Shalom,

I will be vacationing for a few days and will not be posting the blog until I return. I encourage you to keep yourself in the Word of God, talking always to JESUS! Here is Brandon Lake with one of my favorite songs, "Count 'Em".

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Health Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is a continuation of the teaching from yesterday! 

The Never-Failing Remedy of God’s Word

. . . he shall have whatsoever he saith. — MARK 11:23

The next morning, Dr. Yeomans and her sister fed their patients breakfast. Then Dr. Yeomans asked this particular woman if she had been saying what she told her to say. She said, “Oh, it seemed like I didn’t sleep but ten minutes last night. I must have said it ten thousand times, but it doesn’t mean a thing in the world to me. I don’t understand it.”

Dr. Yeomans said, “That’s all right, honey. You just keep saying it over and over again, every waking moment.”

If people would work at receiving divine healing like they ought to, it would work for them. But so many times, they only do it half-heartedly and then go on thinking about something else. In that case, it won’t work for them. They have to get down to business.

Well, on the third day, Dr. Yeomans went to this woman’s room again and read scriptures on the subject of healing to her for a solid hour. Then Dr. Yeomans said, “Are you still saying what I told you to say?”

She said, “Oh, yes, but it still doesn’t mean a thing in the world to me. I’m not getting anything out of it.” Dr. Yeomans again told her to just keep saying it.

At about 11:00 a.m. that same day, Dr. Yeomans and her sister were downstairs washing the breakfast dishes when they heard somebody upstairs shouting. They heard running footsteps, so they rushed out into the hall. And there was the woman who had come in only two days before. She was rushing down the stairway, yelling, “Dr. Yeomans, did you know I no longer have TB?”

“Yes,” she said. “I’ve been trying to tell you that for three days.” You see, it got down in her spirit. That’s when God’s Word works for you. God’s Word never fails. That woman initiated healing for herself.

Confession: I can initiate healing for myself by putting my faith in the Word of God. God’s Word says that I have been redeemed from all manner of sickness and disease.

AMEN! Now if YOU will put this into practice for yourself and your loved ones, the WORD will work the same way! Here is UNITED with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share with you one of Kenneth E. Hagin's teachings on health and healing from his "Health Food" devotional!

You Are Redeemed From the Curse of the Law

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. — GALATIANS 3:13

Dr. Yeomans had every scripture on the subject of divine healing marked in her Bible. For two hours, she sat next to this woman who had tuberculosis and read those healing scriptures to her. Then at the end, she read Deuteronomy chapter 28 and Galatians chapter 3. She read them over and over again. Then she just read Deuteronomy 28:61 and Galatians 3:13.

Dr. Yeomans told the woman, “Every waking moment, say, ‘According to Deuteronomy 28:61, sickness and disease is a curse of the Law. Tuberculosis is a curse of the Law. But according to Galatians 3:13, Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the Law. Therefore, I no longer have TB.’”

The woman said, “But I don’t understand it.”

Dr. Yeomans said, “That’s all right. You just say what I told you to say.” The woman began saying, “According to Deuteronomy 28:61, TB is a curse of the law. But according to Galatians 3:13, Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law. Therefore, I no longer have TB.”

Confession: According to Deuteronomy 28:61, _________ (fill in the particular sickness or disease) is a curse of the Law. But according to Galatians 3:13, Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the Law. Therefore, I no longer have _________.

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Miracle Child":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Here is my prayer for YOU from today's Psalm 87:13!

13 May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.

AMEN! I hope that you will receive this prayer for yourself, and then pray the same for people in your life! Here is Hillsong and Benjamin Hastings with "That's The Power":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

From Believing to Perceiving

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:37

The Bible calls us kings and priests (Revelation 1:6) and world overcomers (1 John 5:4). But for most of us, those are just phrases. They haven't become real to us. That's why the devil's been able to hoodwink us into living lives of defeat. It hasn't actually dawned on us who we really are.

If you'll look in 1 Chronicles 14, you'll see that David had a similar problem. He'd been anointed king by the prophet Samuel when he was just a teenager. He'd known for years that someday he'd rule over Israel. Yet somehow, it hadn't really sunk in.

But look what happens in verse 2: "And David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel." Finally, it dawned on him! David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king. I can just imagine David saying to himself, I'm king. I'm actually king! I am king! At that moment, being king ceased to be something David had only thought about. It became something he really was. He could see himself king.

What does that have to do with you and me? Much like David, you and I have been given a royal office. We're just having a hard time believing it. But until we do, we cannot exercise the power or authority that goes with that office.

Say, for example, you're sick. You can yell, "By His stripes I'm healed," 50 times a day. You can hope for healing. You can try to believe for healing till your hair turns gray. But if you don't really perceive yourself as whole and healthy in Christ Jesus, if you don't see yourself as "the healed" instead of "the sick," you won't get any supernatural help. Yet once that realization hits you that you are, in fact, "the healed," no one—not even the devil himself—will be able to keep you from getting well.

Don't let the devil hoodwink you any longer. Step over the line from trying to believe to actually knowing by dwelling on the Word of God. Read it and think about it. Practice seeing yourself through the eyes of the Word until the reality of your royalty in Christ rises up in you!

AMEN! GOD is not keeping anything away from you! JESUS already paid the ultimate price for our total redemption and HEALING! BEIEVE and RECEIVE all that HE has provided for YOU! Here is Brandon Lake with "Graves Into Gardens":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

The Power of Identity

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? . . . know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:15, 19–20 KJV

I read the story of a businessman in New York City who was rushing to board a subway train on his way to work when he saw a beggar with a cup of pencils in his hands sitting on the platform. Without thinking too much about it, he quickly grabbed some money from his wallet and dropped the bills into the beggar’s collection plate before boarding the train.

Just before the train doors closed, the businessman jumped back out onto the platform and took several pencils from the beggar’s cup. He apologized to the beggar, explaining that in his haste, he had neglected to pick up the pencils he had purchased. “After all,” he said, “you are a businessman just like me. You have merchandise to sell and it’s fairly priced.” After that the businessman boarded the next train and went about his day.

