Shalom,

Whenever we have a service at The Spoken Word Church, our Pastor, Bill Novak, will ask some of us to give him three points from the teaching that stood out to us. Here are my three points from today's service! 

My first point comes from the review of last week's service. Last week we looked at the difference between work and toil. We looked at Genesis 5:29:

29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed. KJV

"Work here is the Hebrew word "ma`aseh", which means: an action, a thing done, a business pursuit, an undertaking, an enterprise, an achievement. "Toil" is the Hebrew word "`itstsabown". which means: pain, labor, hardship, sorrow, toil, weariness. It doesn't take much meditation to understand which one is God's will and plan and purpose for us! I choose to be where God wants me to be, doing what God wants me to do which is my "work"! When I am in that position, then I won't find myself toiling, AND, God uses my work as a channel to bless me! Here is a list of 7 things that we can do to make sure that we are working and not toiling! 

1. Begin every day with study, prayer and praise.
2. Meditate DAILY on the Word (Joshua 1:8).
3.  Cast your cares on the Lord CONTINUALLY!
4. Be thankful for my job (career, vocation).
5. Pray for (but do not covet) raises, benefits, promotions.
6. Tithe and give JOYFULLY.
7. Stay on your present job, trusting God for any change for the better.

My second point was that we must recognize the difference between sins and weights. Hebrews 12:1:

12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

KJV

We know that sins are transgression or failings. They are selfish decisions we make to think, speak and act in a way that is contrary to God's Word. Weights are GOOD things, blessings, that distract us from running our race with passion and energy! So, let's turn away from sin, let loose of the weights and run our race to WIN IT! AMEN! 

My third point was from the teaching in Mark 5 about the account of Jesus casting the demons from the Gadarene man. Mark 5:6-7:

6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. KJV

The real man inside desired to be set free because he ran to worship Jesus! The demons did NOT want to leave! They KNEW they had to obey Jesus, so they requested to be sent into the pigs. There must have been a lot of them because the whole herd ran over the cliff! I would have thought that every person witnessing the deliverance of this severely oppressed man would have been delighted for him, but many were more concerned with their economic status. After the teaching in Mark 4 about the Word of God as seed that MUST have good soil to grow, we see that these people were NOT good soil for the Word! What did Jesus, the Sower here, do then? He went on over to the other side of the Lake where the people were hungry and open to receive the Word! We must use this example to continue in our own personal ministry! Don't stress when people do not receive you and your message. Instead, move on to those who will receive! AMEN! 

I LOVE my church! I hope that every one of you have a good local church to attend where they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, hear the Word of God taught boldly, confidently, uncompromisingly, precisely and accurately, and where they are a blessing to each other!  If you need assistance finding one, let us help you! Here is Hillsong with an encouraging older song called "Church On Fire":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Though I usually like to mix it up on this blog, today I am going to share Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "From Faith To Faith" again. This is another VITAL teaching for walking in true salvation (deliverance, rescue, safety, preservation and blessing) in every area of life!

Make His Word the Last Word

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8

Jesus is the beginning and the ending. He is the Almighty. When He told us that in the book of Revelation, He wasn't just giving us a general piece of information about Himself. He was giving us a powerful truth we can apply now, today! Let me show you how. He said He is the beginning. So no matter what challenge or situation you may be facing right now, you need to start with Him. John 1:1 says Jesus is the Word. That means, if you're going to start with Jesus, you're going to start with the Word. Don't do anything until you find out what the Word has to say about it. Then, stay on the Word. As Colossians 1:23 says,

"Continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard." 

Continue in the faith. The only way the devil can defeat you is to pressure you into throwing away the Word. Everything he does, every challenge he brings you is intended to make you doubt the Word of God. So don't let go of the Word, no matter what may happen. Settle it with God in prayer and stay with it forever. It is written!

Then end with the Word. Jesus said He was the first and the last. That means the word of your doctor is not the last word. Even the word of your pastor is not the last word. The Word of Jesus is the last Word! Remember this: You are now what the Word says you are. You can do what the Word says you can do. And you can have what the Word says you can have. Begin to believe that. Begin to say it out loud in faith.

Now shout the victory. Yes, now! You don't have to wait to see the outcome to celebrate. You have Jesus' Word on the matter, so you know beyond any doubt that your breakthrough is coming. Once you've settled yourself on Him, you can be assured that He will have the last word!

Make the Word of God YOUR "Final Authority" and allow HIM to confirm the Word you speak with signs, wonders and miracles that manifest His presence and draw people to Himself! THAT is why WE are here! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "From The Inside Out":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

THIS, taken from Kenneth and Gloria's "From Faith to Faith" today is very good for distinguishing between religion and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior! 

JUST DO IT!

And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. Luke 13:14

Religion is dangerous. Religion would rather debate about healing than see somebody healed. Religion would rather argue about deliverance than see someone set free.

