Shalom,

Today I want to share Andrew Womack's devotional!

WORSHIP FROM YOUR HEART

Mark 14:3 "And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head." MARK 14:3-6

The spikenard was a fragrant plant, and its roots were used in Jesus' day to make an aromatic, costly perfume and ointment. The plant, itself, grows in the Himalaya mountains at an elevation of 11,000 to 17,000 feet. For centuries, it was used by Hindus as a medicine and perfume and was an actively traded commodity. Its great cost stemmed from that it had to be transported over 6,000 miles to reach Palestine, and depending on quality, it sold for as much as 400 denarii per pound (or $750 an ounce, is the modern purchasing equivalent). That made it more valuable than gold. This ointment was worth at least two and one-half times more than the thirty pieces of silver that Judas received for betraying the Lord, which is why Judas was so upset. This perfume was worth two and one-half times what Judas thought Jesus was worth.

Judas didn't care about the poor. He wanted to have the money that the perfume could have been sold for in his bag (he was the treasurer for Jesus) so he could steal it. This is a very serious crime that Jesus no doubt knew about, but scripture never mentions Him confronting Judas.

Judas' reaction to this act of pure worship is typical of the reaction toward worship of many people today. Judas and some of the other disciples, thought this was a waste. That was only because they didn't value Jesus as highly as Mary did. Mary had seen Jesus raise her brother from the dead and her heart was overflowing with love and worship. The disciples were looking on the outward things while Jesus was looking at Mary's heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Those who cannot see beyond the physical realm will be offended at others' displays of worship. True worship comes from the heart.

The fact that Mary loved, treasured and worshiped JESUS is shown in her heart attitude revealed in Luke 10:38-42:

38 Now while they were on their way, it occurred that Jesus entered a certain village, and a woman named Martha received and welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was listening to His teaching. 40 But Martha [overly occupied and too busy] was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me [to lend a hand and do her part along with me]!41 But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; 42 There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her.

ALWAYS choose time with JESUS over other things and you will ALWAYS have more than enough time for the "other things"! HE will make your time expand to cover all that you NEED to do, as well as those things that you desire to do. TRUST HIM! Our God IS God, and He is GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Amen! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Shape Of Your Heart":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is another very good lesson for the born again believer to know, understand and DO!

Notwithstanding in this rejoice not,… but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. — Luke 10:19-20

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Jesus Christ says, in effect, Don’t rejoice in successful service, but rejoice because you are rightly related to Me. The snare in Christian work is to rejoice in successful service, to rejoice in the fact that God has used you. You never can measure what God will do through you if you are rightly related to Jesus Christ. Keep your relationship right with Him, then whatever circumstances you are in, and whoever you meet day by day, He is pouring rivers of living water through you, and it is of His mercy that He does not let you know it. When once you are rightly related to God by salvation and sanctification, remember that wherever you are, you are put there by God; and by the reaction of your life on the circumstances around you, you will fulfil God’s purpose, as long as you keep in the light as God is in the light.

The tendency to-day is to put the emphasis on service. Beware of the people who make usefulness their ground of appeal. If you make usefulness the test, then Jesus Christ was the greatest failure that ever lived. The lodestar of the saint is God Himself, not estimated usefulness. It is the work that God does through us that counts, not what we do for Him. All that Our Lord heeds in a man’s life is the relationship of worth to His Father. Jesus is bringing many sons to glory.

For the born again believer, ALL glory goes to the ONE we call our LORD and SAVIOR! The only thing that we did was to BELIEVE the Word and RECEIVE His wonderful, free GIFT of eternal salvation! THAT is the most important decision that any of us has EVER made! WE called on His Name and then HE did all the rest! By His Spirit we were made a completely new person, with our sin nature forever removed (2 Corinthians 5:17)! NOW He will continually lead, guide and direct us into our personal Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). We will all be rewarded in Heaven for our obedience to Him, NOT for the number of things that we did, or for the number of people we reached, or the number of ANYTHING! We will simply all be rewarded for our obedience to HIM! So, make sure that YOU are staying, daily, in vital and intimate fellowship with Him so that you can hear and DO what He has for you to do! AMEN! With His appearing soon upon us, let's get busy with it! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Go"!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Jerry Savelle's website devotional for today is so very important for the born again believer to know and DO! 

