Shalom,

We read Psalm 91 again today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. This Psalm is filled with the promises of God for protection, provision and safety for all who will trust in HIM!

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!

AMEN! There should never be a doubt that you allow into your mind concerning God's desire to protect and provide for you! He NEVER changes! His LOVE for you never changes! His compassion for you never changes! His mercy is new every morning, not changed but renewed! I urge you to meditate on Psalm 91 and then pray it over yourself, your family, your home, your job, your church and anyone else that you are responsible for! EXPECT the answers to come quickly! Amen! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Shadow Step":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is so simple, yet so profound that  I wonder if everyone will actually catch it! 

The Consciousness Of The Call

For necessity is laid upon me: yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel  — 1 Corinthians 9:16

We are apt to forget the mystical, supernatural touch of God. If you can tell where you got the call of God and all about it, I question whether you have ever had a call. The call of God does not come like that, it is much more supernatural. The realisation of it in a man’s life may come with a sudden thunder-clap or with a gradual dawning, but in whatever way it comes, it comes with the undercurrent of the supernatural, something that cannot be put into words, it is always accompanied with a glow. At any moment there may break the sudden consciousness of this incalculable, supernatural, surprising call that has taken hold of your life — “I have chosen you.” The call of God has nothing to do with salvation and sanctification. It is not because you are sanctified that you are therefore called to preach the gospel; the call to preach the gospel is infinitely different. Paul describes it as a necessity laid upon him.

If you have been obliterating the great super natural call of God in your life, take a review of your circumstances and see where God has not been first, but your ideas of service, or your temperamental abilities. Paul said — “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” He had realized the call of God, and there was no competitor for his strength.

If a man or woman is called of God, it does not matter how untoward circumstances are, every force that has been at work will tell for God’s purpose in the end. If you agree with God’s purpose He will bring not only your conscious life, but all the deeper regions of your life which you cannot get at, into harmony.

The message here is that those whom the God of the Bible calls, will most definitely know that they have been called! And this will NOT be by much fan fair and publicity! It will most likely NOT be in the public eye at all! We all know that every born again believer has been 'called' to the Ministry of Reconciliation, presenting to sinners the WAY out of sin and into Jesus!How, when and where you are to carry this out will be your INDIVIDUAL and UNIQUE calling! So, spend the time necessary in His presence to develop trust that you hear His voice. Now go and DO what He has shown you! And HE will work with you in it all! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Kids with "I Give You My Hallelujah":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Here is Jerry Savelle's website devotional:

WISDOM TO WIN!

If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering … James 1:5-6 AMP)

God always has a way to get you out of trouble and into the victory He has planned for you. This victory comes through the wisdom, knowledge, and Grace To Grace understanding you need in your situation.

So how do you tap into this wealth of wisdom? Wisdom is received from God exactly the same way anything else is received from God: by asking in faith.

First, meditate on the promise found in James 1:5 until you know in your spirit that God is going to give you the wisdom you need. Then, simply ask Him for it and believe from that moment that you have received all the answers and understanding you need for the situation. Even if you still feel confused or uncertain, thank God for giving you the wisdom you asked for.

If the answer you need isn’t apparent two seconds after you ask, don’t waiver. Rest in the fact that God has answered your request. As you continue to thank Him and read His Word, the answers you need to get you out of that trouble will certainly come.

Confession: Father, I come to you in faith today, asking for the wisdom I need to obtain victory in my situation. I refuse to waiver as I thank you for the wisdom you have promised to so liberally give to me. I receive it now in Jesus’ name.

AMEN! Good and Godly advice! Remember to ALWAYS put JESUS and His Word first place in your life! All other good things come to those who do so! Here is Hillsong with "Grace To Grace":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin contains one of the most important messages that a born again believer MUST know and understand in order to accomplish all that God desires for us to accomplish for the Kingdom as we run our race to the finish!

God Inside

"Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God's temple (His sanctuary), and that God's Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]? (1 Corinthians 3:16 AMP). 

God Himself, after He makes us new creatures, actually makes our bodies His home. No longer does He dwell in an earth-made Holy of Holies. God says, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you?" (1 Corinthians 6:19). 

We need to become mindful that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit - we have God inside of us! 

Chiseled on the front of a beautiful church in Texas is an Old Testament scripture declaring that the building was the temple of God. I get provoked every time I drive by. Why? Because these people have a lie right on the front of their church building! 