At a social event several months later, a well-dressed salesman approached this businessman and introduced himself. “You probably don’t remember me and I don’t know your name,” he said, “but I will never forget you. You are the man who gave me back my self-respect. I was a ‘beggar’ selling pencils until you came along and told me that I was a businessman.”

I share this story to highlight to you the power of identity. The businessman gave this beggar a renewed sense of meaning and identity by simply speaking over him and calling forth a latent potential that was in him.

By calling this beggar a businessman, he awakened in him a renewed sense of worth, value, and importance. The words gave the beggar a new perspective. And they gave him a new belief and vision that propelled him to walk away from the lie that a beggar was all he could be.

We can draw many parallels in this story for believers of our Lord Jesus. I believe that many who are struggling with sin, addictions, and destructive bondages don’t have the revelation of their new covenant identity in Christ. When you see a believer struggling with sin, it is often a case of mistaken identity.

The best way to help him is to point him back to his righteousness in Christ, as the apostle Paul did to those in the Corinthian church who had fallen into sin. Paul didn’t point these believers back to the law of Moses. All he did was to remind them of who they truly were.

Reread today’s scripture. Paul knew that if they were reminded of their righteous identity in Christ, they would repent. They would return to grace and turn away from their sins when they were reminded of their value according to the heavy price Christ had paid on the cross to ransom them.

I encourage you to use Apostle Paul’s method to encourage and lift up believers whom you know are struggling with sin. Point them back to their identity in Christ. They probably do not know, or have forgotten, how they have been made the righteousness of God through Jesus’ blood.

Because of this, like the beggar in the story, they are living a life of defeat. They are living far below the high place God has called them to. Believers in Christ are called to be the head and not the tail, to be above and not beneath, to reign over sin and not be defeated by sin!

Let's make it our determined purpose to HELP others rather than do nothing! It starts with PRAYER and continues  wherever Holy Spirit leads, guides and directs! Here is Brandon Lake with 
"Your Love Is Strong":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 84 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today is one we should all definitely KNOW and operate in!

To the Chief Musician; set to a Philistine lute, or [possibly] a particular Gittite tune. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

1 How lovely are Your tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul yearns, yes, even pines and is homesick for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out and sing for joy to the living God.
3 Yes, the sparrow has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young—even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
4 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; they will be singing Your praises all the day long. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
5 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; the early rain also fills [the pools] with blessings.
7 They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]; each of them appears before God in Zion.
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
9 Behold our shield [the king as Your agent], O God, and look upon the face of Your anointed!
10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather be a doorkeeper and stand at the threshold in the house of my God than to dwell [at ease] in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts, blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts in You [leaning and believing on You, committing all and confidently looking to You, and that without fear or misgiving]!

TRUST HIM! He IS WHo His Word says HE is! YOU ARE who HIS WORD says YOU are! COUNT ON IT! Here is Brandon Lake with "Count 'Em".

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is anotherexcellent lesson that every born again believer should know! 

Authority

Behold, I give unto you power [authority] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. . . . . — LUKE 10:19

The Greek word “exousia” means authority. However, it is often translated as “power” in the King James Version of the New Testament. In our text, for example, two different Greek words are translated as “power,” yet the correct translation of the first word is “authority.” Our verse should read, “I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy . . . .”

What is the difference between power and authority?

Well, what can one uniformed police officer do to direct the flow of rush hour traffic? He can do a great deal. Is it because the policeman has the power to hold back these mighty machines? No! His most strenuous efforts couldn’t stop the swiftly passing cars. He doesn’t have the power to do it, but he has something far better. He is invested with the authority of the government he serves. Even a stranger in the city recognizes this authority and obeys it.

Authority is delegated power.

Confession: I have been given authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing shall by any means hurt me.

AMEN! KNOW who you are IN HIM and know WHO'S you are IN HIM! Here is Brandon Lake with "Tear Off The Roof":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Romans 10 in today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Here are the most important verses in this chapter!

8 But what does it say? The Word (God’s message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word (the message, the basis and object) of faith which we preach,
9 Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.

AMEN! Once we have done this, then the rest of the chapter will make so much sense to us! Here is Brandon Lake with "Adoption Song" because THIS is what JESUS provided for us through His death, burial and resurrection! WE are HIS! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share a vital lesson on healing from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "From Faith To Faith" devotional.

Healing Always Comes

And these signs shall follow them that believe...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:17-18

I used to get upset over people I'd lay hands on who wouldn't get well. I was praying one day and seeking God about it when He spoke to my spirit and said, Healing always comes.

I remember I said, "What do You mean, Healing always comes? Not everyone gets healed."

I didn't say they all received it, He answered. Then He spoke very sternly to me. I do My part. And I said they would recover!

Those words hit me like a ton of bricks. He said they would recover. He never lies. So if He said they would recover, then that means healing always comes. It's not God who's holding back. It's the receivers who aren't receiving.

Since then, I've never had any trouble laying hands on people and believing for them to be healed. Whether they walk away well or not, I just keep standing in faith for them. In fact, I know if that fellow who went away still sick ever lines his faith up with God and me—I don't care if it's five years from now—he'll be healed.

If you've laid hands on someone who didn't receive his healing, don't cut off the flow of God's power by withdrawing your faith. Stand fast. Keep believing that healing always comes and somewhere down the line that poor sick fellow may just decide to stand up and agree with you!

AMEN! ALWAYS keep ahold of the WORD of GOD! Here is Brandon Lake with "Tear Off The Roof":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is powerful and basic!

Wisdom And Revelation

I Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. — EPHESIANS 1:16

Ephesians 1:17-23 and 3:14-21 are Spirit-given prayers which apply to the Church everywhere. The turning point in my life came when I prayed them a thousand times or more for myself. I would kneel, open my Bible, and say, “Father, I’m praying these prayers for myself. Because they are Spirit-given prayers, this has to be Your will for me, just as it was Your will for the Church at Ephesus.” Then I would continue to pray by reading from these passages, except wherever Paul said, “you,” I would substitute “me,” as follows:

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto “me” the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

The eyes of “my” understanding being enlightened; that “I” may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places . . . .

After about six months, the first thing I was praying about started to happen: The revelation of God’s Word began to come to me!