WORDS - THEY MATTER!

Words play an such important factor in determining whether or not you will live in the fullness of the blessing or not. And if you want to live in the fullness of the blessing, then you need to begin to confess it with your mouth. 

Why is it so important to confess with your mouth that you live in the fullness of the blessing? Why do you need to agree with God? Because what you say out of your mouth matters. God knows it and the devil knows it. That is why the devil has worked so hard to deceive us into believing that what we say doesn’t matter. Remember that saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

The truth is that words can hurt you. The Bible even says they can bring death.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21

If you are going to agree with God that you are living in the fullness of the blessing, then you can’t agree with the devil (by speaking your circumstances) at the same time. That’s called mingled seed (Leviticus 19:19).

I am not saying to pretend that negative things are not happening. I am not saying to just pretend that your electric bill isn’t due or that your mortgage isn’t due. I am not saying to pretend that sickness and disease do not exist or that marital problems don’t exist. What I am saying is that pretending is not faith. Faith doesn’t pretend. Faith believes. Faith attacks. And faith is now.

No matter what you are going through, your situation does not change the Word of God. What will change your situation is when you get your words in line with THE Word, and THE Word says that you are blessed and highly favored!

AMEN! Words are so very important that this is the method that Almighty God used when He created the universe! Make sure that the words that you speak are what you REALLY desire to have come to pass in your life! Refuse to talk about the problems you face. Instead, find out what the WORD of GOD has to say about the situation, and then speak the ANSWER into your situation! God's Word WORKS, but WE have to WORK IT! He is waiting on us to speak the Word so that HE can confirm His Word with signs, wonders and miracles (Mark 16:20)! So, let's get to it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I live today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers! It is all about FAITH and the FIGHT  of and for it!

Sublime Intimacy

Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?  John 11:40

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Every time you venture out in the life of faith, you will find something in your commonsense circumstances that flatly contradicts your faith. Common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense; they stand in the relation of the natural and the spiritual. Can you trust Jesus Christ where your common sense cannot trust Him? Can you venture heroically on Jesus 

Christ’s statements when the facts of your common sense life shout “It’s a lie”? On the mount it is easy to say — “Oh, yes, I believe God can do it”; but you have to come down into the demon-possessed valley and meet with facts that laugh ironically at the whole of your mount-of-transfiguration belief. Every time my programme of belief is clear to my own mind, I come across something that contradicts it. Let me say I believe God will supply all my need, and then let me run dry, with no outlook, and see whether I will go through the trial of faith, or whether I will sink back to something lower.

Faith must be tested, because it can be turned into a personal possession only through conflict. What is your faith up against just now? The test will either prove that your faith is right, or it will kill it. “Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.” The final thing is confidence in Jesus. Believe steadfastly on Him and all you come up against will develop your faith. There is continual testing in the life of faith, and the last great test is death. May God keep us in fighting trim! Faith is unutterable trust in God, trust which never dreams that He will not stand by us.

This is SO accurate when it comes to the faith fight! Our enemy has already been defeated by JESUS through His death, burial and resurrection! IN HIM we now have NEW LIFE and a brand new Covenant, sealed in His blood, that grants us Salvation in every area of life! Health and healing, favor and prosperity, Wisdom and understanding are all available to us, and IF we meditate on the Word (Joshua 1:8 AMP) until the Word rises big in us, we can declare with faith and confidence what the Word says about us! The key is to make sure that our intimate fellowship with JESUS is our #1 priority so that we can see, hear and KNOW clearly what belongs to us, and then have the strength and endurance to withstand the onslaught of lies by the enemy as he tries to continue his ways of stealing, killing and destroying! If you can see this and are ready to pick up your game, then you will LOVE this new song from Hillsong UNITED called "Not Today", and you will sing it IN HIS FACE! AMEN! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share from "Grace Inspirations" by Joseph Prince.

