Shalom,

Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" for today is something that every born again believer must get inside of them so that they REALLY believe it enough to act on it!

"God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life" (1 John 5:11-12). 

Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature … and these signs shall follow them that believe" (Mark 16:15,17). 
One of these signs Jesus said would follow believers - not the Early Church, not apostles, not pastors, not preachers, but believers - is, " …they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:18). 
Why? Because the life of God is in believers! Sometimes people are specially anointed to minister healing, but that isn't what Mark 16 is talking about! Every born-again believer has the life of God, the nature of God, the God-kind of life, in him - and by the laying on of hands, that life can be imparted into the physical bodies of others! 

That's why you should lay hands on the sick. When you lay hands on them, that life of God in you is conducted through your hands to others. Often, you'll be conscious of that life flowing right out of you into them. You've got the life of God in you! You've got the nature of God in you! God's a healing God. Put God's power to work! That's how God works - through your own hands. God's not here on earth in Person, but He is in you by His Spirit! 

Confession: I am a believing one. I have the life of God in me. And God is a healing God. I lay hands on the sick, and they recover. 

There is a song that we used to sing a lot, and still do sometimes, at The Spoken Word Church. Here are the lyrics:

I've got the life of God in me
I've got the life of God in me
I've got His life, His nature, and His ability
I've got the life of God in me.

YOU, as a born again believer, have that LIFE (Greek "zoe" - the absolute fullness of life that God has within Himself!) inside of YOU! HE is simply waiting for YOU to act on it! He is waiting to confirm the Word that you speak, and the things that you do in obedience to the Word and Holy Spirit, with signs and wonders and miracles that prove to the unsaved wold that our God IS God! The One, True God! AMEN! Let's get about doing our part so that HE can be about confirming it! Here is Hillsong United with "Lost Are Found":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to encourage you born again believers with THIS from Proverbs 29:16:

16 When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall see the fall of the wicked.

We have seen and experienced for ourselves that the first part of this verse is certainly TRUTH, so we should have great confidence that the rest of this verse WILL happen, also! AMEN! And THIS, from Colossians 2:9-10a:

9 For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature]. 10 And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature].

Even though it sometimes appears as though evil is winning, never forget that OUR God IS God , and He WILL fulfill His Word and confirm it in our lives! Refuse to be intimidated, discouraged or shaken by anything that happens in this world. Remember that YOUR citizenship, as a born again believer, is in Heaven (Philippians 3:20) and you are NOT limited by what this world has to offer! We serve a supernatural God Whose arm is NOT shortened (Isaiah 59:11)! He WILL do all that He has promises in His Word for us IF we will refuse to quit! For us, the BEST is yet to come! Something GREAT is about to happen to you! Be ready! Here is Chris Tomlin with "Our God Is Greater":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 119:11 tells us that if we hide God's Word in our heart (spirit/soul combination) then we won't sin against Him. The Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan is an invaluable tool for getting the Word of God into your heart! We read through the Bible chronologically, getting a more accurate picture of God's wonderful plan of  salvation. One thing that I have found over all of the years of following this method of study is that I ALWAYS find something that applies specifically to TODAY! Look at Proverbs 28:2:

2 When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but when the ruler is a man of discernment, understanding, and knowledge, its stability will long continue.

Our land (the USA) has transgressed so many of God's laws and ways in recent years and, though the Constitution specifically delegates, and RESTRAINS, each branch of government, they have repeatedly overstepped their actual authority. Prayer is always our first response to any situation, but then there comes a time when we, as born again believers and Covenant partners with the God of the Bible, MUST make a stand in faith on the WORD! Too many believers compromise the Truth in order to gain acceptance with the world. Many do so out of fear of reprisals. I have GOOD news for those of you who will choose to stand! Proverbs 28:1 is for YOU!

The wicked flee when no man pursues them, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous are bold as a lion.

If we choose to not back down, then the wicked will run! If God is behind a situation, then our obedience to Him will bring protection, provision and safety in the face of any test, trial or temptation! Psalm 37:25:

25 I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the [uncompromisingly] righteous forsaken or their seed begging bread.

