Shalom,

If you will meditate on the TRUTHS in today's "Grace Inspirations" by Joseph Prince, you will begin to understand just who you are - IN CHRIST! Once born again believers REALLY grasp the TRUTH about what God, through the Blood of JESUS, has done in them and for them, they will never be intimidated by anyone or anything again! AMEN!

JESUS MET EVERY CLAIM OF GOD ON YOU

Leviticus 1:5 He shall kill the bull before the Lord; and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

The sprinkling of the blood of a bull or goat all around on that altar meant that the Israelites were under the covering of the blood of that animal. Even when they sinned, their sins were covered by the blood until the next sacrifice.When the children of Israel were in the wilderness, God instructed them to set up a tabernacle as a place of meeting between Him and them. Near the door of the tabernacle was an altar. It speaks of the claims God makes on the righteousness of man. For this reason, an offering had to be killed, its blood sprinkled all around on the altar and its body burnt on the altar before one was counted worthy to go into God’s presence.

The blood speaks of Jesus’ blood shed for us at the cross. Yet, His blood is worth so much more than the blood of bulls and goats because His blood is effective forever! In fact, His blood has met every single claim of God on man to the point that God is so completely satisfied that He now enjoys the savor of rest in what His Son has done.

You too can rest knowing that God is fully satisfied with you because of Christ’s perfect sacrifice. Even if you fall into sin, you can turn to the blood of Jesus. Your sins are not merely covered by His blood, like how the blood of bulls and goats covered sins. No, your sins have been washed away by His blood! (Revelation 1:5) In fact, your sins and lawless deeds God remembers no more! (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17)

Jesus was your perfect offering placed on the altar of sacrifice. By just one offering of Himself, “He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified”. (Hebrews 10:14, KJV) Jesus has not only sanctified you or made you holy, He has perfected you forever! Today, you can enter boldly into God’s presence because He sees you the way He sees Jesus. He sees you perfected forever because you are in Christ!

Thought For The Day: Jesus has not only sanctified you or made you holy, He has perfected you forever!

AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Grace To Grace":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" for today contains a lesson that I learned a very long time ago from Brother Kenneth E. Hagin! I'll share that after this:

What Next?

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. — John 13:17

Determine to Know More Than Others

If you do not cut the moorings, God will have to break them by a storm and send you out. Launch all on God, go out on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and you will get your eyes open. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the smooth waters just inside the harbour bar, full of delight, but always moored; you have to get out through the harbour bar into the great deeps of God and begin to know for yourself, begin to have spiritual discernment.

When you know you should do a thing, and do it, immediately you know more. Revise where you have become “stodgy” spiritually, and you will find it goes back to a point where there was something you knew you should do, but you did not do it because there seemed no immediate call to, and now you have no perception, no discernment; at a time of crisis you are spiritually distracted instead of spiritually self-possessed. It is a dangerous thing to refuse to go on knowing.

The counterfeit of obedience is a state of mind in which you work up occasions to sacrifice yourself; ardour is mistaken for discernment. It is easier to sacrifice yourself than to fulfil your spiritual destiny, which is stated in Romans 12:1-2. It is a great deal better to fulfil the purpose of God in your life by discerning His will than to perform great acts of self-sacrifice. “To obey is better than sacrifice.” Beware of harking back to what you were once when God wants you to be something you have never been. “If any man will do…he shall know…”

Kenneth E. Hagin gives the account of how very much the Word of God had come alive to Him. Then he said that he saw in the Word that he was not supposed to worry and didn't think it applied to him because he was rather a 'worry wart'! The moment he decided NOT to obey the Word, the the Word became foggy and unclear! When he went back and chose to obey, the Word of God opened up to him again! OBEDIENCE is ALWAYS the key! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Like Incense":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

John 17:17 is a verse that I quote regularly on the blog. I believe this verse to be one of the most important verses in the entire New Testament! Here is the Amplified Bible with this verse:

