Shalom,

Today's "Sparkling Gems From The Greek" devotional by Rick Renner is SO exciting for us!

For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what has thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
— 1 Corinthians 4:7

In the January 17 Sparkling Gem, I wrote about the feeling of inferiority that once tried to rule my life. If you are struggling with inferiority, I encourage you to go back and read that teaching again. However, today I want to address an issue at the opposite end of the spectrum — a spirit of superiority. When a person has this attitude, he feels he is spiritually superior to other people because of giftings, experience, social or economic status, or position in the church. But regardless of the reason a person feels superior to others, make no mistake — this attitude is absolutely unacceptable for a Christian.

In First Corinthians 4:7, we find that an attitude of spiritual snobbery was beginning to surface in the church of Corinth. This spirit of superiority was so prevalent that it had begun to permeate the entire Corinthian congregation. Paul responded with a sharp rebuke, saying, “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what has thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”

From its very beginnings, the church at Corinth had experienced an amazing amount of supernatural grace, which had manifested in a variety of ways. However, one way it had especially manifested was in the gifts of the Spirit that operated in their congregation. In fact, Paul even told them, “So that ye come behind in no spiritual gift…” (1 Corinthians 1:7), implying that the Corinthians had a greater measure of spiritual gifts operating in their midst than any other New Testament church. The phrase “come behind” is a translation of the Greek word hustereo, which means to be behind, to fall short of, or to be inferior. Thus, this verse could be translated, “You fall behind no one else in respect to spiritual gifts…” or “You are not inferior to anyone when it comes to spiritual gifts.…” In modern language, it could read, “When it comes to the gifts of the Spirit, you are second to none!”

The Corinthian believers were aware of their unique status as a congregation, and they allowed it to go to their heads. Essentially, they developed a superiority complex and a snobbish attitude concerning their spirituality as compared to other churches. That is why Paul reminded them in First Corinthians 4:7, “…What hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”

When Paul wrote “…why dost thou glory…,” he was referring to believers in Corinth who were boasting of themselves and putting others down who didn’t share their same spiritual experiences. In Greek, this word “glory” is kauchaomai, which means to boast of oneself, to uplift yourself, to imply that you are better than others, or to speak so highly of yourself that you derogatorily imply others are less than you. It can simply be translated to vaunt, and it conveys a pride that says, “I am better than you.” It is the very word that Paul used in First Corinthians 13:4 when he said, “Charity [that is, agape love] vaunteth not itself…” (see September 11 in Sparkling Gems 1). In other words, people who are motivated by love do not go around boasting about themselves in a way that leaves others feeling inferior!

It is important to note that the problem in the church of Corinth did not stem from the gifts of the Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit don’t foster pride. The problem was the character of the Corinthian believers, which needed to be dealt with by God!

Paul’s rebuke to the Corinthian believers tells us that we have no right to be prideful about our spiritual experiences. When you and I have been blessed by God with an extraordinary supernatural experience or knowledge of spiritual matters that exceeds that of many others, we should strive to demonstrate humility. We must not carry ourselves with an air of superiority, thinking we are better than others because they haven’t had our experience or attained to our level of knowledge. We must remember that everything we have, we received from God. We did nothing on our own, so we really have no reason to gloat about it as though we did! If we’ve really received something special from God, we need to show only humble gratitude for His gift.

Have you ever known a person who was snobbish toward other believers because of his great spiritual experiences or spiritual knowledge? To me personally, it’s a huge turn-off. The root of that superior attitude isn’t what the Holy Spirit has done in him; rather, it’s just a sign that He needs to do more in him!

So don’t get offended if you know someone like this. Just pray for that person — and pray for yourself, too, so that you never fall into the trap of acting like you’re better than others!

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Nothing New":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Defeat Your Giant

Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? 1 Samuel 17:26

You may be facing a giant today. He may be a giant of sickness or failure, of financial shortage or another kind of trouble. But don’t let him scare you. You have a secret weapon. A weapon that once turned a shepherd boy into a bear-busting, lion-killing, giant-slaying champion. That weapon was a blood covenant with Almighty God.

Back in David’s day, circumcision was the sign of that covenant. So, when he called Goliath uncircumcised, David was saying: “This guy may be a giant; he may be strong; but he has no covenant with God and that’s why I will defeat him.”

Just like David, you, too, have a covenant. But yours is better. You see, the covenant David had, offered a wealth of blessings to those who kept it, but it also included curses for those who broke it.

Yours doesn’t. Yours is a new covenant that Jesus bought with His own blood. It doesn’t depend on your ability. It depends on Him and what He has already done. He has done it all! All you have to do is believe it and receive it.

Right now, read Deuteronomy 28:16-68. That’s a list of the curses Christ has freed you from. You might even call it a list of the giants Jesus has already slain for you. It contains every diabolical thing the devil could ever use to destroy you.

Read them and rejoice. Those are the things God has healed you of and delivered you from!

Don’t let any giant intimidate you. You have a blood covenant with Almighty God. There’s no uncircumcised circumstance on the face of this earth that can take your victory away from you.

HALLELUJAH! Here is Brandon Lake with "Adoption Song" which speaks to what belongs to us as GOD'S OWN CHILDREN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

God Can Turn Your Evil Day into Good Days

Rest from their enemies . . . sorrow to joy . . . mourning to a holiday. Esther 9:22

Today, many Jews still celebrate the feast of Purim. The name Purim is derived from “the lot” which a Gentile, Haman, cast concerning the fate of the Jews when they were in Persia under King Ahasuerus.

Haman, the villain in this story in the book of Esther, hated the Jews and sought to exterminate them. He got King Ahasuerus to allow him to issue a decree to annihilate all the Jews in one day—the thirteenth day of the twelfth month of Adar. But God used Queen Esther and her uncle Mordecai, both Jews, to turn the tables on Haman and save the Jews.

