Shalom,

In Mark 11:15-17 we see Jesus clearing the Temple of all of those things that did not belong there.:

15 And they came to Jerusalem. And He went into the temple [area, the porches and courts] and began to drive out those who sold and bought in the temple area, and He overturned the [four-footed] tables of the money changers and the seats of those who dealt in doves; 16 And He would not permit anyone to carry any household equipment through the temple enclosure [thus making the temple area a short-cut traffic lane]. 17 And He taught and said to them, Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? But you have turned it into a den of robbers.

Jesus was quoting Isaiah 56:7 when He declared this to all who heard Him. The people had lost the fear of the Lord, which is reverence and awe for Who He is! When this happens, then shortcuts are taken, convenience becomes the priority and things begin to become nothing but form and ritual. Although this has been true of many churches today, it is NOT referring to what some have called the "prosperity message"! It is referring of having no reverence and respect for what is God's property. When the God of the Bible tells us how to prosper (read Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:3, Psalm 122:6, Job 36:11, Psalm 35:27, and the list goes on and on!) then we KNOW that it IS His will that we do so. He is NOT concerned with us having things, but that those things do not have us! He IS a jealous God and demands to be our highest priority, but when He is, then THIS promise is ours! John 10:10:

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

SO, make pleasing HIM your greatest  priority and dare to show HIM off by walking in the blessing of the New Covenant. Refuse the judgment of people who don't understand these things! There is ONE Judge, and they most definitely are NOT Him! AMEN! Walk in love, pray for those who persecute and, above all else, PREACH THE GOOD NEWS! Soon and very soon, we are going to be seeing our King! Make the very most of THIS time! Here is Hillsong United with "Forever Reign":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 60:11-12 says this:

11 O give us help against the adversary, for vain (ineffectual and to no purpose) is the help or salvation of man. 12 Through God we shall do valiantly, for He it is Who shall tread down our adversaries.

So many people look FIRST to the world for the answers they need and only go to the God of the Bible as a last resort! These verses show very clearly what we should think of the help of mere human wisdom! God works THROUGH people, but we must have His leading to know the right people! We looked yesterday at meditation in the Word of God that will bring Wisdom as the Spirit of God brings the Word of God, that we have hidden in our hearts, back to our remembrance! He does this at exactly the right time! Zechariah 4:6b says this:

6(b) Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. KJV

Staying continually filled with the Spirit  is essential for being continually led by the Spirit! Filled with the Spirit and filled with His Word is HOW we will do valiantly! HE works through us by the words that we speak that are in line with His Word! Make it your determined purpose to stay continually in the process of being filled, and continually obedient to His leading, and you will find yourself actually looking as though you are MORE than a conqueror (Romans 8:37) in every situation! When that happens, you KNOW Who gets the credit! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Oceans" which is the ultimate trust in HIM song!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We have been speaking of meditation some this week and I want to encourage you again in this! In John 17:17 Jesus declared this as He was praying for his disciples AND us (verse 20):

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

So the Word of God IS Truth! It doesn't just contain a little Truth, it IS Truth itself! So, as we continue to meditate on the Word of God, we are continually being set apart as being those who have been with Jesus! That is why being filled with the Holy Spirit is essential to our growth. It is His role to bring back to our attention the Word that we have already heard! John 14:25-26:

25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. KJV

I actually like the Amplified Bible better for this!

25 I have told you these things while I am still with you. 26 But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. AMP

So, read, study and meditate daily on the Word of God, and stay filled with His Spirit. Then HE will bring to remembrance, at the exact time needed, the Word you have already put inside! Our God IS God, and He is GOOD! AMEN! Here is "Like Incense" by Hillsong United:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

I hope that you are making use of 1 John 1:9 as often as is necessary in your life!

9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. AMP

This promise has been given so that when we DO sin, we can get right back into deep and intimate fellowship with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! HALLELUJAH! Sin cannot separate us! IF! So make sure that you are taking advantage of this! Just in case you don't think that you ever Do sin, look at today's Faith Food by Kenneth E. Hagin:

Doing Philippians 4:6

August 28, 2013

"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God" (Phil. 4:6 AMP). 

