Shalom,

I have prayed this week for so many people, most of whom I have never met, who have been attacked in their bodies with sickness, disease, weakness and infirmity of some form or fashion. We are promised by JESUS that if we, born again believers, will lay our hands on those who are sick, HE will heal them! Mark 16:18b:

they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. KJV

The really great news for believers, though, is that we do NOT need to have someone lay hands on us to receive our healing! He has provided, in our new and better Covenant (Hebrews 8:6), for us to receive healing by faith! Today's edition of Joseph Prince's "Grace Inspirations" devotional explains this very well!

JESUS HAS BORNE YOUR DISEASES

Isaiah 53:4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…

Imagine the dreadful disease leprosy eating a man alive. The poor leper in Matthew 8:2 could stand his suffering no longer, so he came out into the open to look for Jesus. He needed to know if Jesus was willing to heal him. When he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” (Matthew 8:2) The Son of God looked at the outcast with love in His eyes, reached out His hand, touched him and said, “I am willing; be cleansed.” (Matthew 8:3)

Perhaps you are suffering from some disease and wondering if God is willing to heal you? You are not sure if He is willing because just as you have seen people get healed, you have also seen people not get healed. My friend, don’t look to people’s experiences. Look to the cross! As surely as Jesus bore away your sins, He also bore away your diseases!

I want to give you a solid foundation today for believing this truth. In Isaiah 53, the chapter on our Lord’s crucifixion, it says in verse four: “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows”. Now, let’s learn a little Hebrew. The words “griefs” and “sorrows” here mean “sicknesses” and “pains” in the original Hebrew text. So Isaiah was referring to physical healing.

Once, I asked a Jewish friend to read this verse in his Hebrew Bible and tell me what it means. He told me that his Bible says clearly that Jesus has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains.

If that is not enough, look at Matthew 8:16–17: “…they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.’” Matthew quotes Isaiah 53:4, saying that Jesus took our “infirmities” and bore our “sicknesses”. The context here refers to physical healing.

My friend, if you will just believe this truth, your days of sickness will be over. You will walk in greater health because the One who has surely borne your sicknesses and carried your pains says to you, “I am willing, be cleansed!”

I am so eternally grateful that our Father has given us so many ways to receive good and Godly things that He has promised us! We have just looked at two different way to receive healing, and there are more! We can call for the elders of the Church to pray for us (James 5:14). We can find someone of like faith and pray the prayer of agreement (Matthew 18:19). We can receive healing by faith when we receive Communion, remembering what JESUS accomplished for us through His death, burial and resurrection. Another Scripture portion to remember when you are praying for healing, or anything else that the Word of God promises us, is 1 John 5:14-15:

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

AMEN! Our Father planned from before the foundation of the world that WE should live this life fully immersed in HIS! 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

We have been given everything that we need to walk in triumphant victory over all the power of the enemy, so let's use it! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Heaven and Earth":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

"Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin for today covers one of the MOST important TRUTHS for us to get deep down on the inside! When we do, doubt will NEVER get a hold on us again! 

We Were Healed!

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). 

Years ago, a woman was carried into one of my services. She had not walked in four years, and doctors said she would never walk again. I sat down beside her and placed my open Bible on her lap. 

I said, "Sister, please read that verse out loud." 

She read First Peter 2:24 aloud. And when she ended with "...by whose stripes ye were healed," I asked, "Is 'were' past tense, present tense, or future tense?" 

I will never forget her reaction, "Were is past tense," she exclaimed. "And if we were healed, then I was healed!" She accepted God's Word with the enthusiasm and simplicity of a child - the way we must. 

And that's how God records it in His Word. He doesn't promise to heal us, because He's already provided healing for us almost 2,000 years ago! Healing is something we already have in Christ. 

This woman's face lit up as she lifted her hands and said, "Praise God! Lord, I'm so glad I'm healed! Lord, I'm so glad I can walk again! [And she hadn't walked a step yet.] I'm so glad I'm not helpless anymore. I'm so glad I can wait on myself...." 

"Rise and walk!" I said. And the woman leaped to her feet! Praise the Lord! 

Confession: By His stripes we were healed. If we were, then I was. I am healed. Healing is mine. I have it now! 

