Shalom,

I LOVE today's "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambers!

What Do You Want The Lord To Do For You?

Lord, that I may receive my sight. — Luke 18:41

What is the thing that not only disturbs you but makes you a disturbance? It is always something you cannot deal with yourself. “They rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more.” Persist in the disturbance until you yet get face to face with the Lord Himself; do not deify common sense. When Jesus asks us what we want Him to do for us in regard to the incredible thing with which we are faced, remember that He does not work in commonsense ways, but in supernatural ways.

Watch how we limit the Lord by remembering what we have allowed Him to do for us in the past: “I always failed there, and I always shall”; consequently we do not ask for what we want, “It is ridiculous to ask God to do this.” If it is an impossibility, it is the thing we have to ask. If it is not an impossible thing, it is not a real disturbance. God will do the absolutely impossible.

This man received his sight. The most impossible thing to you is that you should be so identified with the Lord that there is nothing of the old life left. He will do it if you ask Him. But you have to come to the place where you believe Him to be Almighty. Faith is not in what Jesus says but in Himself; if we only look at what He says we shall never believe. When once we see Jesus, He does the impossible thing as naturally as breathing. Our agony comes through the wilful stupidity of our own heart. We won’t believe, we won’t cut the shore line, we prefer to worry on.

NEVER limit the God of the Bible by narrowing HIM to our natural, wordly thinking! DARE to BELIEVE what HE has promised in His Word! NEVER settle for less than GOD'S very BEST! HE desires that of us! Here is Brandon Lake with "Kids":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Here is Kenneth E. Hagain's "Faith Food" devotional for today!

Promise of Protection

Paul said, in writing to the church, "Ye are God's husbandry, garden, farm, ye are God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9).

That means we belong to God. Now, if you have a building worth anything, even your own home, you are going to protect it every way you possibly can. And God, in His Holy Word, has promised us protection. I think the greatest such promise is Psalm 91.

Many years ago, I read Psalm 91 from a Swedish translation. I found that Verse 10 translated in the King James Version as "There shall no evil befall thee" was translated in the Swedish version as, "There shall no accident overtake thee." I researched it and found that this meaning is, indeed, included in the original text. I then claimed this protection.

Some years later, I did some checking and found that I had driven nearly two million miles preaching the Gospel without having a single accident! Understand, I'm not bragging on my driving; I'm bragging on the Word - Psalm 91.

Verse 10 continues, "Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling." I claimed that part of the verse, as well as Verse 11: "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."

God has made promises and provisions for us. If our faith is not in God's promises, we live way beneath our privileges.

Confession: Make your personal confession of Psalm 91.

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we read Mark 2 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Verses 1-12 tells of the friends who brought the paralized man to Jesus and were desperate to get to JESUS, that they tore open the roof of someone's house and lowered him down right in front of JESUS! What did JESUS do? HE HEALED THE MAN and FORGAVE HIS SINS! 

1 And Jesus having returned to Capernaum, after some days it was rumored about that He was in the house [probably Peter’s].
2 And so many people gathered together there that there was no longer room [for them], not even around the door; and He was discussing the Word.
3 Then they came, bringing a paralytic to Him, who had been picked up and was being carried by four men.
4 And when they could not get him to a place in front of Jesus because of the throng, they dug through the roof above Him; and when they had scooped out an opening, they let down the [thickly padded] quilt or mat upon which the paralyzed man lay.
5 And when Jesus saw their faith [their confidence in God through Him], He said to the paralyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven [you] and put away [that is, the penalty is remitted, the sense of guilt removed, and you are made upright and in right standing with God].
6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, holding a dialogue with themselves as they questioned in their hearts,
7 Why does this Man talk like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins [remove guilt, remit the penalty, and bestow righteousness instead] except God alone?
8 And at once Jesus, becoming fully aware in His spirit that they thus debated within themselves, said to them, Why do you argue (debate, reason) about all this in your hearts?
9 Which is easier: to say to the paralyzed man, Your sins are forgiven and put away, or to say, Rise, take up your sleeping pad or mat, and start walking about [and keep on walking]?
10 But that you may know positively and beyond a doubt that the Son of Man has right and authority and power on earth to forgive sins—He said to the paralyzed man,
11 I say to you, arise, pick up and carry your sleeping pad or mat, and be going on home.
12 And he arose at once and picked up the sleeping pad or mat and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and  recognized and praised and thanked God, saying, We have never seen anything like this before!