A minister once came to me for advice. There were many storms in his life, and I felt sorry for him. He couldn't eat or sleep. 

Just to sympathize with him wasn't enough, so I had to read Philippians 4:6. "But everyone doesn't have the faith you have," he told me. "Yes, but they have the same Bible," I replied, "and it's a matter of practicing the Word." 

Then I showed him how to practice the Word: I read a verse aloud and then told the Lord, "Your Word is true, and I believe it." When I first started practicing this verse, I believed I could make my requests known to God, but it was hard for me to believe I could keep from fretting. However, God won't ask us to do something we can't do. So when God said not to fret, this means we can keep from fretting. 

So I say aloud, "I refuse to fret or have any anxiety about anything." Then I bring my requests to the Lord and thank Him for them. This quiets the troubled spirit the devil tried to make me have. If the devil tries to get me to worry again, I simply go back, reread this verse, and keep claiming it. 

Confession: I am a doer of Philippians 4:6! 

Not doing this, and holding on to fear, anxiety and worry, is a sin! It is a selfish decision to doing something our way instead of God's way! Use 1 John 1:9, then become a DOER of Philippians 4:6, realizing that because HE said to do this, you CAN do it! AMEN! Philippians 4:13:

13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. 

AMP

AMEN! YOU CAN! Here, to encourage you, is Hillsong Live with "Beneath The Waters (I Will Rise)":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really like this portion from Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest" for today:

Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you . . . —John 12:35

Beware of not acting upon what you see in your moments on the mountaintop with God. If you do not obey the light, it will turn into darkness. “If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:23). The moment you forsake the matter of sanctification or neglect anything else on which God has given you His light, your spiritual life begins to disintegrate within you. Continually bring the truth out into your real life, working it out into every area, or else even the light that you possess will itself prove to be a curse.

The most difficult person to deal with is the one who has the prideful self-satisfaction of a past experience, but is not working that experience out in his everyday life. If you say you are sanctified, show it. The experience must be so genuine that it shows in your life. Beware of any belief that makes you self-indulgent or self-gratifying; that belief came from the pit of hell itself, regardless of how beautiful it may sound.

As we have been speaking of meditation lately, it is imperative that we speak of OBEYING that Word. Remember, HE is not looking for sacrifice, but for obedience (1 Samuel 15:22)! So, as you meditate on the Word of God that you are studying today, be prepared to put it into practice IMMEDIATELY! That way it won't get away from you in all the business of life! Psalm 57:7-11 from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today is a great place to start!

7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident! I will sing and make melody. 8 Awake, my glory (my inner self); awake, harp and lyre! I will awake right early [I will awaken the dawn]! 9 I will praise and give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. 10 For Your mercy and loving-kindness are great, reaching to the heavens, and Your truth and faithfulness to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth.

I have already "awakened the dawn" when I woke up at 4:15 to start my day with morning prayer! So now I am going to go spend some time in praise and worship for Who He is and for all the GOOD He has done and is doing in my life! You can join me with this song from Hillsong Live called "Endless Light":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! Every day the reading just seems to resonate with what is happening, either in my own personal life, or for the world in which we live! Look at Psalm 56:3-4:

   3 What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You. 4 By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me?

What was the psalmist facing that he said these things? Look at verses 5-7:

5 All day long they twist my words and trouble my affairs; all their thoughts are against me for evil and my hurt. 6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they watch my steps, even as they have [expectantly] waited for my life. 7 They think to escape with iniquity, and shall they? In Your indignation bring down the peoples, O God.

