Shalom,

As we are going through Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional in our Morning Prayer services, some days really stand out! Today's message is one of those! I want to share it with you, too!

Raised Together

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power . . . Which he wrought in Christ, WHEN HE 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:

CHAPTER 2

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!

I hope that you will continue to meditate on this POWERFUL TRUTH so that Holy Spirit can reveal those mysteries and secrets directly from the heart of Almighty God to your very own heart, so that you can act on the Word and stand strong in faith on the Word as YOUR ultimate authority! Remember that God's Word is Truth (John 17:17)! It has no contradictions! We can count on it! On HIM! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Each person in your life is a current. This current is taking you toward your goals or away from them.

The worth of any friendship can be measured by its contribution to God's assignment to your life. He who does not increase you inevitably will decrease you.

"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." (1 Corinthians 15:33)

AMEN! This is so very important! We should, as 1 Peter 3:15 tells us, ALWAYS be ready to give an answer to those who ask us about this great HOPE that we have within us! 

But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.

BUT, other than times such as that mentioned above, we are to focus on our intimate fellowship with JESUS, by HIS Word and by HIS Spirit! And also by fellowship with like-minded believers! In fact, we are commanded to do so in Hebrews 10:25. There will be some during these next days who will make choices that the Spirit of Almighty God has also led YOU to do! Rejoice with them and suppoert them! There will also be those who have been instructed by Holy Spirit to do or say something that YOU may never say or do! Rejoice with them and support them! And then there will be times, occasions, tasks, that Holy Spirit is calling on YOU to do! Set your heart to OBEY! Your blessings hinge on your obedience! AMEN! And whatever YOU choose to do, NEVER even open your mouth against those who have been led in another way! AMEN! Here, to encourage you today to make the choice to make JESUS famous, are Hillsong Kids with "When The Earth Shakes":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really love today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers! this IS the KEY to walking in THE BLESSING of GOD!

Our Lord’s Surprise Visits

You also be ready… — Luke 12:40

A Christian worker’s greatest need is a readiness to face Jesus Christ at any and every turn. This is not easy, no matter what our experience has been. This battle is not against sin, difficulties, or circumstances, but against being so absorbed in our service to Jesus Christ that we are not ready to face Jesus Himself at every turn. The greatest need is not facing our beliefs or doctrines, or even facing the question of whether or not we are of any use to Him, but the need is to face Him.

Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him; He appears where we least expect Him, and always in the most illogical situations. The only way a servant can remain true to God is to be ready for the Lord’s surprise visits. This readiness will not be brought about by service, but through intense spiritual reality, expecting Jesus Christ at every turn. This sense of expectation will give our life the attitude of childlike wonder He wants it to have. If we are going to be ready for Jesus Christ, we have to stop being religious. In other words, we must stop using religion as if it were some kind of a lofty lifestyle— we must be spiritually real.

If you are avoiding the call of the religious thinking of today’s world, and instead are “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2), setting your heart on what He wants, and thinking His thoughts, you will be considered impractical and a daydreamer. But when He suddenly appears in the work of the heat of the day, you will be the only one who is ready. You should trust no one, and even ignore the finest saint on earth if he blocks your sight of Jesus Christ.

AMEN! There is NOTHING, NOT ONE THING, that we should EVER allow to interfere with our intimate fellowship with the One, True GOD of the Bible! HE, after all, is the ONE Who has ALL of the answers we need! AMEN! Learn to be comfortable in His presence, His Word, in prayer, in praise and worship and in YOUR intimate fellowship with the ONE WHo loves you MOST and BEST! Mysteries and secrets are revealed in His presence! GET THERE! Here are Hillsong Kids with "I Give You My Hallelujah! ":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is another great lesson!

Isn’t There Some Misunderstanding?

Let us go into Judea again. His disciples say unto Him…Goest Thou thither again? — John 11:7-8

I may not understand what Jesus Christ says, but it is dangerous to say that therefore He was mistaken in what He said. It is never right to think that my obedience to a word of God will bring dishonour to Jesus. The only thing that will bring dishonour is not obeying Him. To put my view of His honour in place of what He is plainly impelling me to do is never right, although it may arise from a real desire to prevent Him being put to open shame. I know when the proposition comes from God because of its quiet persistence. When I have to weigh the pros and cons, and doubt and debate come in, I am bringing in an element that is not of God, and I come to the conclusion that the suggestion was not a right one. Many of us are loyal to our notions of Jesus Christ, but how many of us are loyal to Him? Loyalty to Jesus means I have to step out where I do not see anything (cf. Matthew 14:29); loyalty to my notions means that I clear the ground first by my intelligence. Faith is not intelligent understanding, faith is deliberate commitment to a Person where I see no way.

