Shalom,

I find today's devotional by Andrew Womack to be very informative concerning sharing the Gospel and NOT being moved by the response of the people. Our Message is SURE, even if some will not receive!
"When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?" John 6:61b

This scripture, as well as Matthew 15:12, reveals that people will be offended by the Gospel. As much as possible, however, we should make sure that it is not ourselves that are offensive. But we cannot labor under the deception that everyone will receive the Gospel, even if the truth was presented properly. We know that Jesus represented His Father perfectly and yet most people rejected His message.

In these two instances, when Jesus realized He had offended the listeners, He didn't apologize and try to make concessions to gain their acceptance. Instead, He got harder. This hard message of commitment is not only beneficial to those who receive it, but it serves a dual purpose in that it exposes the "tares among the wheat."

It is important to be aware that the children of the wicked one are placed among the true believers. We should be very careful about putting just anyone who professes Christianity into any position of authority (1 Tim. 3:10). Our best defense is to preach the Word of God without watering it down. False brethren will not endure sound doctrine (2 Tim. 4:3). They leave when the Word, which is sharper than any two-edged sword, begins to expose the thoughts and intents of the heart. There will still, however, be those who are deceived and unaware that they are not born again, remaining among the Church until the end of this world.

As long as Jesus was in the world in His physical body, He was lighting the way to the Father. He now shines through our lives. It is our responsibility to be a witness. The purpose of a light is to dispel the darkness. So "let your light shine before men...." (Matt. 5:16).

AMEN! Not everyone will receive the Good News of the Gospel AS Good News, but we can NEVER change the Message for it IS the power of God unto their Salvation! Romans 1:16:

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

Here is Hillsong with another older song called "Salvation Is Here":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I MUST share today's "From Faith To Faith" by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland! 

Don't Forget the Joy

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4

Years ago, I decided I was going to walk by the Word of God. I told God that, as far as I was concerned, His Word was final and I’d confess it the rest of my life no matter what. That was the most important decision I’ve ever made.

Not too long after that, I decided that no matter what happened, whether I felt like it or not, I’d walk in love. Because the Bible clearly says “faith works by love.” It won’t work any other way.

Those two decisions—to operate by faith in the Word of God and to walk in love—are the two most important decisions I’ve ever made in my life.

Recently, though, God pointed out to me that there was something I’d been leaving out. The force of joy. He told me I have no right to walk by faith and love and just leave joy dormant in my spirit. It’s too important. As He taught me about it, I soon came to realize that joy is an essential part of a life of victory. Without it, I might have an occasional triumph now and then, but I wouldn’t be able to sustain them. They’d quickly slip away.

You see, joy is what gives you the strength (Nehemiah 8:10) to hold steady when the circumstances get rough. Joy gives you the ability to laugh in the devil’s face when he starts trying to knock you off your faith. It gives you a kind of staying power that will make you a winner again and again.

So make a commitment to God that you’re going to walk, not only in faith and in love but in joy as well. Make it a point to rejoice in the Lord always...and there won’t be anything the devil can do or say to steal your victory from you!

AMEN! One of the things that I have noticed over the years is that some believers are so concerned that their lives be "above reproach" that they have forgotten that HE is the One Who will work that work IN US!  Philippians 1:6:

6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

When we try to do this in our own strength, we will lose our joy, and His strength! Return to your reliance on HE Who is at work IN you, and allow Him to restore the great joy of your salvation! This JOY is a Force that will draw others TO Him! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with a very old song called "This Is How We Overcome":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

One thing that I have found over the years, since becoming a born again believer and a new creation that never existed before in my life, is that I can no longer compare myself with others, but I must compare myself with the standard of Jesus Himself. Although not one of us is yet able to measure up to HIS standard, He still MUST be the gauge that we use for our own behavior. When I think, speak or act in a manner that is contrary to what Jesus would think, say and do, then I must recognize that this qualifies as sin, which is actually and simply, a selfish decision or choice to do something my own way instead of God's way! When I recognize that in my life, then I can acknowledge and confess that sin (1 John 1:9), and receive the forgiveness and the cleansing from ALL unrighteousness that is provided to the born again believer continually (1 John 1:7). Today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan addresses this very thing in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18:

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement [can there be between] a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor, 18 And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

We are to preach the Gospel to unbelievers, but NOT have intimate fellowship with them. We are NOT to trust them with decisions of vital importance and we are to seek God in every decision that we make, remaining unmoved by what society and other people think, say or do! It may be hard on our flesh nature at times to do so, but the rewards for obedience are FAR greater, in this world AND the next! AMEN! Here are Hillsong Kids with "Trust and Obey":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really love this from "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. It is both amazing and encouraging that messages received from Holy Spirit so very many years ago can directly address things taking place in our world right now! As one of my friends says often: Only HE could do this!

A conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. — Acts 24:16

God’s commands are given to the life of His Son in us, consequently to the human nature in which His Son has been formed, His commands are difficult, but immediately we obey they become divinely easy.

Conscience is that faculty in me which attaches itself to the highest that I know, and tells me what the highest I know demands that I do. It is the eye of the soul which looks out either towards God or towards what it regards as the highest, and therefore conscience records differently in different people. If I am in the habit of steadily facing myself with God, my conscience will always introduce God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do. The point is, will I obey? I have to make an effort to keep my conscience so sensitive that I walk without offence. I should be living in such perfect sympathy with God’s Son, that in every circumstance the spirit of my mind is renewed, and I “make out” (moffatt) at once “what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” God always educates us down to the scruple. Is my ear so keen to hear the tiniest whisper of the Spirit that I know what I should do? “Grieve not the Holy Spirit.” He does not come with a voice like thunder; His voice is so gentle that it is easy to ignore it. The one thing that keeps the conscience sensitive to Him is the continual habit of being open to God on the inside. When there is any debate, quit. “Why shouldn’t I do this?” You are on the wrong track. There is no debate possible when conscience speaks. At your peril, you allow one thing to obscure your inner communion with God. Drop it, whatever it is, and see that you keep your inner vision clear.

This is exactly what I have been experiencing concerning the upcoming elections in the United States. I, along with almost every born again believer that I know, have been praying for many years for a born again believer, who is a true Constitutional Conservative, to run for office. God gave us such a candidate in this election and many people, including many born again believers, chose a candidate who is not only NOT a born again believer, but one who has proven himself historically to be completely opposite on every issue from what a Constitutional Conservative would think, say and do. There has never been a question for me on who I would cast my vote for! There was no "debate" (see above) about it! I WILL follow the leading of Holy Spirit now and vote in November for that same candidate, even if I have to write his name in. Why? Because when I believe that God has spoken His will to me, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR DEBATE! I will obey my spirit (conscience) and trust the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible to work things out! The very least that I am confident in is that He will continue to provide protection, provision and safety to me and mine when I obey HIM, no matter WHAT else is happening on the earth! I invite those of you who are United States citizens to truly seek the will of God concerning YOUR vote, and then DO so! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

2 Corinthians 4 was exactly what I needed to read and study today! Paul was speaking of the confidence that they had in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that, even though some refused to listen, understand and receive, they continued to do the right thing! He was speaking of sharing the Gospel, but this same attitude should be in every believer today, regarding any and every area of life! Let's look at verses 1-2:

1 Therefore, since we do hold and engage in this ministry by the mercy of God [granting us favor, benefits, opportunities, and especially salvation], we do not get discouraged (spiritless and despondent with fear) or become faint with weariness and exhaustion. 2 We have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate or handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight and presence of God to every man’s conscience.

Those without Jesus in the world sometimes cannot help operating in disgraceful ways that involve deceit, underhandedness, shameful talk, trickery, dishonesty and cunning craftiness! Without the New Birth, these things are in their nature. Look at verses 3-4:

3 But even if our Gospel (the glad tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing and obscured [only] to those who are spiritually dying and veiled [only] to those who are lost. 4 For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers’ minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God.

Those without Jesus CANNOT receive and understand the Wisdom of God that comes through His Word. Those who are born again, but who do not follow on to KNOW the Word, through the teaching of Holy Spirit Who lives IN us, will also NOT be able to comprehend the Wisdom of God and many of them will argue with you for the right to continue to believe the lies of the enemy! Sad, but true, and the ONLY thing that WE can do is to pray that the eyes of their understanding will be enlightened to realize that there is MUCH more that they have yet to learn. Be encouraged by 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.

