If the only way we can pray is in the name of Jesus, then we need to know, "How did Jesus pray?" I know many of you will almost immediately think of the Lord's Prayer. However, I do not consider that to be the model prayer for a Christian.
What instructions did Jesus give us-the Believers-for the time after He had ascended? You will find that in John 16:23, where Jesus, speaking to His disciples, says, "And in that day..." Right there we have to stop and ask, what "day" does He mean? It is obvious that if He said, "in that day" then He did not mean "in this day" (the day in which He was living). Put another way, He was contrasting the future (from the time He was speaking) to the present in which He spoke. Another way of putting this would be to say, "In the future..."
This is a little-discussed point, but note that in the three and a half years we have any record of, the disciples never one time prayed to the Father for anything. Whenever they needed something, they asked Jesus for it. I mean, why would you drive a hundred miles to the company warehouse to buy some shaving cream when the local store owned by that company has it a half mile down the block? Jesus was right there with them. Anything they needed, He supplied it. When the waves crashed in on their boat, they awoke Him and said, "Save us, Lord!" When someone was sick, they said. "Lord, this person is ill. Please heal him." Whatever it was, they asked it of Him directly, not of God the Father.
So it is significant that when we read John 16:23, we find Jesus after explaining to them He was going to the Father soon, saying, "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you." Remember, just a little earlier in John 14:14 we read: "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it [for you]." Yet here He says, "Don't ask Me anything, but instead ask the Father in My name."
He elaborates on this in verse 24: "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask [or a better transition is, "Ask now," or "Ask, after this point, in My name"], and you will receive, that your joy may be full." Do you see the difference? While Jesus was with them physically, they asked Him. But soon after Jesus said those words, He would not be with them anymore, and they would have to ask the Father in His name. Why couldn't they ask the Father in His name while Jesus still walked with them? Jesus had not delegated that name to them yet. He hadn't died and risen from the dead.
Notice also that Jesus said, "You will receive, that [or, "in order that"] your joy may be full." God wants us to have full joy. Not just tolerable joy or partial joy, but full joy. Full joy is when your pantry is well stocked and you aren't hungry every night. Full joy is when your car works and can take you to your job without breaking down. Full joy is when your body is whole and you aren't battling sickness and disease every day. That does not mean that you should not be joyful when circumstances are not perfect, but that is not God's best for you.
In these verses we have the "how to pray" from Jesus: "And in that day you will ask me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name..." tells us everything we need to know about how to pray. That is the key that starts the car of faith, if you will.
You need to know what to do with the car once it's running, and you need to know what to pray for after you begin your prayer, but this is the formula for an answered prayer. You are to "ask the Father in My name." Do not ask Jesus. Unless you are engaging in praise and worship ("Thank You, Jesus, for Your sacrifice," or "Praise You, Jesus, that You are King of kings and Lord or lords"), you do not pray to Jesus. He said so. Instead, you are to direct your requests to the Father in Jesus' name. It's like a letter. "Heavenly Father" is the introduction, the "Dear So-and-So," and "In the name of Jesus" is your signature line. You sign your prayer in His name, not your own. Your name doesn't carry any weight in the spirit world. Just try healing the sick in the name of Tom, or in the name of Cheryl, or in the name of Buddha, and see who gets healed! Those names do not have the authority to heal anyone. What you put in between the "introduction" and the "signature" is all you.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Jesus Took Your Sickness Away
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5 (KJV)
Understanding what Jesus did for you on the cross will help you to connect your faith to God's healing power.
God loves you. He thought about you before you were a twinkle in your daddy's eye. He already made provisions for your body long before anybody ever thought you'd ever be around. That's called a God who loves you, a God who cares, a God who's on your side, a God who wants to make sure you are blessed in everything in your life. He wants you blessed in the city and blessed in the field. And most importantly, He wants you healed in your body.
Isaiah says, "Surely, he bore your griefs..." The word "grief" means sickness, disease and pain. "Sorrow" means pains. In other words, surely he hath borne our sicknesses, diseases and pain. The word "borne" means to suffer punishment for something. So we can conclude that somebody deserved punishment, somebody deserved to suffer, somebody deserved to have cancer and AIDS and sickle cell and lung disease and heart disease, and other diseases. Who was it? It was me and it was you.
We were born in sin, our forefather's sin, Adam's sin, and Eve's sin. We deserved to have all that, but Jesus bore that punishment in our place on that cross. He took in his body every sickness, every disease, every pain, every AIDS, every cancer cell, every lung disease, every heart disease, every kind of sickness and disease for you and He bore it away for you. Why? S o you don't have to have it.
With every stripe Jesus took on His back, He was looking at you. With every stripe He bore, Jesus was thinking about you, knowing that if He took it, you would not have to. Now that is love.
You don't have to be sick. You don't have to die prematurely. You don't have to lay down to the devil and say, there's nothing I can do. There's one who's already done it for you. His name is Jesus. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Scripture References: Hebrews 13:8; Jeremiah 1:5; 1 Peter 2:24
Understanding what Jesus did for you on the cross will help you to connect your faith to God's healing power.
God loves you. He thought about you before you were a twinkle in your daddy's eye. He already made provisions for your body long before anybody ever thought you'd ever be around. That's called a God who loves you, a God who cares, a God who's on your side, a God who wants to make sure you are blessed in everything in your life. He wants you blessed in the city and blessed in the field. And most importantly, He wants you healed in your body.
Isaiah says, "Surely, he bore your griefs..." The word "grief" means sickness, disease and pain. "Sorrow" means pains. In other words, surely he hath borne our sicknesses, diseases and pain. The word "borne" means to suffer punishment for something. So we can conclude that somebody deserved punishment, somebody deserved to suffer, somebody deserved to have cancer and AIDS and sickle cell and lung disease and heart disease, and other diseases. Who was it? It was me and it was you.
We were born in sin, our forefather's sin, Adam's sin, and Eve's sin. We deserved to have all that, but Jesus bore that punishment in our place on that cross. He took in his body every sickness, every disease, every pain, every AIDS, every cancer cell, every lung disease, every heart disease, every kind of sickness and disease for you and He bore it away for you. Why? S o you don't have to have it.
With every stripe Jesus took on His back, He was looking at you. With every stripe He bore, Jesus was thinking about you, knowing that if He took it, you would not have to. Now that is love.
You don't have to be sick. You don't have to die prematurely. You don't have to lay down to the devil and say, there's nothing I can do. There's one who's already done it for you. His name is Jesus. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Scripture References: Hebrews 13:8; Jeremiah 1:5; 1 Peter 2:24
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
When We Pray, God Works!
Two things about prayer are truly amazing: (1) God listens when we pray. "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (See Mk 11:24). You may not have much clout anywhere else, but when you pray God listens. (2) We seldom pray. We've the greatest privilege imaginable - access to the control center of the Universe -- yet we rarely use it. And our lack of prayer surprises God.
Through the prophet Ezekiel He lamented: "I sought for a man among them who would...stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one" (Eze 22:30 NKJV). Upon learning that Sodom and Gomorrah were going to be destroyed, Abraham didn't rush to warn the cities. No, he chose to "[remain] standing before the Lord" (Ge 18:22 NIV). When God said the golden calf warranted a nationwide death penalty for Israel, Moses interceded and saved them. One translation of Exodus 32:11 says, "Moses soothed the face of his God." An obscure priest by the name of Phinehas begged God not to send the plague, and it was checked. (See Ps 106:30 NIV).
You say "Why place such a premium on prayer?" Simple. Because when we work, we work. But when we pray, God works! Scripture attaches breathtaking power to prayer. "When two of you get together on anything...and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action" (Mt 18:19 TM). Does any other activity promise such results? Did God call us to preach without ceasing? Or have committee meetings without ceasing? No, but He did call us to "pray without ceasing."
"PRIEZ SANS CESSE"
Through the prophet Ezekiel He lamented: "I sought for a man among them who would...stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one" (Eze 22:30 NKJV). Upon learning that Sodom and Gomorrah were going to be destroyed, Abraham didn't rush to warn the cities. No, he chose to "[remain] standing before the Lord" (Ge 18:22 NIV). When God said the golden calf warranted a nationwide death penalty for Israel, Moses interceded and saved them. One translation of Exodus 32:11 says, "Moses soothed the face of his God." An obscure priest by the name of Phinehas begged God not to send the plague, and it was checked. (See Ps 106:30 NIV).
You say "Why place such a premium on prayer?" Simple. Because when we work, we work. But when we pray, God works! Scripture attaches breathtaking power to prayer. "When two of you get together on anything...and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action" (Mt 18:19 TM). Does any other activity promise such results? Did God call us to preach without ceasing? Or have committee meetings without ceasing? No, but He did call us to "pray without ceasing."
"PRIEZ SANS CESSE"
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Walk in Your Authority!
You don't have to put up with the devil's oppression any longer. God has empowered you with the anointing to remove burdens, destroy yokes and to be an overcomer. The devil is a burden that can easily be driven away by exercising your God-given authority.
God has given you His Word and His Spirit as a defense against the devil's schemes. You've been clothed in the armor of God so "...that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). You have everything needed to defeat the devil whenever he shows up at your door. He will keep showing up because you possess something that he desperately wants-your God-given authority to rule and reign in the earth.
When God created Adam, he gave him dominion and authority over the earth (Genesis 1:26, AMP). However, when Adam rebelled against God, he turned his authority to rule over to the devil. Satan then had control over everything except the throne of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). Since Satan contaminated the ground with sin, God couldn't destroy Adam and make another man from the dust of the earth. Aren't you thankful that He had plan? He came to the earth as a man. Through Jesus' death and resurrection, he defeated Satan and took back our authority to rule (Hebrews 2:9, 14), and we have been restored to our rightful place of authority.
Jesus has all power and authority in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18). Since we were raised with Him, we have all power and authority as well (Ephesians 2:4-7). Therefore, do not neglect your right to rule and reign in the earth. Every time the enemy tries to attack you, consider it an opportunity to exercise your power over him. You have the authority to declare what is lawful and unlawful in this earth, and to permit or to forbid things on the earth-even death (Matthew 16:18-19, AMP).
I challenge you to begin making demands in Jesus' name. John 14:13-14 says, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." The word ask means "demand." What you demand in Jesus' name (from the Word), He promises He will do. Understand that when you make a demand, you aren't demanding that God do things. Instead, you are demanding that the devil submit to the Word, to loose his hold and to stop his operations against you.
Faith is involved in exercising your spiritual authority. You must base your faith on what the Word says, not on circumstances. When circumstances do not change immediately, some people become discouraged and begin to speak doubt and unbelief. This only gives the devil dominion over their words, which ultimately defeat them. Don't hand over your authority to Satan through your words. Instead, break the power of the devil by walking in your authority!
God has given you His Word and His Spirit as a defense against the devil's schemes. You've been clothed in the armor of God so "...that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). You have everything needed to defeat the devil whenever he shows up at your door. He will keep showing up because you possess something that he desperately wants-your God-given authority to rule and reign in the earth.
When God created Adam, he gave him dominion and authority over the earth (Genesis 1:26, AMP). However, when Adam rebelled against God, he turned his authority to rule over to the devil. Satan then had control over everything except the throne of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). Since Satan contaminated the ground with sin, God couldn't destroy Adam and make another man from the dust of the earth. Aren't you thankful that He had plan? He came to the earth as a man. Through Jesus' death and resurrection, he defeated Satan and took back our authority to rule (Hebrews 2:9, 14), and we have been restored to our rightful place of authority.
Jesus has all power and authority in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18). Since we were raised with Him, we have all power and authority as well (Ephesians 2:4-7). Therefore, do not neglect your right to rule and reign in the earth. Every time the enemy tries to attack you, consider it an opportunity to exercise your power over him. You have the authority to declare what is lawful and unlawful in this earth, and to permit or to forbid things on the earth-even death (Matthew 16:18-19, AMP).
I challenge you to begin making demands in Jesus' name. John 14:13-14 says, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." The word ask means "demand." What you demand in Jesus' name (from the Word), He promises He will do. Understand that when you make a demand, you aren't demanding that God do things. Instead, you are demanding that the devil submit to the Word, to loose his hold and to stop his operations against you.
Faith is involved in exercising your spiritual authority. You must base your faith on what the Word says, not on circumstances. When circumstances do not change immediately, some people become discouraged and begin to speak doubt and unbelief. This only gives the devil dominion over their words, which ultimately defeat them. Don't hand over your authority to Satan through your words. Instead, break the power of the devil by walking in your authority!