Are you debating whether to take a step in faith in Jesus or to wait until you can see how to do the thing yourself? Obey Him with glad reckless joy. When He says something and you begin to debate, it is because you have a conception of His honour which is not His honour. Are you loyal to Jesus or loyal to your notion of Him? Are you loyal to what He says, or are you trying to compromise with conceptions which never came from Him? “Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.”

Amen! It is past time for born again believers to TRUST that still small voice and stop trying to rationalize everything! If we can always see the way through, then we don't need faith. Faith is stepping out in obedience when you don't know the HOW! Simple obedience is what HE is looking and waiting for! Here is Hillsong with an anthem that we should ALL be able to sing with a purpose! "Oceans - Where Feet May Fail":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share from Joseph Prince's "Grace Inspirations" devotional. THIS message is so very important! 

YOUR SINS ARE NOT BEING RECORDED

Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

I once read a comic book which showed how a man lusted after a woman, then died of a heart attack and went to heaven. In heaven, he saw a big screen showing everyone present a recording of all the sins which he had committed while on earth, including the last one. How embarrassing!

Don’t worry, that is not going to happen to you in heaven. There is no big screen with front-row and circle seats for everyone to sit and watch your past sins. There is no video recorder in heaven recording your sins right now. Because your lifetime of sins has already been punished in the body of Jesus, God declares to you, “Your sins and lawless deeds, I will by no means ever remember!”

This is true even for the Old Testament heroes of faith such as Abraham, Moses and David. If you read Hebrews 11, which was written after the cross of Jesus, you will notice that there is no record of their sins or failures. Yet, their life stories tell us that they were far from perfect.

Abraham lied twice about his wife Sarah. He told Pharaoh, and later, King Abimelech, that she was his sister to protect his own life. Moses killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew, and hid the body in the sand. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and later arranged for her husband to be killed in battle. Yet, their sins were not recorded in Hebrews 11, only their deeds done in faith!

God is showing you that He does not record your sins or failures today. Instead, He records your faith confessions and deeds done in response to what His Son has done for you. Every time you sin, every time you waver in your faith, God does not record it. But every time you believe Him and respond in faith, He records it! That should not make you want to sin more. It should free you to love God more!

So don’t be conscious of your failures. If God Himself does not remember them, who are you to remember them? Be conscious instead of your righteousness in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:21), and you will reign in life (see Romans 5:17).

AMEN! I do remember being told early on in my walk with the Lord that very scenario of having all of my sins, mistakes and failures shown for all to see. Now that I know the character of my Father and my Lord and Saviour better, I realize that this would NEVER happen! It is so very important for YOU to KNOW this, too! There IS now NO condemnation for those who are IN Christ Jesus! Those who have been born again have already had their sins dealt with by JESUS Himself! Refuse any and all sources of condemnation and live your life in the love and freedom that JESUS paid for! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Beneath The Waters (I Will Rise)":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional. We are going through these in our Morning Prayer Service at The Spoken Word Church and it has ben a real blessing to hear these again!

Be Strong

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour 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! WE have to take the authority that God has given every born again believer, over all the power of the enemy! The devil is a defeated for and WE must remind him of his place every time we deal with him.To help you with THIS, here is Hillsong with "Not Today":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have always loved this passage of Scripture From our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today. Psalm 84:10-12:

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 grace and favor and glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts in You [leaning and believing on You, committing all and confidently looking to You, and that without fear or misgiving]!

AMEN! Now let's look at The Passion Translation of these verses, starting with verse 9!

9 God, your wrap-around presence is our defense. In your kindness look upon the faces of your anointed ones. 10 For just one day of intimacy with you is like a thousand days of joy rolled into one! I’d rather stand at the threshold in front of the Gate Beautiful, ready to go in and worship my God, than to live my life without you in the most beautiful palace of the wicked. 11 For the Lord God is brighter than the brilliance of a sunrise! Wrapping himself around me like a shield, he is so generous with his gifts of grace and glory. Those who walk along his paths with integrity will never lack one thing they need, for he provides it all! 12 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what euphoria fills those who forever trust in you!

I LOVE looking at the Word of God from every possible angle so that I be a DOER of the Word, putting it into practice and receiving the reuslts of that! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "Blessed":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we read Romans 11 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan and verses 33-36 have always been favorites of mine!

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments (His decisions)! And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord and who has understood His thoughts, or who has [ever] been His counselor? 35 Or who has first given God anything that he might be paid back or that he could claim a recompense? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it).

AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!! ALL GOOD things originated IN HIM! The GIVER of every GOOD thing into our lives is GOD HIMSELF! AMEN! Spend some extra time in these next days recognizing and appreciating all that HE has done FOR us, IN us and THROUGH us! All for HIS GLORY! We ARE, of ALL people, MOST BLESSED to be a part of the Body of Christ, His Church and His Bride! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong with "";

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really liked today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers.

Am I Carnally Minded?

Where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal…? —1 Corinthians 3:3

The natural man, or unbeliever, knows nothing about carnality. The desires of the flesh warring against the Spirit, and the Spirit warring against the flesh, which began at rebirth, are what produce carnality and the awareness of it. But Paul said, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). In other words, carnality will disappear.

Are you quarrelsome and easily upset over small things? Do you think that no one who is a Christian is ever like that? Paul said they are, and he connected these attitudes with carnality. Is there a truth in the Bible that instantly awakens a spirit of malice or resentment in you? If so, that is proof that you are still carnal. If the process of sanctification is continuing in your life, there will be no trace of that kind of spirit remaining.

If the Spirit of God detects anything in you that is wrong, He doesn’t ask you to make it right; He only asks you to accept the light of truth, and then He will make it right. A child of the light will confess sin instantly and stand completely open before God. But a child of the darkness will say, “Oh, I can explain that.” When the light shines and the Spirit brings conviction of sin, be a child of the light. Confess your wrongdoing, and God will deal with it. If, however, you try to vindicate yourself, you prove yourself to be a child of the darkness.

What is the proof that carnality has gone? Never deceive yourself; when carnality is gone you will know it— it is the most real thing you can imagine. And God will see to it that you have a number of opportunities to prove to yourself the miracle of His grace. The proof is in a very practical test. You will find yourself saying, “If this had happened before, I would have had the spirit of resentment!” And you will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.

When we were born again, we became a new creation! We are spirit beings, who have souls (minds, emotions and wills) and we live in a human body. The new creation is in our spirits. Our souls are renewed daily by the Word of God and our bodies will be made new at the Rapture of the Church! In the meantime, in this life, we still have the nature of the flesh to deal with! THIS is where the carnality shows up. This lesson helps to clarify what to be aware of, but also that it is Holy Spirit Who is doing that good work in us that is needed to be rid of carnality! Trust HIM and HIS work and you will find yourself walking continually freer of that and more and more led by ths Spirit of God! Then we can really, by faith, sing THIS song with honesty! Hillsong's "Oceans":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I found today's devotional by Andrew Womack to be very interesting! 

About Those Scribes

Luke 6:7 'And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day, that they might find an accusation against him.'

The scribes were copyists of the holy scriptures. They preserved in written form the oral law, and faithfully handed down the Hebrew scriptures. In New Testament times, they were students, interpreters, and teachers of the Old Testament. Their functions regarding the law were to teach it, develop it, and use it in any connection with the Sanhedrin and various local courts. They were ambitious for honor, which they demanded, especially from their pupils, as well as from the general public. This homage was readily granted them (Matthew 23:5-11).

Ezra was a scribe during the Babylonian captivity of the Jews, and he was a very godly man. The office of a scribe was a worthy one, but the scribes of Jesus' day were often rebuked by Him for having gone beyond the job of copying out the scriptures. They had a large volume of interpretations that they had added to the scriptures based on traditions, and had thus made 'the word of God of none effect' (Mark 7:13).

The scribes became an independent company of interpreters of the law and leaders of the people. Even they, themselves, sought to evade certain of their own precepts (Matthew 23:2-4). They clashed with Christ for He taught with authority and condemned the external formalism that they fostered (Matthew 7:28-29). They persecuted Peter and John (Acts 4:3-7) and had a part in Stephen's martyrdom (Acts 6:12). However, although the majority opposed Christ, some did believe (Matthew 21:15).

Later on, we'll read how Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the scribes by dealing with issues of the heart. They appeared to be holy outwardly, but their hearts were far from God. It is important for us to keep our hearts tender and receptive to His Word, and give ourselves to Him in worship. Think about the good things he has done for you today and be thankful.