One thing that we need to settle in our own minds, once and for all, is that there is NOTHING left for the God of the Bible to do in order for US to walk in health, healing, prosperity, peace, favor, anointing and success, in every area! He did it ALL 2000 years ago on that cross, and when He rose VICTORIOUS over satan, it was forever settled! NOW, we must find out what belongs to us as born again believers, then begin to declare and decree that they are SO! Our God WILL confirm His Word with signs, wonders and miracles! So, what are you waiting for? GO! Her is Chris Tomlin with "Our God":

Water You turned into wine

Opened the eyes of the blind

There's no one like you

None like you

Into the darkness You shine

Out of the ashes we rise

There`s No one like you

None like you

Our God is greater, our God is stronger

God You are higher than any other

Our God is Healer, awesome in power

Our God, Our God

Into the darkness you shining

Out of the ashes we Rise

No one like you

None like you

Our God is greater, our God is stronger

God You are higher than any other

Our God is Healer, awesome in power

Our God, Our God

Our God is greater, our God is stronger

God You are higher than any other

Our God is Healer, awesome in power

Our God, Our God

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?

And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?

And if…

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Matthew 11:12 has always been a rather fascinating verse for me! The KJV says this:

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. KJV

"Violence" is the Greek word "biazo", which means: to force, to crowd oneself into, to apply force. 'referring to those who make an effort to enter the kingdom in spite of violent opposition'! The Amplified Bible says it best!

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize—a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].

My challenge to you is this: Let's commit, in 2018, to recognize and set aside anything and everything that would hinder us from operating with that same "ardent zeal and intense exertion"! God has already provided us with everything that we will ever need to walk free from the tricks, traps, schemes and strategies of the enemy. He has already provided us with everything that we will ever need to walk in prosperity, peace, welfare, health, wholeness, favor, success and the Anointing of God in any and every area of our lives! We MUST, however, desire to find out just what belongs to us as children of the Most High God, and then go after it with all that is within us! All the while remaining constant in presenting JESUS in all of His goodness and wonder to everyone we come in contact with ! It SOUNDS like a tall order, but HE has already equipped us for the task! Let's get to it and bring joy to HIM! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "No Reason To Hide":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Matthew 10 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today. I love how different aspects of each verse come to the forefront when we read through these verses year after year. Today verse 14 really stood out. 

14 And whoever will not receive and accept and welcome you nor listen to your message, as you leave that house or town, shake the dust [of it] from your feet.

JESUS was sending His disciples out to minister with His authority. He sent them, first of all, to the Jewish people. JESUS IS the Jewish Messiah, Whom we who are not Jews are now able to receive as our own, thereby being adopted into the family! At this time JESUS gave them instructions for ministry, including the instruction above. My attitude had always kind of been that the shaking of the dust off of their feet was like saying "Then I will have nothing to do with you"! I realized that this God of infinite mercy and grace was NOT condemning these people to eternal damnation. Someone may have reached these people after JESUS rose from the dead and they might have all been born again! The REAL message that I now believe that this action represented is that these men held no responsibility to whatever would happen afterward. In fact, the Jamieson, Fausett and Brown Commentary says this: 

Shake off the dust of your feet - "for a testimony against them," as Mark and Luke add. By this symbolical action they vividly shook themselves from all connection with such, and all responsibility for the guilt of rejecting them and their message. Such symbolical actions were common in ancient times, even among others than the Jews as strikingly appears in Pilate (Matthew 27:24). And even to this day it prevails in the East.

One thing that is becoming extremely, abundantly clear to me is that we are supposed to walk in love at all times. Now love is NOT wishy washy and 'anything goes', but it DOES require us to ALWAYS believe the best of others. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) That attitude saves us from problems in our own lives because we KNOW that we are NOT to judge others (Matthew 7:1-2) and that our own faith will ONLY and EVER work when we walk in love (Galatians 5:6)! God's love fuels our faith! So make it be love or don't do it at all! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Greatest Of These":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

After all of the years of reading the Bible through our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan, I truly learn something new every day! What I learned today gives me a whole new perspective on praying for the Harvest! Matthew 9:36-38 gives this very familiar charge!

36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest .KJV

So, I know that many of us have been praying consistently for the LORD to 'send' those laborers out into the Harvest! BUT, when I looked at the Classic Amplified Bible, I saw this!

37 Then He said to His disciples, The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord of the harvest to force out and thrust laborers into His harvest.