"Take heart, daughter," He said, "your faith has healed you."
Matthew 9:20-22 - "Take heart, daughter," He said, "your faith has healed you."
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.
For twelve years the woman in Matt. 9:20-22 had sought a cure for her condition. Perhaps worse than the drain on her physical strength and finances was the stigma of uncleanness. Jews considered women ritually unclean during menstruation, and whoever touched a menstruating woman was made unclean until evening. (Lev. 15:19-27). That meant exclusion from participating in the life and worship of the community.
Scripture is silent on the source of this woman's livelihood. Perhaps she lived off an inheritance, or perhaps she was divorced and her dowry had been returned to her. Whatever her means of support, it was gone. Jesus was her last hope. So she approached Him, breaking a rule that made it an unclean person's responsibility to keep away from others. In desperation, she reached out and touched Jesus. Jesus didn't withdraw. Rather He drew her to Him with the affectionate term "daughter" and sent her away in peace, healed at last.
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.
For twelve years the woman in Matt. 9:20-22 had sought a cure for her condition. Perhaps worse than the drain on her physical strength and finances was the stigma of uncleanness. Jews considered women ritually unclean during menstruation, and whoever touched a menstruating woman was made unclean until evening. (Lev. 15:19-27). That meant exclusion from participating in the life and worship of the community.
Scripture is silent on the source of this woman's livelihood. Perhaps she lived off an inheritance, or perhaps she was divorced and her dowry had been returned to her. Whatever her means of support, it was gone. Jesus was her last hope. So she approached Him, breaking a rule that made it an unclean person's responsibility to keep away from others. In desperation, she reached out and touched Jesus. Jesus didn't withdraw. Rather He drew her to Him with the affectionate term "daughter" and sent her away in peace, healed at last.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
The Believing Business
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Mark 9:23 (KJV)
Get into the believing business. You have to get over into the believing business. When you get over into the believing business, then you will start having the manifestation of God's healing power.
In Luke, chapter 4, the people went by what they thought they knew. And by what they thought they saw to determine whether the power was present. Jesus was requiring them to believe that the power was present without the aid of a miracle.
The healing power of God does not show up because of certain people (personalities). Jesus was requiring them to believe what He said before anything else. They said, show us a miracle and we will believe you. He wouldn't do it. He is still that way today. He has not changed. Somebody says, well, you know, if I ever saw a blind eye opened then I would have great faith. Faith does not come by seeing. Faith comes by hearing. When I was overseas, I saw whole lines of blind eyes opened. Some of the people were blind from birth. But there were still blind people in the same line doubting. Faith does not come by seeing. Faith comes by hearing. The children of Israel saw the miracles and still doubted God in the desert. So you need to hear the Word.
I want you to take some time to lift your hands to the Lord. Lift your voice up to the Lord and say, thank you Lord the healing power of God is available wherever I go. It is available for me. And in Jesus' name I tap into it, anytime I want to. By faith I know Jesus is my Healer. I know healing is provided for me. And I know it's mine, right now, from the crown of my head to the very soles of my feet, in Jesus' name. Now, thank Him for it in faith.
Scripture References: Luke 4, Mark 9:17-27; Romans 10:17
Get into the believing business. You have to get over into the believing business. When you get over into the believing business, then you will start having the manifestation of God's healing power.
In Luke, chapter 4, the people went by what they thought they knew. And by what they thought they saw to determine whether the power was present. Jesus was requiring them to believe that the power was present without the aid of a miracle.
The healing power of God does not show up because of certain people (personalities). Jesus was requiring them to believe what He said before anything else. They said, show us a miracle and we will believe you. He wouldn't do it. He is still that way today. He has not changed. Somebody says, well, you know, if I ever saw a blind eye opened then I would have great faith. Faith does not come by seeing. Faith comes by hearing. When I was overseas, I saw whole lines of blind eyes opened. Some of the people were blind from birth. But there were still blind people in the same line doubting. Faith does not come by seeing. Faith comes by hearing. The children of Israel saw the miracles and still doubted God in the desert. So you need to hear the Word.
I want you to take some time to lift your hands to the Lord. Lift your voice up to the Lord and say, thank you Lord the healing power of God is available wherever I go. It is available for me. And in Jesus' name I tap into it, anytime I want to. By faith I know Jesus is my Healer. I know healing is provided for me. And I know it's mine, right now, from the crown of my head to the very soles of my feet, in Jesus' name. Now, thank Him for it in faith.
Scripture References: Luke 4, Mark 9:17-27; Romans 10:17
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Time For A Spiritual Check-up
"I am praying...your body is as healthy as...your soul." 3 John 2 TLB
We all know how important physical health is; here's a plan for keeping your soul in shape:
(a) Don't question your faith, question your doubts. We spend too much time dwelling on our misgivings, experiencing faith as an occasional flash-in-the-pan. God's promises are for 'believers.'
(b) Don't be a 'lone ranger.' It's no accident that the Old Testament contains the story of God's people, and that the Epistles were written to congregations. We grow as we relate - not isolate!
(c) Guard your thought life. If your "thinking is controlled by the sinful self, there is death. But if [it's] controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace" (Ro 8:6 NCV). Practice mind management!
(d) Fall asleep and wake up immersed in gratitude. It'll transform your day. "In every thing give thanks!" (1Th 5:18).
(e) Ditch anything that distracts you from God. Toss the junk reading material, and if you've got the guts, throw in the TV!
(f) Always err on the side of mercy. Philip Yancey writes: "I marvel at the humility of a God who descends to live inside...his 'flawed' creatures...Do I show that same attitude towards people of whom I disapprove?"
(g) Be specific and don't revert to generalities when discussing your faith. Paul wasn't "ashamed of the Gospel" (Ro 1:16); neither should you be.
(h) Be gracious to the people who irk you. God chose them too! Sometimes it's easier to be gracious to non-believers than to uptight, moralistic Christians. But that just makes you a different kind of judgmental.
(i) Forgive those who've hurt you. Harboring hatred hinders healing, so bring your hurts to God.
We all know how important physical health is; here's a plan for keeping your soul in shape:
(a) Don't question your faith, question your doubts. We spend too much time dwelling on our misgivings, experiencing faith as an occasional flash-in-the-pan. God's promises are for 'believers.'
(b) Don't be a 'lone ranger.' It's no accident that the Old Testament contains the story of God's people, and that the Epistles were written to congregations. We grow as we relate - not isolate!
(c) Guard your thought life. If your "thinking is controlled by the sinful self, there is death. But if [it's] controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace" (Ro 8:6 NCV). Practice mind management!
(d) Fall asleep and wake up immersed in gratitude. It'll transform your day. "In every thing give thanks!" (1Th 5:18).
(e) Ditch anything that distracts you from God. Toss the junk reading material, and if you've got the guts, throw in the TV!
(f) Always err on the side of mercy. Philip Yancey writes: "I marvel at the humility of a God who descends to live inside...his 'flawed' creatures...Do I show that same attitude towards people of whom I disapprove?"
(g) Be specific and don't revert to generalities when discussing your faith. Paul wasn't "ashamed of the Gospel" (Ro 1:16); neither should you be.
(h) Be gracious to the people who irk you. God chose them too! Sometimes it's easier to be gracious to non-believers than to uptight, moralistic Christians. But that just makes you a different kind of judgmental.
(i) Forgive those who've hurt you. Harboring hatred hinders healing, so bring your hurts to God.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Is healing for all
There are seven scriptural methods whereby you can receive your healing. I believe the prayer of faith is the highest form of prayer to receive healing.
In Mark 11:24 Jesus said,
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Well, is Jesus a liar or does He tell the truth? He tells the truth! He says, "whatever things you ask...." Wouldn't that have to include healing? Yes, it does.
Therefore, it must be God's will to heal. Otherwise He could not make that kind of bold declaration. "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray"-not after you pray, not a month later, not when you see something, not when you understand it, but "when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."
If you believe you receive them you will confess that, "Bless the Lord-I believe I am healed, I believe I have received my healing." Now, once you make a faith confession you are going to get opposite from the enemy. His motive is to move you off your faith confession.
Someone might say, "Yes, but you don't look like you are healed." I didn't say, "I look like I'm healed," I said, "I believe that I received my healing."
"Yes, but how do you feel?"
"Bless God, I am not going by how I feel-I am going by what I believe-and I believe I am healed, in Jesus' Name."
"Yes, but that doesn't make sense."
"That's right; it is not sense, it's faith."
"Yes, but that's illogical."
"You're right again; it's not logic, it's faith."
"Yes, but I just don't understand that."
"I don't understand how it works either, but I believe it is true because God said it in His Word."
Listen friend, I don't understand how television works, but I believe if I turn it on, I can watch a movie. The fact that I don't understand how it works does not stop me from enjoying the benefits of watching my favorite TV programs in living color.
I don't understand how a gasoline engine works. I don't understand how it works inside without blowing up the whole thing. Instead of blowing up it pushes a piston down that drives a crank-shaft that turns a drive-shaft to the rear wheels that turns the wheels when you put it in gear that moves the car forward. I don't understand it, but I could care less-all I want to know is that when I turn that thing on and put it in gear, it is going and that is all that I'm concerned about. How about you?
I don't know how an airplane stays up in the sky, as big as a 747 is-that thing is gigantic. How does it stay up in the air? The good news is that I don't have to understand it to get on the plane and fly from Los Angeles to Hawaii or somewhere else. All I have to do is believe the plane can fly me there, get on board and go. After all, that is what you want anyway-the results-right?
Praise God! You don't have to do any more than believe that you receive your healing based on the Word of God and you shall have it!
Is healing for all? I believe that it is so. I believe that I can walk in divine health all the days of my life. I believe and confess that I will never be sick and I'm not being presumptuous. The Bible says in Psalm 91:1, "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
I believe I'm right in there under His right wing-right up under that wing. God Himself said in verse 10, "...No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling." Whose dwelling place is God talking about? My dwelling place because I am under His shadow of protection.
What is a plague? Isn't that sickness and disease? God said, ""...No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling." Well, I guess God lied. No, He is not a man that He should lie. He went on to say, in verse 16, "With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation." Praise God! Healing is for all.
Oh, that's not to say I'm not attacked. I'm attacked. The devil just sits like a blood hound-every morning I wake up he's sitting right on the foot of the bed. Sometimes he throws that dart the right way, but it doesn't stop me and it won't stop me because I'm being "strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."
In Mark 11:24 Jesus said,
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Well, is Jesus a liar or does He tell the truth? He tells the truth! He says, "whatever things you ask...." Wouldn't that have to include healing? Yes, it does.
Therefore, it must be God's will to heal. Otherwise He could not make that kind of bold declaration. "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray"-not after you pray, not a month later, not when you see something, not when you understand it, but "when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."
If you believe you receive them you will confess that, "Bless the Lord-I believe I am healed, I believe I have received my healing." Now, once you make a faith confession you are going to get opposite from the enemy. His motive is to move you off your faith confession.
Someone might say, "Yes, but you don't look like you are healed." I didn't say, "I look like I'm healed," I said, "I believe that I received my healing."
"Yes, but how do you feel?"
"Bless God, I am not going by how I feel-I am going by what I believe-and I believe I am healed, in Jesus' Name."
"Yes, but that doesn't make sense."
"That's right; it is not sense, it's faith."
"Yes, but that's illogical."
"You're right again; it's not logic, it's faith."
"Yes, but I just don't understand that."
"I don't understand how it works either, but I believe it is true because God said it in His Word."
Listen friend, I don't understand how television works, but I believe if I turn it on, I can watch a movie. The fact that I don't understand how it works does not stop me from enjoying the benefits of watching my favorite TV programs in living color.
I don't understand how a gasoline engine works. I don't understand how it works inside without blowing up the whole thing. Instead of blowing up it pushes a piston down that drives a crank-shaft that turns a drive-shaft to the rear wheels that turns the wheels when you put it in gear that moves the car forward. I don't understand it, but I could care less-all I want to know is that when I turn that thing on and put it in gear, it is going and that is all that I'm concerned about. How about you?
I don't know how an airplane stays up in the sky, as big as a 747 is-that thing is gigantic. How does it stay up in the air? The good news is that I don't have to understand it to get on the plane and fly from Los Angeles to Hawaii or somewhere else. All I have to do is believe the plane can fly me there, get on board and go. After all, that is what you want anyway-the results-right?
Praise God! You don't have to do any more than believe that you receive your healing based on the Word of God and you shall have it!
