Shalom,

Kenneth E. Hagin's "Health Food" for today reveals a key component for walking in divine health!

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (1 Cor. 9:27)

Notice that this scripture says, "I keep under my body." If your body were the real you, Paul would have said, "I keep myself under. I bring myself into subjection." But he didn't say that. He said, "I keep my body under." 

Well, what did he bring his body into subjection to? His spirit. He didn't let his body dominate him. Rather, his spirit dominated his body. He didn't let his body dictate to his spirit. His spirit dictated to his body. This principle has to do with divine healing. Speak to your body and tell it to obey the Word. Say to your body, "The Word says that you're healed now, so quit acting up." 

That's keeping your body under. Don't let your body dominate you in any way, shape, form, or fashion. Don't let your body tell you what to do. You tell your body what it can and can't do. And if your spirit is dominating your body and the life of God is in your spirit, that life is going to be flowing into your body. That's divine healing. 

Confession: I keep my body under. I don't let it dominate me. I don't let it tell me what to do. Instead, I tell my body what to do. I dictate what it can and can't do.

The key to being ABLE to keep your body under is to have a mind renewed by the Word of God! Romans 12:2 tells us this:

2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

Another Scripture that shows us the results of renewing our minds is found in 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

So, whether we are looking to prosper financially, to walk in health, to have favor on our job, to have favor with our family, friends and relatives, or any other promise in the Word of God that we desire to have manifest in our lives, we MUST renew our minds to think and agree with the One, True God. Then we must speak that Word into our lives, fully expecting that we WILL see the manifestation of the promises of God! MAKE them yours by meditation and belief and then TAKE them by the force of faith! HE desires it so be so! 3 John 2:

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

AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Desert Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

The message in Jerry Savelle's website devotional for today is one that many born again believers have trouble with, until they seriously study the Word of God.

Righteous Means Righteous

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV).

Jesus didn’t come to help you overcome your sinful nature. He came to completely remove it so that you no longer have to be a slave to sin. The Bible assures us of this truth: 

“Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (Romans 6:6 NKJV).

Jesus took away every trace of your unrighteousness and gave you His righteousness. Righteousness simply means “right-standing with God.” He did away with your old sinful nature and gave you His very nature. You are not partly righteous and partly unrighteous, having to struggle with a split personality. The Bible says, 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV).

When Jesus made you righteous, He didn’t do a partial job. He made all things new. We know that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. When you begin to see yourself as completely righteous in Jesus, your righteous nature will naturally manifest. God intends for you to think and act like the righteous person you are in Christ. After all, righteous means righteous.

Confession: I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. I am a new creation, no longer a slave to sin. I can go boldly to my heavenly Father, knowing that I am in right-standing with Him because I am clothed in the righteousness of Jesus.

In order to properly understand this, you must realize that we are spirits, who possess souls and live in physical bodies while we are on this earth (1 Thessalonians 5:23). At the new birth, the old sin nature was completely removed and replaced with the nature of God. This took place in our spirit man! We became a new creation with the Spirit of God living IN us! Look at 2 Corinthians 5:17:

17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! AMP

This MIRACLE took place instantly! Our physical bodies did not change, although they WILL be changed instantly when we rise to meet the Lord in the air at His appearing for the Church (1 Corinthians 15:51-54). Our souls (mind, emotions and will) did not change, but they CAN be changed, progressively, day by day, as we meditate on the Word of God, renewing our  minds (Romans 12:2).

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

So be willing to pay the price of daily study and meditation of the Word of God, learning and putting it in to practice. Spend time in prayer, praise and worship and in fellowship with HIM and with like-minded believers. All of these things will give you an advantage in renewing your mind to think like God! Remember that your souls is your mind, emotions and will. Renewing your mind with God thoughts will cause your will to line up with HIS will, so that your choices become those that HE would make! AMEN! THAN you will have HIS results! Totally worth the price, right? Here is Hillsong United with "Rhythms of Grace":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 68:1 from our Bible Reading Plan for today:

68 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. KJV

Remember that "let" in the Word of God denotes "choice"! You and I must CHOOSE to allow HIM to rise in each situation we face in life. That being said, I LOVE the Amplified of this verse!

