Shalom,

This from today's Faith Food by Kenneth E. Hagin goes right along with yesterday's blog!

New Creation Facts

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believes with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (2 Cor. 6:14-16). 

In order to have strong faith, you must see yourself as God sees you - and you must say about yourself what God says about you. In the scripture quoted above, believers are called believers, and unbelievers are called unbelievers. So you can call yourself a believer. Believers are called righteousness, and unbelievers are called unrighteousness. Have you ever called yourself righteousness? That's what the Bible calls you, so you are. Believers are called light, and unbelievers are called darkness. 

"And what concord hath Christ with Belial?" Here the Church is identified with Christ. Christ is the Head, and we are the Body. Your head doesn't go by one name and your body by another, does it? The Church is identified with Christ - we are the Body of Christ. Think about it. Let it soak in. What a basis for faith!

Confession: Because I am in Christ - I am a believer. I am righteousness. I am light. I am one who believes. I am the temple of God. 

DARE to agree with God's Word! ONLY see yourself, and speak about yourself, as God does! We can only truly fulfill what God has called us to do in this life when we do so! Here, to help you with this, is Hillsong Live with "Children Of The Light" because THAT is who we are! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We have another of my favorite verses in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today! Hebrews 13:8:

8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. KJV

I LOVE meditating and studying the Word of God, with the Holy Spirit as my Teacher! I learn something new every time I open up the Word! This verse is very well known and often repeated. Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One and His Anointing, will NEVER change! THAT is TRUTH! But on another level, when I looked up the word "same", I found an even deeper meaning! This is the Greek word "autos". ONE of the meanings or uses for this word is "self". Jesus is, and always will be, HIMSELF! Jesus never had to go away and "find himself"! He IS Who He IS! Do you remember when Moses asked God what Name he should give when people asked him? God said this in Exodus 3:14:

14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM has sent me unto you. KJV

The Amplified Bible says this:

14 And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you! AMP

Then we see this, from Jesus, in John 8:58:

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. KJV

See John 5:18 to see how the religious Jews reacted to Jesus knowing Who HE was! And then read Philippians 2:6 to see that Jesus knew EXACTLY Who He was! Now we can better understand the prayer of Jesus for US in John 17:17-23:

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. KJV

Do you want know to something REALLY exciting about that? Look at 1 John 4:17:

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. KJV

SO, because the Spirit of God, Who is ONE with the Father and the Son, lives IN us, WE also are one with THEM! We are to BE HIS representatives in the earth! We are to look, speak and act the way that Jesus did! How did He look at people? He looked at them through the eyes of LOVE! Non-judgmental LOVE (John 3:17)! How did He speak? He spoke only what He heard the Father say (John 12:49-50)! How did He act? He went about doing GOOD and HEALING (Acts 10:38)! What are WE to do? We our to be OURSELVES! Our God-inside-minded selves! Jesus said it best in John 14:12:

12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. KJV

Now am I saying that WE are GOD? NO! Jesus WAS and IS God, but on the earth He did NOT operate as God! We are NOT God, BUT, because God lives IN us, we CAN and SHOULD operate just as Jesus did, HIMSELF, on the earth! So get out there and BE yourself! Be who you really are! Be who God intends for you to be! BE the first JESUS that some people have ever seen! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with the result of our being who we are! "Lost Are Found":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 78:10-11 says this:

10 They kept not the covenant of God and refused to walk according to His law 11 And forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them.

Speaking of the nation of Israel, this psalmist is revealing why they went into exile. This nation, above all others at the time, were personal witnesses to the glory, strength, protection, provision and love of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! They KNEW His wonderful works and yet they longed to be just like the rest! Not remembering the promises of God is the very real reason that many born again believers are NOT walking in the victory promised in the Word of God today! We have a better Covenant that is based on better promises (Hebrews 8:6) than they had, and yet people choose to NOT put God and His Word as there #1 priority! If YOU have been guilty of doing this, then repent right now! Repentance is simply changing YOUR thinking to agree with GOD! Whenever you find yourself thinking contrary to what the Word says, REPENT! CHOOSE to decide that when you and God disagree, YOU are wrong and GOD is ALWAYS right! Spending time in the Word will renew your mind to think like Him! Here is that promise in Romans 12:1-2:

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. KJV

A like this from the Amplified Bible, too!