And what did the religious leaders do when they witnessed this man's HEALING? They questioned the Words of JESUS as He forgave the man! I have never witnessed a sudden and powerful healing to this magnitude, but I KNOW that if I had, I would NOT question JESUS about His words! I would be jumping up and down and SHOUTING HALLELUJAH! Refuse to get caught up in 'nitpicky' arguments in the face of such a mighty work of GOD! Let's both the WORD and the WORKS of JESUS with Brandon Lake's song "Tear Off The Roof":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Psalm 57 in today's "Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan" and I LOVE verses 7-11!

7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident! I will sing and make melody.
8 Awake, my glory (my inner self); awake, harp and lyre! I will awake right early [I will awaken the dawn]!
9 I will praise and give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations.
10 For Your mercy and loving-kindness are great, reaching to the heavens, and Your truth and faithfulness to the clouds.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth.

I hope that YOU are making praise and worship a major part of your day, and of your intimate fellowship with the ONE Who loves YOU more than anyone else ever could! Here is Brandon Lake with "Praise You Anywhere":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share this devotional from Andrew Wommack!

The Best Sinner

Matthew 5:20, 'For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.'

What did Jesus mean? Since the Pharisees fasted twice each week, does this mean we have to fast three times each week? Since they paid tithes on everything including spices, does this mean that anyone who fails to tithe is doomed to hell?

No! Definitely not. The Pharisees' righteousness was based on their actions. Jesus is advocating a righteousness that is based on faith in what He did for us.

Trusting in our own actions will never grant us access to God. We may be better than others, but who wants to be the best sinner that ever went to hell? We have all sinned and come short of perfection which is what God requires (Romans 3:23).

The only one who was ever good enough to earn right standing with God is Jesus. And His righteousness is offered as a gift to anyone who will put their faith in Him as their Savior.

Jesus offers us a righteousness by faith that is so far superior to the self righteousness that the Pharisees had that there is no comparison. This is the righteousness that we need and which is available to us only through faith in Christ.

AMEN!

WE are RIGHTEOUS with JESUS' RIGHTEOUSNESS! Not our own, BUT HIS! HALLELUJAH! Here is Brandon Lake with "God Is Not Against Me":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really love today's "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambers!

The Delight Of Sacrifice

I will very gladly spend and be spent for you. — 2 Corinthians 12:15

When the Spirit of God has shed abroad the love of God in our hearts, we begin deliberately to identify ourselves with Jesus Christ’s interests in other people, and Jesus Christ is interested in every kind of man there is. We have no right in Christian work to be guided by our affinities; this is one of the biggest tests of our relationship to Jesus Christ. The delight of sacrifice is that I lay down my life for my Friend, not fling it away, but deliberately lay my life out for Him and His interests in other people, not for a cause. Paul spent himself for one purpose only – that he might win men to Jesus Christ. Paul attracted to Jesus all the time, never to himself. “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” When a man says he must develop a holy life alone with God, he is of no more use to his fellow men: he puts himself on a pedestal, away from the common run of men. Paul became a sacramental personality; wherever he went, Jesus Christ helped Himself to his life. Many of us are after our own ends, and Jesus Christ cannot help Himself to our lives. If we are abandoned to Jesus, we have no ends of our own to serve. Paul said he knew how to be a “door-mat” without resenting it, because the mainspring of his life was devotion to Jesus. We are apt to be devoted, not to Jesus Christ, but to the things which emancipate us spiritually. That was not Paul’s motive: “I could wish my self were accursed from Christ for my brethren” – wild, extravagant – is it? When a man is in love it is not an exaggeration to talk in that way, and Paul is in love with Jesus Christ.

AMEN! I pray that WE will keep alive our own LOVE for JESUS by loving what HE loves - PEOPLE - and hating what HE hates - sin -! Here is Brandon Lake with "I Prophecy":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's devotional from The Spoken Word Church website is one of the most important lessons we can learn!

Manage Your Time Wisely

Time is money. Treat time with the wisdom it deserves. Determine what things you want to accomplish each day, week or month and set deadlines for their attainment. Avoid time wasters, such as bored friends, unnecessary phone calls and idle talk. Remember, a day that is a social success is usually a business failure.