To say that a church building is the house of God because He dwells there, is incorrect. God doesn't dwell in a church building. If we mean that a church building is the house of God because it has been dedicated to God, that is correct. 

But we must be careful not to confuse spiritual things with natural things. Therefore, we must be careful to state spiritual things as they really are. 

Your body is the house or temple of God - not the building where you worship. Remembering this fact will help you in your obedience and in your faith. 

Confession: God Himself in the Person of the Holy Spirit indwells me. The Creator dwells in me. God lives in me. 

We ARE the current temple of the Living God! We ARE the new Holy of Holies! God Himself lives in us by His Spirit! And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is LIBERTY! Spend time meditating on this TRUTH that GOD is IN you, if you have received JESUS as Lord and Saviour! You will NEVER be alone again! He will ALWAYS have your back, fight you fights, protect, provide for, lead, guide and direct you in the way that leads to LIFE and to FAVOR in every area and arena of life. you can count on it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Kids with "Made In Your Image":

Shalom  in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers contains a lesson that is sometimes overlooked by born again believers because they do not realize how very important it is!

The Unblameable Attitude

If thou…rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee… — Matthew 5:23

If when you come to the altar, there you remember that your brother has anything against you, not — If you rake up something by a morbid sensitiveness, but — “If thou…rememberest,” that is, if it is brought to your conscious mind by the Spirit of God: “first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Never object to the intense sensitiveness of the Spirit of God in you when He is educating you down to the scruple.

“First be reconciled to thy brother…” Our Lord’s direction is simple — “first be reconciled.” Go back the way you came, go the way indicated to you by the conviction given at the altar; have an attitude of mind and a temper of soul to the one who has something against you that makes reconciliation as natural as breathing. Jesus does not mention the other person, He says — you go. There is no question of your rights. The stamp of the saint is that he can waive his own rights and obey the Lord Jesus.

“And then come and offer thy gift.” The process is clearly marked. First, the heroic spirit of self-sacrifice, then the sudden checking by the sensitiveness of the Holy Spirit, and the stoppage at the point of conviction; then the way of obedience to the word of God, constructing an unblameable attitude of mind and temper to the one with whom you have been in the wrong; then the glad, simple, unhindered offering of your gift to God.

Something powerful and supernatural happens when we take God at His WORD, and become DOERS of it! Obedience ALWAYS brings God directly into our situation, so that HE can lead us victoriously OUT of it! AMEN! Love never fails, but failing to DO this, will cause us to miss out on God's very best! Here is Hillsong Kids with "Voices of Freedom":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Joseph Prince's "Grace Inspirations".

LET THE LORD BE YOUR DEFENSE

Psalm 94:22  But the Lord has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge.

Imagine being a poor widow, a stranger in the land and holding one of the lowliest jobs in society. That was Ruth’s situation, so it would have been easy for her to feel vulnerable and defenseless. But because she trusted the Lord (see Ruth 1:16), He placed her under Boaz’s protection.

Boaz, the owner of the field she worked in, commanded his young men saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her” (see Ruth 2:15). What he was saying to his men was this: “She might be a gleaner, but because I care for her, treat her with respect and make sure she is not put to shame.”

Boaz is a picture of our Lord Jesus. If you are feeling vulnerable and defenseless right now, imagine Jesus commanding His angels, “Watch over this one who belongs to Me. Make sure he is treated with respect and not put to shame because he is someone I love and someone whom I died for.”

God’s Word tells us that if God is for us, who can be against us? (see Romans 8:31). No one who has set himself against us can prevail because when God is for us, His protection is upon us. That is why I have never answered any of the poison email messages which I have received in the course of my ministry.

My attitude is this: Jesus is my defense. If He does not defend me, it means that there are things in my life that are not to be defended, and I would be glad to find out about them now rather than later. On the other hand, because I take the Lord as my defense, and He defends me, what can those who are against me do to me?

When you defend yourself, you have only your two hands and your own human resources. But when you let Jesus take up your defense, He defends you with His nail-pierced hands and His legions of angels! The results will be amazing.

Beloved, the Lord is your defense and refuge. Trust Him to defend and provide for you!