Have you experienced this type of persecution in your own personal life? This certainly applies to what is happening to Bible believing Christians the world over, and even now in this nation! But then the psalmist restates his faith, trust and confidence in the One, True God of the Bible in verses 9-11:

9 Then shall my enemies turn back in the day that I cry out; this I know, for God is for me. 10 In God, Whose word I praise, in the Lord, Whose word I praise, 11 In God have I put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

AMEN! What CAN any man do to us that has the ability to affect us when our Source for protection, provision and safety is the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible? Train yourself to think like God and expect His very best! What SHOULD we do when faced with attacks, tests, trials and persecutions? Let's do what Jesus did! In Mark today we read what became of John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus. When Jesus heard the news, He pulled his disciples aside to get away by themselves, then He did the most powerful thing He could do to counter this awful attack of satan (the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy - John 10:10a). He taught the people and then He did one of His most outstanding miracles! He fed the crowd, which included 5,000 men, besides all of the women and children, from five loaves of bread and two fish! THAT is how you combat the enemy! You do something that sets people free and gives all the glory to God! HALLELUJAH! Here, to encourage you in this, is Hillsong Live again with "Always Will":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We looked at Psalm 119 today in Adult Bible Study at The Spoken Word Church. The focus of all of Psalm 119 is the Word of God! We have been instructed to meditate on the Word of God in Joshua 1:8:

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. AMP

To "meditate" is the Hebrew word "hagah", which means: to murmur, to ponder, to muse, to utter. It involves speaking the Word to yourself, thinking about it, speaking about it to others and allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate it to you. Joshua says that by so doing, we shall make our own way prosperous and we shall be successful! Psalm 119:97 says this:

97 Oh, how love I Your law! It is my meditation all the day. AMP

I really like this from Kenneth E. Hagin's Faith Food for today, because it goes right along with everything we've been looking at!

A minister told me how he'd been trying to make a success of his church. If he heard of a pastor who was doing well, he would visit him and see what kind of program he had. Then he would try to put that man's program into action in his church - but it never worked. And he'd fly all over the country doing this. 

Then the pastor decided he would meditate in the Word the way he'd heard me teach. So he took a little time out each morning to meditate on the Word. He told me that after thirty days of meditating on the Word, one Sunday they had a landslide response. 

More people were saved than in the previous two or three years; his people were revived - and he began to have good success. 

The ministry was this pastor's life. That's where he needed to have good success. Your life calling may be different. But it is certainly true that your way can also be prosperous, and you can have good success. Take time to meditate in the Word. Shut yourself in alone with your spirit. Shut the world out. 

Confession: I will meditate in God's Word. I will observe to do what His Word teaches. My way shall be prosperous. I shall have good success in life. I shall know how to deal wisely in the affairs of life. For the Word of God says so. 

AMEN! So, now "go thou and do likewise"! Spend some time everyday meditating on the Word of God, and then acting on it! THEN you will make your way prosperous! You will find yourself being more successful in every area of your life, and HE will get all the credit, the praise and the thanksgiving! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Children Of The Light" because THAT is who we are!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 54:3 is another example of how up-to-the-minute the Word of God is! 

3 For strangers and insolent men are rising up against me, and violent men and ruthless ones seek and demand my life; they do not set God before them. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

When it looks for all the world as though no one in the government or the media are telling the truth, what should we do? We look to HIM! Verses 4 and 6-7 give us the answer and the outcome!

4 Behold, God is my helper and ally; the Lord is my upholder and is with them who uphold my life. 6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to You; I will give thanks and praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good. 7 For He has delivered me out of every trouble, and my eye has looked [in triumph] on my enemies.

TRUST Him! There is nothing new under the sun and nothing happening that will take God by surprise! He has seen it all! Amen! Just continue in your daily preparation time in His Word, in prayer and in praise and worship! When WE do our part, we allow HIM to do His! Just remember this from Mark 4:24 as you go about your daily study!

24 And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you--and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.

Without mediation and study (Joshua 1:8), the Word of God that we hear will go in one ear and out the other! 2 Timothy 2:15:

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needsnot to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. KJV

Now from the Amplified Bible:

15 Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth. AMP

SO, keep your eyes ever on Him and His Word, along with our decision from yesterday to KNOW Him more! THEN you will have faith to overcome every obstacle, test and trial that you encounter! AMEN! Here is "Take Heart" by Hillsong United:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 53:1-3 should forever answer the question of whether or not we actually NEED a personal Savior!