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."(Ephesians 5:16)

When we manage our time, putting GOD and HIS WORD first priority, HE will redeem our time and make every moment count! Here is Brandon Lake with "More":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Be Willing to Wait

He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from troubles. Proverbs 21:23, The Amplified Bible

There's just no two ways about it. If you want to live a life of blessing, you're going to have to make your words agree with what God says. Not just for a few hours or a few days, but all the time.

And if you've ever done that, you know it's not easy. As time wears on and the circumstances around you appear to be stubbornly determined to stay in the same miserable condition they've always been in, it's hard to keep on speaking God's Word. But you have to do it if you ever want your harvest of blessing to come in.

When Kenneth started preaching prosperity, I sat out there and listened to him with holes in the bottom of my shoes. We had terrible financial problems but we knew those problems didn't change what the Word of God said. We knew His prosperity promises were true even if we hadn't been able to tap in to them yet. So, even though we felt foolish at times, we just kept on talking about God's generous provision for us.

I realized later that Word went to work for us from the first day we began to believe it and speak it and order our lives according to it. Our prosperity crop began to grow the moment we started putting seeds in the ground. It just took time for them to come up.

The problem is, believers don't last that long. They start planting well enough, but then when they don't see immediate results, when the bank account gets low and rent is past due, they get discouraged and begin to speak words of lack and defeat. They tear up their crop with the words of their own mouths, and they never get to enjoy the fruit of it.

The next time you strike out on faith, whether it's in the financial realm or any other area, keep that in mind. Determine from the beginning that you're not going to let that waiting period discourage you. Then hang on until the Word of God is manifest in your life. Put patience to work and keep your words in line. You will receive your harvest.

AMEN! The WORD works when WE work it! Let's DO IT! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional. This is all about LOVE!

Love Characteristics

. . . [Love] does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person . . . . — 1 CORINTHIANS 13:6,7 (Amplified)

“Love bears up under anything and everything that comes . . . .” If you have the God-kind of love within — and if you walk in the God-kind of love — you will make it every time!

“. . . Love . . . is ever ready to believe the best of every person . . . .” Natural human love is ever ready to believe the worst about every person! I’ve traveled across this country for many years in the ministry, and it’s amazing what you hear about this preacher and that preacher, this person and that person, this singer and that singer. I don’t pay the least bit of attention to any of those stories. I don’t believe a word of them. I believe the best of everyone.

Children ought to have the right to be brought up in this love atmosphere in the home. Then they’ll go out in life’s fight and win. But when you always see the worst in the children and always tell them, “You’ll never amount to anything,” they’ll live up to what you say. But when you see the best in them and love them, it will bring out the best in them. They will grow up to amount to something.

Confession: I am a love person. I do not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness. I rejoice when right and truth prevail. I bear up under anything and everything that comes. I am ever ready to believe the best of every person.

AMEN! LOVE NEVER FAILS, so when we choose LOVE, then we have chosen to be a WINNER! Here is Brandon Lake with "Nothing New":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

The Initiative Against Dreaming

Arise, let us go hence. — John 14:31

Dreaming about a thing in order to do it properly is right; but dreaming about it when we should be doing it is wrong. After Our Lord had said those wonderful things to His disciples, we might have expected that He would tell them to go away and meditate over them all; but Our Lord never allowed “mooning” When we are getting into contact with God in order to find out what He wants, dreaming is right; but when we are inclined to spend our time in dreaming over what we have been told to do, it is a bad thing and God’s blessing is never on it. God’s initiative is always in the nature of a stab against this kind of dreaming, the stab that bids us “neither sit nor stand but go.”

If we are quietly waiting before God and He has said – “Come ye yourselves apart,” then that is meditation before God in order to get at the line He wants; but always beware of giving over to mere dreaming when once God has spoken. Leave Him to be the source of all your dreams and joys and delights, and go out and obey what He has said. If you are in love, you do not sit down and dream about the one you love all the time, you go and do something for him; and that is what Jesus Christ expects us to do. Dreaming after God has spoken is an indication that we do not trust Him.

Let's be DOERS of the Word and Will of our Father! THAT is pleasing to HIM! Here is Hillsong with "That's The Power":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from our partners, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "From Faith To Faith" devotional!

