Shalom,

As we continue through our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for another year, we will recognize references to the coming Messiah all through the Old Testament. They KNEW that God was sending them a Savior, they just expected that Savior to save them by becoming King of Israel and saving them from their oppressors. When Jesus came to this earth and ministered for three years, even those closest to Him, who knew that He was sent from God, expected Him to take charge and do something in the natural realm that would show Who He was! Little did they realize, at that time, that He was doing that very thing! He was preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, cleansing the leper, raising the dead to life and casting out devils and demons. He said it Himself in Luke 4:17-21:

17 And there was handed to Him [the roll of] the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened (unrolled) the book and found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], 19 To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound]. 20 Then He rolled up the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were gazing [attentively] at Him. 21 And He began to speak to them: Today this Scripture has been fulfilled while you are present and hearing.

Jesus had already done, and would continue to do, all of these things! Just as Isaiah had prophesied about Him! Many did not recognize that, though! AS we see from today's reading in Mark, even some of His closest friends and His family didn't 'get it' yet! Look at Mark 3:21:

21 And when those who belonged to Him (His kinsmen) heard it, they went out to take Him by force, for they kept saying, He is out of His mind (beside Himself, deranged)!

And Mark 3:31-35:

31 Then His mother and His brothers came and, standing outside, they sent word to Him, calling [for] Him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, Your mother and Your brothers and Your sisters are outside asking for You. 33 And He replied, Who are My mother and My brothers? 34 And looking around on those who sat in a circle about Him, He said, See! Here are My mother and My brothers; 35 For whoever does the things God wills is My brother and sister and mother!

Even Mary, His mother, who had been told that He would 'save His people from their sin"(Matthew 1:21), did not yet understand! It was not until later, after she, and they, were born again, did they begin to understand the TRUTH! On a side note, NO, Mary was not 'immaculate', she was a sinner, just like all of us. She was blessed with the opportunity to be a vessel through which God the Son could become a man in order to become the PERFECT bridge between God and man! She had to receive JESUS as HER Lord and Savior, and she did! Then she was filled with Holy Spirit in the upper room and THEN the greater understanding began to come! Once her spirit became alive again, IN HIM, she was able to understand the Word of God which cannot be 'mentally' understood, but must be 'spiritually' discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14)! This is why we are sent to preach the Gospel to the lost, and NOT to teach them the Word, because the only part of the Word of God that a sinner is able to comprehend is that they NEED a Savior, and JESUS is the ONE! Acts 4:12:

And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved.

Once the lost are saved, then they can BEGIN to comprehend the Word and it's true meaning. This ability to comprehend is increased extraordinarily once they receive the INFILLING of Holy Spirit. The very first 'sign' of being filled with the Spirit is speaking in tongues, but the next is an understanding of the Word that had not previously been present. This has been true in my life, and has increased tremendously as I have continued to "be filled' with Holy Spirit and to 'study to show myself approved'! I hope that this has helped YOU to recognize the importance of growing up in the Word of God and of doing so with the fullness of Holy Spirit revealing every Word! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin goes right along with yesterday's post on this blog! 

Is Your Profit Showing?

Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all (1 Timothy 4:15). 

If your profiting is to appear to all, then it is to show! Why is godliness profitable? Why is living for God, being God's child, walking in fellowship with God, keeping God's commandments, profitable? 

It is because God has made some promises to His faithful children. Notice the word "promise" in yesterday's text: "having promise of the life that now is" (1 Timothy 4:8). God has made us promises in this life. Our profiting is because of these promises. 

And when our profiting (which is due to God's promises) appears to all, we are able to show the world there is a God in the Church - just as when Israel was walking with God, she could show the earth "there is a God in Israel" (1 Samuel 17:46). 

Confession: I will meditate upon God's promises and give myself wholly to them, that my profiting may appear to all. 

