Shalom,

Today I want to share from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional!

Raised Together

"And what is the exceeding greatness of his power, which he wrought in Christ, WHEN HE WHO RAISED HIM from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, AND YOU hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 1:19-20, 2:1). 

If you were to open your Bibles to Ephesians 2:1, a King James Version would look something like this: "AND you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." When a word is italicized in the King James Version, that means the word is not in the original manuscripts; the translators have added it. So the original reads, "And you who were dead in trespasses and sins." 

I wanted you to see that the verb which controls Ephesians 2:1 is back in Ephesians 1:20! (Paul didn't write in chapter and verse; men divided Paul's writings later for easy reference.) Our text today makes it clearer for you. Notice the capitalized words: "WHEN HE, GOD, RAISED HIM, Christ, from the dead. AND raised YOU…who were dead in trespasses and sins." 

The same verb that expresses the reviving of Christ also expresses the reviving of Christ's people! So the mighty act of God which raised Christ from the dead also raised His Body! 

Confession: The same mighty Power that raised Jesus from the dead also raised me! 

AMEN! Here is Hillsong Kids with "My Best Friend":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I have some very encouraging news for you from "Grace Inspirations" by Joseph Prince!

GOD WILL NEVER TURN HIS BACK ON YOU

Hebrews 13:5…He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

For six whole hours, the Son of God was suspended between heaven and earth. And at the height of His suffering on the cross, He cried out in the deep darkness, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:45–46).

For the first time, Jesus addressed His Father as “God.” The Father had forsaken the Son. As Judge of the universe, God had to turn His back on His Son, who was carrying the filth of the world’s sins, for His eyes are too pure to behold evil (see Habakkuk 1:13).

If the Father had not turned His back on His Son, He would have to turn His back on you today when you call out to Him in your hour of need. But because Jesus has taken your place, today, you take His place, and you have God’s face smiling on you always!

Right now, God’s face is smiling on you. His countenance is shining on you. I can stand before you and declare, “The Lord make His face shine upon you” (Numbers 6:25–26). And it is all because Jesus has paid the price for God to never leave you nor forsake you (see Hebrews 13:5).

As Judge, God turned His back on His Son. But as Father, He cried. His heart was broken because Christ was never more pleasing to Him than when He was on the cross. Christ’s suffering was a sweet-smelling aroma to the Father (see Ephesians 5:2).

Do you remember what Jesus said? “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again” (John 10:17). If you are a parent, you love each one of your children equally. But when one of them does something special for you out of love, it touches your heart, and you just want to run to him and hug him.

That was what happened at the cross, except that the Father could not embrace His Son. Instead, He had to turn His back on His Son because our sins had to be punished in His Son’s body.

Beloved, when you cry out to the Father for help today, know that He hears you and will surely help you. Because of Jesus, He will never turn His back on you!

AMEN! SO MUCH MORE was accomplished by JESUS through His death, burial and resurrection than many believers have ever known. Meditate on these TRUTHS above and read/study them from God's Word for yourself! Faith, trust and confidence in HIS protection, provision and safety will result and you will find yourself living without fear! Here is Hillsong Kids with "Made In Your Image":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers has a unique take on what we, as born again believers, should be focusing on! Unique, and TRUE!

Our Lord’s Surprise Visits

Be ye therefore ready also. — Luke 12:40

The great need for the Christian worker is to be ready to face Jesus Christ at any and every turn. This is not easy, no matter what our experience is. The battle is not against sin or difficulties or circumstances, but against being so absorbed in work that we are not ready to face Jesus Christ at every turn. That is the one great need, not the facing our belief, or our creed, the question whether we are of any use, but to face Him.

Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him; He appears where we least expect Him, and always in the most illogical connections. The only way a worker can keep true to God is by being ready for the Lord’s surprise visits. It is not service that matters, but intense spiritual reality, expecting Jesus Christ at every turn. This will give our life the attitude of child-wonder which He wants it to have. If we are going to be ready for Jesus Christ, we have to stop being religious (that is, using religion as a higher kind of culture) and be spiritually real.

If you are looking off unto Jesus, avoiding the call of the religious age you live in, and setting your heart on what He wants, on thinking on His line, you will be called unpractical and dreamy; but when He appears in the burden and the heat of the day, you will be the only one who is ready. Trust no one, not even the finest saint who ever walked this earth, ignore him, if he hinders your sight of Jesus Christ.

