Shalom,

Today's Faith Food by Kenneth E. Hagin, goes along perfectly with our current Adult Bible Study series at The Spoken Word Church! We are studying "LIFE", "zoe", which is life as God has within Himself, and has given to born again believers to have within themselves! 

"Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life [zoe] also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life [zoe] also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh" (2 Cor. 4:10-11). 

Paul is talking about zoe being manifested in our mortal bodies. But he's not talking about the resurrection of the body, for "mortal" means subject to death. When we're raised up, we'll have an immortal body. No, Paul is talking about having this zoe life of God which came into our spirits at the New Birth manifested during this life - in our death-doomed mortal flesh!

I am convinced that if we learn how to walk in the light of life, and let that life which came into us at our New Birth dominate us, there is no reason at all why we can't live to a great age, if Jesus tarries His coming. I know the outward man is decaying, but the zoe life of God can be made manifest in our mortal flesh!

Confession: Thank You, Father, that the life that is in my spirit can also quicken my mortal body. It can make my body full of life, health, and healing. Because in the great plan of redemption, which You planned and sent the Lord Jesus Christ to consummate, there is not only the rebirth of my spirit, but there is also healing for my physical being. "Himself took my infirmities and bare my sicknesses." What Jesus bore, I need not bear. By Jesus' stripes I am healed. I am made whole - spiritually, physically, and mentally. According to the Word of God, I am healed! I am whole! 

AMEN! Look at 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

If YOU are born again, then YOU have this same LIFE in you! The God of the Bible wants you to ENJOY the full benefits of the LIFE that is in you! That includes health and healing as well as prosperity, favor, success, peace, and any and every other GOOD thing! AMEN! Seek HIM and His life will be revealed to you! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Alive":

I was lost with a broken heart
You picked me up, now I'm set apart
From the ash I am born again
Forever safe in the Saviour's hands
You are more than my words could say
I'll follow You Lord for all my days
I'll fix my eyes, follow in Your ways
Forever free in unending grace

'Cause You are, You are, You are my freedom
We lift You higher, lift You higher
Your love, Your love, Your love never ending
Oh oh oh

You are alive in us
Nothing can take Your place
You are all we need
Your love has set us free

In the midst of the darkest night
Let Your love be the shining light
Breaking chains that were holding me
You sent Your Son down and set me free
Everything of this world will fade
I'm pressing on till I see Your face
I will live that Your will be done
I won't stop till Your Kingdom come

'Cause You are, You are, You are my freedom
We lift You higher, lift You higher
Your love, Your love, Your love never ending
Oh oh oh

You are alive in us
Nothing can take Your place
You are all we need
Your love has set us free

You are, You are, You are my freedom
We lift You higher
You are, You are, You are my freedom
We lift You higher, lift You higher
Your love, Your love, Your love never ending
Oh oh oh

You are alive in us
Nothing can take Your place
You are all we need
Your love has set us free

You are alive in us
Nothing can take Your place
You are all we need
Your love has set us free

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Colossians 4:1-7 has a great message of encouragement in it for the Church today!

4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [the leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness] and of the love which you [have and show] for all the saints (God's consecrated ones), 5 Because of the hope [of experiencing what is] laid up (reserved and waiting) for you in heaven. Of this [hope] you heard in the past in the message of the truth of the Gospel, 6 Which has come to you. Indeed, in the whole world [that Gospel] is bearing fruit and still is growing [by its own inherent power], even as it has done among yourselves ever since the day you first heard and came to know and understand the grace of God in truth. [You came to know the grace or undeserved favor of God in reality, deeply and clearly and thoroughly, becoming accurately and intimately acquainted with it.]

The Truth that should bring us encouragement as "ministers of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) is particularly found in verse 6! In the whole world at that time, the Gospel, by it's own inherent power,  was bearing much fruit! We are preaching the same Gospel! This Gospel has the power inherent within it to turn the hearts of the lost towards the God of the Bible! Don't think that you need to be well-spoken, well educated or have any special gift or personality to reach people with the Gospel! Just PREACH IT! The Gospel itself contains all that is necessary to draw people to Jesus! Let's buy up every occasion to give the Gospel the opportunity to DO what it is meant to do! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Chapel with "Lost Are Found":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE the Word of God! There is POWER in the Word when we comprehend, speak and act on it! Philippians 4:8 is a very good, and very powerful, instruction for what to do when we face tests, trial and temptations!

