Shalom,

Today I want to share all of today's selection from Kenneth E. Hagin's Health Food devotional.

For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Rom. 10:10)

A wrong confession is a confession of defeat - and, really, a confession of Satan's supremacy. Talking about how the devil is hindering you, how he's keeping you sick, is a confession of defeat. When you talk about God, you are glorifying God. Well, in the same way, when you talk about the devil, you are glorifying the devil. Most Christians spend more time glorifying the devil than they do God. They spend more time making a wrong confession. And that kind of confession saps the very life out of them. It destroys their faith. 

Our confession should be in line with what God said. Remember, confession is affirming something that we believe, testifying to something that we know, and witnessing for a truth that we have embraced. Our confession should be a witness for a truth that we have embraced. It should affirm that we believe the Word. Then what we are confessing comes into being. Most people want to wait and see if it ever comes into being before they will start confessing it. No, it doesn't work that way. You see, a wrong confession destroys your faith and holds you in bondage. But the confession of your lips that has grown out of faith in your heart will absolutely defeat the devil in every combat! 

Confession:

I keep my confession in line with what God says in His Word. I glorify God with a right confession. I speak forth what has grown out of the faith in my heart. And I enforce the devil's defeat in every situation of life.

"Salvation" in Romans 10:10 above is the Greek word "soteria". It means: rescue, safety, deliverance, preservation, health. As born again believers, we MUST know that the Sovereign God has given US the responsibility for our lives on this earth! He will confirm OUR words when OUR Words line up with HIS Word! Make sure that the confession of YOUR mouth is something that you really DO want to come to pass! Refuse to speak anything into your life that will steal, kill and destroy! Those are the devil's words and have no place in the thoughts or the words of a believer in Jesus Christ! AMEN! Here, to encourage you to speak LIFE is Hillsong Chapel with "Salvation Is Here":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 99:9 says this:

 9 Extol the Lord our God and worship at His holy hill, for the Lord our God is holy!

We know from past study that one of the definitions for holy is separated. God is separated, or set apart, from the world in the way He thinks and speaks and acts! WE are to be also, because, as born again believers, HE lives in US, by His Spirit! Our God IS God, and their is none other (Mark 12:32)! We are to extol Him, worship Him, thank Him, get to know Him, obey Him, praise Him, honor Him and tell others all about Him! When WE do this, others see Him! So, our admonition for today is found in Psalm 99:1-3:

1 THE LORD reigns, let the peoples tremble [with reverential fear]! He sits [enthroned] above the cherubim, let the earth quake! 2 The Lord is great in Zion, and He is high above all the peoples. 3 Let them confess and praise Your great name, awesome and reverence inspiring! It is holy, and holy is He!

So let's DO IT! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Tell The World"

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I can identify with Zacchaeus from our reading in Luke 19 today on two counts! The first, of course, is because he was very short! I have also been in the situation where I could see nothing in a crowd and had to find a clear spot in order to see! I am thankful that I never had to climb a tree, though, in order to "see" Jesus! The second involves what Jesus said in verse 10:

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.

Just as with Zacchaeus, I am sure that there were people who didn't think I could be saved because I wasn't raised in the Word, or because of previous poor decisions, etc. BUT, the GREAT Good News is: JESUS died for ALL of us! For ALL of those who needed a personal Savior! Romans 3:21 tell us that includes everyone!

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; KJV

Paul included himself in this when he said this in 1 Timothy 1:15:

15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. KJV

So, we have established that we ALL need a personal Savior! Romans 6:23 tells us what all of us who were in that needy state had to look forward to!

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. KJV

The very best word in that verse is BUT! JESUS is the BUT! HE is the exception, the exemption, our redemption! HALLELUJAH! Have YOU received Jesus Christ as Lord and personal Savior yet? If not, why not? Just visit our website through the link on the left to find out more, and to find out how! You will NEVER regret that most important decision! If you have, then continue on in His Word to find out about the Infilling of the Holy Spirit, which is the enduing with power from on High that Jesus spoke of in Luke 24:49. You can also find out more about this most precious gift on our website! Here, to encourage you to BE all that God intends for you to be, is Hillsong with "Children Of The Light":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In Luke 18, Jesus is giving the account of the unjust judge who gave in to the widow asking him for protection, NOT because he wanted to, but because of her persistence!  Then He says this to His disciples in verses 7-8:

7 And will not [our just] God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He defer them and delay help on their behalf? 8 I tell you, He will defend and protect and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [persistence in] faith on the earth?

