Shalom,

Mark 3:1-6 reveals the true heart of many of the Pharisees who followed Jesus around to see what He would do!

3 Again Jesus went into a synagogue, and a man was there who had one withered hand [as the result of accident or disease]. 2 And [the Pharisees] kept watching Jesus [closely] to see whether He would cure him on the Sabbath, so that they might get a charge to bring against Him [formally]. 3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, Get up [and stand here] in the midst. 4 And He said to them, Is it lawful and right on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to take it? But they kept silence. 5 And He glanced around at them with vexation and anger, grieved at the hardening of their hearts, and said to the man, Hold out your hand. He held it out, and his hand was [completely] restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and immediately held a consultation with the Herodians against Him, how they might [devise some means to] put Him to death.

They followed Him around for the purpose of finding something (anything!) that they could use against Him in order to arrest Him and get Him out of THEIR way! Why? Because HE was doing what THEY should have been doing! Healing was provided for under the Old Covenant (Exodus 23:252; Psalm 107:20), but these "learned" religious leaders knew nothing of it. They were threatened by His very presence! They SHOULD have been beside themselves with joy at the obvious GOD happenings around them. Instead, they were filled with fear and anxiety about losing their coveted positions of authority and respect with the people. I want to warn you that the very same evil spirits are around today and speaking and influencing born again believers, and even ministers of the Gospel, to come against others who are preaching and teaching the Word of God that is setting people free from poverty, sickness, anxiety, worthlessness and pain. Whenever you hear a minister, or group of ministers, referred to in generalized and derogatory terms, avoid the situation like the plague! That attitude is just as deadly to your soul as the plague is to the human body! Instead, pray for all involved and simply move on to being where God wants you to be, doing what God wants you to do! There is NO such God-given ministry of judging and exposing ministries! God is well able to handle any one of HIS children who gets off track. When WE see a brother (sister) sin, we are told to pray for them (1 John 5:16)! The ONLY time we should speak against something is if they are preaching a different gospel! That would be saying that there is another way to Heaven than simply by faith in the finished work of redemption that Jesus accomplished on the cross! He IS the ONLY Way, Truth and Life (John 14:6)! AMEN! 

As we are reading in Exodus in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan, I am noticing again the very precise and specific detail that went into every single aspect of the Tabernacle! It was important to the God of the Bible, and to the well being of His people, that everything be done decently and in order! THEY brought their offerings at specific times and in specific ways. Now there are no longer animal sacrifices because Jesus accomplished what the blood of animals could never do (Hebrews 10:3-5)! OUR sacrifice is now a surrendering of our lives and will for HIS calling and purposes, along with the sacrifice of praise, thanksgiving and worship to HIM (Hebrews 13:15)! Spontaneous praise is wonderful and joyful, BUT, if we don't also have a determined time to bring Him that sacrifice, then we may, and most likely WILL, forget to "get it in" on any given day! Why? Because we are human beings with the nature of the flesh to contend with! We may not always remember. SO, make YOUR schedule with that in mind. Schedule specific times to pray, praise, worship, study, meditate, communicate with like-minded believers, AND time to put into practice what you are learning. (If we don't DO the Word, we will forget the Word! James 1:22) Here, to help you get yourself in position, is Hillsong with "I Surrender":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Jerry Savelle's devotional for today is very good! Here is a portion of it!

First Corinthians 14:15 teaches us that we can pray both with our understanding (our mind) and out of our spirit: “What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding” (NKJV). There are several great reasons why you need to pray in the Spirit:

•   It builds you up spiritually (see 1 Corinthians 14:4; Jude 1:20).

•   It enables you to pray the will of God when you don’t know what to pray or how to pray for a particular situation (see Romans 8:26-27).

•   It refreshes and brings rest (see Isaiah 28:11-12).

One of the greatest benefits of praying in the Spirit is that by doing so we can obtain wisdom from God about how to pray even as we’re praying. “For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God: for no man understands him; howbeit in the spirit he speaks mysteries” (1 Corinthians 14:2 KJV).