6 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.

We are instructed here to REFUSE worry and fear! They are NOT from the God of the Bible, but from the enemy of our souls to try to stop God's blessing in our lives! Instead, we are to cast the care over on HIM by presenting every situation to Him in prayer! What is the result of that? Look at verse 7:

7 And God's peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

WHEN we do things God's way, we are ALWAYS blessed with the outcome! But don't stop with just prayer, because we DO have further instruction to follow if we truly want to live a life free from guilt, worry, fear, care and anxiety! Verse 8:

8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

Stop "fixing your minds" on the cares of this world and instead focus on what the Word of God says! Joshua 1:8 tells us to meditate (fix our minds on) the Word of God! What will happen then? 

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

Want to be carefree, calm, unafraid, bold, confident and successful? Study, think about and obey the WORD! You CANNOT fail when you choose to do things God's way! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Wake":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Yesterday we saw that the God of the Bible has hidden the Truth of His Word for His people to seek and find! We see today, in Proverbs 26:6-9, why He does that!

6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet [of satisfactory delivery] and drinks the damage. 7 Like the legs of a lame man which hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of a fool. 8 Like he who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a [self-confident] fool. 9 Like a thorn that goes [without being felt] into the hand of a drunken man, so is a proverb in the mouth of a [self-confident] fool.

This is telling us that fools cannot be counted on to do even simple delivery tasks! The Word is as useless to a fool as the paralyzed legs of a disabled person (until they receive their healing, that is!). Try to give a fool Wisdom from the Word of God and they will fling it away as easily as a stone in a slingshot! The foolish person will talk about the Word of God and be totally unaware of the power thereof! The Word of God has many descriptions of fools and their foolishness!  The very clearest way to recognize a fool is Proverbs 14:1:

1 THE [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable deeds; there is none that does good or right. AMP

If someone is trying to engage you in a debate about the Word of God, remember these admonitions from Proverbs! Do NOT discuss the precious things of the Word of God with unbelievers and fools! The only thing that an unbeliever CAN understand of the Word is their need for the Savior! Once they are born again, THEN they have the potential to understand, but they will have to CHOOSE to! The answer is to simply walk away and pray, UNLESS the Spirit of God specifically directs you to do otherwise! Pray for the RIGHT laborers to cross their path whom they WILL be able to receive the Truth from! AMEN! In the meantime,keep seeking HIM! Fall more in love with HIM every day so that others, including the fools, will see that YOU have what THEY need! Here is Hillsong with "This Is Our God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Proverbs 25:2 is another of my favorite verses! Before we look specifically at this verse, I want to look at Revelation 1:5-6:

5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And has made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. KJV

These "kings and priests" that John is referring to here is US! The Church of Jesus Christ! The born again ones! WE are NOW kings and priests unto our God! So NOW let's look at Proverbs 25:2:

 2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a thing.  AMP

So we see here that it brings God "glory", the Greek word "kabowd", which means splendor; copiousness; honor; riches, abundance; dignity, to conceal something. He HIDES this valuable and weighty TRUTH of His Word, not FROM us, but FOR us! The world cannot understand the Word of God, but WE can (1 Corinthians 2:14; Mark 4:11)! HALLELUJAH!!! It brings HIS "glory" into our lives when we "search" out the hidden Truth! This is the Greek word "chaqar". It means: to search to examine thoroughly; to investigate; to explore; to seek. Jeremiah 29:13 tells us this:

13 Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. AMP

Let's DO IT! AMEN! Let's act like those kings and priests that HE has made us! Lets make seeking His face our daily priority! When we do, He says we will find Him and when we find HIM, we find all TRUTH! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Love Goes On":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share this simple, but very powerful, Truth via Jerry Savelle's devotional:

You Are Justified

“Being justified freely without any cost, by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).

