Shalom,

Jerry Savelle's devotional for today is a very important lesson! 

GET REVELATION

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Ephesians 1:15-16 NKJV)

The apostle Paul knew firsthand the importance of revelation knowledge from the Lord, which is why is why he placed such importance on it in his letter to the church at Ephesus. When God reveals to you a truth from His Word, that revelation always causes you to become positive.

Revelation knowledge of the Word of God determines how you react to the situations you are currently facing. For instance, do you really believe that …

• You are special to God?
• You are God’s most prized possession?
• You are washed by the blood of Jesus from every sin, weakness, and failure?
• You are holy, blameless, and above reproach in His sight?
• You are crowned with glory and honor?
• You have authority over every circumstance in your life?
• God wants to turn every adversity into a victory?
• God wants to turn every stumbling block into a steppingstone?
• God wants to give you good things?

If you don’t have a revelation of a particular Bible truth, then you can’t walk in it. Mental assent to truth is not enough. Without revelation knowledge, you will always live way below your privileges in Christ.

Revelation knowledge comes through reading and meditating on the Word of God, and then choosing to believe that what God says is true. Once you have revelation of how special you are to God, you will be able to walk in every good thing He has for you.

Confession: As I read and meditate on the promises of God found in His Word, the spirit of wisdom and revelation will open my eyes to receive all of the good things God has in store for me.

My favorite Scripture for revelation knowledge is Joshua 1:8 from the Amplified Bible:

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.

When we meditate on the Word of God we are able to SEE more clearly as Holy Spirit will cause the understanding to come to us uniquely and individually in the way that each of us can understand for the purpose of DOING what we see and hear. THAT brings success in every area! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers.

Faith

Without faith it is impossible to please Him. —Hebrews 11:6

Faith in antagonism to common sense is fanaticism, and common sense in antagonism to faith is rationalism. The life of faith brings the two into a right relation. Common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense; they stand in the relation of the natural and the spiritual; of impulse and inspiration. Nothing Jesus Christ ever said is common sense, it is revelation sense, and it reaches the shores where common sense fails. Faith must be tried before the reality of faith is actual. “We know that all things work together for good,” then no matter what happens, the alchemy of God’s providence transfigures the ideal faith into actual reality. Faith always works on the personal line, the whole purpose of God being to see that the ideal faith is made real in His children. For every detail of the commonsense life, there is a revelation fact of God whereby we can prove in practical experience what we believe God to be. Faith is a tremendously active principle which always puts Jesus Christ first — “Lord, Thou hast said so and so” (e.g., Matthew 6:33), “it looks mad, but I am going to venture on Thy word.” To turn head faith into a personal possession is a fight always, not sometimes. God brings us into circumstances in order to educate our faith, because the nature of faith is to make its object real. Until we know Jesus, God is a mere abstraction, we can not have faith in Him; but immediately we hear Jesus say — “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father,” we have something that is real, and faith is boundless. Faith is the whole man rightly related to God by the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

I LOVE this! The underlined parts are especially REAL to me today! We are told in the 1 Timothy 6:12 that faith is a FIGHT!

12 Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and [for which] you confessed the good confession [of faith] before many witnesses.

It is a fight to lasso our minds and bring them around to consistently feed on the Word of God! Then it is a fight to believe what we hear rather than what our natural eyes tell us! It is a fight to stand when it LOOKS like nothing at all is happening. It is a fight to rejoice at that same time! But every faith fight is one that we ALWAYS WIN, IF we refuse to quit! AMEN! So stir up your faith and your joy. Refuse to quit or to believe anything that is contrary to the promises of God's Word! AMEN! You CAN do this! You have God the Holy Spirit living IN you and you CAN do ALL things! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with a pretty old song called "FAITH":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we are reading 1 John 4 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. We move right on from what we looked at yesterday! Verses 18-19:

18 There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection]. 19 We love Him, because He first loved us.

Loving God FIRST, as our FIRST LOVE, is essential for being able to love others! We do that by spending time in intimate fellowship with Him, just as we would with anyone that we love. Spending time meditating on all that He has already done for us, along with all that He has promised that He will do, will establish and maintain a thankful and very grateful heart. The first steps to really loving HIM! Here is a song from Hillsong that will also really help develop and maintain that special and very personal 'love affair'! "Love So Great":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

1 John 3:1-3 is a portion of Scripture that I use regularly in teaching, exhorting and encouraging other born again believers. I like the Amplified Bible for the expanded understanding it gives!