AMEN! I have been asked before why I don't defend myself when people make accusations against me. THIS is why! 1 Corinthians 13:8 tells us that love NEVER fails! When we take no account of the evil done to us, then God can get involved on our behalf. WHen HE defends us, people are left speechless! They have no rebuttal and no recurse when God gets involved. Remember, nothing can EVER separate you from the love of  God which is found in JESUS! You are one with HIM, and when people come against you, they are coming against HIM! They are already in a bad place, so pray for them! They will definitely need it! And when God gets involved, people will have the opportunity to repent and change their thinking to agree with Him, and be saved! For us, it is always a win/win situation! Here is Hillsong Kids with "My Best Friend":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers again today!

The “Go” Of Preparation

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there thou rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.  Matthew 5:23, 24

It is easy to imagine that we will get to a place where we are complete and ready, but preparation is not suddenly accomplished, it is a process steadily maintained. It is dangerous to get into a settled state of experience. It is preparation and preparation.

The sense of sacrifice appeals readily to a young Christian. Humanly speaking, the one thing that attracts to Jesus Christ is our sense of the heroic, and the scrutiny of Our Lord’s words suddenly brings this tide of enthusiasm to the test. “First be reconciled to thy brother.” The “go” of preparation is to let the word of God scrutinise. The sense of heroic sacrifice is not good enough. The thing the Holy Spirit is detecting in you is the disposition that will never work in His service. No one but God can detect that disposition in you. Have you anything to hide from God? If you have, then let God search you with His light. If there is sin, confess it, not admit it. Are you willing to obey your Lord and Master whatever the humiliation to your right to yourself may be?

Never discard a conviction. If it is important enough for the Spirit of God to have brought it to your mind, it is that thing He is detecting. You were looking for a great thing to give up. God is telling you of some tiny thing; but at the back of it there lies the central citadel of obstinacy: “I will not give up my right to myself” — the thing God intends you to give up if ever you are going to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Notice that he says that it is DANGEROUS to get into a 'settled' state of experience! We should NEVER be SATISFIED with our growth in the things of God! Content, yes! But never satisfied! We will ALWAYS have something to learn UNTIL we see Him face to face, and THEN we will have more questions! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with an appropriate song called "Go":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I was so blessed today just reading Psalm 84! Here is the entire Psalm: 

Psalm 84

To the Chief Musician; set to a Philistine lute, or [possibly] a particular Gittite tune. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. 

1 How lovely are Your tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul yearns, yes, even pines and is homesick for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out and sing for joy to the living God. 3 Yes, the sparrow has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young—even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. 4 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; they will be singing Your praises all the day long. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 5 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; the early rain also fills [the pools] with blessings. 7 They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]; each of them appears before God in Zion. 8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 9 Behold our shield [the king as Your agent], O God, and look upon the face of Your anointed! 10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather be a doorkeeper and stand at the threshold in the house of my God than to dwell [at ease] in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts in You [leaning and believing on You, committing all and confidently looking to You, and that without fear or misgiving]

AMEN! When WE put JESUS first place in our lives, every good thing WILL BE added unto us!Then we can sing with all confidence, just as this anointed psalmist! Are YOU ready to truly meditate the Word of God everyday, so that YOU can continue growing your faith, from the inside out? Let's DO this! Let's GO! Here is Hillsong with "Blessed":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin!

The Righteousness of God

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin...." 

I've tested people by reading this portion of Scripture and then I've asked them, "How many of you believe that's true?" They all lifted their hands. Then I would read the last part of the same verse, "...that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 

And then I would say to them, "Therefore, we - you and I - are the righteousness of God in Christ. How many of you believe that's true?" 

Most of the time I couldn't get half of the crowd to lift their hands on the last part. And yet, if the first part of that verse is true, then the last part must be true too! 

God made a provision for us that belongs to us. We need to realize that it is ours! 

Confession: Jesus became sin for me that I might become the righteousness of God in Him. I am the righteousness of God in Christ. God provided righteousness for me. Righteousness is mine. I have it now! I am righteous now. 

AMEN! Now WE must choose to believe that the Word of God is truth, with no contradiction! Here is Hillsong with "I Will Boast In Christ":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE Jerry Savelle's devotional for today!

ACT FEARLESSLY 

Fear is a spiritual force. It is one of Satan’s greatest tools to get an open door into your life. It could manifest through the fear of not being good enough, the fear of lack, the fear of rejection, the fear of failure.