AMEN! Pray these prayers often for your friends, family, loved ones and those you share Jesus with! Here is Brandon Lake with "Miracle Child":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Sparkling Gems From The Greek - Volume 2" devotional by Rick Renner is POWERFUL!

REPENTANCE - AN ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLE

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrines of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. — Hebrews 6:1-2

What would you think of a full-grown adult who never got serious about learning his ABCs and therefore had to keep repeating the first grade over and over again? Imagine 50 or so years passing since that person first entered grade school. As he nears his sixtieth birthday, there he still sits at a tiny little desk in a room full of first-graders.

Would you find that situation normal, or would you find it strange? It would be especially bizarre if that old man was mentally sound, yet found himself still sitting at a tiny desk in a room full of first-graders because he’d been too slothful to apply himself to learn.

Strange as that scenario may seem, it happens all the time in the Christian community. Many believers who have known the Lord for years have remained at the same level of spiritual immaturity ever since they were baby Christians. They never applied themselves or got serious about their spiritual growth, and thus, they perpetually remain spiritually immature. Although they’ve been saved for many years, they are still sitting in “beginners’ class” in Sunday school with children, figuratively speaking. They should be much further along in their spiritual growth, but because they were never diligent about their walk with God, they just keep repeating the basics over and over again.

In Hebrews 6:1, the writer of Hebrews listed what he referred to as “the principles of the doctrines of Christ.” The word “principles” is the Greek word arches, which denotes something that is original, early, or from the beginning. In Hebrews 6:1, this word arches specifically refers to the elementary principles of Christ. These elementary principles comprise the fundamental doctrine for beginners. They encompass the basic spiritual principles that every new believer should know, as well as the first steps of faith that every baby Christian should be able to take. In other words, these are the ABCs of the Christian faith.

The problem is, most Christians aren’t very familiar with these elementary principles. In fact, some don’t even know them at all! Furthermore, this failure to know the fundamental truths of the Christian faith causes them to struggle in life. Had they applied themselves at an earlier age, they would be much further along in their walk with God and therefore able to overcome the difficulties that confront them in life. But because they never took time to learn the basics, they are still sitting in a spiritual “beginners’ class”!

The first vital, elementary principle that the writer of Hebrews listed was “…the foundation of repentance from dead works….” This word “foundation” is the Greek word themelios. It is an early combination of the Greek word lithos, which means stone, and the word tithemi, which means to place. When these roots are combined, the new compound word denotes something that is set in stone; a foundation that cannot be easily moved or shaken; or something so solid that it will endure the test of time. Taken together, these different nuances of meaning are the reason the word themelios came to be translated as the word “foundation.”

By using the Greek word themelios, the writer of Hebrews was teaching us that if we are serious about our walk with God, our understanding of repentance should be set in stone. This truth should be so rock solid in our lives that we are immovable and unshakable when it comes to the subject of repentance!

However, this is sadly not the case for many believers in the modern Church. In fact, the survey results we read earlier found that a majority of regular churchgoing Christians could not provide an accurate definition of the word repentance! This is very alarming to me because it reveals that most believers are in a stunted state of spiritual maturity. Regardless of their age or how many years they’ve been saved, most of them are still in “Beginners’ Class” spiritually. If they still can’t articulate an answer to such a simple question, they are still in spiritual kindergarten!

Furthermore, Hebrews 6:1 clearly states that our knowledge concerning repentance should be so set in stone that it should never have to be repeated or taught to us again. It reads, “…not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works.…” The words “not laying again” are derived from the Greek word kataballo, which is a compound of the words kata and ballo. The word kata means down, and the word ballo means to throw. When these two words are joined together, the new word means to throw something down or to lay something down.

The use of the word kataballo in Hebrews 6:1 tells us something very important: The elementary principles of the Christian faith should be laid down in our lives like a strong foundation as soon as we come to Christ — and once this foundation is set in place, there should never be any need for it to be laid down again.

In fact, Hebrews 6:1 says that seasoned believers should be able to leave the fundamental truths behind and “go on unto perfection.” The word “leaving” in this verse is from the Greek word aphiemi, which means to leave it or to let it go. It does not refer to the abandonment of truth, but rather the realization that maturity requires pressing upward to the next level.

The beginning is not a stopping point — it is only a beginning!

This is the reason the writer of Hebrews continued by saying we must “…go on unto perfection….” The words “go on” are derived from the word phero, which means to carry or to bear. However, the tense used in this verse paints the picture of a force that carries one onward or a force that bears one further. It could literally be translated let us be carried, and it conveys the idea that as we grow spiritually, the Holy Spirit picks us up and personally carries us forward in our knowledge and understanding of God.

Where is the Holy Spirit carrying us? Hebrews 6:1 tells us that He is carrying us toward “perfection.” The word “perfection” is the Greek word teleiotes, which refers to a child graduating from one class to the next until he finally reaches maturity. This means that until we meet Jesus face to face in Heaven, there is no end to our spiritual growth. That’s why it is so very serious when an older Christian who has been saved for many years can’t even articulate the meaning of the word “repentance.” He should be much further along in his spiritual growth, but instead of reaching maturity, he has been content to remain in spiritual kindergarten.

Why is it so essential and elementary that we know and understand the doctrine of repentance? As we have already seen in the March 18 Sparkling Gem, the word “repentance” in the New Testament depicts a complete, radical, total change. It is a decision to completely change or a decision to entirely turn around in the way that one is thinking, believing, and living. It describes a person who is undergoing a complete and radical transformation that literally affects every part of his or her life.

Repentance is not a fleeting, temporary sorrow for past actions. Rather, it is a solid, intellectual decision to turn around and take a new direction in order to completely change the patterns of one’s life on every level. It is a mental choice to turn toward God with all of one’s heart in order to follow Jesus. It is the birth canal through which we are born into the Kingdom of God.

Repentance is the starting place for all believers, and that is why Hebrews 6:1 lists it as an elementary principle of the doctrines of Christ. It is the place where our turning away from sin begins, and it is the point from which we submit our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Repentance is your starting place — so make sure that your understanding of it is laid down like a strong, immovable foundation in your life. Then once you know you are well established in your own personal act of repentance, let the Holy Spirit carry you onward and upward as you reach toward spiritual maturity.