Put the Word First

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Proverbs 4:5-6

Recently, God has been raising up ever-growing numbers of people who are hungry. Hungry to know their Lord in a deeper way. Hungry to serve Him—in pulpits, on mission fields, in homes, in office buildings and anywhere else He might choose to send them.

They are people who simply aren't content to find the path of least resistance and coast their way into heaven. No, they're determined to run the race...to run, as the apostle Paul said, to obtain the prize. Spiritually speaking, they are on the road to excellence.

Are you among them?

If so, I want to share four simple words that, I believe, will enable you to run the race like a winner.

Put the Word first.

Whether your goal is to be an excellent evangelist or a first-rate engineer in the service of the Lord, it is the wisdom that comes from the Word of God that will get you there.

Jesus said it this way: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).

So commit yourself right now to do whatever it takes to totally saturate yourself with the Word of God. Use every available moment to read, study, listen to and meditate on it.

I know it won't be easy, but if you've made a definite decision to amount to something in the ministry of Jesus Christ and you are determined to take the Great Commission seriously, then be diligent. Put the Word first and there will surely be glorious victories ahead.

AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional for today is one that you will want to get inside and act on! Remember that LOVE NEVER FAILS!

The Best Way

"Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking" (1 Corinthians 13:5).

Take time to let today's text sink into your heart.

Too many people would rather declare, "Well, I know what's mine, though. I've got my say-so, and I'm going to have it. I've got my rights, and I'm going to have them." And they insist on having their own way, no matter how much their actions may hurt someone else.

I was only 20-years-old and unmarried when I pastored my second church, and I rented a room from a couple in the church. The man of the house knew the Bible, and he had a marvelous experience with God.

But he was the type of person who said, "I've got my say-so, and I'm going to have it. I'm a member of that church just as much as anyone else, and I've got my say-so." He had his say-so all right, and so did some of the others, until they wrecked the church.

This text says that love does not insist on having its own rights. Start believing in God and believing in love. It's the best way - and it's your way!

Confession: I believe in God. And I believe in love. I am a love person. I do not insist on my own rights. I do not insist on my own way. I am not self-seeking. I am a love person.

Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Bless God/Every Chance I Get":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we read Psalm 48 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. I LOVE reading these Psalms knowing that this is the Israelites Praise Book! 

1 Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain,
2 Fair and beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth—Mount Zion [the City of David], to the northern side [Mount Moriah and the temple], the [whole] city of the Great King!
3 God has made Himself known in her palaces as a Refuge (a High Tower and a Stronghold).
4 For, behold, the kings assembled, they came onward and they passed away together.
5 They looked, they were amazed; they were stricken with terror and took to flight [affrighted and dismayed].
6 Trembling took hold of them there, and pain as of a woman in childbirth.
7 With the east wind You shattered the ships of Tarshish.
8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it forever. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
9 We have thought of Your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of Your temple.
10 As is Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness (rightness and justice).
11 Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of Your [righteous] judgments!
12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her, number her towers (her lofty and noble deeds of past days),
13 Consider well her ramparts, go through her palaces and citadels, that you may tell the next generation [and cease recalling disappointments].
14 For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide [even] until death.

WE have a BETTER COVENANT, based on BETTER PROMISES than they had, so WE should be filled with joyful praise and worship at all times! Here is one of my favorite worship songs by Brooke Ligertwood called "Ancient Gates":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan takes us through Psalm 47 and it is POWERFUL!

Psalm 47

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

1 O clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph and songs of joy! 2 For the Lord Most High excites terror, awe, and dread; He is a great King over all the earth. 3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. 4 He chose our inheritance for us, the glory and pride of Jacob, whom He loves. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 5 God has ascended amid shouting, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises in a skillful psalm and with understanding. 8 God reigns over the nations; God sits upon His holy throne. 9 The princes and nobles of the peoples are gathered together, a [united] people for the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.

No matter what is going on in our country or around the world, NEVER FORGET that OUR GOD IS GOD! HE will not fail! COUNT ON IT! Here is Brandon Lake with "COUNT 'EM":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really like Joseph Prince's insight into communion here is today's "Daily Grace Inspirations" devotional:

Eating Fresh

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh. Hebrews 10:19–20

When God provided manna for the children of Israel in the wilderness, Moses told the people, “Let no one leave any of it till morning” (Exodus 16:19). When some of them did not heed Moses’ words and kept some till the next morning, it bred worms and stank.