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

And also from The Message Bible:

12 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life — your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life — and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. 2 Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. THE MESSAGE BIBLE

We SHOULD stand out from the world, and it SHOULD be because of the Light of Life shines through us! Spend time in His presence and in His Word EVERDAY, and the JESUS in you will shine through! AMEN! Here is an older song from Hillsong called "Everyday"!

"Everyday"

What to say, Lord? It's
You who gave me life and I
Can't explain just how
Much You mean to me now
That You have saved me, Lord
I give all that I am to You
That everyday I could
Be a light that shines Your name

Everyday, Lord, I'll
Learn to stand upon Your word
And I pray that I
I might come to know You more
That You would guide me in every single step I take, that
Everyday I can
Be Your light unto the world

Everyday, it's You I live for
Everyday, I'll follow after You
Everyday, I'll walk with You, my Lord

Everyday, Lord, I'll
Learn to stand upon Your word
And I pray that I
I might come to know You more
That You would guide me in every single step I take, that
Everyday I can
Be Your light unto the world

Everyday, it's You I live for
Everyday, I'll follow after You
Everyday, I'll walk with You, my Lord

It's You I live for, everyday
It's You I live for, everyday
It's You I live for, everyday
It's You I live for, everyday

Everyday, it's You I live for
Everyday, I'll follow after You
Everyday, I'll walk with You, my Lord

Everyday, it's You I live for
Everyday, I'll follow after You
Everyday, I'll walk with You, my Lord

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

This from today's Faith Food by Kenneth E. Hagin goes right along with yesterday's post!

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever" (1 Pet. 1:23). 

We are begotten of God. We are born of God. We are children of God. We are heirs of God. We are joint-heirs (the word "joint" means equal) with Jesus (Rom. 8:17). 

In declaring this, we do not magnify ourselves. We magnify God and what He has done for us through the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not make ourselves new creatures. God made us new creatures. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. 

We are new creatures created by God in Christ Jesus! 

Confession: I am begotten of God. I am born of God. I am born of incorruptible seed by the living Word of God. I was born into the spiritual realm, given eternal life, and made a branch of the vine through the incorruptible Word of God. 

If YOU have received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, THIS is who you are! No matter how you feel, look or sound, your ARE a born again child of the Living God! The Spirit of God is living inside of you! One of the most important things for you to do is to get to know who YOU are, IN HIM! Find out what belongs to you and then begin to EXPECT the promises of God to come to pass in YOUR life! YOU have a inheritance! LIVE in it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "Christ Is Enough":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today at The Spoken Word Church Pastor Bill Novak continued teaching his series on the book of Colossians. We looked at the prayer that Paul prayed and that WE, as born again believers, can and should pray for others! Colossians 1:9-14:

9 For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things —  10 That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition]. 11 [We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy, 12 Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light. 13 [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins. AMP

Pastor taught especially on our inheritance (verse 12) and covered many other Scriptures that spoke of our inheritance as born again believers and members of the family of God! Check out the website through the link at the left to listen to the teachings firsthand! Another thing that really stood out to me today is found in Colossians 1:19-22:

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled 22 In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight: KJV

The Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) desired that all the fullness of Who they are should dwell in the MAN Jesus! Jesus never stopped being God, He just did not operate as God while on the earth! Everything that He did, He did as a sin-less man, and He did them for US! AMEN! And WHEN we receive Jesus as Lord and personal Savior, we not only receive an inheritance, we also become partakers of THIS mystery! Verses 26-27:

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: KJV

HE lives IN us! We can't GET any closer to Him than that! The precious throne of Grace is right inside of us! RUN into His presence continually to stay full of the Spirit and receive the Wisdom that is needed for every situation! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "Running":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I am impressed to share Kenneth E. Hagin's Faith Food again! This message is one of the most vital messages for every born again believer to know and understand!

