Shalom,

To day I want to share from Kenneth E. Hagin's Faith Food devotional. 

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:16-17). 

Did you notice that meditating in the Word, practicing the Word, and giving the Word first place - the first three steps in training the human spirit - come before obeying your spirit? If your spirit has had the privilege of meditating in the Word, of practicing the Word, of putting the Word first, then your spirit is an authoritative guide. 

In the process of time, if you will follow the four steps we have just studied, you can know the will of God even in all the minor details of your life! But for this to happen, God's Word, not human reasoning, must dominate your thinking. The Word has been given to us by the Holy Spirit. If the Word is dominating us, then the Holy Spirit is dominating our thinking! 

The written Word was given to us to develop, shape, form, and fit our spirit nature and nothing but the Word will accomplish this. Reading about the Word won't do it. That's the reason why God wants us to meditate in His Word. 

Confession: God's Word is good. I meditate in God's Word. I observe to do what His Word teaches. My way shall be prosperous. I shall have good success in life! 

We encourage you to be instantly obedient to the Spirit of God as He leads, guides and directs you in all the affairs of life. We CANNOT obey the Spirit of God if we are not familiar with His voice! In order to really know that voice, we must be in daily intimate fellowship with Him through prayer, praise and worship, and study and meditation of the Word. It is in His Word that we learn of Who HE is, and then who WE are, IN HIM! Amen! Make Joshua 1:8 AMP your "go to" Scripture for what to do in order to be successful in any, and every, area of your life! 

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

Everything that you hear, whether from other believers or in your own prayer time, MUST be made to pass the WORD test! Does it line up with the Word of God or not! If not, then just cast the care of it over on HIM and let HIM take deal with it! AMEN! If it DOES line up with God's Word, then don't allow yourself to hesitate for even one moment before making it your determined purpose to DO it! Trust HIM to work out the perfect timing and then fully expect to see the manifested results of your obedience! HALLELUJAH! THIS is the LIFE we were meant to live! Here is Hillsong with "Like Incense":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We looked at THIS verse in today's Adult Bible Study class at The Spoken Word Church: 2 Corinthians 4:6.

6 For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). AMP

Many of us have sung the little kid's song, "This Little Light of Mine". We KNOW that the Spirit of God is the Light that shines out from inside of us! We MUST become more "God inside" minded! Look at verse 7:

7 However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. AMP

We who are born again, having received Jesus as our Lord and personal Savior, HAVE this wonderful Treasure of the presence, power and person of the one, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible living in us. HE will never leave us or forsake us! The PURPOSE for this Presence is so that the lost may find HIM through us! One of my favorite quotes is by our ministry partner, Jerry O'Dell. He says this: "The reason for the knowledge, the purpose for the power, and the plan for the prosperity is reaching the lost." Our #1 priority is to BE that carrier of the Life and Light of God into OUR world! All of the people in our realm of influence SHOULD be without excuse in the presence of God because WE shared the Good News of the Gospel with them! THAT is our calling! Let's do it well! AMEN! Now back to that song. Did you know that there is NO good reason to sing "Won't let satan blow it out" because he CANNOT do so! The only person who can hide the Light in YOU is YOU! Don't do it! Let HIM shine out of YOU so that HE can draw them unto Himself! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Light Will Shine":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I like this first portion of today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers:

Said I not unto you, that, if you would believe, you should see the glory of God? — John 11:40
Every time you venture out in the life of faith, you will find something in your commonsense circumstances that flatly contradicts your faith. Common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense; they stand in the relation of the natural and the spiritual. Can you trust Jesus Christ where your common sense cannot trust Him? Can you venture heroically on Jesus Christ’s statements when the facts of your commonsense life shout “It’s a lie”? On the mount it is easy to say — “Oh, yes, I believe God can do it”; but you have to come down into the demon-possessed valley and meet with facts that laugh ironically at the whole of your mount-of-transfiguration belief. Every time my programme of belief is clear to my own mind, I come across something that contradicts it. Let me say I believe God will supply all my need, and then let me run dry, with no outlook, and see whether I will go through the trial of faith, or whether I will sink back to something lower.

