUS sais DO NOT! So let's NOT! JESUS is even now busy preparing our places in Heaven! And then He sais: "I WILL COME BACK"! That's His PROMISE to us! So let's be busy running our race and fulfilling our calling so that when He dos return, He will be WELLL PLEASED with us! Then JESUS also promised THIS in verse 12!

12 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.

Before we inquire what the 'greater things' are, lets be busy doing the first things! Then verses 13-14 give another solemn promise from JESUS!

13 And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son. 14 [Yes] I will grant [I Myself will do for you] whatever you shall ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am]

So let's ask HIM for what He has promised in His Word that He will do! Then BELIEVE so that we can RECEIVE all that HE has promised! And then the BEST promise is in verses 16-17!

16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever— 17 The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.

HE DID THIS! On the Day of Pentecost, JESUS sent HOLY SPIRIT to infill every born again believer! Reread the book of Acts and see what HOLY SPIRIT did through them, and what HE desires to do through US! HALLELUJAH!!! We are, of ALL people, MOST BLESSED! Here is Hillsong with "Every Breath":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Andrew Womack's devotional!

Our Life Is Not Our Own

Luke 22:49 'When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?'

The Lordship of Jesus is one of the central themes of scripture. It is clear that many times the word 'Lord,' when referring to Jesus, is equivalent to the divine name 'Yahweh' or 'Jehovah.' To acknowledge Jesus as Lord is to acknowledge His deity (John 20:28).

What it means to give Jesus Lordship in our lives, is to recognize His right to rule in our lives, by right of creation (John 1:3) and right of redemption.

'For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's' (1 Corinthians 6:20).

One of the most damaging attitudes of our time is the exaltation of self over others. Personal rights have been promoted at the expense of others. This is not good for society and it is certainly not the way God expects His body to operate.

As Christians, we need to develop a continual awareness that our lives are not our own. We do not have the liberty to do as we please. We should present our body as a living sacrifice unto God, recognizing that this is just our reasonable duty to the one who gave His life for us (Romans 12:1).

The Lordship of Jesus should be the determining factor in every action of a Christian (Romans 14:7-10). Every thought and action should pass the test, 'Is this what my Lord Jesus wants me to do or think?' If the answer is not a definite 'yes,' then it shouldn't be done. 'Whatsoever is not of faith is sin' (Romans 14:23).

AMEN! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "A Thousand Hallelujahs":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Agreement

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. — MATTHEW 18:19

You won’t be able to get someone healed if you’re believing that they will live, but they’re believing they will die! There’s no agreement there. When praying for others, it is important to get them to agree.

Usually, when someone comes to me with a prayer request, I say (if I can agree with it), “Let’s join hands now and agree. Listen while I pray, and agree with my prayer. Because if we both pray at once and we don’t pay attention to each other, you may be praying in one direction and I may be praying in another.”

Once a woman came for prayer for a financial need. I prayed, “Father, we agree concerning the one hundred dollars this family needs by the first of next month. We agree that by the first of the month they’ll have this extra one hundred dollars. You said that if two of you agree as touching anything they ask, it shall be done. We agree that it is done, and we thank You for it now, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.”

I looked at the woman and asked, “Is it done?”

She started crying, “I hope it is,” she said.

It wasn’t. There was no agreement.

Confession: If there are two of us . . . and we’re on earth . . . and we agree as touching anything we ask in line with God’s Word . . . it shall be done for us of our Father in Heaven!

AMEN! BELIEVE this! RECEIVE this! Now tell everytone about it! And HIM! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong with "Tell The World":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Psalm 134 in 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.

Remember that the "Songs of Ascents" were thought to be what the Israelites making their way to the Temple would sing as they made that ascent! Allow Holy Spirit to lead you in your own Song of Ascent as you rise into His presence! Remember Ephesians 6:6:

6 And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

Here is Hillsong with a perfect song for that! "Song For His Presence":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

One of my favorite verses in the whole Bible is found in John 10! Verse 10:

10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

BELIEVE this and then RECEIVE this for YOUR life! Notice that it says HAVE and ENJOY LIFE! THAT is GOD'S plan for US! Here is Hillsong with "You Are Life":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share from our partner, Rick Renner, and his "Sparkling Gems From The Greek - Volume 2" devotional! 