"Send" from the KJV Bible is actually the Greek word "ekballo", which means: to eject, to cast out, to drive out, to send out, to compel one to depart, to command or cause one to depart in haste, to draw out with force, to lead one forth with a force which he cannot resist, to throw out, to lead forth. Now there are some pretty forceful words right here! No longer do I have the picture of us sweetly saying "Lord, send the Harvesters out"! I am reminded of this from Matthew 11:12:

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. KJV

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize — a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion]. AMP

SO, I will begin to pray with much more intensity as I declare "LABORERS, COME FORTH"! And I fully expect that the LORD Who instructs us to do this will answer with equal and abundant force Himself as He draws them out with intensity! All done in and through His abundant LOVE. He is passionate about the Harvest! Remember, He desires that NONE should perish! This is vital to the heart of our Father! So let's get more serious about the Harvest than we have ever been, knowing that we cannot even compare to HIS intensity! Don't hold back now. GO FOR IT! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "GO"!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is very good!

Does My Sacrifice Live?

And Abraham built an altar…and bound Isaac his son. — Genesis 22:9

This incident is a picture of the blunder we make in thinking that the final thing God wants of us is the sacrifice of death. What God wants is the sacrifice through death which enables us to do what Jesus did, viz., sacrifice our lives. Not “I am willing to go to death with Thee,” but, “I am willing to be identified with Thy death so that I may sacrifice my life to God.” We seem to think that God wants us to give up things! God purified Abraham from this blunder, and the same discipline goes on in our lives. God nowhere tells us to give up things for the sake of giving them up. He tells us to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having, viz., life with Himself. It is a question of loosening the bands that hinder the life, and immediately those bands are loosened by identification with the death of Jesus, we enter into a relationship with God whereby we can sacrifice our lives to Him.

It is of no value to God to give Him your life for death. He wants you to be a “living sacrifice,” to let Him have all your powers that have been saved and sanctified through Jesus. This is the thing that is acceptable to God.

I LOVE this! If we 'die' for JESUS, then WE WIN! We get to be in Heaven with Him for all eternity! What sacrifice is THAT? BUT, if we LIVE for Him, there will be times that will be uncomfortable and sometimes even messy, BUT HE will be glorified! And then WE can fulfill the ministry that HE called us to from before the foundation of the world! AMEN! Meditate on this until there rises up within you ann excitement for the things of God that cannot be quenched, no matter WHAT the enemy tries to do! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "God One And Only":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I am SO glad that we have THIS from Matthew 7:1-2 near the very beginning of the year! It is VITAL!

7 Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. 2 For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you.

I have had people ridicule and mock me for sharing this! Those who do so always share the sentiment that we are to 'expose' false teaching' and correct those who have 'erred in the faith'. The problem with THAT thought is THIS portion of Scripture! "DO NOT" is very clear! You have to really TRY in order to get this wrong! "Judge" here is the Greek word "krino", which means: to distinguish, to decide, to try, to condemn, punish, to separate, to pronounce and opinion concerning right and wrong, to pronounce judgement, subject to censure. And the first two words say it ALL! DO NOT! There is no qualifier here that makes YOUR case a 'special one'! DO NOT JUDGE! Why? Because it is NOT our place to judge someone else! We are to judge ourselves, lest we BE judged ( 1 Corinthians 11:31)! It is SO tempting to look at someone else and notice all of their shortcomings and mistakes, while white-washing our own! GOD Himself will judge and HIS judgement is correct and on point, ALWAYS!!! Let's leave God's job to God and refocus on learning and growing every day! AMEN! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "God Is Able":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Grace Inspirations" by Joseph Prince is another good reminder of just what we received at our New Birth! 

You Have First Class Righteousness

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

Some Christians believe that they have to work at becoming more righteous. And they kick themselves when they do wrong. They don’t realize that by doing these things, they are not seeking God’s righteousness, but are trying to establish their own righteousness by their law-keeping and right conduct.

Righteousness is not about right conduct. It is a gift from God to us through Jesus. And since it is a gift, we cannot earn it by our law-keeping and right conduct. We can only receive it!

How do we receive this gift? We receive it through the cross. God made Jesus “who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”. So today, we are the righteousness of God in Christ. We are as righteous as Jesus is!