One of the simplest definition’s of justified is “just as if I’d never sinned.” You have been made “just as if you had never sinned!”

“Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him” (Romans 4:8, NIV).

Never again will your sins be counted against you. That’s good news! This justification has been given to you freely because of what Jesus did for you on the Cross. Redemption simply means “buying back.” Just like a kidnapped man is bought back from his captor with ransom money, so Jesus bought you back from the hands of the devil with His shed blood. God is the Justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (see Romans 3:26). This justification and redemption does not depend on your performance, it depends on your faith in Jesus and the fact that you are “in Him.”

Confession: Thank You, Father, for treating me “just as if I had never sinned.” I cast down all thoughts of condemnation and meditate on the free gift of righteousness that is mine because I am in Christ Jesus.

Don't receive condemnation from the enemy, and don't condemn yourself! Recognize sin as a selfish decision to do something your own way rather than God's way, revealed in His Word and by His spirit. This "sin" displeases God because it causes broken fellowship and keeps you from fulfilling the calling that HE has placed on your life! Repent (change your thinking to agree with God), confess the sin (1 John 1:9), receive not only the forgiveness for that sin, but the cleansing from ALL unrighteousness that would break your fellowship, get right back in the supernatural flow of His LIFE, and MOVE ON in HIM! AMEN! No sin will affect your relationship with Him! Once you receive Jesus as Lord and personal Savior, you supernaturally become a member of the family of God! The Spirit  of God lives IN you. Refuse to give any place to the enemy. Instead, be sensitive to the voice of Holy Spirit within you as He leads and guides you AWAY from the traps and schemes of he who desires ONLY to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). CHOOSE LIFE! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Lifeline":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

My friends, family and church family know that I do NOT drink alcoholic beverages. One thing that becoming a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17) did for me is to make me uncaring of what other people think of my decisions. I no longer feel pressure to go along with the crowd, neither the worldy nor the "religious" crowds! My choice has been made because of the experiences I have had in my family with alcoholics and the effects of alcohol on family members. I have shared many times in teaching at The SWC about this subject. NO, Jesus did NOT drink non-alcoholic wine! He may have had grape juice at times, but if the Bible says He drank wine, then He drank wine! The same wine everyone else was drinking! THAT is why they called Him a "winebibber" (Matthew 11:19). The difference being that Jesus never sinned! We are told in the Word of God NOT to be drunk (Ephesians 5:18). SO, though Jesus DID drink wine, He never drank it to the point of, or for the purpose of, being drunk with wine. Why am I discussing this today? Because today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan we read Proverbs 23. In this Proverb Solomon addresses drunkenness. Look at verses 29-35:

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness and dimness of eyes? 30 Those who tarry long at the wine, those who go to seek and try mixed wine. 31 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the wineglass, when it goes down smoothly. 32 At the last it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. 33 [Under the influence of wine] your eyes will behold strange things [and loose women] and your mind will utter things turned the wrong way [untrue, incorrect, and petulant]. 34 Yes, you will be [as unsteady] as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, and [as open to disaster] as he who lies upon the top of a mast. 35 You will say, They struck me, but I was not hurt! They beat me [as with a hammer], but I did not feel it! When shall I awake? I will crave and seek more wine again [and escape reality].

Do you get a better idea of what it was that caused Solomon to acquire 700 wives and 300 concubines, many being foreign women who turned his heart away from the God of the Bible (1 Kings 11:3-4)? I truly believe that Solomon was a drunkard! Later in his life, after all of the trouble he had, he repented of his ways and wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes which exposes the futility of a life NOT lived for God! Understand that this was the WISEST of men (2 Chronicles 1:7-11; 2 Chronicles 9:22)! THIS is what drunkenness can and will do to otherwise good and Godly people! SO, be WISE with the choices that YOU make! Choose to be like Solomon in his youth, when he desired nothing  more than the Wisdom of God to make proper decisions with his life! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "I Surrender" because that is MY cry to HIM! I desire HIS will for my life! How about you?