I SO love this! So much of the teaching that I received right after the new birth centered all around trying to be a 'good Christian'! That is NOT what JESUS called us to do! He called us to DO the works that HE did, and even greater! THIS Scripture should be OUR call to action:

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], 19 To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound].

THIS is why we are here instead of already walking those wonderful golden streets of Heaven! We are HERE to show people that JESUS is the WAY to the Father and to be set free in every area! There IS a GOD, and His Name is JESUS! AMEN! Let's get busy with our Father's business and NOT the BUSYness of religion! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "WONDER":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" for today speaks of the authority of the believer again. 

Source

"Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you" (Luke 10:19). 

Authority is delegated power. Its value depends on the force behind the user. 

Jesus said, "I have given you authority." Who gave it? Jesus did. Who is Jesus? Jesus is God manifested in the flesh! That means that God said it. Therefore, God said "I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy." (Serpents and scorpions represent demons and evil spirits and the power of the enemy.) 

God Himself is the Power, the Force, behind this authority. The believer who is fully conscious of divine authority can therefore face the enemy without fear or hesitation. 

Behind the authority possessed by the believer is a Power far greater than the power that backs our enemies. And those enemies are compelled to recognize that authority! 

No wonder John says, "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). 

Confession: I am a believer. Jesus has given me authority. God has given me authority. God Himself is the Power behind this authority. And this authority God has given me is over all the power of the enemy. 

Meditate on the TRUTHS revealed in this teaching and you will ALWAYS have full confidence that when YOU speak God's Word, HE will confirm it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong again with "Say The Word" because God's Word is the MOST important thing we can speak! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin contains one of my very favorite testimonies on the authority of the born again believer! 

Whom Resist

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith" (1 Peter 5:8-9). 

In 1942, I had a battle with symptoms in my body. I prayed, appropriated the promises of God, and stood my ground. But at times it looked like I wasn't going to make it. 

One such night I had a dream. I dreamed another man and I were on some kind of a parade ground. It was like a football field. There were stands on either side. As we walked along talking, suddenly the man looked back and yelled, "Look!" and he started running. I turned and saw that two ferocious lions were almost upon me. I ran about two steps. Then I hollered to the other man, "You'll never make it! You can't outrun them!" I stopped still, turned around, and faced them. 

I was trembling. My flesh was covered with goose pimples. But I said, "I stand against you. I refuse to budge in the Name of Jesus Christ." The lions stopped, came right up to me, sniffed around my feet, and just trotted off. 

I awoke, and First Peter 5:8 came to my mind. I knew my physical battle was won. I received healing immediately. I had almost run, but I stood my ground. I had used my authority. 

Confession: I resist the devil steadfast in the faith. I stand my ground. I use my authority. And the devil runs from me as if in terror. 

Notice this from James 4:7:

7 So submit to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.

SUBMIT, first of all, to GOD and THEN resist the lies, tricks, schemes and strategies of the devil! When we do, THEN he will flee from us! One translation sayas: as though in terror! Get the devil on the run by standing immoveable on God's mighty power and by His powerful WORD! AMEN! JHere is  Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin is a reminder of where our REAL strength comes from!

Be Strong

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:10-11). 

What would you think if you saw a traffic policeman in front of a car, trying to hold it back? You'd think, He can't do that. He's no match for that car! 

Some people read Ephesians 6:10 and think that the Lord is telling them to be strong in themselves. And they're trying to be strong. They'll say, "Oh, pray for me that I'll hold out faithful to the end!" But God didn't say a word about our being strong in ourselves or in the power of our might. 

That traffic policeman steps right out in front of those cars and holds up his hand, because he knows they're going to stop for him. He doesn't have to exert any strength himself; he's strong in the authority that's been given to him. 

That is what the Lord is telling us. He's saying, "Be strong in the Lord. Be strong in the authority of His might." Just step out there in front of that oncoming devil. Hold up your hand in the Name of Jesus, and say, 'Thus far, and no further! Stop right now!'" 

Confession: I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I am invested with authority from the Lord Jesus Christ. When I hold up my hand in the Name of Jesus and say, "Thus far, and no further," the devil stops in his tracks! 