You can see an example of that in Luke 13. Jesus healed a woman who had been bowed over for 18 years. Think of it, a dear old woman—a daughter of Abraham Jesus called her—set free after being bound by the devil for nearly two decades. You'd think the temple rulers would have been rejoicing at what Jesus had done. But, no! They were angry because He'd done it on the wrong day.

Do you know what's worse? Those very same religious leaders who criticized Jesus for healing on the Sabbath could have ministered healing to that woman themselves on any of the other six days of the week if they'd cared enough to do it. That's why Jesus was so indignant with them. They had the same covenant of Abraham that Jesus was ministering on. But their religion had kept that woman bound instead of setting her free. It always does.

Remember that next time someone tries to get you sidetracked into a religious debate about healing or deliverance. If someone needs to be delivered from a demon, just do it! Don't get all hung up on theological questions about where the demon is. "Is it in his body? Or his brain? Or his spirit? Or his pocket?" While you're arguing about questions like that, the demon will be driving the poor guy up the wall.

The question isn't, "Where is the demon?" The question is, "Why haven't we gotten this man delivered? He's our blood brother in the Name of Jesus and he ought to be free!" Once you start asking that question, you won't care whether that demon is inside or outside, hovering over or sitting under. All you'll care about is getting that person free! That's the difference between religion and the love of God. Religion argues. Love acts. Choose love today.

AMEN! Religion never saved anyone! JESUS did! Make sure that YOU recognize the difference. I have heard it put simply this way: "Religion kills. Jesus saves." Christianity is NOT religion. Christianity is having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ! BECAUSE you have received Him as Lord and personal Saviour, you have a relationship with Him that cannot be broken! AMEN! Pursue Life, Light and Love through your relationship and fellowship with HIM and watch your life begin to change for the better, and keep GETTING better! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "I Believe":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin is another of those foundational teachings that are essential to walking in the fullness of the Word of God and our Covenant with Him!

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17). 

The crises of life come to all of us. If you do not know how to act on God's Word when a crisis comes, you will be at a disadvantage. No matter what the problem is, God's Word has something to say about it. God's Word has the answer. Find out what the Word says, and act like it's true! 

When someone asks the question, "What in the world are we going to do now?" Just smile and answer, "We're going to act like the Bible is true!" Many people mentally agree that the Bible is true, but that's not enough. You must act like the Bible is true! If you know God's Word is true, and you act like it is, then it will become real in your life. You will bring God on the scene in your life! 

Confession: God's Word is truth. I act like God's Word is true. I act like First John 4:4 is true. I act like Matthew 6:25-34 is true. I act like Hebrews 13:5-6 is true. I act like Philippians 4:19 is true. I act like Matthew 8:17 and First Peter 2:24 are true. I act like all the "in Him" scriptures are true. I act like it, and they are a reality in my life! 

It is so vitally important that we KNOW what the Word of God has to say about each and every situation that we face! 1 John 5:14-15 tells us this:

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.

God's Word IS His will! When we find out what the Word has to say, then we can KNOW the will of God, ask according to that will, and then KNOW beyond doubt that we HAVE what we have asked for ! AMEN! Get to know what belongs to you and then TAKE it by force (Matthew 11:12 AMP)! From God? NO! From the enemy who has either stolen it or blinded our eyes to it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I can't really improve upon today's devotional from Jerry Savelle's website!

Your Adversary Is A Defeated Foe

So just what exactly does the devil have in his arsenal? Not much. Only deception. He has to deceive you. How does he do that? He convinces you through craftiness to drop your weapons and run. He’s a good talker. He will use some very deceptive words to convince you that you can’t win whatever struggle you are facing.

We have all the tools we need to defeat the devil. We have the the armor of God, the powerful name of Jesus, the Holy Spirit and angelic beings at our disposal, and the devil comes up to us and threatens us by saying, “You’ll never make it. You’ll always be a failure. I’m gonna take everything you’ve got.” And we drop all our weapons and act like heaven doesn’t exist, like the name of Jesus is no more powerful than any other name, and we run away. Why? Because we are afraid. We accept his lies as truth and believe what he says, instead of what God says.

Yet God has already equipped us to win. There is no excuse for us being defeated. Our adversary is already a defeated foe. Jesus has already beaten him at Calvary. If we allow fear to overtake us, then we are letting someone who has already been defeated talk us into dropping our weapons. That’s not very smart.

Let me tell you something. The storms you may be experiencing in your life right now could very well be at their end. The eye of the hurricane could have already passed over you. But Satan is going to keep throwing up smoke screens and thunder and lightning and all kinds of things to make you think this is going to be with you forever. He’s going to do whatever he needs to do to cause you to panic.

Don’t be like the people in Psalm 78:8 who did not have a steadfast spirit, who did not set their hearts right and gave up in the day of battle. Remember, the Lord has gotten you out of seemingly impossible situations before, and He’ll get you out again! Don’t give the devil a favorable position. Do not fear, because God is on your side.