Satan will try to intimidate you through words, actions or external signs. But none of those things can become a reality or come into manifestation until you act upon them.

Negative or fearful thoughts may come into your mind, but you can refuse to meditate on them and chose to immediately reject them. Circumstances may appear discouraging, but you can refuse to let go of your confidence and faith in what you know about God and His Word.

If you respond in fear and act on intimidation, those fears can become a reality in your life. Fear will bring things to pass just as faith will. Job said, “The thing which I greatly feared has come upon me” (Job 3:25).

The devil can not do anything that he wants to do anytime that he gets ready to do it. If he could, why would he have to deceive you first? Satan is limited when he can’t get you to act on his threats through fear.

1 John 4:18 (NIV) tells us, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…” And we know from 1 John 4:8 that God is love. Run to God, spend time with Him, act on His Word and fear will have no place in you.

Take courageous steps of faith and you will see God move in your life in amazing ways!

Confession: I refuse to fear! Regardless of how I feel or what my circumstances look like, I will stand in faith on God’s Word.

Remember, the enemy can ONLY do, in our lives, what WE allow him to do! He has NO AUTHORITY in or over the life of a born again believer who KNOWS the Covenant that he has with Almighty God! AMEN! Here  is Hillsong with "Desert Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I love today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers and the distinction that he makes between being Christlike and DOING 'Christian' things!

The Divine Rule Of Life

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

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

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

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

The measure of a born again believer is not what they DO, but WHO they represent! If we adapt Paul's attitude in Philippians 3:10 ... 

10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection

... then we WILL be representing HIM in the way that He most desires! People should look at us an be able to say "they have been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13)!  AMEN! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Wonder":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Andrew Womack's daily devotional:

THE RESURRECTION POWER

Matthew 22:23 "The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,"

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

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

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

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

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

When you realize that you are, first of all, a spirit being, who possesses a soul (mind, emotions and will) and lives (while on earth) in a mortal body, THEN the Word of God will begin to make so much sense to you! You will begin to see the world, and your life, through the eyes of ONE Who loves you MOST! AMEN! Let's stir up OUR love for HIM and get back to being about our Father's business! AMEN! Her is Hillsong with "Man Of Sorrows":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I was really blessed again reading Hebrews 13:5-6:

5 Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied {CONTENT} with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?

Notice that Paul said in verse 5 to be free from LOVE OF MONEY! Not free from money or things, but from the love of those! Why? Because 1 Timothy 6:10 tells us that the LOVE of money is the root cause of all evil! People can have a love of money whether they have a lot of money or not. When money (things, possessions) are MOST important to you, then your focus is off of the One, True God and you will NOT be likely to follow His Word or His ways! Instead, we are told in that when we seek FIRST OF ALL, God's Kingdom and HIS ways of doing and being right, then all of these THINGS will be added to us (Matthew 6:33)! God's ways are SO much better than the ways of the world! 

Also, notice that I crossed out the word 'satisfied' from verse 5. That is because the word is NOT satisfied, but content! "Content" is the Greek word "arkeo", which means: to be possessed of unfailing strength, to be strong, to suffice. Why? Because HE lives IN us and His GRACE is always enough! Enough for what? Enough to get to us everything we will ever need! 2 Corinthians 9 tells us that HE provides seed for the sower AND bread for eating! Philippians 4:19 tells us that HE will supply ALL of our needs, not according to the need, but according to HIS RICHES! He is, and always will be , MORE THAN ENOUGH for every situation! HALLELUJAH! And if that were not promise enough, He says above that HE will NEVER , IN ANY WAY leave us, let us down, fail us or forsake us! WE CAN COUNT ON HIM! AMEN! So let's be DOERS of verse 6! Let's take great comfort in the TRUTH that HE is our Helper at all times and that it doesn't do anyone, any good, to come against us! Why? Because then they come right up against the Living God, and that might not turn out too well for them, UNLESS they turn their hearts to HIM and ber born again! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Love So Great":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I Love today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin!

His Workmanship

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). 

We believers didn't make ourselves who and what we are - God did. So be careful about passing judgment on God's creation. 

Christians who think they are being humble, sometimes say, "I'm so unworthy." But God didn't make any unworthy new creations. I'm not unworthy, and you're not unworthy either. To say that you are unworthy is not humility - it is ignorance of the Word of God, and it gives place to the devil to dominate you. 