 See what [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him. 2 Beloved, we are [even here and] now God’s children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall as God’s children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is. 3 And everyone who has this hope [resting] on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless).

We ARE who God says that we are! Dare to believe this about yourself. Right here and right now! Other people can see, yet, what GOD sees when He looks at us, but if we are learning and doing His Word, then they will see HIM, and that is what we REALLY want, anyway! AMEN! Here is that same portion from The Passion Translation:

 Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own beloved children. The reason the world doesn’t recognize who we are is that they didn’t recognize him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children right now; however, it is not yet apparent what we will become. But we do know that when it is finally made visible, we will be just like him, for we will see him as he truly is. 3 And all who focus their hope on him will always be purifying themselves, just as Jesus is pure.

Meditation involves studying out the Word of God, and then thinking about it from every angle, with Holy Spirit teaching us personally, and individually! Then the greater understanding gained helps us to be DOERS of that Word, and not hearers only (James 1:22)! Here, to further help your meditation, is Hillsong with "Who You Say I Am":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share from Jerry Savelle's website devotional:

SICKNESS AND DISEASE IS PART OF THE CURSE

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (Galatians 3:13).

Sickness and disease were never part of God’s plan for mankind. When He created the garden and placed Adam in it, life was perfect just as God planned it to be; there was no sickness or disease. But because Adam sinned and opened the door to the devil, mankind was subjugated to all that was part of the curse.

Until, that is, Jesus broke the power of the curse when He died on the Cross and rose again, destroying all the power of the devil. This is good news, because sickness and disease no longer have a right to be in your body.

Just as sickness and disease had no right to come on Jesus’ physical body when He walked on the earth, so it has no right to come on your body today. However, the devil will attempt to bring the curse upon your life and he will push you as far as you will allow him to. He will stay as long as you let him.

The devil will not leave you voluntarily—you must evict him from your life! It will be necessary that you tenaciously voice your rights as a child of God, enforce God’s Word against him, and use your faith and the authority Jesus has given you to cast the devil out. Then, speak to that sickness and disease and command it in the name of Jesus to leave.

Jesus paid the price for you to live in freedom from sickness and disease. So stand firm, speak God’s Word, and enjoy the fullness of your redemption from the curse.

Confession: Because Jesus Christ has redeemed me from the curse, I have been set free from all sickness and disease. I am full of the life and power of God.

I have nothing to add to this simple, yet powerful teaching today except: DO THIS! Here is Sarah Hart Pearsons with "It Is Finished":

Grace says, "You are loved"
In response I say, "Thank You, thank You Lord"
This is sweet salvation, this is sweet salvation
Grace says, "You are healed"
In response I say, "Thank You, I receive"
This is sweet salvation, this is sweet salvation
Grace says, "You are loved"
In response I say, "Thank You, thank You Lord"
This is sweet salvation, this is sweet salvation
Grace says, "You are healed"
In response I say, "Thank You, I receive"
This is sweet salvation, this is sweet salvation
I believe because You said it
But I trust because I know You
It is finished, it is done
You have risen, I have won
It is finished, it is done
Now I'm singing hallelujah
Grace says, "You're redeemed"
In response I say, "Thank you I believe"
This is sweet salvation, this is sweet salvation
Grace says, "You are cleansed"
In response I say, "Thank you, I forgive"
This is sweet salvation, this is sweet salvation
I believe because You said it
But I trust because I know You
It is finished, it is done
You have risen, I have won
It is finished, it is done
Now I'm singing hallelujah
It is finished, it is done
You have risen, I have won
It is finished, it is done
Now I'm singing hallelujah
Grace says, "You are loved"
Grace says, "You are healed"
Graces says, "You're redeemed"
Grace says, "You are clean"
It is finished, it is done
You have risen, I have won
It is finished, it is done
Now I'm singing hallelujah
It is finished, it is done
Jesus said it, the work is done
It is finished, it is done
Now I'm singing hallelujah, hallelujah
Oh yeah!!! ... Hallelujah!
It is finished, It is finished, it is done
It is finished, It is finished, it is done
Grace says, "You are loved"
In response I say, "Thank You, thank You Lord"
This is sweet salvation, this is sweet salvation