1 God is [already] beginning to arise, and His enemies to scatter; let them also who hate Him flee before Him!

1 John 5:14-15 tells us THIS concerning answered prayer:

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

When WE get in position to receive God's best, HE is already on the move to bring that answer about! WE are not waiting on God, HE is waiting on US! Once you determine that, then you MUST realize that no matter what the senses tell you, God's Word is TRUTH! With all of the chaos going on around us, and throughout the world, many are tempted to believe that evil has a chance to win. NOT SO! Remember that Jesus already defeated the devil and his cohorts. That victory is now being enforced in the lives of those who will believe and receive and walk in it! Soon and very soon, all of the world will see and know that JESUS is LORD! Until then, remember that "there are more that be with US than those that be with them" (2 Kings 6:16)! Remember that Jesus has been given a Name that is ABOVE every other name, and WE have been given power of attorney to use that Name in this life to enforce His victory and set people free from the bondage of the enemy! Let's be about our Father's business with boldness, confidence and joy, fully expecting HIM to confirm His Word and to show Himself off! AMEN! One more note of encouragement to my sisters in Jesus! Look at Psalm 68:11:

11 The Lord gives the word [of power]; the women who bear and publish [the news] are a great host.

Do NOT let anyone hold you back from fulfilling the call of God that HE has placed on your life! What He has called you to do, He has also equipped and anointed you to do! Those who read into and teach from the Word that women are to keep silent are simply revealing an area of the Word where they are ignorant of the TRUTH! God said THIS in the Psalms even before Jesus came, died and rose again! HE, after rising from the dead, sent forth the very first missionary, and she was a woman (John 20:17)! Make it your determined purpose to fulfill your calling, counting on HIM to vindicate you and to make a way for you! I am blessed to have a Pastor who knows the Word of God and encourages every member to fulfill our individual and distinct ministries. If you need help finding a church like ours, let us know through the link on the left and we will give you all of the help that we can in finding one in your area. In the meantime, obey God over man and HE will confirm your message and your ministry! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong with "No Reason To Hide":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 67 is a great, joyful song of the greatness of our God and of His future reign as the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords! 

1 God be merciful and gracious to us and bless us and cause His face to shine upon us and among usSelah [pause, and calmly think of that]!— 2 That Your way may be known upon earth, Your saving power (Your deliverances and Your salvation) among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise You [turn away from their idols] and give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise and give thanks to You. 4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples fairly and guide, lead, or drive the nations upon earth.Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 5 Let the peoples praise You [turn away from their idols] and give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise and give thanks to You! 6 The earth has yielded its harvest [in evidence of God’s approval]; God, even our own God, will bless us. 7 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall reverently fear Him.

I am SO looking forward to the Rapture of the Church, where born again believers will be taken away into Heaven while the wrath of God is poured out on those who have rejected HIM! OUR time to make a difference in THIS world is RIGHT NOW! Don't leave anything undone that the God of the Bible has given YOU to do! Keep your nose out of the lives of other believers, except to pray for them and be about your own part of the Father's business! AMEN! We learned at The Spoken Word Church this morning about the difference between Biblical, Spiritual Christianity and dead, religious Christianity which, accurately speaking, is NOT real Christianity at all! Don't get caught up in doctrinal, denominational debates. Simply study, meditate, learn, know and obey the Word of God and leave the rest to HIM! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "The Greatness of Our God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

THIS from today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin is the very best way to start your study of the Word of God! 

"If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater....And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life..." (1 John 5:9, 11-12). 

Faith in God is simply faith in His Word. Study God's Word with this determination: I will find out what God says and agree with it. You can't expect the things of God to work for you if you take sides against His Word. This may mean unlearning certain "religious" ideas. Too often we've been religiously brainwashed, instead of scripturally taught. 

Find out what God says in His Word regarding: 
(1) What God has made available for us in His plan of redemption 
(2) What the Father is to you 
(3) What Jesus is doing for you now at the right hand of the Father 
(4) What the Holy Spirit is doing in you 

Then find out from His Word what God thinks about the following: 
(1) What He says you are in Christ 
(2) Who you are in Christ 
(3) What you have because you're in Christ 

Even though it may not seem real in your life, start confessing, "Yes, that's mine, according to God's Word." You will then find that faith's confession creates reality. 