Is healing for all? I believe that it is so. I believe that I can walk in divine health all the days of my life. I believe and confess that I will never be sick and I'm not being presumptuous. The Bible says in Psalm 91:1, "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
I believe I'm right in there under His right wing-right up under that wing. God Himself said in verse 10, "...No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling." Whose dwelling place is God talking about? My dwelling place because I am under His shadow of protection.
What is a plague? Isn't that sickness and disease? God said, ""...No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling." Well, I guess God lied. No, He is not a man that He should lie. He went on to say, in verse 16, "With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation." Praise God! Healing is for all.
Oh, that's not to say I'm not attacked. I'm attacked. The devil just sits like a blood hound-every morning I wake up he's sitting right on the foot of the bed. Sometimes he throws that dart the right way, but it doesn't stop me and it won't stop me because I'm being "strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."
Saturday, July 26, 2008
LORD I am sorry
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalms 51:17 (KJV)
Un-repented sin can lead to a stronghold. You see first of all I need to be sorry for my sin, not because I got caught in it. I want to be sorry for my sin because I displeased God.
I want to be sorry for my sin because I transgressed against the God that has done so much for me. I don't want to act like I'm sorry because you caught me or because you read my phone bill and my phone bill was not right. I don't want to be sorry because someone exposed me. I don't want to be sorry because someone got pregnant out of wedlock. I don't want to be sorry because you caught me in the Lotto line. I want to be sorry because I'm sorry.
And until we have confessed our sin before a Holy God, all our sin - everything that displeases Him, we walk around with unforgiven sin and we build strongholds up in our lives.
Join me in prayer--
Lord,
I ask forgiveness for my sin. I am truly sorry that I have sinned against you and you only. I confess all of my sin, those done consciously and unconsciously and I am truly sorry that I have transgressed against you. Wash me pure with the blood of the Lamb. Create in me a new heart and renew a right spirit within me that I may worship you in spirit and in truth and leave a sanctified life before you.
In Jesus' Name... amen.
Un-repented sin can lead to a stronghold. You see first of all I need to be sorry for my sin, not because I got caught in it. I want to be sorry for my sin because I displeased God.
I want to be sorry for my sin because I transgressed against the God that has done so much for me. I don't want to act like I'm sorry because you caught me or because you read my phone bill and my phone bill was not right. I don't want to be sorry because someone exposed me. I don't want to be sorry because someone got pregnant out of wedlock. I don't want to be sorry because you caught me in the Lotto line. I want to be sorry because I'm sorry.
And until we have confessed our sin before a Holy God, all our sin - everything that displeases Him, we walk around with unforgiven sin and we build strongholds up in our lives.
Join me in prayer--
Lord,
I ask forgiveness for my sin. I am truly sorry that I have sinned against you and you only. I confess all of my sin, those done consciously and unconsciously and I am truly sorry that I have transgressed against you. Wash me pure with the blood of the Lamb. Create in me a new heart and renew a right spirit within me that I may worship you in spirit and in truth and leave a sanctified life before you.
In Jesus' Name... amen.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Bring It To Me
"A man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, 'Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; ... I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him. ' And Jesus answered and said ... 'Bring him here to Me" (Matthew 17:14-17).
In life there are problems that I call "God problems." These are not problems with God, but problems only God can handle. God problems are those that cannot be fixed with your checkbook, education or influence. These problems are outside of the control of human beings and lie squarely within God's sovereign jurisdiction. They stop us in our tracks and cause us to soberly assess our associations and situation in life. They bring us face to face with our insufficiency and our need for God's sufficiency. When we face a God problem we discover what is really important in life. These problems are not designed to stop us from making progress in life, but to reveal our dependency on God. They are opportunities for us to seek and grow closer to Him. God wants to reveal something to you. He wants you to spend some time with Him, growing in your knowledge and relationship with Him, and your problem may be the vehicle He is using to do it.
Throughout the gospels people sought Jesus to do what no one else could do. In Matthew 17:14-1 7, a father had a problem that no one else had an answer for. His son was demon-possessed and no one was able to help him, including the disciples. Finally, he encountered the One who had held the key to his son's deliverance - Jesus. Jesus, looking at this seemingly impossible and long term situation, told the father to, "Bring him to Me". Jesus did in a moment what his father had been trying to do for years. Likewise, the disciples faced a seemingly impossible task of feeding a multitude with a boy's lunch. The boy only had two fish and five loaves of bread, but there were over 5000 people to feed. After taking inventory of the situation, Jesus told the disciples to, "Bring them here to me." As the fish and loaves passed through the hands of Jesus, their insufficiency was transformed into sufficiency.
You may be presently dealing with something that is outside of your control. You've done everything within your power to change the situation and have almost given up hope because nothing has changed. Before you give up, make sure that you've truly brought your problem to God and not trusted people for your solution. Like the boy's father who brought his son to the disciples - they couldn't help him. He needed God alone! Too often, God is the last stop in our search for help. You don't have to lose everything before you seek Him. God is not intimidated by what you are dealing with. Stop trying to fix it on your own. If you could fix it, it would be fixed by now. This is a "God Problem", or a "problem for God". Don't mistake your trusting people with trusting God. When God showed up, deliverance quickly followed.
The devil will do everything he can to keep you from spending time with God and discovering His sufficiency. He will put people in your way and keep you so busy and tired, that instead of things getting better, they get worse. I want to challenge you. Set aside some time in the morning, evening, (or if things are so hectic) on your lunch break or when you are lying in bed and get into God's presence undistracted. Take a deep breadth and focus on God's promises. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus promised, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, .... 'For My yoke is easy and My burden is light'." God's offer still stands! Whatever it is- "bring it to Me!"
In life there are problems that I call "God problems." These are not problems with God, but problems only God can handle. God problems are those that cannot be fixed with your checkbook, education or influence. These problems are outside of the control of human beings and lie squarely within God's sovereign jurisdiction. They stop us in our tracks and cause us to soberly assess our associations and situation in life. They bring us face to face with our insufficiency and our need for God's sufficiency. When we face a God problem we discover what is really important in life. These problems are not designed to stop us from making progress in life, but to reveal our dependency on God. They are opportunities for us to seek and grow closer to Him. God wants to reveal something to you. He wants you to spend some time with Him, growing in your knowledge and relationship with Him, and your problem may be the vehicle He is using to do it.
Throughout the gospels people sought Jesus to do what no one else could do. In Matthew 17:14-1 7, a father had a problem that no one else had an answer for. His son was demon-possessed and no one was able to help him, including the disciples. Finally, he encountered the One who had held the key to his son's deliverance - Jesus. Jesus, looking at this seemingly impossible and long term situation, told the father to, "Bring him to Me". Jesus did in a moment what his father had been trying to do for years. Likewise, the disciples faced a seemingly impossible task of feeding a multitude with a boy's lunch. The boy only had two fish and five loaves of bread, but there were over 5000 people to feed. After taking inventory of the situation, Jesus told the disciples to, "Bring them here to me." As the fish and loaves passed through the hands of Jesus, their insufficiency was transformed into sufficiency.
You may be presently dealing with something that is outside of your control. You've done everything within your power to change the situation and have almost given up hope because nothing has changed. Before you give up, make sure that you've truly brought your problem to God and not trusted people for your solution. Like the boy's father who brought his son to the disciples - they couldn't help him. He needed God alone! Too often, God is the last stop in our search for help. You don't have to lose everything before you seek Him. God is not intimidated by what you are dealing with. Stop trying to fix it on your own. If you could fix it, it would be fixed by now. This is a "God Problem", or a "problem for God". Don't mistake your trusting people with trusting God. When God showed up, deliverance quickly followed.
The devil will do everything he can to keep you from spending time with God and discovering His sufficiency. He will put people in your way and keep you so busy and tired, that instead of things getting better, they get worse. I want to challenge you. Set aside some time in the morning, evening, (or if things are so hectic) on your lunch break or when you are lying in bed and get into God's presence undistracted. Take a deep breadth and focus on God's promises. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus promised, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, .... 'For My yoke is easy and My burden is light'." God's offer still stands! Whatever it is- "bring it to Me!"
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Getting Your Own Revelation of El Shaddai
Philippians 3:10 - That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (KJV)
It is vital for every believer to have a personal revelation of God as El Shaddai, our God who will change the course of nature for us if necessary.
Just because you heard about El Shaddai does not mean you "got" it or understood it. Anybody can shout in church with hundreds or even thousands of people standing around them. It is when you get up in front of an obstacle and you can not see your way around it that you need to be able to shout because you have a personal revelation of God as El Shaddai.
Natural law could tell you, "No way!" It is then that you have to have revelation (not that Bishop Butler or that your pastor has) that God is El Shaddai. You have to have the revelation for yourself. And you get that revelation only by getting in the Word and getting to know Him deeper and more intimately.
Remember that Paul said, "That I might know Him." You have to have the attitude, I am going to stay before Him so I can see for myself.
The Book of Revelation talks about angels that fly around and around the throne of God and worship Him. That is why they get to see more sides of God. They stay before Him, around the throne of God.
You have to stay around the throne so you can see more sides of God. If you do not stay around the throne, and you are down at Joe's Bar, you are not going to get a revelation of God. You are going to get a revelation of Joe! If you hang around the phone gossiping with Sally Sue, you are not going to get a revelation of God. You are going to get a revelation of Bad News Sally.
If you want a revelation of God, you are going to have to hang around the throne. How do you hang around the throne? With praise and worship unto God... with glorifying His Name... with praying in the Holy Ghost and with meditating the Word.
Let me tell you what will happen. You will read the Word, and say, "Holy!" You will read something else and say, "Holy!" You will praise God, and you will say, "Holy is the Lord!" And you will see a new facet of God as you have never seen it - as you continue to build on your foundation and not let it slip.
Scripture References: Revelation 4:8; Hebrews 2:1; 2 Peter 1:19
It is vital for every believer to have a personal revelation of God as El Shaddai, our God who will change the course of nature for us if necessary.
Just because you heard about El Shaddai does not mean you "got" it or understood it. Anybody can shout in church with hundreds or even thousands of people standing around them. It is when you get up in front of an obstacle and you can not see your way around it that you need to be able to shout because you have a personal revelation of God as El Shaddai.
Natural law could tell you, "No way!" It is then that you have to have revelation (not that Bishop Butler or that your pastor has) that God is El Shaddai. You have to have the revelation for yourself. And you get that revelation only by getting in the Word and getting to know Him deeper and more intimately.
Remember that Paul said, "That I might know Him." You have to have the attitude, I am going to stay before Him so I can see for myself.
The Book of Revelation talks about angels that fly around and around the throne of God and worship Him. That is why they get to see more sides of God. They stay before Him, around the throne of God.
You have to stay around the throne so you can see more sides of God. If you do not stay around the throne, and you are down at Joe's Bar, you are not going to get a revelation of God. You are going to get a revelation of Joe! If you hang around the phone gossiping with Sally Sue, you are not going to get a revelation of God. You are going to get a revelation of Bad News Sally.
If you want a revelation of God, you are going to have to hang around the throne. How do you hang around the throne? With praise and worship unto God... with glorifying His Name... with praying in the Holy Ghost and with meditating the Word.
Let me tell you what will happen. You will read the Word, and say, "Holy!" You will read something else and say, "Holy!" You will praise God, and you will say, "Holy is the Lord!" And you will see a new facet of God as you have never seen it - as you continue to build on your foundation and not let it slip.
Scripture References: Revelation 4:8; Hebrews 2:1; 2 Peter 1:19
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Passion du Christ
Béni sois-tu, Jésus Christ mon Seigneur, qui as prédit ta mort avant l'heure ; qui, à la dernière Cène, as merveilleusement consacré avec du pain matériel ton corps qui nous rachète ; qui l'as donné par amour aux apôtres en mémoire de ta très précieuse Passion ; toi qui, en leur lavant les pieds de tes très saintes et nobles mains, leur as donné humblement un modèle d'humilité....
Louange éternelle à toi, Jésus Christ mon Seigneur, pour cette heure où tu as souffert sur la croix, pour nous pécheurs, les plus grandes amertumes et les angoisses les plus extrêmes ; car les souffrances très aiguës de tes blessures atteignaient durement ton âme et transperçaient cruellement ton coeur sacré ; finalement ton coeur a éclaté, tu as rendu l'esprit et, penchant la tête, tu t'es remis humblement aux mains de Dieu ton Père, et alors ton corps a connu le froid de la mort...
Béni sois-tu, Jésus Christ mon Seigneur, qui pour notre salut as permis que ton côté et ton coeur soient percés par la lance, et qui as fait jaillir de ton côté les flots de ton sang précieux pour nous racheter.
