Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin addresses something that every born again believer MUST know, understand and operate in if they want to be truly successful in this life and in what God has called them to do! 

Helper

"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever" (John 14:16 AMP). 

It is sad to realize that some Christians ignore the Holy Spirit who is indwelling within them. I believe they mistakenly think He will come in, take control of their lives, and make them do whatever needs to be done automatically with no effort on their part - but He won't. Demons do that. They are the ones that make people do things which the people don't want to do. Demons drive, force, and control people.                                                                                            
Holy Spirit, on the other hand, is a Gentleman. He will never force you to do anything against your will. In the Scriptures we see that the Holy Spirit leads, guides, prompts, and urges. He may give you a gentle "push," but He will never force you to act. 

Some complain, "Why doesn't God do this or that?" Holy Spirit won't do anything until you put Him to work for you! He is sent to be your Helper. He is not sent to do the job for you, but to help you do it. 

When you know Holy Spirit is in you, then you can act on God's Word intelligently, and Holy Spirit will work through you. Begin to talk in line with today's confession, and you will find that He who indwells you will become more real to you. 

Confession: The Greater One is in me. I'm depending on Him. He will live big in me. He will help me. The Greater One will put me over. He will make me a success! 

Amen! Holy Spirit INDWELLS every believer, making us temples of God! He then desires to FILL every believer with Himself so that WHO is within us can affect every person we come in contact with! He will lead, guide and direct us in our personal ministries, as well as in our family, job, school and social lives, making us those living epistles that continue to tell HIS story! AMEN! If you have never received the INFILLING of Holy Spirit since you were born again, please visit our website through the link on the left to find out more, and to contact us for any further assistance! It is TRAGIC that more of the Body of Christ does not operate in the fullness that we have been equipped and called to do! Let's get busy! 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

[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,

I have addressed this subject here before, but I would like to add this from Jerry Savelle's website devotional from today:

No More Condemnation

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. (Romans 8:1 AMP)

Guilt and condemnation are two of the primary weapons the devil uses in an attempt to drive a wedge between you and God so that he can separate you from the love of God.

Any time you feel bad about yourself and you cannot sense God’s presence, it may be that you have allowed condemnation into your heart. The devil is a liar who will say things like “you are such a failure … God will never forgive you for what you did … you deserve just what you got … you’ll never amount to anything.”

Those who live under this kind of guilt and condemnation will often cease to trust in the blood of Jesus as the only means to come to God and receive His love, His grace, and His acceptance. Their relationship with the Father is vulnerable to being reduced to one based partly on works instead of wholly on grace.

If you allow it, condemnation will cause you to focus on your failures. It will rob you of your confidence before God, making Him seem distant and cold. Tell the devil you will no longer accept his lies and condemnation. Choose instead to meditate on the grace of God and how loved and valuable you are to Him. Then rest in His grace, knowing that nothing will be able to separate you from the love of Christ.

Confession: I thank You, Father, than neither guilt nor condemnation can separate me from the love of Christ. I let go of all the lies of the enemy and choose now to draw near to You, to receive your love, your grace, and your mercy.

I also want to remind you that the actual text says ONLY this:

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus

The rest was added by the translators to try to make things more clear! Instead, they have caused many people to condemn themselves every time they sin. There is NO condemnation for a born again believer! We are FREE! Completely and forever, from condemnation! When we "walk after the Spirit" we will be in closer fellowship with Him, but NOTHING can EVER again keep us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39)! 1 John 1:9 was given to every born again believer to help us to NOT receive condemnation from the enemy! Be a DOER of that verse and refuse to ever be put back in bondage again! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with an older song about FREEDOM called  "Free":

Shalom  in Him!

Shalom,

Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" for today addresses what SHOULD be our attitude, as born again believers, about ourselves! IN HIM!

The Greater One Within

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). 

It should be common practice for you to say in every crisis of life: "I am a victor. I am more than a conqueror. The Creator dwells in me. The Greater One lives in me. He can put me over. The Greater One will make me a success. I can't fail." 

That's not bragging on you; it's bragging on the Greater One who is in you. And it will put Him to work for you! If you're a born-again, Spirit-filled believer, you have in you, ready for your use, everything you will ever need to put you over. The divine potential of all the power that there is, indwells you! 