JESUS MAKES ALL THINGS NEW

John 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Any electronic product which you buy usually comes with an instruction booklet which says, “Send only to authorized dealers for maintenance and repairs.” Similarly, when something in your body or life breaks down, you go back to Jesus, your Creator and Maker. You go to Him because God’s Word tells us that “all things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made”.

The Bible says that in the beginning, God created everything by speaking (Genesis 1), and Jesus was the Word who caused everything to come to pass. (John 1:1–2, 14) So when relationships in your family break down, when your finances are low or when some part of your body isn’t working properly, you go to Jesus who can fix it and even make it better than before!

A mother from our church testified of how God gave her a brand new daughter who used to be a very rebellious teenager. The day the girl gave her life to Jesus marked the start of a new life with her family. She also became the face to look out for in the national swimming arena. When asked by reporters about her record-breaking feats, she told them that it was Jesus who did it all for her!

A lady once approached me and said, “Pastor Prince, I don’t know if you still remember me, but I came to you before when I was a divorcee. This is my husband—the same man I divorced some years ago. We remarried and these are our children!” Now, this doesn’t usually happen in cases where divorce has taken place, but this couple looked to Jesus and saw their broken family made whole!

When man puts something that has been broken back together, it is usually not as good as before. But when Jesus does it, all things become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17) The One who made the heavens and the earth is more than able to make it better than it was before!

Thought For The Day:  When something in your body or life breaks down, go back to Jesus, your Creator and Maker.

I LOVE this! Whether the situation you are facing is spiritual, mental, physical, financial, family or job related, the very FIRST person you should 'consult' is the Creator of all that is! HE knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10)! He is the ONLY One Who is Omniscient (All-knowing: Psalm 139:6; Psalm 147:5; 1 John 3:18-20), Omnipresent (Everywhere present: Jeremiah 23:24; Psalm 139: 7-10; Hebrews 4:13), and Omnipotent (All- powerful: Job 9:4-10; Ephesians 3:20; Revelation 19:6)! HE should be our first, and most important Confidant! THEN, as He leads you forth with peace and joy, go ahead and include those whom HE has placed in your life for strong and powerful prayer agreement! No one else should ever hear of your problem, situation or circumstance! Believers are sometimes too free with their 'prayer requests' and share things with people who are unqualified to help them because they do not know and believe the VICTORY provided for us in the Word of God, OR they agree with the Word, but do not yet know how to pray and declare the Word! In either situation, you are involving people who cannot help you stay built up in prayer,  or who may be 'praying' in doubt, fear and unbelief! All of these things are very important to consider when you are believing God for the miraculous! AMEN! Here is  Hillsong UNITED with "Shadow Step":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I am going to share today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin because he gives us the next step after meditating the Word of God, which we looked at earlier this week!

Practicing the Word

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22). 

Your spirit can be developed by four things. We have examined the first: meditation. Now we will look at the second: practicing the Word. Practicing the Word means being a doer of the Word. 

There are talkers about the Word. And even rejoicers about the Word. But we don't have many doers of the Word. Begin to practice being a doer of the Word. Under all circumstances, do what the Word of God tells you to do. 

Some think that being a doer of the Word is simply keeping the Ten Commandments. No, that's not what James 1:22 means. After all, under the New Covenant, we have only one commandment—the commandment of love. 

If you love someone, you won't steal from him. You won't lie about him. Paul said that love is the fulfilling of the law. If you walk in love, you won't break any law that was given to curb sin. So, if you're a doer of the Word, you will walk in love. 

But being a doer of the Word for New Covenant Christians means doing primarily what is written in the Epistles. Those are the letters written to the Church. They belong to us, and we are to do them. 

Confession: I am a doer of the Word, not just a hearer only! 