So, stand strong, walk in love, be bold with the Gospel, DO the works of Jesus and TRUST that YOUR God IS God and HE will prevail! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "This Is Our God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Sometimes we can have a tendency to "know" the Word in our head, but never REALLY grasp what the instruction is - TO ME! The verse I am thinking of especially today is Philippians 4:4:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

We have covered "rejoice" before on this blog, but today I want to look at "alway". This is the Greek word "pantote", which means: every when; at all times; ever; evermore. This is saying that there will NEVER be a time when we are unable to rejoice! How do I know that? Because the God of the Bible said that He would NOT allow me to be "tempted" beyond what I could endure and overcome (1 Corinthians 10:13)! In other words, He would NOT ask me to do something that He hadn't already provided the means to carry it out. So, rejoice WHEN you are in the middle of any troubling situation and EXPECT the God of the Bible to lead you on to VICTORY!!! AMEN!  In fact, He gives this instruction in verse 6 that will help us to rejoice!

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.

Verse 8 is another instruction that will make it even easier to rejoice!

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].

Doing these things will cause us to walk in the peace of God (verse 7) that is beyond human comprehension! We may look to the unsaved world as though we are either crazy or uncaring, but to the God of the Bible, we will be well pleasing! HIS opinion is the only one I value! How about YOU? Here is Hillsong with "Desert Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

We . . . beseech you that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. — 2 Corinthians 6:1

The grace you had yesterday will not do for to-day. Grace is the overflowing favour of God; you can always reckon it is there to draw upon. "In much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses" – that is where the test for patience comes. Are you failing the grace of God there? Are you saying – Oh, well, I won’t count this time? It is not a question of praying and asking God to help you; it is taking the grace of God now. We make prayer the preparation for work, it is never that in the Bible. Prayer is the exercise of drawing on the grace of God. Don’t say – I will endure this until I can get away and pray. Pray now; draw on the grace of God in the moment of need. Prayer is the most practical thing, it is not the reflex action of devotion. Prayer is the last thing in which we learn to draw on God’s grace.

"In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours" – in all these things manifest a drawing upon the grace of God that will make you a marvel to yourself and to others. Draw now, not presently. The one word in the spiritual vocabulary is Now. ...

This is so incredibly vital for the born again believer to know and REMEMBER! Do you remember the answer that Paul received when he asked for deliverance in 2 Corinthians 12:9?

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

THAT is because His grace contains everything we will ever need in this life! So, get to know and trust in His great GRACE! Amen! And, concerning the second paragraph above, remember THIS from Hebrews 11:1:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith, and Grace, is NOW! Always available and every powerful, sufficient for every situation! THAT is the position that HE has left you in, IF you have received Jesus as Lord and personal Savior and IF you believe, receive and TRUST in His Word! There is NO good reason not to! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Energy", which also is available through GRACE!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I know that many of you have come across these two verses of Scripture before:  Isaiah 55:9 and Romans 11:33:

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. AMP

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! KJV

At face value some may think that these verses mean that we can never understand the God of the Bible or His Word. That is simply FALSE! What these two verses mean is that we will NEVER understand the things of God by mere human methods! A theological study of the Bible will get you nowhere! What is needed is to meditate on the Word of God (Joshua 1:8) and allow Holy Spirit, Who is our Teacher (John 14:26),  to show us what the Word means. We find THIS in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today in 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.

Revelation 1:6 tells us this:

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 hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. KJV

WE are the kings for whom HE hid the wonderful Truths of His Word, so that they would be precious and valuable in our sight! Are YOU ready to put the Word first place, at all costs? If you are, then the Word of God will come alive for you as never before! He will NOT take a back seat in your life to anyone or anything and still reveal precious things to you. You MUST decide for yourself just how important that HE and His WILL, which IS His Word, are to you. Make the WISE choice! Choose LIFE and LIGHT by His Word! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Alive":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We know that King David made mistakes in his lifetime and during his reign as King of Israel. We can read them! But one thing that David ALWAYS did was to return to the Lord His God. He repented (changed his thinking to agree with God) and got himself back in fellowship again. In fact, in spite of all of his mistakes, the Lord our God said THIS about David in Acts 13:22(and 1 Samuel 13:14):

22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. KJV

Being after God's own heart does NOT mean that he never made mistakes, but that he was continually found going hard after God! This king, who had learned MUCH through experience and had great wisdom to share, said THIS to his own son, Solomon, who would be king after him in, in 1 Chronicles 22:12-13:

12 Only may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding as you are put in charge of Israel, that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. 13 Then you will prosper if you are careful to keep and fulfill the statutes and ordinances with which the Lord charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage. Dread not and fear not; be not dismayed.