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read 1 John today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Verse 9 has always been a verse that set me free! Recently I have had discussions with people who believe that we do not need to confess our sin. They say that God's grace means that we don't have to even confess our sin. The first problem with that thinking is that the Epistles were written to the churches! They were written to born again, Spirit-filled believers who were being taught the Word of God! 

Actually, the root of the problem is a lack of understanding of understanding of the original language here! "Confess" is the Greek word "homologeo", which means: to assent, acknowledge, to say the same thing as another, to agree with, to concede, to admit. In other words, to confess when we sin simply means to recognize that what we have thought, said or done is contrary to God's Word! It is NOT sobbing, wailing, tearing your clothes or your hair, weeping for hours, or standing in front of people and giving a play by play of everything you've done wrong. Confession is prerequisite for RECEIVING the forgiveness that has been freely given. THIS is a SET FREE verse! 

1 John 1:9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].

Now look at verse 10 and see what God thinks about not confessing (acknowledging) sin!

10 If we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contradict His Word and make Him out to be false and a liar, and His Word is not in us [the divine message of the Gospel is not in our hearts].

God's Grace is POWERFUL and it is OURS! Recognize when you have missed it in thoughts, words, or actions. Then receive the already provided and continually cleansing forgiveness that JESUS paid for! AMEN! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Splinters and Stones":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin gives a great example of the difference between 'head knowledge' and heart faith! 

Head Faith

"The other disciples therefore said unto him (Thomas), We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

"And after eight days...came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and BE NOT FAITHLESS, BUT BELIEVING.

"And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: BLESSED ARE THEY THAT HAVE NOT SEEN, AND YET HAVE BELIEVED" (John 20:25-29). 

Thomas' faith was head faith. And Jesus did not commend Thomas for it. Jesus said, "You have believed because you have seen." Anyone can have that kind of faith, whether he be saint or sinner. That's head faith. Head faith is believing what your physical senses tell you. 

Jesus commended heart faith. He said, "...blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (v.29). To believe with the heart means to believe apart from what your physical body or physical senses may indicate. 

The physical man believes what he sees with his physical eyes, hears with his physical ears, or feels with his physical senses. But the heart, on the other hand, believes in the Word of God regardless of what the physical senses say. 

Confession: I am not faithless; I am believing. I believe according to what God's Word says, regardless of what I see, hear, or feel. 

The Word of God tells us that true FAITH comes by continually hearing the Word of God! (Romans 10:17) Thomas did not believe what he was told, he believed what he could see, which is not faith at all! What most people miss here, though, is that none of the disciples believed until they saw! They did not believe Mary when she told them. They believed when JESUS walked in to the room. Thomas was not present at that time. We should never point at 'doubting Thomas' without pointing at the 'doubting disciples'! But the really powerful TRUTH is that none of us has to keep doubting! We can choose to believe what the Word of God tells us, and reinforce that faith that comes by continuing to hear it! OUr faith will be just as strong as WE choose to make it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Kids with "My Best Friend":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share THIS today, from Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest".

The Viewpoint

Now thanks be to God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ. — 2 Corinthians 2:14

The viewpoint of a worker for God must not be as near the highest as he can get, it must be the highest. Be careful to maintain strenuously God’s point of view, it has to be done every day, bit by bit; don’t think on the finite. No outside power can touch the viewpoint.

The viewpoint to maintain is that we are here for one purpose only, viz., to be captives in the train of Christ’s triumphs. We are not in God’s showroom, we are here to exhibit one thing — the absolute captivity of our lives to Jesus Christ. How small the other points of view are — “I am standing alone battling for Jesus”; “I have to maintain the cause of Christ and hold this fort for Him.” Paul says — “I am in the train of a conqueror, and it does not matter what the difficulties are, I am always led in triumph.” Is this idea being worked out practically in us? Paul’s secret joy was that God took him, a red-handed rebel against Jesus Christ, and made him a captive, and now that is all he is here for. Paul’s joy was to be a captive of the Lord, he had no other interest in heaven or in earth. It is a shameful thing for a Christian to talk about getting the victory. The Victor ought to have got us so completely that it is His victory all the time, and we are more than conquerors through Him. “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ.” We are (encircled) with the odour of Jesus, and wherever we go we are a wonderful refreshment to God.