I have often wondered where some of the most unscriptural ideas came to be taught by Bible teachers as Truth when they were far from it! It started right here! These scribes in Jesus' day took to interpreting the scriptures in their own way and passing it off as the truth of God's Word! That is why our Pastor, Bill Novak, of The SPoken Word Church, has taught us from the very beginnning of his ministry to ALWAYS bring our own Bibles and to check out EVERYTHING that he teaches against the Word! We are called on in James 1:22 to be DOERS of the WORD OF GOD! When we speak, study, meditate and act on the Word of God, we will begin to SEE Godly results! Those will bring great GLORY to our Father! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Another in the Fire":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Romans 8 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today.Verse s 1-2 say this:

1 Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.

The reason for the strike outs in verse 1 is that these words DO NOT appear in the original text! THERE is now NO condemnation, EVER, for those who are IN CHRIST JESUS! Those who have been born again by the Spirit of Almighty God, according to the Word of God, will never face condemnation! NOT because we never make mistakes or 'miss it' once in awhile, but because JESUS already bore ALL of the condemnation that WE deserved! HE TOOK IT ALL! HALLELUJAH! Now we MUST walk after the Spirit in this life if we desire to live victoriously and to finish our race well, be it does not ever bring judgement on us when we don't. When you can meditate on this one TRUTH until it becomes REAL to you, and a part of you, you will NEVER be intimidated by the devil or other people again! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Beneath The Waters (I Will Rise)":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "From Faith To Faith" devotional by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland is another much needed lesson for every born again believer!

Be Clothed With Humility

And be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5

Most believers don't know anything about true humility. If you tell them they're the righteousness of God, they'll fight to keep from believing it. You can give them scripture references to prove it, and they'll still argue.

"Oh no," they'll say, "I'm not righteous. I'm just an old sinner saved by grace." They're making a sincere attempt to be humble. But they're sincerely wrong. They're so afraid of being exalted by pride that they've let Satan trick them into falling right into it.

Let me show you what I mean. According to 1 Peter 5:5-6, to be truly humble is to submit to God. That means when God says something, you believe it no matter how foreign to your "religious" thinking it may be. When He says you've been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, you say that too. In fact, you wouldn't dare say anything else because to do so would be to dare to disagree with God. And, when you get right down to it, that's the ultimate form of pride, isn't it?

Don't let Satan keep you groveling in the dust of false humility. Agree with God. Find out what His Word says about you, then be bold enough to say it yourself. Banish pride by submitting to His truth. Clothe yourself in true humility. It's sure to look good on you.

AMEN! True humility is actually honoring God's Word as TRUTH! That includes God's Word about YOU! Here is Hillsong with, of course, the song "Who You Say I Am":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share with you from the devotional on The Spoken Word Church website for today,

Discover Your Dream

Every dream is born or borrowed. It is born within your own heart or subconsciously borrowed from someone who has influenced you.

Whatever creates joy and energy within you is probably an indication of what God wants you to pursue. Your dominant talent is the center of your expertise. Your success is there.

"And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey." (Matthew 25:15)

I LOVE that this reveals to us that every gift, talent, anointing, Wisdom and understanding that we have has been implanted IN us by His Spirit! HE has plans for us and the ministry that He has called us to that are wonderful, spectacular and beyond what we can even imagine, IF we are IN HIM! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Best Friends":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's teaching from Rick Renner's "Sparkling Gems From The Greek - Volume 2" is one of my very favorite revelations from thye Word of  God! THIS changes EVERYTHING from what I was orignally taught!

God’s Requirement REPENTANCE

Then Peter said unto them, Repent…. — Acts 2:38

In a recent survey, people who regularly attend church were asked to articulate what the word “repentance” meant to them. The survey resulted in an intriguing and interesting assortment of answers. The majority of those who participated in the survey stated that they believed the word “repentance” meant one or more of the following:

To feel sorry about something one did or failed to do.

To feel remorseful about some act and to ask for forgiveness for it.

To walk forward in a church service to formally ask Jesus into one’s heart.

Although these answers are interesting, none of them is correct! What’s most shocking about this survey is that it was given to people who regularly attend church yet who could not accurately articulate what it means to “repent.”

Before we go any further, let’s include you in the survey. How would you define the meaning of the word “repent”? Try to answer that question before reading on.

The word “repent” is a very important New Testament word. The first time it is chronologically used in the New Testament is in Matthew 3:2, Mark 1:4, and Luke 3:3, where we are told that John the Baptist preached, “…Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). John’s ministry was literally launched with that one word “repent.” According to the preaching of John the Baptist, the only way to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven was through repentance.

Jesus, too, began His public ministry by beckoning His listeners to repent. In Matthew 4:17, Jesus commenced His preaching ministry when He said, “…Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Like John the Baptist, Jesus knew that the only way to enter the Kingdom of God was through repentance.