It is important in these times when even common sense is hard to find in people, that we don't EVER settle for what is common or ordinary! Yes, we need to operate in our right  minds to make wise decisions and to do what WE are capable of, depending on HIM when we get to the end of our own human abilities. But THESE are the days of great expectation for the manifestation of the Glory of God in the earth! HE said in His Word THIS from Acts 2:16-18:

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: KJV

Remember that ALL things are possible with God (Mark 10:27) and ALL things are possible to those who will believe (Mark 9:23)! It doesn't take faith to believe for what is common, ordinary or possible to the natural mind. Faith is needed when it SEEMS impossible! Notice it speaks above of having a high level of faith, only to be faced with "facts" that contradict everything you have been believing for. There is a HUGE difference between "facts", which is what the world sees and speaks of, and TRUTH, which is what the Word of God IS (John 17:17)! Base everything that you  are asking and believing for on the promises found in the Word  of God (1 John 5:14-15) and you WILL see the seemingly impossible things happen, right before your eyes! DARE to believe the God of the Bible and you will walk in His promises of abundant and overflowing LIFE! John 10:10:

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

AMEN! Here is Hillsong with a song that speaks of the supernatural manifestation of the glory and power of our Almighty God! "Lost Are Found":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

THIS, from Jerry Savelle's website devotional, is for several people that I know and have ministered to over the years! First, let's look at Jeremiah 29:11 from the Amplified Bible:

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.

HIS plans are ALWAYS the RIGHT ones! Here is the devotional!

God Always Has a Plan

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV).

Did you know that in every negative situation you may face, God always has a victory plan? Think about it: God is bigger than any mistake you will ever make or problem you will face. When you follow His victory plan, you are certain to walk out of that situation into the place of success and triumph Jesus has already established for you. Even if you get yourself into a mess through foolishness or deliberate sin, the moment you run to God and ask His forgiveness, He will come to you in grace and mercy to show you the way out. God said, 

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 NKJV). 

No situation is too hard for God to turn around; no mess is beyond the grace of God. He always as the perfect way to turn everything around for your good. Joseph faced numerous negative situations throughout his life. However, he was fully convinced that God had a victory plan for him. He knew if he continued to be obedient, then he would rise above every seemingly hopeless situation. And that’s just what Joseph did; he became the prime minister of Egypt!

God is a master at turning the tables on the devil when he sets in motion a plan against you. Joseph told his brothers, who had sold him into slavery,

 “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:20 NKJV).

When you trust God and are obedient to follow His direction, you can walk confidently through every trial that comes you way because—God always has a plan!

Confession: I thank God that His plan for me in every situation is always to triumph in Christ!

AMEN! Learn to trust in the wonderful, powerful and supernatural plans that the God of the Bible has for YOUR life! Begin TODAY! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "With Us":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Did you read THIS in today's Bible Reading Plan? Mark 7:20-23:

20 And He said, What comes out of a man is what makes a man unclean and renders [him] unhallowed. 21 For from within, [that is] out of the hearts of men, come base and wicked thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, 22 Coveting (a greedy desire to have more wealth), dangerous and destructive wickedness, deceit; unrestrained (indecent) conduct; an evil eye (envy), slander (evil speaking, malicious misrepresentation, abusiveness), pride (the sin of an uplifted heart against God and man), foolishness (folly, lack of sense, recklessness, thoughtlessness). 23 All these evil [purposes and desires] come from within, and they make the man unclean and render him unhallowed.

What exactly was Jesus referring to here? First of all, the "heart" of a person is a combination of their spirit and their soul. We ARE spirit beings and we HAVE a soul, which consists of our mind, our emotions and our will. Before someone receives Jesus as Lord and personal Savior, they have dead spirits and are serving the satan, the god of this world system! They have dead spirits, and souls that are incapable of understanding the Word of God so that they can make wise choices. The only thing that a person who is not born again can understand is their need for a Savior. Once they make Jesus the Lord of their lives, THEN the Spirit of God comes into their dead human spirits and recreates them in HIS image! They are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)! This happens instantly, making the spirit man perfect! The soul, however, is NOT changed instantly! In order to stop speaking and doing the evil things spoken of in Mark 7, we MUST change our thinking to agree with God and His Word. The ONLY way to do that is to change what we allow into our soul by what we see and what we hear! The thoughts we choose to accept and to meditate on, whether from God or from the devil, WILL determine what comes out of our mouths! Make sure that YOU practice "reject and replace"! Reject the thoughts that are contrary to God's Word, and replace them with what God has actually promised in His Word! When you do this, THEN you will not speak or act on any of those things listed in Mark 7. Watch over your heart so that you can maintain close, intimate fellowship with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! (Proverbs 4:23)