This reminds me of the law that the children of Israel had to observe when they brought the peace offering for thanksgiving: “The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day it is offered. He shall not leave any of it until morning” (Leviticus 7:15).

These two verses speak of partaking fresh and not leaving the manna or the meat from the sacrifice to turn stale. In the same way, whenever we partake of the holy Communion, let’s ask the Lord for a fresh revelation of what He did for us at the cross.

Let’s not ever become so familiar with the holy Communion that we start to see it as common and ordinary. We are holding the broken body of the Son of God and drinking of His shed blood.

Would you like to have a fresh revelation of the holy Communion? In today’s Scripture passage, God’s Word tells us that through the cross, our Lord Jesus consecrated a “new and living way” for us to draw near to God not with fear and trepidation but with boldness. He allowed His own flesh to be torn so that we can have free access to our loving Father today.

I want to draw your attention to the original Greek word used for new here. It is the word prosphatos and it means “lately slaughtered, freshly killed.” Why did the Holy Spirit use this unusual word here?

Because whenever you partake of the holy Communion, God does not want you to partake as though you are commemorating a historical event that took place long ago. The cross transcends time. As you partake of the holy Communion in remembrance of Him, see your Lord Jesus before you, as though you are right there at Calvary.

See your Lord Jesus freshly slain, bearing all your sicknesses and carrying all your pains. Don’t partake ritualistically, but press in for a fresh revelation of His love that was demonstrated at the cross.

AMEN! Always remember that JESUS did it ALL for YOU! Now grab ahold of all that HE provided at Calvary and make it YOURS! HE is waiting for us to do so! Here is Brandon Lake with "Tear Off The Roof":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is perfect for Valentine's Day!

Love Atmosphere

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.... If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us" (1 John 4:7-8, 12).

Husbands and wives need to let the love of God dominate them—and not just natural human love—because natural love is so shallow.

Christians have an advantage over other people. Not only can they love their spouse with natural affection, but they can add to it divine love which never seeks its own, but always seeks the other's welfare.

In all the years of our marriage, my wife and I have walked in love. I never consider myself or what I want; I consider what Oretha wants. I never want to be self-seeking; I always want to put her first. And Oretha reciprocates. We always try to outdo one another in love. And how blessed it is! Praise God! Our home is like Heaven on earth.

A troubled person who had visited us once said, "When I visit in your home, it's like heaven. You can feel a presence there the minute you go into the house."

We create atmospheres in our homes.

Confession: I will walk in divine love toward those I love. I will let the unselfish love of God pour through me to them, creating an atmosphere of love!

AMEN! As you begin to change the atmosphere, not only in your home, but wherever you go, remember that "LOVE NEVER FAILS"!  Here is Brandon Lake with "Jesus Be Praised":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambers:

The Devotion Of Hearing

Speak; for Thy servant heareth. — 1 Samuel 3:10

Because I have listened definitely to one thing from God, it does not follow that I will listen to everything He says. The way in which I show God that I neither love nor respect Him is by the obtuseness of my heart and mind towards what He says. If I love my friend, I intuitively detect what he wants, and Jesus says, “Ye are My friends.” Have I disobeyed some command of my Lord’s this week? If I had realized that it was a command of Jesus, I would not consciously have disobeyed it; but most of us show such disrespect to God that we do not even hear what He says, He might never have spoken.

The destiny of my spiritual life is such identification with Jesus Christ that I always hear God, and I know that God always hears me (John 11:41). If I am united with Jesus Christ, I hear God, by the devotion of hearing all the time. A lily, or a tree, or a servant of God, may convey God’s message to me. What hinders me from hearing is that I am taken up with other things. It is not that I will not hear God, but I am not devoted in the right place. I am devoted to things, to service, to convictions, and God may say what He likes but I do not hear Him. The child attitude is always “Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.” If I have not cultivated this devotion of hearing, I can only hear God’s voice at certain times; at other times I am taken up with things – things which I say I must do, and I become deaf to Him, I am not living the life of a child. Have I heard God’s voice to-day?

AMEN! Make it your 'determined purpose' to learn something new about JESUS every day! HE delights to reveall Himself to us! Here is Brandon Lake with "Adoption Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambers is something that we all should pay attention to and check our own hearts to see if we are guilty of this attitude! If so, let's make the correction and be BLESSED!