Then in Acts 2:38, we read that Peter launched his preaching ministry on the Day of Pentecost with the same requirement of repentance. Just as John the Baptist and Jesus had called on men to repent, so Peter told his audience in Acts 2:38, “Repent.” Peter understood that repentance is the “birth canal” through which people enter the Kingdom of God. In other words, it is the only way to truly be delivered from the kingdom of darkness and to emerge spiritually reborn and filled with the God-kind of life.

Real repentance is very different from remorse. Yet feelings of remorse for a past action was one of the most frequent definitions given by people who participated in the aforementioned church survey.

The Greek word for “remorse” in the New Testament is metamelomai, which is very different from the Greek word for “repent,” the word metanoeo. Metamelomai expresses sorrow, mourning, or grief. It seldom refers to someone moved to change; rather, it gives a picture of a person consumed with remorse, guilt, or regret.

For example, the word metamelomai is used in the gospels to describe the remorse, guilt, and regret that seized the heart and mind of Judas Iscariot after he betrayed Jesus. What Judas experienced was not true repentance, which brings personal change and transformation. Because the Greek word metamelomai is used to describe the emotions that captured him, it tells us that Judas was inundated with distressed, regretful emotions. Such sorrow should not be confused with repentance, for there are many who undergo a flood of regret and sorrow for something they have done, yet they don’t truly repent.

Personal change and transformation — NOT remorse, regret, and sorrow — are the true proof of repentance.

The word “repent” that was used by John the Baptist, Jesus, and Peter, is the Greek word metanoeo. This is very different from the word metamelomai. The word metanoeo — “repent” — means a change of mind, repentance, or conversion. In Old Testament and Classical Greek language, metanoeo first and foremost meant a change of mind. Thus, the use of metanoeo is the call to turn or to change one’s attitudes and ways. As used in the New Testament, it demands a complete, radical, and total change. It is a decision to completely change or to entirely turn around in the way one is thinking, believing, or living. The word “repent” in the New Testament gives the image of a person changing from top to bottom — a total transformation wholly affecting every part of a person’s life.

The Greek word metanoeo is a compound of the words meta and nous. The word meta in this context refers to a turn or a change. The word nous is the word for the mind, intellect, will, frame of thinking, opinion, or general view of life. When the words meta and nous are compounded, as in the word “repent,” it portrays a decision to completely change the way one thinks, lives, or behaves.

Metanoeo reflects a turn, a change, a change of direction, a new course, and a completely altered view of life and behavior. This is not the same as a fleeting sorrow for past actions, but a solid, intellectual decision to take a new direction, to turn about-face, and to revise the pattern of one’s life.

I must point out the importance of the word nous contained in this definition of repentance. The word nous, as previously noted, is the Greek word for the mind. This means that the decision to repent lies in the mind, not in the emotions. Emotions may accompany repentance, but they are not required to repent. Real repentance is a mental choice to leave a life of sin, flesh, and selfishness, and to turn toward God with all of one’s heart and mind in order to follow Jesus.

A prime example of such a turning can be seen in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonian believers when he commended them for the way in which they had “…turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9). The word “turned” in this verse is the Greek word epistrepho, which means to be completely turned around.

Note that Paul said the Thessalonian believers turned from idols “to serve the living and true God.” The word “serve” is important, for it tells us that the turn they made produced a life change with visible fruit that reflected the change. The word “serve” is the word douleuo, the word for a servant, implying that the Thessalonian believers had fully left behind idolatry and had completely dedicated their lives to serving Jesus.

By using this word douleuo, Paul informed us that the Thessalonians didn’t just claim to have repented; they showed it by changing the way they thought and lived and served. Their dramatically different outward behavior was guaranteed proof that real repentance had occurred.

Repentance is not the mere acceptance of a new philosophy or new idea. It is a conversion to truth so deep that it results in a total life change. The idea of an across-the-board transformation is intrinsic to the word “repent.” In fact, if there is no transformation, change of behavior, or change of desire in a person who claims to have repented, it is doubtful that true repentance ever occurred, no matter what the person claims. Real repentance begins with a decision to make an about-face and to change, but its proof can be witnessed as one’s outward conduct complies with that decision.

Repentance is God’s requirement as presented by John the Baptist, Jesus, and Peter, as well as in other places in Scripture too numerous to count. This means that a person cannot come to God and continue to live as he did before he received the Lord.

We sing the old song, “Just as I Am, Without One Plea”1 — and certainly we do come to God “just as we are” to receive God’s gracious gift of salvation. However, God does not expect us to remain the way we are. He expects change, and that is what repentance is all about. With godly repentance, there must be an abandonment of our past and a complete and absolute surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, evidenced by our living according to God’s righteous standard.