Gloire à toi, Jésus Christ mon Seigneur, parce que tu as voulu que ton corps béni soit déposé de la croix par tes amis et couché dans les bras de ta mère très douloureuse ; et parce que tu as permis qu'elle l'enveloppe de linges, qu'il soit mis au tombeau et gardé par des soldats.
Honneur éternel à toi, Jésus Christ mon Seigneur, qui es ressuscité des morts le troisième jour ; qui t'es manifesté vivant aux témoins de ton choix ; qui, après quarante jours, es monté au ciel à la vue de beaucoup, et qui y as établi avec honneur tes amis que tu avais délivrés des enfers.
Jubilation et louange éternelle à toi, Seigneur Jésus Christ, qui as envoyé le Saint Esprit dans le coeur de tes disciples et as développé en eux un amour infini de Dieu.
Béni sois-tu, digne de louange et de gloire éternellement, Jésus mon Seigneur, qui trônes en ton royaume céleste dans la gloire de ta divinité, vivant corporellement avec tes membres très saints que tu as tirés de la chair de la Vierge. Et c'est ainsi que tu viendras au jour du jugement pour juger les âmes de tous, vivants et morts. Toi qui vis et règnes avec le Père et l'Esprit Saint pour les siècles des siècles. Amen.
Louange éternelle à toi, Jésus Christ mon Seigneur, pour cette heure où tu as souffert sur la croix, pour nous pécheurs, les plus grandes amertumes et les angoisses les plus extrêmes ; car les souffrances très aiguës de tes blessures atteignaient durement ton âme et transperçaient cruellement ton coeur sacré ; finalement ton coeur a éclaté, tu as rendu l'esprit et, penchant la tête, tu t'es remis humblement aux mains de Dieu ton Père, et alors ton corps a connu le froid de la mort...
Béni sois-tu, Jésus Christ mon Seigneur, qui pour notre salut as permis que ton côté et ton coeur soient percés par la lance, et qui as fait jaillir de ton côté les flots de ton sang précieux pour nous racheter.
Gloire à toi, Jésus Christ mon Seigneur, parce que tu as voulu que ton corps béni soit déposé de la croix par tes amis et couché dans les bras de ta mère très douloureuse ; et parce que tu as permis qu'elle l'enveloppe de linges, qu'il soit mis au tombeau et gardé par des soldats.
Honneur éternel à toi, Jésus Christ mon Seigneur, qui es ressuscité des morts le troisième jour ; qui t'es manifesté vivant aux témoins de ton choix ; qui, après quarante jours, es monté au ciel à la vue de beaucoup, et qui y as établi avec honneur tes amis que tu avais délivrés des enfers.
Jubilation et louange éternelle à toi, Seigneur Jésus Christ, qui as envoyé le Saint Esprit dans le coeur de tes disciples et as développé en eux un amour infini de Dieu.
Béni sois-tu, digne de louange et de gloire éternellement, Jésus mon Seigneur, qui trônes en ton royaume céleste dans la gloire de ta divinité, vivant corporellement avec tes membres très saints que tu as tirés de la chair de la Vierge. Et c'est ainsi que tu viendras au jour du jugement pour juger les âmes de tous, vivants et morts. Toi qui vis et règnes avec le Père et l'Esprit Saint pour les siècles des siècles. Amen.
The Purpose of Time Alone with God
The ultimate purpose of spending time with God is to commune with God. Man is made for relationship with God (Ecclesiastes 3:11), and thus, in order to have fullness of joy and to be what God wants him to be, he needs to cultivate that relationship. How this is done will make all the difference for making our devotional time a meaningful, edifying, and truly purposeful time.
James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." The reason we must have time with God is because God asks us to. He puts the responsibility on us to make the first move to reach to Him in drawing near. He wants us to want Him, and so He waits for us with open arms hoping that we will run to Him. The promise for us is sure that if we draw near to Him we can be sure that He will be there for us. He won't run, He won't hurt us, He won't ignore us, He won't abandon us, and He will listen. He is the perfect friend and Father, and He always has all the time we could ever need. In addition, He has the power to effect change, move mountains, and truly impact our lives immediately and directly. It is such a privilege to be a child of God Who can approach the Sovereign of the entire world to move to meet our needs.
When we come to realize that life is about relationship with God, we will get the most out of our devotion time. If we start to think that life is merely about doing things for God rather than enjoying God Who does His work in and through us, we will lose our joy and our first love (Revelation 2:4). Life to the full is knowing God (John 17:3). Eternal life and the abundant life (John 10:10) are found in cultivating a personal relationship with a personal God through Jesus Christ. This is what our heart longs for, and if we start replacing God with activities for God or any other idol, we will lose our joy and wonder why God feels so distant. The beauty of an intimate walk with God is that we can know His will (1 Corinthians 2:16), we can have our joy made full (John 15:11), and we can expect our prayers to be answered (John 15:7). There is rest, security, and certainty when we are near to the heart of God. But we must take the time to spend time with God to listen to Him, learn from Him, and love Him.
A productive quiet time is one in which we encounter God's heart for us through His Word. We read it, study it, and meditate upon it such that the Spirit is able to give us enlightenment concerning its meaning and His desired application for our lives. The Scripture is not meant to be mere data and information, but it is language expressing God's love and intents to us and for us. It is thus more than letters on a page, being God's handwritten note to us about His love and purposes for us. It is very much alive (Hebrews 4:12). When we read God's Word to see what God's heart is and how He wants our hearts (James 1:25), then devotions are meaningful and purposeful.
Devotions should also involve time in prayer. We should listen to God through His Word, and then we should speak to God through prayer. It is essential that we open our hearts fully before God, especially since He sees them for what they are anyway. It is silly to not express our full longings when God knows what they are anyway. We should cast our worries and cares upon Christ (1 Peter 5:7), we should pour out our needs to Him, and we should pray for the things which He has told us to pray for, such as for His kingdom to come and will to be done in various areas in our sphere of influence and in the world. We want to see His name lifted up in spirit and in truth. Once our hearts are enraptured with God, it is only natural to pray for others to know the same thing.
Psalm 16:11 says, "You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever." We were made for God, so let us spend time alone with God to hear from Him, to know Him, to enjoy Him, to learn from Him, and to listen to Him. He alone can give us strength and meet our deepest needs, so let us draw near to Him regularly, starting today.
James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." The reason we must have time with God is because God asks us to. He puts the responsibility on us to make the first move to reach to Him in drawing near. He wants us to want Him, and so He waits for us with open arms hoping that we will run to Him. The promise for us is sure that if we draw near to Him we can be sure that He will be there for us. He won't run, He won't hurt us, He won't ignore us, He won't abandon us, and He will listen. He is the perfect friend and Father, and He always has all the time we could ever need. In addition, He has the power to effect change, move mountains, and truly impact our lives immediately and directly. It is such a privilege to be a child of God Who can approach the Sovereign of the entire world to move to meet our needs.
When we come to realize that life is about relationship with God, we will get the most out of our devotion time. If we start to think that life is merely about doing things for God rather than enjoying God Who does His work in and through us, we will lose our joy and our first love (Revelation 2:4). Life to the full is knowing God (John 17:3). Eternal life and the abundant life (John 10:10) are found in cultivating a personal relationship with a personal God through Jesus Christ. This is what our heart longs for, and if we start replacing God with activities for God or any other idol, we will lose our joy and wonder why God feels so distant. The beauty of an intimate walk with God is that we can know His will (1 Corinthians 2:16), we can have our joy made full (John 15:11), and we can expect our prayers to be answered (John 15:7). There is rest, security, and certainty when we are near to the heart of God. But we must take the time to spend time with God to listen to Him, learn from Him, and love Him.
A productive quiet time is one in which we encounter God's heart for us through His Word. We read it, study it, and meditate upon it such that the Spirit is able to give us enlightenment concerning its meaning and His desired application for our lives. The Scripture is not meant to be mere data and information, but it is language expressing God's love and intents to us and for us. It is thus more than letters on a page, being God's handwritten note to us about His love and purposes for us. It is very much alive (Hebrews 4:12). When we read God's Word to see what God's heart is and how He wants our hearts (James 1:25), then devotions are meaningful and purposeful.
Devotions should also involve time in prayer. We should listen to God through His Word, and then we should speak to God through prayer. It is essential that we open our hearts fully before God, especially since He sees them for what they are anyway. It is silly to not express our full longings when God knows what they are anyway. We should cast our worries and cares upon Christ (1 Peter 5:7), we should pour out our needs to Him, and we should pray for the things which He has told us to pray for, such as for His kingdom to come and will to be done in various areas in our sphere of influence and in the world. We want to see His name lifted up in spirit and in truth. Once our hearts are enraptured with God, it is only natural to pray for others to know the same thing.
Psalm 16:11 says, "You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever." We were made for God, so let us spend time alone with God to hear from Him, to know Him, to enjoy Him, to learn from Him, and to listen to Him. He alone can give us strength and meet our deepest needs, so let us draw near to Him regularly, starting today.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Faith : Bring your Red Umbrella
"Ask...in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24 NIV
When severe drought hit a small farming community , a local church called a prayer meeting and everybody showed up. Crisis has a way of getting our attention! As the pastor stood before his packed church he noticed an 11-year-old girl sitting in the front row, beaming with excitement. Lying next to her was her bright red umbrella poised for use. The beauty and innocence of this sight made him smile as he compared the faith of this child with that of the rest of the people in the room. You see, the rest of them had just come to pray for rain - she had come to see God answer!
One of the dangers of praying, is praying, yet not really expecting anything: "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that...he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Heb11:6 NIV). You say, "So how do I get more faith?" By filling your mind with the Scriptures! "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Ro 10:17). When you immerse yourself in God's Word an amazing thing happens; faith takes root and begins to grow. And faith is what makes your praying effective.
But what if your prayer lines up with God's Word, yet the answer is delayed?
Keep praying and believing! "Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised" (Heb 10:35-36 NIV).
So when you pray for rain, bring your "red umbrella!"
When severe drought hit a small farming community , a local church called a prayer meeting and everybody showed up. Crisis has a way of getting our attention! As the pastor stood before his packed church he noticed an 11-year-old girl sitting in the front row, beaming with excitement. Lying next to her was her bright red umbrella poised for use. The beauty and innocence of this sight made him smile as he compared the faith of this child with that of the rest of the people in the room. You see, the rest of them had just come to pray for rain - she had come to see God answer!
One of the dangers of praying, is praying, yet not really expecting anything: "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that...he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Heb11:6 NIV). You say, "So how do I get more faith?" By filling your mind with the Scriptures! "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Ro 10:17). When you immerse yourself in God's Word an amazing thing happens; faith takes root and begins to grow. And faith is what makes your praying effective.
But what if your prayer lines up with God's Word, yet the answer is delayed?
Keep praying and believing! "Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised" (Heb 10:35-36 NIV).
So when you pray for rain, bring your "red umbrella!"
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Free to Love Like Jesus
In the day in which we live, it takes a lot to shock us. We see so much sorrow, death and destruction each night on the news that after a while we become desensitized to it.
But last night, I saw something that shocked, sickened and saddened me. Maybe you saw it, too.
A 49 year old woman named Esmin Green was admitted to the emergency room of King's County Hospital Center in New York for psychiatric evaluation, and she was left in the waiting room for over 24 hours. At 5:32 am, the security camera shows her collapsing on the floor. For the next 30 minutes, Ms. Green lay on the floor convulsing, moving and at one point appearing to try to get up. Hospital workers and employees came in, looked at the woman and then left. One even appeared to be looking at the television while completely ignoring the stricken woman. She stopped moving at 6:07 am.
One hour and three minutes after she collapsed, a hospital worker came into the room and nudged Ms. Green with her foot. When she got no response, the worker waited a few minutes more and then summonded help. But it was too late. Esmin Green was dead.
How could someone collapse in a hospital's waiting room and lay there for an hour until she died? How could hospital workers and perhaps other people waiting for treatment in the waiting room ignore someone who was obviously in need of help? How could people be so uncaring and heartless toward another human being?
Today we heard that six workers at King's County have been fired for their failure to help Ms. Green and for their attempts to cover it up. Obviously, they should have been. But as I thought about this story during the day today, I can't help but think that to one extent or another, you and I are in some ways as guilty of neglect as those hospital workers.
Now to be sure, if someone collapsed in the hall outside my office or in the parking deck as I was walking to my car, I would no doubt act decisively to assist them and to summon help. I am sure you would do the same. But how many times recently have I crossed paths with someone who was in great need spiritually or emotionally and I ignored them just as those hospital workers ignored Esmin Green?
Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan to expose the racism and elitism of the Pharisees. He also wanted to point out their lack of compassion for those in need. You remember the story... a man is attacked, beat up, and left for dead. Several religious leaders pass by the injured man before a Samaritan - a group of people hated by the Jews - stopped to help.
In those moments when we are being really honest with ourselves and with God, we know in our hearts that left to our own devices we tend to be like the Pharisees. It is when we are being like Jesus that we reach out in love and compassion to help and to share the gospel with all we come in contact with. Our culture teaches us to withdraw from and distrust those who we don't know and those who are not like us. Jesus has set us free to love like He loves.
And He reminds us that when we touch the least of these we are touching Him. When we refuse them, we are refusing Him.
Lord, make me sensitive to the needs, the cares, the concerns, the hurts, and the spiritual condition of those that I come in contact with today!
But last night, I saw something that shocked, sickened and saddened me. Maybe you saw it, too.
A 49 year old woman named Esmin Green was admitted to the emergency room of King's County Hospital Center in New York for psychiatric evaluation, and she was left in the waiting room for over 24 hours. At 5:32 am, the security camera shows her collapsing on the floor. For the next 30 minutes, Ms. Green lay on the floor convulsing, moving and at one point appearing to try to get up. Hospital workers and employees came in, looked at the woman and then left. One even appeared to be looking at the television while completely ignoring the stricken woman. She stopped moving at 6:07 am.
One hour and three minutes after she collapsed, a hospital worker came into the room and nudged Ms. Green with her foot. When she got no response, the worker waited a few minutes more and then summonded help. But it was too late. Esmin Green was dead.
How could someone collapse in a hospital's waiting room and lay there for an hour until she died? How could hospital workers and perhaps other people waiting for treatment in the waiting room ignore someone who was obviously in need of help? How could people be so uncaring and heartless toward another human being?
Today we heard that six workers at King's County have been fired for their failure to help Ms. Green and for their attempts to cover it up. Obviously, they should have been. But as I thought about this story during the day today, I can't help but think that to one extent or another, you and I are in some ways as guilty of neglect as those hospital workers.
Now to be sure, if someone collapsed in the hall outside my office or in the parking deck as I was walking to my car, I would no doubt act decisively to assist them and to summon help. I am sure you would do the same. But how many times recently have I crossed paths with someone who was in great need spiritually or emotionally and I ignored them just as those hospital workers ignored Esmin Green?
Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan to expose the racism and elitism of the Pharisees. He also wanted to point out their lack of compassion for those in need. You remember the story... a man is attacked, beat up, and left for dead. Several religious leaders pass by the injured man before a Samaritan - a group of people hated by the Jews - stopped to help.
In those moments when we are being really honest with ourselves and with God, we know in our hearts that left to our own devices we tend to be like the Pharisees. It is when we are being like Jesus that we reach out in love and compassion to help and to share the gospel with all we come in contact with. Our culture teaches us to withdraw from and distrust those who we don't know and those who are not like us. Jesus has set us free to love like He loves.
And He reminds us that when we touch the least of these we are touching Him. When we refuse them, we are refusing Him.
Lord, make me sensitive to the needs, the cares, the concerns, the hurts, and the spiritual condition of those that I come in contact with today!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Dealing with Success
When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer, "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:12-14
Once we begin to experience success in the workplace, we naturally ask, "Do I need to share my success with others?"
Esther was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime - to become the queen. Many other ladies were considered but Esther found favor in the king's eyes. Most people desire success at some stage in their life. We daydream about the positive aspects of success. However, many of us fail to realize that success also comes with responsibility. Even in the midst of success, God has expectations for His people. What lessons can we learn about success?
1. Look beyond yourself and consider others - As we begin to experience success, it's very easy to become selfish. We ask ourselves, "What steps should I take to continue my journey to the top? How can I get there faster?" We must remember that God blesses us so that we can share those blessings with others. In verse 14, Mordecai wanted Esther to know that God blessed her with this royal position so that she could serve as a blessing to her people. Are you willing to use your influence to help others? Could it be that God wants to use your success to open doors for others? Fortunately, there's no need to wait until you receive a fancy title. God can use your current level of influence.
2. Don't mistreat people now that you're successful - Although Esther was the queen, she maintained contact with her family member - Mordecai. While Esther was granted special access to the king, her family members needed special permission to make it pass the front gate. Have you ever known anyone who "changed" after they experienced success? As we begin to network with our new circle of influence, we often have a tendency to forget about those people who supported us prior to our success.
3. Don't think that you're exempt from harsh treatment - In verse 13, Mordecai reminded Esther that she wasn't exempt from the harsh treatment planned for her people. It was as if he was saying, "I understand that you're the queen. However, don't forget that you are Jewish too. Don't think that you're off the hook." Success can quickly blind us to the harsh realities of life. Some female executives may assume that they're exempt from gender discrimination. Some minority executives may assume that they're exempt from racial discrimination. The enemy will not withhold his attacks just because we're experiencing success.
Once we begin to experience success in the workplace, we naturally ask, "Do I need to share my success with others?"
Esther was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime - to become the queen. Many other ladies were considered but Esther found favor in the king's eyes. Most people desire success at some stage in their life. We daydream about the positive aspects of success. However, many of us fail to realize that success also comes with responsibility. Even in the midst of success, God has expectations for His people. What lessons can we learn about success?
1. Look beyond yourself and consider others - As we begin to experience success, it's very easy to become selfish. We ask ourselves, "What steps should I take to continue my journey to the top? How can I get there faster?" We must remember that God blesses us so that we can share those blessings with others. In verse 14, Mordecai wanted Esther to know that God blessed her with this royal position so that she could serve as a blessing to her people. Are you willing to use your influence to help others? Could it be that God wants to use your success to open doors for others? Fortunately, there's no need to wait until you receive a fancy title. God can use your current level of influence.
2. Don't mistreat people now that you're successful - Although Esther was the queen, she maintained contact with her family member - Mordecai. While Esther was granted special access to the king, her family members needed special permission to make it pass the front gate. Have you ever known anyone who "changed" after they experienced success? As we begin to network with our new circle of influence, we often have a tendency to forget about those people who supported us prior to our success.
3. Don't think that you're exempt from harsh treatment - In verse 13, Mordecai reminded Esther that she wasn't exempt from the harsh treatment planned for her people. It was as if he was saying, "I understand that you're the queen. However, don't forget that you are Jewish too. Don't think that you're off the hook." Success can quickly blind us to the harsh realities of life. Some female executives may assume that they're exempt from gender discrimination. Some minority executives may assume that they're exempt from racial discrimination. The enemy will not withhold his attacks just because we're experiencing success.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Angels of God on Your Side
For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off. Exodus 23:23 (KJV)
Much of what God said He did it through the ministry of angels. When the children of Israel went into the Promised Land as recorded in the Book of Joshua, they went up against the very first nation or group of people they had to drive out, and it was Jericho. The city of Jericho was surrounded by a wall so wide that six chariots could race side by side on top of that wall.
God told Joshua, "I want you to march around that wall once every day for seven days. On the seventh day I want you to march around it seven times and then blow the trumpet, and the walls will fall down." (Joshua 6:3-5)
But how is it that the walls fell down flat? When the people obeyed God and did what He said to do, guess who knocked the walls down? The angel that took them into the land to drive out the Amorites, Hittites, and the other "-ites" who were there. That land didn't belong to those "-ites", and God sent an angel to fight the battle for the children of Israel.
The Bible tells us that those who were under the Old Covenant do not have a better covenant that we do under the New Covenant. Whatever they had in the Old Covenant, we have it in the New Covenant and more (Hebrews 8:6). And the angels that fought those battles for God's people in the Old Covenant and knocked down walls, will fight battles and knock down walls in our covenant, too.
Remember that God said, "I'll send that angel to go in front of you. I'll send that angel to be with you. And I'll send that angel to take you into the place that's prepared for you, and he will fight for you."
Angels were involved in helping the children of Israel get back what the devil had stolen, And they will do the same for us today.
Scripture References: Joshua 6:3-5; Hebrews 8:6
Much of what God said He did it through the ministry of angels. When the children of Israel went into the Promised Land as recorded in the Book of Joshua, they went up against the very first nation or group of people they had to drive out, and it was Jericho. The city of Jericho was surrounded by a wall so wide that six chariots could race side by side on top of that wall.
God told Joshua, "I want you to march around that wall once every day for seven days. On the seventh day I want you to march around it seven times and then blow the trumpet, and the walls will fall down." (Joshua 6:3-5)
But how is it that the walls fell down flat? When the people obeyed God and did what He said to do, guess who knocked the walls down? The angel that took them into the land to drive out the Amorites, Hittites, and the other "-ites" who were there. That land didn't belong to those "-ites", and God sent an angel to fight the battle for the children of Israel.
The Bible tells us that those who were under the Old Covenant do not have a better covenant that we do under the New Covenant. Whatever they had in the Old Covenant, we have it in the New Covenant and more (Hebrews 8:6). And the angels that fought those battles for God's people in the Old Covenant and knocked down walls, will fight battles and knock down walls in our covenant, too.
Remember that God said, "I'll send that angel to go in front of you. I'll send that angel to be with you. And I'll send that angel to take you into the place that's prepared for you, and he will fight for you."
Angels were involved in helping the children of Israel get back what the devil had stolen, And they will do the same for us today.
Scripture References: Joshua 6:3-5; Hebrews 8:6
« Moi, je suis la vraie vigne, et mon Père est le vigneron » (Jn 15,1)
Sais-tu ce que je fais lorsque mes serviteurs veulent suivre la doctrine du doux Verbe d'amour ? Je les taille pour qu'ils produisent beaucoup de fruit et pour que leurs fruits soient doux et ne redeviennent pas sauvages. Le vigneron taille les sarments de la vigne pour qu'ils produisent un meilleur vin ; n'est-ce pas ce que je fais, moi, le vrai vigneron ? (Jn 15,1) Mes serviteurs qui sont en moi, je les taille par beaucoup de tribulations pour qu'ils produisent des fruits plus abondants et meilleurs et pour que leur vertu soit éprouvée ; mais ceux qui demeurent stériles je les coupe et je les mets au feu (Jn 15,6).
Les vrais ouvriers travaillent bien leur âme ; ils en arrachent tout amour-propre et retournent la terre de leur amour pour moi. Ils fertilisent et accroissent ainsi la semence de la grâce qu'ils ont reçue dans le saint baptême. En cultivant leur vigne, ils cultivent aussi celle de leur prochain ; ils ne peuvent pas cultiver l'une sans l'autre. Souviens-toi que tout mal et tout bien se font par le moyen du prochain. C'est ainsi que vous êtes mes vignerons, issus de moi, l'éternel vigneron. C'est moi qui vous ai unis et greffés sur cette vigne grâce à l'union que j'ai établie avec vous... Tous ensemble vous ne formez qu'une seule vigne universelle...; vous êtes unis dans la vigne du corps mystique de la sainte Eglise dont vous tirez votre vie. Dans cette vigne est planté le cep de mon Fils unique sur lequel vous devez tous être greffés pour rester en vie.
Les vrais ouvriers travaillent bien leur âme ; ils en arrachent tout amour-propre et retournent la terre de leur amour pour moi. Ils fertilisent et accroissent ainsi la semence de la grâce qu'ils ont reçue dans le saint baptême. En cultivant leur vigne, ils cultivent aussi celle de leur prochain ; ils ne peuvent pas cultiver l'une sans l'autre. Souviens-toi que tout mal et tout bien se font par le moyen du prochain. C'est ainsi que vous êtes mes vignerons, issus de moi, l'éternel vigneron. C'est moi qui vous ai unis et greffés sur cette vigne grâce à l'union que j'ai établie avec vous... Tous ensemble vous ne formez qu'une seule vigne universelle...; vous êtes unis dans la vigne du corps mystique de la sainte Eglise dont vous tirez votre vie. Dans cette vigne est planté le cep de mon Fils unique sur lequel vous devez tous être greffés pour rester en vie.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
In the Secret Place of the Most High
Psalm 91:1-10 says,
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
This means sickness and disease will not come near your house, provided you dwell in the secret place of the Most High, and abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
This passage goes on to say in verse 11: For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
You may be afraid of flying on an airplane, of going outside at night, or of any number of other things. Fear is a terrible thing; there is nothing worse than being afraid. But you do not need to be afraid because your Heavenly Father has given "His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways."