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

The Amplified Bible is very accurate here, because "sanctify" simply means to make holy, which is the condition of being separated FROM the world's way of thinking, speaking and acting; and to be separated UNTO the God of the Bible! It is by the Word of God that this sanctification takes place! When we hear and receive the Word concerning our need of a Savior,  Holy Spirit immediately transforms our previously dead human spirit into a new one in the image of our God! From that point on, the Word of God will affect us in the same measure that we are giving attention to it! Make the Word of God your top priority and allow it, and HIM, to separate the things of the world and make them clear, so that you can make the CHOICE to let them go! When you do that, then the Word of God will instruct you, correct you, encourage you, inspire you, and build your faith in whatever area you have a need and give attention to. Another powerful aspect of this verse is that it clearly judges between God's thoughts and purposes and those of the world, the flesh and the devil! God's Word does NOT simply contain the Truth. It IS the Truth! And nothing BUT the TRUTH! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" for today is another of those vital lessons that every born again, Spirit-filled believer needs to know in order to walk in the fullness of the promises of God!

Confident, Knowing

"Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight). We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). 
We are always confident, knowing...I like that! Not hoping. Not guessing. Not maybe so. But knowing! Knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. Yes, God's Spirit is in our hearts, crying, Abba, Father, but Jesus Christ, with a physical, flesh-and-bone resurrected body is at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. And when we are absent from the body, we will be present with Him there. 

Who is "we"? 

At the time of his physical death, man leaves his body. When he does, he is no less man than when he had his body. I don't have space here to recount my entire testimony concerning my experience of dying (for the complete account, please see my minibook entitled, "I Went to Hell"). 

But I do want to say this: When I was outside my body, I was no less man than I was when I was inside my body. To me, I was just as real as I am now. I had the same shape. I had the same form. I had the same size. And I knew everything I knew before I left my body. 

Confession: The real me lives inside my body. The real me is an eternal spirit being that will never die! 

Amen! Knowing for a certainty that when we leave this earth we WILL be present with the LORD in Heaven takes the fear right out of death for us! THAT is where death has lost it's sting! We will NOT face judgment, because JESUS already took OUR judgement upon Himself! HALLELUJAH! When the fear of death is gone, then we are truly free to live this life to the fullest, accomplishing all that God has called us to do! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with another new song called "Splinters and Stones":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today we are reading John 15. Verses 4-5 say this:

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. KJV

The word "abide" here is the Greek word "meno", which means: to stay, remain, tarry, not to depart, to continue to be present, to stand fast, to stay in force. To "abide in Him" means to stay aware of HIS presence in YOU! As a born again believer, HE lives IN YOU, by His Spirit. Without HIM, we can do nothing, and without Him we ARE nothing. He IS the LIFE and LIGHT of our new creation being! It is past time for us to be fully aware of this, and look and act like it! AMEN! He goes on to say this in verse 7:

7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

That is our goal and vision! To so truly represent HIM in this earth that people are without excuse if they continue to reject JESUS! We are reminded of this life as a living witness and testimony to Him in 1 John 4:17:

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

AMEN! Don't short change who HE has made you to be. We are here for a very short time compared to all of eternity! Our life here SHOULD affect the eternities of everyone we come in contact with. Are YOU ready to make a lasting impact on your loved ones and the other people in your realm of influence? If so, then begin to be a DOER of the verses we looked at today! HE is simply waiting on US so that He can confirm what we say and do, in obedience to His Word, with signs, wonders and miracles, drawing ALL people unto Himself! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Shape Of Your Heart":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Proverbs 4 today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. I especially like verses 5-12! 

5 Get skillful and godly Wisdom, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation); do not forget and do not turn back from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake not [Wisdom], and she will keep, defend, and protect you; love her, and she will guard you. 7 The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation). 8 Prize Wisdom highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you; she will bring you to honor when you embrace her. 9 She shall give to your head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to you. 10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life shall be many. 11 I have taught you in the way of skillful and godly Wisdom [which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God]; I have led you in paths of uprightness. 12 When you walk, your steps shall not be hampered [your path will be clear and open]; and when you run, you shall not stumble.

I especially like verse 7! The very first place to start in gaining Wisdom is to realize that you do not yet have it yet, and that you need Wisdom! Make it your determined purpose to get the Wisdom that you need! Verse 7 goes on to say that when we get Wisdom, we must, along with it, get the understanding of how to put it into practice! That would be the comprehension and discernment! This all comes about by meditating on the Word of God, as we are commanded to do 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.