Our attitude, as born again, Spirit-filled believers, should NOT be that we are trying to GET the victory, but that we already HAVE the victory, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD! AMEN! Start EXPECTING God to confirm His Word in our lives with signs and wonders and miracles! We are not waiting on God! HE is waiting on us! He is waiting for us to step it up and begin to ACT like children of the Most High God! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Kids with "As The World Shakes":

Shalom  in Him!

Shalom,

We are reading 2 Peter 1 in today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. I LOVE studying from the Amplified Bible because the majority of the work of word studies has been done. I have found a few places where it isn't accurately translated, but have found it mainly very helpful! I especially like it here! Look at verses 2-3:

2 May grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).

All grace, which is God's FAVOR, and God's PEACE, which is well being in every area of life, are MULTIPLIED into our lives through the KNOWLEDGE of God! This "knowledge" is the Greek word "epignosis", which means: recognition, full discernment and acknowledgement. It comes from "epi" which means superimposition (layer laid upon layer, laid upon layer!) of the knowledge. This is not a one time 'cram for the test' kind of study! It involves a systematic and purposeful digging in to the Word of God, with Holy Spirit as our Teacher, and then acting on the understanding that we receive, being DOERS and not just hearers! This knowledge also brings to us everything that we will ever need in  order to be pleasing to God and victorious in life! What a GOOD GOD we have! Then verses 4-8 tell us how to appropriate all of this into our lives!

4 By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature. 5 For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence), 6 And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety), 7 And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love. 8 For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

And all of these good things work together for OUR good! AMEN! Here are Hillsong KIDS with "What A Beautiful Name":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really LOVE the Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today! Psalm 113:1-6:

1 Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! 2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forever 3 From the rising of the sun to the going down of it and from east to west, the name of the Lord is to be praised! 4 The Lord is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens! 5 Who is like the Lord our God, Who has His seat on high, 6 Who humbles Himself to regard the heavens and the earth!

Our God IS GOD! The ONE and ONLY! He is so worthy to be praised! Every minute of every day! And when we do, it increases our faith and trust and confidence in HIM! HALLELUJAH! And then we have this in 1 Peter 5:6-9:

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, 7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. 9 Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.

The only way that we can walk in faith and victory in this life is to continually cast ALL care over on the Lord! He desires for us to live carefree, trusting HIM to do what only HE can do! And remember, ALWAYS, that our enemy is an already defeated foe! His only weapon is the lie! He uses that to try to get us to believe something different about who we are than what the Word of God tells us! KNOW who you are - IN JESUS! What you have - IN JESUS! What you can do - IN JESUS! Then the enemy will have no success against you and will leave to try and find someone who WILL believe him! Listen to, and sing along with, Hillsong's "Who You Say I Am" to reinforce what you know to be true about you. And then sing, with authority, this from Hillsong called "Not Today"! And let the devil KNOW - NOT TODAY! AMEN! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Before Jesus went back to heaven, He told His disciples to “wait for the Promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4). There are thousands of promises in the Bible, so which promise was He referring to?

The early church knew which promise Jesus was referring to because He had told His disciples, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the Promise of the Father, which you have heard Me speak about. For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:4–5). Jesus was referring to the baptism in the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues (see Acts 2:1–4).

Jesus wants you to know the value of the Promise of the Father because He said, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me...” He did not say, “You shall do witnessing,” but “You shall be witnesses.” In other words, your very person will be a witness to Him!

This is because the power you receive when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit is the same power that so anointed Peter that the sick were laid on the streets for his shadow to fall on them and heal them (see Acts 5:15). Even handkerchiefs and aprons from Paul’s body were so saturated with the anointing of the Spirit that when they touched the sick, people witnessed diseases and evil spirits leaving the sick (see Acts 19:12)!