David also encouraged the other leaders of Israel in verse 19:

19 Now set your mind and heart to seek (inquire of and require as your vital necessity) the Lord your God.

THIS is extremely good and timely advice for every born again believer to take to heart! When HE is our "vital necessity" we will no longer rely on natural man and natural means! His is waiting to be able to confirm OUR words with signs, wonders and miracles, and it will happen as soon as OUR words line up with HIS Word (Mark 16:20)! AMEN! Let's step out in the boldness that comes from knowing our God, because we DO know THIS from Deuteronomy 11:32b:

but the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God]. AMP

That can be YOU! Will YOU? Here, to encourage you in this, is Hillsong United with "Touch The Sky":

 Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I would like to share the devotional from Jerry Savelle's website - with a little adjustment! 

Fight For What Is Yours

And the devil said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” (Luke 4:3-4 NKJV)

What bread is for your body, God’s Word is for your spirit. It is through His Word that you come to know who you are in Christ Jesus. Once this becomes revelation to you, no one can ever take it away. When you know who you are in Christ, your days of weakness and defeat are over.

The devil will always try to challenge the revelation of who you are, just as he tried with Jesus. But, just as Jesus did, you can boldly declare to the devil, “It is written!” He cannot steal from you any longer. Tell him, “You’ve defeated me or the last time. I’m entitled to be blessed. I’m entitled to health. I’m entitled to prosperity. You’re not stealing from me any longer!”

Although the devil is a worthy opponent, he is a defeated foe. Jesus has already defeated him. He has been stripped of his authority and power. You, however, are a world overcomer. You are no longer a loser; you are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. All you have to do is shake your Bible at the devil and declare, “It is written, I am more than a conqueror in Jesus name!”

Confession: I know who I am in Christ. I am a new creation. I am the righteousness of God. I am a joint heir with Jesus. I am more than a conqueror. I am a world overcomer, and from this day forward I am a winner!

AMEN! Now, for the adjustment! When we receive Jesus as Lord and personal Savior, our spirit (the REAL person) is made new. In fact we are made PERFECT - in the image of God, a new creation that never existed before (2 Corinthians 5:17)! Our spirit man is not what needs to be fed, it is our SOUL! Our mind, emotions and will can ONLY be changed by the Word of God! THAT is why we are told THIS in Romans 12:2:

2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God,even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. 

So, LISTEN to your spirit, feed the Word of God to your SOUL, and you will be changed, day by day, from one degree of glory (HIS image) to another (2 Corinthians 3:18)! Be continually in the process of being filled with the Spirit of God and HE will continue that GOOD work in you, making YOU more like HIM! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Back To Life":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I saw a picture posted recently that was encouraging people to be humble by showing a mansion and a thatch hut, each above a grave site that looked exactly the same. The message was meant to convey the idea that everyone will end up in the same type of "abode", but the Truth is that only our physical bodies, for a time, will rest in some sort of grave site. We are NOT merely physical bodies that are here today and eventually end up as dust. We ARE eternal spirit beings, who possess souls (mind, emotions and will) and live, while on the earth, in these human, mortal bodies. We WILL live for eternity never ending in OUR place of choice! We either choose Heaven, by receiving Jesus as our Lord and personal Savior, or we CHOOSE hell and the Lake of Fire by refusing to receive Jesus as Lord and personal Savior! In Proverbs 22 today we see the first part of the message this picture was trying to convey in verse 2:

2 The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all.

The rest of the story is found in verse 4:

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

Remember that these "rewards" are a result of our CHOICE! Deuteronomy 30:19 says this:

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:


John 10:10 tells us that THIS is God's will for us:

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).

Then we see THIS in 1 John 5:11-12:

11 And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life.

So, our quality of this life on earth AND our eternal destination are NOT decided on a whim by the One, True God, but HE has given US the right of choice! He will NOT choose for us and is forced, by His own Word, to honor the choice that WE have made! I pray that you will never make another decision in your life without seeking the Wisdom from the Word and the leading of the Spirit of God! We each will have to be satisfied with the results of our choices, so make the WISE choices NOW! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Prince of Peace":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In our Adult Bible Study class at The Spoken Word Church today, I mentioned the TRUTH that HE knits the members of His body together, with each "stitch" being very important to the whole "garment". And then I read this today in our Bible Reading Plan from Ephesians 4:16:

16 For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.

The whole of chapter 4 of Ephesians is speaking of the Church, His body, AND the local churches that He has called us each to. Verses 8 and 11-12 tell us this:

8 Wherefore He said, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 11 And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: KJV