Don't let a day go by without meditating (thinking, pondering, speaking, asking) on the Word of God. Treat the Word of God as your vital necessity and the FOOD that it is! We are spirit beings who have souls and live, while here on earth, in physical bodies. We don't doubt that our bodies need food in order to thrive and carry out our responsibilities. Our spirit/soul combination (the heart) REQUIRES the Word of God as FOOD! FEED IT! AMEN! As Wisdom comes, faith builds and we are in position to be active DOERS of the Word! Our obedience brings results that point others to HIM! And, after all, that IS why we're here! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Grace To Grace":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE this from today's "Grace Inspirations" by Joseph Prince:

BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING

Philippians 4:6–7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

When faced with a challenge or crisis, our tendency is to get all anxious about it. But God does not want us to react this way. He does not want us to be anxious about anything. Instead, whatever the problem is, He wants us to go to Him in prayer and supplication, telling Him what we need and thanking Him for the answer. When we do that, His peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds from all worries, anxieties and fears.

“Pastor Prince, it is easy for you to say, ‘Be anxious for nothing.’ Try living with my husband for one day. Try disciplining that wayward teenager of mine. Look at the balance in my bank account! How can I not be anxious?”

Hold it! I am not the one who said, “Be anxious for nothing.” The apostle Paul said it. Yet, it was not him—he was prompted by the Holy Spirit. And when Paul wrote that, he was a prisoner under house arrest in Rome. He had been sent to Rome because he had appealed to Caesar regarding his death sentence. The Jews in Jerusalem wanted him to be put to death. (Acts 28:16–20) Yet, under those trying conditions, he wrote these words: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

My friend, if you are anxious or worried about something, remember those words. Let’s say that you are anxious about a huge debt. Go to the Lord and pray, “Lord Jesus, I no longer want to be anxious about this problem. I hand it over to You and ask for supernatural cancellation of this debt. It is in Your care now. You are in charge. I thank You for taking care of it.”

God is true to His Word. As you pray this prayer and cast your care to Him, you will find His peace setting your heart and mind at rest. So be anxious for nothing—let the One with whom nothing is impossible take care of it for you!

Thought For The Day Cast your cares to God in prayer, and find His peace setting your heart and mind at rest.

AMEN! I love that his answer to questions about these verses is: I didn't say it! The Word of God says what the Word of God says! It is no man-made concoction! God's instructions in His Word are only and always to get His people in position to walk in fullness of His LIFE! Just look at John 10:10 AMP if you doubt that! His Word is TRUTH (John 17:17), His plans for you are GOOD (Jeremiah 29:11 AMP) and He desires above all things that you walk a life of true health and prosperity (3 John 2). This ONLY happens as our souls prosper in the Word! Renew YOUR thinking every day with the Word of God and you will son find yourself giving great and powerful testimonies to the Grace, Favor, Power and Anointing of God in YOUR life! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with a new song called "Wonder":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is spot on for our times!

What man is he that feareth the Lord? — Psalm 25:12

What are you haunted by? You will say — “By nothing,” but we are all haunted by something, generally by ourselves, or, if we are Christians, by our experience. The Psalmist says we are to be haunted by God. The abiding consciousness of the life is to be God, not thinking about Him. The whole of our life inside and out is to be absolutely haunted by the presence of God. A child’s consciousness is so mother-haunted that although the child is not consciously thinking of its mother, yet when calamity arises, the relationship that abides is that of the mother. So we are to live and move and have our being in God, to look at everything in relation to God, because the abiding consciousness of God pushes itself to the front all the time.

If we are haunted by God, nothing else can get in, no cares, no tribulation, no anxieties. We see now why Our Lord so emphasized the sin of worry. How can we dare be so utterly unbelieving when God is round about us? To be haunted by God is to have an effective barricade against all the onslaughts of the enemy.