Confession: I agree with the witness of God. What He says I am, I am. What He says I have, I have. 

If you are a born again believer, then you HAVE a Covenant with the God of the Bible that cannot be broken! But nothing within that Covenant can be of use to us until we KNOW it! Find out who YOU are, IN HIM. Then study to find out what belongs to you as a born again child of God! When you begin to put this Word into practice, you give HIM something to confirm with signs, wonders and miracles that show off Who HE is to the lost! LET'S GO! Here is Hillsong United with "Go":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 65 is another great song of praise to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Look first at verses 1-2:

1 To You belongs silence (the submissive wonder of reverence which bursts forth into praise) and praise is due and fitting to You, O God, in Zion; and to You shall the vow be performed. 2 O You Who hear prayer, to You shall all flesh come.

Praise is DUE to Him! Because He IS, because of WHO He is, and because of all that He has done! Look at James 1:17:

17 Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].

EVERYTHING good in our lives should immediately cause praise and thanksgiving to rise up in us and be freely expressed! For more of the "why", let's look at Psalm 65:5-13:

5 By fearful and glorious things [that terrify the wicked but make the godly sing praises] do You answer us in righteousness (rightness and justice), O God of our salvation, You Who are the confidence and hope of all the ends of the earth and of those far off on the seas; 6 Who by [Your] might have founded the mountains, being girded with power, 7 Who still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the tumult of the peoples, 8 So that those who dwell in earth’s farthest parts are afraid of [nature’s] signs of Your presence. You make the places where morning and evening have birth to shout for joy. 9 You visit the earth and saturate it with water; You greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; You provide them with grain when You have so prepared the earth. 10 You water the field’s furrows abundantly, You settle the ridges of it; You make the soil soft with showers, blessing the sprouting of its vegetation. 11 You crown the year with Your bounty and goodness, and the tracks of Your [chariot wheels] drip with fatness. 12 The [luxuriant] pastures in the uncultivated country drip [with moisture], and the hills gird themselves with joy. 13 The meadows are clothed with flocks, the valleys also are covered with grain; they shout for joy and sing together.

He is GOD and HE is GOOD! Thank Him, praise Him, worship Him and then be sure to tell everyone you know about your wonderful and glorious LORD!  Here is Hillsong United with "You Crown The Earth":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

David's prayer from Psalm 64 could be OURS today! Verses 1-6:

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.

Everywhere we turn in this nation (USA) the godly principles that this nation, our Constitution and the Bill of Rights was founded on are being attacked, overturned, mocked and scorned. Born again believers are being persecuted by slander, lawsuits, arrests, judgments, fines, and death threats. The one Truth that we MUST remember during this time is that the God of the Bible is ALWAYS on our side when WE stay on His! Look at verses 7-10:

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.

Look at, and REMEMBER, this promise from Psalm 55:22:

Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).

Remember to walk in love, forgiving those who persecute you in the same way that Jesus did, even from the cross! This will allow Him to operate on your behalf and you WILL come out victorious, IF you refuse to quit! AMEN! Another verse from today's Bible Reading Plan that is very encouraging is THIS that Jesus said in answer to the high priest's question of whether He was the Messiah in Mark 14:62:

62 And Jesus said, I AM; and you will [all] see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power (the Almighty) and coming on the clouds of heaven.

Soon and very soon we WILL see Him coming in the clouds of glory for US! Keep looking up, staying ready and DOING what He has called you to do. Here is Hillsong Young and Free with a great "wake up" song called "Wake":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE the heart of David as revealed in Psalm 63 today. 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.

When we, as born again believers, have intimate fellowship with the God of the Bible, by the Holy Spirit Who lives IN us, we should never operate from a place of fear and worry again! He IS God and He IS Good! ALL the time! Look at James 1:17:

17 Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].

He IS our Lord, Savior, Protector, Provider, Healer, Deliverer, and anything else we need Him to be in our lives! He is ALWAYS for us and ever ready for US to get into position to receive all that He has prepared and provided for us to have, here in this life, AND in the life to come! How DO we get in position to receive? Look at 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.