We are God's workmanship! When you belittle yourself, you are actually complaining about what God has done. You're belittling His workmanship. 

"Created in Christ Jesus," our scripture says. Quit looking at yourself from the natural standpoint. Look at yourself in Jesus. You'll look much better. You see, God the Father doesn't see you like anyone else sees you. He sees you in Christ! 

Confession: I am God's workmanship. He made me a new creation. He created me in Christ Jesus. I see myself as God sees me. I see myself in Christ. 

I want to especially draw attention to this statement: To say that you are unworthy is not humility - it is ignorance of the Word of God, and it gives place to the devil to dominate you. 

So many believers think that this type of statement is being humble, but it is actually extremely prideful! It is REALLY saying that, even though our Father said that what JESUS did for us was ENOUGH, this couldn't be true! It is REALLY saying that God is not being truthful when He tells us that WE are heirs of God and joint heirs with JESUS Himself! It is REALLY saying that WE know more than God does! Let's not be ones who call God a liar! We ARE who HE says we are! We HAVE what HE says we have! We can DO what HE says we can do! Let's just let God BE God! Agree with HIM, because He is NEVER wrong! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "I Am Who You Say I Am":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Hebrews 11 today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! Verse 1 says this:

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

The Word of God tells us, in Romans 10:17, that faith comes by hearing the Word of God! As we study, meditate on and hear the Word of God, FAITH COMES! It is designed by Almighty God to work that way! Why? Because JESUS wants us FREE! He wants us to succeed, to prosper, to be in control rather than under someone else's control! He wants us to have a GOOD REPORT! Verse 2 says this:

2 For by faith the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report.

Faith, that comes only by the Word of God, is the active force that causes what is real  in the supernatural realm to become real in the natural realm in which we presently live! Our God is a FAITH God and when we walk by faith, we look like HIM! THIS pleases God! Verse 6:

6 But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

So make the Word of God your top priority and final authority and you will please God AND walk in the rewards of your diligence! Our God IS GOD, and He is GOOD! All the time! AMEN! Here is Don Moen with a great older song called "God is Good"!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share our Spoken Word Church website devotional! 

Know Your Opponent

Satan is your real adversary. He is a fallen angel, dispelled from heaven by a righteous God. His methods are predictable. He incites the violent nature of men against you. He inflames the normal passions of man into perversion. He introduces thoughts that could ultimately destroy you.

He reacts to the spoken Word of God. He is easily demoralized with the weapons of praise. He flees when you resist him.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."(Ephesians 6:12)

One of the greatest keys to walking in the love of God which never fails is to recognize that people are never our enemies! Satan uses people who allow themselves to be used by him as weapons of hatred, bitterness, envy, jealousy, fear, guilt, worry and any other attack of darkness. GOD uses people as vessels of His LOVE, GRACE, MERCY, COMPASSION and BLESSING. Recognize the difference! When you do, then you will be able to use the weapons of our warfare to defeat the real enemy in every situation! We have the powerful weapons of praise, prayer, the Word of God, the Name of JESUS and the Blood of JESUS! Our weapons will ALWAYS defeat the works and workers of darkness when we use them by faith! Just remember that faith works (or is energized, as the Amplified Bible says) by LOVE! Choose to see every person as precious and valuable and worth the price that JESUS paid for each of us! Share the Gospel with them as a blessing and use the Word of God against the enemy, who has already rejected God and His Word! This is a higher place of protection, provision and safety that belongs to every born again believer who will operate in God's unfailing love! LOVE NEVER FAILS! Here is Hillsong with "Love So Great":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

FACE THE PROBLEM!

My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” (Psalm 55:5-6 NKJV)

God doesn’t want you to run away from any situation in defeat. Victory is always His plan for you.

Running away from problems and troubles is always society’s mentality: “Oh, if I cold just leave this place. If I could just get in the car and go.” Looking for the easy way out of trouble and misery doesn’t work. Running from the problem that causes those feelings won’t do any good. If you avoid dealing with the issue now, it will be even more difficult to stand and face it later.

People often quit their job because of someone they work with, only to end up working with someone worse at their next place of employment. God wants you to learn to face your problems and overcome them by applying His Word. He wants you to learn to work with unpleasant co-workers by overcoming evil with good. When they blame you for something you didn’t do, bless them and help them.