First Corinthians 2:6-7 explains this even further: “However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery [or in the Spirit], the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory” (NKJV). This “hidden wisdom” translates into God’s perfect will. It may not be known to your understanding when you first began to pray, but the Holy Spirit through you and in you is helping you to pray it to the Father.

As you pray in the Spirit, you may not have immediate understanding of what you are saying; but when you pray in faith in the Spirit, the wisdom will come. Take advantage of this powerful gift God has given you and spend time daily praying in the Spirit.

Confession: As pray in the Spirit I am praying God’s perfect will for my life and I believe I receive wisdom, revelation, and insight.

Praying in the Spirit is one of the most UNSELFISH ways to pray! With great faith in the promise that we are definitely praying the secret things of God into the earth, we pray faithfully when most times we never know what, or for whom, we are praying! We can get no self satisfaction for praying in the Spirit, because we have no idea what we are praying. BUT, we will have great confidence and God's indescribable peace when we KNOW that we have prayed exactly what is needed and HE gets all of the glory for it! AMEN! If YOU have never been filled with the Holy Spirit, or being filled, have never prayed consistently in the Spirit, then I invite you to check out our Spoken Word Church website through the link on the left and learn about this most precious, valuable and powerful GIFT! When we KNOW His will (1 John 5:14-15) then we can pray His will in our own known language and have confidence in the answer. When we DON'T, then praying in the Spirit IS the perfect will of God for that situation! Correct, Scriptural prayer is ALWAYS a WIN, WIN situation! AMEN! Here is a song to encourage you about prayer, and the unselfishness of it. Hillsong with "Desert Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really like today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin!

Godliness is Profitable

"For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come" (1 Tim. 4:8). 
Some people would have you believe that godliness - living for God, being born again, walking in fellowship with the Lord - has no profit in this life. They think we must simply endure life with all its ups and downs, struggles and trials, always bearing in mind that "this life will soon be over." I'm glad Paul gave us a balanced viewpoint by saying that godliness is not only profitable "over yonder" in the next life, but it has promise of "the life that now is." 

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

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

I LOVE that it does NOT cost to serve God in proportion to the rewards that come from HIM for doing so! BUT, what I love the most about this verse of Scripture in 1 Timothy is what it says about bodily exercise! In comparison to the great profit that there is to our lives in walking in godliness, the benefits from bodily exercise are meager! Why is that exciting to me? Because I KNOW, beyond doubt, that bodily exercise is VERY beneficial in this life, and at times it can be life saving! So if bodily exercise is GREATLY beneficial to our lives, then walking in true godliness must be ASTRONOMICALLY beneficial! Do you see that? Some may use this verse as an excuse to forgo any bodily exercise, but that is NOT what this Word of God is telling us! Far from it! Unless you are meditating on the Word of God, as we just did, these special and specific Truths will pass right by without you ever knowing them! God's Word is Truth and it is for our benefit to devour it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Energy":

Shalom in him!

Shalom, 

The next time that you are facing a test, trial or attack from the enemy of your soul, satan, remember THIS from Psalm 56:9-13:

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? 12 Your vows are upon me, O God; I will render praise to You and give You thank offerings. 13 For You have delivered my life from death, yes, and my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life and of the living.

DARE to believe this Truth, that the God of the Bible is FOR you! He desires GOOD things FOR YOU! Look at Jeremiah 29:11:

11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

He desires for YOU to prosper in every area! Look at 3 John 2:

2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.

Do you see it? Now here is another promise of His care and protection from the Psalms in Psalm 118:6:

6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

There is not one thing that the enemy can come up with that the God of the Bible has not already provided for YOU a way of escape, deliverance, protection and provision! Now look at a New Covenant promise of the same! Romans 8:31:

31 What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]

Indeed! When we KNOW that God is for us, what good would it do anyone to be against us? Their only hope, the only hope of our enemy, is that we would NOT believe this and receive it by faith, EXPECTING! Refuse to believe the lies! Our God has NOT changed! He is as much on our side as He ever was and ever will be! NOW, let's make sure that WE are on HIS side, by putting Him and His Word first place in our lives. That means, before anyone or anything else, HE IS # 1! AMEN! When we do that, faith in these promises will be as natural as breathing to us! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong Live with "God Is Able":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Every time I read this in Exodus 20:16-21:

16 The third morning there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses brought the people from the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, for the Lord descended upon it in fire; its smoke ascended like that of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 As the trumpet blast grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with a voice. 20 The Lord came down upon Mount Sinai to the top of the mountain, and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 The Lord said to Moses, Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to gaze and many of them perish.