We know from Romans 10:17 that faith comes from hearing (and hearing and hearing and hearing) God's Word:

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. NKJV

Persistent faith comes from continually hearing the Word of God! We know, also, from 1 John 5:14-15, how to get God to answer our prayers!

14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. 15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him. AMP

So make the determined purpose for YOUR life to be consistent in your time in His Word so that faith will build and grow. He will answer your prayers and YOU will be found persistent in your faith, and well pleasing to HIM! AMEN! Here is an old, but very good, song from Hillsong called "Faith":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 96:1-4 says this:

1 O SING to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Sing to the Lord, bless (affectionately praise) His name; show forth His salvation from day to day. 3 Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples. 4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be reverently feared and worshiped above all [so-called] gods.

Rather than let the world shut us up, we are to be MORE vocal about HIM now than ever before! Why? Because He is being ridiculed, ignored and His Name used for ungodly purposes! AND, because of verse 5:

5 For all the gods of the nations are [lifeless] idols, but the Lord made the heavens.

Whether they want to believe it or not, He IS Who HE says He is! Colossians tells us that all things were made BY Jesus and FOR Jesus, including US (Colossians 1:16-17)! HE holds everything together, so let's obey Psalm 96 and give Him glory! AMEN! Here are verses 7-10:

7 Ascribe to the Lord, O you families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 8 Give to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering and come [before Him] into His courts. 9 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; tremble before and reverently fear Him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations that the Lord reigns; the world also is established, so that it cannot be moved; He shall judge and rule the people righteously and with justice.

HALLELUJAH! GLORY TO GOD! Here is Hillsong Live with "Praise Him":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

As a committed prayer (pray-er), I really appreciate today's Faith Food by Kenneth E. Hagin!

"That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleans us from all sin" (1 John 1:3-4, 7). 

If you have fellowship with God, and you're walking in the light as He is in the light, then prayer becomes one of the greatest assets you have inherited in Christ. Prayer is joining forces with God the Father. It is being in fellowship with Him. It is carrying out His will upon the earth. 

Prayer should never be a problem or a burden to you. It should be a joy! Prayer, "real prayer," won't take anything out of you; it will always put something into you! Because you are in fellowship with God when you pray. 

Confession: I have fellowshipped with my Father in prayer. And my joy is full! I fellowship with God. I commune with God, I talk with Him, and I listen to Him, that I may carry out His will upon the earth. 

AMEN! Choose to become a consistent and committed prayer, too! When we do, we are co-laborers with Jesus, because HE ever lives to make intercession - for us (Hebrews 7:25)! 1 John 5:14-15 tells us exactly how to get our prayers answered, and Ephesians 6:8 tells us that WE will receive prayer when WE pray for others! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Desert Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

None of us really LIKES to be corrected, but when the One doing the correcting is the Lord Himself, it is in our very best interest to heed this correction! Look at these verses:

Job 5:17 Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects: therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty: KJV

Prov 3:11-12 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of His correction: 12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, even as a father the son in whom He delights. KJV

Heb 12:5-7 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise not  the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of Him: 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? KJV

Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. KJV

Psalm 93 today addresses the wicked and those who follow the Lord! Verses 1-7 show God's people calling out for vengeance, which belongs to God alone (Romans 12:19), against evil doers and those who despise the correction of the Lord!

1 O LORD God, You to Whom vengeance belongs, O God, You to Whom vengeance belongs, shine forth! 2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render to the proud a fit compensation. 3 Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph and exult? 4 They pour out arrogant words, speaking hard things; all the evildoers boast loftily. 5 They crush Your people, O Lord, and afflict Your heritage. 6 They slay the widow and the transient stranger and murder the unprotected orphan. 7 Yet they say, The Lord does not see, neither does the God of Jacob notice it.

Have you encountered people with this attitude? I have! Here, in verses 8-11, is a response to people who may think this way!!