But some of us think that in the body of Christ, there are different classes of righteousness, like the seating classes in an airplane. They think that some of us have economy-class righteousness, others have business-class righteousness and a select few have first-class righteousness.

That is nonsense! When God gave us Jesus, He became our righteousness. So we have His righteousness. This means that we are 100 per cent righteous in God’s eyes! We cannot but have first-class righteousness!

You might say, “I don’t understand. How can I be righteous when I have done wrong?” Think about this: Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us. Jesus knew no sin, did no sin and in Him was no sin. But at the cross, He received our sin and became sin for us. Likewise, we, who were sinners, knew no righteousness, did no righteousness and in us was no righteousness. But at the cross, we received His righteousness and became the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

At the cross, the divine exchange took place. Jesus took our place so that we might take His place. He did not deserve to be made sin, but He was made sin in our place. We did not deserve to be made righteous, but we were made righteous because we received His righteousness. What good news! What amazing grace!

AMEN! Our God is GOOD, ALL the TIME! Here is Chris Tomlin with "Good, Good Father"

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share a portion of Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest" because it goes right along with what I shared here yesterday! 

The Afterwards Of The Life Of Power

Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now; but thou shalt follow Me afterwards. - John 13:36

“And when He had spoken this, He saith unto him, Follow Me.” Three years before, Jesus had said — “Follow Me,” and Peter had followed easily, the fascination of Jesus was upon him, he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him to do it. Then he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit, and now Jesus says again — “Follow Me.” There is no figure in front now saving the Lord Jesus Christ. The first “Follow Me” had nothing mystical in it, it was an external following; now it is a following in internal martyrdom (cf. John 21:18).

Between these times Peter had denied Jesus with oaths and curses, he had come to the end of himself and all his self-sufficiency; there was not one strand of himself he would ever rely upon again, and in his destitution he was in a fit condition to receive an impartation from the risen Lord. “He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” No matter what changes God has wrought in you, never rely upon them, build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives.

I LOVE Peter! Many have poked fun at Peter for being so quick to jump at things, but he WAS the only person to ever walk on water like JESUS did! Yes, he began to sink when he took his eyes off of JESUS and onto his surroundings, but many of us have done that very thing in other circumstances! Peter was basically fearless, as long as he was WITH JESUS. His faith was shook to the core when he saw his Master taken by force, when all of the other times JESUS had simply walked through and away untouched! Everyone left that night, scattered with their faith shaken! The main lesson to learn from Peter is that JESUS restored him, and when Peter was restored, he no longer had faith in what HE could do, but his faith was in JESUS alone! THAT is the message here! We can be used by God to minister LIFE to people, and then begin to assume that the source of power is US instead of the ONE Who lives IN us! That is a very subtle, yet slippery slope! Stay ever aware of Who lives IN you! Give HIM the glory, every day and all day long, a you will not fall into such a trap of the enemy! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Love So Great":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to hare again from Oswald Chambers "My Utmost For His Highest". 

Why Cannot I Follow Thee Now?

Peter said unto Him, Lord, why cannot I follow Thee now? — John 13:37

There are times when you cannot understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings the blank space, see that you do not fill it in, but wait. The blank space may come in order to teach you what sanctification means, or it may come after sanctification to teach you what service means. Never run before God’s guidance. If there is the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt — don’t.

In the beginning you may see clearly what God’s will is — the severance of a friendship, the breaking off of a business relationship, something you feel distinctly before God is His will for you to do, never do it on the impulse of that feeling. If you do, you will end in making difficulties that will take years of time to put right. Wait for God’s time to bring it round and He will do it without any heartbreak or disappointment. When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for God to move.

Peter did not wait on God, he forecast in his mind where the test would come, and the test came where he did not expect it. “I will lay down my life for Thy sake.” Peter’s declaration was honest but ignorant. “Jesus answered him…The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied Me thrice.” This was said with a deeper knowledge of Peter than Peter had of himself. He could not follow Jesus because he did not know himself, of what he was capable. Natural devotion may be all very well to attract us to Jesus, to make us feel His fascination, but it will never make us disciples. Natural devotion will always deny Jesus somewhere or other.