Being a doer of the Word isn’t always easy, but it always works.

Although David wanted to fly away and be at rest, he changed his speech and declared a few lines later “As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD shall save me” (Psalm 55:16 NKJV).

God doesn’t want you to leave any situation in defeat. If it is God’s time to move you on, He won’t use negative circumstances to lead you. Instead of running from the problem, overcome it. And then move on.

Confession: I choose to face the problems before me today. I will apply the Word of God to them, and I will overcome them. I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me.

AMEN! Stop running to a 'safe place' and start BEING the safe place for others to come to know JESUS! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Oceans: Where Feet May Fail":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I think that today's "Sparkling Gems From The Greek - Volume 2" by Rick Renner is spot on!

In Days of Difficulty, We Have the Answer

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea.  — Acts 11:29

I have no doubt in my mind that we are facing the most serious time in the history of mankind. Jesus warned of impending floods, earthquakes, and wars as we approach the end of the age. These calamities will become more and more frequent in the days ahead — but how we deal with them is up to us. We can respond in fear, or we can be prepared and rise up in faith to seize the hour for the spreading of the eternal Gospel.

There are numerous instances in Scripture where believers prepared themselves for difficult times after being forewarned. In Matthew 24:1-8, Jesus Himself warned the Early Church that trying circumstances lay ahead in their future, and instead of succumbing to worry and panic, these believers continued to believe and work and prosper. Another example is found in Acts 11:27-30, which tells of believers in Antioch who were warned by the Spirit of an impending famine and then began to set aside food and prepare for the coming crisis.

Notice that when these believers heard this warning from the Spirit, they were “determined” to take action. The Greek word for “determined” is horidzo, which means to be bound or to be obligated. In other words, these believers didn’t hoard their prosperity in times of need. Bound by a sense of covenant obligation as fellow believers, they determined to act. Working together in unity, the believers in Antioch prepared a relief offering to send to the church in Jerusalem so the money could be distributed to believers in need. The action of the Antioch congregation before a time of crisis made them God’s agents of provision and deliverance for others when the crisis actually occurred.

Today the Church’s response to crises is often fractured, disorganized, and negatively influenced by poor doctrine. In the face of an impending catastrophe, one camp’s strategy is to run and hide, whereas another will deny that the crisis even exists at all. Both of these strategies ultimately produce the same result: They prevent the Church from demonstrating God’s manifold wisdom to the world.

There’s no way to avoid the end-time prophecies outlined in the Bible — troubles will increase on the earth in the days ahead. However, these troubles are prime opportunities for those of us who know God and are called according to His purposes. By God’s power, we can walk in faith through every fiery trial and become sources of supernatural provision to meet the needs of those who are suffering, demonstrating His love, grace, and wisdom to those who don’t yet know His saving power in their lives.

Even if days of darkness lie in the future, these are not days to fear. Rather, they are opportunities for you to rise up as a man or woman of faith and do great things for the Kingdom of God. These are days for you to demonstrate that you are a member of the Church of Almighty God and that you will meet the needs of the lost and hurting. Just as God used the church of Antioch to meet the severe needs of believers in Jerusalem — this is your moment to shine! But in order to be God’s hand of deliverance and provision, you must plan and prepare. Are you praying about how to prepare so God can use you mightily in these last times?

When we see the things going on across the earth that we have in the last few years, and even more in the last year, we should be encourage and inspired to continue to go all out for God's plans and purposes for our lives. Remember, we are ONLY here as HIS ambassadors, sharing the Gospel, so that all of the whosoevers will have the opportunity to believe and receive! To be born again by the Spirit of Almighty God! To have Heaven as their home when they leave this earth! To be anointed with power from on high! To become members of God's own family, heirs of God, joint heirs with JESUS, and members of His body! Let's be more determined than ever before to about our Father's business! Here, to encourage you in this, is Hillsong UNITED with "GO":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Joseph Prince's "Grace Inspirations".

THAT DISEASE STOPS HERE!

Psalm 91:7  A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.

Your doctor or insurance agent may ask you, “Do you have a family history of cancer?” If you say, “Yes,” they will probably tell you that you might get some form of cancer too.

Now, if you are without God, you would probably agree with them and start worrying about your health. But you are not without God! In fact, His Word tells you, “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.” Therefore, even if you have a family history of cancer, and your family members have died of cancer, you can have the confidence to declare that it will not come near you!