8 Consider and understand, you stupid ones among the people! And you [self-confident] fools, when will you become wise? 9 He Who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He Who formed the eye, shall He not see? 10 He Who disciplines and instructs the nations, shall He not punish, He Who teaches man knowledge? 11 The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are vain (empty and futile--only a breath).

Here is our promise IF we welcome and heed the correction of the Lord! Verses 12-15:

12 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law, 13 That You may give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity, until the [inevitable] pit of corruption is dug for the wicked. 14 For the Lord will not cast off nor spurn His people, neither will He abandon His heritage. 15 For justice will return to the [uncompromisingly] righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

AMEN! Trust confidently in God to watch over you as you obey Him, and leave the rest in His very capable hands! Here is Hillsong Live with "You Never Fail":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 93:1-5:

1 THE LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is robed, He has girded Himself with strength and power; the world also is established, that it cannot be moved. 2 Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up the roaring of their waves. 4 The Lord on high is mightier and more glorious than the noise of many waters, yes, than the mighty breakers and waves of the sea. 5 Your testimonies are very sure; holiness [apparent in separation from sin, with simple trust and hearty obedience] is becoming to Your house, O Lord, forever.

THIS is our God! I wanted to use the old Rhema Singers and Band song called "God rides on wings of Love", but I couldn't find it! So instead, I will use "This Is Our God" by Hillsong United! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Our Bible Reading Plan for today includes this from Zephaniah 1:14-18:

14 The great day of the Lord is near--near and hastening fast. Hark! the voice of the day of the Lord! The mighty man [unable to fight or to flee] will cry then bitterly. 15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 A day of the blast of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the high towers and battlements. 17 And I will bring distress upon men, so that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung. 18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's indignation and wrath. But the whole earth shall be consumed in the fire of His jealous wrath, for a full, yes, a sudden, end will He make of all the inhabitants of the earth.

"Great" here is the Hebrew word "gadowl", which means: great, large in magnitude, in intensity, loud in sound, extended dimension, of power, of punishment. This "great" day will not be so good for those who have rejected or ignored the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! We also read this today in Psalm 92:6-11:

6 A man in his rude and uncultivated state knows not, neither does a [self-confident] fool understand this: 7 That though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to be destroyed forever. 8 But You, Lord, are on high forever. 9 For behold, Your adversaries, O Lord, for behold, Your enemies shall perish; all the evildoers shall be scattered. 10 But my horn (emblem of excessive strength and stately grace) You have exalted like that of a wild ox; I am anointed with fresh oil. 11 My eye looks upon those who lie in wait for me; my ears hear the evildoers that rise up against me.

We who are alive on the earth today are much nearer to the fulfillment of these prophecies! What is the promise to those of us who have NOT rejected God and His Word; those who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and personal Savior? Look at Psalm 92:12-15:

12 The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible]. 13 Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 [Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment]. 15 [They are living memorials] to show that the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

If YOU have received Jesus as Lord and Saviour, then you can join me in declare this from Psalm 92:1-5:

12 The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible]. 13 Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 [Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment]. 15 [They are living memorials] to show that the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

If you have NOT received Jesus as Lord and Savior, why not? TODAY is your day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2)! Click on The Spoken Word Church link to the left and find out how! Don't waste another moment being without God in this world! Soon and very soon it will be a day of great joy for God's people, but not so great for those who are not! The choice is yours! CHOOSE wisely! Here is Hillsong Live with "God Who Saves":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 91 is a great promise of the protection, provision and safety that comes from the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Look at verse 1:

1 HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].

To better understand how to appropriate this promise, let's look at the phrase "He that dwells" in the original Hebrew. This would be the Hebrew word  "yashab", which means: to dwell, to remain, to stay, to sit, to have one's abode. That seems pretty clear and straight forward, until you see THIS from Strong's concordance: to marry! I take this to mean that if we desire to walk in the fullness of the promises of God found in His Word, then we MUST have the same intimacy of fellowship with Him as we would with our spouse if we were married!  This protection, provision and safety does NOT just automatically fall on all born again believers! We KNOW this by the things that sometimes befall believers that we know! Contrary to the OPINION of some (NOT Truth, because it does NOT line up with God's Word!), God does not just arbitrarily decide who He will protect. Do YOU want to have the confidence of His protection in any and every situation? Then develop that intimate fellowship with Him! How? Through prayer, praise and worship, study and meditation of His Word, and fellowship with Him (simply talking like you would talk to your closest friend!). Then YOU can declare Psalm 91 over your life and family! Here is the rest of this promise!:

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust! 3 For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 4 [Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day, 6 Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. 8 Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, 10 There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent. 11 For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service]. 12 They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot. 14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never]. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "Always Will":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 90:1-2 says this:

1 LORD, YOU have been our dwelling place and our refuge in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth or ever You had formed and given birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

If you only meditate on one thing today, meditate on THIS! Before the God of the Bible ever created anything, He was GOD! He always has been, and always will be GOD! So many believers, in making excuses why some prayers seem to not get answered, put the blame on God. "After all, God IS Sovereign" they may say. Meaning what exactly? That God is picking and choosing whose prayers He is answering? NO! That is NOT the TRUTH! Look at 1 John 5:14-15:

14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. 15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him. AMP

God is NOT up in Heaven running some huge "prayer lottery" to see who gets their prayers answered today and who does not! The SOVEREIGN God tells us right here in these two verses HOW to get our prayers answered - EVERY TIME! What are we to do? We are to  make sure that He hears us, because when He does, we HAVE IT! So, how do we get God to hear in the first place? Pray according to His will, which IS His Word! Whatever the Word of God promises to born again believers IS God's forever will for us! There are no shortcuts and laziness will get us nowhere! We MUST find out what belongs to us as His family members, and then expect to receive when we pray! It doesn't really GET any simpler than that! AMEN! Look at Psalm 90:16-17 to see what God is expecting as the result of our prayers being answered!

16 Let Your work [the signs of Your power] be revealed to Your servants, and Your [glorious] majesty to their children. 17 And let the beauty and delightfulness and favor of the Lord our God be upon us; confirm and establish the work of our hands--yes, the work of our hands, confirm and establish it.

HE gets glory when WE get the goods! AMEN! So, GO FOR IT! Find the treasures hidden in His Word FOR you and dare to believe and agree with HIM! Here is Hillsong with "Desert Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In Luke 9 we read that Jesus sent out the 12 apostles and anointed them to minster to people as He was doing. In Luke 10:1-2 we see this:

1 NOW AFTER this the Lord chose and appointed seventy others and sent them out ahead of Him, two by two, into every town and place where He Himself was about to come (visit). 2 And He said to them, The harvest indeed is abundant [there is much ripe grain], but the farmhands are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Jesus was showing them that it was NOT just for His 12 chosen close associates to minister as He was doing! He said this to them in verses 8-9:

8 Whenever you go into a town and they receive and accept and welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 And heal the sick in it and say to them, The kingdom of God has come close to you.

They were also to do the works of Jesus! Did they? Look at verse 17:

17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!

They even cast out demons in the Name of Jesus! Then Jesus added THIS in verse 19:

19 Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.

These disciples had this promise from Jesus BEFORE His death, burial and resurrection! HOW MUCH MORE is this true of those of us who have received Jesus as our Lord and personal Savior, thereby receiving the Anointing, the Spirit of God, to live IN us! AMEN! Then, on the Day of Pentecost, the Church of Jesus Christ were "endued with power from on high"(Luke 24:49)! I want you to see something here. Look at Romans 11:29:

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. KJV

This means that once God has given you something, He will NOT take it back! It is clearer in the Amplified Bible:

29 For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.] AMP

Contrary to what SOME denominations have been teaching for years, these precious gifts of the Spirit of God spoken of in 1 Corinthians were NOT given just to BEGIN the Church! Look at 1 Corinthians 13:8-10:

8 Love never ends; but prophecies will pass, tongues will cease, knowledge will pass. 9 For our knowledge is partial, and our prophecy partial; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass. CJB

WHEN shall these things cease? Look at verse 12:

12 For now we see obscurely in a mirror, but then it will be face to face. Now I know partly; then I will know fully, just as God has fully known me. CJB

WHEN is the THEN that is mentioned here? Look at 1 John 3:2:

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. KJV

This is the time when all of these things will no longer be needed! WHEN we "see Him face to face"! THAT has not happened yet! The Church of Jesus Christ has been very lax in some segments because they have refused the precious gifts for ministry that He has provided in order to reach the lost, which is HIS primary purpose! AMEN! So do NOT be such an one! Be ALL that God intends for you to be so that you can reach ALL whom He has appointed for YOU to reach! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "Lost Are Found":

"The Lost Are Found"

Everlasting
While earthly ages fade
In mercy
Our God Your kingdom reigns

Lord over everything
You are near
All of the universe at Your feet

In the Savior
Injustice brought to right
For Your glory
That Your name be lifted high

Lord over everything
You are near
All of the universe at Your feet
Lord over everything
You are near
All of the universe at Your feet

The lost are found
The blind will see
The lame will walk
The dead will live
And You are God
Forever You will reign
[x3]

Lord over everything
You are near
All of the universe at Your feet
Lord over everything
You are near
All of the universe at Your feet

The lost are found
The blind will see
The lame will walk
The dead will live
And You are God
Forever You will reign
[x8]

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I believe that the message in Kenneth E. Hagin's Faith Food for today is vital for every born again believer to really understand!

"Do you not discern and understand that you are God's temple (His sanctuary), and that God's Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you?" (1 Cor. 3:16). 

God Himself, after He makes us new creatures, actually makes our bodies His home. No longer does He dwell in an earth-made Holy of Holies. God says, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you?" (1 Cor. 6:19). We need to become mindful that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit - we have God inside of us! 

Chiseled on the front of a beautiful church in Texas is an Old Testament scripture declaring that the building was the temple of God. I get provoked every time I drive by. Why? Because these people have a lie right on the front of their church building! To say that a church building is the house of God because He dwells there, is incorrect. God doesn't dwell in a church building. If we mean that a church building is the house of God because it has been dedicated to God, that is correct. But we must be careful not to confuse spiritual things with natural things. Therefore, we must be careful to state spiritual things as they really are. Your body is the house or temple of God - not the building where you worship. Remembering this fact will help you in your obedience and in your faith. 

YOU, as a born again believer, are the new House of God! Where you go, on earth, HE goes! There is no need to "bombard Heaven" with your prayers! You simply communicate with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible through His Spirit Who lives IN you! Come boldly to His throne of grace by spending time in His presence through prayer, praise and worship, study and meditation of His Word and intimate fellowship with Him! He Who is your Comforter, Counselor, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby, Leader, Teacher and Guide will cause the understanding to come! Then you will really KNOW that greater is HE Who is in you, than he who is in the world! AMEN! Here, to encourage you in this, is Hillsong Young & Free with "Wake":

"Wake"

[Verse 1:]
At break of day, in hope we rise.
We speak Your Name, we lift our eyes.
Tune our hearts into Your beat.
Where we walk, there You'll be.

[Verse 2:]
With fire in our eyes, our lives a-light.
Your love untamed, it's blazing out.
The streets will glow forever bright.
Your glory's breaking through the night.

[Pre-Chorus:]
You will never fade away, Your love is here to stay
By my side, in my life, shining through me everyday.

You will never fade away, Your love is here to stay
By my side, in my life, shining through me everyday.

[Chorus:]
You wake within me, wake within me. 
You're in my heart forever.

You wake within me, wake within me. 
You're in my heart forever.

[Verse 2:]
With fire in our eyes, our lives a-light.
Your love untamed, it's blazing out.
The streets will glow forever bright.
Your glory's breaking through the night.

[Pre-Chorus:]
You will never fade away, Your love is here to stay
By my side, in my life, shining through me everyday.

You will never fade away, Your love is here to stay
By my side, in my life, shining through me everyday.

[Chorus:]
You wake within me, wake within me. 
You're in my heart forever.

You wake within me, wake within me. 
You're in my heart forever.

[Bridge:]
Forever, forever, forever in Your love.
Forever, forever, forever in Your love.

Forever, forever, forever in Your love.
Forever, forever, we know that...

[Pre-Chorus:]
You will never fade away, Your love is here to stay
By my side, in my life, shining through me everyday.

You will never fade away, Your love is here to stay
By my side, in my life, shining through me everyday.

[Chorus:]
You wake within me, wake within me. 
You're in my heart forever.

You wake within me, wake within me. 
You're in my heart forever.