If you will believe the Bible and begin to confess what it says, the Greater One will rise up in you and give illumination to your mind, direction to your spirit, health to your body, and help in every aspect of life. 

Confession: Greater is He who is in me than he that is in the world. The Greater One is greater than the devil, greater than disease, greater than poverty, greater than death, greater than all the power of the enemy. And He lives in me! The Greater One can make me a success. I cannot fail! 

Amen! We ARE who God, in His Word, says that we are! We HAVE what God, in His Word, says that we have! We CAN DO what God, in His Word, says we can do! When you know what the Word of God says about these three areas, then YOU will be well on your way to complete boldness and supreme confidence in the Lord and in YOUR place! Make that your determined purpose (Philippians 3:10 AMP) and learn to THRIVE! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Trust":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

Psalm 84:11 promises this:

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

"Uprightly" here is the Hebrew word "tamiym", which means: entire, integrity, truth, complete, sound, healthful, whole, blameless, moving naturally toward that which is ethically sound. You may think that it is not possible to walk blameless before Him, but HE has given us this promise in 1 John 1:9:

9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].

WHEN we miss it, and we WILL, then we MUST access the promise above to receive our forgiveness of that sin, and also all those things that we are not even yet aware of AS sin! In other words, recognize when you miss it by making a selfish decision to do something your own way instead of God's way, acknowledge that 'miss' to Him, receiving, by faith, the forgiveness for that sin and then, at the same time, you will receive the cleansing of your life from ALL that is NOT righteous before God! AMEN! To understand just how freely JESUS grants us that forgiveness, read through today's Psalm and recognize that THIS is what JESUS went through! 

A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician; set to chant mournfully. A didactic or reflective poem of Heman the Ezrahite.

1 O Lord, the God of my salvation, I have cried to You for help by day; at night I am in Your presence. 2 Let my prayer come before You and really enter into Your presence; incline Your ear to my cry! 3 For I am full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol (the place of the dead). 4 I am counted among those who go down into the pit (the grave); I am like a man who has no help or strength [a mere shadow], 5 Cast away among the dead, like the slain that lie in a [nameless] grave, whom You [seriously] remember no more, and they are cut off from Your hand. 6 You have laid me in the depths of the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. 7 Your wrath lies hard upon me, and You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 8 You have put my [familiar] friends far from me; You have made me an abomination to them. I am shut up, and I cannot come forth. 9 My eye grows dim because of sorrow and affliction. Lord, I have called daily on You; I have spread forth my hands to You. 10 Will You show wonders to the dead? Shall the departed arise and praise You? Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 11 Shall Your steadfast love be declared in the grave? Or Your faithfulness in Abaddon (Sheol, as a place of ruin and destruction)? 12 Shall Your wonders be known in the dark? And Your righteousness in the place of forgetfulness [where the dead forget and are forgotten]? 13 But to You I cry, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer come to meet You. 14 Lord, why do You cast me off? Why do You hide Your face from me? 15 I was afflicted and close to death from my youth up; while I suffer Your terrors I am distracted [I faint]. 16 Your fierce wrath has swept over me; Your terrors have destroyed me. 17 They surround me like a flood all day long; together they have closed in upon me. 18 Lover and friend have You put far from me; my familiar friends are darkness and the grave.

This that JESUS went through, he did for YOU! AND me! We make His provision for us of no effect when we refuse to believe and receive all that JESUS acquired for us! ALL authority was given to Him and HE gave it to US (Matthew 28:18-19)! Amen! Now let's praise Him with high praises for HE has EARNED them! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with my new, all-time favorite worship song "What A Beautiful Name":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I came across this quote by Oswald Chambers in my studies today and want to share it with you! 

The truth is we have nothing to fear and nothing to overcome because He is all in all and we are more than conquerors through Him. The recognition of this truth is not flattering to the worker’s sense of heroics, but it is amazingly glorifying to the work of Christ. 

When I meditate on something someone else has taught or shared, I immediately find out what the Word of God has to say about the subject! Today I looked up the word 'truth' first of all. John 17:17 tells us that God's Word IS Truth! 

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. KJV

"Truth" here is the Greek word "aletheia", which means: what is true in any matter under consideration, in reality, certainly. The Amplified Bible says this:

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

We KNOW that we have "nothing to fear" because 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us this:

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. KJV

The Amplified Bible is even better for this verse!