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Proverbs 22:4 says this:

4 The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.

Understand that humility is NOT thinking lowly of yourself, but rather not thinking too highly of your natural self! Remember that without HIM, we are nothing! Also remember that every GOOD thing about us is from HIM! This will help you to maintain a humble attitude. Now add to that humble understanding and appreciation of the work that HE has done in you the "worshipful fear of the LORD" (deep reverence and respect and awe for WHO He is and what He's done)! The promised result is that we will receive the reward of riches, which is wealth; honor, which is the Hebrew word "kabowd", which is also translated as "glory" and means: weight, splendor, copiousness, abundance, and dignity; and life, which refers to our natural life that will be long on the earth by obeying this Word! God's Word is filled with promises made to us and the conditions that are required to receive the promise. Find out what the Word of God says about YOU and then make it your determined purpose to walk in it, giving HIM glory! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Brighter":

BRIGHTER

You shine brighter

Than any star in the sky

Your light shining

Through the dark of the night

Jesus forever

I find all that I am

In Your love, love, love

You are with me

In every step that I take

Your love for me

You have called me by name

Jesus forever

I find all that I am

In Your love, love, love

Let the music play

Hear us praise Your name

See the darkness fade

Dance the night away

We have found our place

In the Savior's grace

Dance the night away

Your light is taking over me

I find freedom

In the light of Your love

Everlasting

You are more than enough

Jesus forever

I find all that I am

In Your love, love, love

Let the music play

Hear us praise Your name

See the darkness fade

Dance the night away

We have found our place

In the Savior's grace

Dance the night away

Your light is taking o-o-over me

Your light is taking o-o-over me

I'm dancing 'cause

Your love has set me free

Your light is taking o-o-over me

All of my heart and soul

To You alone

You are the one I want now

Forever

All of my heart is Yours

Forevermore

You are the one I want now

Forever

All of my heart and soul

To You alone

You are the one I want now

Forever

All of my heart is Yours

Forevermore

You are the one I want

Let the music play

Hear us praise Your name

See the darkness fade

Dance the night away

We have found our place

In the Savior's grace

Dance the night away

Your light is taking o-o-over me

Your light is taking o-o-over me

I'm dancing 'cause

Your love has set me free

Your light is taking o-o-over me

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

There's an old song that we sing sometimes at The Spoken Word Church called "I'm A New Creation". I'm sure that MOST of you have heard it and have sung it yourself at some point. Whoever wrote this song definitely had an understanding of the work that Holy Spirit does in the life of a born again believer! He recreates their dead human spirit into one in the image of God! THEN He stays to live inside of us to lead, guide and direct us in our daily lives, always pointing us to Jesus and what belongs to us in our New Covenant with Him! Take advantage of the Spirit of Almighty God living inside of you to become all that God has planned for you to become, here, in THIS life! When you do, you will be storing up rewards in Heaven for that day when we will all find out the return on all of the investment of our time, energy and resources here on earth! Kenneth E. Hagin's Faith Food for today speaks of the new creation man:

Change

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature" (Gal. 6:15). 

"For neither is circumcision [now] of any importance, nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [the result of a new birth and a new nature in Christ Jesus, the Messiah]" (Gal. 6:15 AMP). 

The first thing zoe (LIFE as GOD has in HIMSELF!) does in a man is to change his nature. It changes his spirit. Zoe makes him a new creature. All things become new in his inward man, or spirit. What this new man, or new creature, must do now is allow his inward man to dominate him. When we believers allow our spirits to dominate us, we permit the life of God in us to dominate us. People are able to see the effects of this life of God within us. They see changes in a person's habits, conduct, speech, and so forth. Criminals become law-abiding citizens. Thieves become honest. Drunkards become sober. Prostitutes become moral. No case is incurable! 

With this life (zoe) that comes into man, there comes a new kind of love (agape). And when the believer allows it to dominate him, it will destroy the cause of friction in homes: It will eliminate selfishness. 

Confession: I am a new creature. The life and nature of God has been imparted to my spirit. God is love. I will let His life dominate me. I will let His love dominate me.