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12-13). 

No truth in all the Bible is as far reaching as the blessed fact that when we are born again we come into the family of God! God the Father is our Father! 

He cares for us! He is interested in us - each of us individually - not just as a group, or a body, or a church. He is interested in each of His children, and He loves each of us with the same love. 

However, our Heavenly Father is not the Father of everyone, as some supposed. Jesus said to some very religious people, "Ye are of your father the devil..." (John 8:44). Yes, God is the Creator of all mankind, but a man must be born again to become His child. He is God to the world, but Father only to the new creation man. 

(IF you are born again, having received Jesus as your Lord and personal Savior!) God is your very own Father. You are His very own child. And since He is your Father, you can be assured that He will take a father's place and perform a father's part. You can be certain that as your Heavenly Father, God loves you, and He will take care of you. 

Confession: I am born of God. I am born into God's family. God the Father is my Father. I am His very own child. He is my very own Father. He loves me. He provides for me. He takes care of me. 

God the Father LOVES every one of His children just as much as He loves Jesus Himself! John 17:20-23:

20 Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word  and teaching, 21 That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me. 22 I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: 23 I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and[definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me.

Meditate on the Truth of this until is real to you on the inside and you will never look at the Word of God the same way again! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "You Are My World":

My father I adore You more
Than anything my heart could wish for
I just want You
And Jesus my beloved savior
Everything I am I owe to You
I owe it all to You

And angels come and adore You
And we Your children worship You

You are my world
You are my God
And I lay down my life for You
You are my Lord
The one I love
No one could ever take Your place

And everything I have I give to You
My Lord, the One I live for
I live for You
And all my days are gifts from You
I pray Id use them as You want me to
Use them for You

And angels come and adore You
And we your children worship You

You are my world
You are my God
And I lay down my life for You
You are my Lord
The One I love
No one could ever take Your place

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

We read Isaiah 61-62 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today. Isaiah 61:1-2a says this:

1 THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor]

When Jesus read from the scroll in Luke 4, this is the portion of Scripture that He was reading! Luke 4:18-19:

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

The people were used to hearing Him read from the Scriptures. They were even used to hearing this particular portion read. What they were NOT used to is what Jesus said next! When He told them that HE was the fulfillment of these very Scriptures, they were amazed at the grace of His Words, but they still didn't get it! He proceeded to tell them of others that were healed and delivered, but not ALL were. When He said this in verse 24, they were furious!

24 Then He said, Solemnly I say to you, no prophet is acceptable and welcome in his [own] town (country). AMP

They knew then that the responsibility was theirs! Many believers today would like to drop everything off in God's lap and simply pray "if it be Thy will" without ever bothering to find out just what His will really IS! They like to proclaim, rather religiously, "God is Sovereign"! Yes, He IS, and the Sovereign God has set it up this way! HE set Acts 10:38 in motion!

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

Guess what? YOU have also been anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power (1 John 2:20 & 27)! YOU can go about doing good, which includes healing the sick and setting those captive to sin and satan free! IN fact, Jesus also went on to say this in John 14:12:

12 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.  AMP

He is EXPECTING us to be DOERS of His Word by DOING the works that He did, and so much more! What is the "more" or "greater" works? Are you doing the works yet? If not, then don't worry about the greater! First things first! Let's believe the Word of God and act on it! HIS Word will NOT return void (Isaiah 55:11)! That means He WILL confirm His Word that WE speak! AMEN! So, SPEAK, and keep on SPEAKING! Here is Hillsong Chapel with "Lost Are Found":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Everything that I have read and studied today seems to have the very same theme, from different angles! The Spoken Word Church devotional is all about our choices! It includes this:

Face Your Problems Honestly

                                                                                                                                                                                     Don't blame others for what you have chosen to do. Don't blame others for the consequences of your choices. Never complain about what you permit. Your life is the result of your choices.