1 THE [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt and evil are they, and doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. 2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any who understood, who sought (inquired after and desperately required) God. 3 Every one of them has gone back [backslidden and fallen away]; they have altogether become filthy and corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.

In these last few weeks, more than at any other time in my lifetime, I have come across people who are insisting that there is no God! The Bible calls them "empty-headed fools"! The really do KNOW that God is, because His Word says they do! Romans 1:20-22:

20 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification],  [Ps 19:1-4.] 21 Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves]. AMP

The subtitle to Psalm 53 in the Amplified Bible says this:

To the Chief Musician; in a mournful strain. A skillful song, or didactic or reflective poem of David.

A didactic poem, or psalm, is one that instructs us. Why is this psalm set to a mournful strain? Because when people deny the existence of the One, True God, there is a sure and certain result in their lives on this earth! Read the rest of Romans 1 and you will see that many of the horribly immoral behavior of this present generation is a result of turning away from God! It is not "normal" and it is not approved by God in any way, shape of form! The really GOOD News is that there is hope for those who are in this condition! As long as they are still alive on this earth, they have the opportunity to receive Jesus as Lord and personal Savior! Don't EVER give up on people! God did NOT give up on you! Continue to pray for the right laborers to cross their path with the Gospel of Salvation! Claim them for your inheritance as God instructed Jesus in Psalm 2:7-8:

7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. KJV

Remember, we are co-equal heirs with Jesus (Romans 8:17)! ASK, and then continue to thank and praise Him for them! Pray in the Spirit so that whatever is hindered them can be dealt with by HIM! AMEN! HIS desire is that none should perish! 2 Peter 3:9:

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

So,  He will continue to get the Truth to them as long as they are alive! He will move Heaven and earth, if He has to, in answer to our prayers! For those who are already born again and involved in this type of behavior, pray in the Spirit, loose the works and workers of darkness from their minds, and then pray the prayers of Paul found in Ephesians 1:16-23, Ephesians 3:14-20 and Colossians 1:9-11. AMEN! Here, to encourage you in this, is Hillsong Live with "Always Will":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

As you know, if you have read this blog for any length of time, my very favorite verse of Scripture is Philippians 3:10 from the Amplified Bible.

10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] AMP

Getting to know HIM is the most important reason we should have for studying the Word of God! This is why I LOVE Jerry Savelle's Daily Devotional for today!

Him First!

When your motivation for studying the Bible is so that you can know Him and not just to find some “secret formula,” then you will discover that your relationship will put you in a position to have your every need met.

This is why Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God,” or in other words, put God first in your life, then “all these things shall be added unto you” (see Matthew 6:33).

The revelation from the Word of God that God wants to bless us is certainly valid. However, some people have become selfish, self-centered, and have no desire to know God, they only want what He’ll give them.

Many people have never really entered into a “knowing” relationship with God. They know about Him, but they really don’t know Him, because they don’t know Him, they tend to believe things about Him that simply are not true.

Don’t just look for some “get rich quick” scheme. Study the Word in order to know Him more intimately.

I hear Christians say sometimes, “I don’t know God’s will.” When you get to know Him, you’ll know His will. When you seek Him to know Him, everything else that you need will always follow.

Confession: Today, I set aside any things that I have been seeking first. I commit to seek God first and to know Him more intimately and trust that the other things will be added to me.

We cannot even begin to be LIKE Him until we really get to KNOW Him! It is progressive, so we should expect to know Him a little more every day! It takes diligence, so any amount of laziness on our part will hinder this progression. It is VITAL, that's why the devil hates it and will try to distract you from this all the time! Make it YOUR "determined purpose" today to find out something new-to-you about Him each day! With the Holy Spirit as your Teacher (John 14:26), be prepared to be amazed! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "I Surrender":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

When King Saul sinned against God by doing his own will rather than be obedient to the Word of God, Samuel said this to him in 1 Sam 13:14:

14 But now your kingdom shall not continue; the Lord has sought out [David] a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince and ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you. AMP

Many people have thought that David must have been a perfect man because he was "a man after His own heart", but that is not the case! What made David different than Saul is that David sought the Lord and, when he missed it, and he did, then he repented and turned again to go hard after God and His Word! Psalm 51 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today shows the heart of David toward God in repentance for his sin. Here are verses 1-17:

Psalm 51

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bathsheba.