Haman was hanged on the very gallows that he had constructed for Mordecai! Then, the king allowed Queen Esther and Mordecai to issue a counter-decree to allow all the Jews to defend themselves and destroy their enemies in one day—the thirteenth day of the twelfth month of Adar!

So instead of the Jews being exterminated on that fateful day, their enemies were destroyed! God turned an evil day for the Jews into good days. He turned their mourning into rejoicing and gave them victory over their enemies.

My friend, God can do the same for you today. He only wants you to remain in your position of rest in Christ. You see, because of Jesus’ finished work at the cross, you are seated in heavenly places in Christ, far above every principality and evil assault the devil can throw at you (Ephesians 2:6).

Just as Mordecai sat within the king’s gate and refused to stand up and bow to Haman, let’s not “bow” to the devil by being persuaded to move from our position of rest in Christ. Don’t allow him to get you worried, frantic, and doing things to save yourself.

Queen Esther was also in a position of rest before Haman was executed (Esther 7). She was seated on a couch as Haman pleaded with her for his life. While doing so, he accidentally fell over the couch where the queen was. The king, thinking that Haman was assaulting his queen, sent him to the gallows!

Beloved, remain at rest in Christ’s finished work, and He will turn your evil day into days of rejoicing and feasting!

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Turnaround":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's devotional from Jerry Savelle Ministries!

Grace Will Give You What You Don’t Deserve

For by grace you have been saved [blessed, healed, delivered, made whole] through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV (brackets added by author)

The biblical definition of grace is unmerited favor. It is something you didn’t earn; it is the gift of God. So when you see the word grace in your Bible, you can accurately interchange it with the word favor.

God’s grace, His unmerited favor, is simply God giving you something you don’t deserve. The Bible says, “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness” (Romans 4:4-5 NKJV). 

Simply put:

Grace makes a way for God to bless you in life—regardless of your merits.
Grace will give you what you did not earn.
Grace will qualify you for what you do not qualify for.
Grace will give you what you do not deserve.

Have you ever wondered why some believers are more blessed than others? Is it because of their spiritual performance, the hours spent reading the Word, praying, and fasting? No! They are blessed because they actually believe God has justified them. And they’ve received His grace, knowing that grace will give them what they don’t deserve.

Confession: Through faith in Jesus Christ, I have been saved by the grace of God. I did not earn this grace. It is a precious gift that has given me what I don’t deserve: God’s favor, blessing, health, and wholeness—spirit, soul, and body.

AMEN! Here is UNITED with "On Repeat" which speaks about God's GRACE!:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share with you the last two verses from our Psalm for today, Psalm 59!

16 But I will sing of Your mighty strength and power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy and loving-kindness in the morning; for You have been to me a defense (a fortress and a high tower) and a refuge in the day of my distress.
17 Unto You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my Defense, my Fortress, and High Tower, the God Who shows me mercy and steadfast love.

So here is a song for you to help you "sing praises" to HIM! Brandon Lake with "That's Who I Praise":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's New Testament  reading in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan is Mark 2. We'll be looking at verses 1-12.

1 And Jesus having returned to Capernaum, after some days it was rumored about that He was in the house [probably Peter’s].
2 And so many people gathered together there that there was no longer room [for them], not even around the door; and He was discussing the Word.
3 Then they came, bringing a paralytic to Him, who had been picked up and was being carried by four men.
4 And when they could not get him to a place in front of Jesus because of the throng, they dug through the roof above Him; and when they had scooped out an opening, they let down the [thickly padded] quilt or mat upon which the paralyzed man lay.
5 And when Jesus saw their faith [their confidence in God through Him], He said to the paralyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven [you] and put away [that is, the penalty is remitted, the sense of guilt removed, and you are made upright and in right standing with God].
6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, holding a dialogue with themselves as they questioned in their hearts,
7 Why does this Man talk like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins [remove guilt, remit the penalty, and bestow righteousness instead] except God alone?
8 And at once Jesus, becoming fully aware in His spirit that they thus debated within themselves, said to them, Why do you argue (debate, reason) about all this in your hearts?
9 Which is easier: to say to the paralyzed man, Your sins are forgiven and put away, or to say, Rise, take up your sleeping pad or mat, and start walking about [and keep on walking]?
10 But that you may know positively and beyond a doubt that the Son of Man has right and authority and power on earth to forgive sins—He said to the paralyzed man,
11 I say to you, arise, pick up and carry your sleeping pad or mat, and be going on home.
12 And he arose at once and picked up the sleeping pad or mat and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and  recognized and praised and thanked God, saying, We have never seen anything like this before!

I LOVE this! JESUS saw their FAITH! How? By their ACTIONS! Take stock in your own personal life of what YOUR ACTIONS say about YOUR FAITH! Then grow your faith by meditating and acting on 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 another one that we need to carefully and prayerfully consider!

Godliness Is Profitable

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. — 1 TIMOTHY 4:8

Some people would have you believe that godliness — living for God, being born again, walking in fellowship with the Lord — has no profit in this life. They think we must simply endure life with all its ups and downs, struggles and trials, always bearing in mind that “this life will soon be o’er.”

I’m glad Paul gave us a balanced viewpoint by saying that godliness is not only profitable “over yonder” in the next life, but it has promise of “. . . the life that now is . . . .”

As sinners, we were bankrupt, but God had mercy on us, and He sent Jesus to redeem us. Jesus came not only to save us from our sins — but to live within us (Colossians 1:27). And Jesus wants us to bring as much glory to His Name, and to pay as rich dividends to Him as possible in this life. Instead of saying that godliness is a hindrance to success, the Apostle Paul says the exact opposite in our text scripture.

It doesn’t cost to serve God — it pays!

Confession: I live a godly life. I am born again. I live for God. I walk in fellowship with the Lord. This is profitable for me — here on earth in the life that now is, and also in the life which is to come!

AMEN! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Fear Of God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "From Faith To Faith" devotional by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland is excellent!