There is something very interesting about these verses that I want to share with you here. In between every "gift" that is mentioned we see the word "and". In all but one instance this is the Greek word "de", which is a particle that links consecutive things in a list together. We can change this "and" with "also" and be correct. The last instance, however, between the gifts of "pastor" and "teacher" are not meant to be consecutive, but cumulative. . THIS is the Greek word "kai". I see this as saying that He gives us some who are Pastor/Teachers! I personally do not see how anyone can successfully pastor unless they CAN teach the Word of God. Everything we do as born again believers MUST be based on the Word of God. So, if YOU are involved in a local church that does NOT teach the Word of God, then I suggest that you pray, asking the Lord Himself to direct you to the church that HE would have you become a part of! AMEN! Now for more of Ephesians 4, lets look at verses 13-15:

13 [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him. 14 So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead. 15 Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

So there is our goal! Let's be diligent ot become more and more like Jesus so that the lost can see HIM in us, and WANT Who we have! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Empires":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Reading Ephesians 3:7-8 from the Amplified Bible gives us a clearer picture of what the Gospel REALLY looks like! Read this, then ask yourself if THIS is what YOU are presenting when you share the Gospel with people!

7 Of this [Gospel] I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s free grace (undeserved favor) which was bestowed on me by the exercise (the working in all its effectiveness) of His power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God’s consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out],

When we receive Jesus as Lord and personal Savior, we do NOT simply receive a "stay out of hell" card! We are made a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), we join a new family (1 John 3:1), we become heirs of God and EQUAL heirs with JESUS (Roman 8:17), we are given authority over all the power of the enemy (Matthew 28:18; Luke 10:19), we are given the use of HIS Name, that is above every other name (Philippians 3:9-11; Acts 3:6), we have the Spirit of God living IN us (1 Corinthians 3:16), we CAN be FILLED with the Spirit of God and be endued with HIS power (Ephesians 5:18; Luke 24:49), we can speak the Word and He will confirm it (Mark 16:20), we can lay hands on the sick and they will recover (Mark 16:17), we can have AND enjoy HIS Life (zoe) in abundance (John 10:10 AMP), we can speak to mountains (or mountains of problems!) and see them removed (Mark 11:23) we can store up rewards in Heaven (Matthew 16:20), AND have Heaven as our home country both now (Philippians 3:20) and in the life to come (2 Corinthians 5:1)! And THAT is just the beginning of all that HE has prepared for us (1 Corinthians 2:9)! Now, ask yourself again: Is THIS the Gospel that I have been presenting! If it is, then WELL DONE! If it is not, then make the adjustments! Who would ever reject such a wonderful and blessed gift! Remember, Jesus NEVER went around telling the lost about their sin, but about HIS Life! THAT is the Gospel that His Love provides! John 3:16-17:

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. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. AMP

AMEN! Now, to motivate you further in sharing the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ, here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Wake":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is SO important for the born again believer to know!

Lovest thou Me? . . . Feed My sheep. — John 21:16
Jesus did not say – Make converts to your way of thinking, but look after My sheep, see that they get nourished in the knowledge of Me. We count as service what we do in the way of Christian work; Jesus Christ calls service what we are to Him, not what we do for Him. Discipleship is based on devotion to Jesus Christ, not on adherence to a belief or a creed. "If any man come to Me and hate not . . . , he cannot be My disciple." There is no argument and no compulsion, but simply – If you would be My disciple, you must be devoted to Me. A man touched by the Spirit of God suddenly says – "Now I see Who Jesus is," and that is the source of devotion.
To-day we have substituted credal belief for personal belief, and that is why so many are devoted to causes and so few devoted to Jesus Christ. People do not want to be devoted to Jesus, but only to the cause He started. Jesus Christ is a source of deep offence to the educated mind of to-day that does not want Him in any other way than as a Comrade. Our Lord’s first obedience was to the will of His Father, not to the needs of men; the saving of men was the natural outcome of His obedience to the Father. If I am devoted to the cause of humanity only, I will soon be exhausted and come to the place where my love will falter; but if I love Jesus Christ personally and passionately, I can serve humanity though men treat me as a door-mat. The secret of a disciple’s life is devotion to Jesus Christ, and the characteristic of the life is its unobtrusiveness. It is like a corn of wheat, which falls into the ground and dies, but presently it will spring up and alter the whole landscape (John 12:24).