Every one of us has a guardian angel. That angel has been keeping you from getting your head blown off many times over. He will keep you alive when you are a sinner, so that you can be saved. Notice that verse 11 says you have angels, plural. Not only do you have angels, but the Bible says God will give His angels charge over you. This means He commissions them to mount guard over you.
However, the angels cannot do anything for you to the fullest extent possible unless you are willing to believe they are there, count on them and expect them to work for you. You have to dare to believe it, dare to take God at His Word, and dare to confess it. Once you do this, amazing things will happen.
Psalm 91:12-13 continues:
12 In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
These verses let us know that the devil and every demon are under our feet.
Psalm 91:14-16:
14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."
My advice to you, friend, is to get this Word in you. Then confess it, and dare to make it personal. Say out loud, "I dwell in the secret place of the Most High, and I abide under the shadow of the Almighty. A thousand can fall at my side, and 10,000 at my right hand, but no evil shall come near me, because I dwell in the secret place of the Most High."
It is this kind of faith confession that makes God's Word work and puts the power into operation in your life.
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
This means sickness and disease will not come near your house, provided you dwell in the secret place of the Most High, and abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
This passage goes on to say in verse 11: For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
You may be afraid of flying on an airplane, of going outside at night, or of any number of other things. Fear is a terrible thing; there is nothing worse than being afraid. But you do not need to be afraid because your Heavenly Father has given "His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways."
Every one of us has a guardian angel. That angel has been keeping you from getting your head blown off many times over. He will keep you alive when you are a sinner, so that you can be saved. Notice that verse 11 says you have angels, plural. Not only do you have angels, but the Bible says God will give His angels charge over you. This means He commissions them to mount guard over you.
However, the angels cannot do anything for you to the fullest extent possible unless you are willing to believe they are there, count on them and expect them to work for you. You have to dare to believe it, dare to take God at His Word, and dare to confess it. Once you do this, amazing things will happen.
Psalm 91:12-13 continues:
12 In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
These verses let us know that the devil and every demon are under our feet.
Psalm 91:14-16:
14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."
My advice to you, friend, is to get this Word in you. Then confess it, and dare to make it personal. Say out loud, "I dwell in the secret place of the Most High, and I abide under the shadow of the Almighty. A thousand can fall at my side, and 10,000 at my right hand, but no evil shall come near me, because I dwell in the secret place of the Most High."
It is this kind of faith confession that makes God's Word work and puts the power into operation in your life.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
A Virtuous Woman
Proverbs 31:10-31 (The Message)
A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.
She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She's quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn't worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
"Many women have done wonderful things,
but you've outclassed them all!"
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.
She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She's quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn't worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
"Many women have done wonderful things,
but you've outclassed them all!"
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
Friday, May 9, 2008
Psalm 30:2 - I called to You for help and you healed me
God alone is the unique healer (cf. Ex. 15:26; Deut. 32:39; Ps. 107:20). David is extolling God for bringing him back from a near-death experience.
Most of us have at one time or another experienced the delicious relief of recovery from a serious illness. We have said goodbye to the sterile world of surgery, anesthesia, intensive care, intravenous feedings, hypodermic injections and the interminable pill parade! It is too easy to think that our recovery was "thanks to modern medicine!" We forget to sing a psalm of thanksgiving to the One who is ultimately responsible for all our healing.
Most of us have at one time or another experienced the delicious relief of recovery from a serious illness. We have said goodbye to the sterile world of surgery, anesthesia, intensive care, intravenous feedings, hypodermic injections and the interminable pill parade! It is too easy to think that our recovery was "thanks to modern medicine!" We forget to sing a psalm of thanksgiving to the One who is ultimately responsible for all our healing.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
The Price: Sinless Blood
Hebrews 9:22 - And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (KJV)
According to the law of God, everything must be cleansed in blood. The only way you and I could be delivered was if someone with untainted blood would die in our place - someone who was qualified to be the sacrificial substitute for you and me.
Every man after Adam was born with the nature of sin. When Adam and Eve sinned, they died spiritually that moment. We know Adam physically lived 930 years. But God told him that "...the day you eat of that tree you shall surely die." God was referring to spiritual death. Spiritual death is receiving Satan's nature and being separated from God. That's exactly what happened. When Adam and Eve sinned, their blood was tainted and they received the nature of Satan. Every person born after that was born with the nature of sin in his or her bloodstream. Man is the carrier. And your daddy has the nature of sin in his blood.
So, Satan thought he had the planet all locked up. But God had a better idea. He sent the Holy Ghost to conceive a child in the womb of a virgin named Mary. That Holy child was born without sin. His blood was pure. Thus, because His blood was pure, it could wash away our sins. Men have died in battle for other men. Their death may have saved someone's physical bodies for a time. But it didn't do anything about the real problem, their eternal state. But the blood of Jesus was qualified to wipe away our real problem. Our real problem was spiritual death. Spiritual death in its final form is eternal death, hell forever.
So, without the shedding of blood there is no washing away of that sin. That is why Jesus had to hang on that cross. He had to shed His blood. That is why they beat Him and the blood came out of His head, it came out of His pores, it came out of His back, and it came out of every part of Him. There was blood on the pole, blood on the dirt, and blood everywhere. And when God, the Father, saw the blood He smiled. Everybody else was horrified. But when God saw the blood it made Him glad, because that blood was what was required to save you.
Now, everyone who believes on Jesus lives forever. Thank you Jesus, for the blood!
Scripture References: Romans 5:12; 10:8-10; John 3:16
According to the law of God, everything must be cleansed in blood. The only way you and I could be delivered was if someone with untainted blood would die in our place - someone who was qualified to be the sacrificial substitute for you and me.
Every man after Adam was born with the nature of sin. When Adam and Eve sinned, they died spiritually that moment. We know Adam physically lived 930 years. But God told him that "...the day you eat of that tree you shall surely die." God was referring to spiritual death. Spiritual death is receiving Satan's nature and being separated from God. That's exactly what happened. When Adam and Eve sinned, their blood was tainted and they received the nature of Satan. Every person born after that was born with the nature of sin in his or her bloodstream. Man is the carrier. And your daddy has the nature of sin in his blood.
So, Satan thought he had the planet all locked up. But God had a better idea. He sent the Holy Ghost to conceive a child in the womb of a virgin named Mary. That Holy child was born without sin. His blood was pure. Thus, because His blood was pure, it could wash away our sins. Men have died in battle for other men. Their death may have saved someone's physical bodies for a time. But it didn't do anything about the real problem, their eternal state. But the blood of Jesus was qualified to wipe away our real problem. Our real problem was spiritual death. Spiritual death in its final form is eternal death, hell forever.
So, without the shedding of blood there is no washing away of that sin. That is why Jesus had to hang on that cross. He had to shed His blood. That is why they beat Him and the blood came out of His head, it came out of His pores, it came out of His back, and it came out of every part of Him. There was blood on the pole, blood on the dirt, and blood everywhere. And when God, the Father, saw the blood He smiled. Everybody else was horrified. But when God saw the blood it made Him glad, because that blood was what was required to save you.
Now, everyone who believes on Jesus lives forever. Thank you Jesus, for the blood!
Scripture References: Romans 5:12; 10:8-10; John 3:16
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Tout ce que vous demanderez en invoquant mon nom, je le ferai, afin que le Père soit glorifié dans le Fils
Evangile de Jésus-Christ selon saint Jean 14,7-14.
Puisque vous me connaissez, vous connaîtrez aussi mon Père. Dès maintenant vous le connaissez, et vous l'avez vu. » Philippe lui dit : « Seigneur, montre-nous le Père ; cela nous suffit. » Jésus lui répond : « Il y a si longtemps que je suis avec vous, et tu ne me connais pas, Philippe ! Celui qui m'a vu a vu le Père. Comment peux-tu dire : 'Montre-nous le Père' ? Tu ne crois donc pas que je suis dans le Père et que le Père est en moi ! Les paroles que je vous dis, je ne les dis pas de moi-même ; mais c'est le Père qui demeure en moi, et qui accomplit ses propres oeuvres. Croyez ce que je vous dis : je suis dans le Père, et le Père est en moi ; si vous ne croyez pas ma parole, croyez au moins à cause des oeuvres. Amen, amen, je vous le dis : celui qui croit en moi accomplira les mêmes oeuvres que moi. Il en accomplira même de plus grandes, puisque je pars vers le Père. Tout ce que vous demanderez en invoquant mon nom, je le ferai, afin que le Père soit glorifié dans le Fils. Si vous me demandez quelque chose en invoquant mon nom, moi, je le ferai.
Il me semble que celui qui se dispose à prier doit se recueillir et se préparer quelque peu, pour être plus prompt, plus attentif à l'ensemble de sa prière. Il doit de même chasser toutes les anxiétés et tous les troubles de sa pensée, et s'efforcer de se souvenir de la grandeur du Dieu qu'il approche, songer qu’il est impie de se présenter à lui sans attention, sans effort, avec une sorte de sans-gêne, rejeter enfin toutes les pensées étrangères.
En venant à la prière, il faut présenter pour ainsi dire l’âme avant les mains, élever l'esprit vers Dieu avant les yeux, dégager l'esprit de la terre avant de se lever pour l'offrir au Seigneur de l'univers, enfin déposer tout ressentiment des offenses qu'on croit avoir reçues si on désire que Dieu oublie le mal commis contre lui-même, contre nos proches, ou contre la droite raison.
Comme les attitudes du corps sont innombrables, celle où nous étendons les mains et où nous levons les yeux au ciel doit être sûrement préférée à toutes les autres, pour exprimer dans le corps l'image des dispositions de l'âme pendant la prière…, mais les circonstances peuvent amener parfois à prier assis…ou même couché… Pour la prière à genoux, elle est nécessaire lorsque quelqu'un s'accuse devant Dieu de ses propres péchés, en le suppliant de le guérir et de l'absoudre. Elle est le symbole de ce prosternement et de cette soumission dont parle Paul lorsqu'il écrit : « C'est pourquoi je fléchis les genoux devant le Père, de qui vient toute paternité dans le ciel et sur la terre » (Ep 3,14-15). C'est là l'agenouillement spirituel, ainsi appelé parce que toute créature adore Dieu au nom de Jésus et se soumet humblement à lui. L'apôtre Paul semble y faire allusion quand il dit : « Qu'au nom de Jésus tout genou fléchisse au ciel, sur la terre, et dans l'abîme » (Ph 2,10).
Puisque vous me connaissez, vous connaîtrez aussi mon Père. Dès maintenant vous le connaissez, et vous l'avez vu. » Philippe lui dit : « Seigneur, montre-nous le Père ; cela nous suffit. » Jésus lui répond : « Il y a si longtemps que je suis avec vous, et tu ne me connais pas, Philippe ! Celui qui m'a vu a vu le Père. Comment peux-tu dire : 'Montre-nous le Père' ? Tu ne crois donc pas que je suis dans le Père et que le Père est en moi ! Les paroles que je vous dis, je ne les dis pas de moi-même ; mais c'est le Père qui demeure en moi, et qui accomplit ses propres oeuvres. Croyez ce que je vous dis : je suis dans le Père, et le Père est en moi ; si vous ne croyez pas ma parole, croyez au moins à cause des oeuvres. Amen, amen, je vous le dis : celui qui croit en moi accomplira les mêmes oeuvres que moi. Il en accomplira même de plus grandes, puisque je pars vers le Père. Tout ce que vous demanderez en invoquant mon nom, je le ferai, afin que le Père soit glorifié dans le Fils. Si vous me demandez quelque chose en invoquant mon nom, moi, je le ferai.
Il me semble que celui qui se dispose à prier doit se recueillir et se préparer quelque peu, pour être plus prompt, plus attentif à l'ensemble de sa prière. Il doit de même chasser toutes les anxiétés et tous les troubles de sa pensée, et s'efforcer de se souvenir de la grandeur du Dieu qu'il approche, songer qu’il est impie de se présenter à lui sans attention, sans effort, avec une sorte de sans-gêne, rejeter enfin toutes les pensées étrangères.
En venant à la prière, il faut présenter pour ainsi dire l’âme avant les mains, élever l'esprit vers Dieu avant les yeux, dégager l'esprit de la terre avant de se lever pour l'offrir au Seigneur de l'univers, enfin déposer tout ressentiment des offenses qu'on croit avoir reçues si on désire que Dieu oublie le mal commis contre lui-même, contre nos proches, ou contre la droite raison.