23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Nothing Like Your Love":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Have you ever had someone tell you that they believe that it may not always be God's will to heal? I have, many times. The silliness of this idea is that this still doesn't keep them from going to the doctor! Deep down they have to know that the heart of God is ALWAYS to do good, because He IS God, and He IS good! Though there is never a time recorded in the Word of God where Jesus turned someone down who came to Him to be healed and delivered, there WERE times when He COULD not heal, even though He desired to with all of His being! Mark 6:2-5:

2 And on the Sabbath He began to teach in the synagogue; and many who listened to Him were utterly astonished, saying, Where did this Man acquire all this? What is the wisdom [the broad and full intelligence which has been] given to Him? What mighty works and exhibitions of power are wrought by His hands! 3 Is not this the Carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not His sisters here among us? And they took offense at Him and were hurt [that is, they disapproved of Him, and it hindered them from acknowledging His authority] and they were caused to stumble and fall. 4 But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor (deference, reverence) except in his [own] country and among [his] relatives and in his [own] house. 5 And He was not able to do even one work of power there, except that He laid His hands on a few sickly people [and] cured them.

Notice that this says that Jesus was NOT able to do works of power there! Why? Look at verse 6:

6 And He marveled because of their unbelief (their lack of faith in Him). And He went about among the surrounding villages and continued teaching.

It was NOT His choice, but their unbelief that hindered Jesus! "Oh but God is Sovereign and can do whatever He wants to do" some have said to me. Yes, our God most certainly IS Sovereign! In His Sovereignty HE chose to give US a free will to choose! Choose YOU this day! What, and Whom will YOU choose to believe? Be wise and choose LIFE! Notice that Jesus' answer to their unbelief was to go about continuing to teach! If you have found yourself in any form of unbelief, get yourself back into the Word concerning that area and HE will immediately meet you where you're at! He LOVES you enough to die for you. He most certainly wants you to LIVE! AMEN! John 10:10 is His statement of faith for all of His people!

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).

So, let's make it our determined purpose to begin believing the Word of God more than ever before, enabling His to do what He desires to do for us! Now, fully EXPECT to see GOD results in your  life! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "God Is Able":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

After reading Jerry Savelle's website devotional today, there is nothing more important for me to say! He discusses what to do when we desire to see change for the better!

Be Willing to Change

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe (Ephesians 1:18-19 NKJV).

Do you desire to see a change in other people and the situations that surround you? Most of us do, yet when we make the effort to get people and things around us to change, we often end up angry and frustrated. There is a way, however, to bring about change that is both fast and long lasting. Your life will change dramatically when you allow God to change you, when you are willing to change your perceptions and beliefs.

The Bible tells us nothing happens in the natural world without something first happening in the spiritual realm:

 “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11:3 NKJV).

If you’ve been struggling with the same issue for years, or if you’re looking at a mountain that appears immovable, forget trying to make things happen yourself. Take time out to draw into God and make some changes in the spiritual realm.

• It’s in the spiritual realm that you apply your God-given authority
• It’s in the spiritual realm that you take control and make things happen
• It’s in the spiritual realm that you make changes that impact the natural
• It’s in the spiritual realm that you find the solutions to all your problems

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, will reveal what you need to know; He will gently convict you where you need to change your attitude or belief. When you see the truth and make the necessary heart adjustments, you’ll view your situations completely differently. You’ll know without a shadow of doubt that your natural world is changing because you were first willing to change.

Confession: I choose today to draw into God, seeking the heart changes He desires to make in me. I release my concern for people and situations in the natural, knowing that the Spirit of Truth will bring the revelation I need.

AMEN! What a wonderful blessing it is to have the Spirit of God living IN us! Spend time with Him and hear God's perfect plans for your life! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Lifeline":

Shalom in him!

Shalom,

THIS, from "Faith To Faith" by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland is another vital Truth to know so that YOU can walk in the overflowing fullness of LIFE that our Father God desires for us to walk in (John 10:10 AMP)!

Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Matthew 15:6

Cancer. Heart disease. Multiple sclerosis. When we think of killer diseases, those are the names that come to mind. But the truth is, there’s a far more deadly killer on the loose in the Church today. And it’s destroyed more lives than any of us can imagine. It’s called tradition. Traditions rob believers of their healing. They steal the power from the promises of God. Here are three you should beware of:

1. The tradition that says it’s not always God’s will to heal you. It is God’s will to heal you! It says so in His Word. If you don’t believe that it is, then you can’t pray in faith believing you’ll receive. You’re like the farmer who sits on his porch and says, “I believe in crops, but I’m not going to plant any seed this year. I’ll just believe, and if it’s God’s will, my crop will come up.” That farmer will never see his crop. Faith is the seed of healing—if you don’t plant it, it won’t grow. A prayer that includes the words “if it be thy will” won’t produce a healing harvest. You must know without a doubt that healing is always God’s will for you.

2. Another tradition we hear is that healing has passed away. That there are no miracles today. But the Word of God proves that’s not true. In Exodus 15:26, God says, “…I am the Lord that healeth thee.” He also tells us that He does not change (Malachi 3:6). He has never changed since the beginning of time. For healing to pass away, God would have to pass away...and He is not about to do that!

3. The third dangerous tradition is this one: “God gets glory from Christians being sick.” That tradition totally violates the Word of God. The Bible says that people gave glory to God when they saw the lame walk and the blind see. God receives glory from your healing—not your pain!

The world is looking for a way out of sickness and disease, not a way into it. Let’s break down those traditions and deliver a hurting world from the most dangerous killer of all.

AMEN! The ONLY thing that will effect change in our lives, the LIFE giving change, is the Living Word of God! Spend time in His presence, by His Spirit and through His Word, and YOU will be changed from the inside out! Here is Hillsong with that very song! "Inside Out":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we read Mark 4 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. I want to share something different from the "Parable of the Sower". Let's look at verses 2-8:

2 And He taught them many things in parables (illustrations or comparisons put beside truths to explain them), and in His teaching He said to them: 3 Give attention to this! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Other seed [of the same kind] fell on ground full of rocks, where it had not much soil; and at once it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil; 6 And when the sun came up, it was scorched, and because it had not taken root, it withered away. 7 Other seed [of the same kind] fell among thorn plants, and the thistles grew and pressed together and utterly choked and suffocated it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seed [of the same kind] fell into good (well-adapted) soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing, and yielded up to thirty times as much, and sixty times as much, and even a hundred times as much as had been sown.

Notice that the person spoken of here, the "sower", went out with the intention of sowing seeds to produce a crop. As he was in the process of sowing, some of his seed "fell" in different places: along the path, on the rocks, among the thorns, AND on good soil. "Fell" here is the Greek word "pipto". One of the meanings of this word is: unintentional falling. We know from the explanation that Jesus gave to His disciples that the seed here was the Word of God. The good soil refers to the heart (spirit/soul combination) that was prepared to receive the Word. The born again spirit is always ready, but the soul (mind, emotions and will) needs to be prepared. How do we prepare our soul? By spending time in prayer, praise and worship, study and meditation of the Word and intimate fellowship with HIM! This has proven to be so true in my life! I ALWAYS attend church, listen to teaching, read the Word with the intention of hearing for the purpose of learning so that I can be a DOER of the Word I hear. THIS parable shows me that when I am prepared to hear, I can hear something even randomly and the Spirit of God will be able to make it real to me so that I can continue to build on the layers of knowledge that I have intentionally added. THIS is why I can learn from and of Him while watching a movie, a baseball game, playing with the grandchildren or any number of other ways that I spend my time. God is SO good that He will use every means possible to get His TRUTH to us, IF we will only stay ready to hear! HALLELUJAH! It is SO worth it to prepare, after all, "preparation time is never wasted time"! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Psalm 52 today in our Spoken Word bible Reading Plan. As I was reading this, I couldn't help but think back on many of the discussions I have had with those who scorn, mock and speak derisively of the God of the Bible, and those who love and belong to Him. 