When Israel walked with God and kept their Covenant with Him, they prospered beyond measure! It was when they desired to 'fit in' with the other nations that they began to stumble in their obedience to Him. When they persisted in this, they even fell into idolatry, worshiping the 'gods' of other lands. Who would have thought that the nation and people who had witnessed such incredible miracles would turn FROM the Source of their miraculous protection, provision and safety, and desire to be just like those nations that they had defeated? It just doesn't make sense, does it? The same way that it makes no sense whatsoever that a nation, founded on godly principles, having experienced unprecedented wealth and prosperity, practically untouchable, with the mightiest armed forces and so much Godly blessing and protection would EVER turn FROM the Source of those blessings, to embrace Godlessness, sin, self-righteousness, apathy, hatred, bitterness, envy, jealousy and every other evil under the sun! What IS the answer for America? The same answer that was given to God's people long ago! 2 Chronicles 7:14:

14 If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

It does NOT take the entire nation to pray, but GOD'S people! When WE put HIM first place, then HE will answer us according to His Word! Prosperity will flow to HIS people, shining the Light of His goodness and mercy so that all who seek Him will find Him! AMEN! Don't be moved by the world. They have very seldom gotten it right! Follow the Lord your God, obey His Word, receive JESUS as Lord and Savior, be filled with His Spirit and LIVE the LIFE that you were meant to live while here on earth. And THEN, in Heaven beyond, LIFE as we have never even dreamed awaits! Lets BE the LIGHT while we have time! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Look To The Son":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "From Faith To Faith" devotional is very good again today! You may not have run into this situation where people are saying these things, but I have! Here is how to deal with that!

His Extravagant Love

And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Deuteronomy 28:2

Some people have very low expectations of what God will provide for them materially. They trust Him to feed and clothe them, but they don't trust Him to feed and clothe them very well!

Somehow they've gotten the idea that God's an old miser who will do little more than put rags on their backs and beans on their tables. But that's not what Jesus told us. He said in Matthew 6 that God would clothe us better than He clothed Solomon. That one statement alone proves that God wants to do more than just meet our basic needs. He wants to bless us abundantly. I know that from personal experience. 

A few years ago I came home and found two expensive automobiles parked in my driveway. They'd been given to me to use by men who'd been blessed by the Lord through my ministry.

I was baffled. "Lord," I said, "I didn't need these cars. I hadn't asked You for them, and I wasn't believing for them. What are they doing here?"

Then the Lord spoke up on the inside of me. Have you ever read the scripture in Deuteronomy that says blessings shall come on and overtake those who hearken to My voice?

"Yes," I answered.

Well, son, He said, you've just been overtaken.

Am I saying God gave me those expensive cars just so I could enjoy them? Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying.

First Timothy 6:17 says, "[He] gives us richly all things to enjoy." God is a loving Father. He gets great pleasure from blessing His children. He's extravagant where we're concerned. But don't let that worry you. He can afford it. Once you truly believe that and begin to hearken to His voice, it won't be long before His blessings will be overtaking you.

AMEN! The lie, the myth, the wrong thinking, the false doctrine that God wants you to be 'poor, sick, downtrodden, suffering in every area of your life' so that He can teach you something has not only robbed God's people of the protection, provision and safety that our New Covenant provides, but has completely mischaracterized the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible in the worse possible way! OUR God is a God of ABUNDANCE! He desires that His people, who are called by His Name, represent Him correctly in the earth so that the lost will run to Him! THAT is why He has stated these obviously abundant blessings over us! 

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

Luke 6:38 Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you. AMP

2 Cor 9:6 [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings. 7 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it") giver [whose heart is in his giving].  [Proverbs 22:9] 8 And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]. 9 As it is written, He [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever!  [Psalm 112:9] 10 And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity].  [Isaiah 55:10; Hosea 10:12] 11 Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God. AMP

Josh 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. AMP

Meditate on these Truths of the Word of God and refuse to be intimidated by the natural, human thinking of those who are not walking in the promises of God and do not want YOU to either! BELIEVE, RECEIVE and then TELL THE WORLD about our wonderful, magnificent, loving and powerful GOD! Amen! Here is Hillsong with another older song "This Is Our God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

When you were growing up, did you ever hear this: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me"? We would hear this whenever we were made to feel bad because someone called us names or made fun of us. As I grew up in the Word, I came to find out that words are POWERFUL! We see THIS as a warning in Proverbs 18:20:

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].