1 HAVE MERCY upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to the multitude of Your tender mercy and loving-kindness blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity and guilt and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin! 3 For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned and done that which is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified in Your sentence and faultless in Your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in [a state of] iniquity; my mother was sinful who conceived me [and I too am sinful]. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart. 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean [ceremonially]; wash me, and I shall [in reality] be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied; let the bones which You have broken rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my guilt and iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted and return to You. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness and death, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness (Your rightness and Your justice). 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. 16 For You delight not in sacrifice, or else would I give it; You find no pleasure in burnt offering. 17 My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.

Do you get a sense of the heart of David towards the Lord? Although he tried to hide his sin at first, when confronted by it, he repented, which simply means that he changed his thinking to agree with God. He cried out to God according to the covenant that he had with Him at that time. We know that we, who are born again believers in Jesus Christ, have a New Covenant, based on better promises than David had (Hebrews 8:6)! Where David had the Holy Spirit UPON him as a King, we  have the same Holy Spirit IN us as born again believers! While we should ALL have the same heart of repentance that David had, we should come to God according to OUR Covenant! 1 John 1:9 tells us how:

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. KJV

I especially like this in the Amplified Bible:

9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. AMP

So, WHEN you sin by making a selfish decision to do something your own way instead of God's way, in thought, word or action, by either omission or commission, then confess that sin and receive your forgiveness from HIM! Get right back into fellowship with Him so that satan cannot steal another moment from you! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "To Be Like You":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 50:10-12 says this:

10 For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills or upon the mountains where thousands are. 11 I know and am acquainted with all the birds of the mountains, and the wild animals of the field are Mine and are with Me, in My mind. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are Mine.

Do you remember this from Haggai 2:8?

8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts. KJV

God does not NEED anything we give to Him! The reason that He has us give is for OUR benefit, not His! He knows that what we sow, we shall also reap! 2 Corinthians 9:6 says this:

6 [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings. AMP

Luke 6:38 says this:

38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. KJV

God gives us the opportunity to be givers because HE is the ULTIMATE Giver! John 3:16:

16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. AMP

We cannot out-give the God of the Bible, but we can try! What a blessing to be a giver and to follow His example! This allows HIM to get involved in our financial situation, and that's a GOOD thing! AMEN! Don't pass up any opportunity to be a giver. We all have SOMETHING that we can give to be a blessing! Here is Hillsong with "I Give You My Heart":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Titus 3:4-7 says this:

4 But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man [as man] appeared, 5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 Which He poured out [so] richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 [And He did it in order] that we might be justified by His grace (by His favor, wholly undeserved), [that we might be acknowledged and counted as conformed to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action], and that we might become heirs of eternal life according to [our] hope.

Did you catch that HE saved us "not because of any works of righteousness that we had done"? So many people are still trying to make themselves good enough by doing good deeds when the Word of God so specifically says this in Isaiah 64:6:

6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. NKJV

God did not, and still does not, need OUR help making us righteous in His sight! 2 Cortinhians 5:21 says this (KJV and Amplified):

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. KJV

21 For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness]. AMP

GOD did this and it was GOOD in His sight to do so! Receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and personal Savior is what is needed to be made righteous, having right-standing, with God! We can add nothing to HIS work and nothing we can ever do will undo it! It is time to stop striving to "be good" and simple spend time in His presence and in His Word so that we can begin to think like Him, then we will speak like Him and act like Him! THAT is the answer to sin! NOT trying to "be good" or to "do good works". Psalm 119:11:

11 Your  word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You. KJV

So, feed daily on His Word (Job 23:12) and stay filled with His Spirit! Then the evidence that you have been made righteous will begin to show forth! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "For Who Your Are":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have always loved this testimony from tomorrow's Faith Food by Kenneth E. Hagin. (Yes, I read ahead!)