AMEN! When we fully realize that HIS strength is OURS, then we will never allow fear and worry to overwhelm us again! Be strong in HIS might and the enemy will bow his knee to JESUS! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Be Still":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we read Psalm 84 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. We used to sing some of these verses in our Worship songs over the years. The Psalms are a great way to begin praising the Lord and then allow Him to give you more personal songs of your own, between the two of you! He LOVES when we worship Him with all of our hearts. That puts us in position to receive His Word and to stand in faith on His promises more! 

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]!

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]!

Then our reading for today in Romans gives the instructions necessary to do what we see above! Romans 12:1-2:

12 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Make feasting on the Word of God your top priority each and every day and you will find yourself lacking nothing! Our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan is the best that I have found for getting the Word of God into my heart consistently, systematically and chronologically! I learn something about God and His Word every single day! I invite you to use our Bible Reading Plan by going to our website through the link to the left. You will be so glad you did! Here is Hillsong with "Blessed":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin speaks of power and authority.

Authority

"Behold, I give unto you power, authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you" (Luke 10:19). 

The Greek word "exousia" means authority. However, it is often translated as "power" in the King James Version of the New Testament. In our text, for example, two different Greek words are translated as "power," yet the correct translation of the first word is "authority." 

Our verse should read, "I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy." 

What is the difference between power and authority? 

Well, what can one uniformed police officer do to direct the flow of rush hour traffic? He can do a great deal. Is it because the policeman has the power to hold back these mighty machines? No! His most strenuous efforts couldn't stop the swiftly passing cars. He doesn't have the power to do it, but he has something far better. He is invested with the authority of the government he serves. Even a stranger in the city recognizes this authority and obeys it.

Authority is delegated power. 

Confession: I have been given authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing shall by any means hurt me. 

As born again believers, we have the same Spirit Who raised JESUS from the dead living IN US! We are children of the Living God, heirs of God and joint (equal) heirs with JESUS Himself! All that we have belongs to HIM, and all that HE has belongs to US! WE operate in HIS Name and with all the authority that comes with His Name! THAT authority is greater by far, than all of the power that the enemy possesses! Study and meditate on these TRUTHS from the Word of God until faith rises; then go out and use HIS authority to thwart the schemes, strategies, tricks, traps and plans of the enemy! People will be set free and GOD will get the GLORY! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Who You Say I Am":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Romans 10 is our New Testament reading for today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! Let's look at verses 9-10:

9 Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.

Many people use these verses to show the lost their need of the Saviour, and how to be born again. But not as many realize that this is actually the way to receive all that we need from our Father! The word "salvation" is the Greek word "soteria", which means: rescue, safety, deliverance, preservation, health. "Saved" is the Greek word "sozo", which means: to deliver, protect, keep safe, rescue, to be made whole. In order to receive all that the Father has provided for us through the sacrifice that JESUS made for us, we must first find it in the Word of God, meditate on it until faith rises, then speak it (confess, declare, decree) out of our mouth and fully expect it to come to pass! Verse 17 tells us that faith comes by hearing (and hearing and hearing!) the Word of God! Whatever area YOU have needs in, find what the Word says about it, and then continue to meditate (think about, ponder, speak it to yourself and others, imagine it) until the verses come alive to you. THAT is the secret to faith that we cannot please God without! Joshua 1:8 says it this way:

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

AMEN! God has already provided! Now WE have a part to play in the receiving of it all! I encourage you to dig deep into God's Word to find what He has provided for us and then get that TRUTH inside of you in abundance! The means to really help those in need lie right there in the Word of God and HIS way of provision! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Desert Song":

Shalom  in  Him!

Shalom,

Pastor Bill Novak of The Spoken Word Church recently taught a series on "Preparing To Prosper". One of the valuable lessons that we learned was that, though the Word of God says THIS in Genesis 8:22:

22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

... and 'seedtime' is one word, we also know that we CAN separate this word to say seed, time and harvest without losing any of the intended meaning, while also adding another valuable nuance of meaning to this spiritual law! We KNOW that when we plant seeds in our garden, there is a definite time period between the planting of the 'seed' and the time of the harvest. In that 'between' time, the plant is growing until it becomes ready to harvest. Every living plant has its own timetable for growing! I have friends and family who are now, just after the first day of Spring, planting their seeds inside where it is warm. They wait and watch for the first sign that the seed has sprouted and begins to grow and appear above the soil! Eventually, when the ground is thawed and the weather right for growing, they will transplant these small plants into their gardens and there they will continue to grow and mature until harvest time! So it is with everything that we 'sow'! Joseph Prince explains this very well concerning healing in today's "Grace Inspirations":

DON’T GIVE UP AT THIRTYFOLD!