And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. — Revelation 1:13

When John received his vision of the exalted Christ while imprisoned on the island of Patmos, the elderly apostle took note of several prominent features of Jesus’ appearance. One such feature was His garment. In Revelation 1:13, he wrote that Christ was “…clothed with a garment down to the foot….” Today we will take a careful look at this phrase and see what it tells us about the Person of Jesus and why it matters to you as a child of God.

The word “clothed” is derived from the Greek word enduo, a term that referred to one who is dressed in a garment. But it must be noted that the Greek tense used in Revelation 1:13 implies that this particular garment was conferred upon Christ once and for all. He was given this garment by the Father and will be thus clothed forevermore. The Greek tense literally means Jesus was clothed; He is clothed; and He will always be clothed with this particular garment that reaches “down to the foot.”

The phrase “down to the foot” is a translation of poderes, a Greek word used only this one time in the entire New Testament. It describes a robe that flows all the way down to the ankles but leaves the feet exposed. The word poderes is also used seven times in the Old Testament Greek Septuagint to describe the attire of the high priest.

Perhaps the best example of this word poderes is found in Exodus 28, where God told Moses how to make “holy garments” for Aaron and his sons, who would serve as priests. The priestly garment was to be made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread and fine woven linen. It was to reach down to the ankles, exactly like the robe Christ was wearing in John’s vision. For this reason, one symbolic meaning of the garment Jesus wore in John’s vision was to portray Him in His role as our Great High Priest!

Hebrews 3:1 (NKJV) declares that Jesus is the “High Priest of our confession.”

Hebrews 4:15-16 describes Jesus Christ as the High Priest who can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, a truth that has been a comfort to believers throughout the In these verses, God calls each of us to come boldly before the throne of grace to obtain mercy and to find help in our time of need from Jesus, our High Priest. 

Hebrews 5:5-6 reveals that the office of High Priest was conferred upon Jesus and that His priesthood will remain “forever” after the order of Melchizedek

Hebrews 7:24 states that Jesus’ role as our Great High Priest is “unchangeable.”

The ministry of Jesus Christ as our High Priest is one of the most important themes of the New Testament. Jesus was clothed with priestly garments; He is clothed with priestly garments; and He will always be clothed with priestly garments — because He is forever the High Priest of our confession.

The way Jesus was clothed when He appeared to John sent an extremely important message to the apostle and to the Church at large. John was about to receive Jesus’ messages for the seven churches in the Roman province of Asia, some of which would contain correction and stern yet loving rebukes from Christ in response to wrong beliefs and behaviors that were emerging in these congregations. However, by appearing to John as High Priest, Jesus’ intercessory ministry was the prominent feature the apostle noticed before anything else. It proclaimed that Jesus was the Great High Priest who was praying for the churches.

We saw in the September 6 Sparkling Gem that Jesus revealed Himself in Revelation 1:5 first and foremost as the Prince and Supreme Sovereign of the kings of the earth. But in Revelation 1:13, He appeared as High Priest, thus affirming that He was standing in His priestly role, interceding for the churches He was about to discipline and correct. Before He appeared with feet of bronze, representing judgment, He appeared as the Great High Priest who was praying for them — that they might repent before He needed to apply His feet of judgment.

But John’s description of Jesus’ “garment down to the foot” also portrayed the intercessory ministry of Jesus, which will never change. This is an office that was once and for all conferred upon Christ and is unchangeable. Jesus was, is, and will always be interceding on behalf of the Church that He purchased with His own blood.

Hebrews 7:25 declares that Jesus lives to make intercession for us. Dressed in His high priestly garments, He sits in the holy presence of the Father and intercedes on our behalf.

That means Jesus is praying and interceding for you right now. So what is stopping you from coming to Him today with the needs and desires that are on your heart? Jesus was, is, and forever will be your Great High Priest. He is waiting for you to come boldly into His presence to present your needs and desires!

AMEN! Come BOLDLY into HIS presence! Here is Hillsong with "Song For His Presence":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is another great one!

Believing First

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. — MARK 9:23

There is just a shade of difference in what you believe when you say it, and when you pray it.