“His soul shall dwell at ease.” In tribulation, misunderstanding, slander, in the midst of all these things, if our life is hid with Christ in God, He will keep us at ease. We rob ourselves of the marvellous revelation of this abiding companionship of God. “God is our Refuge” — nothing can come through that shelter.

Keep in mind that these things were written in  a different time, from a different nation. if you struggle to know what he is REALLY saying, then ask someone else for insight, first One being Holy Spirit! He WILL show you clearly! For one clarification, when he is speaking of being "haunted" by God, He MEANS that you are so aware of God's presence within YOU that you cannot get away from the knowledge that He IS there! AMEN! Let's CHOOSE to live life in that way! Here is Hillsong Worship with "As It Is In Heaven":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

The devotional on The Spoken Word Church website for today is a very important message!

Screen Doubters

Screen doors prevent obnoxious insects from entering your home. You must assertively screen out people who are carriers of the virus of doubt and unbelief.

Boldly protect your ears and life from absorbing talk that does not edify and build.

"But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." (Matthew 16:23)

"A little leaven leaventh the whole lump." (Galatians 5:9)

We are told in Proverbs 4:23 to guard our hearts:

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. KJV

"Keep" here is the Hebrew word "natsar", which means: to guard, to protect, to maintain, to watch, to preserve, to guard from dangers. Our heart is the combination of our spirit and soul. The spirit of a born again believer has been remade in the image of God and is perfect! The soul consists of the mind, the emotions and the will. When we continually keep our mind renewed with the Word of God, then our mind will agree with our spirit and we will make wise choices. If we do not meditate on the Word of God , then our minds are not renewed and we will have the tendency to agree with the whims of the flesh rather than the Word of God! SO, the exhortation to keep, or guard our hearts is so that we can make wise choices that will result in Godly blessing in our lives! Screen out the thoughts, ideas and suggestions of the enemy (his weapons) and reject them! Refuse to think on them, but replace them with the Word of God! NOW you can make those wise decisions! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Let There Be Light":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today we FINALLY have the answer to exactly WHO was responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth! In His own words, in John 10:17-18:

17 For this [reason] the Father loves Me, because I lay down My [own] life—to take it back again. 18 No one takes it away from Me. On the contrary, I lay it down voluntarily. [I put it from Myself.] I am authorized and have power to lay it down (to resign it) and I am authorized and have power to take it back again. These are the instructions (orders) which I have received [as My charge] from My Father.

JESUS put JESUS on the cross! He said THIS about THAT in Matthew 26:52-54:

52 Then Jesus said to him, Put your sword back into its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will immediately provide Me with more than twelve legions [more than 80,000] of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must come about this way?

JESUS could have, at ANY time, taken Himself right off of that cross and walked away! HALLELUJAH that He did not! Thank YOU, JESUS! So, contrary to any range of beliefs, it was NOT the Romans, the Jews, or even my sin, but HIS desire to free me, and you, of the bondage and future condemnation for that sin! HE chose this, for the JOY that was set before Him (Hebrews 12:2)! That JOY has a name, and that name is YOURS and MINE and WHOSOEVER will! AMEN! So, with THIS promise also in mind from 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).

... let's PRAISE Him with Psalm 150, also from today's Bible Reading Plan!

1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the heavens of His power! 2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness! 3 Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp! 4 Praise Him with tambourine and [single or group] dance; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments or flutes! 5 Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

Are you breathing? Then PRAISE HIM! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "What A Beautiful Name":

Shalom  in Him!

Shalom,

We read Psalm 149 today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! Here is the entire Psalm, which is another one devoted to the praise and worship of the One, True God! 

1 Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, praise Him in the assembly of His saints! 2 Let Israel rejoice in Him, their Maker; let Zion’s children triumph and be joyful in their King! 3 Let them praise His name in chorus and choir and with the [single or group] dance; let them sing praises to Him with the tambourine and lyre! 4 For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation and adorn the wretched with victory. 5 Let the saints be joyful in the glory and beauty [which God confers upon them]; let them sing for joy upon their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and a two-edged sword in their hands, 7 To wreak vengeance upon the nations and chastisement upon the peoples, 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron, 9 To execute upon them the judgment written. He [the Lord] is the honor of all His saints. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