1 Why boast you of mischief done against the loving-kindness of God [and the godly], O mighty [sinful] man, day after day? 2 Your tongue devises wickedness; it is like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. 3 You love evil more than good, and lying rather than to speak righteousness, justice,and right. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 4 You love all destroying and devouring words, O deceitful tongue. 5 God will likewise break you down and destroy you forever; He will lay hold of you and pluck you out of your tent and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 6 The [uncompromisingly] righteous also shall see [it] and be in reverent fear and awe, but about you they will [scoffingly] laugh, saying, 7 See, this is the man who made not God his strength (his stronghold and high tower) but trusted in and confidently relied on the abundance of his riches, seeking refuge and security for himself through his wickedness. 8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in and confidently rely on the loving-kindness and the mercy of God forever and ever. 9 I will thank You and confide in You forever, because You have done it [delivered me and kept me safe]. I will wait on, hope in and expect in Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your saints (Your kind and pious ones).

Some will try to excuse their speaking by saying "This is all in fun!". The sad part for them is that this Psalm speaks very clearly about the certain end for those who continue to reject the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible, and His wonderful plan for our eternal Salvation! WE must understand that God is speaking here, first of all, of the enemy who has blinded the minds of the people to get them to speak and act this way. He HAS a sure and certain end, and it is NOT pretty! (Chains for 1000 years, then eternal flames in the Lake of Fire!) Those who continue to reject the God of the Bible and His free gift will also spend their eternal future in the agony of this Lake of Fire. God does NOT desire that this be so, but He has given every one of us the freedom to choose! What choice have YOU made? Are you making this choice known to others so that they, too, can choose LIFE? THAT is why we are here and not living right now in the glorious beauty of the Heaven of the Bible! We have a job to do, so let's do it WELL! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Lost Are Found":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I read THIS in another devotional today:

We may gain much solace by considering what God has not said. What He has said is inexpressibly full of comfort and delight; what He has not said is scarcely less rich in consolation. It was one of these "said nots" which preserved the kingdom of Israel in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, for "the Lord said not that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven." 2 Kings 14:27. 

Do you get this message? When we look at the promises of God under our new and better Covenant (Hebrews 8:6), meditation (Joshua 1:8) will take us to the opposite thought and we will see that what God will NOT do is extremely encouraging! Look at this promise to born again believers from 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. AMP

Notice that the only qualification for answered prayer for the born again believer (the Epistles are letters written to believers) is that He HEAR us. He will ONLY hear what is according to His Word, which IS His will! SO, we KNOW that when we ask according to His will, He WILL hear, and we WILL have it! He does NOT say that we have to be a certain age, speak in a certain voice, dress a certain way, be in a church building, have a minister ask for us, live in a certain country or any of the other silly conditions that some people would like to apply to prayer. Prayer is simply communicating with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Another verse to look at is John 10:10:

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

What a joy to KNOW that HE desires that WE walk in HIS full LIFE! Notice that it does NOT say that it is EVER His will for us to have sickness, disease, poverty, lack, death and destruction. Those things happen on the earth, but WE do not have to receive them because they do NOT come from HIM! AMEN! Another thing that I encourage YOU to do is to go through the Gospels and highlight every time that Jesus said "I WILL" when someone came to Him for healing! If it was EVER His will to heal, it is ALWAYS His will to heal! He is NO respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), BUT we MUST come in faith! THAT is the only condition! How do we get faith? Faith comes by His Word (Romans 10:17)! So, build up your faith. Study the Word to find His will. Now, ask in faith KNOWING that He hears and you HAVE it! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong with "This Is Our God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19

Someone’s done you wrong! Sooner or later it happens to all of us. Somewhere along the way, we all get hurt or cheated or lied to or abused.

It’s as predictable as it is painful. Yet when it happens most of us find ourselves strangely unprepared. In our outrage, we often cry out to God against the one who wronged us. We ask for justice, or even vengeance, and end up making things tougher on everyone involved—including ourselves.

If that’s been true of you, it’s time you found out how you can put the power of God to work for you the next time someone does you wrong.

Step one: Identify the enemy! Right here’s where the majority of us make our biggest blunder. We mistakenly identify our enemy as the person who hurts us. Don’t waste your energy ranting and raving or plotting and scheming against people who cause you pain. They’re simply under the devil’s influence. Aim your spiritual ammunition at the right target. It’s the devil who’s behind it all. Go after him!