Must I Listen?

And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. — Exodus 20:19

We do not consciously disobey God, we simply do not heed Him. God has given us His commands; there they are, but we do not pay any attention to them, not because of wilful disobedience but because we do not love and respect Him. “If ye love Me, ye will keep My commandments” (RV). When once we realize that we have been “disrespecting” God all the time, we are covered with shame and humiliation because we have not heeded Him.

“Speak thou with us…: but let not God speak with us.” We show how little we love God by preferring to listen to His servants only. We like to listen to personal testimonies, but we do not desire that God Himself should speak to us. Why are we so terrified lest God should speak to us? Because we know that if God does speak, either the thing must be done or we must tell God we will not obey Him. If it is only the servant’s voice we hear, we feel it is not imperative, we can say, “Well, that is simply your own idea, though I don’t deny it is probably God’s truth.”

Am I putting God in the humiliating position of having treated me as a child of His whilst all the time I have been ignoring Him? When I do hear Him, the humiliation I have put on Him comes back on me – “Lord, why was I so dull and so obstinate?” This is always the result when once we do hear God. The real delight of hearing Him is tempered with shame in having been so long in hearing Him.

The Secret Place of HIS presence is where we can hear directly from HIM so that we can become actual DOERS of HIS WORD, and walk in the BLESSING of our NEW and BETTER COVENANT! Let's do this! Here is Hillsong with "Song For His Presence":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's devotional on The Spoken Word Church website is an excellent reminder!

Keep Your Ear to the Mouth of God

To be a consistent winner, you must develop the ability to recognize the voice of God. When faith and logic collide, your peace will depend on that still small voice inside.

It takes time to know the God of the Bible. It is never time wasted. Get alone with God. Shut out the crowd. Avoid the distracting voices and mental confusion. God treasures the seeker.

"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." {John 6:63}

"And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:" {Deuteronomy 28:1}

Take the time each day to spend in your 'secret place' with HIM! HE wants YOU to know Him more every day! Here is Brandon Lake and Benjamin Hastings with "More":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I was out of town to day celebrating with my daughter and her daughter for their birthdays! We had a great time. Today I simply want to share a powerful song with you! Brandon Lake with "Miracle Child":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is another great lesson for walking in gthe promises of God!

Keeping His Word

. . . I am watching over my word to perform it. — JEREMIAH 1:12 (NASV)

You may be certain that if you accept God’s Word and act on it, He is watching over that Word to make it good in your life. All you need to do is to act on the Word. It is very important that you learn this simple little lesson. Acting on the Word is not struggling. It is not crying. It is not praying. It is simply acting on what God has spoken, and that brings results.

Several years ago, after I had spent hours struggling and praying about finances and healing for my family, I lay exhausted on the altar of a church. Once I was finally quiet, the Lord could speak to me.

“What are you doing?” He asked.

“I came out here to pray through,” I said.

“What do you mean by ‘pray through’?”

“I guess I was going to pray until I had some kind of feeling or a witness that these needs are met. I’m 365 miles from home. I thought I would know somehow when my children were healed and our financial needs were met.”

“Isn’t My Word sufficient for you? You are not acting like My Word is so,” the Lord said. “In fact, you’re acting as if it were not so. You’re acting as though you think if you pray long enough and loud enough, you might eventually talk Me into the notion of not being a liar and of keeping My word.”

Confession: I believe God. And I act like I believe Him!

AMEN! DARE to BELIEVE that GOD said what HE meant and meant what He said! Here is Hillsong with "That's The Power":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share our partner Jerry Savelle's devotional!

YOU ARE JUSTIFIED

[All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24 AMPC

I want to focus on two particular words found in the Scripture above:

· Justified and

· Redemption.

The word justified is not one we commonly use in everyday English, but the essence of its simplest biblical definition is just as if I’d never sinned. In other words, because of the redemptive work Jesus did at the cross, God now looks at you just as if you had never sinned.

The word redemption means to buy back. Just as an individual who was kidnapped is bought back from their captor with ransom money, so Jesus bought you back from the hands of the devil with His shed blood.

The Bible says, “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin” (Romans 4:8 NKJV) and God is “the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26 NKJV). Never again will your sins be counted against you.