Mark 4:8 “But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

Perhaps you have marveled at God’s instantaneous healing miracles. Perhaps you believed that He would do the same for you. But now, when you see your own healing taking so long to manifest, you are tempted to give up.

My friend, when the manifestation does not come instantaneously, we are not to be discouraged because Jesus let us in on a secret when He shared the parable of the sower (see Mark 4:3–20).

The parable of the sower teaches us that once we receive God’s Word into our hearts regarding our situation, God’s blessings will manifest in progression. When we receive our thirtyfold manifestation, it means that 70 per cent of that condition is still there. But some of us give up at thirtyfold because we still feel more pain than relief.

We need to realize that we are thirtyfold better than before, and our sixtyfold is coming! Once we receive our sixtyfold manifestation, there is still 40 per cent that is not well. But we are more healed than sick now, and we only need to get ready for the hundredfold manifestation!

For years, I had a skin condition. Medication did not help and, finally, after I had done everything I knew to do, I decided to take the Holy Communion and pray about it. I said, “Father, I have an infirmity. I don’t know what is hindering the physical manifestation of this healing. Holy Spirit, I am trusting You to make perfect intercession regarding the manifestation of my healing.”

That was how I prayed for my skin condition. Did I look into the mirror to see if it had left? Of course I did! I am like anyone else. But did I stop praying? No, I kept on praying until one day, I heard a voice within me say, “Look at your body.” When I looked into the mirror, the skin condition was completely gone! I was totally healed, but the manifestation of the healing was gradual.

Today, if you have seen only a thirtyfold increase in your situation, don’t give up. The sixtyfold, then hundredfold increases are on their way to you!

AMEN! We must settle it in our hearts first of all that God's Word is TRUTH  (John 17:17) and that HE will do what He says in His Word that He will do! The moment we pray, we must believe that we have received, and then allow the seed of God's Word, powered by faith in it and energized by love, the time necessary for the maturation that leads to HARVEST! AMEN! Meditate on these powerful TRUTHS and you will never be discouraged again! Let PATIENCE have her perfect work and we will be 'perfect and entire, wanting nothing' (James 1:4)! Here is Hillsong with "Crown The Year":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest" again today because it addresses another very important TRUTH and message that every believer needs to know in order to operate at the highest level of our new creation life!

Interest Or Identification?

I have been crucified with Christ. — Galatians 2:20

The imperative need spiritually is to sign the death warrant of the disposition of sin, to turn all emotional impressions and intellectual beliefs into a moral verdict against the disposition of sin, viz., my claim to my right to myself. Paul says — “I have been crucified with Christ”; he does not say, “I have determined to imitate Jesus Christ,” or, “I will endeavour to follow Him,” but, “I have been identified with Him in His death.” When I come to such a moral decision and act upon it, then all that Christ wrought for me on the Cross is wrought in me. The free committal of myself to God gives the Holy Spirit the chance to impart to me the holiness of Jesus Christ.

“…nevertheless I live….” The individuality remains, but the mainspring, the ruling disposition, is radically altered. The same human body remains, but the old satanic right to myself is destroyed.

“And the life which I now live in the flesh,…” not the life which I long to live and pray to live, but the life I now live in my mortal flesh, the life which men can see, “I live by the faith of the Son of God.” This faith is not Paul’s faith in Jesus Christ, but the faith that the Son of God has imparted to him — “the faith of the Son of God.” It is no longer faith in faith, but faith which has overleapt all conscious bounds, the identical faith of the Son of God.

There is SUCH an important distinction here when it comes to living out our 'Christian' life here on earth! From the moment I first received JESUS as Lord and Saviour, I was encouraged by many well-meaning Bible teachers and believers that I needed to be living a godly lifestyle. That meant to watch what I did, where I went, how I spoke, what friends I hung around, what I watched, read, listened to or owned. We were invited to record (I'm old!) smashing parties, sent teachings on the evils of rock and roll music, told how wonderful it would be to live in a Christian commune where we only had to ever interact with other believers and any number of other SEEMINGLY godly ideas, thoughts and instructions! NONE of this will EVER make us more Christlike! What will? Yielding MY will to HIS will! Spending time getting to KNOW JESUS from His Word, in prayer, praise and worship and intimate fellowship with HIM! When I chose to humble myself to agree with His Word, the ability to do so came supernaturally. I no longer had to try so hard to APPEAR as a person who loved JESUS! I BECAME a person who loved JESUS! When I did, HE, by His Spirit, began sanctifying me, changing me, from the inside out! When HE is allowed to perform HIS GOOD WORK, then what is accomplished is the sanctification of our souls (mind, emotion and will) to conform more and more to HIS image! THAT is how HE intends for us to live, and learn and grow! SO MUCH freedom in doing things God's way! AMEN! Happy life-changing experiences ahead for YOU, if you will do the same! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "From The Inside Out":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers contains a very important lesson for born again, Spirit-filled believers!