The God of the Bible gave us this formula a very long time ago, and it has never changed! Find out who you are IN HIM, then find out what you have IN HIM, and what you can do IN HIM! Fear will flee when the knowledge of His Word is big in you! Get ready to walk in an abundance of LIFE as never before! He DID give us THIS promise in 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).

Refuse to be moved or intimidated by the lies of the ungodly world. Make God's Word your final authority, because it IS His! John 17:17:

17 Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.

AMEN! Put YOUR faith, trust and confidence in HIM, and when it APPEARS that all hell is breaking loose on the earth, YOU will be abiding it that secret place of trust and confidence KNOWING that He will NEVER leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). YOU are HIS! HALLELUJAH! Here is one of my favorite songs for meditation and worship. Hillsong with "Like Incense":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to do something a little different! I want to share THIS picture with you from Christine Caine. This message is SO vital! 

The middle portion is every bit as important as the first and last! So many times we allow ourselves to be pigeon holed by how others perceive us. This is NOT the way the God of the Bible intends for us to live this life! YES, we have been given awesome ministry gifts (Ephesians 4) who have been given "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry"(Ephesians 4:12) so that we can all grow up IN HIM! And YES, we ARE supposed to to follow those who follow Him (1 Corinthians 11:1). BUT, we are to become who HE has foreordained for us to become. No one should be able to label us as a follower of this person or that person, but a follower of the Lord our God (1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 3:4-5)! How do we accomplish this? By taking the message and OWNING it! We MUST meditate on the Word that we hear until it becomes real TO US! It is only THEN that we can actually act on the Word and expect the promised results! Look at Jeremiah 29:11-13:

11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. 12 Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. 13 Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. AMP

He is speaking to YOU right  now! He has plans for YOU that no one else can fulfill! We were never meant to sit and listen to endless teachings, but to TAKE those teachings, make them OURS, then get out there in our own realms of influence and put them into practice! We are called to be DOERS of the Word! He can ONLY confirm what we SAY and what we DO, not what we hear and what we think (Mark 16:20)! Let's get ourselves out of the boat and into the waters of humanity where the lost are so that they don't have to be lost anymore (Luke 19:10)! AMEN! Here is a song of commitment for YOU to help YOU step out of that boat! Hillsong United with "Oceans":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

To day I want to share from Kenneth E. Hagin's Faith Food devotional. 

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:16-17). 

Did you notice that meditating in the Word, practicing the Word, and giving the Word first place - the first three steps in training the human spirit - come before obeying your spirit? If your spirit has had the privilege of meditating in the Word, of practicing the Word, of putting the Word first, then your spirit is an authoritative guide. 

In the process of time, if you will follow the four steps we have just studied, you can know the will of God even in all the minor details of your life! But for this to happen, God's Word, not human reasoning, must dominate your thinking. The Word has been given to us by the Holy Spirit. If the Word is dominating us, then the Holy Spirit is dominating our thinking! 

The written Word was given to us to develop, shape, form, and fit our spirit nature and nothing but the Word will accomplish this. Reading about the Word won't do it. That's the reason why God wants us to meditate in His Word. 

Confession: God's Word is good. I meditate in God's Word. I observe to do what His Word teaches. My way shall be prosperous. I shall have good success in life! 

We encourage you to be instantly obedient to the Spirit of God as He leads, guides and directs you in all the affairs of life. We CANNOT obey the Spirit of God if we are not familiar with His voice! In order to really know that voice, we must be in daily intimate fellowship with Him through prayer, praise and worship, and study and meditation of the Word. It is in His Word that we learn of Who HE is, and then who WE are, IN HIM! Amen! Make Joshua 1:8 AMP your "go to" Scripture for what to do in order to be successful in any, and every, area of your life! 

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

Everything that you hear, whether from other believers or in your own prayer time, MUST be made to pass the WORD test! Does it line up with the Word of God or not! If not, then just cast the care of it over on HIM and let HIM take deal with it! AMEN! If it DOES line up with God's Word, then don't allow yourself to hesitate for even one moment before making it your determined purpose to DO it! Trust HIM to work out the perfect timing and then fully expect to see the manifested results of your obedience! HALLELUJAH! THIS is the LIFE we were meant to live! Here is Hillsong with "Like Incense":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We looked at THIS verse in today's Adult Bible Study class at The Spoken Word Church: 2 Corinthians 4:6.