What he is saying here is simply that it takes TIME to develop intimate fellowship with HIM! Paul, after his experience on the road to Damascus, spent some time learning directly from JESUS, without being taught by a human teacher. Most think it may have been three years time, but no one knows for certain. The important point,, though, is that Paul himself says that he learned directly from JESUS, so he was most definite in what he believed and taught! THIS is what it takes to be ready for ministry. Time spent with JESUS, through His Word and by His Spirit! We were all called, into our individual ministries, from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), BUT, our separation into that ministry is at God's discretion WHEN we are ready! You WILL know! That's what he means, above, when he says if you have doubt, then wait! Many of those who have begun too soon in ministry have quit, and some no longer even follow the LORD! God's timing is PERFECT and vital for  success in any and every endeavor.  Remember, God is rarely early, but He is NEVER late! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "His Glory Appears":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Grace Inspirations" by Joseph Prince is an excellent encouragement for beginning this new year! 

YOU MATTER TO GOD!

John 10:3 …he calls his own sheep by name…

Do you sometimes feel like you are just a face in a crowd or a number in a system? You are identified by your social security number. Even when you see the doctor, you are called by your queue number. If you feel depersonalized and dehumanized, that is exactly how the devil wants you to feel — that you do not matter much to anyone, especially to God.

But you do matter to God! He calls you by name. He knows exactly what you are going through and where you are hurting. He sees you and cares for you, just as He cared for the people when He first walked on earth.

My friend, He will do for you what He did for the woman in Samaria. The Bible says that “He needed to go through Samaria” to get from Judea to Galilee. (John 4:4) Now, any Jew of His day would have taken a different and longer route to avoid going through Samaria because they hated the Samaritans, though the way through Samaria would take much less time. But Jesus deliberately took the shorter, avoided route, just so He could stop by Samaria to speak to the woman who had been searching for something in her life to satisfy her.

This woman had had five husbands and the man she was living with was not her husband. Clearly, things had not been going right in her life. She was probably looking for answers and fulfillment, and must have felt ashamed about her failed marriages and current lifestyle.

Yet, in spite of all this, she mattered to Jesus! He needed to go to her to minister to her. And indeed, after she met Jesus, the perfect Man, she was transformed. She was no longer ashamed, and went into the city to tell the people about Him. (John 4:28–29)

Beloved, Jesus wants to meet you wherever you are at in life and minister His grace to you. You certainly matter to Him. He came to give you life and life more abundantly. (John 10:10) You are not just a face in a crowd or a number. No, He knows you by name and has a personal love for you. And in spite of the mess that you might be in, He wants to meet your every need and make your life beautiful!

Thought For The Day: You do matter to God! He knows what you are going through and wants to meet your every need.

John 10:10 (above) is even more powerful from the Amplified Bible!

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).

Meditating on that this verse by speaking it to ourselves, we can say it backwards, like this: ONLY the thief comes to steal, to kill and to destroy! We know that the thief ONLY comes to do those things, no matter how prettily he tries to dress it up, but if we assure ourselves that ONLY the thief does those things, and NEVER God, then we will not fall for one of the enemies most used tactics against believers who do not know the Word of God! If he can convince believers that God is bringing evil things on us in order to teach us something, then we will be chained to those evil things! NO, God does NOT bring evil things! He teaches us by His Word! He will teach us IN every situation in which we present ourselves teachable to Him, but He does NOT need the enemies tools to teach! Meditate on this TRUTH until it is SO real to you that you will never entertain that vicious, pitiful and abhorrent lie again! Then you will begin to walk in a measure of Divine health and healing that you only ever dreamed of before! AMEN! After all, He IS Jehovah Rapha, the GOD WHO HEALS YOU! AMEN! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I am loving going again through the Psalms, with our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan, already! Psalm 2:1-3 is a sure picture of our world at this very moment!

1 Why do the nations assemble with commotion [uproar and confusion of voices], and why do the people imagine (meditate upon and devise) an empty scheme? 2 The kings of the earth take their places; the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and His Anointed One (the Messiah, the Christ). They say, 3 Let us break Their bands [of restraint] asunder and cast Their cords [of control] from us.

The world is indeed saying just that very thing! They have so much freedom already given to them IF they would receive JESUS as Lord and personal Savior, but they want a different kind of freedom! They want a freedom from the consequences of rejecting the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible and His Word. They want a freedom that allows them to do whatever they want, whenever they want, without regard to God's Word and HIS plans and purposes. They want a freedom to gratify their flesh nature and have someone say: "That's all ok", when the Word of God tells us that when we sow to the flesh, we WILL, from the flesh, reap corruption! Here is Galatians 6:8 from the Amplified Bible!