Confession: I will not step back. I will not give up. I hold steadfast to the promises I have in the Word. God is on my side whom shall I fear.

The very BEST way to defeat the attacks of the enemy, EVERY TIME, is with the Word of God! John 17:17 tells us THIS about the Word:

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

We also have this promise in John 14:12-14:

12 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. 13 And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son. 14 [Yes] I will grant [I Myself will do for you] whatever you shall ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am].

When WE speak the Word of God , every being listens! The angels of God, sent to minister FOR us born again believers (Hebrews 1:14), will get busy confirming the Word and causing it to come to pass just as if Jesus Himself had spoken! The enemy MUST cease and desist in his attacks AND give back everything that has been stolen (Proverbs 6:31)! WE must stay on task, though, continuing in expectant hope and eager anticipation of the manifestation of the Word of God in our lives! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with an encouraging song for you called "God Is Able":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Matthew 26 today in our Bible Reading Plan. Let's look at verses 6-13:

6 Now when Jesus came back to Bethany and was in the house of Simon the leper, 7 A woman came up to Him with an alabaster flask of very precious perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, For what purpose is all this waste? 9 For this perfume might have been sold for a large sum and the money given to the poor. 10 But Jesus, fully aware of this, said to them, Why do you bother the woman? She has done a noble (praiseworthy and beautiful) thing to Me. 11 For you always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me. 12 In pouring this perfume on My body she has done something to prepare Me for My burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this good news (the Gospel) is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will be told also, in memory of her.

Do you know what verses really stand out to me? Verses 8-9:

8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, For what purpose is all this waste? 9 For this perfume might have been sold for a large sum and the money given to the poor.

This woman, who loved and worshiped Jesus, gave Him a very extravagant gift! It was a gift that reflected her love, cost her something, honored Him in the presence of others and got the attention of others. The question we need to ask is: How in the world did this affect anyone else there? Did this perfume (or ointment) belong to them? Did they pay for it? IF they were so very concerned for the poor, why were they not out doing something for the poor themselves? If you are thinking that this is none of my business, you would be absolutely correct! AND, it is none of yours, or theirs! That is my point today. The only money, possessions, riches, gifts, houses, airplanes, cars, or any other "thing" that WE should be concerned about are our own! IF God has blessed a person or a ministry with certain items, what business is it of ours? If He has called a ministry or a person to do something, purchase something, GIVE something, this is only between God and that person. And I AM saying that even the people giving should not be concerned about it. They, and WE, should ONLY be giving to ministries at the leading and direction of Holy Spirit, Who lives IN every born again believer! 

If God is telling you to give, then give generously and with joy (2 Corinthians 9:6-15). The ministries and ministers are answerable ONLY to God for what they do with His calling and instructions! YOU and I will answer ONLY for OUR obedience to His calling and instruction for US! If you are not a partner with a ministry, mind your own business! If you ARE a partner, make sure that Holy Spirit has joined you with that ministry. If not, WHAT are you doing? You should never give out of emotion, but only by the leading of that still small voice inside! If Holy Spirit has joined you with that ministry, then speak to Him, and ONLY Him about your concerns. THAT is walking in the love that never fails! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "None But Jesus":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I hope that you have been following along with us through the Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! If you haven't yet started, why not start today! You can purchase one through the website (link on the left) or you can simply follow along daily through the website. Today we read Psalm 25, Matthew 25, and Job 42. Psalm 25 contains a favorite verse of mine that I like to use before I study the Word of God.

5 Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You [You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly] all the day long.

Prayer should always preface our study of the Word, and THIS prayer is a great one to begin! Asking HIM to lead us in the study of His Word is a prayer that we KNOW He will answer (1 John 5:14-15)! As you prepare to do this, keep verse 14 in mind and heart also!

14 The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its [deep, inner] meaning.

Knowing God's Word has NEVER been about mental cramming and memorization! Rather, the study of the Word involves reading, hearing, meditation (Joshua 1:8), speaking and DOING! Obedience to the Word is one of the quickest ways to learn it! Set your heart to be instantly obedient to whatever you find in the Word to do. Your meditation and then action will seal that Word in your heart, and the manifestation of your answered prayer will encourage you to never quit! When God's Word becomes YOUR logical thought, then obeying the Word will NOT be a hard thing to do. Remember, ALWAYS, that HE is motivated by GREAT Love, for YOU! Everything He instructs us in His Word to do is out of love for us and His desire that WE should do well (3 John 2)! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Running":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,  

Two things really ministered to me today from my study in the Word of God. The first was from "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers.

LEAVE ROOM FOR GOD

But when it pleased God… — Galatians 1:15

 As workers for God we have to learn to make room for God — to give God “elbow room.” We calculate and estimate, and say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never looked for Him to come? Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him.That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to over look this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. All of a sudden God meets the life — “When it was the good pleasure of God…” (RV).

Keep your life so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left. Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God to come in as He likes.