One of the first things that many children are taught is the 10 commandments. They memorize them, study what they mean and then attempt to obey them by self will and determination. The TRUTH for the born again believer is both great good news and a call to a much greater standard! We are part of a Covenant that has fulfilled the Law so that WE are no longer bound by it. We no longer live bound by those 10 rules that not one single person ever could keep, EXCEPT the ONE sinless ONE: JESUS! By HIS complete adherence to the Law, He became the perfect Stand-in for those of us who could not (EVERYONE!). He BECAME sin itself by taking upon His sinless Self OUR sin. His sinless nature gave Him the right to do so AND to totally defeat satan! Because He had no sin of His own, satan had Him illegally in hell! He left hell victorious over satan, sin, death and hell! When He rose from death, the First reborn MAN, He gave us the right and privilege to take part in HIS righteousness in the same way that HE took OUR sin! He did it for everyone, but ONLY those who will RECEIVE Him will have Him! 

Now that we have done this, we have the RESPONSIBILITY to LIVE as His representative! We have the freedom of only ONE commandment, but contained in that ONE is ALL of them! The GOOD NEWS is that we have HIS ability inside of us in the Person of Holy Spirit to help us do so, AND we are doing so to please Him and to represent HIM well, NOT to gain Heaven. We are already citizens of Heaven, here merely as ambassadors to draw others to Him. That brings us to James 1:22 (above)! It is only by being DOERS of the Word that we meditate on that we are able to grow up and mature in the things of God and in our role as ambassador. The word "deceiving" is the Greek word "paragizomai, which means: to misreckon, to delude, to miscount, to cheat by false reckoning, stray mentally, have a wrong opinion, to err. WE cause ourselves to think, speak and act wrongly concerning the Word of God when we fail to put what we are learning into practice. Refuse to deceive and delude yourself! When you understand something that the Word of God is telling you to do, begin to do it! None of us 'do' the Word perfectly, YET, but HE will help you 'get it right' as you go along! And all the while you are learning and growing, keep putting HIM first place! AMEN! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Glimmer in the Dust":

Shalom in  Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Jerry Savelle's devotional. It is SO appropriate, for me, and for many others that I know!

BRING GLORY GLORY TO GOD

Are you under pressure? Are you feeling overwhelmed and challenged? If you are, you need to understand that it was brought on by Satan. He brings heaviness – heaviness of spirit, heaviness of mind, and even heaviness physically. Whatever you do, don’t blame God for the trial. He is not the author of trials.

Jesus said that once the Word is sown in a man’s heart, Satan comes immediately to steal it and to take it away. He also told us that there are five major avenues that Satan uses: afflictions, persecutions, the cares of this world, the lust of other things, and the deceitfulness of riches (Mark 4:14-20). Satan is the tempter; he is the one who brings condemnation to you. He is the one that brings heaviness, not God (1 Peter 1:3-7).

The Apostle Peter describes it this way in verse 7: though it be tried by fire. Many times the trials that you are involved in feel like a fiery furnace.

God wants you to know that you can endure anything Satan brings against you. And if you will follow the instructions in His Word, you will come out on the other side of that trial like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did (Daniel 3): untouched, unharmed and totally protected!

God knows Satan is a spiritual outlaw and that he is out to kill, to steal, and to destroy. BUT God gave us weapons that are not carnal to use to fight Satan (Ephesians 6:10-18). God has put in our hands the means whereby, regardless of what Satan brings, there is a way of escape. God is glorified when we use these weapons and defeat Satan. God doesn’t receive glory when we are beat down. Jesus tells us just exactly how we can glorify our Father: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; So shall ye be my disciples.” (John 15:7, 8). Notice, Jesus doesn’t say anything about God receiving glory when we are beat down and defeated. He said God is glorified when we are full of His Word and that Word makes us fruitful or productive.

I have good news for you today, you have been provided a way of escape! Remember Isaiah 54:17 says: “No weapon formed against thee shall prosper.” Even though Satan will bring situations to you and try to steal the Word out of your heart, you can bring glory to God when you take His Word and resist the devil until he flees. You are a testimony that God’s Word works. You are more than a conqueror through Him.

Confession: , “I am a conqueror! It may feel like I am in a furnace now, BUT, I will resist the Devil, and he will flee! God has provided my way of escape. I will bear much fruit and bring glory to my God!”

AMEN! To go right along with this exhortation, we have the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13:

For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.