AMEN! You ARE a new creation, so ACT like it! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Back To Life":

VERSE

Here in my heart You have found Your place

Replacing fear with Your freedom

You lift me up

You lift me up

When all seems lost in my brokenness

I call Your Name and You answer

Held by Your love

Held by Your love

CHORUS

In the night

Through the struggle through the trial

You have made my burden light

You have brought me back to life again

VERSE

Your love it wipes every tear away

You calm the storms that surround me

You carry me

You carry me

Your light breaks through in my darkest hour

Your love is strong in my weakness

You are enough

You are enough

PRE-CHORUS

You won't let go

So I will follow

All I am

Yours now and forever

You won't let go

So I will follow

With all I am

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

THIS, from Jerry Savelle's daily devotional, has also been on my heart lately! 

Just Passing Through

“Happy, fortunate, to be envied is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. Passing through the valley of Baca” (Psalm 84:5-6).

Baca? What is Baca? The Hebrew meaning is something we can all identify with. It means weeping, tears, or misery. Notice that it doesn’t say you’re supposed to live there. You’re not supposed to build your residence there. You should pass through it, and come out on the other side.

I don’t know what you’re going through today, I don’t know what kind of hard place you may be experiencing, but whatever it is, you don’t have to stay there. You can pass through! In verse 7, we see what believers who keep their eyes on Jesus and stand on the Word do while they’re going through Baca: They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]. Every time I go through the Valley of Baca, I know I’m only passing through. I know that when I get on the other side, I’m going to increase in victorious power. Satan is just adding to my testimony, glory to God.

Confession: I am strong in the Lord and the power of His might. I fix my eyes on Jesus and stand on His Word knowing that I go from strength to strength increasing in victorious power.

Whenever I declare Psalm 23 over my life, I like to expand verse 4. It SAYS this:

4 Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me. AMP

I say: "Yes, though I walk through, BUT DO NOT LIVE IN, the deep, sunless valley  of the shadow of death....." That is exactly what Jerry Savelle was saying above! When you come to tests trials, temptations and tribulations, DON'T sit down and stay there! Keep on walking! He has already made a way of escape for us out of each and every one (1 Corinthians 10:13)! Nothing about this has taken God by surprise! He already has a plan place for our deliverance! AMEN! Keep going from strength to victorious strength as you look to HIM in every situation. Here is Hillsong United with "You Are My Strength":

Shalom in  Him!

Shalom,

Proverbs 19:17 says this:

17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given He will repay to him.

THIS was God's intention for His people! Notice that He isn't forcing anyone to do anything, rather He is offering the opportunity and promising the rewards for obedience! To "have pity on" is the Hebrew word "chanan", which means: to be gracious; considerate; to pardon; to show mercy. Look at this verse from the Living Bible:

17 When you help the poor you are lending to the Lord-and he pays wonderful interest on your loan!  TLB

God's plan is for His people to use the Blessing in our lives (John 10:10) to meet our own families' needs, to spread the Gospel, and to use a part of it to HELP the poor! Do you remember when Jesus said this in Mark 14:7:

7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you will not always have Me.  AMP

They will  not be poor because GOD wants them poor, but because they do not understand and/or DO what the Word of God says to do in order to walk in the abundance of THE BLESSING! When WE make the CHOICE to help the poor, GOD Himself will repay, multiplied! What has happened in our nation is that those who are ignorant of God, His Word, and His Ways have made the government responsible for "helping" the poor! Don't you know that God's ways are ALWAYS better than man's ways? This current government system has produced even more poor people and has completely robbed the people of God of the opportunity to sow seed that produces! AND, they have kept people from turning to the God of the Bible for the help that only HE can give! Let's pray for our nation to wake up to its folly and return to the God of the Bible. In the meantime, what is keeping YOU from obeying God's Word whenever and wherever He gives opportunity? Be a DOER of the Word and receive the Word's results! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Hope of the World":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I love the Book of Proverbs for all of its very practical insight, but that is NOT all there is! Everything that we read in this great Wisdom book is confirmation and encouragement for living in ALL of the promises of God (2 Corinthians 1:20; Hebrews 8:6; 2 Peter 1:4)! Look at Proverbs 18:20-21:

20 A man's self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil]. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].