Amen! Resist the temptation to EVER try to put God in a box! We MUST let God BE God, knowing that He will never do anything contrary to His Word, but it may be contrary to OUR understanding! What should we do then? Increase our understanding! Give God the glory for every good thing in your life (James 1:17) and fully expect Him to do more! AMEN! The other Truth that I learned today came through Pastor Bill Novak at The Spoken Word Church Worship Service. It is found in Genesis 5:29:

29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed. KJV

Did YOU know that there is a definite difference between "work" and "toil"? Sometimes learning one small key in the Word of God opens up pour understanding to so many other things! "Work" here is the Hebrew word "ma`aseh", which means: an action, a transaction, activity, a thing done, a business pursuit, an undertaking, an enterprise, an achievement. Work, according to the Word of God, is a GOOD  thing! 2 Thessalonians 3:10 tell us this:

10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. KJV

Even disabled people can do SOMETHING! At the very least, they can pray! Work is GOOD, but not TOIL! This is the Hebrew word "`itstsabown", which means: worrisome, labor, pain, hardship, sorrow, physical pain, emotional sorrow. Toil is a result of NOT being where God wants you to be, doing WHAT God wants you to do! When we are in the career or position that God has designed and equipped us for, it may be hard work, but it will NOT bring sorrow, hardship or pain! Take the time to find out just what God's will IS for your life, then be willing to pay any price to get there! Be faithful and obedient to the Word wherever you are and fully expect the Blessing of God to give you success and favor! THEN your WORK should never become TOIL! AMEN! Being a member of a good local Bible teaching Church is SO vital! I learn something new at every service! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Oceans Will Part":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Psalm 23 today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. One of the greatest blessings in learning and gaining layer upon layer upon layer of knowledge of the Word of God is finding out what belongs to us as born again believers who are members of the family of God, heirs of God and joint (equal) heirs WITH Jesus Christ! When we do this, THEN we can take a passage of Scripture such as Psalm 23 ... :

1 The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. 2 He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. 3 He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him—not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake. 4 Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over. 6 Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place. AMP

...  and make it completely personal! We can and SHOULD make these our declaration of blessing! This is how I declare and confess Psalm 23 over myself:

I thank YOU, Lord Jesus, for being MY Shepherd, feeding, guiding and shielding me from harm. Thank You for causing me to lie down in those fresh, tender, green pastures where I can feed on Your Word. Thank You for leading me to those still, restful Living waters of your Spirit. Thank You for refreshing and restoring my life (my self, my soul), for leading me in the paths of righteousness, those paths in which You walked, paths of power, authority, wisdom, understanding, anointing, blessing and ministry, for YOUR Name's sake. Yes, though I walk THROUGH (but do not live IN) this deep, sunless valley of the SHADOW of death, I fear or dread NO evil, for YOU are in and with me. Your rod of protection and your staff of guidance comfort me. You have prepared a table for me right here in the very presence of my enemy, and I CHOOSE to FEAST at that table spread for me! I eat the Bread of your Word, the Milk of Your Word, the Meat of Your Word, the Bread of Life, the Bread of Healing, the Fruit of the spirit. You have anointed my head with Oil, my brimming cup runs over. Surely and ONLY goodness, mercy and unfailing love are following me all the days of my life and I shall dwell permanently in Your Presence! 

Everything that God has provided for us in His Word MUST be "taken" by us in order for us to walk in them. Learn what belongs to YOU and then begin to OWN it by speaking it into your own life, fully expecting the manifestation! Then, SHARE with others so that they can do the same. AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Desert Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

Today's "From Faith To Faith" devotional by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland is very important for every born again believer to really know and understand!

The truth of this verse hasn't really dawned on most people. They mistakenly think that Jesus was able to work wonders, to perform miracles and to live above sin because He had divine powers that we don't have. Thus, they have never really aspired to live like He lived. 

"Oh my," they say with great humility, "I could never live like Jesus did. After all, He had an advantage. He was God!"

They don't realize that when Jesus came to earth, He voluntarily gave up that advantage, living His life here not as God but as a man. He had no innate supernatural powers. He had no ability to perform miracles until after He was anointed by the Holy Spirit as recorded in Luke 3:22. He worked wonders, not by His own power but by the power of the Father, saying,

 "The Father that dwells in me, he does the works" (John 14:10).

And when He prayed, He prayed not as a divine One who had authority as God, but as a man who walked obediently with God. And, as Hebrews 5:7 says, 

"His prayers were heard not because of His deity, but because of His reverence toward God" (The Amplified Bible).

Jesus, the divine Son of God, set aside the privileges and powers of deity for a time and lived as a man on earth. Once you grasp that, it will absolutely thrill your soul! Why? Because it means that you, as a reborn child of God, filled with the same Holy Spirit as Jesus was, have the same opportunity to live as He lived on earth. In fact, that is exactly what He intends. In John 17:18 He said to the Father, 

"Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world" (AMP).

