Shalom,

I want to share today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin. This is the devotional that we are reading this year as we close out our Morning Prayer services at The Spoken Word Church. This is very important for every born again believer to know!
Conductor Of Life

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

Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature … and these signs shall follow them that believe" (Mark 16:15,17). 
One of these signs Jesus said would follow believers - not the Early Church, not apostles, not pastors, not preachers, but believers - is, " …they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:18). 

Why? Because the life of God is in believers! 

Sometimes people are specially anointed to minister healing, but that isn't what Mark 16 is talking about! Every born-again believer has the life of God, the nature of God, the God-kind of life, in him - and by the laying on of hands, that life can be imparted into the physical bodies of others! 

That's why you should lay hands on the sick. When you lay hands on them, that life of God in you is conducted through your hands to others. Often, you'll be conscious of that life flowing right out of you into them. 

You've got the life of God in you! You've got the nature of God in you! God's a healing God. Put God's power to work! That's how God works - through your own hands. God's not here on earth in Person, but He is in you by His Spirit! 

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

Many people have tried to remove these verses from the Bible because they believe that they were not included in the earliest writings. Since none of us were there, I think the correct thing to do would be to read the accounts of the early church's ministry from the Book of Acts! As we read through Acts, we see, without doubt, that the apostles and other church members carried out these commands, constantly and consistently! THEY certainly believed that they were being obedient to the One, True God, and HE certainly worked WITH them, confirming their words and works! Let's stop listening to the naysayers, the nitpickers, and the doubters and get out there as DOERS! When the God of the Bible confirms the Word that YOU dare to obey, you will have all the proof you need! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Falling Into You":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I love this heart that Paul had for the people he ministered to! Here it is the church at Colossae. Colossians 2:2-4:

2 [For my concern is] that their hearts may be braced (comforted, cheered, and encouraged) as they are knit together in love, that they may come to have all the abounding wealth and blessings of assured conviction of understanding, and that they may become progressively more intimately acquainted with and may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly that mystic secret of God, [which is] Christ (the Anointed One). 3 In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden. 4 I say this in order that no one may mislead and delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech.

Paul did not want these people to be carried away with the ways, words and problems of the world. His desire was that every born again believer would develop a closer fellowship with the One, True God of the Bible. While the Spirit of God indwells every believer, not all have received the infilling, and even some of those who have do not spend the time that is necessary to develop that fellowship! Remember, HE will never leave us or forsake us, BUT, WE must pursue intimate fellowship with Him! He will NOT intrude on our free will. When we do have that close, intimate fellowship, Holy Spirit is willing and able to warn us and prepare us for those situations, circumstances and people who would lead us away! Look at verses 8-10:

8 See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah). 9 For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature]. 10 And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].

AMEN! The life that our God would prefer us to live is described in John 10:10, and this is ONLY possible through that wonderful, intimate fellowship and communion with Him! Let's get to it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Where You Are":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

After praying in the Spirit for someone that I care about, and praying specifically in English as HE leads, I will put that person's name in the prayer's introduced to us by Paul in Ephesians 1 and 3 and in Colossians 1. We read Colossians 1 today in our Bible Reading Plan, so I am going to share that prayer with you here! Colossians 1:9-14:

9 For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things— 10 That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition]. 11 [We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy, 12 Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light. 13 [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.

I really cannot think of a better and more comprehensive prayer to pray! 1 John 5:14-15 tells us that if we pray according to God's will, HE hears us! It goes on to say that IF He hears our prayer, we HAVE the answer! So, find out what the will of God is for every situation you face and then pray that Word, His will, fully expecting the answer! AMEN! The prayer above IS God's Word, His will, so freely and expectantly pray this for all of your loved ones and give God all the praise, thanksgiving and worship when these things begin to manifest in their lives! HE loves you AND them! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