.... I remember THIS in Hebrews 12:18-24:

18 For you have not come [as did the Israelites in the wilderness] to a [material] mountain that can be touched, [a mountain] that is ablaze with fire, and to gloom and darkness and a raging storm, 19 And to the blast of a trumpet and a voice whose words make the listeners beg that nothing more be said to them. 20 For they could not bear the command that was given: If even a wild animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death. 21 In fact, so awful and terrifying was the [phenomenal] sight that Moses said, I am terrified (aghast and trembling with fear). 22 But rather, you have come to Mount Zion, even to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering, 23 And to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect, 24 And to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance].

WE have a MUCH better Covenant that is based on FAR better promises than they did (Hebrews 8:6)! WE can come boldly and confidently right to the very throne of God because of what Jesus did for us (Hebrews 4:16)! Make sure that YOU are taking full advantage of all the Jesus has provided for you through His death, burial and resurrection so that when the lost look at YOU, they see HIM! AMEN! WE are here to be a showcase of HIS handiwork! What a wonderful calling THAT is! Here is Hillsong with "Running":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

First of all today I want to share this verse with you from Psalm 54:6:

6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to You; I will give thanks and praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good.

Have you ever had someone ask you why God made man with the ability to sin, so that we would need a Savior? I have! This verse explains just why the Father did NOT want us "pre-programmed" to do what was right! He desires our love and worship by our FREE WILL! Would YOU want your children to love you just because they were programmed that way? NO! You delight when they just love you! GOD DOES, TOO! Amen! I also love THIS from today's Bible Reading in Acts 26:28-29:

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, You think it a small task to make a Christian of me [just offhand to induce me with little ado and persuasion, at very short notice] 29 And Paul replied, Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you, but also all who are listening to me today, might become such as I am, except for these chains.

AMEN! That is also MY heart! When we KNOW that THIS is absolute TRUTH in John 14:6:

6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.

... what kind of monsters would we be if we did NOT desire, and be willing to do whatever it takes, for everyone, everywhere to believe! There is NO greater love than that a person would lay down their life, their reputation, their friendships, for the people they care about (John 15:13)! AND, since the God of the Bible loves ALL people (John 3:16), we must, too! Never be afraid or ashamed to freely share the Gospel with everyone you meet! You MAY be the only Jesus they will ever see! GO FOR IT! Here is Hillsong with "Go":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Two important Truths came to mind as I was reading today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! The first is found in Psalm 52:1:

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.

The Amplified Bible says it so well! THIS verse is particularly real to me after watching "God Is Not Dead"  for the second time on Friday night! I have always said that I don't believe that are any real atheists! God's Word says as much in Romans 1:20:

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],

So, now we know what God thinks about atheists! He loves them, Jesus died for them and the Holy Spirit is wooing them, BUT, as long as they continue in their rebellion to the God of the Bible and His Word, they also continue on the road to hell and the Lake of Fire! They don't have to! He is "clearly discernible" to all who look! What have YOU done with God's Word concerning salvation? The choice is yours and no one can make it FOR you! AMEN! The second Truth is found in Exodus 15:1-2:

15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord, saying, I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider or its chariot has He thrown into the sea. 2 The Lord is my Strength and my Song, and He has become my Salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

The God of the Bible had just delivered His people from the army of Pharaoh, through the parted Red Sea, and then destroyed the army by replacing the sea to it's proper position! What did the people do? They gave glory to God! This MUST be our example when we receive His deliverance also! I can't tell you how many times I have been asked to pray for, or agree in prayer with, another believer, and then never hear the praise report! Make sure that the God of the Bible gets ALL of the glory when good things happen in your life! Look at James 1:17 and REMEMBER!