Now encourage YOURSELF in the Lord, as David did, and EXPECT that your prayers will work on their behalf! Use these same principles when you run into people who refuse to hear the Truth concerning natural things, also! Refuse to be discouraged. Refuse to get OUT of love. Refuse to be intimidated! Make every decision after prayer and communion with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible, and then stick to your guns with confidence that your obedience will result in your protection, provision and safety in every circumstance, as well as rewards in Heaven that are to come! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with one of my favorite songs concerning prayer. "Desert Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

If you only use one daily devotional, I highly recommend Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food". Every subject is covered throughout the year and every day digs deeper into the Word of God! Here is today's lesson:

Set Against Sickness

And he said unto them, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:15,17-18). 

Let's stop and analyze something here: Which of the sick did Jesus say we were to lay hands on? Jesus just said "the sick," period. 

Then, if God were the author of sickness, if God did put sickness and disease on people, if it were the will of God for some to be sick - this statement would be confusing. Because in it, Jesus authorized us to lay hands on all sick. 

If God weren't in the healing business, Jesus would have had to say something like, "Lay your hands on those that it is the will of God to heal, and they shall recover. And those that it isn't, they won't recover."  But, no! God set the Church against sickness - period! 

Confession: God is in the healing business. God is not in the sickness business. God is in the delivering business. God is not in the bondage business. I refuse to allow the enemy to try to get me to accept sickness or bondage as being from God. Satan is the author of sickness. God has set me against sickness! 

Amen! Don't allow anyone in your presence to malign the Name of the Lord your God by laying the blame for sickness, disease, weakness and infirmity on Him! He is NOT the destroyer, He IS the Healer! AMEN! When you truly realize this, you will have taken to first and most important step to living in Divine Health and Wellness! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "This Is Living":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share a major portion of today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers because it is OUTSTANDING! I take issue with one thought he shares, but I will explain that later:

Add to your faith virtue ["Furnish your faith with resolution," moffatt]…. — 2 Peter 1:5

 Add means there is something we have to do. We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We cannot save ourselves nor sanctify ourselves, God does that; but God will not give us good habits, He will not give us character, He will not make us walk aright. We have to do all that ourselves, we have to work out the salvation God has worked in. “Add” means to get into the habit of doing things, and in the initial stages it is difficult. To take the initiative is to make a beginning, to instruct yourself in the way you have to go.

Beware of the tendency of asking the way when you know it perfectly well. Take the initiative, stop hesitating, and take the first step. Be resolute when God speaks, act in faith immediately on what He says, and never revise your decisions. If you hesitate when God tells you to do a thing, {you endanger your standing in grace}{ NO, we do NOT endanger our relationship with God, our standing in Grace, by sin. We GREATLY affect our FELLOWSHIP with Him by not obeying His Word, but NOTHING can separate us from HIM, His LOVE and His GRACE! (Romans 8:38-39)}. Take the initiative, take it yourself, take the step with your will now, make it impossible to go back. Burn your bridges behind you — “I will write that letter”; “I will pay that debt.” Make the thing inevitable.

We have to get into the habit of hearkening to God about everything, to form the habit of finding out what God says. If when a crisis comes, we instinctively turn to God, we know that the habit has been formed. We have to take the initiative where we are, not where we are not.

AMEN! God has supplied everything we need to succeed, but WE add the obedience to His Word! Let's make whatever adjustments that are necessary to get into position to be used by Him! Here is Hillsong United with "Oceans: Where Feet May Fail", because I am ready to MOVE in obedience to HIM! How about YOU?

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 128:1-2 says this:

1 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who fears, reveres, and worships the Lord, who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments. 2 For you shall eat [the fruit] of the labor of your hands; happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) shall you be, and it shall be well with you.