8 For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

What does God say in response to this ungodly and thoroughly unrepentant attitude? Psalm 2:4:

4 He Who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision [and in supreme contempt He mocks them].

And then He goes on to declare this in verses 5-12:

5 He speaks to them in His deep anger and troubles (terrifies and confounds) them in His displeasure and fury, saying, 6 Yet have I anointed (installed and placed) My King [firmly] on My holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, You are My Son; this day [I declare] I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations as Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth as Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like potters’ ware. 10 Now therefore, O you kings, act wisely; be instructed and warned, O you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with reverent awe and worshipful fear; rejoice and be in high spirits with trembling [lest you displease Him]. 12 Kiss the Son [pay homage to Him in purity], lest He be angry and you perish in the way, for soon shall His wrath be kindled. O blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are all those who seek refuge and put their trust in Him!

AMEN and AMEN!!! OUR God IS God! The ONE and ONLY! If you have entertained these negative attitudes toward the One, True God, then REPENT (change your thinking to agree with God!) and get back on track! As the prodigal son, get yourself back into the presence of the ONE Who created you and desires to be a Father to YOU! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Look To The Son":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to do something that I believe I have only done one other time since beginning this blog. I am going to share again what I wrote for January 1st of last year! It is STILL great advice for making this year our very best year yet!

Shalom,

I LOVE the start of a new year when we begin going through the Bible with our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan again! {Purchase one through our website link on the left, or follow along daily directly from the site.} We have been reading through the Bible with some form of this very plan for over 30 years and I learn something new and inspiring every single day! This is due first of all to the fact that I CHOOSE to! I fully expect to add something new every time I open the Word of God. It is limitless, so make it YOUR goal to begin adding knowledge everyday! I have four words for you to begin this year, and they come directly from our reading in Genesis 1:

1 In the beginning God .. !

Make the One True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible your top priority to begin not just the year, but every day of your life! Make acknowledging Him, speaking to Him, thanking Him and praising Him the very first thing you do the moment you wake up every day and I can guarantee that things will begin to change for you and YOU will never be the same again! 

My next encouragement for you comes directly from our reading in Psalm 1, the first three verses:

1 Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. 2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. 3 And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].

AMEN! If being "Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous and enviable)" isn't enough incentive to obey these verses, then look at the last three (on your own) to see what happens to the lives of those who do not! As for me and mine, we'll concentrate on those wonderful "DOs"! I pray that you will make the choices that will cause you to look back on 2016 (now 2017) as the year that you learned more, grew more in the things of God, walked in more favor, mercy, protection and blessings than ever before, AND reached more people with the Good News of the Gospel! Let's get this year started RIGHT! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with a song that I hope will inspire YOU further in the things of God! It's called "Energy"!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We are ending 2017 by reading all of Psalm 119 with our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! I LOVE this idea! Psalm 119 is ALL about the Word of God! As you read through, try to find the references to the Word in every verse. There are only a couple that are actually hard to find. As you read through, you will find yourself getting more excited about reading it! Then we go right into Philippians 4! We have THIS exhortation in verse 4:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

"Rejoice" here is the Greek word "chairo", which means: to be cheerful, calmly happy, well-off, be well, be glad, to thrive. The Greek word for 'joy' (chara) comes from this root word. As born again believers, we HAVE the force of joy within us. This joy is a fruit of the born again spirit and when we stir it up, then we will appear to the world as God sees us, ever in the process of rejoicing! One of the ways that we accomplish this is by obeying verse 6:

6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

And the result of obeying verse 6? Verse 7:

7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

God's thoroughly supernatural PEACE (eireenee), which is the absence strife and stress and includes harmony and tranquility, is OURS when we practice verse 6! Cast out any and every thought that is contrary to peace and joy! GOD is not the Author of anything else! AMEN! The only way to properly live this out is to also make the choice to DO verses 8-9!

8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. 9 Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.