Such a powerful decision! To change OUR thinking to agree with GOD! And then put that decision into action! The best decision! Here is Brandon Lake with "We Need A Move":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I think that the devotional on The Spoken Word Church website for today is VITAL!

Discover Your Dream

Every dream is born or borrowed. It is born within your own heart or subconsciously borrowed from someone who has influenced you.

Whatever creates joy and energy within you is probably an indication of what God wants you to pursue. Your dominant talent is the center of your expertise. Your success is there.

"And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey." {Matthew 25:15}

AMEN! NO one can dream FOR you! We get those from our Heavenly Father by Holy Spirit when we meditate on the Word of God! Get those promises IN you and walk in the BLESSING every day! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Bless God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

We Don’t Have All the Answers

“I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope.”
Hosea 2:15 NLT

Maybe you are going through a difficult valley. Maybe you are disappointed with God because you have lost a loved one or because you have been battling that medical condition year after year.

I want to encourage you not to ask, “Why?” Asking why will only lead you on a downward spiral into depression. Don’t ask, “Why did this happen to me?” Don’t ask, “Why is my child not healed even though I have trusted You for years?” or “Why is my loved one going through one tragedy after another?”

The fact is, in this fallen world, we don’t have all the answers. One day, we will receive our new bodies, where the corruptible will put on incorruption, and the mortal will put on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:53). But until then, I recognize that sometimes bad things happen and I don’t know why.

But what I do know is this: God is a good God. He loves us, and He is never behind any pain we go through. Our faith in Him is not based on our experiences; it is based on the unchanging, eternal Word of God, which cannot lie.

Even when things didn’t go the way you wanted them to, don’t remain in your disappointment. The devil wants you to get angry with God and to give up on His promises. But keep believing that God is for you and not against you.

Even if the enemy has destroyed something in your life, and even if years have been lost as you waited for the manifestation of your healing, or the days of your youth have been stolen from you, keep believing that God can restore to you what you have lost (Joel 2:25, Job 33:25).

My friend, “let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). Keep on looking to the Lord for your breakthrough. And if you find that you are too tired to believe anymore, I pray that this promise will carry you through:

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
—Isaiah 40:31

Here is Brandon Lake with "Rest On Us":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to hsare from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Health Food" devotional!

Sickness Is the Work of the Devil

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. — ACTS 10:38

Right after Rev. Dowie heard from the Spirit of God concerning the bubonic plague, there was a knock on his door. Three young men burst into his study. One of the young men said to Rev. Dowie, “Come quickly, Mary is dying, and Momma wants you to come.” Mary was a twelve-year-old girl who had the bubonic plague.

Rev. Dowie jumped from his desk, hatless and coatless, and ran down the street with the young men. He ran into the house, where the little girl lay on the bed in convulsions. That’s the way people died with the bubonic plague; they died in convulsions with bloody froth running out their mouth. The doctor said to Rev. Dowie, “In what mysterious ways God moves, His wonders to perform.”

Rev. Dowie, having just received this new revelation from God, said, “Doctor, how dare you call that the work of my God! My God wouldn’t kill a twelve-year-old girl! Sir, I’ll have you know that’s the work of the devil!” Rev. Dowie said to the mother of the girl, “Why did you send for me?” She said, “To pray.”

Not knowing exactly what words to say, Rev. Dowie laid his hands on the little girl and said, “Jesus is the Deliverer. Satan is the oppressor.” Then he quoted Acts 10:38 as well as other scriptures that began to come to him. While he was praying, the convulsions ceased, the bloody froth ceased, and the little girl fell into a deep sleep. When Mary opened her eyes, she looked at her mother and said, “Momma, I feel so good.” She was completely healed.

Confession: According to Acts 10:38, sickness and disease come from the devil, the oppressor. Healing comes from Jesus, the Deliverer!

AMEN!

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

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share the devotional from our The Spoken Word Church website!

Dress Appropriately

Your clothing communicates an attitude toward the goals you are pursuing. People see what you are before they hear what you are. You are a walking message system to others. Even Joseph dressed to create acceptance in the palace of Pharaoh.

"Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh."  (Genesis 41:14)

TRUTH! Here is Brandon Lake with "Coat Of Many Colors":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share the devotional from Jerry Savelle ministries website! 

Generous Giving, Generous Receiving

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance. Second Corinthians 9:8 AMPC

 Generous giving to God will result in generous receiving from God! 

Isn’t that the way you want to live your life? I certainly do! Those who are generous in giving to God always experience generous receiving from God. Like I have said many times, it is impossible to out give God. You simply cannot do it.

The more you honor Him, the more He will honor you. How? With favor and earthly blessings. He will fully supply not only what you need, but He will even bless you with what you want and what you desire.

When I first came to Christ, people told me things like, “Now, God may meet your need, but don’t get your hopes too high. You never know what God might do. And don’t ever even think about asking Him for something that you desire.”

Guess what? I found out they were wrong. His Word says that He will not only meet my needs, but if I will delight myself in Him, He will give me the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:4).

I cannot tell you of all the times that God has generously given back to me. God ALWAYS gives back to us generously. Why? Because that’s His Word!

His Word will work for you in your life just like it works in mine! Remember, generous giving to God will result in generous receiving from God!

AMEN! I LOVE the WORD of GOD! The ANSWER to every question and the SOLUTION to every problem! Dig in and find out what belongs to YOU as a child of the Living GOD! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Bless God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom

Today I want to share again from Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional.

Obedience

His servants ye are to whom ye obey. — Romans 6:16

The first thing to do in examining the power that dominates me is to take hold of the unwelcome fact that I am responsible for being thus dominated. If I am a slave to myself, I am to blame because at a point away back I yielded to myself. Likewise, if I obey God I do so because I have yielded myself to Him.

Yield in childhood to selfishness, and you will find it the most enchaining tyranny on earth. There is no power in the human soul of itself to break the bondage of a disposition formed by yielding. Yield for one second to anything in the nature of lust (remember what lust is: “I must have it at once,” whether it be the lust of the flesh or the lust of the mind), once yield and though you may hate yourself for having yielded, you are a bond-slave to that thing. There is no release in human power at all, but only in the Redemption. You must yield yourself in utter humiliation to the only One Who can break the dominating power viz., the Lord Jesus Christ. “He hath anointed me…to preach deliverance to all captives.”