6 For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). AMP

Many of us have sung the little kid's song, "This Little Light of Mine". We KNOW that the Spirit of God is the Light that shines out from inside of us! We MUST become more "God inside" minded! Look at verse 7:

7 However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. AMP

We who are born again, having received Jesus as our Lord and personal Savior, HAVE this wonderful Treasure of the presence, power and person of the one, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible living in us. HE will never leave us or forsake us! The PURPOSE for this Presence is so that the lost may find HIM through us! One of my favorite quotes is by our ministry partner, Jerry O'Dell. He says this: "The reason for the knowledge, the purpose for the power, and the plan for the prosperity is reaching the lost." Our #1 priority is to BE that carrier of the Life and Light of God into OUR world! All of the people in our realm of influence SHOULD be without excuse in the presence of God because WE shared the Good News of the Gospel with them! THAT is our calling! Let's do it well! AMEN! Now back to that song. Did you know that there is NO good reason to sing "Won't let satan blow it out" because he CANNOT do so! The only person who can hide the Light in YOU is YOU! Don't do it! Let HIM shine out of YOU so that HE can draw them unto Himself! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Light Will Shine":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I like this first portion of today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers:

Said I not unto you, that, if you would believe, you should see the glory of God? — John 11:40
Every time you venture out in the life of faith, you will find something in your commonsense circumstances that flatly contradicts your faith. Common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense; they stand in the relation of the natural and the spiritual. Can you trust Jesus Christ where your common sense cannot trust Him? Can you venture heroically on Jesus Christ’s statements when the facts of your commonsense life shout “It’s a lie”? On the mount it is easy to say — “Oh, yes, I believe God can do it”; but you have to come down into the demon-possessed valley and meet with facts that laugh ironically at the whole of your mount-of-transfiguration belief. Every time my programme of belief is clear to my own mind, I come across something that contradicts it. Let me say I believe God will supply all my need, and then let me run dry, with no outlook, and see whether I will go through the trial of faith, or whether I will sink back to something lower.

It is important in these times when even common sense is hard to find in people, that we don't EVER settle for what is common or ordinary! Yes, we need to operate in our right  minds to make wise decisions and to do what WE are capable of, depending on HIM when we get to the end of our own human abilities. But THESE are the days of great expectation for the manifestation of the Glory of God in the earth! HE said in His Word THIS from Acts 2:16-18:

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: KJV

Remember that ALL things are possible with God (Mark 10:27) and ALL things are possible to those who will believe (Mark 9:23)! It doesn't take faith to believe for what is common, ordinary or possible to the natural mind. Faith is needed when it SEEMS impossible! Notice it speaks above of having a high level of faith, only to be faced with "facts" that contradict everything you have been believing for. There is a HUGE difference between "facts", which is what the world sees and speaks of, and TRUTH, which is what the Word of God IS (John 17:17)! Base everything that you  are asking and believing for on the promises found in the Word  of God (1 John 5:14-15) and you WILL see the seemingly impossible things happen, right before your eyes! DARE to believe the God of the Bible and you will walk in His promises of abundant and overflowing LIFE! 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

AMEN! Here is Hillsong with a song that speaks of the supernatural manifestation of the glory and power of our Almighty God! "Lost Are Found":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

THIS, from Jerry Savelle's website devotional, is for several people that I know and have ministered to over the years! First, let's look at Jeremiah 29:11 from the Amplified Bible:

11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

HIS plans are ALWAYS the RIGHT ones! Here is the devotional!

God Always Has a Plan

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV).

Did you know that in every negative situation you may face, God always has a victory plan? Think about it: God is bigger than any mistake you will ever make or problem you will face. When you follow His victory plan, you are certain to walk out of that situation into the place of success and triumph Jesus has already established for you. Even if you get yourself into a mess through foolishness or deliberate sin, the moment you run to God and ask His forgiveness, He will come to you in grace and mercy to show you the way out. God said, 

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 NKJV). 