That same power caused a Holy Spirit-baptized church member, who prayed in tongues, to experience God’s healing power when he laid hands on his mother who was in an advanced stage of cancer. And because she was healed, she became a witness of the love and power of God to her friends and unbelieving relatives.

Beloved, when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, you will be a witness to others that no problem, trial, disease or sickness is a match for the power of the Spirit in you!

AMEN! The Spirit of Almighty God is living IN  you as a born again believer! When you receive that enduement with power from on high, then YOU will be able to do the works that JESUS did! People will recognize the presence of God IN you and this is exactly what HE and WE desire to have happen! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "What A Beautiful Name" which mentions Holy Spirit! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 111 is the Psalm we are reading today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! It is SO good! 

Psalm 111

1 Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) I will praise and give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart in the council of the upright and in the congregation. 2 The works of the Lord are great, sought out by all those who have delight in them. 3 His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever. 4 He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious, merciful, and full of loving compassion. 5 He has given food and provision to those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever and imprint it [on His mind]. 6 He has declared and shown to His people the power of His works in giving them the heritage of the nations [of Canaan]. 7 The works of His hands are [absolute] truth and justice [faithful and right]; and all His decrees and precepts are sure (fixed, established, and trustworthy). 8 They stand fast and are established forever and ever and are done in [absolute] truth and uprightness. 9 He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant to be forever; holy is His name, inspiring awe, reverence, and godly fear. 10 The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom and skill [the preceding and the first essential, the prerequisite and the alphabet]; a good understanding, wisdom, and meaning have all those who do [the will of the Lord]. Their praise of Him endures forever.

Our God IS GOD! The ONE and ONLY! And we should remind ourselves continually of that TRUTH! Going through the Psalms will help you stay aware of His presence and of all that HE has done for YOU! AMEN! And then you can check it out in other translations and see everything from a new and different angle and in a new light! Here is The Passion Translation!

Celebrate God’s Greatness

1  Shout hallelujah to Yahweh! May every one of his lovers hear my passionate praise to him even among the council of the holy ones. 2 For God’s mighty miracles astound me! His wonders are so delightfully mysterious that they leave all who seek them astonished. 3 Everything he does is full of splendor and beauty.  Each miracle demonstrates his eternal perfection. 4 His unforgettable works of surpassing wonder reveal his grace and tender mercy. 5 He satisfies all who love and trust him, and he keeps every promise he makes. 6 He reveals mighty power and marvels to his people by handing them nations as a gift. 7 All God accomplishes is flawless, faithful, and fair, and his every word proves trustworthy and true. 8 They are steadfast forever and ever, formed from truth and righteousness. 9 His forever-love paid a full ransom for his people so that now we’re free to come before Jehovah to worship his holy and awesome name! 10 Where can wisdom be found? It is born in the fear of God. Everyone who follows his ways will never lack his living-understanding. And the adoration of God will abide throughout eternity!

YOUR assignment for today, should you accept it, is to meditate on these two different translations and see what more you can learn that you didn't really see or realize before! Study of God's Word should ALWAYS be exciting to us! When it is, then HE will see to it that we learn something new about Him every single day! HALLELUJAH! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to continue in 1 Peter today from The Passion Translation. We'll start out with verses 1-7a:

2 So abandon every form of evil, deceit, hypocrisy, feelings of jealousy and slander. 2 In the same way that nursing infants cry for milk, you must intensely crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word. For this “milk” will cause you to grow into maturity, fully nourished and strong for life— 3 especially now that you have had a taste of the goodness of the Lord Jehovah and have experienced his kindness.

4 So keep coming to him who is the Living Stone—though he was rejected and discarded by men but chosen by God and is priceless in God’s sight. 5 Come and be his “living stones” who are continually being assembled into a sanctuary for God. For now you serve as holy priests, offering up spiritual sacrifices that he readily accepts through Jesus Christ. 6 For it says in Scripture:

Look! I lay a cornerstone in Zion,
    a chosen and priceless stone!
    And whoever believes in him
    will certainly not be disappointed.