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 87 leaves little doubt how the God of the Bible feels about Jerusalem!

1 On the holy hills stands the city [of Jerusalem and the temple] God founded. 2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion [through which the crowds of pilgrims enter from all nations] more than all the dwellings of Jacob (Israel). 3 Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God.   Selah [pause, and calmly realize what that means]! 4 I will make mention of Rahab [the poetic name for Egypt] and Babylon as among those who know [the city of God]—behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia (Cush)—[saying], This man was born there. 5 Yes, of Zion it shall be said, This man and that man were born in her, for the Most High Himself will establish her. 6 The Lord shall count, when He registers the peoples, that this man was born there.   Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 7 The singers as well as the players on instruments shall say, All my springs (my sources of life and joy) are in you [city of our God].

People can CLAIM anything they want, but the God of the Bible says that Jerusalem is the city that HE founded! Islam did not even begin as a religion (AND a political entity AND a military entity) until sometime after 600 AD! Jerusalem is the capital of the nation, given by God to the Jewish people, of Israel! GOD named the nation! GOD anointed the Temple with His very presence! GOD dispersed the nation of Israel when they sinned against Him so that they would not destroy the land that He had appointed to them! GOD called them back as a nation in 1948 and WOE, WOE, WOE to ANYONE coming against what and whom GOD has anointed! AMEN! Choose to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and it's capital city of Jerusalem! KNOW what the Word of God says about every issue being thrown about in the world! As a born again believer in Jesus Christ, YOU have been given the Word of God and the Spirit of God so that you MAY know these things! Look ate Luke 8:10:

10 He said to them, To you it has been given to [come progressively to] know (to recognize and understand more strongly and clearly) the mysteries and secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that, [though] looking, they may not see; and hearing, they may not comprehend.

Jesus was telling His disciples that even though He spoke to those in the world in parables, He intended for HIS people to know and understand His Word! Meditate on the Word of God every day as we are instructed to do in Joshua 1:8, spend time allowing the Holy Spirit to teach you, and THEN you will understand how to respond to what is going on in this world! BE the LIGHT! AMEN! Here is Robin Mark with "Days Of Elijah" because these ARE the days WE are living in!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,  

I LOVE the devotional for today on Jerry Savelle's website!

FREE FROM FEAR

You cannot afford to allow fear into your mind or your heart. It is a faith destroyer and opens a door for the devil to work in your life.

Fear activates Satan, just as faith activates God.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for. Fear is the substance of things dreaded.

Faith is a spiritual force that works for you; fear is a spiritual force that works against you.

“Whom shall I fear, of whom shall I be afraid” (Psalm 27:1)?

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear” (1 John 4:18).

Remember: 2 Tim 1:7:

7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. AMP

Faith comes when your eyes are opened to truth in the Word of God. Find out what the Bible says about your particular fear and meditate those key verses. As faith rises in your heart, fear evaporates, and you close the door on the devil.

Confession: Holy Spirit, I ask you to expose any fear in my heart. I choose to combat every fear inside me with the Word of God and fill my heart with faith.

AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Take Heart":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 85:8 says this:

8 I will listen [with expectancy] to what God the Lord will say, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints (those who are in right standing with Him)--but let them not turn again to [self-confident] folly.

"Peace" here is the Hebrew word "shalowm", which means: safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace. It also means completeness, soundness, tranquility, contentment. When the God of the Bible speaks to His people, He ALWAYS speaks PEACE! He speaks SHALOM! Everything He has to say to us is for the purpose of our well-being so that we are well able to continue as His witnesses in this earth, speaking His Word of Life to the lost and hurting! Don't ever let anyone, believer or unbeliever, try to tell you that God is mad at you or that it isn't ALWAYS His will for you to be blessed and living continually in SHALOM! Look at John 10:10:

10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). AMP

That "life" is "zoe", life as God has in Himself! He wants US to have that life in overflowing abundance! Do you see what a different picture of God that is than what most are presenting? He IS Life! He knows nothing BUT Life! Now look at Psalm 85:9:

 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, [and is ready to be appropriated] that [the manifest presence of God, His] glory may tabernacle and abide in our land.