No situation is too hard for God to turn around; no mess is beyond the grace of God. He always as the perfect way to turn everything around for your good. Joseph faced numerous negative situations throughout his life. However, he was fully convinced that God had a victory plan for him. He knew if he continued to be obedient, then he would rise above every seemingly hopeless situation. And that’s just what Joseph did; he became the prime minister of Egypt!

God is a master at turning the tables on the devil when he sets in motion a plan against you. Joseph told his brothers, who had sold him into slavery,

 “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:20 NKJV).

When you trust God and are obedient to follow His direction, you can walk confidently through every trial that comes you way because—God always has a plan!

Confession: I thank God that His plan for me in every situation is always to triumph in Christ!

AMEN! Learn to trust in the wonderful, powerful and supernatural plans that the God of the Bible has for YOUR life! Begin TODAY! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "With Us":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Did you read THIS in today's Bible Reading Plan? Mark 7:20-23:

20 And He said, What comes out of a man is what makes a man unclean and renders [him] unhallowed. 21 For from within, [that is] out of the hearts of men, come base and wicked thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, 22 Coveting (a greedy desire to have more wealth), dangerous and destructive wickedness, deceit; unrestrained (indecent) conduct; an evil eye (envy), slander (evil speaking, malicious misrepresentation, abusiveness), pride (the sin of an uplifted heart against God and man), foolishness (folly, lack of sense, recklessness, thoughtlessness). 23 All these evil [purposes and desires] come from within, and they make the man unclean and render him unhallowed.

What exactly was Jesus referring to here? First of all, the "heart" of a person is a combination of their spirit and their soul. We ARE spirit beings and we HAVE a soul, which consists of our mind, our emotions and our will. Before someone receives Jesus as Lord and personal Savior, they have dead spirits and are serving the satan, the god of this world system! They have dead spirits, and souls that are incapable of understanding the Word of God so that they can make wise choices. The only thing that a person who is not born again can understand is their need for a Savior. Once they make Jesus the Lord of their lives, THEN the Spirit of God comes into their dead human spirits and recreates them in HIS image! They are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)! This happens instantly, making the spirit man perfect! The soul, however, is NOT changed instantly! In order to stop speaking and doing the evil things spoken of in Mark 7, we MUST change our thinking to agree with God and His Word. The ONLY way to do that is to change what we allow into our soul by what we see and what we hear! The thoughts we choose to accept and to meditate on, whether from God or from the devil, WILL determine what comes out of our mouths! Make sure that YOU practice "reject and replace"! Reject the thoughts that are contrary to God's Word, and replace them with what God has actually promised in His Word! When you do this, THEN you will not speak or act on any of those things listed in Mark 7. Watch over your heart so that you can maintain close, intimate fellowship with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! (Proverbs 4:23)

23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Nothing Like Your Love":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Have you ever had someone tell you that they believe that it may not always be God's will to heal? I have, many times. The silliness of this idea is that this still doesn't keep them from going to the doctor! Deep down they have to know that the heart of God is ALWAYS to do good, because He IS God, and He IS good! Though there is never a time recorded in the Word of God where Jesus turned someone down who came to Him to be healed and delivered, there WERE times when He COULD not heal, even though He desired to with all of His being! Mark 6:2-5:

2 And on the Sabbath He began to teach in the synagogue; and many who listened to Him were utterly astonished, saying, Where did this Man acquire all this? What is the wisdom [the broad and full intelligence which has been] given to Him? What mighty works and exhibitions of power are wrought by His hands! 3 Is not this the Carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not His sisters here among us? And they took offense at Him and were hurt [that is, they disapproved of Him, and it hindered them from acknowledging His authority] and they were caused to stumble and fall. 4 But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor (deference, reverence) except in his [own] country and among [his] relatives and in his [own] house. 5 And He was not able to do even one work of power there, except that He laid His hands on a few sickly people [and] cured them.

Notice that this says that Jesus was NOT able to do works of power there! Why? Look at verse 6:

6 And He marveled because of their unbelief (their lack of faith in Him). And He went about among the surrounding villages and continued teaching.