7 As believers you know his great worth—indeed, his preciousness is imparted to you.

THIS is why we must diligently seek intimate fellowship with Him! And this is also why we are instructed in Hebrews 10:25, again from The Passion Translation:

25 This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other! In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning.

It is through intimate fellowship with JESUS, by Holy Spirit Who lives in us, and through study and meditation of the Word of God,  that we gain Wisdom, knowledge and understanding to be able to ACT on the Word and have HIM confirm His Word with signs, wonders and miracles that will draw unbelievers to HIM! AMEN! Let's BE who He has made and called us to be, and let's do it as the LIGHTS that we are! AMEN! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Look To The Son":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We began 1 Peter today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan, and I want to begin with verses 1-5:

1 Peter, an apostle (a special messenger) of Jesus Christ, [writing] to the elect exiles of the dispersion scattered (sowed) abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Who were chosen and foreknown by God the Father and consecrated (sanctified, made holy) by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and to be sprinkled with [His] blood: May grace (spiritual blessing) and peace be given you in increasing abundance [that spiritual peace to be realized in and through Christ, freedom from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts]. 3 Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 [Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God’s power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.

THIS is YOU if you have received JESUS as Lord and Saviour! Then HE lives in you by His Spirit, and YOU and IN HIM! AMEN! And all of this was foretold in the Old Testament! The prophets of old prophesied about the things that WE are now seeing come to pass! And they KNEW that it was not for them! Look at verses 10-12:

10 The prophets, who prophesied of the grace (divine blessing) which was intended for you, searched and inquired earnestly about this salvation. 11 They sought [to find out] to whom or when this was to come which the Spirit of Christ working within them was indicating when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that should follow [them]. 12 It was then disclosed to them that the services they were rendering were not meant for themselves and their period of time, but for you. [It is these very] things which have now already been made known plainly to you by those who preached the good news (the Gospel) to you by the [same] Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Into these things [the very] angels long to look!

WE are SO blessed to be living in the MOST exciting time in the history of creation! We are watching and waiting for the soon appearing of the Kings of all kings and the Lord of all lords! So how should we then act? Verses 13-16:

13 So brace up your minds; be sober (circumspect, morally alert); set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace (divine favor) that is coming to you when Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is revealed. 14 [Live] as children of obedience [to God]; do not conform yourselves to the evil desires [that governed you] in your former ignorance [when you did not know the requirements of the Gospel]. 15 But as the One Who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living. 16 For it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.

Now from past studies we KNOW that "holy" simply means to be separated from the world's way of doing and being right, and separated unto God and HIS way! It is agreeing with God and recognizing that HE is ALWAYS right! When we are at odds, HIS is the real TRUTH! So, change your mind to agree with God! THAT makes you HOLY! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "I Am WHo You Say I Am":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest". 

Greater Works

And greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. — John 14:12

Prayer does not fit us for the greater works; prayer is the greater work. We think of prayer as a commonsense exercise of our higher powers in order to prepare us for God’s work. In the teaching of Jesus Christ prayer is the working of the miracle of Redemption in me which produces the miracle of Redemption in others by the power of God. The way fruit remains is by prayer, but remember it is prayer based on the agony of Redemption, not on my agony. Only a child gets prayer answered; a wise man does not.

Prayer is the battle; it is a matter of indifference where you are. Whichever way God engineers circumstances, the duty is to pray. Never allow the thought — “I am of no use where I am”; because you certainly can be of no use where you are not. Wherever God has dumped you down in circumstances, pray to Him all the time. “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do.” We won’t pray unless we get thrills, that is the intensest form of spiritual selfishness. We have to labour along the line of God’s direction, and He says pray.“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.”

There is nothing thrilling about a labouring man’s work, but it is the labouring man who makes the conceptions of the genius possible; and it is the labouring saint who makes the conceptions of his Master possible. You labour at prayer and results happen all the time from His standpoint. What an astonishment it will be to find, when the veil is lifted, the souls that have been reaped by you, simply because you had been in the habit of taking your orders from Jesus Christ.

YES! Simply obey the Word by becoming a DOER of it! Now, when you pray, pour prayers will be a force that God can use to confirm His Word in the earth! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Desert Song", which is all about PRAYER! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin is another very simple and straightforward teaching that is, at the very same time, extremely vital and important! 