Step two: Fire! Once you’ve pointed your spiritual guns in the right direction, fire! Hit the devil fast and furiously with the Word of God. Use the Name of Jesus and the power that’s been given you as a believer and bind the devil from doing you any further harm in that area. Then move on to the next and most important part of this spiritual battle.

Step three: Pray the prayer of intercession. In Matthew 5:44-45, Jesus gives us these instructions: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.”

Crying out for the vengeance of God to strike like a lightning bolt when someone does us wrong isn’t acting like our Father. Remember, God has great, great mercy. Not just for me and you, but for everyone!

The devil will probably think twice before he bothers you again. Next time someone causes you pain, put the power of God to work for you. Identify the real enemy. Hit him hard with the authority you’ve been given as a believer. Then pray the prayer of intercession.

Walking in the Love of God is the most important commandment we have been given! Jesus said that we must love the Lord our God with everything within us, THEN we MUST love each other. We are to love BECAUSE He first loved us (1 John 4:19), and then we are to love AS He loves us (John 15:12)! That sounds like a difficult thing to do, and in some cases it is, IN OUR OWN STRENGTH! But we have HIS love in us that enables us to love others. Recognize that this love is NOT an emotion, although it CAN affect our emotions. This love is a decision that we make, and then HIS ability to do so is available! Remember that Job's captivity was turned when he prayed for his friends who has just finished verbally abusing him (Job 42:10)! Also remember that our faith, which is powerful and comes by meditating on His Word, will ONLY "run" on love (Galatians 5:6)! Without a great love walk, we will NOT have a great faith walk! So, forgive others, forget the past, move on and walk in power! He has promised! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "Faith":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Romans 1:16 is a verse that every born again believer should know and believe with everything within them!

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. KJV

"Power" here is the Greek word "dunamis", which means: miraculous power; strength, ability, the power of performing miracles. "Salvation" is the Greek word "soteria", which means: rescue, safety, deliverance, preservation. It IS the Word of God and the Covenant that we have with Him through the Blood of Jesus that gives us the right and authority to EXPECT deliverance in every area of life! When He tells us in 3 John 2 that it IS His will for us to be healthy and prosperous, we KNOW that He has provided the way to do so! 

2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou may prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers. KJV

He shows us here that the WAY to be healthy and prosperous comes through soul prosperity. How do we get our soul (mind, emotions and will) to prosper? Look at Joshua 1:8:

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

Hidden FOR US, within the Word of God, is everything we will ever need to succeed and prosper in every area. Are YOU ready to search this Word? An excellent place to start is by following our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. You can find it on our website through the link on the left to follow every day, or order from our store to have your own copy. I have followed this plan every year for many years now and I continue to learn something new every day! THAT is how the Word of God works! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "I'm Not Ashamed":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share THIS from our reading today in Titus. Verses 11-15:

11 For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind. 12 It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world, 13 Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One), 14 Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us (purchase our freedom) from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people [to be peculiarly His own, people who are] eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is good and filled with] beneficial deeds. 15 Tell [them all] these things. Urge (advise, encourage, warn) and rebuke with full authority. Let no one despise or disregard or think little of you [conduct yourself and your teaching so as to command respect].

I love how the Amplified Bible defines grace here as God's unmerited favor and blessing. That IS exactly what Grace IS, and what Grace DOES! The Grace of God saved us, delivered us from the authority of satan, translated us from the kingdom of death and darkness and into the Kingdom of God, supplies us with everything we will ever need to lead successful, prosperous, healthy, victorious lives here on earth, and to gather up rewards in Heaven simply for our obedience! Jesus told Paul that His grace was "sufficient", or all that Paul would ever need, to deliver him from the harassment of the enemy (2 Corinthians 12:9)! Verse 12 above tells us that this same grace trains us to turn away from the "unfruitful works of darkness" (Ephesians 5:11) and gives us the ability to live lives pleasing to the Lord and conducive to others seeing HIM in US! AMEN! These Epistles of the New Testament are letters that were written to the churches to comfort, encourage, exhort and instruct born again, Spirit-filled believers how to live our lives and carry out our ministry in a way that will bring glory to HIM and will lead others to choose LIFE! I hope that you will meditate on this great grace and that it will motivate you to be the very best YOU that you can be, so that others may see HIS life in yours! Here, to encourage you in this, is Hillsong Kids with a fun song called "My Number One":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

THIS, from Jerry Savelle's devotional for today, is another vital aspect of the New Birth that many born again believers still have not realized! What we don't know, CAN very much hurt us, or at least hinder us. 