I wanted to share this especially for everyone who is being pressured, chastised, ridiculed, bullied and threatened concerning the upcoming presidential elections and who YOU are choosing to vote for! Remember, always, that we have are only strangers and sojourners here on earth while we stand as Ambassadors for Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Our citizenship is in Heaven and NOT on the earth (Philippians 3:20). Whatever nation the Lord has placed you in or called you to, HE is your ultimate master and HE will instruct you, personally, how to go about your business. The verses above promise us that we will be so abundantly blessed by fearing, revering and worshiping the Lord that others will envy us! We WILL succeed in life and it WILL be well with us for simply obeying God as HE leads, guides and directs us. AMEN! 2 Corinthians 1:12 is a joyful goal for us!

12 It is a reason for pride and exultation to which our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world [generally] and especially toward you, with devout and pure motives and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God (the unmerited favor and merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, and keeps, strengthens, and increases them in Christian virtues).

Refuse to be pressured by "fleshly" arguments, but allow Holy Spirit to guide you! When HE gives you Wisdom, it is NOT necessary to explain yourself to anyone unless He leads you to! Remember, your vote is YOUR voice as a born again, Spirit-filled believer and a representative of Jesus Himself! Be led, then be obedient and be at peace! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "In God We Trust":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" for today give us a vital foundation of Truth that, when meditated on, will give us the Wisdom and knowledge necessary to not only receive our healing, but to walk in divine, supernatural HEALTH! 

Source of Sickness

"And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?" (Luke 13:16). 

The Bible is progressive revelation. It is in the New Testament that we get full light, full truth, and full revelation. There, Jesus plainly taught that sickness is of the devil, not God. 

In Luke 13, we see Jesus going into the synagogue on the Sabbath. A woman was there whose body was bowed together in a fixed position. She couldn't straighten up. She may have had arthritis. Jesus called her to Him, and said, "Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity!" 

Then Jesus laid hands on her, and immediately she stood straight. The ruler of the synagogue, like the leaders of some churches today, got angry about it! Then, as recorded in our text, Jesus elaborated on the fact that Satan is the author of sickness. Jesus made three enlightening statements: 

(1) The woman ought to be loosed, she ought not to be bound, she ought to be free from this physical infirmity 
(2) It was Satan who had bound her, not God 
(3) The reason this woman ought to be loosed was because she was a daughter of Abraham. 

Confession: Since Satan is the author of sickness, I ought to walk free from sickness. And Jesus has made the provision for me to do so. Divine health is my covenant right! 

The foundational Truth? God is NOT the source of sickness, disease, weakness, infirmity, poverty, lack, depression, anxiety, or any other evil or detrimental thing! He IS the great I AM! He IS the Source of everything good and perfect! He IS the Provider for all who are called by His Name! He IS the Supplier of all of our needs. And He IS the HEALER of all who belong to Him and who dare to believe and receive!  AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Alive":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share a very important message from our partner, Jerry Savelle, through his website devotional:

You Are The Apple of God’s Eye

Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You from those who rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of Your eye. (Psalm 17:7-8 NKJV)

When you accept how special you are to God, all negative thoughts about yourself will disappear. Have you ever felt insecure? Insecure about your abilities, your appearance, your job, your personality, your life? Have you ever felt unloved, unaccepted and worthless?

“I’m not attractive.” “I can’t do all the things that person can do.” “I’m not good enough!”

If you battle with thoughts of worthlessness, inferiority, and low self-esteem, then today is the day to let go of all those negative thoughts and insecurity! How do you get rid of insecurity that’s been there your whole life? By realizing that you are a valuable masterpiece to God. If God had to choose the finest thing He ever created, He’d pick you! Yes, you!

In fact in Psalm 17:8 we find that God sees you as the apple of His eye. As you come to accept the truth of how special you are to God, all negative thoughts about yourself will disappear. You will rest secure, knowing that you really are loved and accepted by God exactly as you are.

Confession: I thank you, Father, that I am perfectly made in the image of Christ. You have known me since you formed me in my mother’s womb, and I am the apple of your eye.

As born again, Spirit-filled believers, we should NEVER allow discouragement, depression, hopelessness or any of the other lying, deceptive things that the devil says about us get in and take up residence in our souls! WE decide what thoughts we will receive and accept and what thoughts we will reject and (immediately) replace with the Word of God and HIS Truth about us! We are instructed to renew our minds with the Word of God so that we will be ABLE to recognize and separate God's Words and thoughts about us from the devil's. 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].