As you continue to follow along with us through the Bible with our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan, remember that the Epistles are letters that were written by the apostles to the born again, Spirit-filled churches through the Pastors of these churches. These letters were meant to give further and more clear instructions on carrying out God's plan for our lives. Pay attention to the Epistles today and you will be fully equipped to make right choices in every area of life! One example is found in today's reading in Philippians 4! Verse 4:

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

"Rejoice" is the Greek word "chairoo", which means to be glad, to be well, to thrive. The Amplified Bible (above) says it clearly! "Gladden yourselves" or MAKE YOURSELF GLAD! This is something that does NOT come from the outside in and no one can do it FOR you! You and I must stir up the joy of the Lord that lives IN us, as born again believers, by reminding ourselves of all of the wonderful blessings in our lives, of all that HE has done for us and of all the promises of His Word that are yet to be manifest! When WE do this, then HE is released to work in our lives and on our behalf! LET'S DO IT! There is no other way to live triumphantly and abundantly! A necessary prerequisite for making ourselves glad is found in verse 6:

6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

In order to NOT fret or be anxious, we must take everything to the Lord in prayer that is based on the promises of His Word (1 John 5:14-15)! Before we can do this, however, we must be DOERS of 1 Peter 5:7:

7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.  [Ps 55:22.] AMP

NOW we can pray and confess the Word of God over our situations and circumstances and NOW we can make ourselves glad! REJOICE! It's NOT simply a suggestion, but a command! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Brighter":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

My very favorite scripture is Philippians 3:10 from the Amplified Bible. Here are verses 8-10:

8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One), 9 And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith. 10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power out-flowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

Paul said that EVERYTHING in his life rated as NOTHING in comparison to the New Birth, being born again by the Spirit if God, and having the priceless privilege of being able to get to know HIM intimately! As believers, we MUST have this attitude toward the things of God. What we do not appreciate and treat as valuable and "worth our time", we will eventually let loose of. We will never lose our salvation, but we will miss out entirely on all that HE has planned for us HERE and NOW! He has fully equipped us to walk in total prosperity and health as we put HIM (His Word) first place! Make the adjustments necessary for YOU to not miss a single second of that precious time with HIM! You will be SO glad that you paid the price to do so when the answers come to you before you even ask the questions! THIS type of intimate fellowship is the born again believers LIFELINE! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Lifeline":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Yesterday we spoke about making the Word of God our top priority. Today's "Faith To Faith" by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland gives some pointers on how to effectively live in faith on the Word!

And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart: And you shall...talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when thou lie down, and when thou rise up.... and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. Deuteronomy 6:6-8

One of the reasons Gloria and I have seen the results we have in our lives and in our ministry is because when we realized what the Word of God would do, we literally immersed ourselves in it. We turned off the radio and television, put down the newspaper, and spent nearly every waking moment of the time available either reading the Word, listening to tapes on the Word, or thinking about the Word.

All that time in the Word eventually had a powerful effect on us. It began to revolutionize everything about us. It began to turn failure into success.

All that didn’t happen overnight, however. It took time. A great many believers don’t realize that. They start out devoting themselves to the Word, but they make the mistake of expecting instant, miraculous results, and when they don’t see them, they get disappointed and fall away.

Don’t do that. Be patient. Give the Word time to do its work.

Jesus once said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). The Word of God feeds the spirit man just as bread feeds the body. Food has to be built into your body. The vitamins and minerals it contains have a cumulative effect on it, don’t they? In fact, almost anything that affects your body instantaneously is considered dangerous.

Much the same thing is true with the Word of God. It has a cumulative effect. Yes, at times God will act instantly and perform a miracle, but only to get things back on track. What He really intends is for you to feed on His Word to grow in strength and in faith and to bear fruit in due season.

So don’t get in such an all-fired hurry. Stay in the Word. Be patient. The results will come!