7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. AMP

This is very descriptive, and the TRUTH is that this is exactly what the enemy desires to have happen to us when he brings those thoughts of fear, guilt, condemnation and worry! If we are cringing in fear of what people may think or of what MIGHT happen, if we are backing away from God's instructions and hiding out somewhere hoping not to be noticed, then we have played right into the hands of the evil one and allowed him to control our lives! GIVE HIM NO PLACE!!! He has NO right and NO authority in the life of a born again believer, and a born again, Spirit-filled believer will know that! No, we NEVER need to run away from a confrontation with him, as ALL authority, that was given unto Jesus (Matthew 28:18-19), is now OURS to use as we attend to God's will and plan and purpose for our lives! In fact, the Word of God tells us THIS powerful TRUTH about who God has made US to be! Romans 8:37:

37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. AMP

AND, we KNOW that ALL of the Glory goes back to HIM! JESUS! Amen! Refuse to lose and stand up tall! You WILL win, if you DON'T quit! AMEN! Here is an older song from Hillsong called "This Is How We Overcome! ":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have always loved the account of the centurion who sent for Jesus to heal his servant. Here is the account from Luke 7:6-10:

6 And Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent [some] friends to Him, saying, Lord, do not trouble [Yourself], for I am not sufficiently worthy to have You come under my roof; 7 Neither did I consider myself worthy to come to You. But [just] speak a word, and my servant boy will be healed. 8 For I also am a man [daily] subject to authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my bond servant, Do this, and he does it. 9 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and He turned and said to the crowd that followed Him, I tell you, not even in [all] Israel have I found such great faith [as this]. 10 And when the messengers who had been sent returned to the house, they found the bond servant who had been ill quite well again.

Notice what Jesus said in response to this man's declaration of faith (the underlined portion). This man, who was NOT a Jew, but a Roman, KNEW that Jesus had authority that came from Heaven! He also KNEW that His authority was so strong that time and space meant nothing! The result was that this man got exactly what he had petitioned (asked, prayed to) Jesus for! How does this pertain to us? Look at Matthew 28:18:

Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

This was after Jesus rose from the dead and before He ascended back into Heaven. He established with those disciples who still followed after Him that ALL authority now belonged to HIM! You might say, "Yes, but Jesus went back to Heaven, so how does that help us now?" The answer is found in the first part of the next verse! Matthew 28:19a:

Go therefore! 

BECAUSE He now has ALL power and authority, WE can go about DOING the works that Jesus did, and preparing to do even greater works, IN HIS NAME! Begin, if you haven't already, and continue, if you have been, meditating on just who YOU are - IN HIM! Who you are! What you have! What you can DO! All as a born again child of the Living God who is filled with Holy Spirit and full of God's Word! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Luke 6 today in the Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. I am always amazed at the way some believers either ignore the exhortation found in verse 37, or try to justify NOT being a DOER of it! 

37 Judge not [neither pronouncing judgment nor subjecting to censure], and you will not be judged; do not condemn and pronounce guilty, and you will not be condemned and pronounced guilty; acquit and forgive and release (give up resentment, let it drop), and you will be acquitted and forgiven and released.

This does not mean that we don't recognize sin, or that we just ignore it. It DOES mean that we are allowed NO PLACE to criticize, condemn or pass judgement on them! There is a Scriptural avenue for dealing with this and it belongs in the local church! Everyone else needs to spend time in prayer for those involved until and unless Holy Spirit Himself leads and directs you to do or say more. It will NEVER be to babble, gossip, tweet, post, or in any other way single out and expose someone to public censure! EVERY seed sown WILL produce a harvest in our lives and not one of us can afford to have judgement come back on us! AMEN! Here is further instruction for us in verses 41-42:

41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye but do not notice or consider the beam [of timber] that is in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, allow me to take out the speck that is in your eye, when you yourself do not see the beam that is in your own eye? You actor (pretender, hypocrite)! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. 