Charged To Keep

"For he [God] shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways" (Ps. 91:11). 

I once heard a pioneer Pentecostal missionary tell this experience: A neighboring tribe kidnapped a little girl from the tribe where he was a missionary. The people in her tribe knew that if they didn't recover her before nightfall, they would never see her again. 

So the missionary and a native interpreter made their way through the jungle to the kidnappers' village. They took trinkets and bargained with the chief for the child's return, but night overtook them. Because they couldn't travel at night in the jungle, they were forced to stay at the kidnappers' village. 

Sleeping on the floor of a thatched hut, they were awakened by the sound of drums. The interpreter said that the drums meant they were to be killed: The chief had decided to kill them and keep both the trinkets and the girl. Then they heard the hostile natives coming for them. 

The missionary and the interpreter knelt down, prayed, and committed themselves to God. Then the missionary said, "Let's not wait for them. Let's go out. I'll go first." 

He stepped outside with his eyes shut and waited for what seemed to be an eternity. One slash of their knives could cut off his head. But instead he heard moaning and groaning. He looked, and every native was on his face on the ground. 

"They are calling you 'god,'" the interpreter said. "They say that when you stepped outside, two giants in white stepped out with you, holding great swords in either hand." 

Confession: God has given His angels charge over me to protect me in all my ways. 

It is wise for us to remember what Jesus Himself said about angels! Look at Hebrews 1:14 in both the KJV and the Amplified Bible:

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
KJV

14 Are not the angels all ministering spirits (servants) sent out in the service [of God for the assistance] of those who are to inherit salvation? AMP

And then this from Matthew 18:10:

10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. KJV

10 Beware that you do not despise or feel scornful toward or think little of one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always are in the presence of and look upon the face of My Father Who is in heaven. AMP

You and I need to meditate on this and other Scriptures referring to angles in order to properly understand their role in our lives, and so that we can take advantage of every resource that God our Father has provided for us! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Age To Age":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

It would be too difficult to pick just one verse from today's Psalm 47, so I am posting the entire Psalm!

Psalm 47

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

1 O CLAP your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph and songs of joy! 2 For the Lord Most High excites terror, awe, and dread; He is a great King over all the earth. 3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. 4 He chose our inheritance for us, the glory and pride of Jacob, whom He loves. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 5 God has ascended amid shouting, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises in a skillful psalm and with understanding. 8 God reigns over the nations; God sits upon His holy throne. 9 The princes and nobles of the peoples are gathered together, a [united] people for the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.

When a Psalm says "To the Chief Musician", you can be assured that it was a vital part of the Praise and Worship Service of their time! THIS is STILL very relevant for today! We are not to ignore what the evil one is up to here on earth, but we must know that ALL authority was given to Jesus and HE sent US out, in that authority, to control the atmosphere of our own areas so that the Gospel can be spread unhindered! KNOWING the authority that we have as born again believers in Jesus Christ, we should all be bold about being DOERS of this Psalm! What to do? CLAP, SHOUT, SING, PRAISE, DECLARE, DECREE, PROCLAIM! When WE declare and proclaim HIS Word, we give Him something to confirm with signs, wonders and miracles following (Mark 16:20)! AMEN! So DO IT! Here is Hillsong United  with "Go":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Two things really stand out to me in today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Psalm 46:1-3:

1 GOD IS our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains be shaken into the midst of the seas, 3 Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling and tumult. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

This TRUTH (John 17:17) tells me that He is ALWAYS with me and for me, as He is a "very present help". It also says that He is "well-proved"! That means that there is nothing new to Him! He has seen it all and NOTHING is too difficult for Him to handle! When we are told to cast our care on Him (1 Peter 5:7), HE MEANS IT! He wants US to be carefree so that nothing interferes with our joy, which give us strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and our ability to preach the Good News so that all may hear! Nothing that is going on in our world today is a surprise to HIM! FEAR NOT! Be led by His Spirit and obedient to His Word! AMEN! This goes right along with the admonition we receive in 2 Timothy 4:1-4:

1 I CHARGE [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (in the light of) His coming and His kingdom: 2 Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, 4 And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.