There is a reason that Jesus, Who DID "send" us out with the great commission to spread the Gospel, told us first of all that the greatest commandment of all is to love HIM with everything within us!  Look at Mark 12:30:

30 And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment.

Make it YOUR determined purpose, with Paul, to KNOW Him more (Philippians 3:10 AMP), because to know HIM is definitely to love Him! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Touch The Sky":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I am meditating on two particular verses from Proverbs 18. The first is verse 2:

2 A [self-confident] fool has no delight in understanding but only in revealing his personal opinions and himself.

One thing that has stood out to me so clearly over the 35 years since I was first born again is this: the people who talk the most, many times, actually know the least! This Scripture supports that! Once you realize that, it will be easier for you to simply let them go, praying that the Lord will send the right harvester across their path who will be able to get through to them! The Message Bible puts it this way:

2 Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse;
all they do is run off at the mouth. THE MESSAGE

WE are told to be swift to HEAR, SLOW to speak and SLOW to wrath (James 1:19)! One of the results we have in obeying this instruction is that we are better able to recognize when it is fruitless to continue to speak. Buy up every opportunity to sow the simple, and powerful, seed of the Gospel, then pray that Holy Spirit will be able to use that seed to open the eyes of their understanding to really see the TRUTH! When you and I let go of the ones who are not ready to hear, and leave them in HIS very capable hands, HE is free to use us to reach others who are actually ready to hear! AMEN! TRUST Him! The other verse that I have been thinking over today is Proverbs 18:4:

4 The words of a [discreet and wise] man’s mouth are like deep waters [plenteous and difficult to fathom], and the fountain of skillful and godly Wisdom is like a gushing stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].

THIS is how WE will sound to those who are hungry and thirsty for the things of God and who desire to really know HIM! Spend your time with those who WANT what you have and let the Lord handle the others! AMEN! Also, the verse before describes the wicked, those without God who, at THIS particular time, do not want Him! Verse 3:

3 When the wicked comes in [to the depth of evil], he becomes a contemptuous despiser [of all that is pure and good], and with inner baseness comes outer shame and reproach.

I want to encourage you with something that Pastor Bill Novak has taught us at The Spoken Word Church practically from the beginning! He said that those who seem the farthest away from the Truth (180 degrees opposite) are USUALLY some of the first to come around! So, when someone YOU care about acts as the wicked in verse 3 (above) then encourage yourself and begin to praise God for the work that HE is doing in THEM! Get ready for THEM to come to HIM! AMEN! Here, to encourage you in the Lord, is Hillsong Young and Free with "Back To Life":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Have you ever meditated on Proverbs 17:15? 

15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both an abomination [exceedingly disgusting and hateful] to the Lord.

The Word of God tells us plainly and clearly what is sin and what is not. To justify the wicked is to say, regardless of what the Word of God says, that there is nothing wrong with going against God's Word. To condemn the righteous is to call wicked what the Word of God says is good! It is totally opposite of what the One True God has declared is TRUTH! We are living in THIS time right now! The God of the Bible instituted marriage when He created Adam and Eve and said this in Genesis 2:24:

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. AMP

GOD said that marriage is between one man and one woman. Anything else is SIN! To say it is not is an abomination (exceedingly disgusting) to the One, True God. To speak against, act against, bring lawsuits against or harm in any other way those who stand up for the Word of God in these matters is an abomination (exceedingly disgusting) to the God of the Bible! The Good News is that God the Father sent God the Son into the world to be born a man, live AS a man without sin, BECOME sin with the sin of all mankind, PAY the price for sin on the cross, die the death we all SHOULD have died, rise again from death having DEFEATED death, hell and the grave! HALLELUJAH! Now we can receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, becoming a new creation with the Spirit of God living IN us (2 Corinthians 5:17)! Once we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, we still have the nature of the flesh to deal with. This means that even though our spirits are reborn, we still have a soul (mind, emotions and will) that will continue to make selfish decisions that are contrary to God's Word (SIN)!  When we sin by thinking, speaking or acting contrary to the Word, we have THIS promise in 1 John 1:9:

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].