The Choice Is Yours

Choose you this day whom ye will serve. Joshua 24:15

Choosing to side with God's Word is a continual challenge. It's not something you do just once. It's a process of choosing to believe and act upon the Word of God over and over in every circumstance.

That's what everyone has to do. Years ago I decided I was going to choose Jesus. Since then I've had to choose Him again and again in situations every day. I've chosen Him as my Lord and Savior. I've chosen Him as my Healer. I've chosen Him as my Financier. I've chosen Him as head of my household. I've chosen Him as head of this ministry. And I still have to choose Him moment by moment.

Sometimes that choice gets tough, but God has promised it will never get too tough. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, He says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able." What the Lord is saying is that He will not allow you to be subjected to a temptation you're unable to overcome. With every temptation, He'll make a way of escape. He'll always make sure you have a choice.

The devil doesn't come tempt you while God is off somewhere else, unaware of what is happening to you. The Spirit of God is constantly there with you, providing you with the way to overcome. In other words, God matches even the toughest temptations with the weapons and power you need to conquer them. He always makes it possible for you to choose life.

So choose to walk in love. Choose to walk by faith. Choose to live by the Word. Jesus is the Way! Choose Him!

AMEN! Make your committment to CHOOSE JESUS every single day! Who else would you choose? Here is Hillsong with "None But Jesus":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambers is another great one! 

The Delight Of Sacrifice

I will very gladly spend and be spent for you. — 2 Corinthians 12:15

When the Spirit of God has shed abroad the love of God in our hearts, we begin deliberately to identify ourselves with Jesus Christ’s interests in other people, and Jesus Christ is interested in every kind of man there is. We have no right in Christian work to be guided by our affinities; this is one of the biggest tests of our relationship to Jesus Christ. The delight of sacrifice is that I lay down my life for my Friend, not fling it away, but deliberately lay my life out for Him and His interests in other people, not for a cause. Paul spent himself for one purpose only – that he might win men to Jesus Christ. Paul attracted to Jesus all the time, never to himself. “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” When a man says he must develop a holy life alone with God, he is of no more use to his fellow men: he puts himself on a pedestal, away from the common run of men. Paul became a sacramental personality; wherever he went, Jesus Christ helped Himself to his life. Many of us are after our own ends, and Jesus Christ cannot help Himself to our lives. If we are abandoned to Jesus, we have no ends of our own to serve. Paul said he knew how to be a “door-mat” without resenting it, because the mainspring of his life was devotion to Jesus. We are apt to be devoted, not to Jesus Christ, but to the things which emancipate us spiritually. That was not Paul’s motive: “I could wish my self were accursed from Christ for my brethren” – wild, extravagant – is it? When a man is in love it is not an exaggeration to talk in that way, and Paul is in love with Jesus Christ.

HALLELUJAH! Here is Brandon Lake with "Plans":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share another example of the Love of God from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotrional!!

Fear Not

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. — MATTHEW 14:27

God never comes with a message of fear. You can start in the Old Testament and trace all the way down through the New, and you will see that every time God manifested Himself to people, or sent angels or Jesus Himself, they always came with the message, “Be not afraid! Fear not!”

Fear doesn’t come from God. It comes from the devil. And Christians, including preachers and teachers, have no business going around putting fear into people.

We hear so much fear preached: Fear of sickness and disease; fear of what’s going to happen in the world; and fear of the devil. The way some people preach about demons causes people to be afraid. I preach about the devil and demons, too, but I preach that we’ve got authority over them. I preach that we should always remember, in all our encounters with the devil, that He’s a defeated foe.

Fear is not the message of the Church. Faith is the message of the Church. Good cheer is the message of the Church. “Be not afraid” is the message of the Church.

Confession: I am of good cheer. I am not afraid. I fear not. That is the message of God my Father to my heart. It is also His message to others. Therefore, my message to others is: Faith and good cheer. Be not afraid. Fear not!

AMEN! I hope that you are getting the POWERFUL MESSAGE that There is NO FEAR HERE! Here is Brandon Lake with "Miracle Child":

 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We have been looking at LOVE through 1 Corinthians 13 and this time we are speaking of GOD'S LOVE! 

Unfailing Love

. . . [Love’s] hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end] . . . . — 1 CORINTHIANS 13:7-8 (Amplified)

If you walk in love, you will not fail — because love never fails!

We are interested in spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12 and 14), and we ought to be. The Bible tells us that prophecies will fail, tongues will cease, and knowledge will vanish away. But thank God, love never fails.

Yes, I believe in prophecy and prophesying. I believe in speaking in tongues. Thank God for these gifts! But if you exercise these gifts outside of love, they become as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals.

Let’s have prophecy. Let’s have tongues. Let’s have faith. Let’s have knowledge. But let’s have love with it. Let’s put love first, because we are in the family of love, and we have become acquainted with our Heavenly Father, who is love.

We ought to want to learn and grow in love until we are made perfect in love. I haven’t been made perfect in love yet, have you? But I’m going to keep working toward that goal!

Confession: I am a love person. My hopes are fadeless under all circumstances. I endure everything without weakening. I never fail!

AMEN! And here is another LOVE SONG from GOD! Brooke Ligertwood and Brandon Lake with "Honey In The Rock"

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to look again at Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional on love!

Love Characteristics

. . . [Love] does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person . . . . — 1 CORINTHIANS 13:6,7 (Amplified)

“Love bears up under anything and everything that comes . . . .” If you have the God-kind of love within — and if you walk in the God-kind of love — you will make it every time!

“. . . Love . . . is ever ready to believe the best of every person . . . .” Natural human love is ever ready to believe the worst about every person! I’ve traveled across this country for many years in the ministry, and it’s amazing what you hear about this preacher and that preacher, this person and that person, this singer and that singer. I don’t pay the least bit of attention to any of those stories. I don’t believe a word of them. I believe the best of everyone.