WE are responsible for the choices we make, whether for good or bad! Remember in Joshua 24:15 we are given the choice between good and evil, and the choice is OURS! HE tells us to choice LIFE, but He will not, and cannot, make that choice FOR us! Then Faith Food by Kenneth E. Hagin says this:

"Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him]" (Eph. 4:27 AMP). I remember reading in Reader's Digest about a lovely little patch of grass that people were prone to cut across. So the gardener built a small fence around this beautiful square of grass - just some small stakes and string. But people persisted in stepping over the string and walking across the grass. So the gardener painted a crude sign: Gentlemen will not, and others must not, trespass on this property! That gave me the idea of putting up a sign on my body. You can't see it, because it's in the spirit. But the devil can see it. My sign says: NO TRESPASSING! DEVIL, THIS MEANS YOU! I did that by faith. I've had that sign up for years now, and the devil doesn't trespass on God's property - my body. As the custodian of your body, it's your job to see to it that Satan does not trespass on God's property. 

As born again believers, we are to KNOW what belongs to us! WE must take authority over our lives! When we speak God's Word into our lives, we give the angels of God, who are sent to minster FOR us (Hebrews 1:14), something to work with! They ONLY move at HIS Word! When His Word is spoken from our mouths, they act on it as though Jesus Himself were saying it! So, stop the attacks by using your authority and speaking to your situation!  On the positive side, Jerry Savelle's devotional says this:

No matter how you feel or what your emotions are telling you, God has a great future for you if you will just trust Him. Not only has He got a great future for you, but He has a plan to get you there too! Believing that you will see the manifestation of the goodness of the Lord is essential to staying strong in faith and walking into that bright future that He has prepared for you.

David wrote in Psalm 27:13-14 (NKJV), 

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!”

What you believe determines how strong or how faint you become. If you allow discouragement and hopelessness to grip you, you will start to grow weak and faint. Believing in the goodness of the Lord will increase your strength. Don’t let negative situations consume your vision. If that is all you see, you will forget the goodness of God and plunge into a pit of despair. Never lose sight of His goodness. God is a good God and He has good plans for you.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).

Then our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today has THIS from Isaiah 60:1-2:

60  Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you. ESV

Yes, this is speaking specifically to Jerusalem, but it is also speaking to the Church of Jesus Christ, His Body! Dare to believe His very good plans for YOU and YOURS! Speak the Word, stand your ground against the enemy and SEE the salvation of God! All for His glory! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Yours Is The Kingdom":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In honor of the remembrance of what happened to this nation twelve years ago today, I want to share two portions of Scripture with you. The first we have seen a lot lately because it is very powerfully TRUTH! 2 Chronicles 7:14:

14 If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. AMP

THIS is the answer for what is going to become of this nation! Notice that He did NOT say ALL people, but if MY people! It doesn't take everyone, but it DOES take YOU! Are you ready? Then you should get this inside of you also! Daniel 11:32b (in both the KJV and the AMP):

 but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. KJV

 but the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God]. AMP

DO you know Him? If not, visit our website through the link on the left and find out how! Then YOU will qualify! Amen! Here, to encourage you in this, is an old song by the Rhema Singers called "The Blood Bought Church":

And RayGene Wilson with "God Bless America". Lest we EVER forget!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

When I was first born again and involved in Bible Study groups, there were a few people who told me that it was not possible for us to understand the Bible, that only a pastor or minister could. After I had grown in the Word and developed a very real hunger for more, other people, all born again believers, told me that God's ways were past finding out! They said that it was not possible for us to really know the Word of God. They would quote this from Isaiah 55:8-9:

8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

What they did NOT know was that I had already found Scriptures such as this in Hosea 6:3:

3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. KJV

And this from 2 Timothy 3:15:

15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. KJV

Then this from Romans 12:2:

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. KJV

Then this from 1 John 5:13:

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.