Amen! Let's pray for each other. Love each other. Encourage each other. Exhort each other. Do all of this WITHOUT condemnation, hatred, bitterness or anger. I have had to repent and receive the forgiveness that is continually available to me MANY times! I hope YOU will do the same in these regards and keep yourselves in position to receive God's richest and best BLESSINGS! Amen! Here is Hillsong Worship with a brand new song called  "What A Beautiful Name It Is":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE having our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan to go through the Bible with every year! I love that we go through the Old Testament in chronological order, and the four Gospels and Psalms and Proverbs twice! I love that the Word of God is God-breathed and profitable for my spiritual growth (2 Timothy 3:16-17)! I love that, though I have read the Bible through every year for over 30 years, I learn something new every single day! I love how pertinent and timely the Word is for every situation! I love how understanding the Old Testament causes the promises of the New Testament to be REAL and so logical! I love how, though we have a new Covenant (Hebrews 8:6), based on better promises, the promises of the Old are FOR me, or made better! The Psalm for today is one example! Psalm 84:4-7:

4 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; they will be singing Your praises all the day long.Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 5 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; the early rain also fills [the pools] with blessings. 7 They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]; each of them appears before God in Zion.

Spending time in His presence is so incredibly easy for US! We do NOT have to travel for miles to get to a building, and then only be able to watch someone else go into His presence FOR us! We ARE the current Temple of the Living God, as born again believers, because HE lives IN us (1 Corinthians 3:16)! How wonderfully blessed we are! Have YOU meditated on that lately? Doing so will cause you to maintain a continually grateful and thankful heart before Him! Spending time in HIS presence also carries THIS promise! Verses 10-12:

10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather be a doorkeeper and stand at the threshold in the house of my God than to dwell [at ease] in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts in You [leaning and believing on You, committing all and confidently looking to You, and that without fear or misgiving]!

AMEN, AMEN, AMEN! How awesomely blessed we are! Thank YOU, JESUS! Here is Hillsong with "Blessed":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I have to share Jerry Savelle's website devotional! 

Determination

They made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:4-5 NIV)

How determined are you to do what it takes to connect with the life and power of God?

In the book of Mark, we find the story about a group of men who’d evidently heard about the ministry of Jesus, and they believed their paralyzed friend could be healed.

But just knowing Jesus could heal their friend was not enough. They had to be determined to do whatever was necessary to get that paralyzed man into the presence of Jesus.

Jesus saw their faith in their determination to get to Him—even if it meant ripping up someone else’s roof. He saw their determination to connect with the source of all life and power.

How determined are you to get into the presence of Jesus? How determined are you to take the time to meditate in the World of God and allow God to speak to you? If you find yourself unable to spend much quality time in the Word, perhaps you have an overcrowded life.

I don’t know the need you may facing today, but connecting with the life and the power of God begins with your determination to get into His presence. And when you do, you’ll find sufficient grace to meet your every need.

Confession: Father, I thank You for giving me the wisdom I need to adjust my schedule so that I can spend more quality time in Your presence. I am determined to keep You as the highest priority in my life.

AMEN! Such a simple, yet powerful message! Read through the Gospels and count how many times that Jesus said to someone He had healed, "Your faith has made you whole"! There is a diligent 'work' that must be done on our part in order to get ourselves into position to believe God's Word and then to receive the promise! We will never be able to receive because someone else has! We must decide that we will believe the Word in the face of all contrary 'facts'! This faith that we develop by hearing His Word (Romans 10:17) will change any and every 'fact' into the TRUTH! {God's Word IS Truth! John 17:17} AMEN! Make it your determined purpose to get into position to receive! Only YOU can do so for YOU! Here is Hillsong United with "GO":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Do you remember reading this from Ecclesiastes 1:9: 

9 The thing that has been—it is what will be again, and that which has been done is that which will be done again; and there is nothing new under the sun.

This is TRUTH! The enemy is still operating in exactly the same way that he has operated since he was cast out of Heaven! Look at this from today's reading in Psalm 82:5:

5 [The magistrates and judges] know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in the darkness [of complacent satisfaction]; all the foundations of the earth [the fundamental principles upon which rests the administration of justice] are shaking.