Children ought to have the right to be brought up in this love atmosphere in the home. Then they’ll go out in life’s fight and win. But when you always see the worst in the children and always tell them, “You’ll never amount to anything,” they’ll live up to what you say. But when you see the best in them and love them, it will bring out the best in them. They will grow up to amount to something.

Confession: I am a love person. I do not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness. I rejoice when right and truth prevail. I bear up under anything and everything that comes. I am ever ready to believe the best of every person.

AMEN! LOVE is a powerful weapon that can make all the difference in YOUR WORLD! Here is Brandon Lake with "Watch This":

Shalom in him!

Shalom,

Today we're going to take another look at love from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional:

A Second Look

. . . Love . . . is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. — 1 CORINTHIANS 13:5 (Amplified)

The subject of walking in the God-kind of love is so important — and so overlooked by Christians — that we’re going to take some extra time examining it.

“. . . Love . . . takes no account of the evil done to it . . . .” This has to be the God-kind of love, because we were enemies of God, and God didn’t take account of the evil we had done to Him. He sent Jesus to redeem us. He loved us while we were yet sinners.

“. . . Love . . . pays no attention to a suffered wrong . . . .” We might just as well admit it — there aren’t too many people walking in God’s love, even though they have it! No, they’re walking in natural human love, and they surely pay attention to a suffered wrong! They get huffy about it. A husband and wife, both Christians, will become angry and won’t speak to each other for a week because of some wrong that one of them suffered.

Can’t you see how it would straighten things out in the home, the church, and the nation for people to become children of God, get the love of God in them, and then live in the family of God as children of God?

Confession: I am a love person. I am not touchy. I am not fretful. I am not resentful. I take no account of the evil done to me. I pay no attention to a suffered wrong.

AMEN! Here is Phil Wickham and Brandon Lake with "Love Of God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Worldly Wisdom Versus God’s Wisdom

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly. Psalm 1:1

Today, I want to talk about how you can depend on God’s wisdom to succeed. Wisdom from the Lord comes by God’s unmerited favor. It is not something that you can study for or acquire with your efforts. Wisdom from the Lord is something that the world cannot have.

This is not to say that the world does not have wisdom. Step into any bookstore today and you will find shelves full of books containing experts’ theories and methods on all sorts of subjects. The majority of these, however, stem from human wisdom, which strengthens and builds up only the flesh.

Whether they know it or not, the people of the world are crying out for true wisdom from the Lord. Just look at the constant demand for self-help books. But what we need is not more “self-help.” What we need is the Lord's help! Read books that are written by Spirit-filled believers and Christian leaders who encourage you to look to Jesus and not to yourself.

Psalm 1:1 tells us this from the start: "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly.” Beloved, this means that there is counsel in human wisdom. But the man who does not walk according to the wisdom of the world is the man who is blessed.

At the same time, if his delight is in Jesus, and he meditates on Jesus day and night, Psalm 1:3 says, “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”

My friend, make a decision to walk in the counsel of the godly and not in the counsel of the world, and you will see whatever you do prosper. God has raised up men and women who are established in the truths of the new covenant, and who will help you keep your eyes on Jesus. In Him, you will find all the wisdom that pertains to life.

The Bible tells us that in Him “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2–3) for your success. Keep looking to Jesus, draw on His divine wisdom, and see the difference it will make to you!

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

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

The Best Way

. . . Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking . . . . — 1 CORINTHIANS 13:5 (Amplified)

Take time to let today’s text sink into your heart.

Too many people would rather declare, “Well, I know what’s mine, though. I’ve got my say-so, and I’m going to have it. I’ve got my rights, and I’m going to have them.” And they insist on having their own way, no matter how much their actions may hurt someone else.

I was only twenty years old and unmarried when I pastored my second church, and I rented a room from a couple in the church. The man of the house knew the Bible, and he had a marvelous experience with God. But he was the type of person who said, “I’ve got my say-so, and I’m going to have it. I’m a member of that church just as much as anyone else, and I’ve got my say-so.” He had his say-so all right, and so did some of the others, until they wrecked the church.

This text says that love does not insist on having its own rights. Start believing in God and believing in love. It’s the best way — and it’s your way!

Confession: I believe in God. And I believe in love. I am a love person. I do not insist on my own rights. I do not insist on my own way. I am not self-seeking. I am a love person.

AMEN! Remember: LOVE NEVER FAILS! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Bless God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Welcome to the Big Leagues

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:11-12

When persecution comes, don't sit around whining about it. Don't waste your time feeling sorry for yourself. Despite what you may think, that persecution hasn't come because the devil gets his kicks out of picking on you. It comes because you've become a threat to him. It comes because you've put the Word in your heart, and he knows that if he doesn't get it out, you're going to cause him more trouble than he can handle.

So, rejoice! Heavy-duty persecution means you've made it to the big leagues. It means the devil is taking you so seriously that he's sending in his best players in an effort to get you out of the game!

The players that make it to the Super Bowl don't look for some way out of it, do they? They don't say, "Boy, I sure wish I didn't have to be in that Super Bowl game. Those guys are the biggest, meanest players in the country. "Maybe I'll get sick and I won't have to play." No! They relish the opportunity. "Let me at 'em," they say. "I've worked all my life to get here and now I'm going to prove I'm the best!"

That's how you should be when the devil challenges you. You should accept that challenge with joy, knowing you're going to come out a winner. After all, your God is sufficient to see you through. He never stops and wonders if He's going to have enough resources to get poor, little you over your problems this time. He knows He can beat anything the devil brings against you.

So, when persecution comes, trust Him and rejoice, knowing that you've made it to the big leagues now!

HALLELUJAH! Here is Brooke Ligertwood and Brandon Lake with "Honey In The Rock":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Jerry Savelle Ministries devotiomal!

Take Dominion!

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12 NKJV

When God created the first man and woman, one of the blessings He bestowed on them was dominion (see Genesis 1:26). We know, of course, that because of disobedience they failed to walk in that blessing.