Comme les attitudes du corps sont innombrables, celle où nous étendons les mains et où nous levons les yeux au ciel doit être sûrement préférée à toutes les autres, pour exprimer dans le corps l'image des dispositions de l'âme pendant la prière…, mais les circonstances peuvent amener parfois à prier assis…ou même couché… Pour la prière à genoux, elle est nécessaire lorsque quelqu'un s'accuse devant Dieu de ses propres péchés, en le suppliant de le guérir et de l'absoudre. Elle est le symbole de ce prosternement et de cette soumission dont parle Paul lorsqu'il écrit : « C'est pourquoi je fléchis les genoux devant le Père, de qui vient toute paternité dans le ciel et sur la terre » (Ep 3,14-15). C'est là l'agenouillement spirituel, ainsi appelé parce que toute créature adore Dieu au nom de Jésus et se soumet humblement à lui. L'apôtre Paul semble y faire allusion quand il dit : « Qu'au nom de Jésus tout genou fléchisse au ciel, sur la terre, et dans l'abîme » (Ph 2,10).
Monday, April 14, 2008
You Are What You Speak
It has been stated that "you are what you eat" and honestly that is true. Yet I believe that it is also true that "you are what you speak". Words are so powerful and the content of our conversations are so impactful.
Recently while traveling I begin to deal very openly with this area in my personal life. The Holy Spirit began to open of the Word of God to regarding my use of words and the tone, tenor, and intent of them. Out of it came a challenge to live in a more disciplined manner in this area. The truth is that if we want to see God do the amazing we must speak with confidence of who God is. If we want to have healthy and affirming relationships, we must choose to speak that with consistency.
You will be amazed at how God partners with power with your conversations. For there is life and death in the content of your words and out of your mouth flow the issues of life. God wants so much for us and it is not his will that we struggle in our relationships. So we must make our words our ally and with intention speak life and love!
Over the next several days, track your conversations and pay attention to how you say what you say. You will find that you have greater impact over your day than you thought.
Enjoy the journey!
Read Proverbs 10:20, 32, 11:9, 12:6, 13:3, 15:1
Recently while traveling I begin to deal very openly with this area in my personal life. The Holy Spirit began to open of the Word of God to regarding my use of words and the tone, tenor, and intent of them. Out of it came a challenge to live in a more disciplined manner in this area. The truth is that if we want to see God do the amazing we must speak with confidence of who God is. If we want to have healthy and affirming relationships, we must choose to speak that with consistency.
You will be amazed at how God partners with power with your conversations. For there is life and death in the content of your words and out of your mouth flow the issues of life. God wants so much for us and it is not his will that we struggle in our relationships. So we must make our words our ally and with intention speak life and love!
Over the next several days, track your conversations and pay attention to how you say what you say. You will find that you have greater impact over your day than you thought.
Enjoy the journey!
Read Proverbs 10:20, 32, 11:9, 12:6, 13:3, 15:1
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Out of the Abundance of the Heart, the Mouth Speaks
Matthew 12:34 says:
Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Your heart is your spirit. You are a spirit. You have a soul, and you live in a physical body. You are a tripartite creature. In other words, you are composed of three parts. With those three parts, you actually contact three worlds. With your spirit, you contact the world, or realm of God. Jesus says in John 4:24, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Genesis 1:26 tells us, "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness...." If God made us in His image, then we must be like God. God is a Spirit. Therefore, we also are spirits.
Genesis 1:26 could not be talking about our being made physically in God's image. If we looked like God physically, then God would be a monstrosity. He would have a white face, a black body, red arms, brown legs, and yellow feet, because those are the five major classifications of mankind on the earth. That would be ridiculous. God is a Spirit, so when Genesis says that we were made in God's image; it means we were created as spirits.
When the Bible speaks of the heart, it is not talking about the muscle that pumps blood through your body. The Bible often uses the word heart figuratively, referring to the center or core of your being. When we talk about the heart of a melon, the heart of a tree, or the heart of a problem, we are talking about the center and core of those things. When the Bible talks about the heart of man, it is talking about the center and core of man. What is man at his center or core? He is a spirit. When the Bible talks about your heart, therefore, it is really talking about your spirit.
With this information in mind, read Matthew 12:34 once more, and let me point out something of the utmost importance to us as Christians.
Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
In other words, out of the abundance of your spirit, your mouth will speak. If your mouth is not speaking right, something must be wrong with what is inside of you.
Someone may say, "Well, Brother Price, the Lord knows I have a praise in my heart, and that I don't do much taking." The Lord also knows that person just lied. The Bible says, "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." If the mouth is not speaking, it must be because there is nothing in the heart.
We can, therefore, measure a man's spirit by his mouth. Of course, we should live right, and act right, but sometimes people can fool you with their actions. They can seem to be one thing, and can actually be something else. Sooner or later, however, their mouths will give them away, because their mouths will speak what is in their hearts. If you have an evil heart, you cannot speak good things.
Jesus amplifies this concept still further in Matthew 12:35-37:
35 "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things
36 "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment
37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
The word idle, in verse 36, means useless, negative, non-productive. In other words, idle words are words that have no value; they do not edify you or build you up. They do not do any good for you. And, according to Jesus, we have to give an account of those words in the day of judgment: "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Isn't it interesting that Jesus does not say we are justified or condemned by our deeds, but by our words? That is an awesome statement. The reason Jesus says, "by your words," is that your deeds will be based on your words. Ultimately, if you continue talking badly, you are going to act badly. If you keep talking sickness, you will have sickness. Keep talking failure, and you will fail.
We can see very clearly here how important our words really are. We not only affect our lives by what we say, but we are also judged by it. By our words, we can either be justified or condemned.
This article was excerpted from Dr. Price's book, "Three Keys to Positive Confession."
Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Your heart is your spirit. You are a spirit. You have a soul, and you live in a physical body. You are a tripartite creature. In other words, you are composed of three parts. With those three parts, you actually contact three worlds. With your spirit, you contact the world, or realm of God. Jesus says in John 4:24, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Genesis 1:26 tells us, "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness...." If God made us in His image, then we must be like God. God is a Spirit. Therefore, we also are spirits.
Genesis 1:26 could not be talking about our being made physically in God's image. If we looked like God physically, then God would be a monstrosity. He would have a white face, a black body, red arms, brown legs, and yellow feet, because those are the five major classifications of mankind on the earth. That would be ridiculous. God is a Spirit, so when Genesis says that we were made in God's image; it means we were created as spirits.
When the Bible speaks of the heart, it is not talking about the muscle that pumps blood through your body. The Bible often uses the word heart figuratively, referring to the center or core of your being. When we talk about the heart of a melon, the heart of a tree, or the heart of a problem, we are talking about the center and core of those things. When the Bible talks about the heart of man, it is talking about the center and core of man. What is man at his center or core? He is a spirit. When the Bible talks about your heart, therefore, it is really talking about your spirit.
With this information in mind, read Matthew 12:34 once more, and let me point out something of the utmost importance to us as Christians.
Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
In other words, out of the abundance of your spirit, your mouth will speak. If your mouth is not speaking right, something must be wrong with what is inside of you.
Someone may say, "Well, Brother Price, the Lord knows I have a praise in my heart, and that I don't do much taking." The Lord also knows that person just lied. The Bible says, "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." If the mouth is not speaking, it must be because there is nothing in the heart.
We can, therefore, measure a man's spirit by his mouth. Of course, we should live right, and act right, but sometimes people can fool you with their actions. They can seem to be one thing, and can actually be something else. Sooner or later, however, their mouths will give them away, because their mouths will speak what is in their hearts. If you have an evil heart, you cannot speak good things.
Jesus amplifies this concept still further in Matthew 12:35-37:
35 "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things
36 "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment
37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
The word idle, in verse 36, means useless, negative, non-productive. In other words, idle words are words that have no value; they do not edify you or build you up. They do not do any good for you. And, according to Jesus, we have to give an account of those words in the day of judgment: "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Isn't it interesting that Jesus does not say we are justified or condemned by our deeds, but by our words? That is an awesome statement. The reason Jesus says, "by your words," is that your deeds will be based on your words. Ultimately, if you continue talking badly, you are going to act badly. If you keep talking sickness, you will have sickness. Keep talking failure, and you will fail.
We can see very clearly here how important our words really are. We not only affect our lives by what we say, but we are also judged by it. By our words, we can either be justified or condemned.
This article was excerpted from Dr. Price's book, "Three Keys to Positive Confession."
Saturday, April 12, 2008
What It Means To Be A Worshipper
Did you know that there is a reason for your existence? God knew you before you were even formed into a fetus. He has a specific plan for your life. Your job while you are here on earth is not to choose your destiny but to discover it. Many people search for fulfillment their entire lives and never find it because they fail to discover their purpose. God is the Creator of all things. Your life is not a mere coincidence or a mistake, but a part of His plan; He has a specific assignment for you. Do you know what it is? If not, here are 10 questions to help you discover your true destiny:
1. What is your deepest desire?
Psalm 37:4 says "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." When you decide to serve God, He will actually give you the desire to do what you were created to do. You will know it is a God-given desire because it will line up with His Word.
2. What stirs your passion?
Passion is the zeal, enthusiasm, excitement and intensity you feel about things that are important to you. It will stir you to action. What bothers you the most? God may be calling on you to find a solution to a problem or to be a solution to a problem.
3. What naturally flows out of you?
Have you ever taught someone how to do something that you could do with your eyes closed? It may have seemed simple to you, but complex to them. What is that natural talent or ability you have that others do not?
4. Where do you get real results?
In Luke 13:6-9, Jesus gave us a time guideline for how long it should take to "try something out," such as a job, career, business or ministry. He gave an example of a man who had a fig tree in his vineyard and had been checking for three years to see if it was producing fruit. Then Jesus asked the question, "Why cumbered it the ground?" This was a nice way of asking, "Why is this thing taking up space?" What is taking up space in your life?
5. What is the witness of the Holy Spirit in your spirit?
God will confirm the plan He has for your life. He will sometimes speak through dreams and visions or in a still, small voice. He will make sure He gets the message to you in one way or another. Are you listening? To hear and recognize His voice clearly, you must position yourself by spending time seeking Him, diligently praying and studying His Word.
6. What do mature Christians see in you?
Keep in mind that a "mature Christian" is not just someone who has been saved for a while, but instead is a Believer who consistently makes decisions based on the Word of God. Mature Christians can give you good advice about seeking God's will for your life.
7. What career or ministry do you feel the peace of God about pursuing?
Philippians 4:6-7 says to pray with thanksgiving and let your request be known to God, and He will bring you peace about the things that concern you. Let the peace of God in your spirit man guide you and confirm His will for your life.
8. What thoughts, visions or dreams are impossible to put out of your mind?
God speaks to us in various ways. He will give you thoughts, visions and dreams, but your job is to recognize when it is God's message and when it is not. You will know God has given you a dream, vision or concept when you have spent time seeking Him. He will confirm it through His Word, as well as through people who may speak into your life about the situation. In addition you will see situations and circumstances line up to make your dream or vision come to pass.
9. What goal or ambition can you dedicate yourself to 100 percent, for the rest of your life?
Is there something you can do for hours and really enjoy? What career or job could you do for the rest of your life? When you discover your purpose, it will incorporate all of your gifts, talents and strengths, and you will have a passion for it that enables you to do it even when you are tired.
10. What do people volunteer to help you accomplish?
When you find what you were created to do, God will send people, opportunities and resources to help you along the way. Is there something you do that people want to support? When you get into that place, you will find total fulfillment. Don't waste another moment trying to find satisfaction in all the wrong places; find God's true purpose for your life today!
1. What is your deepest desire?
Psalm 37:4 says "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." When you decide to serve God, He will actually give you the desire to do what you were created to do. You will know it is a God-given desire because it will line up with His Word.
2. What stirs your passion?
Passion is the zeal, enthusiasm, excitement and intensity you feel about things that are important to you. It will stir you to action. What bothers you the most? God may be calling on you to find a solution to a problem or to be a solution to a problem.
3. What naturally flows out of you?
Have you ever taught someone how to do something that you could do with your eyes closed? It may have seemed simple to you, but complex to them. What is that natural talent or ability you have that others do not?
4. Where do you get real results?
In Luke 13:6-9, Jesus gave us a time guideline for how long it should take to "try something out," such as a job, career, business or ministry. He gave an example of a man who had a fig tree in his vineyard and had been checking for three years to see if it was producing fruit. Then Jesus asked the question, "Why cumbered it the ground?" This was a nice way of asking, "Why is this thing taking up space?" What is taking up space in your life?