That is a statement that is as true of our world today as it was when the psalmist wrote it! It is true of a very many of those who are in positions of power in our own nation, and of those who are seeking power! What is a born again, Bible believing believer supposed to do in such a time? We are to draw near to HIM as never before! Jesus said that His sheep hear and know His voice (John 10:27)! Being filled with the Spirit of God is essential to consistently hearing clearly. We must turn off the voices of the world AND the church and be led by Holy Spirit alone! If every believer does this, then the God of the Bible will be able to operate supernaturally to affect a great and necessary change, so that the Gospel can continue to be spread unhindered! Many believers are being led by a "word" from someone claiming to be a prophet of God. The problem here is that there are many proclaiming things that are entirely different from each other. God is NOT a God of chaos, but of order! The simple solution is to be led individually by Holy Spirit, no matter what anyone else is saying! HE will lead us according to the will of God! Have confidence that YOU hear. Exercise your hearing from Him on a daily basis and keep a journal of all that He is telling you. Your faith and confidence will grow and you will be able to be single minded in your obedience to Him! Whatever the outcome in the world and in our nation, our obedience to HIM will be rewarded with protection, provision and safety! COUNT ON IT! Amen! Here is Hillsong United with "Take Heart":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is another good admonition for every born again believer!

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. — Matthew 5:48

Our Lord’s exhortation in these verses is to be generous in our behaviour to all men. In the spiritual life beware of walking according to natural affinities. Everyone has natural affinities; some people we like and others we do not like. We must never let those likes and dislikes rule in our Christian life. If we “walk in the light,” as God is in the light, God will give us communion with people for whom we have no natural affinity.

The Example Our Lord gives us is not that of a good man, or even of a good Christian, but of God Himself. “Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect” — show to the other man what God has shown to you; and God will give us ample opportunities in actual life to prove whether we are perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect. To be a disciple means that we deliberately identify ourselves with God’s interests in other people. “That ye love one another; as I have loved you…”

The expression of Christian character is not good doing, but Godlikeness: If the Spirit of God has transformed you within, you will exhibit Divine characteristics in your life, not good human characteristics. God’s life in us expresses itself as God’s life, not as human life trying to be godly. The secret of a Christian is that the supernatural is made natural in him by the grace of God, and the experience of this works out in the practical details of life, not in times of communion with God. When we come in contact with things that create a buzz, we find to our amazement that we have power to keep wonderfully poised in the centre of it all.

This is the key to real, supernatural, Godly living! So many born again believers have tried to change their behavior and lifestyle from the outside in, rather than from the inside out, as God intended! When we spend time in intimate fellowship with Him, time in His Word, time in praise and worship, time in prayer, we will begin to understand HIS innermost thoughts! When we determine to be like HIM, then we will be changing from the inside and it WILL effect our outward personality, behavior, countenance, attitude and lifestyle! THIS is the Light that is within us shining out for all to see! THIS is what will show others that we belong to HIM! Then HE will draw them to Himself, through our influence! That cannot be done by simply trying to 'be good' or 'do good'! Let's stop the futile fleshly attempts and become TRUE representatives of God! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "From The Inside Out":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's devotional by Andrew Wommack is a look forward to our resurrected bodies that should also give us confidence for this life that now is! 
THE RESURRECTION POWER
Matthew 22:23 "The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,"

The Greek word used here for resurrection means "a standing or rising up." The resurrection is a major theme of New Testament teaching. Out of the 13 sermons in the book of Acts, 11 stress or simply mention the resurrection.

Man consists of three parts - a spirit, a soul, and a body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The body is mortal while the spirit and soul are immortal. At death, man's body goes through the decomposition process and returns to its original elements.

At the resurrection, man's departed soul and spirit are called forth from either heaven or hell. The material elements of the body are raised up, reassembled, and united with the spirit and soul. Thus we have the complete personality of the individual reconstituted. Everyone will be resurrected - some to life, and some to damnation.

The hope of the believer is the resurrection unto life. The natural, earthly, terrestrial, corrupt, weak, mortal, vile body is said to be raised, changed and fashioned into a spiritual, heavenly, celestial, incorrupt, glorious, powerful, and immortal body. This is the completion of everything that has been purchased for us in Christ.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:12-17 that if there is no resurrection, then our faith is vain and we are yet in our sins. It is the resurrected life of Jesus that brings spiritual life into us and the resurrection of the body that brings physical regeneration, reconstituting us into the very image of God. The transformation from this physical condition to our glorified bodies will be a huge difference, but the power of God can accomplish it easily. If the Lord can work that miracle, then surely, He can heal our bodies and free us from other bondages.