17 Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].

Continue to give Him praise for the good things and your faith in His Word will deepen with the remembrance of His past faithfulness! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Hope of the World":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE 1 Corinthians 13:8a from the Amplified Bible!

8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

This verse, and all of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, is speaking of the God kind of love! This is the love that God has  that caused Him to give His only Son - for US! This same love caused Jesus to give His life - for US! We have the ability, as born again believers, to walk in this kind of love with every person we come in contact with. We can choose to walk in love toward those who loves us AND toward those who don't! It is a decision type of love, NOT an emotional one! Remember that we will ONLY reap what we have already sown (Galatians 6:7). Sow love and you WILL reap love back! The BEST report, though, is the promise from our original verse, that love never fails! "Fail" is the Greek word "pipto", which means: to descend from higher to lower; to fall; to fall from prosperity to poverty; to lose authority. When you choose love, you choose to NEVER fail! What a great choice to make! Why would we ever make any other? I encourage you to choose the love walk in your life. You will be eternally glad that you did! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Nothing Like Your Love":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I was really blessed by this from "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers:

Arise, let us go hence. — John 14:31
Dreaming about a thing in order to do it properly is right; but dreaming about it when we should be doing it is wrong. After Our Lord had said those wonderful things to His disciples, we might have expected that He would tell them to go away and meditate over them all; but Our Lord never allowed "mooning." When we are getting into contact with God in order to find out what He wants, dreaming is right; but when we are inclined to spend our time in dreaming over what we have been told to do, it is a bad thing and God’s blessing is never on it. God’s initiative is always in the nature of a stab against this kind of dreaming, the stab that bids us "neither sit nor stand but go."

If we are quietly waiting before God and He has said – "Come ye yourselves apart," then that is meditation before God in order to get at the line He wants; but always beware of giving over to mere dreaming when once God has spoken. Leave Him to be the source of all your dreams and joys and delights, and go out and obey what He has said. If you are in love, you do not sit down and dream about the one you love all the time, you go and do something for him; and that is what Jesus Christ expects us to do. Dreaming after God has spoken is an indication that we do not trust Him.

Every one of us should KNOW where God wants US to be, and what God wants US to do! Once we know this, then it is time to "move it on out"! We have been taught at The Spoken Word Church that it is NOT God's will that we sit around just waiting to get a Word from God! We are to be IN His Word, filled with the Spirit and obedient to what we KNOW to do! When you receive direction from the Lord, then commit yourself to obey. When you think you have a course of action, present it before the Him in prayer saying "Father, I believe that THIS is what you are telling me to do. I am going to go ahead and do this and if I am wrong, let me know". He WILL! He desires your success even more than you do! Remember, TRUE success is: being where God wants you to be, doing what God wants you to do! Find out HIS plan for YOUR life, and then DO it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Tell The World":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Look at Psalm 50:10-12:

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.

We've read this portion of Scripture many times over the years, yet I wonder how many REALLY "get" the message here.  Most of us believe that OUR God IS God, the One and ONLY God. No one would argue that God is Sovereign and that everything belongs to Him, ultimately. THAT is NOT the message here! The vital message is that God does not NEED us! He does not NEED our offerings. WE do! When the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible instructs us, in His Word or by His Spirit, to DO something, it is ALWAYS to get US in position to receive His richest and best! Without giving, there is NO receiving! Look at Galatians 6:7-9:

7 Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap. 8 For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.

What a wonderful promise! If we simply set our hearts to obey the God of the Bible, and refuse to give up or quit, then we WILL receive the fullness of all that He has blessed us with! It takes discipline and a determined purpose to obey the Word at all costs, but the rewards are wonderful, here in THIS life, and afterward, beyond comprehension! As you continue to go through the Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan, set yourself to be obedient to everything you see to do, especially in the Epistles. If God is telling us to do something, or NOT to do something, it is always, without exception, for OUR good! He is a GOOD God! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "God is Great":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 49 is very enlightening and encouraging for the born again believer in Jesus! There is included a comparison between the SEEMING success and "blessings" of the wicked who go against the Word of God on every turn, and what will actually befall them if they continue to neglect "such great salvation" (Hebrews 2:3)!  Here is the entire Psalm! Be ENCOURAGED!