Receiving this justification and redemption does not depend on your performance; it depends on your faith in Jesus and the fact that you are “in Him.” And the good news is, because you are in Him, you are justified!

Confession: Thank You, Father, for treating me just as if I had never sinned. I cast down all thoughts of condemnation, and I meditate instead on the free gift of redemption that is mine because I am in Christ Jesus.

HALLELUJAH!!! We who are IN HIM are already JUSTIFIED! Made: 'Just as if I had never sinned!' Thank YOU, Lord Jesus! Here is Brandon Lake with "Turnaround":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Health Food Devotional    God Is Working in You

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

I remember the story of a man who had a malignant growth on the side of his face. It looked like a big purple eggplant, and had grown almost as big as his head. The doctors wouldn't touch it. They had done preliminary examinations, but said that he'd live longer if they left it alone.

The man had been in all kinds of healing meetings, because he believed in divine healing. Healing evangelists had laid hands on him; the pastor had anointed him with oil and prayed; many people had prayed.

Then one day the pastor said to me, "I noticed that the growth, though it was still there, began to shrivel. I could see that it was shriveling. The whole church could see it. Within a three-or four-month period, we saw that thing get smaller and smaller.

"Finally, the man came to church one day, and there wasn't a thing in the world wrong with his face. Every bit of that tumor was gone, and all the skin on his face looked like new baby skin!"

The pastor asked him what happened. He told the pastor that he had been reading his Bible and came to Philippians 2:13. Every morning when he looked in the mirror, he would put his hand on that growth and say, "God's working in that. Philippians 2:13 says that it's God that's at work within me, and He's not only working in my spirit - He's also working in my body."

He kept saying that for days and weeks. And after about three months, he saw that the growth was beginning to shrivel, and, eventually, it all just disappeared. Now God didn't single that fellow out to bless him. The man saw the Word, read the Word, and began to believe the Word for himself.  And he received what the Word said.

Confession: God is working in me both to will and to do of His good pleasure. It's the will of God that I be healed and made whole. That's the good pleasure of God.

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Tear Off The Roof":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share a very encouraging passage of Scripture for every born again believer who has been wondering just when and how our GREAT GOD is going to set things right for our nation and this world! Psalm 37:1-8:

1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness (that which is not upright or in right standing with God).
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3 Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed.
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass.
6 And He will make your uprightness and right standing with God go forth as the light, and your justice and right as [the shining sun of] the noonday.
7 Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not yourself—it tends only to evildoing.

WE are told NOT to fret! Philippians 4:6-7:

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God] That peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

When WE obey GOD'S WORD, then HE is free to move on our behalf! Here, to help you with that, is Brandon Lake with "Palm Of Your Hand":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I was reading Charles Spurgeon's morning devotional on my Bible Study program and I LOVE this!

"The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." — 1 John 4:14

It is a sweet thought that Jesus Christ did not come forth without His Father's permission, authority, consent, and assistance. He was sent of the Father, that He might be the Saviour of men. We are too apt to forget that, while there are distinctions as to the persons in the Trinity, there are no distinctions of honour. We too frequently ascribe the honour of our salvation, or at least the depths of its benevolence, more to Jesus Christ than we do the Father. This is a very great mistake. What if Jesus came? Did not His Father send Him? If He spake wondrously, did not His Father pour grace into His lips, that He might be an able minister of the new covenant? He who knows the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit as he should know them, never sets one before another in his love; he sees them at Bethlehem, at Gethsemane, and on Calvary, all equally engaged in the work of salvation. O Christian, have you put your confidence in the Man Christ Jesus? Have you placed your reliance solely on Him? And are you united with Him? Then believe that you are united unto the God of heaven. Since to the Man Christ Jesus you are brother, and hold closest fellowship, you are linked thereby with God the Eternal, and "the Ancient of days" is your Father and your friend. Did you ever consider the depth of love in the heart of Jehovah, when God the Father equipped His Son for the great enterprise of mercy? If not, be this your day's meditation. The Father sent Him! Contemplate that subject. Think how Jesus works what the Father wills. In the wounds of the dying Saviour see the love of the great I AM. Let every thought of Jesus be also connected with the Eternal, ever-blessed God, for "It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief."