HE has made us capable of dealing with tests, trials and temptations by giving us His WORD and Holy Spirit to lead us in it! Every time you face a situation, remind yourself that the LORD your GOD has ALREADY provided your way of escape! That is, your way to VICTORY! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" for today is one of the most important lessons that every born again believer should learn!

Day and Night

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" (Psalm 1:2-3). 

If you ever want to do anything great in life - if you ever want to amount to anything in life - take time to meditate in the Word of God. Start out with at least ten or fifteen minutes a day, and build up. 

For years, I held two services a day while in the traveling ministry. And in earlier years of field ministry, I would teach in the mornings, pray aloud all afternoon, and preach and minister at night. Because I ate only one meal a day during my meetings, I would grow weak expending all this physical energy. 

Then the Lord spoke to me. He said, "Don't spend all that time praying and wearing yourself out for the night service. Lie on the bed and meditate." When I began to do that, my spiritual growth was greater than ever before. 

Well, that's what God promised: "…for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Joshua 1:8). I wanted to prosper and have good success in the ministry. But this works whether you are in the ministry, raise cows, or sell automobiles! 

Confession: I take time every day to meditate in God's Word! 

The whole of Joshua 1:8 is here:

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.

Is YOUR success in life worth your time? There are no shortcuts here! Without meditation in the Word of God so that we can SEE and DO what the Word is telling us, TRUE success is not possible! Let the Word of God be your standard and foundation. Find out what God has to say about every part of your life, then set yourself to be a DOER of what you see and understand! When we do this, success is inevitable! AMEN! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Wonder":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Two things stood out to me as I followed our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today! The first is from Psalm 53:1:

1 The [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt and evil are they, and doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.

If you ever get into a discussion with someone who claims to be an atheist, remember this first of all! There is no arguing with an empty-headed fool! The only thing to do is to pray that their blinded eyes be opened and that God would send laborers across their path who they are able to receive from! If YOU are the one sent, then, as Holy Spirit leads, share THIS with them from Romans 1:20:

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],

GOD does NOT believe in atheists! There is no such thing! GOD says so! There are simply people who, when they observe the proof all around them, refuse to believe because then they will have to do something with that knowledge! The second thing is found in Mark 3:1-6:

1 Again Jesus went into a synagogue, and a man was there who had one withered hand. 2 And [the Pharisees] kept watching Jesus [closely] to see whether He would cure him on the Sabbath, so that they might get a charge to bring against Him [formally]. 3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, Get up [and stand here] in the midst. 4 And He said to them, Is it lawful and right on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to take it? But they kept silence. 5 And He glanced around at them with vexation and anger, grieved at the hardening of their hearts, and said to the man, Hold out your hand. He held it out, and his hand was [completely] restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and immediately held a consultation with the Herodians against Him, how they might [devise some means to] put Him to death.

Can you even imagine how these men, who saw JESUS do what only someone truly anointed by God could do, AND who should have recognized Him from the Scriptures that they SUPPOSEDLY knew, decided that healing a man miraculously was grounds to put Him to death? IF you will meditate on this TRUTH, you will soon realize that the same spirits that blinded their minds to the TRUTH are still operating today! In that same way! They cannot stand the One, True God getting glory! When you share the Truth of God's Word, and minister to people as Holy Spirit leads you, there WILL be those who will hate it! They will think that they hate you, but they are simply influenced by these same spirits. Be bold in the Word of God and confident of His protections, provision and safety! Pray that their eyes be opened and then leave them in HIS hands! He is well able to bring the right people their way! AMEN! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Shape Of Your Heart":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share from Andrew Womack's devotional.

RECEIVE THE GIFT OF SALVATION

Mark 10:21 "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me."

Notice that the scripture makes special mention of Jesus loving this rich young ruler. This is stated after this young man said he had kept all of God's commands, which was not the truth. Jesus was showing him that he had broken the very first commandment that states, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3), and also the tenth commandment that says, "Thou shalt not covet..." (Exodus 20:17). Jesus' tough answer of "sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor" was not intended to hurt this young man. It was said from a heart of love and intended for his own good. This man's money had become his god and it had to be dethroned before Jesus could become Lord.