A Revelation of Righteousness

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17 NKJV).

If you are going to live a life of victory, it is essential that you have a revelation of the fact that you are the righteousness of God. To be righteous means you have the ability to stand in the presence of Father God without a sense of fear, guilt, or inferiority, and with no consciousness of sin.

If you have made Jesus Christ your Lord, you have already been made the righteousness of God in Him. In fact, you are as righteous as Jesus is, because He gave you His own righteousness. You may not have known it, you may not have taken advantage of it, but it true!

Until you have a revelation of your own righteousness, Satan will reign over you; sin and sickness will be your master. But the instant you know you are the righteousness of God in Christ, and you understand what that righteousness means, Satan is defeated in your life.

With a revelation of righteousness, you will no longer be afraid of circumstances as you face even the most adverse conditions with a sense of authority and dominion. Just as Jesus reigned over sickness, death, and the laws of nature, so you too can now reign in life in Him.

Confession: Through Jesus Christ I have been made righteous. In this righteousness I have authority and dominion over every adverse situation I may face in life. And from my position of right standing with God, I live the life of victory that is mine in Christ.

It is only from this position of righteousness that we will ever have the boldness to do the works that Jesus did (John 14:12). When Jesus carried out His ministry on the earth, He was one man Who could only be in one place at a time. Now, His body on the earth covers the entire planet! WE carry the Good News to every area! We are carriers of HIS Life, HIS Light, HIS Love and HIS Spirit! Reconsider who YOU are IN HIM! Now go out with boldness sharing that Good News with everyone you come in contact with! Give HIM something to work with! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "No Reason To Hide":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

It is possible to know all about doctrine and yet not know Jesus. The soul is in danger when knowledge of doctrine outsteps intimate touch with Jesus. Why was Mary weeping? Doctrine was no more to Mary than the grass under her feet. Any Pharisee could have made a fool of Mary doctrinally, but one thing they could not ridicule out of her was the fact that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her; yet His blessings were nothing in comparison to Himself. Mary “saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus”; immediately she heard the voice, she knew she had a past history with the One who spoke. “Master”!

I have known many people who have gone through Bible college/seminary who wouldn't know the voice of the Lord if He shouted at them from the housetops! HE has said THIS in John 10:27:

27 The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. AMP

HIS sheep are those who are born again by believing that they are sinners who need a Savior, that Jesus paid the price for sin through His death, burial and resurrection, and they have called on HIS Name as Lord and personal Savior. THESE are the ones who know His voice! Have you ever heard that going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than sitting in a garage makes you a car? God has NO grandchildren! You are NOT born a Christian. You MUST receive Jesus as Lord and Savior in order to become one. THIS is being Born Again! When you have done these things, then get into a good local church that teaches the Word of God boldly, uncompromisingly, accurately and in love so that you can grow up in Him and in the Word. Check out our website through the link on the left to learn more and contact us to allow us to help you find a church like The Spoken Word Church in YOUR area! In the meantime, here is Hillsong Young and Free with "This Is Living":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Anyone reading 2 Timothy 3:1-5 would have absolutely NO doubt that we are currently living in THESE times! Everything written here is happening, in different degrees, all over the entire planet! 

3 But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. 2 For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane. 3 [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good. 4 [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God. 5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].

I am sure that you have also seen and heard of these things taking place. Guess what! The God of the Bible is WELL aware of the times in which we are living! HE has given us certain promises in His Word so that we can fight the attacks of the enemy and WIN! AMEN! Here are some of those promises! 

Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: KJV

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. KJV

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. KJV

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.  AMP

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. KJV

Jeremiah 29:11 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.  AMP

Even though there is great evil taking place on the earth right now, we NEVER need to be afraid, for protection, provision and safety are GOD'S to give! He is willing AND able to deliver you when you put all of your faith, trust and confidence IN HIM! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "From The Inside Out":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have been meditating today on Psalm 44:1-3:

To the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of the sons of Korah. A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem.