SO many times I have counseled with people who have found the promises of God for their particular situation, prayed and believed, and then gave up when it seemed to be taking too long. I have one piece of advise for anyone in that position right now! God is RARELY early, but He is NEVER late! HIS timing is PERFECT! Our job is to become DOERS of the Word we know to do, then spend the time in between the "Amen" and the "Here it is" praising Him for the answer, sharing the Gospel, praying for others, meditating on the Word and being a BLESSING! When WE concentrate on OUR part, God is free to do His, which is confirming His Word! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Close":

VERSE

In the arms of the Father

There is love like no other

He who formed all things

Offers love to me

Where You go we will follow

Through the dark through the narrow

And in all we do

We are bound to You

CHORUS

I want to be close to You

I want to be close to You

There's nothing in this world

That compares to all You are

VERSE

We are found in Your presence

Seeking You in Your fullness

Give us eyes to see

You are all we need

BRIDGE

My sole devotion

My only focus

To worship You

My life surrendered

My heart abandoned

For more of You

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Proverbs 24:3-4 says this:

3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: 4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. KJV

We know that the Word of God tells us that Wisdom is the "principal thing" (Proverbs 4:7)! This means that getting Wisdom should be our top priority! The verses above tell us that we build, furnish and establish a house by this. The Amplified Bible goes even further! 

3 Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], 4 And by knowledge shall its chambers [of every area] be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

The Wisdom and understanding that we obtain through diligent study and meditation of the Word of God is what is needful to be successful and prosperous in any and every area of our lives! Whatever YOU have been doing up to this point to succeed or accomplish something, take stock of your attention to the Word of God. Make whatever adjustments are necessary to make this your top priority and watch the manifestation of things you have been working, believing and, sometimes, striving for begin to happen more quickly and abundantly than ever before! God's Word is TRUTH (John 17:17), and it WORKS! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Ephesians 6 has always been a favorite battle Scripture for me! We are told in Romans 8:37 that we are MORE than conquerors - in Him. THIS is the way we wage our warfare! Ephesians 6:10-18:

10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. 11 Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. 13 Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. 14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, 15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. 16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. 18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).

"Be strong" in verse 10 is the Greek word "endunamoo", which means: to empower; to make strong; to endue with strength. OUR strength in this spiritual faith fight is from HIM! Remember that it is "not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord" (Zechariah 4:6)! Ephesians 6 gives us everything a true soldier would need! Protective armor, a Source of strength and supply, a clear enemy, a proven battle plan and the assurance that we WILL win! As a born again believer, you ARE a soldier in this army of the LORD! Let's get to the battle and fight this fight that we WILL win! AMEN! Never give up and NEVER give in! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "When The Fight Calls":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin we read again his account of the difference in his grades in school before and after being born again!

Development

"In him [Jesus] was life [zoe]; and the life [zoe] was the light of men" (John 1:4). 

The life that came into you at the New Birth can affect your mental processes by governing your thinking and your intellect. It certainly did mine.

I received eternal life as a teenage boy on the bed of sickness, April 22, 1933. Then on August 8, 1934, I was healed by the power of God through faith and prayer.

After my healing, I returned to high school. During the sixteen months I had been bedfast, I missed one school year. And in the two years of high school I had completed before, I had been a "D" student.

At that time, I didn't have a Greek concordance, so I didn't know about zoe. But I had my Bible, and the Spirit of God led me. Every day as I went to school I would say this:

"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. That life is in me. The life of God is in me. That life is the light. (I knew light stood for development.) That life is developing me. That life is developing my spirit. That life is developing my mentality. I've got God in me. I've got God's wisdom in me. I've got God's life in me. I've got God's power in me." 

These are the declarations, based on the Word of God, that he would make about himself every day. The next couple of days in Faith Food he will give more examples of those who obeyed God and walked in great wisdom and favor. The end result of these actions that Kenneth Hagin took is that he became the ONLY straight A student in his entire class! The Word works, and it will work for YOU in just the same way! DARE to BELIEVE! Now DO IT! Amen! Here is Hillsong Young and Free" with "Wake":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share a portion of Rick Renner's "Sparkling Gems from the Greek" devotional.  Here is the part I want to share:

But here is the good news: Just as the Holy Spirit convicts a sinner of his sin, He is also sent to convince believers of their new rightstanding with God! Jesus told us this about the Holy Spirit: “And when he is come, he will reprove…of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more” (John 16:8,10).