We also know that because Jesus remained obedient to His Father, He walked in complete dominion throughout His earthly ministry.

Jesus knew who He was and the dominion He had in the earth. He was the Master, which meant that neither sickness nor disease—or even death—could stand before Him.

At the tomb of His deceased friend Lazarus, Jesus stood before God, man, and the devil with complete confidence as He boldly commanded Lazarus to come forth. Sickness and death had to obey Jesus because He was the personified righteousness of God.

If you are in Christ, then you too are the righteousness of God. It is just as ridiculous to think that Satan can succeed in putting sickness on you as it is to think he can put it on Jesus.

The righteousness of God has been given to you as a free gift; it has nothing to do with your works or performance. When you unreservedly accept your righteousness in Christ, you will walk as Jesus did—in complete dominion.

The only hindrance to walking in dominion is doubt. If you doubt the righteousness that is yours in Christ, focusing instead on your sin, you will forfeit dominion. Sin consciousness focuses your mind on your own works and ability, which always produces defeat.

However, when your righteousness in Christ becomes so real to you that you are only conscious of Him, walking in dominion will come as naturally as breathing. So … take dominion!

Confession: I am the righteousness of God in Christ, therefore I can walk confidently in His dominion. Just as sickness and disease cannot stand before Jesus, they cannot stand before me. I choose today to take dominion and walk in victory in every area of my life!

AMEN! BELIEVE and RECEIVE all that JESUS has provided for YOU! Here is Tauren Wells with "Take It All Back":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Eating Fresh

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh. Hebrews 10:19–20

When God provided manna for the children of Israel in the wilderness, Moses told the people, “Let no one leave any of it till morning” (Exodus 16:19). When some of them did not heed Moses’ words and kept some till the next morning, it bred worms and stank.

This reminds me of the law that the children of Israel had to observe when they brought the peace offering for thanksgiving: “The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day it is offered. He shall not leave any of it until morning” (Leviticus 7:15).

These two verses speak of partaking fresh and not leaving the manna or the meat from the sacrifice to turn stale. In the same way, whenever we partake of the holy Communion, let’s ask the Lord for a fresh revelation of what He did for us at the cross.

Let’s not ever become so familiar with the holy Communion that we start to see it as common and ordinary. We are holding the broken body of the Son of God and drinking of His shed blood.

Would you like to have a fresh revelation of the holy Communion? In today’s Scripture passage, God’s Word tells us that through the cross, our Lord Jesus consecrated a “new and living way” for us to draw near to God not with fear and trepidation but with boldness. He allowed His own flesh to be torn so that we can have free access to our loving Father today.

I want to draw your attention to the original Greek word used for new here. It is the word prosphatos and it means “lately slaughtered, freshly killed.” Why did the Holy Spirit use this unusual word here?

Because whenever you partake of the holy Communion, God does not want you to partake as though you are commemorating a historical event that took place long ago. The cross transcends time. As you partake of the holy Communion in remembrance of Him, see your Lord Jesus before you, as though you are right there at Calvary.

See your Lord Jesus freshly slain, bearing all your sicknesses and carrying all your pains. Don’t partake ritualistically, but press in for a fresh revelation of His love that was demonstrated at the cross.

AMEN! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Communion":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have always loved today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin!

Love Atmosphere

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. . . . If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. — 1 JOHN 4:7, 8, 12

Husbands and wives need to let the love of God dominate them — and not just natural human love — because natural love is so shallow.

Christians have an advantage over other people. Not only can they love their spouse with natural affection, but they can add to it divine love which never seeks its own, but always seeks the other’s welfare.

In all the years of our marriage, my wife and I have walked in love. I never consider myself or what I want; I consider what Oretha wants. I never want to be self-seeking; I always want to put her first. And Oretha reciprocates. We always try to outdo one another in love. And how blessed it is! Praise God! Our home is like Heaven on earth.

A troubled person who had visited us once said, “When I visit in your home, it’s like heaven. You can feel a presence there the minute you go into the house.”

We create atmospheres in our homes.

Confession: I will walk in divine love toward those I love. I will let the unselfish love of God pour through me to them, creating an atmosphere of love!

AMEN! Here is one of my favorite "LOVE SONGS"! "Love Of God" with Brandon Lake and Phil Wickham!

Shalom in Hm!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Jerry Savelle Ministries' daily devotional!

From Trial to Testimony

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:2-3 NKJV

Did you know two people can go through exactly the same circumstance and see the situation completely differently? A victory-minded person will see every trial as an opportunity to apply the Word of God and create a testimony of victory. A defeat-minded person will see a trial as yet another problem to struggle through in life.

Winners never see tests and trials; all they see are opportunities. Others who are looking on may think they are going through hard times, but winners don’t see it that way.

God’s will is that every trial is turned into an opportunity to bring increase to you in some way. He wants you to come out of every trial with the advantage. It is never God’s will that the devil succeeds against you.

The Bible says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NKJV). When you are walking in love with God—following His plan and purpose for your life—you can face every negative situation with complete confidence. You know God will turn the tables as you exercise your faith in His Word.

The Bible says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against 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?” (Romans 8:31-32 NKJV).

It is always God’s will that you turn each trial you face into a testimony of victory. When you accept the fact that God plans for you to benefit and increase in every negative situation, you can face your trials with joy. You can walk through anything with joy, knowing that the outcome will be a testimony to the goodness of God.

Confession: I walk by faith, confident that God works out every trial and situation for my good. I walk in complete and total victory, knowing I am called according to God’s purpose.

AMEN! BELIEVE this for YOUR LIFE! Here is Brandon Lake with "God Is Not Against Me":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's "From Faith To Faith" devotional by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland!

Weary of Worry

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14

As you fight the good fight of faith today, remember this: Your mind is where the battle will take place. Whatever you allow to captivate your mind will rule your life. Will it be the Word of God or the lies of Satan?

The decision is yours.