Buy up every opportunity to share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because He IS the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)! He IS the ONLY Way to the Father and to the Heaven of the Bible! Soon and very soon Jesus will be appearing for His Church and then we will no longer be here to to do this! TODAY is the day of Salvation for so many (2 Corinthians 6:2)! Be a part of that! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "With You":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 45:1 says this:

1 MY HEART overflows with a goodly theme; I address my psalm to a King. My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.

The only way for our heart to overflow with good thoughts and words toward the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible is to get to KNOW Him! Paul said this in Philippians 3:10:

10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] AMP

Even Paul, who had some of the deepest revelations of the Word, still said that he needed, and wanted, to KNOW HIM more! As we spend time in the Word on a daily basis, and time in prayer, praise and worship and fellowship with Him by His Spirit, we will come to know Him to the extent that we, too, can have our mouths overflow in praise to, and of, Him! There is no short cut! It will take diligence. But it will most definitely be time well spent! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "I Live To Know You More":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 44:1 says this:

1 WE HAVE heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us [what] work You did in their days, in the days of old.

Have YOU  "heard with (your) ears" of the things that God has done in the past, "in the days of old"? We are to use the past as a sign and encouragement for the present and the future! David reminded himself of past victories over the bear and the lion as he was preparing to take down Goliath in the Name of the LORD! 1 Samuel 17:34-37:

34 And David said to Saul, Your servant kept his father's sheep. And when there came a lion or again a bear and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and smote it and delivered the lamb out of its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard and smote it and killed it. 36 Your servant killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 David said, The Lord Who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and the Lord be with you! AMP

THAT is what the remembrances are for! To give us hope, courage and strength for the present and the future! Are you spending every day in expectant hope and eager anticipation for what God is going to do through you TODAY? Remember that Jesus is the SAME, yesterday, today, and FOREVER (Hebrews 13:8)! Remember, also, that Jesus said THIS about His Church! John 14:12:

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

So, don't settle for ONLY having yesterday's memories! Determine to make new ones today! Buy up every opportunity to share the Good News with everyone you come in contact with, in every way available (Colossians 4:5 AMP)! EXPECT Him to confirm that Word with signs, wonders and miracle so that HE gets the glory (Mark 16:20)! If HE is lifted up, He will continue to draw the people to Himself (John 12:32)! OUR work is the easy part! SHARE IT! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Tell The World":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Have you ever been tempted to be depressed? This psalmist did, too:

Psalm 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my [sad] countenance, and my God.

Realize that the enemy of your soul KNOWS you by the words that you speak and the things that you do! He CANNOT read your mind! He sends thoughts of defeat, rejection, hopelessness, fear, guilt, worry and any other negative thought that is contrary to God's Word that he can come up with because he is HOPING that you will receive some of them and fall into that state of mind! THAT is one of the ways, or devices, that he has to use his one and only weapon, the LIE! You and I must do what David did and encourage ourselves in the LORD! 1 Sam 30:6:

6 David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God. AMP

Paul encouraged Timothy in these same things in 2 Timothy 1:6-7:

6 That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the gift of God,  that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. AMP

How DO we stir up that gift? We spend time in His presence by spending time in His Word, time in prayer and time in Praise and Worship! The next time the enemy sends thoughts of defeat, immediately cast them off and speak what God's Word says about you! Put on your favorite Worship music and give praise and glory to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! He is worthy of our praises AND He is present in them (Psalm 22:3)! NOW you have the enemy on the run! He will go about looking for someone that he CAN defeat (1 Peter 5:8), but it will NOT be YOU! AMEN! Here, to help you with this, is Hillsong Live with "Closer":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I love this from today's Faith Food Devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin:

Born of God

August 12, 2013

"Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1 John 3:9). 

People sometimes ask me, "How can I tell whether it is my own spirit or the Holy Spirit telling me to do something? It may just be me wanting to do it." 