AMEN! Get the Word of God and hide it down on the inside of you where it will continue to grow and expand and compound inside of you until discernment of the enemy's tactics will be second nature to you! THEN you will begin to operate fearlessly in the realm of the Spirit, doing His Will and getting HIS results! Here is Hillsong United with "Here Now":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Here is another very good lesson from today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers:

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. — Galatians 5:1

A spiritually minded man will never come to you with the demand — “Believe this and that”; but with the demand that you square your life with the standards of Jesus. We are not asked to believe the Bible, but to believe the One Whom the Bible reveals (cf. John 5:39-40). We are called to present liberty of conscience, not liberty of view. If we are free with the liberty of Christ, others will be brought into that same liberty — the liberty of realizing the dominance of Jesus Christ.

Always keep your life measured by the standards of Jesus. Bow your neck to His yoke alone, and to no other yoke whatever; and be careful to see that you never bind a yoke on others that is not placed by Jesus Christ. It takes God a long time to get us out of the way of thinking that unless everyone sees as we do, they must be wrong. That is never God’s view. There is only one liberty, the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.

Don’t get impatient, remember how God dealt with you — with patience and with gentleness; but never water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it. Jesus said, “Go…and make disciples” (rv) not — make converts to your opinions.

AMEN! Our Pastor at The Spoken Word Church, Bill Novak, has taught since the early days of the church that we can NEVER take what we hear him say and put it into practice without checking for ourselves in the Word of God to settle that it is so! Like the Bereans (Acts 17:11)! We cannot develop faith from the Word that we have heard someone else say. We MUST find out what the Word of God says for ourselves and THEN we can have faith to see it through (Romans 10:17)by continually hearing the TRUTH! Get the Word on it and you are set up fort VICTORY! Amen! Here is Hillsong United with "Captain":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

As you read through the Psalms, remember not only that they were the worship songs used by Israel, but they also serve as a witness and a testimony of God's hand upon His people who obeyed HIS voice and HIS Word! Psalm 124 is a great example of that!

1 If it had not been the Lord Who was on our side—now may Israel say— 2 If it had not been the Lord Who was on our side when men rose up against us, 3 Then they would have quickly swallowed us up alive when their wrath was kindled against us; 4 Then the waters would have overwhelmed us and swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; 5 Then the proud waters would have gone over us. 6 Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth! 7 We are like a bird escaped from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth

"Help" in verse 8 is the Hebrew word  "`ezer", which means: to help, to succor, to rescue, to save. It generally indicated military assistance. Now we know that there are ranks of angels in Heaven who do what the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible instructs them to do! There are Angel armies who deal with those evil spirits in the heavens (Ephesians 6:12-14). Our responsibility is to trust in the Lord our God by casting all of our care on Him and then standing in faith on the Word of His Promise! In order to do that, we will have to KNOW His Word! AMEN! So make study and meditation of God's Word your #1 priority, BEFORE you read or study anything else. EVERYTHING else you study will be more illuminated to you when you do this! Putting God first makes HIM the leader of your life! He will NEVER lead you wrong! AMEN Here is Hillsong United with "Here Now":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Thank YOU, JESUS, for Your Word! I could NOT have hand-picked a better Psalm to read and to share today than Psalm 123!

1 Unto You do I lift up my eyes, O You Who are enthroned in heaven. 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, and as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy and loving-kindness for us. 3 Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on and loving-kindness for us, for we are exceedingly satiated with contempt. 4 Our life is exceedingly filled with the scorning and scoffing of those who are at ease and with the contempt of the proud (irresponsible tyrants who disregard God’s law).

There is SO much of the disregarding of God's law going on in the United States of America these days! If you have ever endured ridicule, contempt, hatefulness and other sorts of nasty and negative expressions and reactions to your stance on God's Word, then you know exactly what I am referring to! This is NOT the same world that I grew up in! There is no genuine, national love for God and His Word any more. The things that have come upon the United States of America are do, impart, to sown seeds of complacency, apathy and a total disregard in some cases for the authority of the Word of God. This IS to be expected! It happened to Israel time and again when they grew lazy, spoiled and not submitted to the God of the Bible. The wonderful Truth to remember, though, at this time is this that whenever Israel repented, He was right there to continue blessing them! We DO NOT have to wait for this nation to get right with God! We have THIS promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14:

14 and My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.