WE have a BETTER COVENANT, based on BETTER PROMISES that they did, and THEY had a great one! Learn something new every day about each member of the Trinity and realize that THEY are ALWAYS and IN ALL WAYS undeniably FOR you and NOT against you! Here is Brandon Lake with "God Is Not Against Me":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is all about worry!

Worry

"Take no thought for your life" (Matthew 6:25).

Shortly after I was born again, I promised God, "I'll never doubt anything I read in Your Word. And I will put Your Word into practice."

Everything in the Word was a light and a blessing to me until I came to Matthew 6:25. I learned from a footnote that the Greek reads, "Do not be anxious about tomorrow."

Cross-references pointed out that God says, "Do not worry." But I was full of worry! Not only was I nearly dead with a heart condition; I was about to worry myself the rest of the way to the grave!

"Lord," I said, "if I have to live without worry, I can't be a Christian!" Suddenly everything in the Word seemed dark and fuzzy; I couldn't get any more light from the Word. My conscience smote me, because I was not practicing the Word.

Finally at 6 p.m. on July 4, 1933, I committed all my cares to the Lord. I said, "Lord, forgive me for worrying, for being full of anxieties, for fretting, for being discouraged, for having the blues, for feeling sorry for myself. I know You will forgive me because You said You would if I'd confess it. From this day on, because You have now forgiven me, I promise You the longest day I live, I will never worry again."

Confession: I do not worry about tomorrow. I have no worries, no cares. I've committed them to God. I never have the blues. I am never discouraged!

AMEN! Refuse worry and instead, build up your faith with meditation in the Word of God (Joshua 1:8 AMPC) and by praying in the Spirit (Jude 1:20). Here is Brandon Lake with "Nothing New":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share a very important lesson from Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace Inspirations" devotional!

Slay Your Dragons

And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. Acts 14:8–10

Beloved, if you want to have faith for your breakthrough, make sure you are hearing and believing right about God through the word of Christ. By the way, in Romans 10:17, it is the word of Christ, not the word of God, as written in some Bible translations.

The Greek word used here is Christos for Christ. What’s the difference? The word of Christ refers to the word of the new covenant, the word of His grace.

In the book of Acts, the apostle Paul says, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).

What is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among the saints? It is the word of His grace or the word of Christ. The Bible exhorts us to “let the word of Christ [Christos] dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16).

So if you’re feeling discouraged, I encourage you to keep hearing messages full of the grace and finished work of our Lord Jesus as was proclaimed by the apostle Paul. This was what the crippled man in today’s scripture did.

Whatever your circumstances, keep hearing about how your sins have all been forgiven through Christ and how you are today the righteousness of God in Christ. Whatever the prognosis you’ve heard, keep hearing about how much God loves you and wants to be a loving Father to you, to watch over you, provide for you, and deliver you from all your fears and afflictions.

My friend, when you give priority to this daily, you will have the word of Christ dwelling richly in you. And it is this word of His grace that will impart faith and hope to you.

When you know God’s love for you, it will cause you to run to Him instead of hiding from Him. His love upon you and in you will make you strong. It will cause you to overcome every temptation and fear, slay your giants, and live life with greater boldness and victory!

AMEN! Never doubt that LOVE that HE has for YOU! JESUS gave HIS LIFE for YOURS! Here is Brandon Lake with "God Is Not Against Me":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I just want to share again this music video from Brandon Lake (and Chosen) called "Tear Off The Roof". I hope that you will get the promises of the WORD that caused these miracles to happen and begin to put them into practice in YOUR life! SOMEONE is waiting on YOUR FAITH! 

Shalom in Him

Shalom,

We read Psalm32 in today's "Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan" and I want to share a few verses with you!

7 You are a hiding place for me; You, Lord, preserve me from trouble, You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

Have YOU made HIM to be YOUR hiding place? HE has said this:

8 I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. 9 Be not like the horse or the mule, which lack understanding, which must have their mouths held firm with bit and bridle, or else they will not come with you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on the Lord shall be compassed about with mercy and with loving-kindness.

AMEN! THIS is HIS promise to all of those who trust in HIM! And what is the instruction for all of those who do trust inHIm?

11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you who are upright and in right standing with Him]; shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

PRAISE HIM! HE alone is worthy of ALL of our praise, thanksgiving and worship! Here is Brandon Lake and Elevation Worship with "Praise":

Shalom in Him!