Growing Faith

"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly..." (2 Thessalonians 1:3). 

God gets all believers started off equally with the measure of faith after they are born again. He doesn't give one baby Christian more faith than He gives another. After we are born again, however, it is up to each one of us to develop the measure of faith that has been given to us. 

Too many have done with their faith what the fellow did with his one talent: He wrapped it in a napkin, hid it, and didn't use it. 

Your measure of faith can be increased, it can grow. But you are the one who increases it, not God! 

Your measure of faith can be increased by doing these two things: (1) Feeding it on the Word of God, and (2) Exercising it by putting it into practice. 

Confession: God has given me the measure of faith. I will see to it that my faith grows exceedingly. I will feed my faith on the Word of God. I will exercise my faith, I will put it into practice. My faith is growing.

AMEN! Isn't that just like our God? He GIVES us faith, and then tells us exactly what to do with it to increase it, just as much as WE want to! It is easy, fleshly and devilish to continually blame God for the way things turn out in our lives. The TRUTH is, WE are in control of what we get out of the seed that HE has given us! What are YOU doing with the seed of faith and the seed of the Word that has been given to you? THAT will determine just how much of the Word of God you will be able to understand so that you can put it into practice! Let's get busy doing what only WE can do! God has already done His part! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 106:1-2 continues on with our subject of praise and worship as our lead in to intimate fellowship with our Heavenly Father. 

1 Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! 2 Who can put into words and tell the mighty deeds of the Lord? Or who can show forth all the praise [that is due Him]?

During the times when Israel feared and revered the Lord their God, they were blessed beyond measure, protected on all sides and  walked in all the blessings of Godly FAVOR and ANOINTING under their Covenant with HIM. When they stopped fearing and revering the Lord, they fell into idolatry, including the worship of empty idols. Look at verses 19-22:

19 They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a molten image. 20 Thus they exchanged Him Who was their Glory for the image of an ox that eats grass [they traded their Honor for the image of a calf]! 21 They forgot God their Savior, Who had done such great things in Egypt, 22 Wonders and miracles in the land of Ham, dreadful and awesome things at the Red Sea.

And at verses 34-38:

34 They did not destroy the [heathen] nations as the Lord commanded them, 35 But mingled themselves with the [idolatrous] nations and learned their ways and works 36 And served their idols, which were a snare to them. 37 Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons 38 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with their blood.

When they did this, God had to respond harshly in order to preserve this nation for the coming of the Messiah Who would Salvation for the entire world of  'whosoevers'! When they DID turn back to Him, He was right there to take them back and bless them again! They praised Him again then! Verse 48:

48 Blessed (affectionately and gratefully praised) be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, Amen! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

So the message to us, who have an even better Covenant, based on better promises than they had, is to keep praising the Name of the Lord! Stay in fellowship with Him and He will ALWAYS lead you in the right path! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Heart of God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Psalm 105 today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Look at verses 1-5:

1 O give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name, make known His doings among the peoples! 2 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; meditate on and talk of all His marvelous deeds and devoutly praise them. 3 Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek and require the Lord [as their indispensable necessity]. 4 Seek, inquire of and for the Lord, and crave Him and His strength (His might and inflexibility to temptation); seek and require His face and His presence [continually] evermore. 5 [Earnestly] remember the marvelous deeds that He has done.

So many 'religions' have set 'prayer' that they memorize and recite. Our prayer is NOT supposed to be of this nature, but an open communication with our Heavenly Father, in the Name of JESUS! The MODEL that JESUS gave to us in the Gospels (what religion and the world have named the 'Our Father') was NEVER meant to be a recited prayer. JESUS was demonstrating the proper procedure for approaching our Almighty God, Who has become our Father, and these five verses above show the attitude we are to have in His presence! We should ALWAYS come into His presence with a thankful, grateful heart for all that he has already done! We should be rejoicing over every good thing that He has done, which increases OUR capacity to receive more and more from HIM! AMEN! Then speak of those things to others, bringing glory to HIS NAME and hope to those who hear! Thank You, JESUS! Here is Hillsong with "Greater Than All":

Shalom in Him!