What a great instruction and exhortation for going full steam ahead into 2018! I hope that YOU will take this all to heart and DO the Word so that you can have the Word's results! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "You Crown The Year":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I love the Book of Proverbs and we are finishing that up today with Proverbs 31. I have always had a problem with those who confine the Wisdom of Proverbs 31 to natural attributes of a good and Godly wife and mother. I found THIS in the footnotes of my study Bible!

Proverbs 31:10 It is most unfortunate that this description of God’s ideal woman is usually confined in readers’ minds merely to its literal sense—her ability as a homemaker, as in the picture of Martha of Bethany in Luke 10:38-42. But it is obvious that far more than that is meant. When the summary of what makes her value “far above rubies” is given (in Proverbs 31:30), it is her spiritual life only that is mentioned. One can almost hear the voice of Jesus saying, “Mary has chosen the good portion... which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42).

AMEN! I also believe that many of these wonderful attributes should also be found in good and Godly men! After all, there IS no male or female in the Kingdom of God! We all should be humble before Him and wise in HIS Word and ways! AND, all of these attributes were originally in Him! If we would each approach the Word of God as being ALIVE and POWERFUL, we all will not only learn and grow in faith, but we will become more and more LIKE HIM every day! His goal is for His body to represent Him on the earth, thereby drawing the lost to Him and to eternal LIFE! Let's stop ever putting people OR God in our own personal 'box' of understanding. Allow Holy Spirit to expand your thinking to see as God sees! The favor and anointing of God will open up in your life and YOU will never be the same! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong with "Oceans - Where Feet May Fail":, which is a song about total surrender and daring to plunge into the DEEP things of God, fully trusting in HIM! AMEN! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Philippians 2:12 gives us this instruction!

12 Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).

"Salvation" here is the Greek word "soteria", which means: rescue, safety, deliverance, preservation. This is concerning THIS life! We already have Eternal Life from the moment of our New Birth, alive in us. But we must "work out" that life, from the inside out, in order to have the benefits available to us in the here and now! "Work out" is the Greek word "katergazomai", which means: to perform, accomplish, achieve, to work fully, to finish. This "working out" involves studying the Word of God to find out just what belongs to us as born again children of the Living God! Then we must meditate on that Word until it becomes SO real IN us that no doubt from the enemy can affect us! Joshua 1:8 explains meditation and the benefits of it:

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

"Meditate" means to utter (speak), to ponder, to muse, to dream. Holy Spirit IN us is the ONE Who makes the Word real and alive. Meditation gives Him the avenue to get what is inside of us into our souls (mind, emotions and will) so that our understanding is enlightened and we can make right choices, expecting the results that the Word promises! Remember, God hides these things in His Word FOR us to find out! Only those who "follow on to know" will really learn and know. When we put this type of diligence into studying and learning the Word, THIS promise, from Philippians 2:13 is OURS!

13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

AMEN! The CHOICE is ours and the WORK is HIS! HALLELUJAH! Thank You, JESUS! Here is Hillsong with "I Live To Know You":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin! It is so simple, yet so profoundly important!

The Father's Love

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him (John 14:21-23). 
Two things are emphasized in today's text: 

1. Jesus said, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them...." Keep in mind what Jesus' commandments are. He said, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you..." (John 13:34). 

There's no reason for you to worry about any other commandments. Walking in love sums up the whole business, because the Word of God says, "...love is the fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:10). (If you keep Jesus' commandments, you will have fulfilled the rest of the commandments.) 

2. "...Shall be loved of my Father...." If you walk in love, you are walking in God's realm, because God is love. God's very nature, because He is love, compels Him to care for us, protect us, and shield us! 

Confession: I have Jesus' commandments, and I keep them. I love others as God has loved me. I walk in love toward my brethren. I show my love for Jesus by keeping His love commandment. I am loved of the Father! 

Do you see how simple this is? The only commandment that we really have is two-fold. Love the Lord our God with everything that is within us, then love others as HE loves US! When we treat every  person that we meet as precious and valuable to God, then we will develop a love for people and a desire to see them receive all that God has prepared for them! AMEN! It is SO simple, yet it takes a determined purpose to walk in all of the freedom that this gives to us! Will YOU make this a serious choice for yourself for 2018? I am! Evenmore than before! Remember: LOVE NEVER FAILS! EVER! Hereis Hillsong UNITED with "No Reason To Hide":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Ephesians 6:10-12 says this:

10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. 11 Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

"Strong" here is the Greek word "endunamoo", which is a compound word from the Greek word "dunamis", which means: force, miraculous power, strength, ability, inherent power, the power of performing miracles. We are instructed in these verses to BE strong with THIS type of GOD strength! We HAVE His miracle working power residing IN us as His children. The Spirit of Almighty God Himself resides in us! THAT is why he tells us in Philippians 4:13 that we CAN do ALL things!