The word “reprove” is the Greek word elegcho. It means to expose or to convict, such as to convict someone of a crime or a sin. This word was used to describe legal proceedings during which a person was examined and cross-examined in a court of law until the court issued a final ruling. If the person was deemed guilty, he was unmistakably convicted of his crime. In this sense, the word elegcho describes the work of the Spirit to completely and thoroughly convict a sinner of his sin. When the Holy Spirit is finished opening the eyes of a person to his sin, that person knows he is a sinner. There is no escaping the truth for the unbeliever once the Holy Spirit has revealed truth to his heart!

But the word “reprove” is also used in a positive sense to convince someone of something positive. Again in a legal sense, it was used to denote lawyers who worked very diligently to convince people of a new way of thinking or a new way of seeing things. Perhaps they were entrenched in a wrong mindset or had a distorted perception, so the attorneys would go to work to change their opinion. In this case, they weren’t trying to convict someone; they were working to convince someone!

Referring to the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, “And when he is come, he will reprove…of righteousness…” (John 16:8). After the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and God declares us righteous, it takes a supernatural work of God to make us comprehend our new condition in Jesus Christ. This realization is just as supernatural as the moment we recognized we were lost. Only this time, we are being supernaturally awakened to the fact that we are righteous!

And also this:

If you struggle with a poor self-image and a constant feeling of condemnation, you need the Holy Spirit to do His convincing work in your life. Only He can open your eyes to see who you have become in Jesus Christ. Once your eyes have been opened and you understand you are righteous, you will never again throw the truth back in God’s face and argue with Him. When the Holy Spirit reminds you that you have been declared righteous, you will cry out with joy, “Thank you! That’s exactly who I am!”

This means you don’t have to be negative about yourself all the time. You don’t have to beat yourself over the head, constantly reminding yourself of how unworthy you are, because Jesus made you worthy! He made you righteous!

On the other hand, if you don’t have a grasp of this God-given righteousness, a negative self-image will most likely rule your life, inhibiting your ability to pray with the confident trust that God will answer your prayer. That sense of unworthiness will cause a cloud of heaviness to hang over your life, hindering your ability to walk in the joy and victory of the Lord.

So don’t you think it’s time to let the Holy Spirit open your eyes and ears to see and hear the truth about who God has made you to be? It may seem hard to believe that you’re righteous, and it may take a lot of convincing for you to finally believe it. But the Holy Spirit was sent to be the Great Convincer! He is on the job and is ready right now to start convincing you of the truth regarding who you are in Christ!

AMEN! Holy Spirit "convicts" the sinner of their need for a Saviour and "convicts" the saint of their new nature IN HIM! Yes, we WILL make mistakes as born again believers, but we are no longer identified by our sin and shortcomings! We are now identified with JESUS and IN HIM! Allow the TRUTH of who YOU are - IN HIM - to permeate your very being! Allow Holy Spirit to rise up big within you with the knowledge and understanding of just how your Heavenly Father sees you. Now go out and DO what HE has said you can do! Rewards await! In THIS life and in the next! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "GO":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is another excellent one!

And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends. — Job 42:10

The plaintive, self-centered, morbid kind of prayer, a dead-set that I want to be right, is never found in the New Testament. The fact that I am trying to be right with God is a sign that I am rebelling against the Atonement. “Lord, I will purify my heart if You will answer my prayer; I will walk rightly if You will help me.” I cannot make myself right with God, I cannot make my life perfect; I can only be right with God if I accept the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ as an absolute gift. Am I humble enough to accept it? I have to resign every kind of claim and cease from every effort, and leave myself entirely alone in His hands, and then begin to pour out in the priestly work of intercession. There is much prayer that arises from real disbelief in the Atonement. Jesus is not beginning to save us, He has saved us, the thing is done, and it is an insult to ask Him to do it.