The one thing this young man lacked was faith in Jesus as his Savior. This young ruler was trusting in his goodness and not in the salvation that Jesus offered as a gift. Millions of people are making the same mistake today. They trust in themselves instead of God.

Jesus only came to save sinners. Unless an individual acknowledges that he is a sinner, he cannot be saved. Because the whole world is guilty before God, He has provided one way of salvation for everyone. In the same way that everyone is guilty, everyone also has been justified freely by God's grace. That does not mean everyone is saved. Everyone has had the sacrificial offering of Jesus made for their sins by grace but grace alone doesn't save.

We have to put faith in what God has provided for us by grace. Although the price has been paid for the sins of the whole world, only those who receive it by faith will benefit from the salvation that Jesus offers.

We just spoke about the rich young ruler a couple of days ago! This message today reveals another aspect of the LOVE that God has for us! He desires so very much that we should all be saved, yet He KNOWS that some will still refuse! His heart in continually toward us and HE will never turn away! Our salvation, however, is completely in our own hands! JESUS has already done all that He can do to provide for our eternal salvation and complete deliverance from the hell of the Bible! Remember, God has never sent anyone to hell! Heaven or hell, WE choose! Choose YOU This Day! Whom will YOU serve? As for me and my house, WE will serve the LORD! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Wake":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

One single verse really inspired me today! We began Mark today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. The very first verse of the very first chapter is the subject of THIS blog!

The beginning [of the facts] of the good news (the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The word that caught my attention "beginning"! Mark was starting at the very beginning of JESUS' ministry, and his account of it. The beginning of something is the very start of it. The very first steps. Mark was recounting these steps all the through to the time that JESUS' said this in verses 15-18:

15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race]. 16 He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved [from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned. 17 And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; 18 They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well. AMP

JESUS gave these instructions to His disciples and then did this, in verse 19:

19 So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and He sat down at the right hand of God. AMP

JESUS, the Head of the Body of Christ, the Church, returned to Heaven, but that was NOT the end of HIStory! When the disciples heeded and obeyed the instructions JESUS had given to them, then HE did this. Verse 20:

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). AMP 

What really spoke to me today is this: There was a definite beginning to the earthly ministry of JESUS of Nazareth, but there has NOT YET been an ending! WE are still to be obeying Mark 16:15-18, so that HE can continue to do Mark 20! Study the Word of God. Get to really know HIM. Spend time in His presence. Then GO and DO! Not 'religious' things and works things, but GOD things! Speak the WORD! Preach the Gospel. Be led by Holy Spirit peace and joy and give JESUS something to CONFIRM with signs, wonders and miracles! HE works today in answer to us speaking HIS Word! Let's GO! Whatever are any of us waiting for? GO! Here is Hillsong UNITED again with that oh so appropriate song: "Go":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Joseph Prince's devotional (Grace Inspirations) for today has a powerful message for our encouragement!

LIFE WITH GOD IS EASY AND LIGHT

Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

It always warms my heart to know that Jesus sees the cares we carry in our hearts. He knows the worries you have for your family and for the future. He feels the heaviness in your heart as you struggle with the sickness in your body. He says to you, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus wants to give you rest. And He says that the way you receive rest is to be yoked with Him, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light. (Matthew 11:29–30)

What does it mean to be yoked with Jesus? Imagine a pair of oxen yoked together. The younger ox sees what the lead ox does and follows. If the lead ox turns left, the younger ox turns left. If the lead ox stops, the younger ox stops. When the lead ox starts moving again, the younger ox follows. Likewise, Jesus wants us to follow His leading and flow with Him.

It is not hard to flow with Jesus because He will not lay anything heavy on you—“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30) When you are yoked with Him and you flow with Him, you will find that there is nothing heavy-hearted, ill-fitting or burdensome from the Lord. When you flow with the Lord, you will find that things fall into place. You will not be weighed down, anxious or distressed.

You might say, “But Pastor Prince, God has given me this heavy burden. It is weighing heavily on my heart!”