Friendship With God

Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? — Genesis 18:17

Its Delights. This chapter brings out the delight of real friendship with God as compared with occasional feelings of His presence in prayer. To be so much in contact with God that you never need to ask Him to show you His will, is to be nearing the final stage of your discipline in the life of faith. When you are rightly related to God, it is a life of freedom and liberty and delight, you are God’s will, and all your commonsense decisions are His will for you unless He checks. You decide things in perfect delightful friendship with God, knowing that if your decisions are wrong He will always check; when He checks, stop at once.

Its Difficulties. Why did Abraham stop praying when he did? He was not intimate enough yet to go boldly on until God granted his desire, there was something yet to be desired in his relationship to God. Whenever we stop short in prayer and say — “Well, I don’t know; perhaps it is not God’s will” — there is still another stage to go. We are not so intimately acquainted with God as Jesus was, and as He wants us to be — “That they may be one even as we are one.” Think of the last thing you prayed about — were you devoted to your desire or to God? Determined to get some gift of the Spirit or to get at God? “Your Heavenly Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask Him.” The point of asking is that you may get to know God better. “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Keep praying in order to get a perfect understanding of God Himself.

His language is a little different than what most of us are used to, but the message is a powerful one! When we receive JESUS as Lord and Saviour we become a child of the Living God. Our 'relationship' is forever changed and we do NOT waver back and forth in relationship with Him. What wavers, if it does, is our FELLOWSHIP with Him! It is OUR responsibility to stay in intimate fellowship with HIM every day! HE never moves from us! The intimacy of our FELLOWSHIP with Him is determined by OUR choice! How much importance do YOU give to your time with JESUS? Our confidence in prayer and depth of faith depend on our consistent time spent in His Word and in intimate fellowship with Him through prayer, praise and worship and just straight up conversation with Him, as with any of our loved ones! When we do this consistently, we will become as familiar and confident in knowing His will as JESUS was! AND we will also have greater confidence that HE will correct any wrong thinking or perceiving on our part. THAT is a life of true freedom! Let's push on every day to get to that place of intimacy with HIM, and then stay there! AMEN! Here are Hillsong Kids with "My Best Friend":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin, we see an example in action of the faith principles that JESUS had given to him personally to have every prayer answered! The steps are SAY it, DO it, RECEIVE it, TELL it! Read "Faith Food" for March 15-18 to get these principles explained! Today we have THIS for the example!

David and Goliath

Then said David to the Philistine:

Thou comes to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.
(1 Samuel 17:45-47)

I asked the Lord to give me more scriptures which use these same principles.

Jesus smiled and said, "All right. They're in an Old Testament story you've known from your youth. The story of David and Goliath."

"Is that what David did?" I asked.

"Exactly," Jesus said. "Those are the four steps David took."

After the vision was over, I reread the story of David and Goliath. I discovered that five times David said it before he acted on it! Read it yourself.

David knew you could have what you say. He knew you could write your own ticket with God. How did David know God would do it? David knew God would do anything he would believe Him for and God will do it for you too!

Confession: I am a believer. I am not a doubter. I believe God for total victory. Then the world will see that God is for me! 

AMEN! Read, meditate, choose the Scripture that applies to YOUR need, then SAY it! THEN DO IT! THEN receive it and then TELL THE WORLD! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Tell The World":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Two things really stood out to me from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan today! First, from Psalm 77:11-15:

11 I will [earnestly] recall the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will [earnestly] remember the wonders [You performed for our fathers] of old. 12 I will meditate also upon all Your works and consider all Your [mighty] deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary [in holiness, away from sin and guilt]. Who is a great God like our God? 14 You are the God Who does wonders; You have demonstrated Your power among the peoples. 15 You have with Your [mighty] arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

THIS is an example of how David would have "encouraged himself in the Lord" (1 Samuel 30:6)! THIS is also how WE must do the same! When tests, trials and temptations come at us, we MUST keep ourselves filled with Holy Spirit, filled with God's Word and filled with the JOY of the Lord that lives IN us and must be stirred up continually! Especially those of you who have to operate continually in the world! The second thing that really stood out to me today is found in Romans 5:8-9:

8 But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us. 9 Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ’s blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God.