Remember that praise and worship is not just singing along with the worship leaders or saying words of praise. Jesus said that God desires for His people to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth! John 4:24:

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

This means to worship according to the revealed TRUTH of God's Word and as led by Holy Spirit, Who lives IN us! In order to do this, we must be meditating daily on the Word of God (Joshua 1:8 AMP) so that revelation knowledge of what His Word means in our lives rises up in us, and we must be led by our spirit, by Holy Spirit within us, supernaturally! THIS pleases God! He LOVES every person ever created, enough to send JESUS to die for every single one! He loves, and moves on behalf of, every single born again believer who will ALLOW Him to, by their thoughts, words and actions! BUT, He only derives great pleasure from those who will be receive what He has blessed us with, worship Him with and for it, and then proceed to share those valuable and glorious TRUTHS with all who will believe and receive! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Love So Great":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today, as we celebrate the memory of all of those service men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom, I think it would be highly appropriate to look at all of Psalm 148, and use it to praise HIM! 

1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the heights! 2 Praise Him, all His angels, praise Him, all His hosts! 3 Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you stars of light! 4 Praise Him, you highest heavens and you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created. 6 He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away [He fixed their bounds which cannot be passed over]. 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps! 8 You lightning, hail, fog, and frost, you stormy wind fulfilling His orders! 9 Mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars! 10 Beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers and judges of the earth! 12 Both young men and maidens, old men and children! 13 Let them praise and exalt the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted and supreme! His glory and majesty are above earth and heaven! 14 He has lifted up a horn for His people [giving them power, prosperity, dignity, and preeminence], a song of praise for all His godly ones, for the people of Israel, who are near to Him. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

AMEN! It is the Lord our God Who set us in this land! He created the United States of America for the purpose of spreading the Gospel around the world! This nation, and our form of government, were ordained by Almighty God and based upon Biblical principles! Specifically on the freedom of the new and better Covenant that we have through the blood of JESUS! When Godly people follow the Word of God and the leading of the Spirit of God, then PEOPLE meet the TRUE needs of others! Those who don't work, through laziness, DO NOT EAT! They aren't trained that someone else will take care of them for the rest of their lives, which is what so many have come to expect! AND, they serve their country as a service unto the Lord Himself! Which brings us to Memorial Day and the celebration of the greater love shown by those who laid down their own lives for US! Their IS no greater love than that (John 15:13)! So let's honor them by praising HIM! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Behold (Then Sings My Soul)":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Psalm 147 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today! Look at verse 1:

1 Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God, for He is gracious and lovely; praise is becoming and appropriate.

"Good" here is the Hebrew word "towb", Which means: good in the widest sense. It also means: pleasant, agreeable, excellent, rich, valuable, appropriate, welfare, benefit, happiness. It only EVER results in good things for us when we sing praises to HIM and bless His Name! Now let's look at verses 3-7 to see what wonderful things the Lord our God has prepared for us!

3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [curing their pains and their sorrows]. 4 He determines and counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names. 5 Great is our Lord and of great power; His understanding is inexhaustible and boundless. 6 The Lord lifts up the humble and downtrodden; He casts the wicked down to the ground. 7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises with the harp or the lyre to our God!—

Everything we will ever need in this life is found in HIM! In JESUS! Every GOOD thing comes from HIM, by HIS hand (James 1:17)! AMEN! That is one of the MANY reasons for us to praise and worship HIM with all that is within us! Now let's look at verses 10-11 to see what brings delight to HIM! 

10 He delights not in the strength of the horse, nor does He take pleasure in the legs of a man. 11 The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy and loving-kindness.

What brings the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible pleasure and delight? It is certainly not anything that we could do in our own strength! HIS strength is much greater, and HE gave us what we have! What impresses God is when WE worship HIM in reverence and awe; and when we have an attitude of eternal thankfulness and gratefulness for all that HE has done for US! AMEN! So, make whatever adjustments are necessary for YOU to walk in that which pleases Him! Remember, when a man's (female or male man) ways are pleasing to God, He makes even our enemies to be at peace with us (Proverbs 16:7)! HALLELUJAH! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship again with "Love So Great":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Grace Inspirations" by Joseph Prince should be of great encouragement to those who really desire to move on with God!