And finally, my very favorite, Philippians 3:10a:

10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection  AMP

HE said that His thoughts and His ways are MUCH higher than our natural human ones, BUT, He did NOT say that we couldn't learn of them! In fact, He DID say this in Matthew 11:29:

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. AMP

So, refuse to allow yourself excuses for not spending time daily in the Word of God. Meditate on it day and night (Joshua 1:8 AMP) and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you individually and uniquely how to put this vital Word into practice in your own life! The Word WORKS! SO, WORK IT! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "Take It All":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have always loved this passage from Hebrews 4:12-16:

12 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. 13 And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, naked and defenseless to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do. 14 Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended and passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him]. 15 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. 16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

The Word of God IS the Answer for every situation and circumstance that we will ever face! It IS Truth (John 17:17)! Jesus understands everything that we have or will ever face because HE was tempted ON ALL POINTS (in every respect), just as we are! The only difference is that HE DID NOT SIN! So, not only does He understand how difficult the temptation may be, He also knows, and will tell us, the way OUT of that temptation! THAT is why we are to RUN boldly to that Throne of His infinite Grace! Amen! Here is Hillsong Live with "Running":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

1 Corinthians 14:2 tells us what happens when we pray in other tongues!

2 For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding]. AMP

Praying in other tongues is very powerful prayer! The Holy Spirit knows all things, especially what and how to pray for every given situation! When we pray in that Holy Spirit given prayer language, we pray for things WE don't know about, so our human minds cannot get in the way! If there is a need to pray something out in our known language, the Holy Spirit is well able to lead us in that! Then, after we have prayed in the Spirit, the best prayers that we can pray for others are found in Ephesians chapter 1, Ephesians chapter 3 and Colossians chapter 1. 

Eph 1:17-23[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, 18 By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), 19 And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, 20 Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], 21 Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come. 22 And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church],  [Ps 8:6.] 23 Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself]. AMP

Eph 3:14-21 For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name]. 16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. 17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, 18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; 19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! 20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] —  21 To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). AMP

Col 1:9-14 For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things —  10 That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition]. 11 [We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy, 12 Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light. 13 [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins. AMP

Pray these prayers for yourself and others, putting your name and theirs in the place of the "you" in these, at least once a day for a month and see for yourself how God answers these prayers! Amen! Here is "Desert Song" by Hillsong:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I am out of town today, so I want to simply share again a very powerful song by Hillsong United called "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)". I encourage you to listen to this and then sing it TO Him! It is only by totally selling out to Jesus that we will ever truly live here in this life! Be bold, be determined, be humble and then be obedient! AMEN! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really like this from "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers for today:

He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water —John 7:38

A river reaches places which its source never knows. And Jesus said that, if we have received His fullness, “rivers of living water” will flow out of us, reaching in blessing even “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8) regardless of how small the visible effects of our lives may appear to be. We have nothing to do with the outflow— “This is the work of God, that you believe. . .” (John 6:29). God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others.

A river is victoriously persistent, overcoming all barriers. For a while it goes steadily on its course, but then comes to an obstacle. And for a while it is blocked, yet it soon makes a pathway around the obstacle. Or a river will drop out of sight for miles, only later to emerge again even broader and greater than ever. Do you see God using the lives of others, but an obstacle has come into your life and you do not seem to be of any use to God? Then keep paying attention to the Source, and God will either take you around the obstacle or remove it. The river of the Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles. Never focus your eyes on the obstacle or the difficulty. The obstacle will be a matter of total indifference to the river that will flow steadily through you if you will simply remember to stay focused on the Source. Never allow anything to come between you and Jesus Christ— not emotion nor experience— nothing must keep you from the one great sovereign Source.

Think of the healing and far-reaching rivers developing and nourishing themselves in our souls! God has been opening up wonderful truths to our minds, and every point He has opened up is another indication of the wider power of the river that He will flow through us. If you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has developed and nourished in you mighty, rushing rivers of blessing for others.

Do YOU remember this song from several years ago:

"I've got a river of Life flowing out of me
Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see,
Opens prison doors, sets the captives free
I've got a river of Life flowing out of me."