It was NOT His choice, but their unbelief that hindered Jesus! "Oh but God is Sovereign and can do whatever He wants to do" some have said to me. Yes, our God most certainly IS Sovereign! In His Sovereignty HE chose to give US a free will to choose! Choose YOU this day! What, and Whom will YOU choose to believe? Be wise and choose LIFE! Notice that Jesus' answer to their unbelief was to go about continuing to teach! If you have found yourself in any form of unbelief, get yourself back into the Word concerning that area and HE will immediately meet you where you're at! He LOVES you enough to die for you. He most certainly wants you to LIVE! AMEN! John 10:10 is His statement of faith for all of His people!

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).

So, let's make it our determined purpose to begin believing the Word of God more than ever before, enabling His to do what He desires to do for us! Now, fully EXPECT to see GOD results in your  life! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "God Is Able":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

After reading Jerry Savelle's website devotional today, there is nothing more important for me to say! He discusses what to do when we desire to see change for the better!

Be Willing to Change

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe (Ephesians 1:18-19 NKJV).

Do you desire to see a change in other people and the situations that surround you? Most of us do, yet when we make the effort to get people and things around us to change, we often end up angry and frustrated. There is a way, however, to bring about change that is both fast and long lasting. Your life will change dramatically when you allow God to change you, when you are willing to change your perceptions and beliefs.

The Bible tells us nothing happens in the natural world without something first happening in the spiritual realm:

 “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11:3 NKJV).

If you’ve been struggling with the same issue for years, or if you’re looking at a mountain that appears immovable, forget trying to make things happen yourself. Take time out to draw into God and make some changes in the spiritual realm.

• It’s in the spiritual realm that you apply your God-given authority
• It’s in the spiritual realm that you take control and make things happen
• It’s in the spiritual realm that you make changes that impact the natural
• It’s in the spiritual realm that you find the solutions to all your problems

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, will reveal what you need to know; He will gently convict you where you need to change your attitude or belief. When you see the truth and make the necessary heart adjustments, you’ll view your situations completely differently. You’ll know without a shadow of doubt that your natural world is changing because you were first willing to change.

Confession: I choose today to draw into God, seeking the heart changes He desires to make in me. I release my concern for people and situations in the natural, knowing that the Spirit of Truth will bring the revelation I need.

AMEN! What a wonderful blessing it is to have the Spirit of God living IN us! Spend time with Him and hear God's perfect plans for your life! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Lifeline":

Shalom in him!

Shalom,

THIS, from "Faith To Faith" by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland is another vital Truth to know so that YOU can walk in the overflowing fullness of LIFE that our Father God desires for us to walk in (John 10:10 AMP)!

Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Matthew 15:6

Cancer. Heart disease. Multiple sclerosis. When we think of killer diseases, those are the names that come to mind. But the truth is, there’s a far more deadly killer on the loose in the Church today. And it’s destroyed more lives than any of us can imagine. It’s called tradition. Traditions rob believers of their healing. They steal the power from the promises of God. Here are three you should beware of:

1. The tradition that says it’s not always God’s will to heal you. It is God’s will to heal you! It says so in His Word. If you don’t believe that it is, then you can’t pray in faith believing you’ll receive. You’re like the farmer who sits on his porch and says, “I believe in crops, but I’m not going to plant any seed this year. I’ll just believe, and if it’s God’s will, my crop will come up.” That farmer will never see his crop. Faith is the seed of healing—if you don’t plant it, it won’t grow. A prayer that includes the words “if it be thy will” won’t produce a healing harvest. You must know without a doubt that healing is always God’s will for you.

2. Another tradition we hear is that healing has passed away. That there are no miracles today. But the Word of God proves that’s not true. In Exodus 15:26, God says, “…I am the Lord that healeth thee.” He also tells us that He does not change (Malachi 3:6). He has never changed since the beginning of time. For healing to pass away, God would have to pass away...and He is not about to do that!

3. The third dangerous tradition is this one: “God gets glory from Christians being sick.” That tradition totally violates the Word of God. The Bible says that people gave glory to God when they saw the lame walk and the blind see. God receives glory from your healing—not your pain!

The world is looking for a way out of sickness and disease, not a way into it. Let’s break down those traditions and deliver a hurting world from the most dangerous killer of all.