The only sin NOT covered by the Blood of Jesus is the sin of rejecting Him as Lord and Savior. However, though born again believers CAN receive forgiveness of sin, the Word of God has not changed! THIS is STILL an abomination in the eyes of God according to Leviticus 18:22:

22 You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination. AMP 

Though the God of the Bible hates the sin, (because sin steals, kills and destroys, which is the work of the devil and NOT of God - John 10:10) He LOVES you! It is your CHOICE to agree with God or not! What will YOU choose? If you choose to agree with God, then you can receive your forgiveness and continue to walk in the promised blessings. If you choose to continue in sin, then you will leave the door wide open for the enemy to come in and steal, kill and destroy precious things in your life. CHOOSE WISELY! Here is Hillsong United with a new song fro their new album called "Here Now":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I am sharing "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers because it is such a valuable and important lesson for born again believers to learn! We CAN get busy doing "busy" things, BUT true success is being where GOD wants us to be, doing what GOD wants us to do! 

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend. . . . "I have called you friends." —John 15:13,15
Jesus does not ask me to die for Him, but to lay down my life for Him. Peter said – "I will lay down my life for Thy sake" and he meant it; his sense of the heroic was magnificent. It would be a bad thing to be incapable of making such a declaration as Peter made; the sense of our duty is only realized by our sense of the heroic. Has the Lord ever asked you – "Wilt thou lay down thy life for My sake?" It is far easier to die than to lay down the life day in and day out with the sense of the high calling. We are not made for brilliant moments, but we have to walk in the light of them in ordinary ways. There was only one brilliant moment in the life of Jesus, and that was on the Mount of Transfiguration; then He emptied Himself the second time of His glory, and came down into the demon-possessed valley. For thirty-three years Jesus laid out His life to do the will of His Father, and, John says, "we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." It is contrary to human nature to do it.
If I am a friend of Jesus, I have deliberately and carefully to lay down my life for Him. It is difficult, and thank God it is difficult. Salvation is easy because it cost God so much, but the manifestation of it in my life is difficult. God saves a man and endues him with the Holy Spirit, and then says in effect – "Now work it out, be loyal to Me, whilst the nature of things round about you would make you disloyal." "I have called you friends." Stand loyal to your Friend, and remember that His honour is at stake in your bodily life.

I have always thought this to be true! Paul said this in Philippians 1:21:

21 For me to live is Christ [His life in me], and to die is gain [the gain of the glory of eternity].

The moment a born again believer's spirit and soul leaves their body, they are with the Lord! (2 Corinthians 5:8). THAT is not so hard! To lay down our own desires to do His will here on earth is much harder! BUT, their are great rewards for doing things God's way, here on earth AND in the life to come! Are YOU ready to be where HE wants you to be, doing what HE wants you to do? IF you are, He WILL make it plain! Here, to help you with this commitment, is Hillsong United with "Oceans":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

There is a lot of exciting talk about the soon appearing of the Lord Jesus for His church! Many have decided that it WILL be this coming September, during the last of the Blood Moon Tetrad. If this is true, I am READY! How about you? I want to share with you the exact time in which Jesus will appear for us to take us to be with Him! The time is revealed in Galatians 4:4-5:

4 But when the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to [the regulations of] the Law, 5 To purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, to atone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us [and be recognized as God’s sons].

Jesus will come "at the proper time"! It will be God's "set time:"! Not a moment before and certainly not a moment late! We SHOULD be constantly aware of the signs of the times in which we are living, BUT, we must use that knowledge as encouragement and incentive to be about our Father's business of reaching the lost! As long as WE are still here, THEY have opportunity to receive Jesus as Lord and personal Savior. Let's keep HIS priority as OURS! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Empires":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

At The Spoken Word Church today Pastor Bill Novak taught on the REAL battle field for the born again believer. We must realize that we, like the One, True God, are triune beings (1 Thessalonians 5:23)! We ARE spirit, we HAVE a soul and we live IN a body. When we were born again, receiving Jesus as Lord and personal Savior, the Spirit of God entered our dead human spirit and recreated it in the image of God (2 Corinthians 5:17)! Our spirit man is now perfect and became so instantly! When Jesus appears to catch the church away, our bodies will be changed instantly, also (1 Corinthians 15:51-53). The part that does NOT receive an instant transformation is our soul, which consists of our mind, emotions and will. Our soul is made new daily, and progressively, by meditating on the Word of God and by getting to know HIM! Look at Romans 12:2:

2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Our enemy, satan, cannot touch our born again spirit, and he cannot stop our resurrection body. His most diligent work is found in the fight for our souls! His weapon is the lie, and IF he can get us to believe something contrary to the Word of God, then he will succeed in affecting every area of our lives! Proverbs 23:7 tells us that our thoughts greatly affect us:

7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

THAT is why the battlefield is in our minds! Remember that we are told that OUR weapons are NOT carnal, fleshly weapons. The weapons of OUR warfare are mighty through our God for the pulling down of the enemies strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4)! 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us how to use these weapons!