Jesus has sent you into the world to live as He lived. Through the new birth, He's enabled you to exchange the sinful nature of Adam for the sinless nature of God. He's given you the ability and the command to live above sin, to live in fellowship with the Father, to preach the gospel, to heal the sick, to raise the dead, to cast out demons and to make disciples.

Once you realize that, you'll throw off the shackles of doubt that have held you back. You'll begin to live as Jesus meant for you to live—not as a sin-ridden son of fallen man, but as a reborn child of the Most High God. Then those around you will actually begin to see Jesus—in you.

AMEN! It was God's plan to save us from the enemy's tricks, but it is OUR responsibility to get the Word of God on the inside of us so that we CAN operate in the authority that has already been bought and paid for by the Blood of Jesus! Here is Hillsong with an older worship song called  "This Kingdom":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is a very good gauge for where our hearts are concerning the Lord! 

I remember…the kindness of thy youth. —Jeremiah 2:2

Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me? Am I full of the little things that cheer His heart over me, or am I whimpering because things are going hardly with me? There is no joy in the soul that has forgotten what God prizes. It is a great thing to think that Jesus Christ has need of me — “Give Me to drink.” How much kindness have I shown Him this past week? Have I been kind to His reputation in my life?

God is saying to His people — “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember the time when you were.” “I remember…the love of thine espousals.” Am I as full of the extravagance of love to Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Does He find me recalling the time when I did not care for anything but Himself? Am I there now, or have I become wise over loving Him? Am I so in love with Him that I take no account of where I go? Or am I watching for the respect due to me, weighing how much service I ought to give? If, as I recall what God remembers about me, I find He is not what He used to be to me, let it produce shame and humiliation, because that shame will bring the godly sorrow that works repentance.

This very attitude was addressed in the letters to the churches in Revelation 2:4:

4 But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love]. AMP

Only YOU and Holy Spirit know where YOUR heart is at concerning this. Only YOU and Holy Spirit can make the changes that are necessary in order to walk in that place of being continually in love with Jesus! Don't let one day go by without thanking Him for Who He is and for ALL that He has done to bless your life! HE loves to hear your love expressed every bit as much as you do, from Him and others. Refuse to be silenced in this! HE deserves ALL of our praise and love. AMEN! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "You Deserve":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Two things really stood out to me today from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. In Matthew 20:1-2:

20 For the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out in the morning along with the dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 

Notice that when this estate owner decided to hire workers for his vineyard, He "agreed" with them concerning their pay for the day. This is the Greek word "sumphoneo", which means: to be harmonious, to concur, to be in accord, to be in harmony with, to reach an agreement, to come to terms. These workers AGREED that a denarius was a fair wage for a day's work. We're all familiar with the rest of the account, that the owner went out a few more times during that day and hired whomever was standing around waiting for a job. At the end of the day, when it came time to collect their pay, the first workers were angry that the workers hired later were paid the same. In the beginning they thought it was fine, BUT, when they looked from their own situation to that of someone else, they began to "grumble". This is "gong`yzo", which means: to be dissatisfied because of disappointed hopes. The problem was actually NOT disappointed hopes, because they had a discussion about what would be fair wages before they even started and KNEW what they were getting! No, they were JEALOUS at the blessing that the other workers received in getting the same for less time in the field. Do you see where this attitude has crept in to the culture of this nation today? In fact, it is much, much worse! I have heard of a part-time worker in a restaurant who thought that they should have a share of the business with the owner because they did the flipping of the burgers! Can you even imagine that thinking? This business owner had to pay the price to study and learn about the business he wanted to open. He had to find or build a building to house this business. He had to do research into every area of the business so he could put together a business plan that he could present to the bank or other lending institution in order to obtain financing. He had to advertise, interview, hire and train workers for every aspect of the business that he couldn't do himself. He had to pay salaries for these workers, along with matching their withholding amounts. In some cases, with full time workers, he had to provide health insurance and cover for vacations and sick days that the workers would be missing. Now, a part-time "burger-flipper" feels that HE should get a share of the profits because HE is so important to the business! I hope that you all see the complete absurdity of that situation! I also hope that those of you raising children will raise them to be respectful, grateful, thankful, hardworking and goal oriented! THAT is the very least we should be doing in the training of our children! AMEN! 

I also see similar attitudes in these days among those who refuse to accept Jesus as Lord and personal Savior. They ask questions such as: "How can a god who is supposed to be loving send someone to hell?" Let's look in our reading for today in Job for that! Job 34:13-14 asks this:

13 Who put [God] in charge over the earth? Or who laid on Him the whole world? 14 If [God] should set His heart upon him [man] and withdraw His [life-giving] spirit and His breath [from man] to Himself, 15 All flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.