Look again at Mark 11:23 and 24. Jesus didn’t say, “Just believe.” He told us exactly what to believe. Faith by saying is: “. . . believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass . . .” (verse 23). When you are believing that those things which you say shall come to pass, then that means they haven’t come to pass yet. But keep on believing that those things you said — be sure you’ve said it — shall come to pass. I always keep saying right in the face of contradictory circumstances, “It shall come to pass.” What will happen then? “. . . He shall have whatsoever he saith.” Sooner or later you shall have it!

Faith by praying is: “. . . when ye pray, believe that ye receive them . . .” (verse 24). When you pray. Not after you pray. Not next week. But when you pray — that very moment — believe. Believe what? Believe that you receive your requests. Begin to say, “I believe that I receive.” And what will happen? “. . . Ye shall have them!”

Yes, the having will come, but the having doesn’t come first. Believing comes first; then the having follows.

Confession: I am a believer. When I pray, I believe that I receive. When I say, I believe that what I say shall come to pass.

AMEN! ONLY BELIEVE! Believe GOD'S WORD and HIS PROMISES! HE will make it come to pass! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Fear of God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share the devotional from our Spoken Word Church website for today! This is fantastic!

Sing Aloud Your Prayers

Few have discovered this golden secret. Singing changes the climate and atmosphere. Stores even play it in the background during shopping hours. There is a reason for it.

Do something different today. Sing out your prayer requests to God. You will be amazed at the joy and enthusiasm that rises within you.

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” {Ephesians 5:19}

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” {Colossians 3:16}

I LOVE the Word of God put into song! We whether we pray, decree or sing the WORD of GOD, it is ALWAYS the right thing to do and powerfully effective for our lives! I hope that YOU will put this into practice! You will be SO glad you did! Here is Hillsong with "All To Him":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I really loved Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace Inspiration" devotional!

You Have Been Forgiven Much

Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. Luke 7:47

Let’s look at Luke 7:36-50 to see what Jesus said about the forgiveness of sins. Simon, a Pharisee, had invited Jesus to his house. While Jesus was seated at the table in Simon’s house, a woman came to Him. She began to weep and she washed His feet with her tears. Then, she wiped His feet with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with fragrant oil.

When Simon saw this, he said to himself, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

Even though Simon did not speak aloud, it is interesting that Jesus answered him by posing this question to him: “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” Jesus said to him, “You have rightly judged.”

Then, Jesus turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

The woman loved Jesus much because she knew that she was forgiven much. In actuality, no one has been forgiven little. We have all been forgiven much. As for this woman, she knew it. So the most “dangerous” thing about this doctrine of complete forgiveness of sins is that you will fall in love with Jesus and end up effortlessly fulfilling the greatest commandment: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:36-38). Hallelujah!

If you think that you have been forgiven little, then you will love little. But when you know the truth of how much you have been forgiven, you will love Jesus much! Knowing how much you have been forgiven is the secret to loving Jesus! In other words, you will only love Jesus much when you experience His lavish grace and unmerited favor in forgiving you of all your sins—past, present, and future. But His grace is cheapened when you think that He has only forgiven you of your sins up to the time you got saved, and after that point, you have to depend on your confession of sins to be forgiven.

God’s forgiveness is not given in installments. Don’t go around thinking that when you confess a sin, He forgives you only for that sin. Then, the next time you sin, you need to confess your sin again for Him to forgive you again. Such is the kind of belief that cheapens His grace. And the result of this is that because you think that He has forgiven you little, you will end up loving Him little, and deprive yourself of running to Him and seeing Him help, deliver and prosper you.

Beloved, with one sacrifice on the cross, Jesus blotted out all the sins of your entire life! Don’t cheapen His unmerited favor with your own imperfect efforts to confess all your sins. Accord this gift that Jesus has given you the value that it deserves by fully receiving and experiencing His unmerited favor today!

AMEN! This is SO powerful!!! Every good thing about us comes from and because of JESUS! Don't ever lose the awareness of that TRUTH! The more you keep yourself aware, the more your love for HIM will grow!!! Here is Hillsong with with a song that will remind us of this! "Search My Heart". One of the lines says "Without You I am nothing!" Now THAT is Truth!

Shalom in Him!