We WERE 'sinners, saved by Grace'! Now, and forevermore, we ARE the Righteousness of God IN HIM! The other very important and praise worthy TRUTH right here is found in verse 9! For anyone who still believes that the BODY of CHRIST, the CHURCH of JESUS CHRIST, the BRIDE, will have to go through ANY of the Tribulation, which IS the final 7 years of Jewish promise, THIS verse tells us, MOST CERTAINLY, that we will NOT partake in the wrath of God! We WILL BE at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb! OUR Wedding Feast with OUR Bridegroom! AMEN! COUNT ON IT, and then make sure that YOU are giving every opportunity to those you know to join us! AMEN! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Whole Heart":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Jerry Savelle's website devotional is one of my favorites! Today's is especially so!

GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32)

There are a lot of Christians who are not convinced that God is for them. They mistakenly think God is somehow partly to blame for the bad things that happen to them (never mind their poor choices and decisions).

How would you like to be commander-in-chief of an army where half of your troops don’t even know who the enemy is? They’ve got their weapons pointed towards headquarters, blaming you for all of their problems. As ridiculous as this sounds, it’s a pretty good description of God’s army. I’ve had people tell me about a particular trial they are facing and then ask, “Why did God let this happen to me?” They don’t realize that God is not against them—He is for them!

Jesus made it clear who our enemy is when He said, “Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NKJV) and “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10 NKJV). He went on in the same verse to say, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

It is the devil who comes to steal from you and to try to destroy you. God is a good God; everything He does is for your good and for your benefit. He will never ever cause a harmful situation in your life to prove something to you or to teach you something. You are so loved by God that He is willing to give you freely all things to enjoy.

God is on your side!

Confession: Father, I believe You are for me and not against me. I thank You that you are a good God who loves to freely give me all things.

AMEN! God is ALWAYS for us! We ARE His children! We are heirs of God and joint heirs with JESUS our LORD Himself! God's love is beyond our human understanding, but Holy Spirit lives IN every born again believer, ready at all times to teach us the Word and to lead, guide and direct our lives and our steps! Get ready to celebrate HIM everyday, for our God IS God, and he is GOOD! ALL THE TIME! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "Everyday":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Health Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin addresses a very widespread notion in the Body Of Christ that is causing many people to fail to receive from the One, True God!

Health Food Devotional

Settle the Issue

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
(Acts 10:38)

I have read about Rev. John Alexander Dowie, a Congregationalist pastor in Australia in the 1870s, when a bubonic plague came to Australia. People were dying like flies during that epidemic. Rev. Dowie had already buried forty-three members of his congregation, and had four more waiting to be buried. 

While sitting at the desk in his study one day, he began to cry out to God. "Dear God, is my whole church going to die? Did You send this plague? Is this Your will? Are You going to call them all home?" 

He didn't know who was to blame for it. He had read in the Old Testament how plagues could sometimes be stayed. Could this plague be stayed? He wept for the members of his congregation. 

The Spirit of God spoke one verse of Scripture to his heart: Acts 10:38. Rev. Dowie said, in effect, "Like a flash, I saw it! The plague didn't come from Heaven - there aren't any plagues in Heaven. It didn't come from God. Satan is the oppressor - Jesus is the Deliverer. From Genesis through Revelation, scriptures began to come to me. I saw that it is the will of God that people be healed and live their full length of time out down here below and die without sickness and disease." 

Then Rev. Dowie said to God, "Help me preach this to my people. Help me teach them so that they can see it and walk in the light of it. Give me the wisdom to share it with them." 
Confession

Jesus is the Deliverer - Satan is the oppressor. Sickness and disease don't come from God; they come from Satan. Therefore, I choose to live my full length of time out down here on earth and die without sickness and disease!

The secret to developing our faith in the God of the Bible is to actually spend time in His presence, praising, praying and speaking God's Word! AMEN! Here is  Hillsong with "Good Grace":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE the way Joseph Prince addresses this healing situation in today's "Grace Inspirations".