If you want the Word to reign, make up your mind now to resist the devil when he comes to plant doubts within you. Refuse to surrender to the circumstantial pressure he brings your way. Decide at the outset that you will not succumb to this trial. Dig your heels in and stand immovable upon the promises of God.

When thoughts come that are contrary to God's will, cast them down. And above all, don't worry. Worrying is meditating the thoughts of Satan.

When you recognize you are worrying, stop it immediately. Replace worried, fearful and doubtful thoughts with the Word.

Be assured, Satan will continually try to tell you that your situation is hopeless. He will persistently peddle doubt, defeat and discouragement. But if you won't allow him to sell you his goods, his commission will be zero. If you don't buy his lies, he can't cause them to come to pass in your life.

God has promised that He will always cause you to triumph in Christ. You are guaranteed victory over any adversity you face today. Make up your mind right now to be a winner and you'll spread the knowledge of victory in Christ everywhere you go.

AMEN! Here is Tauren Wells with "Take It All Back":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom

Today I have Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace Inspirations" devotional for you!

Go for Jesus Himself

So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. Luke 24:15

I love the fact that of all the words God could have chosen to call this beautiful meal, He chose the word Communion. It speaks of the relationship God wants to have with us, the closeness and intimacy He desires to have with us.

I know it can be easy to lose sight of that and even see the Communion as a means to an end, especially when you are battling symptoms in your body. But as you continue to come to the Lord’s Table, don’t just go after the healing and miss the One who prepared the table for you.

Pursue the healer and not just the healing. Pursue the blesser and not just the blessing. When you have Him, you have everything.

Today, I want to encourage you with one of my favorite stories in the New Testament. I pray that you do not go away with mere information about what the holy Communion is, but you experience what the two disciples did on the road to Emmaus when Jesus Himself drew near and walked with them.

That journey to Emmaus took place the same day our Lord Jesus rose bodily from the grave. What was so important to the Lord that He would do it on the day of His resurrection?

The resurrected Christ did this:

“And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” —Luke 24:27

Later the two disciples said to each other, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).

As a pastor, that is what I endeavor to do every Sunday, and I pray that by the grace of God, you will see in the Scriptures, not a list of rules and regulations, not knowledge that puffs up the intellect, but things concerning Himself.

I pray that your heart burned within you as you see Jesus in the Scriptures and you experience His deep, personal love for you as never before. I pray that you will feel Jesus Himself drawing near to you, lavishing His love on you, and imparting to you all you need. And beyond what He can do for you or your loved one, beyond healing for that condition you might have been battling with, I pray that you have an encounter with the Lord Jesus Himself.

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Gratitude":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Jerry Savelle Ministries devotional!

God’s Grace Is Sufficient

It makes no difference how you describe your situation, pushed to the wall, end of your rope, in over your head … God’s mercy is enough. God’s mercy is sufficient. If you are in over your head, then you need to call on God for a favor … Say, I need a favor today, Lord!

The favor of God is sufficient for whatever you are going through. In the Old Testament, in particular, when God’s people were facing impossible situations, they called on the mercy of God.

One example is found in Second Chronicles 20. Jehoshaphat and the children of Israel were totally outnumbered by enemy forces. They had very little hope. So, what did they do? They lifted up their hands and said, “God, we don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on You” (v. 12).

They asked God for His mercy. What did God tell them to do? He told them to go and confront their enemies. He said to get the praisers and the singers out front and confront their enemies. He instructed them to stand in their presence and begin to say, “Praise the Lord. For the Lord is good and His mercy endureth forever” (2 Chronicles 20:21/Ps 136:1).

That reveals to me that when you don’t know what to do, then praise always comes first. Psalm 107:2 says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.”

Every time you declare your freedom, you are blowing a horn right in Satan’s ears. The blowing of the trumpet in Leviticus was symbolic of making a decree. When they heard that trumpet sound, they were making a profound statement in the spirit (decreeing their freedom). “ … The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Ephesians 6:17

Every time you speak the Word of God, it is a sword coming out of your mouth. It is a trumpet being blown. No wonder the devil fights us so hard about confessing the Word.

Everything I have was obtained by confessing the Word of God. I am blowing my trumpet in the devil’s face and telling him, “You are not keeping me poor. You are not keeping me sick. You are not keeping me broke. You are not taking my marriage. You are not taking my children. I am the redeemed and I am saying so.”

It is time for you to blow your horn of freedom! Job 22:28 says, “Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee.”

Begin to decree today that freedom is yours!

AMEN! Here  is UNITED and Benjamin William Hastings with "Know You Will":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Get the Word in You

If ye abide in me [Jesus], and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. — JOHN 15:7

In twelve years of pastoral work, my wife and I did not bury even one church member. We even had eighty-year-old church members who were healed of cancer, lived out their lives, and died in their nineties without sickness or disease. We taught them that was the will of God for them.

Now many of those people didn’t receive their healing right away. They had to be taught how to receive. You see, God occasionally does initiate some things on His own. But I can only think of two people during those twelve years of pastoral work who were healed because God initiated their healing. We had to teach the majority of them and get the Word into them.

As their pastor, I would say to them, “You give me the same opportunity and the same chance that you give the doctor, and you’ll be healed every time. It won’t cost you a dime.” You see, folks go to the doctor, and if the doctor says, “Come back Thursday,” they’ll go back Thursday. Then if he says, “Come back Monday,” they’ll go back Monday. If he says, “Come back Wednesday,” they’ll go back Wednesday. If he says, “Come back Friday,” they’ll go back Friday.

Sometimes people keep going for months and don’t think a thing in the world about it. Yet when they come to church, they want to be healed the first time around. If I tell them to come back, they get mad about it. But it takes time to get the Word of God into a person—to get him in position to receive his healing.

Confession: God’s Word always works, and His Word abides in me. I put my faith in His Word, and I ask what I will, and it shall be done unto me.