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

1 Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all you inhabitants of the world, 2 Both low and high, rich and poor together: 3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. 4 I will submit and consent to a parable or proverb; to the music of a lyre I will unfold my riddle (my problem). 5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of those who would supplant me surrounds me on every side, 6 Even of those who trust in and lean on their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? 7 None of them can by any means redeem [either himself or] his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him— 8 For the ransom of a life is too costly, and [the price one can pay] can never suffice— 9 So that he should live on forever and never see the pit (the grave) and corruption. 10 For he sees that even wise men die; the [self-confident] fool and the stupid alike perish and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their inward thought is that their houses will continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands their own [apart from God] and after their own names. 12 But man, with all his honor and pomp, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish. 13 This is the fate of those who are foolishly confident, yet after them men approve their sayings. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol (the place of the dead); death shall be their shepherd. And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their formand beauty shall be consumed, for Sheol shall be their dwelling. 15 But God will redeem me from the power of Sheol (the place of the dead); for He will receive me. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 16 Be not afraid when [an ungodly] one is made rich, when the wealth and glory of his house are increased; 17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not descend after him. 18 Though while he lives he counts himself happy and prosperous, and though a man gets praise when he does well [for himself], 19 He will go to the generation of his fathers, who will nevermore see the light. 20 A man who is held in honor and understands not is like the beasts that perish.

Do NOT be envious of their lives because soon and VERY soon WE are going to see the King of kings and the Lord of lords: JESUS! We will see Him face to face! What a glorious future WE have in store! AMEN! Here is Kari Jobe with a great worship song called "Forever":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share from Jerry Savelle's devotional for today! This is very important to know, as a child of God, an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus! 

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:16-17 NKJV)

Because God is your Father, you are an heir of God. You have an inheritance, and the good news is, you don’t have to wait until you get to heaven to enjoy the benefits. Some people believe the Bible teaches that they get their inheritance from God when they die, like some kind of heavenly reward for clean living. But this is not true. As a joint heir with Jesus, you got your inheritance from God when Jesus died.

Jesus is the only person who has ever lived, died, and was then raised from the dead to see to it that His will was carried out—that His joint heirs got their inheritance. As a joint heir with Jesus, you’re entitled to healing; it’s your inheritance. You’re entitled to prosperity; it’s your inheritance. You’re entitled to victory and success; they are your inheritance.

Don’t wait until you get to heaven to enjoy the inheritance God has provided for you through Jesus Christ. It’s yours now, so claim it in the name of Jesus!

Confession: Thank You, Father, for making me a joint heir with Jesus Christ. I believe I receive my inheritance today. I receive my healing, my prosperity, my victory, and my success now—in Jesus’ name.

AMEN! Our purpose for being here now is to walk in the fullness of that inheritance so that others will see HIS life IN us and want we have! The ANSWER is Jesus and the part of the inheritance that we have NOW is for seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10)! I LOVE this quote by our partner Jerry O'Dell:

"The reason for the knowledge, the purpose for the power, and the plan for the prosperity is reaching the lost."

When you and I REALLY get this, there will be no stopping us from walking in all the fullness that He has blessed us with, NOW, in THIS life, and receiving GREAT rewards in the next! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "God Who Saves":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

If you ever find yourself giving in to worry, fear, stress or negative thinking, make sure that YOU do what David did! he encouraged HIMSELF in the Lord! No one can do that FOR us! We must make a determined purpose to NOT allow the enemy to steal another moment of our lives with his lies! AMEN! Here is Psalm 47 from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan:

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.