Notice that this says when GOD's people, not ALL people, will do this, HE will answer! By doing so, WE are able to continue sharing the Gospel in freedom with protection, provision and safety that will NOT depend on the economy or on who is in "power"! Next we have our New Covenant promises that are even better than those that this psalmist had (Hebrews 8:6)! We have those promises in John 10:10; 1 John 5:14-15; 3 John 2, to name a few! Find out what belongs to YOU as a born again child of the Living God! Stand strong in faith on His promises, and refuse to doubt, and you WILL see the salvation of God in your life! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Lifeline":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

I LOVE our Spoken Word Church ministry partners! Every one of them, and their team(s), are completely committed and purposed to fulfill the commission give to us by JESUS to take the Gospel into the entire world! They are all uniquely gifted, anointed and talented to reach the area of the world that THEY, and WE, are called to serve! One of our Ministry Partners is Jerry Savelle. His website devotional for today is EXCELLENT! Here it is!

Revelation of Righteousness

Those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17 NKJV)

It is impossible to live a victorious Christian life if you are constantly mindful of your sin. If you’re going to live a life of victory, it is essential that you have a revelation of the fact that you are the righteousness of God. 

To be righteous simply means you have the ability to stand in the presence of your Father God without a sense of fear, guilt, or inferiority—with absolutely no consciousness of sin. If you’ve made Jesus Christ your Lord, then you already have been made the righteousness of God in Him. In fact, you are as righteous as Jesus is, because He gave you His own righteousness.

Perhaps you’ve not yet taken advantage of this revelation, but it is nonetheless true.  Until you have a revelation of your own righteousness in Christ, sin and sickness will reign over you. Satan will maintain the upper hand. But the instant you realize you are the righteousness of God in Christ, that you are in right standing with God, the works of Satan in your life are forever destroyed.

Fear of your circumstances will be a thing of the past as you face even the most adverse situations with a sense of authority and dominion. Just as Jesus reigns over sickness, death, and the laws of nature, so you can now reign in life in Him.

Confession: I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, not because of my own works, but because of what Jesus has done for me. Today I receive a new and fresh revelation of God’s grace, and what being in right standing with God really means.

AMEN! There is NOTHING of this life that can keep us from the blessing of God and the power of His Word, IF we will believe that we ARE who the Word of God says that we are! Meditate on the Scriptures that speaks of who YOU are - IN HIM! Stir up that confidence inside so that when you are faced with a situation, circumstance, test, trial or care, you will be able to immediately recognize the work of the enemy, who IS a liar, and act accordingly! According to the Word of God, that is! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "No Reason To Hide":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

The Passion Of Patience

Though it tarry, wait for it. — Habakkuk 2:3
Patience is not indifference; patience conveys the idea of an immensely strong rock withstanding all onslaughts. The vision of God is the source of patience, because it imparts a moral inspiration. Moses endured, not because he had an ideal of right and duty, but because he had a vision of God. He “endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible.” A man with the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue; he is devoted to God Himself. 
“Though it tarry, wait for it.” The proof that we have the vision is that we are reaching out for more than we have grasped. It is a bad thing to be satisfied spiritually. “What shall I render unto the Lord?” said the Psalmist. “I will take the cup of salvation.” We are apt to look for satisfaction in ourselves — “Now I have got the thing; now I am entirely sanctified; now I can endure.” Instantly we are on the road to ruin. Our reach must exceed our grasp. “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect.” If we have only what we have experienced, we have nothing; if we have the inspiration of the vision of God, we have more than we can experience. Beware of the danger of relaxation spiritually.