Then we see this promise in John 15:7:

7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

And then this one from Mark 11:23:

Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him.

AMEN! God's Word is TRUTH (John 17:17) and He means exactly what He says! So how do we deal with others saying things about us? Notice that in all of these verses, it is our very own words that will cause us to be either blessed or not! NOT the words of anyone else! As a parent, we can affect the hearts of our children by the words that we speak over them and in their presence! Make sure that YOUR words edify, build up and empower your children and those around you! BE a BLESSING! Amen! When children grow up, it is THEIR words that will produce a harvest in their lives, so prepare them NOW to speak good and Godly things! What do we do when others speak evil of us? We do what David did in Psalm 56 from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today! Psalm 56:3-4 and 9-13:

3 What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You. 4 By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me?

9 Then shall my enemies turn back in the day that I cry out; this I know, for God is for me. 10 In God, Whose word I praise, in the Lord, Whose word I praise, 11 In God have I put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 Your vows are upon me, O God; I will render praise to You and give You thank offerings. 13 For You have delivered my life from death, yes, and my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life and of the living.

We will praise HIM, for HE responds to us according to our faith and NOT according to the words of others! AMEN! Now if we agree with them, and begin to repeat what they say, then we will have to be satisfied with the fruit that those words produce. But if we reject anything and everything that is said to and about us when it is contrary to the Word of God, and replace it with what God's Word REALLY says, then we WILL have what WE say! AMEN! Remember, there is POWER in the SPOKEN WORD! So, SPEAK THE WORD! Here is Hillsong United with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers has another very important message for those who wish to be truly successful! Success being defined as this: being WHERE God wants you to be, doing WHAT God wants you to do! THAT is the definition of TRUE success in the eyes of God! Let's see if we can put THIS into practice:

I will very gladly spend and be spent for you. — 2 Corinthians 12:15

When the Spirit of God has shed abroad the love of God in our hearts, we begin deliberately to identify ourselves with Jesus Christ’s interests in other people, and Jesus Christ is interested in every kind of man there is. We have no right in Christian work to be guided by our affinities; this is one of the biggest tests of our relationship to Jesus Christ. The delight of sacrifice is that I lay down my life for my Friend, not fling it away, but deliberately lay my life out for Him and His interests in other people, not for a cause. Paul spent himself for one purpose only – that he might win men to Jesus Christ. Paul attracted to Jesus all the time, never to himself. “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” When a man says he must develop a holy life alone with God, he is of no more use to his fellow men: he puts himself on a pedestal, away from the common run of men. Paul became a sacramental personality; wherever he went, Jesus Christ helped Himself to his life. Many of us are after our own ends, and Jesus Christ cannot help Himself to our lives. If we are abandoned to Jesus, we have no ends of our own to serve. Paul said he knew how to be a “door-mat” without resenting it, because the mainspring of his life was devotion to Jesus. We are apt to be devoted, not to Jesus Christ, but to the things which emancipate us spiritually. That was not Paul’s motive: “I could wish my self were accursed from Christ for my brethren” – wild, extravagant – is it? When a man is in love it is not an exaggeration to talk in that way, and Paul is in love with Jesus Christ.

AMEN! So many born again believers have taken up 'Christian' causes and have NOT made it their #1 priority to share the Gospel with the lost, which IS God's #1 priority! Luke 19:10:

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.

We SHOULD take up 'causes', at the direct leading of Holy Spirit, that will serve as another platform for getting the 'Good News' to those that we are assigned to reach. Jesus instructed us to do THIS in Luke 10:2:

And He said to them, The harvest indeed is abundant [there is much ripe grain], but the farmhands are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

When WE obey this instruction and pray to the LORD to send laborers into the harvest, there will be times when He chooses to send us! To send YOU! THIS is the most important 'cause' that we can be involved with. God will use all good causes for the benefit of reaching the lost, and He will use any one of us who make ourselves available TO Him! Are YOU ready to make whatever adjustments are needed in YOUR life so that YOU can be ready when HE sends? Nothing pleases the LORD more than when WE care as much for reaching the lost as HE does! After all, this IS the way HE increases His FAMILY! Amen! Here is Hillsong United with "Tell The World":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we read Exodus 17 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Verses 1-7:

1 All the congregation of the Israelites moved on from the Wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and encamped at Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore, the people contended with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said to them, Why do you find fault with me? Why do you tempt the Lord and try His patience? 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst? 4 So Moses cried to the Lord, What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me. 5 And the Lord said to Moses, Pass on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand the rod with which you smote the river [Nile], and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at [Mount] Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He called the place Massah [proof] and Meribah [contention] because of the faultfinding of the Israelites and because they tempted and tried the patience of the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us or not?