You find this out in the most ridiculously small ways – “Oh, I can give that habit up when I like.” You cannot, you will find that the habit absolutely dominates you because you yielded to it willingly. It is easy to sing – “He will break every fetter,” and at the same time be living a life of obvious slavery to yourself. Yielding to Jesus will break every form of slavery in any human life.

AMEN! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Bless God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "From Faith To Faith" devotional today! 

Living by Faith—It's a Lifestyle

Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:3

Times of hardness are inevitable. You need to know that. It's true that we've been redeemed from the curse, and there's nothing Satan can do to reverse that, but he is going to challenge you on it.

So don't be surprised when things get tough. Times will come when you have to stand strictly by faith, when you'll have to speak and act as though what God says is true even when you can't feel it or see it happening around you. There will be times when everything looks terrible. That's when you must endure hardness as a good soldier.

So many people hear the word of faith about healing or prosperity and they think, Hey! I'm going to try that. Then when the hard times come, they give up and cave in.

Let me warn you, living by faith is not something you try. It's a lifestyle. You do it when it's hard. You do it when it's easy. You do it all the time because you're not doing it just to get in on the benefits. You're doing it because you know that faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6).

Things may get a little rough at times, but let me assure you, you'll always come out on top if you endure hardness as a good soldier. If you refuse to faint and fall away, you will have the victory. The only defeated Christian is the one who quits!

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

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to sharre Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional.

A Psalm

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs . . . . — COLOSSIANS 3:16

Here is the psalm the Holy Spirit gave me on the subject of words.

Words seem so insignificant and small
that men oft times take no note of them at all.

But words spoken in faith, create realities . . .
So rise up and speak, like the Creator of the universe,
Who, in faith, said, LET THERE BE — and THERE WAS.

Words — you speak them all the time,
filled with negativism and defeat,
Those words create defeat, and make you
unsuccessful, unhealthy, and unwise.

But Words given by God, inspired by His Spirit,
called by men, the Holy Writ,

These words heard with the ear of faith,
And spoken out of a heart filled with faith,
Will create in your life, and your family’s too,
Success and victory; health and healing;
Circumstances and darkness and troubles too,
will run away from you.

Filled with His Word, inspired by His Spirit,
Make your tongue do its duty.
See to it that you speak only truth . . .
His Word is truth.

Speak words of faith and love; words that are true,
And no longer will spiritual realities unto you,
seem unreal and far away.

But all of the blessings of life;
spiritual, material, physical, and financial too,
Will come to make their abode with you.

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Count 'Em":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE the positive affirmations of Psalm 71 from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today! Look at verses 5-8:

5 For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my trust from my youth and the source of my confidence.
6 Upon You have I leaned and relied from birth; You are He Who took me from my mother’s womb and You have been my benefactor from that day. My praise is continually of You.
7 I am as a wonder and surprise to many, but You are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth shall be filled with Your praise and with Your honor all the day.

Also verses 14-17:

14 But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more.
15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteous acts and of Your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is more than I know.
16 I will come in the strength and with the mighty acts of the Lord God; I will mention and praise Your righteousness, even Yours alone.
17 O God, You have taught me from my youth, and hitherto have I declared Your wondrous works.

And then finishing with verses 20-24:

21 Increase my greatness (my honor) and turn and comfort me.                                                            22 I will also praise You with the harp, even Your truth and faithfulness, O my God; unto You will I sing praises with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.                                                                                   23 My lips shall shout for joy when I sing praises to You, and my inner being, which You have redeemed.                                                                                                                                                   24 My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long; for they are put to shame, for they are confounded, who seek and demand my hurt.

Make Praise, Thanksgiving and Worship a vital part of your EVERY DAY! You'll NEVER regret that choice! Here is Brandon Lake with "That's Who I Praise!":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Our Spoken Word Church website devotional is short, simple and very, very important!

Don’t Over Schedule Yourself Today

The wise refuse to consider too many goals. Only write down the number of things you know you will actually complete. When you over schedule, your attention will focus on those things you failed to accomplish instead of the tasks that have been completed. Make time only for that which is worthwhile.

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalms 46:10)

AMEN! Sometimes the secret to success is found in little, powerful TRUTHS like this! Here is Hillsong with "Everyday":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today we read Mark 12. I want to remind you of verses 28-31 because they are very important for US in the days in which we live! 

28 Then one of the scribes came up and listened to them disputing with one another, and, noticing that Jesus answered them fitly and admirably, he asked Him, Which commandment is first and most important of all [in its nature]? 29 Jesus answered, The first and principal one of all commands is: Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord; 30 And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. 31 The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

When we are obedience to do this, we will be pleasing to our Father and will put ourselves in position to walk in HIS riches and best for THIS life and then rewards in Heaven! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Bless God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace Inspirations" devotional:

Say Yes to Jesus

But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. . . . So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:14, 18 NLT

I want to encourage you to be consumed with the person of Jesus. God’s Word says that “you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV).

Jesus Himself is your wisdom, your righteousness, and also your holiness!

The Greek word used here for “holiness” is hagiasmos, the same Greek word used for “sanctification.” Our holiness or sanctification is found in the person of Jesus.

So whenever you have an unclean thought, or a stirring in you, or a temptation to sin, stop for a while and look at Jesus. See the cross. See and experience His love, forgiveness, and grace for you afresh. Jesus is your victory over every temptation, addiction, and bondage!

Some people believe that all you have to do is say no to temptation. But you know what? Your willpower is no match for sin. The reality is, the more you try to say no by your own efforts, the worse it becomes.

The apostle Paul describes this very struggle, which he himself experienced: “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice” (Romans 7:19).

So the answer is not to depend on your willpower to say no to temptation, but to depend on God’s grace and say yes to Jesus! In the midst of your struggle and temptation, say YES to Jesus. Say, “Lord Jesus, I thank You that You are my righteousness, my holiness, and my redemption.” Turn every temptation into an opportunity to look to and praise Jesus!