Remember that the Psalms were the original "hymnal"! Many of them were actually sung as part of the Temple worship. Practice singing the Psalms and you will be SO blessed by what happens to your attitude and life! Encourage YOUR self today! AMEN! Here is an older praise song that should get you started! "God Has Gone Up With A Shout":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 46:1-7 is very inspiring and encouraging, especially to those of us who have a better Covenant, based on better promises than these! 

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]! 4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God will help her right early [at the dawn of the morning]. 6 The nations raged, the kingdoms tottered and were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge (our Fortress and High Tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

We have seen and heard many accounts recently of the earth moving, mountains being shaken and waters roaring and foaming! These natural disasters, often incorrectly referred to by the world as acts of God, will have NO effect on those who remain in the "secret place" described in Psalm 91! When "nations rage" and we hear of wars and terrorist attacks everywhere, HE will "utter His voice" and put them all in their place as it concerns us! Are YOU daring to have faith, trust and confidence in the God of the Bible and HIS protection, provision and safety? Stir yourself up and back into faith by meditating on the Word of God and by spending time in praise, thanksgiving and worship! He honors and confirms His Word! COUNT ON IT! Amen! Here is Hillsong Live with "Christ Is Enough":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I hope that as you are reading through the book of Acts you will notice that people have NOT changed! We are all spirit beings who have souls and live in human bodies. Some are seeking the God that they KNOW is there because they have the witness of His creation (Romans 1:20)! Others are NOT! When Paul, and whoever was traveling with him, preached the Gospel, SOME believed and SOME did not! Inevitably those who chose NOT to believe came after Paul and tried to stop him. Many were beside themselves with rage! Recognize that a reaction like that is not a human reaction, but reveals the influence of the devil! He is busily at work, still thinking that he can defeat the One, True God! NEVER take a rejection of the Gospel personally. People who reject the Good News have the same attitude as all of the others who have done it before. KNOWING that there is a God, they decide to be the god of their own lives, rather than submit to HIM. YOU and I cannot change their minds, but the Word of God CAN! Simply keep sowing the Word of God with an attitude of love and EXPECT the Spirit of God to continually remind them of the TRUTH! We have THIS promise concerning His Word in Isaiah 55:11:

11 So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

So, continue to be a DOER of 2 Timothy 4:2:

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

Release the care of them into HIS hands and continue on in the joy of the Lord! HE will continually confirm His Word with signs, wonders and miracles (Mark 16:20) IF we will dare to preach it with boldness and expectation! Let's "GO", with Hillsong United!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Kenneth E. Hagin's Faith Food for today is very important for us to receive and then walk in! 

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35). 

How is the world going to know us? By our love. By this divine love. By this God-kind of love. By this unselfish love. "God so loved - He gave (John 3:16)" Now, His love isn't natural human love. Natural human love is selfish. As a usual thing, even a mother's love is a natural human love. It's selfish: "That's my baby!" But if we would learn to let the divine love of God which is shed abroad in our hearts dominate us, it would make a real difference in our lives. It would cure the ills in our homes. Natural human love can turn to hatred when it doesn't get its way. It will fight and fuss, claw and knock, "cuss" and be mean. 

Divine love, when it is reviled, reviles not again. The God-kind of love is not interested in what I can get, but in what I can give. Do you see how that can solve all the problems in your home? As children of God, the nature of God is in us - and God's nature is love. So it is natural for love to be in our spirit, our heart. However, if we allow our outward man and our mind to dominate us, that love nature in our heart is kept prisoner. Let's release the love of God that is within us! 

Confession: The world will know me by my love. I will release the love nature within me! 