Who are WE to question the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible? Did HE get His authority from US? NO! If God decided today to chuck it all and start over again, He COULD because He CAN. He WON'T, though, because He CAN'T! He has set Himself in the position that He cannot go against His own Word! What has He said in His Word? John 3:16-18:

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.  18 He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation — he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ's name.] AMP

God Himself has ordered that if ANYONE will believe (cleave to, rely on, trust ) in HIM, this person WILL BE SAVED from death (eternal separation from God), hell and the grave! Another witness? 1 John 5:11-12:

1 John 5:11 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. AMP

GOD has never sent anyone to hell! The choices of each individual person concerning what THEY will do with JESUS is what determines whether Heaven or Hell is in our future for the next life! Have YOU received Jesus as Lord and personal Savior? If not, why not? Follow the link on the left to go to  our website and find out how! NOW, go share that wonderful Good News with everyone you come in contact with so that they, too, can KNOW that they have Heaven as their home when they leave this earth! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with a job description for us! "No Reason To Hide":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is a very good lesson to learn in waiting on, and trusting in, the God of the Bible!

Whenever God gives a vision to a saint, He puts him, as it were, in the shadow of His hand, and the saint’s duty is to be still and listen. There is a darkness which comes from excess of light, and then is the time to listen. Genesis 16 is an illustration of listening to good advice when it is dark instead of waiting for God to send the light. When God gives a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will make you in accordance with the vision He has given if you will wait His time. Never try and help God fulfil His word. Abraham went through thirteen years of silence, but in those years all self-sufficiency was destroyed; there was no possibility left of relying on commonsense ways. Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not of displeasure. Never pump up joy and confidence, but stay upon God (cf. Isaiah 50:10-11).

Have I any confidence in the flesh? Or have I got beyond all confidence in myself and in men and women of God, in books and prayers and ecstasies; and is my confidence placed now in God Himself, not in His blessings? “I am the Almighty God” — El-Shaddai, the Father-Mother God. The one thing for which we are all being disciplined is to know that God is real. As soon as God becomes real, other people become shadows. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever perturb the one who is built on God.

What does Genesis 16 cover? It reveals the mistake of trying to MAKE God's Word happen in OUR timing! All of the major terrorist attacks going on in our world today could have been prevented if Abram had trusted fully and completely in the promises of God for his offspring! He SHOULD have told Sarai NO to her suggestion to take her maid to have a child. That child caused nothing but heartache for Sarah and the world today is STILL dealing with the repercussions of that decision! Make sure that YOU are staying grounded in the Word of God and filled with the Spirit of God so that when God speaks, you will listen with the purpose of obeying, not only WHAT He tells you to do, but WHEN He says to do it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "The Stand":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

1 Peter 5:8 reveals this little "secret" about our enemy, the devil!

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:

The "secret" that the devil does NOT want you to know? He CANNOT devour (hurt, steal from, kill, or destroy) anyone he chooses! He can ONLY devour those who allow themselves to be devoured by not knowing their own authority as born again believers! He IS a defeated foe! Jesus completely defeated him through His death, burial and resurrection, and that VICTORY belongs to US when WE make JESUS our Lord and personal Savior! Now we must continue in the Word of God to find out what belongs to us in JESUS Name! Read through Psalm 18 from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today to stir yourself up for the FIGHT! What fight is that? The Fight of Faith (1 Timothy 6:12), which WE win, if we refuse to quit and if we will walk in our authority! Look at Psalm 18:29-39 and get excited about the victories that are coming your way!

29 For by You I can run through a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. 30 As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him. 31 For who is God except the Lord? Or who is the Rock save our God, 32 The God who girds me with strength and makes my way perfect? 33 He makes my feet like hinds’ feet [able to stand firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of testing and trouble]; He sets me securely upon my high places. 34 He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand has held me up; Your gentleness and condescension have made me great. 36 You have given plenty of room for my steps under me, that my feet would not slip. 37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them; neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 38 I smote them so that they were not able to rise; they fell wounded under my feet. 39 For You have girded me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me and caused to bow down those who rose up against me.

AMEN! Jesus is our Commander-in-Chief and WE are the WINNING soldiers in HIS army! HALLELUJAH! You can DO this! Here is Darlene Zschech with "Victor's Crown":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "From Faith To Faith" by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland goes right along with the sermon from last Sunday at The Spoken Word Church! 

Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean. But Naaman was angry....2 Kings 5:10-11 AMP

So often we miss out on what God wants to do for us because He doesn't do it the way we think He should. We work up an idea in our minds about how He's going to heal us, for instance. We think He's going to send some famous preacher to lay hands on us or that He's going to knock us off our feet with a blast of His power. When He doesn't, we let our faith drop and foul up what He had actually planned to do.

That's what Naaman did. He went to Elisha expecting to be healed in a particular way. When it didn't happen that way, the Bible says, he went away in a rage. What Elisha told him to do was simple. Dip seven times in the Jordan. Naaman could do that. But it didn't fit his idea of how his healing should take place. He thought Elisha would heal him by waving his hands around and calling on the Name of the Lord. Naaman stormed away and he would have missed out on his healing if one of his servants hadn't talked him into giving Elisha's instructions a try.