AMEN! The ONLY thing that will effect change in our lives, the LIFE giving change, is the Living Word of God! Spend time in His presence, by His Spirit and through His Word, and YOU will be changed from the inside out! Here is Hillsong with that very song! "Inside Out":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we read Mark 4 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. I want to share something different from the "Parable of the Sower". Let's look at verses 2-8:

2 And He taught them many things in parables (illustrations or comparisons put beside truths to explain them), and in His teaching He said to them: 3 Give attention to this! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Other seed [of the same kind] fell on ground full of rocks, where it had not much soil; and at once it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil; 6 And when the sun came up, it was scorched, and because it had not taken root, it withered away. 7 Other seed [of the same kind] fell among thorn plants, and the thistles grew and pressed together and utterly choked and suffocated it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seed [of the same kind] fell into good (well-adapted) soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing, and yielded up to thirty times as much, and sixty times as much, and even a hundred times as much as had been sown.

Notice that the person spoken of here, the "sower", went out with the intention of sowing seeds to produce a crop. As he was in the process of sowing, some of his seed "fell" in different places: along the path, on the rocks, among the thorns, AND on good soil. "Fell" here is the Greek word "pipto". One of the meanings of this word is: unintentional falling. We know from the explanation that Jesus gave to His disciples that the seed here was the Word of God. The good soil refers to the heart (spirit/soul combination) that was prepared to receive the Word. The born again spirit is always ready, but the soul (mind, emotions and will) needs to be prepared. How do we prepare our soul? By spending time in prayer, praise and worship, study and meditation of the Word and intimate fellowship with HIM! This has proven to be so true in my life! I ALWAYS attend church, listen to teaching, read the Word with the intention of hearing for the purpose of learning so that I can be a DOER of the Word I hear. THIS parable shows me that when I am prepared to hear, I can hear something even randomly and the Spirit of God will be able to make it real to me so that I can continue to build on the layers of knowledge that I have intentionally added. THIS is why I can learn from and of Him while watching a movie, a baseball game, playing with the grandchildren or any number of other ways that I spend my time. God is SO good that He will use every means possible to get His TRUTH to us, IF we will only stay ready to hear! HALLELUJAH! It is SO worth it to prepare, after all, "preparation time is never wasted time"! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Psalm 52 today in our Spoken Word bible Reading Plan. As I was reading this, I couldn't help but think back on many of the discussions I have had with those who scorn, mock and speak derisively of the God of the Bible, and those who love and belong to Him. 

1 Why boast you of mischief done against the loving-kindness of God [and the godly], O mighty [sinful] man, day after day? 2 Your tongue devises wickedness; it is like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. 3 You love evil more than good, and lying rather than to speak righteousness, justice,and right. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 4 You love all destroying and devouring words, O deceitful tongue. 5 God will likewise break you down and destroy you forever; He will lay hold of you and pluck you out of your tent and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 6 The [uncompromisingly] righteous also shall see [it] and be in reverent fear and awe, but about you they will [scoffingly] laugh, saying, 7 See, this is the man who made not God his strength (his stronghold and high tower) but trusted in and confidently relied on the abundance of his riches, seeking refuge and security for himself through his wickedness. 8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in and confidently rely on the loving-kindness and the mercy of God forever and ever. 9 I will thank You and confide in You forever, because You have done it [delivered me and kept me safe]. I will wait on, hope in and expect in Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your saints (Your kind and pious ones).

Some will try to excuse their speaking by saying "This is all in fun!". The sad part for them is that this Psalm speaks very clearly about the certain end for those who continue to reject the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible, and His wonderful plan for our eternal Salvation! WE must understand that God is speaking here, first of all, of the enemy who has blinded the minds of the people to get them to speak and act this way. He HAS a sure and certain end, and it is NOT pretty! (Chains for 1000 years, then eternal flames in the Lake of Fire!) Those who continue to reject the God of the Bible and His free gift will also spend their eternal future in the agony of this Lake of Fire. God does NOT desire that this be so, but He has given every one of us the freedom to choose! What choice have YOU made? Are you making this choice known to others so that they, too, can choose LIFE? THAT is why we are here and not living right now in the glorious beauty of the Heaven of the Bible! We have a job to do, so let's do it WELL! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Lost Are Found":

Shalom in Him!