Remember that THIS kind of love is NOT an emotion, but a CHOICE!  The choice is whether or not to obey God and His Word! We are instructed to love our brethren [other born again believers] (1 John 3:14; Romans 12:10), our neighbors (Mark 12:31), ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40), and our enemies (Matthew 5:44)! What does love do? Love sees everyone as precious and valuable, the same way God sees us! I LOVE this from Rick Renner's "Sparkling Gems From the Greek":

The following is an expanded interpretive translation of

First Corinthians 13:4-8

“Love patiently and passionately bears with others for as long as patience is needed;

Love doesn’t demand others to be like itself; rather, it is so focused on the needs of others that it bends over backwards to become what others need it to be;

Love is not ambitious, self-centered, or so consumed with itself that it never thinks of the needs or desires that others possess;

Love doesn’t go around talking about itself all the time, constantly exaggerating and embellishing the facts to make it look more important in the sight of others;

Love does not behave in a prideful, arrogant, haughty, superior, snooty, snobbish, or clannish manner;

Love is not rude and discourteous–it is not careless or thoughtless, nor does it carry on in a fashion that would be considered insensitive to others;

Love does not manipulate situations or scheme and devise methods that will twist situations to its own advantage;

Love does not deliberately engage in actions or speak words that are so sharp, they cause an ugly or violent response;

Love does not deliberately keep records of wrongs or past mistakes;

Love does not feel overjoyed when it sees an injustice done to someone else but is elated, thrilled, ecstatic, and overjoyed with the truth;

Love protects, shields, guards, covers, conceals, and safeguards people from exposure;

Love strains forward with all its might to believe the very best in every situation;

Love always expects and anticipates the best in others and the best for others;

Love never quits, never surrenders, and never gives up;

Love never disappoints, never fails, and never lets anyone down.”

AMEN! does this help YOU understand better how to walk out this love commandment? Remember, as you do, that "Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8 AMP)! Here is Hillsong United with "Light Will Shine":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

As born again believers we are NOT exempt from the attacks of the devil. However we DO have ALL authority over him and his works and workers because of Jesus! We have HIS authority, His Word and His Name to use against them. Look at Luke 10:19:

19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

When attacks come, realize that they have no power over you as long as you stand on His Word and in your authority in HIM.  Refuse to be intimidated, distracted or side-tracked by these attacks but, as David did in the Psalms, encourage yourself in the Lord! Look at 1 Samuel 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.

How did he do this? Look at today's Bible Reading in Psalm 43:5:

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.

We thank Him, praise Him and worship Him for who He is and what He has ALREADY done! That gives us the encouragement needed to begin to thank Him for what He is GOING to do, in answer to our prayer! AMEN! Have YOU done this yet today? Don't wait for the attack! Go on the offensive right now, and every day, by praising Him ALWAYS! Make YOUR life a life of worship, of thanksgiving and of praise to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! GREAT results and victories are waiting on YOU! AMEN! Here is an older song from Hillsong called "Alive In Us":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share a portion of Jerry Savelle's devotional for today, with a little tweaking!  

The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. (Psalm 34:15 NKJV)

Because of your righteousness in Christ, you can stand in the presence of God as though your sin had never occurred. You can stand in the presence of God without a sense of fear, guilt, or inferiority. You can stand in the presence of God because you are righteous. Jesus made you righteous, and there isn’t anything Satan can do about it.

The Bible says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16 NKJV). The Amplified translation says the prayer “makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” This is what happens to a righteous person when he or she prays—and you are that righteous person. God’s eyes are upon you, He hears you, and your prayers are powerful.

Yes, as a born again believer you ARE the righteousness of God! You and I have every RIGHT to stand in the presence of God as though we have never done anything wrong BECAUSE of the Blood of Jesus that paid the price for sin! BUT, the God of the Bible does NOT hear our prayer because we are righteous! WE have the RIGHT to pray BECAUSE we are righteous, but there are definite qualifications for our prayer to be HEARD! Look at 1 John 5:14-15:

14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. 15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.

There are so many believers who have lost faith that God answers prayer because they neglect to KNOW the will of God on the matter! We MUST know His will, which IS His Word, so that WHEN we pray, HE will hear us! THAT is the key to answered prayer. We simply have to make sure that HE hears! AMEN! With all of the Bibles available today, in every form imaginable, there is no excuse for any believer NOT to know the will/Word of God! Find out what God's Word has to say about each and every situation you face. NOW, pray with confidence that He HEARS! YOU HAVE IT! HALLELUJAH! Now rejoice and begin to praise and thank Him for the answer! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Desert Song", which is about prayer! 

Shalom in Him!