AMEN! We have no doubt in the ability of God to raise us up at the Rapture and to change, in a moment of time, these natural bodies into incorruptible, immortal bodies, just like Jesus has! Is ANYTHING to difficult for our God? NO! So, doesn't it make perfect sense that the same God Who will do that, can and will cause healing to manifest in these bodies here and now? Of course it does! Stir up your faith to receive ALL that Jesus has provided for you and give no place to the enemy and his lies! You have a new and better Covenant! Receive what now belongs to you! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Here Now":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin is a great reminder for YOU to use whenever the enemy tries to convince you that you just aren't good enough to do the work and ministry that God has called you to! Remember that EVERY born again believer is in the full-time ministry of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18)! That is telling everyone that JESUS already reconciled them to God through His death, burial and resurrection and the only left for them to do is to receive Him! Then they, too, will be in the full-time ministry! Here is "Faith Food":

Blotted Out

"I, even I, am He that blots out your transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember your sins" (Isaiah 43:25). 

"I guess I'm just paying for the life I lived before I got saved," a minister who was having a hard time once said to me. 

Many Christians, like that minister, are defeated, permitting things to take place in their lives, because they think that's the way it has to be. They don't know the difference between repentance and doing penance. They try to do penance for their past life. But in reality, since they repented of their sins, God has no knowledge that they've ever done anything wrong! 

"I blotted out your transgression," God said, "for My own sake." God didn't do it for your sake, but for His own sake. "I will not remember your sins," He promised. If God doesn't remember them, why should you?  You shouldn't! 

When you were born again, you were redeemed from the penalty of sin. If you had to go on paying for your wrongdoing, you'd have to go to hell when you died, because that's part of the penalty too.  However, thank God, we are redeemed not only from the power of sin, but also from the penalty of sin. Jesus took our place. He suffered the penalty of sin. 

Confession: When I repented, my Heavenly Father blotted out my transgressions. He does not remember my sins. Therefore, I won't remember them either. And I won't remind Him of them. 

The moment you confess those sins that you commit AFTER the New Birth (1 John 1:9) HE forgives and cleanses you from anything that would keep you from fellowship with Him. Do so, then RUN back into His presence and stay! You and I were never meant to live apart from Him, EVER! Refuse to let satan steal one moment of time that you can spend in intimate fellowship with the One, True God of the Bible! HE is your Source of all Wisdom, knowledge, favor and anointing! No wonder the devil tries so very hard to keep you from it! GO! and never back down! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Where You Are":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

This, from today's "From Faith To Faith" by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, is essential teaching for those who desire to live by faith in the Word of God! 

Only be  strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded you: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. Joshua 1:7

Living a life of faith takes courage. Most people don’t realize it, but it does! It takes courage to stand up in the face of sickness and declare you’re healed by the stripes of Jesus. It takes courage to believe for prosperity and put your last dime in the offering plate when poverty is staring you in the face. There are going to be some days when you’d rather pull the covers over your head and hide than take another faith stand against the devil. But you can’t. Because the battle of faith isn’t fought once and then forgotten. If you want to keep living in victory, you have to fight it again and again.

There’s no way around it. Of course, some of God’s people still try to find one. The Israelites, for example, thought their battles should be over when they crossed the Red Sea. So when they heard reports of giants living in the Promised Land, they decided they couldn’t face the fight. Their courage failed them. So they took a 40-year detour through the wilderness.

But you know what? They still couldn’t avoid that fight. When the time came for the next generation to enter the Promised Land, the giants were still there!

This time, however, they found the courage to face them. Where did they find it? In the Word of God. Their leader, Joshua, had obeyed the instruction of the Lord and kept that Word on his mind and in his heart day and night. He’d meditated on it and let it constantly remind him that God was on their side.

If you’re going to fight the good fight of faith to the finish, you’ll have to do just like Joshua did. You’ll have to continually draw courage from the Word of God. So make up your mind to do it. Get into that Word and let it change you from a coward to an overcomer. Then march into battle and slay the giants in your land.