THIS is Wisdom! It it is also instruction and encouragement to make sure that we are speaking LIFE things! Luke 6:45 tells us this:

45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. KJV

The ONLY way to control what we speak with our mouths is to control what goes INTO our hearts! Remember that the heart is the combination of our born again spirit and our needs-to-be-renewed-daily soul (mind, emotions and will). Keep speaking and meditating on the Word of God (Joshua 1:8), getting it into your heart in abundance, and then THAT is what you will be speaking out of your mouth, and you WILL be satisfied with GOOD things! AMEN! Another verse of Scripture that confirms this is found in John 15:7 in both the KJV and the Amplified Bible:

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. KJV

7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. AMP

The words you speak into your life are vitally important TO your life! Make sure that you are speaking the right words, Words of Life, HIS Words, and you will be well satisfied and blessed beyond measure! AMEN! Here is an older song from Hillsong called "Evermore" just because I like it! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I had so many ideas of what to share on this blog today, but after reading "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, there was only one choice! THIS has been on my heart so much lately! We hear every day of persecuted Christians in other nations, but this division is happening all over the Body of Christ and it SHOULD NOT BE SO! I will leave the rest to this:

Judge not, that you be not judged —Matthew 7:1

Jesus’ instructions with regard to judging others is very simply put; He says, “Don’t.” The average Christian is the most piercingly critical individual known. Criticism is one of the ordinary activities of people, but in the spiritual realm nothing is accomplished by it. The effect of criticism is the dividing up of the strengths of the one being criticized. The Holy Spirit is the only one in the proper position to criticize, and He alone is able to show what is wrong without hurting and wounding. It is impossible to enter into fellowship with God when you are in a critical mood. Criticism serves to make you harsh, vindictive, and cruel, and leaves you with the soothing and flattering idea that you are somehow superior to others. Jesus says that as His disciple you should cultivate a temperament that is never critical. This will not happen quickly but must be developed over a span of time. You must constantly beware of anything that causes you to think of yourself as a superior person.

There is no escaping the penetrating search of my life by Jesus. If I see the little speck in your eye, it means that I have a plank of timber in my own (see Matthew 7:3-5). Every wrong thing that I see in you, God finds in me. Every time I judge, I condemn myself (see Romans 2:17-24). Stop having a measuring stick for other people. There is always at least one more fact, which we know nothing about, in every person’s situation. The first thing God does is to give us a thorough spiritual cleaning. After that, there is no possibility of pride remaining in us. I have never met a person I could despair of, or lose all hope for, after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God

There IS no qualifier for "Judge not"! There is an overabundance of "fruit inspectors" who have been bruising and beating the fruit instead of nurturing and encouraging! Do YOU remember when Jesus informed Peter what his ministry would be like and Peter turned around and asked about John's? Jesus told Peter, essentially, "Mind your own business"! Prayer is our ONLY option UNLESS we have very specific instruction from God the Holy Spirit to do otherwise! I can almost guarantee that the great majority of believers reading this blog will NEVER be asked to do anything BUT pray for them! When we do that, we allow the Holy Spirit to work HIS work in their hearts AND in ours! Because MANY times WE are wrong! We don't know what God knows about any given situation! SO, keep yourselves in the love of God which causes your faith to work and be a blessing to others! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "Unending Love":

"Unending Love"

There's no silver or gold
And no treasure untold
That could draw me away from Your heart
Neither love of myself
Or of anyone else will do

Jesus nothing compares
To this grace that rescues me
Savior now and forever
Your face is all I seek

Now all I am
I lay at Your feet
I'm humbled by the wonder of Your majesty
One thing I know
I find all I need
In Your unending love
In Your unending love
Your love, Jesus

Letting go of my pride
I lay down my desires
Just to worship in Spirit and truth
More than all of my dreams
More than fame I will seek You Lord

Jesus nothing compares
To this grace that rescued me
Savior now and forever
Your face is all I seek