When you say "me," what are you talking about? If it is the real you - the man on the inside that's a new creature, with the life and nature of God in him, indwelt by the Holy Spirit - then it is right. If you mean "me," and you're talking about the flesh, that's a different thing entirely. Learn to differentiate between the two. 

A Christian's inward man isn't the one who wants to do wrong. If the inward man wants to do wrong, that person has never been born again. 

First John 3:9 has bothered some Christians. They have made mistakes and failed, and they've thought, If I were born of God, according to the Bible I wouldn't sin. But this verse is talking about the inward man who doesn't sin.

I've done things that were wrong, but my inward man didn't do them. In fact, he didn't agree with me when I did them. He tried to get me not to do them. 

Physically, we are born of human parents, and we partake of their human nature. Spiritually, we are born of God, and we partake of His nature. And it is not God's nature to do wrong. Therefore, let your spirit dominate your flesh. 

Confession: I am born of God. My spirit has the life and nature of God, and its desires are right desires. 

We have to understand first of all that we are triune beings. We ARE spirits, we have souls and we live in human bodies while on the earth (1 Thessalonians 5:23). It is the spirit of man that is born again, instantly, when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our physical bodies will be changed instantly, in the twinkling of an eye, when Jesus returns for the Church (1 Corinthians 15:51-53). Our souls, however, must be renewed on a daily basis to think like God! (Romans 12:2). Psalm 119:11 says that we hide the Word in our heart (spirit/soul combination) so that we don't sin. Our reborn spirit is created in the image of God and CANNOT sin, but our soul still has the nature of the flesh to deal with and MUST be renewed daily in order to avoid sin. It is an ongoing process and not one person, other than Jesus Himself, has ever fully succeeded! THAT is what 1 John 1:9 is for! ME! AND you! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with a song about JESUS called "You Never Fail":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really like this from today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers!

Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha . . . saw him no more —2 Kings 2:11-12

It is not wrong for you to depend on your “Elijah” for as long as God gives him to you. But remember that the time will come when he must leave and will no longer be your guide and your leader, because God does not intend for him to stay. Even the thought of that causes you to say, “I cannot continue without my ’Elijah.’ ” Yet God says you must continue.

Alone at Your “Jordan” (2 Kings 2:14). The Jordan River represents the type of separation where you have no fellowship with anyone else, and where no one else can take your responsibility from you. You now have to put to the test what you learned when you were with your “Elijah.” You have been to the Jordan over and over again with Elijah, but now you are facing it alone. There is no use in saying that you cannot go— the experience is here, and you must go. If you truly want to know whether or not God is the God your faith believes Him to be, then go through your “Jordan” alone.

Alone at Your “Jericho” (2 Kings 2:15). Jericho represents the place where you have seen your “Elijah” do great things. Yet when you come alone to your “Jericho,” you have a strong reluctance to take the initiative and trust in God, wanting, instead, for someone else to take it for you. But if you remain true to what you learned while with your “Elijah,” you will receive a sign, as Elisha did, that God is with you.

Alone at Your “Bethel” (2 Kings 2:23). At your “Bethel” you will find yourself at your wits’ end but at the beginning of God’s wisdom. When you come to your wits’ end and feel inclined to panic— don’t! Stand true to God and He will bring out His truth in a way that will make your life an expression of worship. Put into practice what you learned while with your “Elijah”— use his mantle and pray (see 2 Kings 2:13-14). Make a determination to trust in God, and do not even look for Elijah anymore.

I see this as so pertinent to the Body of Christ today! There has been a lot of conversation about "what God is doing here" and "what God is doing there", when all the time God WANTS to do His will and work through YOU!  Born again, Spirit filled believers MUST become active DOERS of the Word of God in order to fulfill HIS calling on OUR lives! Jesus said this in John 14:12:

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

Are YOU ready for the "greater things"? Then step out in faith and do the things that are recorded that Jesus DID! He went about teaching, preaching and healing! Go THOU and do likewise! AMEN! We have HIS power and authority within us in the Person of the Spirit of God! We lack nothing except the appropriate corresponding action! HE will confirm His Word! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "No Reason To Hide":

Shalom in Him!