I used to be like that. I wanted spectacular experiences from God so badly I was missing out on the experiences God had planned for me. Once I realized that, I quit looking for feelings and spectacular manifestations and just started expecting God to keep His Word.

I remember I went to a meeting one night with my ankle messed up terribly. The pain was so severe it went from my foot all the way up to my shoulder blades. But I went into that meeting expecting God to heal me.

During the praise service, I ignored the pain in my foot and just sang and worshiped with everyone else. When the preaching started, I got my Bible and got involved in the Word. Sure enough, sometime during that service I was healed. I don't know when it was. I didn't feel anything. I didn't see any sparklers go off. I didn't even realize I'd been healed until after the service. I got about halfway to the door and thought, Glory to God, my foot's well!

Don't let your own ideas of how God's going to work rob you of your healing or your deliverance or your prosperity. Just trust Him and let Him do things His way. He will work mightily in you.

AMEN! I have received healing in my body, at different times, in almost every way shown us in the Word of God! I have stood on particular verses for my own healing. I have prayed the prayer of agreement for my healing with another of like-minded faith. I have had hands laid on me by a minister of the Gospel and also by other like-minded believers. I have had children pray for me and my healing manifest. I have called on the elders of the church and been anointed with oil. I have also received the manifestation of my healing while listening continually to the Word being spoken through Healing Verses, Healing Confessions, Healing Scriptures, Healing Praise and Worship, and by reading God's Medicine. What would I say is the very best way to receive? The way that works! The Spirit of God will lead, guide and direct you to what YOU should do in each and every situation! Do what YOU choose to do and allow Him to change the method if He wants to. The most important thing is to KNOW that HE wants YOU well (3 John 2)! When that is established, the rest comes easily! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Back To Life":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

The subheading for Psalm 16 from the Amplified Classic Bible says this:

A Poem of David; [probably] intended to record memorable thoughts.

Do you see what this is? David took notes and recorded them in the form of a poem! How do YOU record the notes for things you want to remember and remind yourself of? David was reminding himself of the Word and what belonged to him because of the Covenant he had with God. Look at verse 8:

8 I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

David had to make a determined purpose that he would set the Lord before himself. This is the Hebrew word "shavah", which means: to agree with, to become like, to resemble. What this means is that David set himself to make the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible his standard! David desired to think, speak and act like God. He desired to imitate God rather than the best of men! THIS is exactly what you and I should do! We should strive to be like HIM! AMEN! That is why Paul made it his "determined purpose" to KNOW Him more (Philippians 3:10 AMP). In order to think, speak and act like someone you admire, you must spend time with them! We do this through praise and worship, prayer, study of the Word, intimate fellowship with Him and then by acting on what we learn. When WE do this, it WILL be said of us, as it was said of them, that we "have been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13)! HALLELUJAH! There is not a better goal for us to set for ourselves! Here, to encourage you in this, is Hillsong with "To Be Like You":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

"Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin is a devotional that we have been using at The Spoken Word Church from the very beginning. God's Word is timeless and appropriate for every day and every situation. I always learn something new from the Word and using these tools has been such a blessing! Today's contains Truth that born again believers MUST realize and remind themselves on a daily basis so that we can maintain our position of authority over the enemy and his schemes, tricks and strategies! 

Mighty Weapon

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds" (2 Cor. 10:4). 

Although we have been made new creatures - created by God in Christ Jesus; and although we are transferred out from under Satan's authority, we still live in a world ruled by Satan. The Bible calls Satan "the god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4) and "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2). Christ also called him "the prince of this world" (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11). 

According to the Word of God, the very air about us is filled with hostile forces attempting to destroy our fellowship with God the Father, and to deprive us of our usefulness in the Master's service. But our Father God, in His great provision and plan of redemption, has given us a weapon to use against Satan. That weapon is given to us not only for ourselves, but also for the benefit of the Satan-ruled men and women around us. That weapon is the Name of Jesus! 

Confession: The weapons of my warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Where Satan's forces have built strongholds, I can pull them down with the mighty Name of Jesus. Satan is no match for that Name. And that Name is a mighty weapon given to me to use against the forces of the enemy. 

The devil and his forces have already been defeated by JESUS in His death, burial and resurrection! JESUS has the keys of death and hell (Revelation 1:18) and the enemy has no authority in the earth. The only weapon he now has is the lie and his many tricks to get people to believe those lies. Be informed by being a daily student of the Word of God AND a DOER of that Word (James 1:22)! When you and I operate in our authority, those without Jesus will see the difference in us and in our lives and they will know that there IS hope for a better life, both here and in the next life. Our entire purpose for living on the earth after being born again is to show forth HIS works! Let's do it boldly! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "The Difference":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is POWERFUL! 