Now all I am
I lay at Your feet
I'm humbled by the wonder of Your majesty
One thing I know
I find all I need
In Your unending love
In Your unending love

Now all I am
I lay at Your feet
I'm humbled by the wonder of Your majesty
One thing I know
I find all I need
In Your unending love
In Your unending love

Jesus nothing compares
To this grace that rescues me
Savior now and forever
Your face is all I seek

(Jesus) Jesus nothing compares
To this grace that rescued me
Savior now and forever
Your face is all I seek

Now all I am
I lay at Your feet
I'm humbled by the wonder of Your majesty
One thing I know
I find all I need
In Your unending love
In Your unending love

Now all I am
I lay at Your feet
I'm humbled by the wonder of Your majesty
One thing I know
I find all I need
In Your unending love
In Your unending love

Now all I am
I lay at Your feet
I'm humbled by the wonder of Your majesty
One thing I know
I find all I need
In Your unending love
In Your unending love

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Proverbs 16:25 says this:

25 There is a way that seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.

In our own natural thinking, something may make perfect sense, but remember that none of us can see as God sees! That's why we must be active DOERS of verse 3:

3 Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

When we commit our lives, plans and dreams into His hands, we can be assured that the final results will be better than we ever thought possible! How do I know this? Because HE has revealed His desires for us in 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).

Look also at Proverbs 16:20:

20 He who deals wisely and heeds [God's] word and counsel shall find good, and whoever leans on, trusts in, and is confident in the Lord--happy, blessed, and fortunate is he.

So, commit YOUR ways to Him in full confidence that HIS ways are higher and better (Isaiah 55:9)! His thoughts are, too. That's what makes Proverbs 16:3, above, so powerful! HIS thoughts BECOME our thoughts! WE think the same higher thoughts that He thinks then! Let's do it! AMEN! Here is a real song of commitment! Hillsong United with "Oceans":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We learned how to be DOERS of 1 Thessalonians 5:17 today at The Spoken Word Church! Let's look at the verse from both the KJV and the Amplified Bible:

17 Pray without ceasing. KJV

17 Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; AMP

The Dictionary definition of "perseveringly" is: resolutely persistent; steadfast; to remain constant to a purpose, idea, or task in the face of obstacles or discouragement. We all know how the enemy of our souls does not stop trying to steal, kill and destroy in our lives (John 10:10). We recognize his "devices" (2 Corinthians 2:11). The instructions that the God of the Bible gives to us are for the very purpose of getting us, and keeping us, in position to receive the manifestation of all that HE has promised us! Read John 10:10 again from the Amplified Bible! THAT is how JESUS desires for us to live while here on this earth, and He has provided the way to do it! One of those ways is to pray unceasingly! How in the world do you go about your daily activities and responsibilities and still not stop praying? First of all, you receive instruction on what the Word of God actually says about prayer! When you realize that there are many different types of prayer, each with its own set of "rules" for working them, then you will be able to grasp this concept! Did you know that simply fellowshiping with the Lord IS prayer? Prayer is really just communication with HIM! Sometimes we need something and we ASK. Other times we have received something and we THANK. Still other times we stand in the gap on behalf of someone else! Sometimes we pray, committing ourselves to HIS will. One very excellent way to pray continually is by praying in other tongues. THAT is one of the many purposes FOR that wonderful and very powerful gift! So set yourself to discover how YOU can obey this command and you will be amazed at the change in your own personal life, as well as the wonderful things that happen THROUGH you in the lives of others! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Desert Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers! Here is a portion of it:

Abide in Me . . . —John 15:4

In the matter of determination. The Spirit of Jesus is put into me by way of the atonement by the Cross of Christ. I then have to build my thinking patiently to bring it into perfect harmony with my Lord. God will not make me think like Jesus— I have to do it myself. I have to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). “Abide in Me”— in intellectual matters, in money matters, in every one of the matters that make human life what it is. Our lives are not made up of only one neatly confined area.

....... It does not matter what my circumstances are. I can be as much assured of abiding in Jesus in any one of them as I am in any prayer meeting. It is unnecessary to change and arrange my circumstances myself. Our Lord’s inner abiding was pure and unblemished. He was at home with God wherever His body was. He never chose His own circumstances, but was meek, submitting to His Father’s plans and directions for Him.   ......