I LOVE this exhortation to keep REACHING for more of HIM! If we are EVER satisfied with our fellowship with HIM, then we have reached a point where stagnation WILL set in and then we will begin to backslide. The rest of the statement above that was made by Paul from Philippians 3 is here:

12 Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. 13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

There is a very great difference between being content and being satisfied. If I am content in my intimate fellowship with Him, then I have no fear, but great anticipation for each time I can be alone in His presence! I learn more about Him, His thoughts and His Word everyday! If I am satisfied, then I am mistakenly believing that I have already received everything I need from my fellowship with Him and I will stop reaching and stretching and inquiring of Him. Do you see how dangerous that satisfaction can be? Challenge yourself to learn something new about Jesus every day! As you do, you will come to understand HIM, and Paul tells us in Philippians 3:10 that when we come to know Jesus better, we will know and understand His power and be better able to operate in it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Face To Face":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We looked at this verse in our Worship Service at The Spoken Word Church this morning: Psalm 119:96.

96 I have seen that everything [human] has its limits and end [no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent]; but Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity]. AMP

Pastor Bill Novak taught about the limitlessness of the Word of God. This verse reveals that, even for the born again, Spirit-filled believer, there is a limit to what we can do in our natural strength and ability, but when we put all of our faith, trust and confidence in the Word of God, HE can do ANYTHING! And He can and will do it through us, IF we dare to believe, receive and obey what the Word of God says. I was reminded of this passage from Psalm 19:7-10:

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the [whole] person; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.  8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure and bright, enlightening the eyes.  9 The [reverent] fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.  10 More to be desired are they than gold, even than much fine gold; they are sweeter also than honey and drippings from the honeycomb. AMP

I hope that YOU will make the study (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:15) and meditation (Joshua 1:8) of the Word of God your top priority, so that you can be a DOER of that Word and receive the results that the Word promises! Remember, His Word is SURE! You can count on it! Amen! Here is a song that we have heard recently, but is significantly appropriate today! Hillsong United with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Here are some of my favorite Psalm 119 verses as we finish the second half today!

89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven [stands firm as the heavens].  90 Your faithfulness is from generation to generation; You have established the earth, and it stands fast. AMP

92 Unless Your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 93 I will never forget Your precepts, [how can I?] for it is by them You have quickened me (granted me life). AMP

96 I have seen that everything [human] has its limits and end [no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent]; but Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity]. AMP

97 Oh, how love I Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies, for [Your words] are ever before me.  99 I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers, because Your testimonies are my meditation.  100 I understand more than the aged, because I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].  AMP

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.  106 I have sworn [an oath] and have confirmed it, that I will keep Your righteous ordinances [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]. AMP

129 Your testimonies are wonderful [far exceeding anything conceived by man]; therefore my [penitent] self keeps them [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]. 130 The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple. AMP

160 The sum of Your word is truth [the total of the full meaning of all Your individual precepts]; and every one of Your righteous decrees endures forever. AMP

164 Seven times a day and all day long do I praise You because of Your righteous decrees. 165 Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble. AMP

Have you picked up on the devotion to the Lord that is present and evident in every verse? His WORD is SETTLED! It is UNCHANGEABLE! His Word gives me LIFE and SAFETY, and LOVE, and GRACE and MERCY, and LIGHT and TRUTH! Why would I EVER want to be without God's WORD? The next time you are tempted to quit and give up because you THINK that NO ONE cares, remember that HE does! He DID, He DOES and you WILL survive! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United again with "Say The Word" because that IS what we have been talking about today! AMEN! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We began in Psalm 119 today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. I have also begun covering Psalm 119 in Adult Bible Study at The Spoken Word Church. Psalm 119 is ALL about the Word of God! I invite you to take the challenge to find the Word in every verse! Verses 1-2 are here:

1 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are the undefiled (the upright, truly sincere, and blameless) in the way [of the revealed will of God], who walk (order their conduct and conversation) in the law of the Lord (the whole of God’s revealed will). 2 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are they who keep His testimonies, and who seek, inquire for and of Him and crave Him with the whole heart.