AMEN! God's Word WORKS! SO WORK IT! Here is Brandon Lake with"Count 'Em":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

By Faith

. . . The just shall live by faith. — ROMANS 1:17

The faith life is the most beautiful life in the world! It is the life God wants us to live, and the walk God wants us to walk (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Let both your words and your actions agree. If you talk faith, you must walk faith — you must act faith. Your actions and your words must agree that you are a believer. It won’t do any good to talk faith if you’re not going to act faith. And if it were somehow possible to act faith without talking faith, that wouldn’t do any good, either, because your words and your actions must agree.

Some people declare one minute, “I’m trusting God to meet my needs.” Then, with the next breath, they say, “Well, it looks like I’m going to lose my car. I can’t make the payments.” One minute it sounds like they’re talking faith, but in a few moments their actions prove otherwise.

Some even quote God’s Word, saying, “I know the Lord said in Philippians 4:19, ‘But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’ And I’m trusting Him to meet our needs — but it looks like we’ll have to have the phone taken out. We can’t pay the bill.” They mentally agreed to the truth of this scripture, but they didn’t act as if it were so.

Start acting like God’s Word is true.

Confession: I live by faith — faith in the Word of the Living God. I act like His Word is true.

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Gratitude":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really love today's devotional by Andrew Wommack!

God's Idea Of Greatness

Luke 3:20, '....he shut up John in prison.'

Matthew 4:12; Mark 1:14, 17-18; Luke 3:19-20; John 4:1-3

John spent 30 years preparing for a six month ministry, followed by one and a half years in prison before he was beheaded. Many people would not consider his life very successful, yet Jesus said John was the greatest man who was ever born (Matthew 11:11).

John's greatness didn't lie in his own success, but in the success of another. John stirred up the hearts of an entire nation in expectancy of their Messiah. The ministry of Jesus owed much of its success to the work of John. John had prepared a people to meet their God (Malachi 3:1).

In our celebrity conscious society, few people want to be the backup singer or the announcer who introduces the main speaker. We have adopted a mentality that unless we are in the limelight we have failed. That's not the way the Lord looks at things.

When the Lord passes out rewards in heaven, we may be shocked to see how He evaluates greatness. Many people who did not receive recognition while on earth will shine like the stars in eternity. The Lord will judge our works on what sort they were and not what size they were (I Corinthians 3:13).

Simply be obedient to the Word of God and the Spirit of God and YOU will have wonderful rewards in Heaven and Blessings on earth! Here is Brandon Lake and Benjamin William Hastings with "More":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Your Final Authority

I am the Lord, I change not. Malachi 3:6

The world's order of things is unsure and indefinite. Desperate words of uncertainty are crying out daily from radio, television and newspapers. Everything around us seems to be in turmoil.

But, praise God, if you're a believer you have something you can depend on: the unchanging Word of God!

God has no double standard. He doesn't say one thing today and something else tomorrow. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

If you will make the Word the final authority in your life, it will give you stability when everything else around you gives way. If you'll let what God says settle the issues of life, you'll be confident when others are confused, peaceful when others are under pressure. You'll be overcoming when others are being overcome!

What does it mean to make God's Word the final authority? It means believing what He says instead of believing what people say. It means believing what He says instead of what Satan says. It means believing what He says instead of what the circumstances say.

Determine in your heart to do that today. Make up your mind to live by faith, not by sight. Fearlessly commit yourself to the authority of God's Word and there won't be anything in this unstable world that can steal your security from you.

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "That's Who I Praise":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE the Psalms, the early church's Hymn Book! Today We read Psalm 36 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan and I LOVE verses 5-9!

5 Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, extend to the skies, and Your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God, Your judgments are like the great deep. O Lord, You preserve man and beast.
7 How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of men take refuge and put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
8 They relish and feast on the abundance of Your house; and You cause them to drink of the stream of Your pleasures.
9 For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light.

AMEN! Remember, God's Word is TRUTH! BELIEVE everything that His Word says! Your life will never be the same! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Bless God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

God Loves You Perfectly

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Romans 5:8–9

God is a God of forgiveness. He knows you perfectly and still loves you perfectly. We are slaves to the idea that if someone sees our flaws, they won’t love us anymore. Well, while that may be true in human relationships, God is not like that.

God sees all our imperfections, failings, and flaws on Jesus at the cross. Our sins and ugliness do not turn Him off. In fact, to Him they are occasions to demonstrate His grace and forgiveness through the blood of His Son, who has removed all our sins efficaciously at Calvary.

So don’t be embarrassed about your flaws, mistakes, and imperfections. God knows your weaknesses better than you do, and He loves you just the same. His Word reminds us that Jesus is not someone “who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses.” Instead, Jesus was tempted in all points, yet He was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

He understands every temptation and every trial that you are going through. He is not disappointed with you, and He is not waiting for you to live up to a set of dos and don’ts before He forgives and loves you. The Bible says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:8–9).

Did you get that? When did God love you?

That’s right, when you were still a sinner. Before you even knew Him, when you were still in sin, He already loved you. How much more today, when you have been cleansed by Jesus’ blood and made righteous! Having received Jesus’ righteousness, you are righteous forever. Even when you fall into sin, your sins don’t make you a sinner again.

When you fall short today, you are still the righteousness of God. This is because your righteousness comes from Jesus. In the same way that a beautiful butterfly cannot morph back into a caterpillar, once you have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus, you cannot morph back into a sinner. Knowing your righteous identity in Him then gives you the power to overcome every sin, every addiction, and every bad habit!

HALLELUJAH!!! WE ARE SO BLESSED!!! Here is Brandon Lake with "I Know A Name":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional again. We are going through "Faith Food" again at Morning Prayer this year and I am really enjoying them again! 

Commitment

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. — PSALM 37:5

A marginal note in the King James Version reads, “Roll thy way upon the Lord.” Cast. Commit. Roll. Just roll your cares, your burdens, your anxieties, your worries, upon God. Isn’t that what the Word tells us to do?