13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. AMP

He goes on to tell us in Ephesians 6 that we are NOT fighting with people. We are fighting with demonic spirits, who have already been defeated! When we meditate on the Word until we see clearly, we will understand that the enemy has no weapon that can ever defeat us! The only weapon he has is the LIE! WE have authority over him, but if he can get us to believe his lies, then we will back down and neglect to exercise that authority. KNOW who YOU are - IN CHRIST! KNOW that as long as we stand strong on the Word of God, refusing to be moved by anything in the natural world, then we WILL see the victory over every thing that the enemy tries to do! It takes a diligent commitment to follow through on this, but the only one who controls what happens in our lives, is US! What will YOU choose? As for me and my house, we have already chosen, with a decision that we will NOT abandon, to serve the LORD and to glorify HIS Name by obeying the Word! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Desert Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really LOVE Andrew Womack's devotional for today!

BE SINGLE-MINDED

 "Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?" JOHN 21:21

Jesus had just told Peter to follow Him. However, Peter wanted to know what the Lord had planned for John. Instead of Jesus answering Peter's question, the Lord told him that what He had in store for John was none of his business.

Satan diverts many people by getting them preoccupied with what others are doing for the Lord. Comparing ourselves with others, whether we come out better or worse, is unwise (2 Corinthians 10:12). We need to be so single-minded following the Lord, that we don't look to the right or to the left to see what others are doing. It doesn't matter if we are doing as much to serve the Lord as someone else. The question is, are we doing all that the Lord wants us to do?

Singleness of purpose and vision is a necessity to victorious Christian living. James said that if we try to master many things we will fail (James 3:1). We have to set priorities and focus on them.

The scriptures teach that memory can be a powerful force for good in our lives. It is always good to remind ourselves that we were once apart from God's saving grace. It is an antidote against pride and self-righteousness. A person who remembers what he used to be will have a clearer understanding of who he is now. We have to cultivate our memories by meditating on the great things God has done for us and spoken to us.

When it comes to fulfilling God's call on our lives, no person or thing should EVER  be our first consideration. We MUST be obedient to the Heavenly calling, FIRST and FOREMOST! AND, we MUST allow others to do the same! AMEN! Find out what it is that God is calling you to do, then get busy doing it! The rewards we receive in Heaven at the Reward Seat are determined by our obedience here and now! It is NOT determined by what other people do! No one can hinder us from being obedient! Choose THIS day Whom YOU will serve! And then never back down from that decision! REWARDS await! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Crowns":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom and Merry CHRISTmas!

The only message that I want to share with you today is found in Luke 2:10-11:

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. KJV

A CHILD was born that was proclaimed, for all to hear, as THE Savior of the world! There is NOW no excuse for anyone to ever find themselves, for all of eternity, in the hell of the Bible, and the lake that burns with continuous fire! Of all of the 'religions' of the world, there is not one that is bowing down to a LIVING GOD! All of their traditions and trappings are based on lies! There is only ONE TRUTH (John 17:17) and ONE GOD, Who has given Himself for all mankind! The ONLY question that will ever be asked of you when you leave this life, with the hope of entering Heaven, is this: "What have YOU done with JESUS?" Have YOU received JESUS as Lord and personal Savior? If not, WHY NOT? There is absolutely nothing asked of us except to BELIEVE and to RECEIVE! And don't EVER let anyone sidetrack your decision with talk of 'easy grace' or 'greasy grace'. There IS no such thing. The Grace of God came at a high cost to HIM! It has already given us all that we will ever need, and it comes at no cost to us except what was said above: BELIEVE and RECEIVE! I pray that you will make the greatest decision of your life and receive JESUS as Lord and Savior. If you already have, then I pray that you will make sure that not one person within your realm of influence will be able to say that you never told them! AMEN! John 3:16-18:

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.] AMP

Have a wonderful and very blessed CHRISTmas celebration! Here is Hillsong with "Unto Us":

Shalom in Him!