Think of the things that take you out of the position of abiding in Christ. You say, “Yes, Lord, just a minute— I still have this to do. Yes, I will abide as soon as this is finished, or as soon as this week is over. It will be all right, Lord. I will abide then.” Get moving— begin to abide now. In the initial stages it will be a continual effort to abide, but as you continue, it will become so much a part of your life that you will abide in Him without any conscious effort. Make the determination to abide in Jesus wherever you are now or wherever you may be placed in the future.

AMEN! Make intimate fellowship with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible your #1 priority of each day and all of the rest of your day will be fruitful and every productive! COUNT on it! AMEN! Here is a great new song by Hillsong Young and Free called "Sinking Deep":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Two things really stand out to me from today's Bible Reading Plan, both of them from Galatians 2! The first is this from verses 1-2:

1 THEN AFTER [an interval] of fourteen years I again went up to Jerusalem. [This time I went] with Barnabas, taking Titus along with [me] also. 2 I went because it was specially and divinely revealed to me that I should go, and I put before them the Gospel [declaring to them that] which I preach among the Gentiles. However, [I presented the matter] privately before those of repute, [for I wanted to make certain, by thus at first confining my communication to this private conference] that I was not running or had not run in vain [guarding against being discredited either in what I was planning to do or had already done].

Notice that before Paul went up to Jerusalem, he was "specially and divinely" told that he should go! Go nowhere until you get the release to go from Holy Spirit! Tell Him what YOU believe you should do and then see what HE says about it! He may fill you with peace and joy so that you can KNOW that this is exactly what God wants you to do! OR, He may re-direct you to something else that HE wants you to do! Either way, HE is in control IF we let Him be! AMEN! The other verse that really spoke clearly to me today is verse 5. Paul was speaking of those who were trying to put born again believers, who were saved by GRACE, into bondage to the Law again by demanding that they follow Jewish customs of circumcision and other things. I REALLY like Paul's attitude toward those who try to bring condemnation on people for not following rules and regulations. Verse 5:

5 To them we did not yield submission even for a moment, that the truth of the Gospel might continue to be [preserved] for you [in its purity].

Refuse to be intimidated by those who would try to add anything to the Gospel! 1 John 5:11-13 says this:

11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

There is NO other Name given among men whereby we may be saved (Acts 4:12), and there is NOTHING that must be added to believing in our hearts and confessing with our mouths that Jesus is our Lord in order to be born again (Romans 10:9-10)! After that, everything we do should be pointed towards growing up in the things of God! Doing "good works" mentioned in the Word of God will affect our lives on earth and our rewards in Heaven, but it will NOT get us born again! Continue to walk in the freedom whereby HE has made you free (Galatians 5:1)! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Free":

"Free"

Would you believe me if I said
That we are the ones who can make the change
In the world today
Would you believe me if I said
That all of your dreams in your heart
Can come true today
Would you believe me if I said
That life could be all that you want it to be today

And if I had wings I would fly
'Cause all that I need, You are
And if the world caved in around me
To You I'd still hold on
Cause You're all that I believe
And the one that created me
Jesus because of You I'm free

Would you believe me if I said
That God can make miracles happen today
Would you believe me if I said
That you don't need to wait for the answers before
You step out in faith
Would you believe me if I said
That nothing is ever impossible for God

And if I had wings I would fly
'Cause all that I need, You are
And if the world caved in around me
To You I'd still hold on
Cause You're all that I believe
And the one that created me
Jesus because of You I'm free

Just live your life with God inside
You wont regret one moment of it
And give all that you can for God, for God

And if I had wings I would fly
'Cause all that I need, You are
And if the world caved in around me
To You I'd still hold on
Cause You're all that I believe
And the one that created me
Jesus because of You

And if I had wings I would fly
'Cause all that I need, You are
And if the world caved in around me
To You I'd still hold on
Cause You're all that I believe
And the one that created me
Jesus because of You I'm free

Shalom in Him!