It always amazes me that those who were delivered out of the bondage and slavery that they had known in Egypt by such miraculous manifestations of the Goodness and Glory of Almighty God would now think that He would not give them water to drink! When David faced Goliath, he reminded himself of what the LORD had done for him in the past. 1 Samuel 17:33-37:

33 And Saul said to David, You are not able to go to fight against this Philistine. You are only an adolescent, and he has been a warrior from his youth. 34 And David said to Saul, Your servant kept his father’s sheep. And when there came a lion or again a bear and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and smote it and delivered the lamb out of its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard and smote it and killed it. 36 Your servant killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 David said, The Lord Who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and the Lord be with you!

THIS is what those Israelites SHOULD have been doing when they needed water, or later when they needed food! Instead, they complained and cast the blame on the one whom God had used to deliver them! I have also seen SO many born again, Spirit-filled believers who have turned away from the Word of God and from church because it didn't LOOK like their prayers were being answered. The GOOD news is that God ALWAYS has a way out for every hard situation we will ever face, but we MUST develop strong faith in HIM and His faithfulness, and a NEVER QUIT attitude and determination in order to have that answer manifest (1 Corinthians 10:13). God LOVES us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) and NOTHING can stop Him from doing so, BUT, He is NOT moved to action by emotion! He is ONLY moved by His Word! We MUST do what David did and continually remind ourselves of God's protection, provision and safety that was manifest before. We must meditate on this and on the promises of the Word that cover this. When WE refuse to quit and will get back to that place of faith in HIM, then HE will show us the way out and lead us directly through each situation to a victorious finish! Let's get busy and do OUR part! God is waiting on us! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Desert Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Two of my many favorite portions of Scripture are found in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today! The first is found in Psalm 53:1a:

1 The [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, There is no God. 

When I discovered this verse, it gave me the answer to 'atheism'! The Bible tells us this in Romans 1:20-21:

20 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], 21 Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.

There is NO SUCH THING as an atheist! Every person KNOWS that there IS a God, some simply do not want to acknowledge Him! Keep sharing the Gospel! The seed of God's Word that you  sow will continue to work in their hearts long after the conversation is over! AMEN! The other favorite of mine is found in Exodus 15:1-2:

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord, saying, I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider or its chariot has He thrown into the sea. 2 The Lord is my Strength and my Song, and He has become my Salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

God showed Himself FAITHFUL and STRONG when He led the Israelites OUT of Egypt! He delivered them from the hands of their enemies, and He will do no less for us! In fact, we, as born again believers, have an even BETTER Covenant (Hebrews 8:6) with God than they did! OURS is sealed in the Blood of JESUS! AMEN! Refuse to listen to the lies of the enemy who will try every tactic to get you OUT of faith and into fear! He does it through your thought life, so cast down those thoughts, worries, cares and fears that are contrary to what the Word of God says about you , and promises to you! His Word is TRUTH (John 17:17) and He WILL confirm it in our lives when we declare it by faith! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Real Love":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share with you the devotional from The Spoken Word Church website. I have come across so many people who condemn those who teach what the Word of God has to say about finances and prosperity. The TRUTH is that GOD came up with those financial principles and when we accept HIS Word on the subject and put it into practice, we WILL see the promised results, whether anyone else likes or believes it or not! Refuse to let anyone sway you from what God's Word says! After all, HIS Word is TRUTH (John 17:17)

Concentrate on the Success of Others

Jesus was a success maker. Jesus taught people to realize their dreams. Jesus taught us to do the same.

When Job prayed for his friends, his own captivity was turned. When the widow fed the prophet, God fed her.