My friend, if the burden is heavy, it is not from God because Jesus said that His burden is light. The devil has probably given you the burden to crush you!

“Oh, Pastor Prince, you are making light of how serious my burden is.”

No, I am not. Jesus did say that His burden is light and His yoke easy. So a life yoked with Him is anxiety- and worry-free.

Beloved, follow His leading and flow with Him, and you will find rest for your soul!

Thought For The Day

The way you receive rest is to be yoked with Jesus, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

I absolutely LOVE this exhortation: 

My friend, if the burden is heavy, it is not from God because Jesus said that His burden is light. The devil has probably given you the burden to crush you!

So many believers, who began in simple faith, have gotten themselves all caught up, again, in trying to do 'things' to please God and to try to get FAVOR! Godly FAVOR is for every born again believer BECAUSE we are no longer strangers, but we are members of the FAMILY of GOD! We HAVE favor! ALL the favor we will ever need! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "All The Power You Need":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" for today is another very good lesson!

Above Only

"The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath" (Deuteronomy 28:12-13). 

The reason why Christians continually make mistakes and fail is because their spirits, which should guide them, are kept locked away in prison, so to speak. Even in our churches, the intellect has taken the throne. 

Any person who shuts his spirit away and never listens to it becomes crippled in life. He becomes an easy prey to selfish and designing people. 

But the person who listens to his spirit is the one who climbs to the top. 

Before I began to learn in 1959 how to follow the inward witness, it cost me financially. I had to borrow money to get out of a financial hole. Yet God had said I would have money to loan if I would follow the inward witness. But when I began to follow it, I started rising to the top. And I've been rising ever since. 

Going right along with yesterday's blog post, this lesson shows us that it is, MOST CERTAINLY, God's desire for His people to be blessed beyond measure! Remember when JESUS said THIS in John 10:10?

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

When we have our priorities in order, celebrating JESUS as our Number One, then HE will see to it that we are "blessed coming in and blessed going out" (Deuteronomy 28:6)! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong Kids with "My Number One":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers covers the account of the rich young ruler who came to JESUS seeking to know how to "inherit eternal life".

And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich— Luke 18:23

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The rich young ruler went away expressionless with sorrow; he had not a word to say. He had no doubt as to what Jesus said, no debate as to what it meant, and it produced in him a sorrow that had not any words. Have you ever been there? Has God’s word come to you about something you are very rich in — temperament, personal affinity, relationships of heart and mind? Then you have often been expressionless with sorrow. The Lord will not go after you, He will not plead, but every time He meets you on that point He will simply repeat — “If you mean what you say, those are the conditions.”

“Sell all that thou hast” — undress yourself morally before God of everything that might be a possession until you are a mere conscious human being, and then give God that. That is where the battle is fought — in the domain of the will before God. Are you more devoted to your idea of what Jesus wants than to Himself? If so, you are likely to hear one of His hard sayings that will produce sorrow in you. What Jesus says is hard, it is only easy when it is heard by those who have His disposition. Beware of allowing anything to soften a hard word of Jesus Christ’s.

I can be so rich in poverty, so rich in the consciousness that I am nobody, that I shall never be a disciple of Jesus; and I can be so rich in the consciousness that I am somebody — that I shall never be a disciple. 

I LOVE this! It was NOT the fact that this young ruler had riches that caused him to sorrow, it was because his riches had him! There are so very many verses throughout the Bible that speak to financial prosperity that we know, IF we have bothered to study, that God desires for us to be prosperous and in control of our financial situation so that HE can continue to bless us as we bless others! JESUS was not in any way against this ruler being rich! JESUS Himself had so much coming into His ministry that He had to have someone 'keep the bag'! No, JESUS knew that the only thing hindering this man from becoming a true disciple was his attachment to, and his trust and confidence in, his material prosperity and the 'things' that he owned! If you do further study on these verses you will  see that JESUS never told that man to give ALL of his money away! JESUS told him to sell what he had (liquidate his assets), GIVE to the poor (NOT give ALL to the poor) and follow HIM! He was so attached to his riches that he couldn't get past the idea of selling his 'things'! 