"Salvation" here is the Hebrew word "yesha", which means: liberty, deliverance, prosperity, rescue, safety, welfare, victory. The God of the Bible is reemphasizing that this IS His will for His people! The way to walk in this is to begin with the reverential and worshipful "fear" of Him! That means a respect and awe for Who He is, and a gratefulness and thankfulness for what He's done! In case you need one more "proof" that this is God's perfect will for His people, look at 3 John 2:

2 Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers. KJV

Soul prosperity is the result of studying (2 Timothy 2:15), meditating (Joshua 1:8) and obeying (James 1:22) the Word of God! Determine today that you will NOT miss out on one good thing that God has planned for you! Set your heart to go all out for the things of God and BE the witness He intends for you to be! What are you a witness to? His GOODNESS! AMEN! Here is an older song from Hillsong called "Lord Your Goodness":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

There are so many uplifting verses in Psalm 84 that you just can't keep from rejoicing! I especially like verses 1-2; 4-5; 7-8; and 10-12:

1 HOW LOVELY are Your tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul yearns, yes, even pines and is homesick for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out and sing for joy to the living God.

    

4 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; they will be singing Your praises all the day long. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 5 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

   

7 They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]; each of them appears before God in Zion. 8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather be a doorkeeper and stand at the threshold in the house of my God than to dwell [at ease] in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts in You [leaning and believing on You, committing all and confidently looking to You, and that without fear or misgiving]!

The next time you find yourself feeling weary or tempted to be discouraged, get yourself immediately into the Word of God and allow the Word and the Holy Spirit to minster LIFE to you again! You will be SO glad that you did! Here is an older song from Hillsong based on this Psalm called "Blessed":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We all know of the account of Jesus in the wilderness and the way He answered every temptation of the devil with the Word of God. I want to show you something else today that is of vital importance in understanding not just WHAT Jesus did, but HOW He was able to do it! Remember that though Jesus was and is 100% God, He did nothing on earth during His ministry AS God! He was also 100% man! Philippians 2:7:

7 But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. AMP

There are those who say that this is blasphemy, but they simply lack understanding of the Word of God. Jesus HAD to be sinless as a MAN to qualify to take our place. If He had acted as God on the earth, what big deal would it be if He was sinless? He could ALWAYS represent God, but He could not represent man until He became one and then, as a man, not sin! Hebrews 4:15:

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. KJV

This does not take away from His deity at all, but reinforces His great love and what a sacrifice it was! So how DID Jesus face the enemy as a man and not give in to temptation? The same way that we are to! Luke 4:1-2a:

1 THEN JESUS, full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led in [by] the [Holy] Spirit  2 For (during) forty days in the wilderness (desert), where He was tempted (tried, tested exceedingly) by the devil.

Notice that He was "full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit"! THAT is how WE defeat the devil, too! After this temptation we see what Jesus did in Luke 4:13-14:

13 And when the devil had ended every [the complete cycle of] temptation, he [temporarily] left Him [that is, stood off from Him] until another more opportune and favorable time. 14 Then Jesus went back full of and under the power of the [Holy] Spirit into Galilee, and the fame of Him spread through the whole region round about.

What is good enough for Jesus is certainly GREAT for us! AMEN! So, be and stay filled with the Spirit and full of His Word! Then dare to defy the enemy with the Word of God! Jesus DID and it worked for Him TRY IT! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "At The Cross":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Hosea 4:6a is a verse many of us are familiar with:

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; 

"Destroyed" here is the Hebrew word " damah". It means: to be dumb or silent; to fail or perish; to be undone. We will NOT be able to fulfill what God has called us to d without knowledge of Him and His Word! "Knowledge" is the Hebrew word "da`ath". It means: knowledge; perception; skill; discernment; understanding; wisdom. We MUST have a working knowledge of God and His Word and His plan in order to fulfill it! How do we get this knowledge? The first thing we must do is found in Proverbs 1:7:

7 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline. AMP

The fear of the Lord is reverential respect and awe for Who He is, and gratefulness and thankfulness for what He has done! Cultivate the fear of the Lord in YOUR life and knowledge will flow! Joshua 1:8 promises this for those who give attention to His Word!

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

Get ready to walk in God's richest and best blessings as you put HIM first place! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "To Be Like You":

Shalom in Him!