My mother had this attitude. After a thorough medical check-up, the doctor was surprised and told her that she did not have high blood pressure or heart disease, although these two conditions have plagued her father and siblings. You see, my mother had already firmly declared that no deadly, family-related disease would come near her.

Praise God for my mother’s trust in God’s Word because I am the generation after her! In fact, after my mother told me about the results of her check-up, I randomly opened my Bible only to read about Rahab the harlot who by faith “did not perish with those who did not believe” (Hebrews 11:31).

Beloved, God wants you to know that even though you are in this world, you are not of this world. You belong to Him and because He is on your side, “He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence” (Psalm 91:3).

Even when it comes to generational diseases, you can boldly declare, “That disease stops here!” because you have God and His Word. And when you believe God and His Word, you will see His promises come to pass for you—“A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you”!

AMEN! Take up the authority that GOD has given to YOU! Now make the most of it (faith that works by LOVE!) and you will see more clearly than ever before!  Here is Hillsong with "Forever Reign"
:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really love today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin!

Purchased

"Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 AMP).

 I like the way I saw a missionary, who had returned from the field, minister to the sick. Ministering to one woman, he prayed first:

 "Father, this woman is Your child. She belongs to You. It's not right for the devil to dominate her. You laid her sickness and disease on Jesus, for it is written, '…Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses'" (Matthew 8:17).

Then the missionary talked to the devil:

"Satan, this woman's body is a temple of the Holy Ghost. It belongs to God, and you have no right to trespass on God's property. Remove yourself from God's property!"

Then he talked to the woman:

"Satan has oppressed your body with sickness, but God has made provision for your deliverance. Your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost, and you are commanded to glorify God in your body. Can God be glorified in your body by the devil dominating it? No. Therefore, stand against this sickness with me. We demand that Satan stop trespassing on God's property!" 

Confession: I will honor God and bring glory to Him in my body. 

AMEN! The life of faith takes diligence and discipline, but it is NOT hard or complicated! When you settle it in your own heart that God's Word is TRUTH (John 17:17), then you simply change your thinking to agree with God in every situation! YOU speak only what God says, and refuse to speak anything else! The example in the devotional above is exactly how to properly handle every situation that you face. Find out what God's Word says, then stand on it no matter what anyone else says. The Word works, when we work it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's readings in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan really blend together! Look at Hebrews 5:11-14:

11 Concerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your [spiritual] hearing and sluggish [even slothful in achieving spiritual insight]. 12 For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God’s Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food. 13 For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]! 14 But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.

Notice the underlined portions of these verses. These involve expectations of the growth that these believers SHOULD HAVE been experiencing! BUT, because they were NOT DOERS of the Word that they heard, that  Word did them no good! They needed to be putting the Word that they were learning into practice immediately so that the knowledge they obtained would have been built right into them and they would never have lost any of it! Now let's look at Isaiah 55:1-3:

Wait and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing]. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [the profuseness of spiritual joy]. 3 Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David.

It is SO exciting that all that we will ever need has been provided for us by the death, burial and resurrection of JESUS of NAZARETH! All that He provided for us is available to us by His Word and by Holy Spirit Who is our Teacher! Don't walk into Heaven at the end of THIS life having left your 'plate' here filled with 'food' which you never ate! Be a faithful DOER of the Word of God and you will have KINGDOM of GOD results, right here and right now! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Hebrews 4:12 says this:

12 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

The Word of God is the top and final authority in THIS life, and in the next! Look at Psalm 138:2:

I will worship toward Your holy temple and praise Your name for Your loving-kindness and for Your truth and faithfulness; for You have exalted above all else Your name and Your word and You have magnified Your word above all Your name!

The WORD of God is the SOURCE of the NAME of God! That is the context of that TRUTH! Put the Word of God in the top spot in your life and you will find yourself succeeding in everything that you put your hand to! AMEN! God is GOOD like that! Now let's look at Psalm 138:15-16:

15 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. 16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

JESUS knows where we are and what we have been doing! Never try to 'hide' from Him! He is waiting, so patiently, for each of us to draw ourselves closer to Him! When HE has the preeminence in our lives, ALL other things fall right into place! Thank You, JESUS, for welcoming us into YOUR presence! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong with "For Your Name":

Shalom in Him!