God wants us to be involved in the needs of others. The God of Heaven has assured us a guaranteed harvest. What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you.

"Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man does, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free." (Ephesians 6:8)

"Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." (Proverbs 3:27)

There are many more promises in the Word of God concerning finances, including 3 John 2, John 10:10 AMP, Malachi 3:8-10, and 2 Corinthians 9. Be a real student of the Word and you will not be moved by the unbelief of others! No one can affect your prosperity but you! Remember, also, that TRUE prosperity is being where God wants you to be, doing what God wants you to do! HE provides the resources for doing so! AMEN! Here is Hillsong  with "The Difference":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I don't usually do this, but I am going to make it three days in a row of using "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers because this is another vital teaching for those desiring to do the will of God! The definition for TRUE prosperity is 'being where God wants you to be, doing what God wants you to do'! THIS exhortation, when heeded, should get you much closer to being in that place! 

The Initiative Against Dreaming

Arise, let us go hence. — John 14:31

Dreaming about a thing in order to do it properly is right; but dreaming about it when we should be doing it is wrong. After Our Lord had said those wonderful things to His disciples, we might have expected that He would tell them to go away and meditate over them all; but Our Lord never allowed “mooning” When we are getting into contact with God in order to find out what He wants, dreaming is right; but when we are inclined to spend our time in dreaming over what we have been told to do, it is a bad thing and God’s blessing is never on it. God’s initiative is always in the nature of a stab against this kind of dreaming, the stab that bids us “neither sit nor stand but go.”

If we are quietly waiting before God and He has said – “Come ye yourselves apart,” then that is meditation before God in order to get at the line He wants; but always beware of giving over to mere dreaming when once God has spoken. Leave Him to be the source of all your dreams and joys and delights, and go out and obey what He has said. If you are in love, you do not sit down and dream about the one you love all the time, you go and do something for him; and that is what Jesus Christ expects us to do. Dreaming after God has spoken is an indication that we do not trust Him.

AMEN! Walking in faith means to step out when you know WHAT to do, trusting HIM to lead, guide and direct those steps that follow! He WILL! There is ALWAYS at least one step that you can take in the direction of the calling and instructions that God has given you! He will NOT give you the entire picture, but He will, most certainly, give you A step! Now take that step and get ready for the next and the next. This life of faith is a life of progressive revelation and obedience, repeated over and over again! Cast the CARE on HIM and JUST MOVE! Here is Hillsong United with "Oceans - Where Feet May Fail":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to look again at "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers!

The Initiative Against Drudgery

Arise, shine. — Isaiah 60:1

 We have to take the first step as though there were no God. It is no use to wait for God to help us, He will not; but immediately we arise we find He is there. Whenever God inspires, the initiative is a moral one. We must do the thing and not lie like a log. If we will arise and shine, drudgery becomes divinely transfigured.

Drudgery is one of the finest touchstones of character there is. Drudgery is work that is very far removed from anything to do with the ideal – the utterly mean,* grubby things; and when we come in contact with them we know instantly whether or not we are spiritually real. Read John 13; we see there the Incarnate God doing the most desperate piece of drudgery, washing fishermen’s feet, and He says – “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” It requires the inspiration of God to go through drudgery with the light of God upon it. Some people do a certain thing and the way in which they do it hallows that thing for ever afterwards. It may be the most commonplace thing, but after we have seen them do it, it becomes different. When the Lord does a thing through us, He always transfigures it. Our Lord took on Him our human flesh and transfigured it, and it has become for every saint the temple of the Holy Ghost.

*mean: as used here, something or someone ordinary, common, low, or ignoble, rather than cruel or spiteful.

I LOVE the very first sentence here! He is NOT saying that there is no God, but that we MUST take the first step as a natural, human decision and THEN God will work through us! We MUST speak His Word into our situations and THEN He will confirm that Word with signs, wonders and miracles (Mark 16:20)! The life that we, as born again believers, have been called to live is a life of faith, trust and confidence in God and His Word. This is a life that brings glory to HIS Name as we dare to believe, and then to step out and DO something! What do we do? We do, in general, what we see from the Word of God to do, and then specifically what Holy Spirit instructs us individually, and uniquely, to do. Don't fall into the trap of comparing yourself to anyone else, or of copying someone else. Be uniquely you, the very BEST you that you can be! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "You":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is EXCELLENT! As one who has had this happen on occasion, this TRUTH is very encrouaging!