GOD’S SUPERABOUNDING GRACE FOR YOU

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

If you were in the same synagogue as the man with the withered hand (see Luke 6:6–11), how would you see him and what do you think you would say to him?

Jesus was preaching in that synagogue when He saw the man with the withered hand. But He also saw superabounding grace around that hand for healing and wholeness. He sees differently from us. He sees the invisible. He sees that the kingdom of God is here, ever-present in any situation, with superabundant supply. We see only the visible, which is tangible, temporal and which seems so real to us.

But Jesus saw superabounding grace on that withered hand for healing because you do not tell a man with a withered hand, “Stretch out your hand,” unless you see the supply, the superabundance for wholeness for that hand. Jesus called forth the superabounding grace to envelop that man’s withered hand, and the hand was made whole.

It is possible for someone who is sick to have superabounding grace on him and yet that superabundance of grace does not heal his body. That is because he keeps acknowledging the lack or the problem he sees. He is more concerned with that which is visible and temporal.

Instead of calling forth, and acknowledging and confessing the superabundance of God’s grace, he confesses his negative circumstance all the time. So even though the superabounding grace is there, it is there in vain. Isn’t that sad?

Jesus called forth life, and life sprang into visibility. We must call forth what we want to see. Say, “Father, I thank You that right now, though my health is under attack, there is superabounding grace available for my healing and health. I call it forth and receive it now in Jesus’ name. Amen!”

My friend, don’t be conscious of what you see lacking or missing. Be conscious of God’s superabounding grace for you and avail yourself of it!

AMEN! This is SO powerful and SO needful! We must train ourselves to SEE God's Word as TRUTH by allowing Holy Spirit to give us the 'inner picture' of ourselves, and others, as we desire to be, NOT as we appear to be, feel like, or sound like! Never forget that God's Word is TRUTH (John 17:17) and the ONLY Truth. Refuse to be moved by your physical senses when they contradict what God's Word says! This does NOT happen overnight. It takes the 'determined purpose' that Paul speaks of in Philippians 3:10 AMP! When we do this, we will not be moved and we will begin to see a fullness of the manifestation of the promises of God that we have hoped for! AMEN! Here is Hillsong UNITED with a new song called "Another In The Fire":

VERSE 1

There’s a grace when the heart is under fire

Another way when the walls are closing in

And when I look at the space between

Where I used to be and this reckoning

I know I will never be alone

CHORUS

There was another in the fire

Standing next to me

There was another in the waters

Holding back the seas

And should I ever need reminding

Of how I’ve been set free

There is a cross that bears the burden

Where another died for me

TAG

There is another in the fire

VERSE 2

All my debt left for dead beneath the waters

I’m no longer a slave to my sin anymore

And should I fall in the space between

What remains of me and this reckoning

Either way I won’t bow

To the things of this world

And I know I will never be alone

CHORUS 2

There is another in the fire

Standing next to me

There is another in the waters

Holding back the seas

And should I ever need reminding

What power set me free

There is a grave that holds no body

And now that power lives in me

BRIDGE

And I can see the light in the darkness

As the darkness bows to Him

I can hear the roar in the heavens

As the space between wears thin

I can feel the ground shake beneath us

As the prison walls cave in

Nothing stands between us

Nothing stands between us

VERSE 3

There is no other name

But the Name that is Jesus

He who was and still is

And will be through it all

So come what may in the space between

All the things unseen and this reckoning

I know I will never be alone

CHORUS 3

There’ll be another in the fire

Standing next to me

There’ll be another in the waters

Holding back the seas

And should I ever need reminding

How good You’ve been to me

I’ll count the joy come every battle

‘Cause I know that’s where You’ll be

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Jerry Savelle's devotional! This message is so needful for every born again believer to really know themselves, and to share with others!

You Are God's Special Treasure

For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 7:6 NKJV)

You are somebody special to God. Why? Because the blood of Jesus has dealt with every sin and failure that you ever committed and experienced, or that you ever will commit and experience.

Religion doesn’t teach that you are special. Religion wants you to remain “sin conscious,” meaning you are acutely aware of your shortcomings before a holy God. While it’s true that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, this is the very reason Jesus had to come.

The blood of Jesus washed away every bit of sin and failure in your life—past, preset, and future. As far as God is concerned, you are now holy, blameless, and above reproach in His sight. You are God’s special treasure, whether you feel like it or not.