AMEN! 1 Timothy 6:12 tells us to fight the GOOD fight of faith! That tells me that the fight of faith is a fight that we WIN! After all, it couldn't BE a GOOD fight if we lost! No, as long as we continue to fight and refuse to EVER give up or give in, we WILL win!!! AMEN! So continue to stand on God's Word in the fight that is OURS to win, because JESUS already stacked the deck in OUR favor! The enemy CANNOT win over us IF we refuse to quit. That IF will determine everything! What will YOU do with "if"? Be wise! Here is Hillsong United with "Prince of Peace":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

We read Hebrews 11 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan today. Many of you know that this is the 'faith' chapter! A word study of "faith" shows us that this is the Greek word "pistis", which means: persuasion, credence, conviction of  truthfulness, reliance upon, trust. That is the meaning of general faith! Hebrews 11:1 tells us exactly what true Bible faith is!

11 Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

Faith has substance! When we have true Biblical faith, it is as real to us as though we actually had the confirming or substantiating paperwork proving that what we are believing for is actually ours! Romans 10:17 tells us how to get this faith!

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

AMEN! The ONLY way to develop the kind of faith that will be able to move mountains (Mark 11:23) is to continually and consistently 'hear' the Word concerning your particular mountain. How much is enough? When you begin to know that you know that you know that it belongs to you, then hear a little more and start speaking into being what you are praying for! Thank and praise the Lord for what He has done, even before you see it, because THAT is how faith operates! Romans 4:16-17:

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickens the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were. KJV

So, keep going after that 'title deed' for what you need! When the faith rises, speak it out and stand steadfast and you WILL see the manifestation of it! It takes WORK and it takes PATIENCE, but the end results are well worth it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Faithfulness":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Gloria Copeland has an excellent message in today's "From Faith To Faith " devotional!

The cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless. Mark 4:19 The Amplified Bible

Did you know that the seemingly innocent things in your everyday life can suffocate your spiritual life if you allow it? A friend of mine said the Lord told her in prayer one day that this nation had become a nation of maintenance men. You have so many things to maintain, He told her. You maintain your house. You maintain your car, your yard, your machines, your hair....

It’s true. You can become a maintainer of so many natural things that you don’t have any time left to maintain your own spirit! When you find yourself in that situation, it’s time to simplify your life. I’ve had to learn that myself. Now when I’m considering something I think I need, I don’t just count the cost in dollars and cents. I think about how much time it will take to maintain it. I check to see if I can spiritually afford it.

Second Timothy 2:4 tells us not to get entangled in the affairs of this life. One thing I’ve learned over the last 45 years: Nothing is as important as spending time in prayer and in the Word with the Father. Absolutely nothing in my life is as vital as that.

AMEN! Pastor Bill Novak of The Spoken Word Church has shared many times over the years that some have come for prayer and counseling to receive healing, a job, a better job with better benefits, or any number of other needs. He has taught them the Word of God and how to operate in faith for what they needed. They became diligent in the Word until their faith became strong and the favor of God brought into their lives what they had been believing for. After a time, the job, the things that were able to be purchased with the financial prosperity, the GOOD things that God blessed them with, began to take priority over the Word of God, fellowship with God and their local church. If they did not make the necessary adjustments, they soon lost what God had blessed them with, and even more than they had before! Many left church and the Word and went back into the world and its ways! Be diligent to count the cost before you add THINGS into your life! Maintain your 'First Love' at all costs! You DO want to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant" one day, AND to enjoy God's presence and purpose here, in this life! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "One Thing":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers speaks of a TRUTH that even many born again believers do not really understand! Here is a portion of it: 

The simplicity that is in Christ. — 2 Corinthians 11:3

Simplicity is the secret of seeing things clearly. A saint does not think clearly for a long while, but a saint ought to see clearly without any difficulty. You cannot think a spiritual muddle clear, you have to obey it clear. In intellectual matters you can think things out, but in spiritual matters you will think yourself into cotton wool. If there is something upon which God has put His pressure, obey in that matter, bring your imagination into captivity to the obedience of Christ with regard to it and everything will become as clear as daylight. The reasoning capacity comes afterwards, but we never see along that line, we see like children; when we try to be wise we see nothing (Matthew 11:25).