The song goes on to say that "Jesus is the Life flowing out of me"! The world NEEDS to see Jesus in us! Stay filled with the Spirit and full of His Word and HE will shine through us! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Chapel with "Lost Are Found":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 66:1-2:

1 MAKE A joyful noise unto God, all the earth; 2 Sing forth the honor and glory of His name; make His praise glorious! 

How do we make His praise glorious? By telling of Who He is and what He's done! Look at verses 3-8:

3 Say to God, How awesome and fearfully glorious are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power shall Your enemies submit themselves to You. 4 All the earth shall bow down to You and sing [praises] to You; they shall praise Your name in song. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 5 Come and see the works of God; see how [to save His people He smites their foes; He is] terrible in His doings toward the children of men. 6 He turned the sea into dry land, they crossed through the river on foot; there did we rejoice in Him. 7 He rules by His might forever, His eyes observe and keep watch over the nations; let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 8 Bless our God, O peoples, give Him grateful thanks and make the voice of His praise be heard,

This is something that we can and should do in our Worship Services at church, but we must also do this in our private lives! The people that WE know best need to hear of Him also! Look ate verses 16-17:

16 Come and hear, all you who reverently and worshipfully fear God, and I will declare what He has done for me! 17 I cried aloud to Him; He was extolled and high praise was under my tongue.

What is a good time to praise the King of kings and the Lord of lords? ALL THE TIME! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Praise Him":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I love this very simple example of how hideous idol worship is! This from the Old Covenant in Isaiah 44:14-17:

14 He hews for himself cedars, and takes the holm tree and the oak and lets them grow strong for himself among the trees of the forest; he plants a fir tree or an ash, and the rain nourishes it. 15 Then it becomes fuel for a man to burn; a part of it he takes and warms himself, yes, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. [Then out of the remainder, the leavings] he also makes a god and worships it! He [with his own hands] makes it into a graven image and falls down and worships it! 16 He burns part of the wood in the fire; with part of it he [cooks and] eats flesh, he roasts meat and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire! 17 And from what is left [of the log] he makes a god, his graven idol. He falls down to it, he worships it and prays to it and says, Deliver me, for you are my god!

We can laugh at how very ludicrous this was, but what do WE make into idols in our time, and under our Covenant? Have we prayed for a job and then allowed that job to dictate whether we obey God or not? Perhaps the job has become our idol? Have we prayed for a spouse, and then allowed time with the family to interfere with time spent in His presence, fulfilling HIS plan? Perhaps we have made our spouse an idol? Have we prayed for prosperity and been a faithful giver and then when the prosperity came we stopped or cut back on our giving? Perhaps things have become our idol? Do you see? We can all have idols in our lives that are NOT made of the same wood we burn! Every good thing that God has given us CAN become an idol IF we concentrate our time, energy and resources on this "thing" and no longer on HIM! Take an inventory of YOUR life and see if there are any idols lurking there! Deal with them as the Spirit of God leads you and do NOT delay! Remember, true prosperity is being where God wants you to be, doing what God wants you to do! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "Stand In Awe":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 64 is vital and timely for us today!

1 HEAR MY voice, O God, in my complaint; guard and preserve my life from the terror of the enemy. 2 Hide me from the secret counsel and conspiracy of the ungodly, from the scheming of evildoers, 3 Who whet their tongues like a sword, who aim venomous words like arrows, 4 Who shoot from ambush at the blameless man; suddenly do they shoot at him, without self-reproach or fear. 5 They encourage themselves in an evil purpose, they talk of laying snares secretly; they say, Who will discover us? 6 They think out acts of injustice and say, We have accomplished a well-devised thing! For the inward thought of each one [is unsearchable] and his heart is deep. 7 But God will shoot an unexpected arrow at them; and suddenly shall they be wounded. 8 And they will be made to stumble, their own tongues turning against them; all who gaze upon them will shake their heads and flee away. 9 And all men shall [reverently] fear and be in awe; and they will declare the work of God, for they will wisely consider and acknowledge that it is His doing. 10 The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall be glad in the Lord and shall trust and take refuge in Him; and all the upright in heart shall glory and offer praise.