"Blessed" here is the Hebrew word "`esher", which means: happiness, the state of prosperity that comes when a Superior bestows His favor on someone. The Amplified Bible correctly defines it (above) when it says : Blessed, happy, fortunate, to be envied! God's people, under every Covenant, have been "blessed" by God when they followed His Instructions and did things HIS way! The surrounding nations were in awe of Israel's God and the protection, provision and safety that the people walked in, and sometimes took completely for granted! Many times during the Exodus from Egypt, the people would rebel against Moses. How soon they forgot! Our New Covenant, that was sealed with the blood of Jesus, and is available for every born again believer, provides an even greater level of possible envy to everyone who has not receive Jesus as Lord and Personal Savior! THAT is what our lives SHOULD do! We should walking so in the Blessing of God that people notice the difference, recognize that "we have been with Jesus", and then come to Him, too! Our lives should SHOUT His fame! Let's make it our determined purpose to present Jesus and His Kingdom to the lost in the most enviable way possible! Let YOUR light SHINE! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "Shout Your Fame":

Shalom in him!

Shalom,

Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" for today is a vital key for answered prayer in any area of life!

Plead Your Case

"Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that you may be justified" (Isa. 43:26). 

"Put me in remembrance." What does God mean by that? It means that we are to remind God of His promises about prayer. When you pray, stand before the throne of God and remind Him of His promises. Lay your case legally before Him, and plead it as a lawyer. A lawyer is continually bringing up law and precedent. You bring up God's Word. Bring up His covenant promises. 

The margin of my King James reference Bible says "set forth thy cause" as another meaning of "declare thou" in this verse. God is asking you to bring His Word; to put Him in remembrance, and to plead your covenant rights. This is a challenge from God to lay your case before Him! 

If your children are unsaved, find scriptures that cover your case. Then lay the matter before God. Be definite in your requests. Find scriptures that definitely promise you those things you need. When you come to God according to His Word, His Word does not fail. 

Confession: I accept the challenge of the covenant-keeping God! I put God in remembrance of His promises. I plead my case. I set forth my cause legally. I find scriptures that cover my case, and I lay the matter before God. I come according to God's Word, and God's Word does not fail! 

We looked a couple of days ago at 1 John 5:14-15. These verses say the same thing that we are discussing today! 

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

Find what the Word of God promises you concerning whatever situation you may be facing. Write those references down and then go over them again and again and again, meditating as in Joshua 1:8 until the light of His illumination makes that Word REAL to YOU! Now continue speaking that TRUTH over your life AND thanking and worshiping HIM for that answer BEFORE you see it, and you WILL see it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 117 may be the shortest of the Psalms, but it still packs a powerful punch! 

1 O praise the Lord, all you nations! Praise Him, all you people. 2 For His mercy and loving-kindness are great toward us, and the truth and faithfulness of the Lord endure forever. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

The first "praise" in verse 1 and the last one in verse 2 is the Hebrew word "halal", which means:to shine, to make a show, to be clamorously foolish, to rave, to celebrate, to stultify (appear foolish). This involves something that can be seen by other people! We are NOT to go quietly about our faith, appearing dignified and subdued! There IS a time and place for that, but it is NOT during THIS type of praise! AMEN! The second "praise" is the Hebrew word "shabach", which means: to address in a loud tone, to commend, to laud (where we get 'applaud'). 

THIS is the attitude that ALL people are supposed to have toward the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! We should be bragging on Him all the time! He MADE every one of us! He LOVES all people. WHOSOEVER WILL can come to Him and be saved, healed, delivered, filled with Holy Spirit, learn the Word of God and turn around and share their faith with other people! What a beautiful cycle of LIFE! That IS our responsibility, to preach the Good News, sharing the Way of Salvation and Deliverance with all who will hear! 

I read this as I was studying today about how WE are to relate to the world: Psalms 117:1 says: 'Jewish people were supposed to be separated from the Gentiles but not isolated from them'! AMEN! We are to "come out from among them" for the purposes of spiritual growth, but then go right back, as Holy Spirit leads, and take the LIFE to where they are! See how much is in these two verses so far, and we have only scratched the surface! I am convinced that if any born again, Spirit-filled believer is bored with the Word, they have given NO attention to it! We will be joyously spending all of eternity continually learning more! Why not start right now? GO FOR IT! Amen! Here is Hillsong young and Free with "This Is Living ":

Shalom in Him!