Called Of God

Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. —Isaiah 6:8
God did not address the call to Isaiah; Isaiah overheard God saying — “Who will go for us?” The call of God is not for the special few, it is for everyone. Whether or not I hear God’s call depends upon the state of my ears; and what I hear depends upon my disposition. “Many are called but few are chosen” that is, few prove themselves the chosen ones. The chosen ones are those who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ whereby their disposition has been altered and their ears unstopped, and they hear the still small voice questioning all the time — “Who will go for us?” It is not a question of God singling out a man and saying, “Now, you go.” God did not lay a strong compulsion on Isaiah; Isaiah was in the presence of God and he overheard the call, and realized that there was nothing else for him but to say, in conscious freedom — “Here am I, send me.”
Get out of your mind the idea of expecting God to come with compulsions and pleadings. When our Lord called His disciples there was no irresistible compulsion from outside. The quiet passionate insistence of His “Follow Me” was spoken to men with every power wide awake. If we let the Spirit of God bring us face to face with God, we too shall hear something akin to what Isaiah heard, the still small voice of God; and in perfect freedom will say — “Here am I; send me.”

AMEN! We KNOW from 2 Corinthians 5:19 that each and every born again believer has been given the Ministry of Reconciliation. That is the call to tell everyone we come in contact with the Good News that God isn't holding anything against anyone! The price to be paid for sin was paid once for all by Jesus on the Cross. The ONLY sin not covered is the sin of rejecting Jesus and His incredible free gift! We have all have, also, been called to preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). Some of us do this by going, some by staying and praying and paying for the others to go. When you and I say "Here I am Lord, send me", we are surrendering our will to His and committing that whichever He needs us to do, we are available! He WILL let us know by that still small voice where we are to serve! We should ALL start by praying and paying for the Gospel to be freely spread, freely received and confirmed with signs, wonders and miracles (Mark 16:20). Once we take responsibility for that, THEN and ONLY then will we qualify to be sent somewhere else! Commit yourself today to be WHERE God wants you to be, doing WHAT He wants YOU to do ! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Oceans - Where Feet May Fail":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Before we look at some verses in Matthew 13, I want to share two Scriptures with you. Hosea 6:3a (from KJV, AMPC and AMP) and Joshua 1:8 (from AMPC):

Hosea 6:3a Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: KJV
Hosea 6:3a Yes, let us know (recognize, be acquainted with, and understand) Him; let us be zealous to know the Lord [to appreciate, give heed to, and cherish Him]. AMPC
Hosea 6:3a “So let us know and become personally acquainted with Him; let us press on to know and understand fully the [greatness of the]Lord [to honor, heed, and deeply cherish Him]. AMP

Joshua 1:8 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. AMPC

I have shared both of these portions of Scripture many times on this blog because they are both powerful and essential to our continual growth in the Word of God. We WILL know the Word IF and WHEN we decide to pursue that knowledge! We must make a determined purpose to know the Word because the Word of God was designed by God Himself to only be illuminated to those who truly love and pursue it! Now let's look at Matthew 13:10-16:

10 Then the disciples came to Him and said, Why do You speak to them in parables? 11 And He replied to them, To you it has been given to know the secrets and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has [spiritual knowledge], to him will more be given and he will be furnished richly so that he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is the reason that I speak to them in parables: because having the power of seeing, they do not see; and having the power of hearing, they do not hear, nor do they grasp and understand. 14 In them indeed is the process of fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: You shall indeed hear and hear but never grasp and understand; and you shall indeed look and look but never see and perceive. 15 For this nation’s heart has grown gross (fat and dull), and their ears heavy and difficult of hearing, and their eyes they have tightly closed, lest they see and perceive with their eyes, and hear and comprehend the sense with their ears, and grasp and understand with their heart, and turn and I should heal them. 16 But blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are your eyes because they do see, and your ears because they do hear.

Now realize that Jesus was speaking to Jewish people who lived under the Old Covenant! The disciples followed Jesus by their own free will! They understood more than the people who simply followed after Jesus to see what He would do. But, even those people had the ability to know IF they desired to know! Simeon was an Old Testament believer, but He knew and recognized Jesus as the Messiah when he saw Him as an infant (Luke 2:25-35)! We, who have received Jesus as Lord and Saviour are completely without excuse as we have the Spirit of God, the Teacher, living inside of us, making learning and understanding the Word SO much easier than those who came before! In verses 18-23, Jesus explains the different "soil" that affects the understanding of the Word. I desire to have soil that will produce great fruit! You and I are the ones responsible for the condition of the soil of our hearts! Make sure that you are maintaining a grateful and thankful heart, that you are staying filled with the Spirit of God, that you spend time daily in praise and worship, that you spend time in intimate fellowship with Him, that you also fellowship with like-minded believers, that you are receiving from the ministry gifts (Ephesians 4), that you meditate on the Word you hear and that you are putting it into practice. Does this sound like a lot to do? Well, how important IS it to you to know the Word of God! Only YOU can determine that for yourself! My prayer is that it becomes as VITAL for you as breathing! THEN you will know the Truth and that Truth will set you free (John 8:31-32)! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Wake":

Shalom in Him!