If you are not getting the hundredfold more, not getting insight into God’s word, then start praying for your friends, enter into the ministry of the interior. “The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends.” The real business of your life as a saved soul is intercessory prayer. Wherever God puts you in circumstances, pray immediately, pray that His Atonement may be realized in other lives as it has been in yours. Pray for your friends now; pray for those with whom you come in contact now.

This is real insight into the problem that some believers have accepting that they have already been MADE righteous by what Jesus accomplished FOR us (2 Corinthians 5:21)! When we become self-centered and look only at our own lives, we can become conscious of every misstep and mistake that we make! We can get discouraged and be tempted to give up and quit. When we turn our attention outward, toward other believers' needs and toward the lost, and begin to pray in intercession for them, our vision will be enlarged to see the bigger picture! When we pray for others and when we preach the Gospel and teach the Word, the lost will be reached and the believers will be set free! When WE do this, we won't have to be concerned for our own needs, because God Himself has promised us THIS in Ephesians 6:8:

8 Knowing that for whatever good anyone does, he will receive his reward from the Lord, whether he is slave or free.

AMEN! Let's be God-inside minded so that we recognize who we are IN HIM. Now let's use THAT knowledge and understanding to take up our position of authority and see to it that others have their needs met! We CANNOT out-give the God of the Bible! Here is Hillsong with one of my favorite songs, "Desert Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Lovest thou Me?…Feed My sheep. — John 21:16

Jesus did not say — Make converts to your way of thinking, but look after My sheep, see that they get nourished in the knowledge of Me. We count as service what we do in the way of Christian work; Jesus Christ calls service what we are to Him, not what we do for Him. Discipleship is based on devotion to Jesus Christ, not on adherence to a belief or a creed. “If any man come to Me and hate not…, he cannot be My disciple.” There is no argument and no compulsion, but simply — “If you would be My disciple, you must be devoted to Me.” A man touched by the Spirit of God suddenly says — “Now I see Who Jesus is,” and that is the source of devotion.

To-day we have substituted credal belief for personal belief, and that is why so many are devoted to causes and so few devoted to Jesus Christ. People do not want to be devoted to Jesus, but only to the cause He started. Jesus Christ is a source of deep offence to the educated mind of to-day that does not want Him in any other way than as a Comrade. Our Lord’s first obedience was to the will of His Father, not to the needs of men; the saving of men was the natural outcome of His obedience to the Father. If I am devoted to the cause of humanity only, I will soon be exhausted and come to the place where my love will falter; but if I love Jesus Christ personally and passionately, I can serve humanity though men treat me as a door-mat. The secret of a disciple’s life is devotion to Jesus Christ, and the characteristic of the life is its unobtrusiveness. It is like a corn of wheat, which falls into the ground and dies, but presently it will spring up and alter the whole landscape (John 12:24).

Let's make sure that we are obeying what JESUS said was the first and most important commandment, to love HIM with all of our being (Matthew 22:25-40; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:25-28)! When we do this, the Word of God will open up to us as never before and we will be able to be better DOERS of the Word of God, reaping the rewards of a DOER! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "To My Knees":

[Verse 1]
In the Saviour's love
I find joy beyond compare
Endless peace covers all of me
When You breathe within
You turn winter into spring
Grace dissolves every fear in me
[Chorus]
Your Love brings me to my knees
Brings me to my knees
My King forever
You are all my heart desires
Until the end of time
My soul surrendered
[Verse 2]
In my vacant heart
Lord You came and made a home
You bring light to the dark in me
When I lose my way
I am beckoned into grace
You alone are my everything
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
All the earth sing of mercy never ending
I will worship with all that is within me
Holy Holy, Lord God almighty
King of Heaven, Your's is the glory  (2x)
[Chorus]    [Instrumental Break]     [Chorus]

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

James 1:19 has always been a cautionary verse for me, causing me to be aware of my words!

19 Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry.