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; KJV

5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

Do you get the idea now? In order to get the results that Jesus did in His earthly ministry, we must think, speak and act like HIM! In order to do THAT we must renew our minds on a daily basis by meditating on the Word of God, allowing the Spirit of God to make this Word come alive to us. When we are diligently going about this, the enemy is being frustrated at every point of his attack against us! AMEN! The victory is ours when the battle is the Lord's and HE has already defeated the enemy! Anything else is nothing but an empty lie, from the father of them (John 8:44)! AMEN! Continue to renew your mind and EXPECT the understanding of the Word to come so that YOU can be a GREAT Ambassador of Heaven! Check in a few days for the teaching from today to be posted on our website (link on the left) and get the specific Scriptures that were covered so that YOU can learn how to "reject and replace" thoughts of the enemy with the thoughts of God! Here is a new song from Hillsong United called "Rule":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We have been reading in Galatians for the past couple of days. This book, more than any other, stresses God's great GRACE! After receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior simply by believing and receiving what He had done for them through His death, burial and resurrection from the dead (Romans 10:9-10), some of the early believers were demanding that new believers continue to follow the Jewish Law. They had begun to add certain "qualifications" to receiving the New Birth! We have seen some of that same thinking creeping back in these days. Have you ever heard someone say that a person must not have been REALLY born again because they fell into some sin? They are judging whether someone belongs to the Body of Christ and His church by what they see and hear. The problem is that many are looking at things THEY don't do as sin, but overlooking what THEY do that doesn't line up with God's Word as unimportant. Guess what? None of this took Jesus by surprise! HE knew that with our flesh nature every one of us would sin at some point, and sometimes on many points! We do NOT go to Heaven after this life because we were ever without sin! Only Jesus can claim THAT! WHEN we miss it, and we will, the Word tells us that we have an Advocate (1 John 2:1)! We also have the instructions in 1 John 1:9 that completely takes care of sin so that we do not have to live with the results of it, here, in THIS 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].

AMEN! The New Birth put us in a brand new RELATIONSHIP with the God of the Bible that cannot be changed! NO ONE can take us out of HIS hand! BUT, our FELLOWSHIP with Him can and will be affected by sin. Let's keep our fellowship strong by putting His Word first place. "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin for today goes along with this well!

"He restoreth my soul" (Psalm 23:3). 

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom. 12:1-2). 

Writing to born-again, Spirit-filled Christians in Romans 12, Paul tells them to do something with their bodies and their minds. Man's spirit is born again at the New Birth, but he still has the same body and the same soul.  He is to present his body to God, and he is to see to it that his mind is renewed. The Hebrew word translated "restoreth" in Psalm 23 and the Greek word translated "renewed" in Romans 12:2 have just about the same meaning. 

For example, a valuable, antique chair which looks like a wreck can be restored. Afterwards it's still the same chair, but it has been renewed. A man's spirit is never restored; it's born again, or recreated. But his soul is restored when his mind becomes renewed with the Word of God. The greatest need of the Church today is for believers to have their minds renewed with the Word of God. It is the Word of God that restores souls, renews souls, and saves souls! 

Confession: I see to it daily that my mind is renewed with the Word of God. Therefore, I am not conformed to this world. My mind is renewed to think like God thinks. 

AMEN! We have the unique and precious privilege of being a member of God's family, called by His Name, with Heaven as our future home, and the Spirit of the Living God inside of us! Let's concentrate on THAT and give Him first place! Here is a new song by Hillsong United called "Captain":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

As we are reading through Proverbs in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan, we can see a very definite contrast between the results promised to the righteous who will refuse to quit, and the wicked who choose to do things their own way! Even the righteous (born again ones) who choose to operate in the ways of the wicked will have the results that the wicked have, here, in this life. We can take great encouragement from verses like these in Proverbs 12:

7 The wicked are overthrown and are not, but the house of the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall stand.

13 The wicked is [dangerously] snared by the transgression of his lips, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall come out of trouble. 14 From the fruit of his words a man shall be satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s hands shall come back to him [as a harvest].

This goes along well the today's "Faith To Faith" devotional by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland:

I’ve often heard people say, “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” That’s nonsense. If you play the game right, you’ll win! Any coach will tell you that part of playing the game right is having a winning attitude. 