GOD REMEMBERS WHAT YOU SAY IN FAITH

Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Some years back, I had a skin condition which refused to heal. I told God about it and began to take the Holy Communion believing and confessing that by Jesus’ stripes I was healed. Nothing happened, or so it seemed.

But the Lord did not forget about my skin condition. One day, He prompted me to check my body to see if it was still there. I did so and realized that it had disappeared! God had not forgotten the Word which I had confessed in faith.

A couple in the United States who has been hearing me preach on God’s grace began to catch a revelation of God’s love for them. They started confessing their righteousness in Christ, and meditating on provision scriptures and declaring that they were debt free through Jesus’ finished work.

Not long after, the wife phoned their mortgage company to make two mortgage payments on their home. They had a total of about US$80,000 left to pay. To her utter surprise and delight, she was told that both accounts were at a zero balance. The company had forgiven both mortgage loans! Indeed, God did not forget the Word that this couple had spoken in faith.

Maybe you shared God’s Word with a troubled friend a few years ago. You bump into him one day and he tells you, “Remember that day? You said something which transformed my life!” Your mind draws a blank because you have forgotten what you said. But God did not forget. He remembered what you said that day in faith.

You see, if the words you confess in faith for yourself or over your loved ones are God’s own words, He says, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Because what is promised to you is God’s Word, you will see the manifestation of His promise. He will certainly watch over His Word to perform it! (Numbers 23:19)

Thought For The Day: God will certainly watch over His Word to perform it!

AMEN! Stick with the Word of God and you cannot fail! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Jerry Savelle's devotional for today contains another of those messages that are vital for our continual prosperity in every area!

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24 NKJV)

Did you know diligence is a key to obtaining the blessings of God? To be diligent means to approach what you are doing with eagerness, earnestness, and care. Diligence is a matter of the heart, and a diligent heart always produces good: “In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, either this or that, or whether both alike will be good” (Ecclesiastes 11:6 NKJV).

Let’s look at what God’s Word has to say about diligence:

“The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor” (Proverbs 12:24 NKJV).

“The soul of a lazy man desires, and has noting; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich” (Proverbs 13:4 NKJV).

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).

Diligence is a prerequisite to seeing your victory. Diligent people always make a steady, consistent effort to accomplish their goals. Diligent people never give up.

Confession: I decide today to always make a steady, consistent effort to accomplish my God-given goals and to never give up. Whatever I do today, I will do it diligently and joyfully as unto the Lord.

AMEN! BE the diligent one! The one who never gives up, never quits, never does a job 'half-way' or sloppily! Give the same attention and commitment that you want GOD to give to those things that you are believing Him for! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Only Wanna Sing":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

The message from today's "Grace Inspirations" by Joseph Prince is vital for believers who have been attacked in their bodies! 

LET IT GO

Exodus 15:26 …I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”

After crossing the Red Sea, the children of Israel came to a place called Marah. The waters there were bitter. That is why the place was called Marah, which means “bitter”. The Israelites could not drink any of the water, so the Lord made the bitter waters sweet. (Exodus 15:23–25) Then, He brought up the subject of the diseases of Egypt and, for the first time, revealed Himself to His people as “the Lord who heals you”.

Why did the Lord suddenly mention the diseases of the world (Egypt represents the world in the Bible) at a place called “bitter”? What do diseases have to do with bitter waters? I believe that it is because He wants His people to know that a major cause of diseases in their bodies is harboring bitterness and resentment!

Some years ago, a lady shared with me about her sister who had died of cancer at a young age. She said, “Pastor Prince, a number of years before she passed on, she went through a very bitter divorce. She was very bitter toward her ex-husband.” Then, she asked me, “Is there a relationship between her bitterness and the cancer?”

I have studied the subject of healing for many years. I have read many books. I have listened to many sermons and I have sat under many healing ministries. And they all say the same thing: If you have unforgiveness in your heart long enough, that unforgiveness can sometimes translate into a disease in your body.