1 Charlotte Elliott, “Just As I Am,” The Christian Remembrancer Pocket Book (Poetry, 1835).

As you grow in your walk with God, the Holy Spirit will continue to reveal things in your life that need to change. When He opens your eyes to those things that are displeasing to Him, you must be willing to repent — to make an intelligent, intellectual decision to adjust your thinking and behavior to conform to God’s ways. It’s a conscious choice. Will you remain belligerent in your attitude and thus defy God’s requirement to change — or humbly bow before His holiness and adjust your thinking and behavior to get in agreement with Him and His Word?

More than 2,000 years ago, Jesus began His earthly ministry by preaching, “…Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Hebrews 13:8). Today He is still speaking to people’s hearts, telling them to turn from wrong ways that are detrimental to living a life that is holy and pleasing to God. So ask yourself if your ministry to other people reflects that same priority. But first and foremost — what is the Holy Spirit saying to you, and how should you respond today?

AMEN! Simply put, repenting is changing your thinking to agree with God! When we choose to think God's thoughts after Him, then our behaviour changes to refelct that! Here is Hillsong with "I Surrender":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is something we should be gauging ourself on every day!

The Servant’s Primary Goal

We make it our aim…to be well pleasing to Him. —2 Corinthians 5:9

“We make it our aim….” It requires a conscious decision and effort to keep our primary goal constantly in front of us. It means holding ourselves to the highest priority year in and year out; not making our first priority to win souls, or to establish churches, or to have revivals, but seeking only “to be well pleasing to Him.” It is not a lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but a lack of working to keep our eyes focused and on the right goal. At least once a week examine yourself before God to see if your life is measuring up to the standard He has for you. Paul was like a musician who gives no thought to audience approval, if he can only catch a look of approval from his Conductor.

Any goal we have that diverts us even to the slightest degree from the central goal of being “approved to God” (2 Timothy 2:15) may result in our rejection from further service for Him. When you discern where the goal leads, you will understand why it is so necessary to keep “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). Paul spoke of the importance of controlling his own body so that it would not take him in the wrong direction. He said, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest…I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

I must learn to relate everything to the primary goal, maintaining it without interruption. My worth to God publicly is measured by what I really am in my private life. Is my primary goal in life to please Him and to be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how lofty it may sound?

AMEN! We are born again into the family of God, by the Spirit of God, and we have our citizenship in Heaven with a mandate as ambassadors of Heaven to earth! Our first responsibility is to develop and maintain our FIRST LOVE! Our intimate FELLOWSHIP with the ONE Who gave it ALL for us! Find what HE has called, anointed and appointed you to do, as you spend that one on one time in His presence, and then let everything else in your life come next! you will be SO glad when you do! THAT is one of the keys to living in His 'joy unspeakable and full of Glory! 1 Peter 2:8:

8 Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Rhythms of Grace":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

This lesson from today's devotional on Jerry Savelle's website is something thatI think and speak about often!

KNOWING IS TRUSTING

And they who know Your name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You. (Psalm 9:10 AMP)

Knowing God intimately is the key to trusting Him with your present cares and the uncertainty of your future. Knowing God intimately is the key to mountain-moving faith.

Faith is not a formula, it is a friendship. Faith is simply believing God. To have faith in God simply means you trust Him and have confidence in Him.

God has not distanced Himself from you in an effort to make it difficult for you to get to know Him. His arms are outstretched to you today, inviting you to come to Him and experience what you were created for: intimacy with Him.

Getting to know God better is no different from getting to know a friend better. You hang out with them more, you open your heart to them more. You listen to them and you make an effort to bless them and do what makes them happy.

By meditating on scriptures that talk about the character of God—His love, mercy, compassion, kindness, and goodness—you will find yourself drawing closer to Him. Knowing God more intimately will build your ability to trust Him with your past, your present, and your future.

Confession: Heavenly Father, I desire to know You more intimately, and I commit to spending quality time with You. As I meditate on Your Word, I thank You for giving me a fresh revelation of Your character and love.

AMEN, AMEN, AMEN! There is NO substitute for our individual intimate fellowship with the God of the Bible, by His Word and through His Spirit! Adjust your daily schedule to include the MOST important appointment of your day! WITH HIM! Here is Hillsong with "Touch of Heaven":(NO, we do NOT have to settle for 'just a touch', but let's START with that!)

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is another very good lesson to make us REALLY re-evaluate our own fellowship with the God of the Bible!