The Initiative Against Despair

Rise, let us be going. — Matthew 26:46

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The disciples went to sleep when they should have kept awake, and when they realized what they had done it produced despair. The sense of the irreparable is apt to make us despair, and we say – “It is all up now, it is no use trying any more.” If we imagine that this kind of despair is exceptional, we are mistaken, it is a very ordinary human experience. Whenever we realize that we have not done that which we had a magnificent opportunity of doing, then we are apt to sink into despair, and Jesus Christ comes and says – “Sleep on now, that opportunity is lost for ever, you cannot alter it, but arise and go to the next thing.” Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ, and go out into the irresistible future with Him.

There are experiences like this in each of our lives. We are in despair, the despair that comes from actualities, and we cannot lift ourselves out of it. The disciples in this instance had done a downright unforgivable thing; they had gone to sleep instead of watching with Jesus, but He came with a spiritual initiative against their despair and said – “Arise and do the next thing.” If we are inspired of God, what is the next thing? To trust Him absolutely and to pray on the ground of His Redemption.

Never let the sense of failure corrupt your new action.

AMEN! In order to have full confidence when we make mistakes such as this, we must remind ourselves that HE is the One Who does the WORK in and through us! He is NOT thrown off HIS game when we make a mistake. He simply covers that mistake and then leads us into the next adventure that will bring glory to His Name! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United  with "Search My Heart":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

The devotional on The Spoken Word Church website for today is a very good one that goes right along with yesterday's blog post.

Be Willing to Grow into Greatness

As the small acorns become great oak trees, so grow the seeds of greatness within our lives. It takes work and discipline. It takes proper nurturing. It takes time.

Resist inconsistency. Resist impatience. As you assume the responsibilities of the present, take time to enjoy the privileges available to you now.

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

(Galatians 6:9)

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." (Luke 2:52)

"If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:" (Isaiah 1:19)

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)

Don't be impatient with yourself as you begin to study and meditate the Word of God! Learning the Word and getting to know JESUS is a daily, progressive work. The important thing is to never quit! As long as you think about the Word of God every day, and put into practice what you learn, then you will learn something new every day! There IS no greater TRUTH than the Word of God and no greater LOVE than the love that HE has for you! HE desires good things for us even more than WE want them for ourselves! How do I know this? From the Word! 3 John 2:

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

Soul prosperity comes by meditating on the Word of God consistently, and then DOING what the Word instructs! THAT will bring every good thing into our lives as  witness and a testimony to the goodness of our God! AMEN! here is Hillsong with "The Greatness of Our God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have a question for you before we get into the Word today. When YOU study the Word, do you study it for the purpose of obeying it? When you see something to do in the Word, do you seek Holy Spirit Wisdom for how it applies to your own life? If we study simply for knowledge, we will never attain to it because the Word of God only has power when it is put into action! Simple memorization of the Word has no power at all. There is nothing wrong with memorization unless that is the only thing you do with the Word. John 15:7 tells us this:

If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

Meditation of the Word, as in Joshua 1:8, gets the Word IN you and shows you how to DO the Word! 

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.

AMEN! Do you see the difference? Make the Word your 'vital necessity' and the Word will work for you! So, let's see what we can put into practice! We read Psalm 47 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today. Here it is:

1 O clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph and songs of joy! 2 For the Lord Most High excites terror, awe, and dread; He is a great King over all the earth. 3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. 4 He chose our inheritance for us, the glory and pride of Jacob, whom He loves. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 5 God has ascended amid shouting, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises in a skillful psalm and with understanding. 8 God reigns over the nations; God sits upon His holy throne. 9 The princes and nobles of the peoples are gathered together, a [united] people for the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.

As you meditate on this Psalm, begin to do what it says to do! 