So if you have been bitter about something or someone, it is time to let it go! Your health, joy and life are more important. If you are already sick and you know that bitterness has something to do with it, let it go! See Jesus as your healer. He is standing at your place of bitterness today and He is saying to you, “My child, I can make your bitter waters sweet. I am the Lord who heals you.”

My friend, let it all go and let Jesus heal not just your diseases, but your broken heart too!

Thought For The Day: Harboring bitterness and resentment is just not worth your health, joy and life.

AMEN! 1 Corinthians 13:8 tells us that LOVE never fails! Choosing to walk in love and forgiveness is ALWAYS the 'right' choice to make! You will never fail when you choose LOVE! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Love So Great":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today we are reading John 3, one of the most powerful chapters of the entire Bible! One of the most important Truths that every believer MUST learn is found in verse 6:

6 What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

To understand this, we must first realize that every person ever born is, first of all, a spirit being. We possess a soul, which includes our mind, emotions and will. Then, when we are born into this world, we live in a human body. We are NOT our bodies! We are not our mind, emotions, feelings and choices. We ARE spirit beings, created in the image of God, Who is also SPIRIT! Our spirit man is eternal. That means that we will live forever - SOMEWHERE! God Himself is the only One Who can separate us from our soul, so that wherever the spirit goes, the soul goes with. Our bodies are ONLY good for this world! They will return to the dust from which they were originally created. EXCEPT for born again believers! WE will have a brand new body when we rise to meet JESUS in the air at the catching away of the church. John 3:3 says this:

3 Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus was saying because he did not yet understand that he was, first of all, a spirit being! Our spirits are perfect, (and all babies WILL go to Heaven) until we understand right from wrong. Inevitably we WILL choose wrong, on purpose, and our spirit will die, no longer belonging to God, but to the enemy. Once we realize our need for a Savior and call upon HIS Name (JESUS) then we are reborn, instantly, as a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) with the same soul and body. John 3:16-18 is the key here:

16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. 18 He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation—he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.]

THIS is the message we are to bring to the world! Along with 2 Corinthians 5:18-21:

18 But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]. 19 It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor). 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].

While so many in the church are trying to get people to be good and do good things, GOD is trying to get all people everywhere to be GOD's! To belong to HIM! To be born again of the incorruptible seed of His Word (1 Peter 1:23)! And then to DO His will by preaching the Gospel of Salvation to everyone we meet! AMEN! Meditate on all of John 3 and allow Holy Spirit to show you things in ways you may never have seen them before! Then you will know the next steps in carrying out YOUR ministry (2 Corinthians 5:19)! Here is Hillsong United with just the right message! "Go":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's message from "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers goes right along with the one we shared here on Sunday!

Careful Infidelity

Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body what ye shall put on. — Matthew 6:25

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Jesus sums up commonsense carefulness in a disciple as infidelity. If we have received the Spirit of God, He will press through and say — “Now where does God come in in this relationship, in this mapped-out holiday, in these new books?” He always presses the point until we learn to make Him our first consideration. Whenever we put other things first, there is confusion.

“Take no thought…” — don’t take the pressure of forethought upon yourself. It is not only wrong to worry, it is infidelity, because worrying means that we do not think that God can look after the practical details of our lives, and it is never any thing else that worries us. Have you ever noticed what Jesus said would choke the word He puts in? The devil? No, the cares of this world. It is the little worries always. I will not trust where I cannot see, that is where infidelity begins. The only cure for infidelity is obedience to the Spirit. 

The great word of Jesus to His disciples is abandon.

So many believers have made it their mission in life to police and correct in the lives of other believers. They focus on weaknesses, fleshly mistakes and other things that each particular person sees as all important. I have found that very few, if ANY, of those who are judging others considers worry to be a sin! But that is exactly what it is! When JESUS says "take no thought", then to take that thought (worry) is a sin (a selfish decision to things our own way instead of God's way)! Sin will NOT cause us to lose our salvation (become un-born again, no longer a believer), BUT, it can and will affect our life here on earth and the quality of it! Let's make a commitment to see things as God sees them! That includes seeing others as precious and valuable, and born again believers as children of the Most High God! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Behold (Then Sings My Soul)":

Shalom in Him!