But God won’t take your cares away from you. Some people have asked me, “Please pray that the Lord will lighten this load I’m carrying.” God won’t do that. God tells you what to do about your burdens. And if you don’t do something about them, nothing will be done.

“You” is the understood subject of today’s text: You commit your way unto the Lord. You roll your way upon the Lord. You cast all your care upon Him.

Some people don’t get an answer to their prayers because they’re not praying in line with God’s Word. They’re not doing what God said to do about cares, anxieties, worries, and so forth. But it won’t do any good to pray about your cares unless you do what God tells you to do about them.

You can do what God says to do!

Confession: I commit my way unto the Lord. I roll my way upon the Lord. I trust in Him. And He shall bring it to pass!

AMEN! You can COUNT on it! You can COUNT ON HIM! Here is Brandon Lake with "The Great I Am Can":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Today I want to share something that I shared with a loved one concerning the chaos going on across America and the world right now!

John 8:31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. AMP

John 16:12 I have still many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them or to take them upon you or to grasp them now. 13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. AMP

This is the Greek word "aletheia". Thayer's Greek Lexcion says: verity, truth. The dictionary definition of "verity" says this: In the Bible, verity means absolute, divine truth, reality, or a fundamental, steadfast principle, often translating the Hebrew "emeth" (truth, faithfulness) and Greek "aletheia" (truth, reality). It signifies more than just factual correctness; it's about God's eternal, unchanging truths, embodied in Jesus Christ, found in His Word, and experienced through faith, encompassing integrity and sincerity. 

I believe that the reason Holy Spirit wanted us to look at this now is partly because of all of the misinformation that is being spewed about the situations going on in America these days! There has been a LOT of gross misinformation. To our natural minds it has become so muddled that unless we have a better source of TRUTH, we will be misled into believing and then acting on lies! The key in all of this is found in those two portions of Scripture! Holy Spirit lives IN us to bear witness of the TRUTH that we need to know to operate correctly in this life. So as we seek HIM for the REAL TRUTH, He WILL lead us to it so that we can operate in obedience to HIS will and plan and purpose! Right now, GOD HIMSELF is causing to happen the things that He spoke through ministers and prophetic voices several years ago! So TRUST HIM and HE will give you PEACE concerning these times we live in! Here is Brandon Lake with a new song called "On The Truth":

Shalom,

Today I am sharing again from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional because it follows well after yesterday's post!

Christ In You

. . . Christ in you, the hope of glory. — COLOSSIANS 1:27

By the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ is dwelling in you.

Is He any less Christ in you than He was when He was on the earth?

No! He’s the same Christ. He has all of His power! He has all of His ability! He has all of His glory! He has all of His miracle-working power! He has all of His enablements!

And Christ is in you! You just have to know how to turn Him loose.

Someone once said to Smith Wigglesworth, “You must be someone big; someone great.”

“No,” Wigglesworth replied, “I just remember that the Scripture says, ‘Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.’ I just know the Greater One is in me, and the Greater One does the work.”

How do you turn Christ loose in you? How do you put the Greater One to work?

You do it by faith.

Confession: Christ in me is the hope of glory. Christ is dwelling in me — with all His power, His ability, and His glory. Christ has already defeated all the power of the enemy, and He lives in me. I turn Him loose. I act like He’s there. I allow Him to work by my faith.

AMEN! Remember, without HIM we are NOTHING! (John 15:5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

Here is UNITED with "Search My Heart":

Shalom in him!

Shalom,

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

Rest

For we which have believed do enter into rest . . . . — HEBREWS 4:3

Through the years, I’ve had the greatest time putting the Lord to work for me — just letting Him do the work.

Since I learned about faith and that the Bible said, “. . . we which have believed do enter into rest . .” I have been in a state of rest. Grasp what this scripture says! It doesn’t say that we have entered into a state of fearing, fretting, griping, worrying, or fighting. No! It says we have entered into rest.

I haven’t seen a “battle” in more than sixty-five years. When someone asks me, “How goes the battle?” I always answer, “The victory is wonderful!” There isn’t any battle. I’m in the victory. Faith always has a good report!

Confession: I have believed. I am a believing one. Therefore, I have entered into rest. I am in a state of rest. I act like I am in a state of rest. I do not fear or fret. I do not worry. I do not gripe. I do not battle. The battle is the Lord’s. The victory is mine. I am in the victory.

AMEN! D YOU believe that GOD'S WORD IS TRUTH? Then begin to ACT LIKE IT! When we do that, HE is freed up to DO what only HE can DO! HALLELUJAH! Here is Benjamin William Hastings and Hillsong with "That's The Power":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom

Today I want to share Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest" devotianal:

But It Is Hardly Credible That One Could Be So Positively Ignorant!

Who art Thou, Lord? — Acts 26:15

“The Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand.” There is no escape when Our Lord speaks, He always comes with an arrestment of the understanding. Has the voice of God come to you directly? If it has, you cannot mistake the intimate insistence with which it has spoken to you in the language you know best, not through your ears, but through your circumstances. God has to destroy our determined confidence in our own convictions. “I know this is what I should do” — and suddenly the voice of God speaks in a way that overwhelms us by revealing the depths of our ignorance. We have shown our ignorance of Him in the very way we determined to serve Him. We serve Jesus in a spirit that is not His, we hurt Him by our advocacy for Him, we push His claims in the spirit of the devil. Our words sound all right, but our spirit is that of an enemy. “He…rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.” The spirit of our Lord in an advocate of His is described in 1 Corinthians 13.

Have I been persecuting Jesus by a zealous determination to serve Him in my own way? If I feel I have done my duty and yet have hurt Him in doing it, I may be sure it was not my duty, because it has not fostered the meek and quiet spirit, but the spirit of self-satisfaction. We imagine that whatever is unpleasant is our duty! Is that anything like the spirit of our Lord — “I delight to do Thy will, O My God.”

Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "I Belong To Jesus (Dylan's Song)":

Shalom in Him!