That’s what Paul did. Just look at what he says in Romans 7:24–25: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Paul’s answer for victory over sin is found in a person. His question was, “Who will deliver me?” It wasn’t, “Which commandment will deliver me?”

Your liberty from every sinful habit is found in the person of Jesus! Say yes to Him! He is your righteousness and holiness. Let Him come into the areas where you feel the weakest and allow His grace to transform you from the inside out.

My friend, it is so clear from today’s scripture that holiness is all about becoming more and more like Jesus and it comes about when the veil of the law is removed. When the veil is removed, we see our beautiful Savior face-to-face and His glorious grace transforms us from glory to glory. The gospel of glorious grace always produces glorious lives.

I pray that as you read more and more about God's grace, you will have a greater revelation of just how wonderful your Savior is, just how perfect His work on Calvary was, and just how deeply loved YOU are.

And as you behold Jesus, may you grow from glory to glory and shine as a testament to all of His goodness!

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Talking To Jesus":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin goes right along with yesterday's!

Health Words

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue ofthe wise is health. — PROVERBS 12:18

I first learned the secret of words — faith words — when I spent sixteen months on the bed of sickness, given up to die by five doctors.

But one August day in 1934, as I lay in that bed, I acted on Mark 11:23 and 24, and I said . . . ! Words were spoken!

I said, “I believe that I receive healing for the deformed heart. I believe I receive healing for the incurable blood disease. I believe I receive healing for the paralysis. I believe I receive healing from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.” Within the hour, I was standing on my feet beside the bed — healed!

Now more than sixty-five years have come and gone, and I haven’t even had a headache. And I won’t have one. But if I did have one — which I haven’t — I wouldn’t say my head hurt. Why? Because Jesus said, “. . . he shall have whatsoever he saith” (Mark 11:23). If someone were to ask me in such a case, “How are you feeling?” I’d reply, “I’m fine, thank you. You see, the Word of God says that by His stripes I am healed. So I believe that I am healed. And the Word of God says . . .” And I would speak the right words — for the tongue of the wise is health!

Confession: My tongue is health. It speaks words of life and health. I talk health. Therefore, I walk in health.

AMEN! THAT is the only way to walk in divine health! Here is Brandon Lake with "Tear Off The Roof":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is SO important!

Wrong Words

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. — PROVERBS 21:23

When trouble comes, most people want to blame God. “Why did God let this happen?” they ask.

After Job’s troubles came, he said, “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me” (Job 3:25). Job opened the door and let the devil in!

We cause our troubles ourselves much of the time. Many dear Christian people don’t keep their mouths and tongues under control. They’re always saying wrong words. Just about all they ever talk about is what a battle they’ve had with the devil. Words of defeat are wrong. Words of failure are wrong. Words about how the devil is hindering you, how he’s keeping you from success, how he’s making you sick and keeping you sick, are wrong. Such words give Satan dominion over you and create troubles.

But when you have God’s Word in your heart, and speak it out of your mouth — right in the face of apparent contradictions, right in the face of pain, right in the face of alarming symptoms, right in the face of excruciating circumstances — such adverse conditions will disappear.

Confession: I keep my mouth, and I keep my tongue. Therefore, I keep my soul from troubles. I believe God’s Word in my heart. I purpose that the Word shall be in my mouth and on my tongue, and I shall only speak according to God’s Word!

AMEN! Make sure that YOUR WORDS line up with GOD'S WORD! Theen you will never fail! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Sparkling Gems From The Greek - Volume 2" by Rick Renner is very interesting!

YOU ARE SALT!

Ye are the salt of the earth…. — Matthew 5:13

In the verse above, Jesus taught that we are to be the salt of the earth. Considering the various uses of salt in the ancient world and how important salt was in that time, this statement carried great weight. When He likened His listeners to salt, all kinds of images flashed through their minds, and they understood the many connotations that salt carried with it. By using this illustration of salt, Jesus was teaching about the influence that we are supposed to have upon the world in which we live.

The word “salt” in Greek is the word halas, and it describes salt exactly like the salt we use in our homes and kitchens today. Today salt is so common that it can easily be purchased in any grocery store. But in New Testament times, salt was an expensive and treasured commodity that was crucial and needed in many spheres of life, as you will see in today’s Sparkling Gem.

High-quality salt could only be found in a few places in Israel. One location was the Hill of Salt, a seven-mile stretch located on the southwest coast of the Dead Sea. Salt could also be collected from the marshes situated along the embankment of the Dead Sea, or it could be gathered from salt pits near the Dead Sea. In each of these locations, the gathering of salt was an expensive process, which made the salt very costly. It was a commodity so rare that it was seldom wasted, sparingly used, and highly valued.

Salt was used as a preservative.

Especially in the warm temperatures of Israel, meat would quickly rot, spoil, and decay. But when salt was added, it acted as a preservative. Therefore, salt was very important in the preservation of meats and other kinds of perishable foods.

Those who heard Jesus’ teaching that we are to be “the salt of the earth” therefore understood that He meant that through our influence, we should be a preserving force in a world that is filled with rot, spoil, and decay. God’s Word working in our lives causes us to be like salt, and our very presence helps abate the corruption that is eating away at the world.

Salt was used as a flavor enhancer.

Salt is one of the most profound enhancers of taste that exists in the culinary world. An eater quickly becomes aware of how powerful this flavor enhancer is when he eats food that contains no salt. Unsalted food is often monotonous, bland, and uninteresting, but when salt is added, the flavor is ignited. Just like today, salt was used in the ancient world to give food a stronger and richer flavor. It was considered essential for the long-term preservation of food and for the enhancement of taste. Therefore, it was vital in every kitchen.

This tells us that not only should our presence abate the evil in the world, but our presence should also change the flavor of society as we bring the savor of Christ to our surroundings wherever we go.

In light of this, let me ask you: In what ways does your personal presence make a difference in your world? Are you doing your job as the salt of the earth?

Salt was used as an antiseptic.