The Discipline Of Dismay

And as they followed, they were afraid. — Mark 10:32

At the beginning we were sure we knew all about Jesus Christ, it was a delight to sell all and to fling ourselves out in a hardihood of love; but now we are not quite so sure. Jesus is on in front and He looks strange. “Jesus went before them and they were amazed.”

There is an aspect of Jesus that chills the heart of a disciple to the core and makes the whole spiritual life gasp for breath. This strange Being with His face set like a flint and His striding determination strikes terror into me. He is no longer Counsellor and Comrade, He is taken up with a point of view I know nothing about, and I am amazed at Him. At first I was confident that I understood Him, but now I am not so sure. I begin to realize there is a distance between Jesus Christ and me; I can no longer be familiar with Him. He is ahead of me and He never turns round; I have no idea where He is going, and the goal has become strangely far off.

Jesus Christ had to fathom every sin and every sorrow man could experience, and that is what makes Him seem strange. When we see Him in this aspect we do not know Him, we do not recognize one feature of His life, and we do not know how to begin to follow Him. He is on in front, a Leader Who is very strange, and we have no comradeship with Him.

The discipline of dismay is essential in the life of discipleship. The danger is to get back to a little fire of our own and kindle enthusiasm at it (cf. Isaiah 50:10-11). When the darkness of dismay comes, endure until it is over, because out of it will come that following of Jesus which is an unspeakable joy.

My take on this is that we MUST come to a point where, when we realize that we have grown up in the things of God, we also realize that there is SO MUCH  MORE to learn! The most dangerous thing in our walk with the Lord is to have the mistaken idea that we, while on this earth, will EVER ARISE to a point where we are completely mature IN HIM! We all have room to grow and to get to know JESUS MORE than EVER before! Let's go after HIM and HIS WORD! Here is Hillsong with "Scandal of Grace":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We begin Romans today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Romans 1:1-6:

1 From Paul, a bond servant of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) called to be an apostle, (a special messenger) set apart to [preach] the Gospel (good news) of and from God, 2 Which He promised in advance [long ago] through His prophets in the sacred Scriptures— 3 [The Gospel] regarding His Son, Who as to the flesh (His human nature) was descended from David, 4 And [as to His divine nature] according to the Spirit of holiness was openly designated the Son of God in power [in a striking, triumphant and miraculous manner] by His resurrection from the dead, even Jesus Christ our Lord (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 5 It is through Him that we have received grace (God’s unmerited favor) and [our] apostleship to promote obedience to the faith and make disciples for His name’s sake among all the nations, 6 And this includes you, called of Jesus Christ and invited [as you are] to belong to Him.

AMEN! Our God did NOT have to come up with a plan for our Salvation when Adam and Eve sinned! He created them KNOWING that at some point, given a free will, mankind would eventually sin (make a selfish decision to do something their own way instead of God's way) and would be seperated from Him. Before He ever uttered a Word of creation, He already had His PLAN in mind for buying us back! Ephesians 1:4-6:

4 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. 5 For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]— 6 [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

AMEN and THANK YOU LORD! THAT is why Paul said THIS in verse 16:

16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God’s power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, 

There IS salvation in NO OTHER, so let's make sure that we are charing this great GOOD NEWS with everyone we can while THEY still have time to BELIEVE and RECEIVE what GOD has prepared for us! Here is Hillsong with "God So Loved":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His  Highest" by Oswald Chambers is one of the mostpowerfu lmessages that you will ever hear and the mostimportant for you to know! 

God’s Total Surrender to Us

For od so loved the world that He gave… —John 3:16

Salvation does not mean merely deliverance from sin or the experience of personal holiness. The salvation which comes from God means being completely delivered from myself, and being placed into perfect union with Him. When I think of my salvation experience, I think of being delivered from sin and gaining personal holiness. But salvation is so much more! It means that the Spirit of God has brought me into intimate contact with the true Person of God Himself. And as I am caught up into total surrender to God, I become thrilled with something infinitely greater than myself.

To say that we are called to preach holiness or sanctification is to miss the main point. We are called to proclaim Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:2). The fact that He saves from sin and makes us holy is actually part of the effect of His wonderful and total surrender to us.

If we are truly surrendered, we will never be aware of our own efforts to remain surrendered. Our entire life will be consumed with the One to whom we surrender. Beware of talking about surrender if you know nothing about it. In fact, you will never know anything about it until you understand that John 3:16 means that God completely and absolutely gave Himself to us. In our surrender, we must give ourselves to God in the same way He gave Himself for us— totally, unconditionally, and without reservation. The consequences and circumstances resulting from our surrender will never even enter our mind, because our life will be totally consumed with Him.

AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "God So Loved":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have been using The Passion Translation to augment my Bible study for the last year and today's Psalm 71 from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan has some really wonderful sections! It's entitled "The Psalm Of Old Age", which may be why it ministers to me so much! Here are some of my favorite, encouraging verses!

For you are my only hope, Lord!
I’ve hung on to you, trusting in you all my life.
6–7 It was you who supported me from the day I was born,
loving me, helping me through my life’s journey.
You’ve made me into a miracle;
no wonder I trust you and praise you forever!
Many marvel at my success,
but I know it is all because of you, my mighty protector!
8 I’m overflowing with your praise for all you’ve done,
and your splendor thrills me all day long.

No matter what, I’ll trust in you to help me.
Nothing will stop me from praising you to magnify your glory!
15 I couldn’t begin to count the times you’ve been there for me.
With the skill of a poet I’ll never run out of things to say
of how you faithfully kept me from danger.
16 I will come forth in your mighty strength, O my Lord God.
I’ll tell everyone that you alone are the perfect one.
17 From my childhood you’ve been my teacher,
and I’m still telling everyone of your miracle-wonders!

God, now that I’m old and gray, don’t walk away.
Give me grace to demonstrate to the next generation
all your mighty miracles and your excitement,
to show them your magnificent power!
19 For your glorious righteousness reaches up to the high heavens.
No one could ever be compared to you!
Who is your equal, O God of marvels and wonders?

My loving God, the harp in my heart will praise you.
Your faithful heart toward us will be the theme of my song.
Melodies and music will rise to you, the Holy One of Israel.
23 I will shout and sing your praises for all you are to me—
Savior, lover of my soul!
24 I’ll never stop telling others how perfect you are
while all those who seek my harm slink away ashamed and defeated!

I would encourage you to find your own favorite methods of studying the Word of God because feasting on God's Word is the only way to really grow up in the things of God! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

God Takes Pleasure In Meeting Our Needs

Matthew 7:11, 'If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?'

What kind of parent would ever deny their children, the necessities of life? If you have children would you fail to feed them? Or provide for them? Or if they ask you for food would you give them poison instead? Of, course not. This is the point Jesus is making.

God is love (1 John 4:8)! And His love for us is infinitely greater than any loving relationship here on earth. We can apply this truth about God's love for us to any command or example we find in God's Word where His standards for relationship are revealed. Be assured that He will much more than meet those standards Himself.

This gives us confidence that, in the same way we respond in love to our children and to those who are in need, our God, who is love, will also respond to us. God is a faithful God, and He will always give us the things that we need.

Today, let the Lord be magnified in your life as Psalm 35:27 says, 'Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.' It pleases God to minister to you. Let God have pleasure today by meeting your needs. You have not, because you ask not (James 4:2). God wants you to ask so that you can receive (John 16:24). Believe God. He gets pleasure when you ask Him.

AMEN! Let's determine to bring real joy to our Heavenly Father by believing and receiving ALL that He has for us! Here is Hillsong with "I Give You My Hallelujah!":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "Faith To Faith" devotional! This is EXCELLENT!

Watch Your Language

In a multitude of words transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent. Proverbs 10:19, The Amplified Bible

We believers need to start watching our language! We need to quit throwing words around like they weren't important and start using them like our lives depended on it--because, according to the Word of God, they do! (Proverbs 18:21).

Too many of us have what Proverbs 19:1 calls a perverted mouth. Having a perverted mouth means more than lying and using profanity. It means having a disobedient mouth. It means saying things that are out of line with the Word of God.

All of us have done that at one time or another. We'll say, for instance, that we're believing God for our healing and then we'll turn right around to someone and make a statement like, "This pain is about to kill me!"

That's perverted! It's backwards from what God's Word says.

"Oh well, Brother Copeland, I know I said that, but it's not really what I meant."

Listen, the world of the spirit doesn't operate on what you mean. It operates on what you say. Mark 11:23 tells us that "whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."

Take note. That verse didn't say you shall have whatsoever you mean. It says you'll have what you say. It's what you say that counts.

Now, I'm not suggesting you should be tied up in knots all the time worrying about what your next phrase might be. Just use the wisdom God has given you. Train your mouth to be obedient to His Word. Then, when you need it most, you'll find that Word dwelling richly in you.

AMEN! Remember, everything we see in creation came into being because GOD SAID! Make sure the words that YOU say are what you REALLY want, AND that they are also God's Words! THEN there is no stopping them from coming to pass! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!