When we decide to speak before we hear, we will most times be speaking out of turn. We may THINK we have an accurate handle on a situation, only to find out, UPON LISTENING, that we had it wrong! Being slow to speak will save us from embarrassment and also from declaring things with our powerful words that we really do not want to have happen! When we are promised that we can have what we say (John 15:7), we should make sure that we only say what we REALLY want! Today's reading in Proverbs 18 has much to say about this subject, too! Verses 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 13, 20 and 21:

2 A [self-confident] fool has no delight in understanding but only in revealing his personal opinions and himself.
4 The words of a [discreet and wise] man’s mouth are like deep waters [plenteous and difficult to fathom], and the fountain of skillful and godly Wisdom is like a gushing stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].
6 A [self-confident] fool’s lips bring contention, and his mouth invites a beating.
7 A [self-confident] fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to himself.
8 The words of a whisperer or talebearer are as dainty morsels; they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
13 He who answers a matter before he hears the facts—it is folly and shame to him.
20 A man’s [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil].
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].

As born again, Spirit-filled believers, let's choose to be an example of excellence when it comes to the Word of God, so that we can be a blessing, encouragement and example to others, and not a hindrance to their growth in the things of God! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Proverbs 17 today and there were two separate things that really stood out! First of all there is THIS from verse 15:

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

We can apply that today to the habit of some politicians making light of scandalous behavior. We can also apply it to the current president white-washing terrorist attacks as something other than what they really are. At the same time that these things are happening, those who take a stand on the Word of God as their final authority are being bullied, persecuted, sued, and in some nations tortured and killed. The verse above leaves NO DOUBT about how the God of the Bible sees these things! I choose to line up MY thinking with the Word of God as my Final Authority! HE will vindicate ME when I do things HIS way! AMEN! And YOU can say the same thing! The other thing that stood out to me today is found in Galatians 6::7:

7 Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.

There are many people out there in the world who have rejected the God of the Bible and His wonderful plan of Salvation for all of mankind! Some mock and ridicule those who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior, but take heart! YOU are on the right path that leads straight to the Heaven of the Bible when you leave this earth, OR in the Rapture! Those who do what the above verse says are going to reap the multiplied harvest of their seeds sown! THAT is why WE can have limitless patience in these times and with these people! Remember, our Heavenly Father WANTS them to be a part of His family, so let's keep simply sharing the Gospel and expecting results! In the meantime, HE will bless us according to His Word and NOT according to anyone else's words! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Face To Face":

[Verse 1]
I remember when I called Your name
There I knew I'd never be the same
Love came rushing to this heart of mine
Like You waited for this all my life
I remember when I learned to pray
Close to You I find my hiding place
And Your Spirit looks within my soul
And Your presence keeps me wanting more

[Verse 2]
When I think upon your wounded hands
And how you begun a great romance
I will take your bread and take your wine
To remember what you sacrificed
Now I'm serving for Your kingdom come
Where You're leading me is where I'll run
Jesus I can be your hands and feet
And let my life remember You my King
I need You more than anything

[Bridge]
Lord here I am
I'm reaching out
I will lay me down and surrender
I'll sing Your name
I'll sing it loud
You are all I want, now forever
(2x)
Lord here I am

[Verse 3]
And the day shall come when I will rise
Finally I'll see you face to face
With the heavens I will glorify
Crown You Lord for eternity

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really like the heart attitude found in today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers! Here is a portion of it:

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.…I have called you friends. — John 15:13,15

Jesus does not ask me to die for Him, but to lay down my life for Him. Peter said — “I will lay down my life for Thy sake,” and he meant it; his sense of the heroic was magnificent. It would be a bad thing to be incapable of making such a declaration as Peter made; the sense of our duty is only realized by our sense of the heroic. Has the Lord ever asked you — “Wilt thou lay down thy life for My sake?” It is far easier to die than to lay down the life day in and day out with the sense of the high calling. We are not made for brilliant moments, but we have to walk in the light of them in ordinary ways. There was only one brilliant moment in the life of Jesus, and that was on the Mount of Transfiguration; then He emptied Himself the second time of His glory, and came down into the demon-possessed valley. For thirty-three years Jesus laid out His life to do the will of His Father, and, John says, “we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” It is contrary to human nature to do it.
If I am a friend of Jesus, I have deliberately and carefully to lay down my life for Him. 