In the ancient world where dirt and disease were common enemies to health, salt was used as an antiseptic. Especially in areas considered unclean, tainted, or contaminated — areas so filthy that it could potentially become hazardous to one’s health — it was believed that salt would work like a disinfectant. If properly applied in heavy doses, salt sanitized, hygienically cleansed, and made a location relatively germ-free. The application of salt in such circumstances was considered to be enormously advantageous because people believed such an application of salt sterilized non-sterile environments.

If a rapidly spreading disease was known to exist in a village, the sick people were cleared out and relocated, and salt was immediately spread to disinfect the contaminated area and to prevent the further spread of disease. Salt was such a powerful cleansing force that the ancient world believed it would assist in freeing the environment of infection.

As an antiseptic, salt was used in the fodder of barns and barnyards — places where sickness and disease could swiftly spread among animals. A small dose of salt scattered on the fodder of a barn or barnyard served as a deterrent to the proliferation of sickness and disease among animals.

Therefore, when Jesus said we are to be “the salt of the earth,” those who heard Him understood that through our influence, we are called to be a kind of spiritual antiseptic to a world that is diseased with sin. Even a small dose of the spiritual salt we carry within ourselves is such a powerful disinfecting agent that if scattered in society, it will help deter the spread of sin and moral decay.

You see, if you are doing your job as “the salt of the earth,” your very presence can hinder the proliferation of sin and its effects. So when you look at your life and the things that surround you, do you see any evidence that your personal presence is making a difference and that you are helping to promote a more spiritually sanitized environment? Are you doing your job as the salt of the earth?

Salt was used as a medicinal and healing agent.

Salt was also a very important ingredient for physicians and those employed in the field of medicine, for they used salt as a healing agent. For instance, if a person was severely wounded, salt was poured into the wound to sanitize the wound from germs, to stop the spread of infection, to stop the bleeding, and to speed up the healing of the wound. It is a fact that salt has healing properties that cause wounds to heal more readily.

In the ancient world where medications were rare, salt was an indispensable product in every doctor’s medical bag, and it was especially valuable in cases where there was an open wound. In every home, business, and public place, salt was kept close at hand in case it was needed for the treatment of an open wound or sore. It was always kept nearby for emergency treatments.

When Jesus said that His people were to be “the salt of the earth,” those who heard Him understood that through our influence, we should be carriers of physical healing to a world that is suffering with all manner of sickness and ailments. Through the preaching of God’s Word and personal ministry to those who are physically ill, we are supposed to be “the salt of the earth” that brings healing those who are physically suffering. The fact is, the power of the Holy Spirit that we carry within ourselves is fully sufficient to administer physical healing to those afflicted with sickness and disease — always, of course, in the authority given to us in the Name of Jesus!

As “the salt of the earth,” you are a vehicle God has chosen to carry healing power to those who are struggling physically. When you look around you, is there evidence to show that you are carrying this power to those who are physically infirm or challenged in some way, just as Jesus has asked you to do? Are you doing your job as the salt of the earth?

Salt was used to give protection from and to drive away evil spirits.

In the ancient world, salt was also a very important ingredient used in pagan religious rituals to give protection from and to drive away evil spirits. At the time Jesus said we are to be “the salt of the earth,” Israel was subject to Rome, and because of this, they regularly witnessed the pagan practices of Roman religions. One practice of the Romans and other pagan religions of the time was rubbing salt over a newborn baby in order to protect that child from evil spirits or to drive evil spirits away from that child. It was commonly believed in many pagan nations that salt had magical powers to protect one from evil and to drive away evil spirits.

The Romans and other pagans believed so wholeheartedly in the magical, protective powers of salt that they regularly administered heavy quantities of salt to the thresholds of their homes and businesses, believing it would create a strong barrier that evil spirits could not cross. They also spread salt on their windowsills, believing that salt could keep evil spirits from entering their homes or places of business through the windows.

So those who heard Jesus say that Christians were to be “the salt of the earth” understood that through our influence, we are to be a source of spiritual protection, deliverance, safety, and freedom to people who have been assaulted by demonic powers. By using Jesus’ name and spreading God’s Word, we can create spiritual barriers so strong that Satan is unable to successfully attack those standing on God’s promises. We are to be carriers of protection, safety, and deliverance!

When you look around at the people who are near you, do you see that they are spiritually protected, experiencing deliverance, safety, and freedom from the attacks of the enemy? Are their lives different, safer, and better because of you?

Salt was used as a fertilizer.

Salt was also a very important ingredient used by farmers to enrich and fertilize their soil in order to produce larger crops of a higher quality. Even a small amount of salt scattered sparingly on the ground could improve the quality of the soil and result in bigger harvests and healthier crops. Therefore, it was viewed as an essential ingredient in the farming industry. The best salt nourished and stimulated the earth to produce better crops.

When Jesus said we were to be “the salt of the earth,” it could actually be translated “the salt of the soil.” The implication is that through our influence, we should affect the world in which we live. In other words, our very presence should enhance life and make this world a better place to live. The world we touch should become productive and our godly presence should positively impact the quality of life for those around us. That is how much power we have as believers!

So as the “salt of the earth,” we are to enrich the atmosphere wherever we go through our influence, simply because we carry the life of God within us. As carriers of His presence, we make life better for those around us. When we walk into a situation, the environment surrounding us is filled with more peace, joy, and hope than it was before we arrived! As the salt of the earth, we have the power to make a difference everywhere we are scattered.

Are you making a difference in every place where you find yourself?

In Colossians 4:6, the apostle Paul also used the word “salt” to tell us that our conversation should be “seasoned with salt.” In light of what you have read today, this means that instead of speaking complaining, critical, negative words with the rest of the world, you can exert a spiritually positive influence on your environment. When you’re seasoned with salt, you will speak:

Words that bring preservation.
Words that flavor life and make it “taste” better.
Words that bring healing to the sick.
Words that “disinfect” and free those who were once were contaminated.
Word that are filled with protection, safety, and deliverance.
Words that are so faith-filled, they create a blessed environment around us.

Jesus plainly taught that we are supposed to be the salt of the earth! Considering the various ways salt was used in the ancient world, can you see how powerful Jesus’ point is?