Religion causes you to focus on your inadequacy and failure, when you should be focusing on the blood of Jesus and all that He did for you. If you have received Jesus as your Savior, you are not a worthless sinner. If you were, then the blood of Jesus didn’t work. I would never dare say the blood of Jesus didn’t work, because it did work!

Confession: Because the blood of Jesus cleansed me of my sin, I am holy and righteous in Your sight, Father God. Thank You that I am Your special treasure.

Amen, Amen and Amen! It is way past time for God's people to stand up in all their God-given authority and BE who HE has made us to be! We ARE the only JESUS that some people will ever see! Let's think like it, speak like it and act like it! THAT will draw people to HIM! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "No Reason To Hide". Let's get those lampshades OFF and SHINE!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Mark 16 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today. I LOVE to meditate on verses 19-20:

19 After saying these things, Jesus was lifted up into heaven and sat down at the place of honor at the right hand of God! 20 And the apostles went out announcing the good news everywhere, as the Lord himself consistently worked with them, validating the message they preached with miracle-signs that accompanied them!

I love that JESUS confidently sat down at the right hand of the Father, KNOWING that He had fully equipped, called, anointed and appointed HIS people to DO the work that He had done, and to give HIM something to confirm and bear witness to! I hope that YOU will meditate on the Word of God until it becomes so real to you that speaking God's Word and acting on it becomes part of your very nature! That gives God something to work with that He can confirm and show HIMSELF strong, drawing the lost to Himself! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

HOW DO YOU SEE GOD?

Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”

The way you see Jesus, the revelation that you have of Him, will not affect God’s acceptance of you. But it will affect your acceptance of what God has for you. It will affect how you receive from Him.

Consider the Roman centurion who told Jesus, “You don’t have to come to my house. Just speak the word and my servant at home will be healed” (see Luke 7:6–7). Compare him with Jairus, the ruler of a synagogue, who told Jesus, “My daughter is dying. Please come to my house and lay Your hands on her, and she shall live” (see Mark 5:22–23).

Do you know that Jesus does not have to go to your house to heal you? So why did Jesus follow Jairus to his house? Jesus had to come down to Jairus’ level of faith. Jairus believed that his daughter could be healed, but only if Jesus came and laid His hands on her.

The centurion was different. He said, “Lord, You don’t have to come to my house. I know who You are.” This centurion believed that Jesus did not have to come to his house for his servant to be healed. He believed that Jesus only needed to speak the word. He said to Jesus, “Just speak the word and my servant at home will be healed.”

Do you know who Jesus is? The centurion had a greater understanding of who Jesus is than Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, and he wasn’t even a Jew!

Jesus asked his disciples, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). He even remarked, “O you of little faith” (Matthew 6:30). But to the woman whose daughter was demon-possessed, He said, “O woman, great is your faith!” (Matthew 15:28). And to the centurion, He declared, “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”

My desire is for you to have an accurate understanding of who Jesus is because when your revelation of Jesus is big, you will know what has been freely given to you. And when you know what is yours in Christ Jesus, you will be rich in all things!

Amen! Our God IS GOD! The ONE and ONLY! The greatness of our PERCEPTION of God will cause us to have the faith needed to believe Him for BIG things! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "This Is Our God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional. This message is another vital one for walking in the promises of God and the Blessing of the Lord!

Saying the Same Thing

"Seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession confession" (Hebrews 4:14). 

The Greek word translated "profession" here is translated confession elsewhere in the King James Version. The literal Greek meaning of this word is to speak the same thing. So instead of saying, "Let us hold fast our confession" we could say, "Let us hold fast to speaking the same thing." Notice that words are involved here. 

The thing that defeats many people is that they have a double confession. One time they confess one thing, and the next time they confess something else. 

For example, they may say to you, "Yes, the Lord is my Shepherd, and I shall not want. According to Philippians 4:19, my God shall supply all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus, and I'm believing God to supply my needs." 

But when they leave you and meet someone else, their mind may revert back to their problems, so they'll say, "We're not doing so good. We can't pay our phone bill. We're going to have to take the phone out. And it even looks like we're going to lose our car." 

What about that first confession they made? It was nullified by the second. 

Confession: I make my mouth do its duty. I see to it that I speak in line with God's Word. Then I hold fast to my confession. 

AMEN! Find out what the God of the Bible has to say about YOUR situation, then stand on it, fully expecting it to come to pass! FOR HIS GLORY! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!