1 We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us [what] work You did in their days, in the days of old. 2 You drove out the nations with Your hand and it was Your power that gave [Israel] a home by rooting out the [heathen] peoples, but [Israel] You spread out. 3 For they got not the land [of Canaan] in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your countenance [did it], because You were favorable toward and did delight in them.

Notice first of all that the sub-heading of this Psalm says that it is a skillful song, as the Psalms were sung in worship, but it is also a "didactic" or reflective poem. "Didactic" means: intended to teach. There is something that Israel then, and we believers now, are to be learning from this! That is where meditation comes in  (Joshua 1:8)! As born again believers, we have the Spirit of God living IN us and one of His roles is as our Teacher (John 14:26)! HE is the One Who makes the Word come alive to us so that we can understand it and then obey it. So, what have I been understanding from this? The Jewish people have been persecuted, hated, tortured and even murdered over the years simply because of WHOSE they were! It was NOT their great warrior qualities that caused them to be able to defeat their enemies! It was the hand of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Notice that it says that He rooted out the heathen people. THAT is why these nations were defeated. They refused to acknowledge Him as the One, True God, and to grant favor to His people. 

In our time, the Jewish people are STILL being persecuted, but now Christians are also seeing this same treatment. It has gotten deadlier by the day. The GOOD news is that OUR God is STILL the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God that He has ALWAYS been! When God's people, who are called by HIS Name, will humble themselves and pray, then HE will hear from Heaven and HE will deliver (2 Chronicles 7:14)! AMEN! WE, the Church of Jesus Christ, are NOT going to go out with a whimper at the Rapture of the Church! The greatest revival that has ever taken place is happening right at this very moment, in THIS nation, and all over the world! God's people are about our Father's business of seeking and saving the lost, and very soon HE will call us all home. Then will be the last seven years of Jewish history where they will stand completely alone with no one but their God to turn to. THAT is when HE will show the devil, his minions, and the heathens who have rejected Him JUST how REAL He is! OUR God IS God, and don't EVER forget it! AMEN! Here is Chris Tomlin  with "Our God":

Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There's no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There's no one like You
None like You

[Chorus]
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome In power
Our God, Our God... 

Into the darkness you shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There's no One like You
None like You

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God... 
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God... 

[Bridge]
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share a word of prophecy that was given to Kenneth E. Hagin. He shared in in today's Faith Food devotional: 

"But he that prophesies speaks unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort" (1 Cor. 14:3). 

The following is a word of prophecy that came during a seminar I taught on being led by the Spirit:

Look inside, inside your spirit. For your spirit is the candle, the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly. And so ye shall know, and ye shall walk in the light of that which ye know.

No one will be able to gainsay thee, for thou wilt say, "There is light in my dwelling. I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. He dwells in me. He enlightens my spirit. Yea, I walk in that witness that's within my spirit. I do that which I know by an inward intuition. I follow that deep premonition in my innermost being. And so I am being led by the Spirit.

"I am rejoicing and I'm glad. Yea, I sound forth His praises evermore. I look to that which in me does reside. For residing in me is the potential of all that God has and is.

"All the attributes of even the Father God Himself reside within my spirit, and are potentially mine. For He has declared, 'I will walk in them. I'll live in them. I'll be their God. They will be My people.' 

"My God is not in a far-off distant land, out of reach and not at hand. My God sits not on a pedestal; nor can He be seen with the physical, or touched with the hand. My God is a Spirit who resides in man!"

AMEN! There is no excuse for any born again believer to NOT know the will of God for their own personal lives! We have the Word of God for our general guidance and the Spirit of God for our specific guidance! John 10:27 tells us that those who belong to Him DO hear and know His voice! 

27 The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.

Settle it once and for all in your life that it is NOT the responsibility of someone else to hear from God and tell YOU what to say and do! Be willing to pay whatever price is necessary to spend the time that is needed for YOU to become confident in YOUR ability to hear Him. Then, JUST DO what you hear to do! Amen! Our rewards are based on OUR obedience and are not dependent on anyone else. Neither can we use anyone else as an excuse. He is ALWAYS speaking and YOU can ALWAYS be hearing, seeing and doing. Here, to encourage you in this, is Hillsong with "This Is Our God":

Shalom in Him!