That’s what God wants us, as believers, to have. He wants us to have so much faith in Him that we expect to whip any obstacle the devil brings our way. He wants us to expect to win at the game of life. But most of us don’t come by that attitude easily. We’re so accustomed to losing that we have to totally change our way of thinking if we want to have a winning mind-set. In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul told the Church to renew their minds. Like us, they needed to change their attitudes, to renew their minds to the fact that Jesus overcame the world.

If you haven’t already, you need to do that too! You need to develop a glorious sense of confidence that says, “Hey, Devil, I’m going to be victorious and there’s not a thing you can do to stop me!”

“But, Brother Copeland, you don’t know the kinds of problems I’m facing.”

I know I don’t, but Jesus does and He said you should “cheer up” because He can give you peace in the midst of tribulation. He said that when Satan comes against you with everything he has, you should take heart because He’s already beaten it—Jesus has already overcome it and so can you!

First John 5:5 puts it this way, “Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Do you know what that scripture means? It means that if you are a born-again believer, you have an absolute right to be a winner, to overcome every aspect of this evil world. Think about that. Meditate on it. Start developing a winning attitude today!

AMEN! The reason that we HAVE the Word of God is so that we CAN find out exactly who we are in HIM, what we have in HIM and what we can do in HIM! Study the Word so that YOU can learn to live in the fullness of all that God has for you, bringing glory to HIS Name! Here is Hillsong United with "Here Now":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to encourage you today with a few verses from our reading in Proverbs 11:

3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the willful contrariness and crookedness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
5 The righteousness of the blameless shall rectify and make plain their way and keep it straight, but the wicked shall fall by their own wickedness. 
6 The righteousness of the upright [their rectitude in every area and relation] shall deliver them, but the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity and greedy desire.
8 The [uncompromisingly] righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked gets into it instead.
17 The merciful, kind, and generous man benefits himself [for his deeds return to bless him], but he who is cruel and callous [to the wants of others] brings on himself retribution.
27 He who diligently seeks good seeks [God’s] favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come upon him.
31 Behold, the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall be recompensed on earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner! 

I hope that by now you will realize that as a born again believer, having received Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior, you ARE, right now, the righteousness of God! Look at 1 Corinthians 5:21:

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

With THAT settled, all of those verses that refer to the upright, righteous, and blameless are referring to YOU! The verses that refer to the diligent, merciful, kind and generous are POTENTIALLY yours, IF you choose to operate in that manner! My purpose for sharing these today is so that you can encourage yourself in the Lord, in the same way that David did (1 Samuel 30:6), when it SEEMS like the wicked are prevailing! Understand that THEY have a sure and certain outcome, and it is NOT pretty! Operating in wickedness, even as a born again believer, WILL have poor results in this life - guaranteed! So, let's make the decision to EXPECT the results that the Word of God promises AND make the decision to get, and keep, ourselves in position to receive God's very best! AMEN! His WORD is TRUTH (John 17:17), but the choice to believe and receive is ours! What will YOU choose today? Here, to help you make the right choice, is Hillsong Young and Free with "Close":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

John 20:29-31:

29 Jesus said to him, Because you have seen Me, Thomas, do you now believe (trust, have faith)? Blessed and happy and to be envied are those who have never seen Me and yet have believed and adhered to and trusted and relied on Me. 30 There are also many other signs and miracles which Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written (recorded) in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of God, and that through believing and cleaving to and trusting and relying upon Him you may have life through (in) His name [through Who He is].

Jesus said that those who have believed on Him without having seen Him with their own physical eyes are BLESSED! This is the Greek word "makarios", which means: supremely blessed, fortunate, well off, joyful. The multitudes who saw the signs, wonders and miracles that occurred throughout the ministry of Jesus on earth were excited by the things that they heard and saw, but that alone did NOT bring them to a point of faith to be healed and delivered. Do you remember how many times Jesus stated: "Your faith has made you whole"? It takes faith to receive anything that God has prepared for us. In fact, without faith, we can NEVER be pleasing to Him (Hebrews 11:6)! So where do we get that faith? Romans 10:17 we know tells us this:

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

So, THAT is what John 20:31 is telling us! The things written in the Word of God are written so that we may believe in order to receive! Receive Him AND receive everything that He has blessed us with! THIS is how we may develop faith that is pleasing to Him and gets answers to prayer! Meditate on the Word and fully expect the results that are promised in Joshua 1:8, all the while understanding that OUR Covenant is an even better one (Hebrews 8:6)! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United again with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!