AMEN! As he said above, it is easier to die for Jesus because it takes a moment and then we are in His presence, but to LIVE for Him means to lay all of our own desires and interests aside to fulfill HIS will! BUT, when we DO this, HE is right there with the rewards of obedience! Remember, it is utterly and completely impossible for US to out-give GOD! Let's go for it, and try! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "This Is Living":

THIS IS LIVING  

[Verse 1]

Waking up knowing there's a reason

All my dreams come alive

Life is for living with You

I've made my decision

[Verse 2]

You lift me up, fill my eyes with wonder

Forever young in Your love

This freedom's untainted with You

No moment is wasted

[Pre-Chorus]

See the sun now bursting through the clouds

Black and white turns to colour all around

All is new, in the Savior I am found

[Chorus]

This is living now (2x)

[Verse 3]

You lead the way, God You're right beside me

In Your love I'm complete

There's nothing like living with You

This life You created I choose

[Pre-Chorus]

See the sun now bursting through the clouds

Black and white turn to color all around

All is new, in the Savior I am found

[Chorus]

This is living now (2x)

You take me higher than I've been before

It's Your perfect love that sees me soar

God your freedom is an open door

You are everything I want and more

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's devotional on our partner Jerry Savelle's website is EXCELLENT!

Established in the Word

He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies. (Psalm 112:7-8 NKJV)

Psalm 112 is a word picture of those whose hearts are established in God’s Word: they are not afraid of evil tidings; they are not afraid of bad news; they are not moved by contradictory evidence; they are not moved by the woes and cares and pressures of this world; their hearts are fixed and settled, trusting in the Lord.

I want you to grasp this vital truth: as a believer, you can live in the midst of all the turmoil and pressures of his world without being shaken. You can live without fear when you choose to trust the Lord and establish your heart in God’s Word.

The established heart knows that—in every situation—God is more than able to meet every need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (see Philippians 4:19). I am convinced this is the intention of the Father God for every believer.

The apostle Paul was established in the Word, and it made him able to stand victoriously, more than a conqueror in any situation. You too can stand in the midst of any attack the enemy launches against you—demons, sickness, bondage, and even death itself—and declare, “I am not afraid because my heart is established in the Word; therefore I will see my desired victory over the enemy!”

Confession: Father, I choose to establish my heart in Your Word as I trust in You. I refuse to fear any evil tidings or bad new, choosing instead to believe You will turn every situation for my good and for Your glory.

AMEN! Once you have established that the Word of God is TRUTH (John 17:17) and have made this Word YOUR top priority, you will begin to experience victory in every area of your life! 1 John 5:14-15 reveals to us that our God ONLY hears what lines up with His will. THAT would be His Word! Find out what the Word of God promises you, as a born again believer, in every area of life. Now set yourself in complete agreement with that Word, DOING what the Word says to do in every situation. This give the God of the Bible freedom to confirm His Word in your life (Mark 16:20)! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Falling Into You":

[FALLING INTO YOU

[Verse 1]

I've lived my life to the limit

Well I'm at the end of myself

I see the end that I know below me

Your love is waiting to catch

[Chorus]

I'm falling into you

Cause no one's gonna

Love me like you do (alright)

I've got nothing to lose

So I can't stop, won't stop

Falling into you (alright)

[Verse 2]

The rush I've felt in the free-fall

As I lost control of my life

Jesus, I've found that

You've always had me

Your love is never in doubt

[Bridge]

I wanna love you like you love me

I wanna love you like you love me

[Chorus]       [Bridge]     [Chorus 2x]

[Outro]

I'm falling into you

Shalom in Him!