What he is saying here is that if we try to understand the Word of God with our minds without committing to obey that Word, the Word will remain unclear. Kenneth E, Hagin gave the example from his own life of  rejoicing in the revelation he was receiving from the Word of God every day, UNTIL he came to the instruction to not worry. He laughed that off as impossible for him because he had always been the greatest worrier! From that moment on the Word began to be dry and lifeless to him. When he asked the Lord about this he was told to go back to his last act of obedience. When he did, and repented of deciding that he couldn't obey, committing to NOT worry, with the help of Holy Spirit, then the Word again came alive to him! We have the instruction to meditate the Word of God in Joshua 1:8:

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

Notice that the meditation of the Word (reading, hearing, speaking, pondering, imagining) is for the purpose of seeing (observing) how you can obey it! When we DO the Word we understand, greater Wisdom and understanding will result, layer upon layer! THAT is how we are able to make our way prosperous (being in control of our lives and not under the control of others), to deal wisely in every area, and have GOOD success! Remember, true success is being WHERE God wants you to be, doing WHAT He wants you to do! It all comes through a combination of prayer, praise and worship, study and meditation of God's Word and simple and prompt obedience to it! AMEN! Let's get busy being DOERS of the Word! Here is Hillsong United with one of my favorite songs called "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

The MOST important decision for anyone to make is the decision to receive JESUS as Lord and personal Saviour. The SADDEST thing that I have found among born again believers is the fact that MANY have little to no idea of what actually happened in them at the very moment of their decision! Kenneth E. Hagin has covered this very well in today's "Faith Food" devotional!

New Creation

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature [creation]: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17). 

I'm glad I'm a new creature. I was only fifteen when I was born again, but I remember exactly what happened. Something took place inside of me. It seemed as if a two-ton load rolled off my chest. Not only did something depart from me, but something came into me! 

The moment you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and confessed Him as your Lord (Rom. 10:9-10), you, too, were recreated. 

At that moment, the redemption which Jesus provided two thousand years ago became a reality to you. At that instant, the very life and nature of God were imparted to your spirit. You were recreated - born again! 

The New Birth is not an experience. It is not a religion. It is not joining a church. It is the re-birth of your spirit. 

When you were born again, old things passed away. In the sight of God, all sin and all of your past life were blotted out. All you had been - spiritually speaking - was blotted out. It ceased to exist. And you became a new man in Christ Jesus. God sees nothing in your life before the moment you were born again! 

All things inside you became new. Your spirit was recreated. You passed from death unto life (1 John 3:14)! 

Confession: I am a new creature in Christ. I am a new creation. I am recreated. The life and nature of God are within me. I have passed from death unto life! I am a new creature! 

AMEN! Never again say "I'm just an old sinner, saved by Grace". You WERE a sinner! Once you were 'saved by Grace', you became a SAINT! A saint is not some extraordinary person who has done 'good things'. A true New Testament saint is someone who has become new creature in Christ! A completely reborn human spirit, born in the image of GOD Himself! MADE the Righteousness of God, NOT by doing righteous or good deeds, but by realizing that we could NEVER be good enough in the eyes of God on our own! The price that MUST be paid for sin is death! Eternal separation from God! JESUS Himself TOOK upon Himself our sin. He BECAME sin with our sin so that we could become righteous with HIS righteousness! Why would He do such a thing? Because He LOVES us and He desires fellowship with those who will WILLINGLY choose HIM! John 3:14-18:

14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must [so it is necessary that] the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross], 15 In order that everyone who believes in Him [who cleaves to Him, trusts Him, and relies on Him] may not perish, but have eternal life and [actually] live forever! 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.]

Is there ANY reason that you cannot receive this wonderful free GIFT of SALVATION right now? Pray this prayer, believing:

Almighty God, I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus Christ came to this earth, died on the cross for me, was raised from the dead, and is now seated at Your right hand. I accept and receive Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour and I invite Him to come into my heart and become Lord over my life. I thank You now Father, for welcoming me into Your family. You are my Father. I am Your child. Jesus is my Lord! Amen.

AMEN! NOW you are a NEW CREATION! The old you is dead and gone and the new you is created in the image of Almighty God Himself! NOW you need to renew your soul (mind, emotions and will) every day with the Word of God so that your outer man can become like your new inner man! It takes time, it takes diligence, but the Spirit of God is right there to help you! Get yourself into a good local church that teaches the WORD and learn to grow so that YOU can go out and share this Gospel with others! God's desire is that NONE should perish, be lost and end up in the hell of the Bible! Let's do OUR part in this! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Beneath The Waters: I Will Rise":

Shalom in Him!