• Clap you hands
• Shout to God in triumph (For HIS provision!)
• Shout songs of joy
• Pause and think (meditate, ponder) what the Word is saying to YOU
• Sing praises - again and again and again
• EXALT Him! (Give Him the top priority in your life)

As you begin to approach the Word of God with this attitude and commitment, the Word will come alive to you as never before! It will make SO much sense that you will find yourself wondering why everyone doesn't see it as clearly! Remember, though, that there is no standing still in the Word. We must be continually committed to have the understanding continue to come! I wouldn't want a day without the Word of God. After all, it is the ONLY real TRUTH! (John 17:17) Here is Hillsong Worship with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share a vital message from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Health Food" devotional. 

The Importance of God's Word

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.  (Proverbs 4:20-22)

Knowing the written Word of God for yourself is very important. I've had people attend my meetings who were there every single service, but they didn't bring their Bibles. Now I didn't tell them, but I knew that if I could get them to bring their Bible one time so they could see for themselves what God says, they would receive their healing.

I remember one fellow in particular. He had been in twenty-one services, yet still failed to receive his healing. I said to him, "Bring your Bible."

He responded, "Well, the only time I take my Bible to church with me is on Sunday morning."

I said, "Bring it with you." I knew he wouldn't accept what I was saying if I just told him, because he thought certain scriptures read a certain way. And they didn't read the way he thought.

One night he brought his Bible and followed me in reading the scriptures. Before I finished my lesson, he jumped up and said, "I just can't wait. I'll receive right now." And he received his healing!

Someone might say, "What if you couldn't have gotten him to bring his Bible?" He wouldn't have received. The Bible is God's Holy Book. The Bible is God speaking to us. Do you want God to speak to you? The Bible is God speaking to you.

Confession:The Bible is God speaking to me. I attend to God's Word by reading and studying my Bible. I keep His Word before my eyes, and I incline my ears unto it.

AMEN! Find out what the Word of God has to say about every situation that you face. Meditate on that word until it becomes STRONG inside of you. NOW you are ready to step out in faith and allow GOD to overwhelm you with His signs, wonders and miracles! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Look To The Son":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share from Joseph Prince's devotional.

God's Love Makes You Strong

Ephesians 3:19 …know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

If you were to thank God for something today, what would it be? For me, it would be thanking God for giving me Jesus. For when I see Jesus on the cross, I see the love of God overcoming everything for me. It causes me to say, “Thank you, Jesus! I love you, Jesus! I worship you, Jesus! Bless you, Jesus! Hallelujah!”

And as we worship and celebrate the love of Jesus in our lives, we will find ourselves changed, and we will see the mighty power of God displayed for us and through us. This was the case in the life of David. His personal times of worship, of being absorbed in God’s love for him, changed him from a mere shepherd boy to a lion killer, bear killer, giant killer and finally, a king over Israel.

Now, no one on earth, no matter how strong he is, let alone a youth, can come against a lion and prize open its mouth to snatch back his sheep which the lion had carried away, unless God’s anointing is on him. And this was indeed what happened to David the shepherd boy who went after the lion, caught it by its beard, struck and killed it, and thus delivered the lamb from its jaws. (1 Samuel 17:34–37)

My friend, no man can truly enjoy living in this world without God’s strength in his life, God’s favor in his work and relationships, God’s protection for him and his family, God’s increase in his finances, and God’s health and healing for his body. Likewise, no woman can survive emotionally, socially or physically without God’s tender touch, loving presence, sweet assurance and words of life in times of need.

Beloved, as you feed on Jesus’ love for you, you will be filled with the fullness of God. Like David, God’s anointing will begin to operate powerfully in your life. And when you encounter spiritual lions, even the devil himself—when he comes like a roaring lion against you, your loved ones or your possessions—you will grab hold of his mouth and tear him apart!

Thought For The Day: Feed on Jesus’ love for you, and be filled with the fullness and power of God to tear your spiritual lions apart!

AMEN! Every born again believer has the potential to do great things for the Kingdom of God because it is GOD Who does the work! WE speak the WORD and HE confirms it with signs, wonders and miracles! Mark 16:20:

And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied [it]. Amen (so be it).

As you continue to obey the Word of God and the leading of Holy Spirit in your life and ministry, remember THIS promise in Philippians 4:13:

 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. AMPC

AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "You Are My Strength":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

2 Corinthians 13:1b says this:

‘By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established’.