If you are doing your job as “the salt of the earth,” there should be fruit all around you to show that God’s “salt” in you is doing its job. As you take a look around your life, can you see visible proofs of your “salty” influence?

Before you do anything else today, why don’t you take a few minutes to reflect on your life to see if you are having the kind of influence on your world that Jesus wants you to have. The Holy Spirit will help you honestly assess your fruit so you can see if you are doing your job as “the salt of the earth” the way God has called and equipped you to do!

AMEN! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Desert Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambers is EXCELLENT!

Could This Be True Of Me?

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself. — Acts 20:24

It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires; common sense is your guide, veneered over with Christian sentiment. You will be more prosperous and successful, more leisure-hearted, if you never realize the call of God. But if once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God wants will always come like a goad; you will no longer be able to work for Him on the commonsense basis.

What do I really count dear? If I have not been gripped by Jesus Christ, I will count service dear, time given to God dear, my life dear unto myself. Paul says he counted his life dear only in order that he might fulfil the ministry he had received; he refused to use his energy for any other thing. Acts 20:24 states Paul’s almost sublime annoyance at being asked to consider himself; he was absolutely indifferent to any consideration other than that of fulfilling the ministry he had received. Practical work may be a competitor against abandonment to God, because practical work is based on this argument – “Remember how useful you are here,” or – “Think how much value you would be in that particular type of work.” That attitude does not put Jesus Christ as the Guide as to where we should go, but our judgment as to where we are of most use. Never consider whether you are of use; but ever consider that you are not your own but His.

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Coat Of Many Colors":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I am sharing Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional again today because it goes eith along with yesterday's!  

Well Of Life

The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life . . . . — Proverbs 10:11

Immediately after the birth of our son and daughter, I took those little ones into my hands and said, “Lord, I thank You for this child. Because I know the Bible, I realize it is my responsibility to train up this child in the way it should go, and when it is old, it will not depart from it.

“I realize Your Word says to bring our children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and I’m going to do that. I know that children are taught in two ways: By precept and by example. So I’m going to live right in front of this child. I will set the right example. Then, too, I know that you can have what you say, so I say over this child that it will grow up strong physically, without sickness and without disease; it will be alert mentally; and stalwart spiritually.”

Our children grew up without sickness and disease. I never prayed a prayer that they would be saved. I never prayed a prayer that they would be filled with the Holy Spirit. But both were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit at an early age.

Children are a product of words!

Confession: According to the New Testament, in Christ I am righteous. Therefore, my mouth is a well of life. I speak words of life concerning others as well as myself!

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Talking To Jesus":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin contains one of the most powerful keys to walking in all that GOD has planneds for His people! 

Power Of Life

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. — PROVERBS 18:21

“No, I won’t pray for your son,” I told the startled widowed mother of a fifteen-year-old boy. “It won’t do any good. As long as you keep telling your son he’ll never amount to anything, you’ll undo the praying.”

“Did the Lord reveal that to you?” she asked.

“No,” I said, “I just know that the condition in life that we or our children are in was created by words.”

“What shall I do?” she said.

“There are some things you should have done when your son was younger, but he’s fifteen now. So first, quit nagging him about being saved. Second, instead of lying in bed at night worrying about him, say, ‘Lord, I don’t know where he is, but wherever he is, I surround him with faith and love.’ You’ve been surrounding him with doubt, fear, and condemnation. Say, ‘Lord, I’m going to tell You what I believe. I don’t believe he’ll end up in the penitentiary. I’ll never tell him again he won’t amount to anything. I believe he will amount to something.’”

I was back in this woman’s city fifteen months later. To make a long story short, she came to me and shared, “It was hard, but I did just what you told me. Before, my son was all out for the devil — but now he’s all out for God!”

Confession: Life is in the power of my tongue, and I will minister life with it. I speak words of life!

AMEN! I hope that you all learn to USE YOUR WORDS for GOOD and not evil, so that GOD can confirm those words with signs, wonders and miracles! Here is Brandon Lake with "Miracle Child":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Daily Grace Inspirations" devotional by Joseph Prince is another excellent one!

Jesus, our Perfect Hero

His mouth is most sweet, yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem! Song of Solomon 5:16

Jesus is someone whom you can be completely real with. You can hang out with Him and be yourself, with no pretense and no play-acting. Jesus is ever-loving toward you and you can talk to Him about anything. He enjoys conversing with you about your dreams, aspirations and hopes. He wants to heal you of things in your past that you may be struggling with. He is interested in your present challenges. He wants to weep with you when you are down and rejoice with you in all your victories.

Jesus is love and tenderness personified. Be careful not to confuse His tenderness with the effeminate and weak images that you have seen depicted in some traditional paintings of Him. He is tenderness and strength wrapped up in one. He is meekness and majesty, manhood and deity, velvet, and steel. You see, sometimes, when we attempt to be assertive and strong, we bulldoze over people’s feelings and end up hurting them with our words. When we attempt to be tender, we overdose on niceness and reduce ourselves to doormats to be taken advantage of by others.

Let’s turn away from ourselves and look at Jesus. He could sternly force a pack of scheming Pharisees to back off in one instance, challenging them by saying, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first" (John 8:7). In the very next moment, this same Jesus could look straight into the eyes of a broken woman caught in adultery, and with compassion resonating deeply in His voice, ask her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more" (John 8:10-11).

This is our God!

In one moment, a tired Jesus could be fast asleep in a wind-swept fisherman's boat, oblivious to the rough Galilean waters crashing against the hapless vessel. But in the very next moment, you see Him staring unflinchingly at the lashing waves, His well-toned carpenter's arms raised to the sky. With His single declaration of absolute authority over heaven and earth, the waves submitted and calmed instantaneously into a placid mirror of stillness (Mark 4:37-39).

Jesus is 100 percent Man and at the same time 100 percent God. As Man, He understands and identifies with all that you have gone through, are going through and will ever go through in this life. But as a loving God, all His power, authority, and resources are on your side. Beloved, whatever you are facing today, let your heart rest easy in His perfect love for you.

HALLELUJAH!!! WE have JESUS!!! Let's remind ourselves every single day that we are, of ALL people, MOST BLESSED! Here is Hillsong with "This Is Our God":

Shalom in Him!