REFUSE to fall into fear and worry when you hear and see of the multitude of vile, hateful and dangerous things that are going on in the world around us. Some of the things we hear are true, some are not and some are deliberately being portrayed as such in order to incite fear and anxiety among the people. I say again, REFUSE to fall for this! Is the arm of God shortened that He cannot do what God has promised? Isaiah 59:1 says NO!

59 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: KJV

SO, do what David always did! Encourage yourself in the Lord and His Word. EXPECT that our God WILL DO what He has already promised to do! AMEN! Give Him some faith to work with! Here is Hillsong Live with "Always Will":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We have seen many times how, when facing discouragement and fear, David would encourage himself in the Lord! he would meditate on past victories and on the promises of God. Psalm 63 is no exception! Look at verses 1-8:

1 O GOD, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirsts for You, my flesh longs and is faint for You, in a dry and weary land where no water is. 2 So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. 4 So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5 My whole being shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips 6 When I remember You upon my bed and meditate on You in the night watches. 7 For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice. 8 My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.

THIS is how we begin to fulfill the commandments that we looked at yesterday! Notice the "night watches". When you find yourself waking in the night, remind yourself first of all what the Word of God says! Do you remember that Joshua instructed that the meditation of the Word of God should take place day and  night (Joshua 1:8)? 

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

THIS is how we do it! Go to sleep each night with the meditation  of His Word in your heart. When you DO wake up, then the Holy Spirit will bring the Word back to you! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with a great older song called "Everything That Has Breath":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In Mark 12 today we see Jesus speaking to the people again in parables. AS He is wisely teaching, some of the Pharisees and Sadducees come again with questions intended to trip Jesus up on the Law. When He answers them wisely, again leaving them speechless, one of the scribes listening came to Jesus, sincerely, with a question. The question and the answer Jesus gives is found in verses 28-31:

28 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" 29 Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. 30 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' 31 The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."  New Living Translation

The MOST important thing that we, as born again believers, can do is to obey these two commands! In fact, Matthew expands on this, showing that Jesus also added this in Matthew 22:40 :

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. KJV

Romans 13:8 also tells us that when we walk this love walk, loving HIM first, and then loving others, we have fulfilled all of the Law!

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves another hath fulfilled the law. KJV

SO, make loving Him your top DAILY priority, and then you will be well able to love others! AMEN! Here is Hillsong  with "Unending Love":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In Mark 11:15-17 we see Jesus clearing the Temple of all of those things that did not belong there.:

15 And they came to Jerusalem. And He went into the temple [area, the porches and courts] and began to drive out those who sold and bought in the temple area, and He overturned the [four-footed] tables of the money changers and the seats of those who dealt in doves; 16 And He would not permit anyone to carry any household equipment through the temple enclosure [thus making the temple area a short-cut traffic lane]. 17 And He taught and said to them, Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? But you have turned it into a den of robbers.

Jesus was quoting Isaiah 56:7 when He declared this to all who heard Him. The people had lost the fear of the Lord, which is reverence and awe for Who He is! When this happens, then shortcuts are taken, convenience becomes the priority and things begin to become nothing but form and ritual. Although this has been true of many churches today, it is NOT referring to what some have called the "prosperity message"! It is referring of having no reverence and respect for what is God's property. When the God of the Bible tells us how to prosper (read Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:3, Psalm 122:6, Job 36:11, Psalm 35:27, and the list goes on and on!) then we KNOW that it IS His will that we do so. He is NOT concerned with us having things, but that those things do not have us! He IS a jealous God and demands to be our highest priority, but when He is, then THIS promise is ours! 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

SO, make pleasing HIM your greatest  priority and dare to show HIM off by walking in the blessing of the New Covenant. Refuse the judgment of people who don't understand these things! There is ONE Judge, and they most definitely are NOT Him! AMEN! Walk in love, pray for those who persecute and, above all else, PREACH THE GOOD NEWS! Soon and very soon, we are going to be seeing our King! Make the very most of THIS time! Here is Hillsong United with "Forever Reign":

Shalom in Him!