Understanding this principle, when I saw that two of the devotionals that I check out each day were speaking of listening, I decided to use them here! The first is our own Spoken Word Church website devotional:

Listen

It is an art, a science and an incredible tool for growing. Productive listening is vital to success. It demands discipline and effort. Listen. Take the time.

Listen to God, His Word, His ministers. Listen to those around you who are hurting. Listen to your own conscience. It is a key to real success.

"A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:  (Proverbs 1:5)

"Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding."  (Proverbs 17:28)

I like the phrase "productive listening"! I see 'unproductive listening' to be the type where someone listens for the purpose of replying, rather than listening for the purpose of learning! Sometimes we have our minds made up and are simply listening for the pause that will allow US to speak OUR minds! Have YOU ever done this? I have! It was rude and produced nothing good! Productive listening causes knowledge and understanding to come so that we can not only be of help to someone else, but we will have Wisdom for our own needs and situations, too! Our Father LOVES when we do this because it puts us in position to walk in His promises! The other devotional that spoke of listening is "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. Here is a portion of that one:

The Devotion Of Hearing

Speak; for Thy servant heareth. — 1 Samuel 3:10

The destiny of my spiritual life is such identification with Jesus Christ that I always hear God, and I know that God always hears me (John 11:41). If I am united with Jesus Christ, I hear God, by the devotion of hearing all the time. A lily, or a tree, or a servant of God, may convey God’s message to me. What hinders me from hearing is that I am taken up with other things. It is not that I will not hear God, but I am not devoted in the right place. I am devoted to things, to service, to convictions, and God may say what He likes but I do not hear Him. The child attitude is always “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.” If I have not cultivated this devotion of hearing, I can only hear God’s voice at certain times; at other times I am taken up with things – things which I say I must do, and I become deaf to Him, I am not living the life of a child. Have I heard God’s voice to-day?

I LOVE that he says here that his goal is to be so identified with JESUS that he could ALWAYS hear the voice of the LORD! It takes just that type of a commitment to be in the presence of the LORD on a daily basis and to have confidence in that. We are to have that child-like attitude that runs to our 'parent'! I desire to hear Him at all times so that I never miss an opportunity to obey His Word and Holy Spirit within! Paul made this kind of commitment (Philippians 3:10 AMP) and so can we! WILL you? Only YOU can answer that and follow through on it! He has given us hearing ears, let's make great use of them! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Here Now":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

"From Faith to Faith" by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland for today is another very important lesson for those who would like to walk in more of the strength and power of the Word of God!

Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.  2 Corinthians 2:14

As you fight the good fight of faith today, remember this: Your mind is where the battle will take place. Whatever you allow to captivate your mind will rule your life. Will it be the Word of God or the lies of Satan?  The decision is yours.

If you want the Word to reign, make up your mind now to resist the devil when he comes to plant doubts within you. Refuse to surrender to the circumstantial pressure he brings your way. Decide at the outset that you will not succumb to this trial. Dig your heels in and stand immovable upon the promises of God.

When thoughts come that are contrary to God's will, cast them down. And above all, don't worry. Worrying is meditating the thoughts of Satan.  When you recognize you are worrying, stop it immediately. Replace worried, fearful and doubtful thoughts with the Word.

Be assured, Satan will continually try to tell you that your situation is hopeless. He will persistently peddle doubt, defeat and discouragement. But if you won't allow him to sell you his goods, his commission will be zero. If you don't buy his lies, he can't cause them to come to pass in your life.

God has promised that He will always cause you to triumph in Christ. You are guaranteed victory over any adversity you face today. Make up your mind right now to be a winner and you'll spread the knowledge of victory in Christ everywhere you go.

AMEN! The enemy will not give up until he is finally thrown into the lake that burns with everlasting fire! THAT is why WE can NEVER quit or give up, either! As long as we continue to stand strong on the Word of God, remain consistent in praise and worship, and constant in prayer (both with the understanding and in tongues), then we WILL see the Victory. EVERY TIME! We CAN do this! HE says so (Philippians 4:13 AMP)! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!