Is there anything in YOUR life that takes the place of your devotion to JESUS? Anything that hinders YOU from being obedient when He tells you to do this or go there? Every believer needs to answer this very important, and very personal, question for themselves! Do whatever YOU must do to make sure that HE is your first love and # priority! Everything else in life will fall into place and you will NEVER want, because HE has promised to supply ALL of your needs, not according to the need, but according to HIS riches, and HE owns everything! (Philippians 4:19) You cannot get a more powerful and sure promise than that! Not even if you are a millionaire! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Crowns":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 47 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan ministered to me more today than at any other time I have read it! It is SO appropriate for the times in which we are now living here on earth! 

Psalm 47

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

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.

With so much hatred and division, terrorist attacks and wars, and catastrophes (both natural and manmade), it gives me great confidence to know that through it all, GOD IS STILL GOD! HE is orchestrating the lives of His people, when we allow Him to! In HIS presence is fullness of joy, no matter what is going on around us! Remember that as a born again believer, YOUR citizenship is in Heaven! You are an ambassador on earth for the sole purpose of sharing the Good News, and supporting others who are doing so, also! Make THAT your prime directive! Your #1 priority and concern! Then HE will cause everything you lay your hands to, to be successful. He will direct your steps in the right direction! Blessings await! Let's GO! AMEN! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "GO":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I REALLY love today's "From Faith To Faith" by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland!

A FIRM FOUNDATION

These things I command you, that ye love one another. John 15:17

In Luke 6:47-48, Jesus said: “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.”

That’s probably a familiar scripture to you. But today I want you to do something new with it. I want you to put it together with what Jesus said in John 15:17: “These things I command you, that ye love one another.”

Love. That one word sums up all Jesus said for us to do. If you’ll build your life on it, even the most violent storms of this world will be unable to shake you. It will make you solid in every area of your life. 

If you’ll build your family on love, you can win back those the devil has stolen from you. You can win them to Jesus with the love of God.

 If you’ll build your business on love, you’ll prosper beyond your wildest dreams. I had a friend who did that. He went into a television and radio business in his church. He wanted to buy a station from a Jewish man and he offered such a good price for it that the owner was stunned.

“Why would you offer me such a wonderful price?” asked the Jewish owner.

“Because the Word of God says that if I will bless you, God will bless me. So I’m going to see to it that you get the better part of this deal,” answered my friend.

Before it was all over, that Jewish station owner had made Jesus Lord of his life. He and my friend ended up prospering and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ together on the radio. When love rules, prosperity can flow!

Commit to living the life of love today. Commit to building your house upon the rock. Then when the storms of life begin to blow—at home, at work or in any situation—you can enjoy the solid security of knowing that love never fails.

Isn't that a powerful concept? We can't outgive God and we will never be able to 'outlove' Him either, BUT, we can imitate our Father by making the right choices and trusting in HIM to give us the ability to follow through! The more we put the Word of God into practice, the more faith, trust and confidence we will have in it. When others see the results that come to us with our obedience, they will be drawn to the God that never fails! AMEN! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Greatest of These":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read 2 Timothy 3 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today, and there couldn't be a better description of our present times! Written about 2,000 years ago! Look at verses 1-5:

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

Every area of humanity is covered here! There is not one thing mentioned that we haven't already observed to some degree! Notice also that there will be 'religious' people, claiming to be Christians, who have never received JESUS as Lord and personal Savior! They will cling to their religious traditions, but there will be NO power in their lives. It is more important now than ever before that we be continually preaching the TRUE Gospel of JESUS Christ so that those who have never been born again, can be! Our instructions can be found in verses 14-17:

14 But as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you learned [them], 15 And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]. 16 Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), 17 So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

AMEN! Let's continue to be students of, and DOERS of, the Word of God! Follow the specific leading of the Spirit of God Who lives IN us in order to be WHERE God wants us to be, doing WHAT God wants us to do! THAT is TRUE success and prosperity! AMEN! Here is Hillsong, again, with "Tell The World", which continues to be THE most important message! 

Shalom in Him!