5. What is the witness of the Holy Spirit in your spirit?
God will confirm the plan He has for your life. He will sometimes speak through dreams and visions or in a still, small voice. He will make sure He gets the message to you in one way or another. Are you listening? To hear and recognize His voice clearly, you must position yourself by spending time seeking Him, diligently praying and studying His Word.
6. What do mature Christians see in you?
Keep in mind that a "mature Christian" is not just someone who has been saved for a while, but instead is a Believer who consistently makes decisions based on the Word of God. Mature Christians can give you good advice about seeking God's will for your life.
7. What career or ministry do you feel the peace of God about pursuing?
Philippians 4:6-7 says to pray with thanksgiving and let your request be known to God, and He will bring you peace about the things that concern you. Let the peace of God in your spirit man guide you and confirm His will for your life.
8. What thoughts, visions or dreams are impossible to put out of your mind?
God speaks to us in various ways. He will give you thoughts, visions and dreams, but your job is to recognize when it is God's message and when it is not. You will know God has given you a dream, vision or concept when you have spent time seeking Him. He will confirm it through His Word, as well as through people who may speak into your life about the situation. In addition you will see situations and circumstances line up to make your dream or vision come to pass.
9. What goal or ambition can you dedicate yourself to 100 percent, for the rest of your life?
Is there something you can do for hours and really enjoy? What career or job could you do for the rest of your life? When you discover your purpose, it will incorporate all of your gifts, talents and strengths, and you will have a passion for it that enables you to do it even when you are tired.
10. What do people volunteer to help you accomplish?
When you find what you were created to do, God will send people, opportunities and resources to help you along the way. Is there something you do that people want to support? When you get into that place, you will find total fulfillment. Don't waste another moment trying to find satisfaction in all the wrong places; find God's true purpose for your life today!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Dieu lui donne l’Esprit sans compter
Evangile de Jésus-Christ selon saint Jean 3,31-36.
Celui qui vient d'en haut est au-dessus de tout. Celui qui est de la terre est terrestre, et il parle de façon terrestre. Celui qui vient du ciel rend témoignage de ce qu'il a vu et entendu, et personne n'accepte son témoignage. Mais celui qui accepte son témoignage certifie par là que Dieu dit la vérité. En effet, celui que Dieu a envoyé dit les paroles de Dieu, car Dieu lui donne l'Esprit sans compter. Le Père aime le Fils et a tout remis dans sa main. Celui qui croit au Fils a la vie éternelle ; celui qui refuse de croire en lui ne verra pas la vie, mais la colère de Dieu demeure sur lui. »
Si à partir d’un feu tu allumes d’autres feux en une multitude d’endroits, le premier n’en est pas amoindri… Ainsi en est-il pour Dieu et son Messie ; ils sont un, tout en demeurant dans la multitude des hommes. Le soleil non plus n’est en rien amoindri parce que sa puissance se répand sur la terre. Et combien plus grande est la force de Dieu puisque c’est par la force de Dieu que subsiste le soleil…
Cela pesait à Moïse de conduire seul le camp d’Israël. Le Seigneur lui a dit : « Voici que je vais prendre de l'Esprit qui est sur toi pour le donner à soixante-dix hommes parmi les anciens d’Israël » (Nb 11,17). Quand il a pris de l'esprit de Moïse et que les soixante-dix hommes en ont été remplis, est-ce que Moïse a été en rien amoindri ? Est-ce que l'on s'apercevait qu'il avait moins d'esprit ? Le bienheureux apôtre Paul dit aussi : Dieu a partagé de l'Esprit du Christ-Messie et l'a envoyé dans les prophètes [du Nouveau Testament] (1Co 12,11.28). Mais le Messie n’a été en rien lésé, car son Père lui a donné l'Esprit sans mesure.
C'est en ce sens…que le Christ-Messie habite dans les hommes croyants. Et il n'est en rien lésé s'il est partagé à la multitude, car c'est l'Esprit du Christ qu'ont reçu les prophètes, chacun d'eux autant qu'il pouvait en porter. Et encore aujourd'hui, c'est ce même Esprit du Messie qui est versé sur toute chair pour que prophétisent fils et filles, vieillards et jeunes gens, serviteurs et servantes (Jl 3,1;Ac 2,17). Le Messie est en nous, et le Messie est au ciel à la droite de son Père. Il n'a pas reçu l'Esprit avec mesure, mais son Père l'a aimé et a tout livré entre ses mains, lui donnant pouvoir sur tout son trésor… Notre Seigneur dit encore : « Tout m'a été confié par mon Père » (Mt 11,27)… L'apôtre Paul dit enfin : « Tout sera soumis au Christ, sauf son Père qui lui a tout soumis. Quand tout lui aura été soumis, alors il se soumettra lui aussi à Dieu son Père qui lui a tout soumis, et Dieu sera tout en tous » (1Co 15,27-28).
Celui qui vient d'en haut est au-dessus de tout. Celui qui est de la terre est terrestre, et il parle de façon terrestre. Celui qui vient du ciel rend témoignage de ce qu'il a vu et entendu, et personne n'accepte son témoignage. Mais celui qui accepte son témoignage certifie par là que Dieu dit la vérité. En effet, celui que Dieu a envoyé dit les paroles de Dieu, car Dieu lui donne l'Esprit sans compter. Le Père aime le Fils et a tout remis dans sa main. Celui qui croit au Fils a la vie éternelle ; celui qui refuse de croire en lui ne verra pas la vie, mais la colère de Dieu demeure sur lui. »
Si à partir d’un feu tu allumes d’autres feux en une multitude d’endroits, le premier n’en est pas amoindri… Ainsi en est-il pour Dieu et son Messie ; ils sont un, tout en demeurant dans la multitude des hommes. Le soleil non plus n’est en rien amoindri parce que sa puissance se répand sur la terre. Et combien plus grande est la force de Dieu puisque c’est par la force de Dieu que subsiste le soleil…
Cela pesait à Moïse de conduire seul le camp d’Israël. Le Seigneur lui a dit : « Voici que je vais prendre de l'Esprit qui est sur toi pour le donner à soixante-dix hommes parmi les anciens d’Israël » (Nb 11,17). Quand il a pris de l'esprit de Moïse et que les soixante-dix hommes en ont été remplis, est-ce que Moïse a été en rien amoindri ? Est-ce que l'on s'apercevait qu'il avait moins d'esprit ? Le bienheureux apôtre Paul dit aussi : Dieu a partagé de l'Esprit du Christ-Messie et l'a envoyé dans les prophètes [du Nouveau Testament] (1Co 12,11.28). Mais le Messie n’a été en rien lésé, car son Père lui a donné l'Esprit sans mesure.
C'est en ce sens…que le Christ-Messie habite dans les hommes croyants. Et il n'est en rien lésé s'il est partagé à la multitude, car c'est l'Esprit du Christ qu'ont reçu les prophètes, chacun d'eux autant qu'il pouvait en porter. Et encore aujourd'hui, c'est ce même Esprit du Messie qui est versé sur toute chair pour que prophétisent fils et filles, vieillards et jeunes gens, serviteurs et servantes (Jl 3,1;Ac 2,17). Le Messie est en nous, et le Messie est au ciel à la droite de son Père. Il n'a pas reçu l'Esprit avec mesure, mais son Père l'a aimé et a tout livré entre ses mains, lui donnant pouvoir sur tout son trésor… Notre Seigneur dit encore : « Tout m'a été confié par mon Père » (Mt 11,27)… L'apôtre Paul dit enfin : « Tout sera soumis au Christ, sauf son Père qui lui a tout soumis. Quand tout lui aura été soumis, alors il se soumettra lui aussi à Dieu son Père qui lui a tout soumis, et Dieu sera tout en tous » (1Co 15,27-28).
In HIM I Trust
Dear Friends
Very touching story to share with you all!
Isaiah 65:24 'Before they call, I will answer'
This story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).
We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.
Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). 'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.'
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten-year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.'
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say,'Amen'. I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door.
By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.
Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out - yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!'
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!
Looking up at me, she asked: 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?'
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon.'
'Before they call, I will answer' (Isaiah 65:24) This awesome prayer takes less than a minute. When you receive this, say the prayer, that's all you have to do. No strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want - but do send it on. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards.
Let's continue praying for one another: Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this right now. I am asking You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them. Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with You. Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces around them, and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask you to do these things in Jesus' name.
P.S. Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend will bless you both. Passing this on to one not considered a friend is something Christ would do.
'Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you're not willing to move your feet.
Very touching story to share with you all!
Isaiah 65:24 'Before they call, I will answer'
This story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).
We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.
Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). 'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.'
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten-year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.'
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say,'Amen'. I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door.
By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.
Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out - yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!'
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!
Looking up at me, she asked: 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?'
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon.'
'Before they call, I will answer' (Isaiah 65:24) This awesome prayer takes less than a minute. When you receive this, say the prayer, that's all you have to do. No strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want - but do send it on. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards.
Let's continue praying for one another: Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this right now. I am asking You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them. Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with You. Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces around them, and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask you to do these things in Jesus' name.
P.S. Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend will bless you both. Passing this on to one not considered a friend is something Christ would do.
'Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you're not willing to move your feet.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
The Significance of the Cross
The cross is probably the most readily recognized of the Christian symbols, and there is significance to it. As a symbol, the cross is a reminder of the sacrifice of our Savior over two thousand years ago. The cross itself did not effect our salvation, but it was the shedding of blood of the perfect, sinless, spotless Lamb of God on the cross that has made it so that our sins could be forgiven. Thus, the emphasis must always be on the sacrifice of Christ, the ultimate event of significance, not on the cross itself. Yet there is a reason why God chose to have His Son put to death on a tree rather than by some other means.
God is in the details, and He works all things according to a divine master plan, His Son's death by crucifixion being no accident or mere coincidence. In Genesis 3:17, the earth, the man, and the woman are cursed because they ate of the forbidden fruit of a tree. In Deuteronomy 21:22-23, we read, "If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance." In the Law, God ordained that a curse is brought upon a person if he is hung upon a tree, and hangings on trees were only for those who committed sins worthy of the death penalty. In the New Testament, we learn that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). Furthermore, those who sin are deserving of eternal death, for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
So, in God's eyes, because of the first sin in Genesis and our certain failing to keep the entirety of the Law of God, we have all committed sin deserving of the death penalty. We are all cursed, deserving death, but God had a remedy. Galatians 3:13 says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, 'CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE.'" The apostle Paul quotes from Deuteronomy explaining that Christ Himself bore the curse which was ours to bear. Man deserves to die because He doesn't measure up to God's holy commandments, yet Christ bore upon Himself the curse which should have been ours along with the penalty of death. He was crucified, being nailed to a tree, signifying that He was indeed cursed on our behalf. This is the significance of the cross, that our curse could be exchanged for an eternal blessing because Christ bore our curse by being hung on a tree.
We can rejoice that we can lay aside the curse of eternal condemnation in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15) because we have a Savior who shed His blood and bore the curse of our sin on the cross. The great news is that He didn't die eternally because He was God, and God raised Him from the dead. So, too, by the power of God through a relationship with Christ, we can have eternal life forever with God in heaven. We can be forgiven of our sin and freed from the curse because of the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf if we repent of our sins and turn to Him as Savior and Lord. Where there was cursing, now there can be blessing, all thanks to Jesus Christ. May He Who bore our curse on the cross receive all glory and praise.
God is in the details, and He works all things according to a divine master plan, His Son's death by crucifixion being no accident or mere coincidence. In Genesis 3:17, the earth, the man, and the woman are cursed because they ate of the forbidden fruit of a tree. In Deuteronomy 21:22-23, we read, "If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance." In the Law, God ordained that a curse is brought upon a person if he is hung upon a tree, and hangings on trees were only for those who committed sins worthy of the death penalty. In the New Testament, we learn that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). Furthermore, those who sin are deserving of eternal death, for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
So, in God's eyes, because of the first sin in Genesis and our certain failing to keep the entirety of the Law of God, we have all committed sin deserving of the death penalty. We are all cursed, deserving death, but God had a remedy. Galatians 3:13 says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, 'CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE.'" The apostle Paul quotes from Deuteronomy explaining that Christ Himself bore the curse which was ours to bear. Man deserves to die because He doesn't measure up to God's holy commandments, yet Christ bore upon Himself the curse which should have been ours along with the penalty of death. He was crucified, being nailed to a tree, signifying that He was indeed cursed on our behalf. This is the significance of the cross, that our curse could be exchanged for an eternal blessing because Christ bore our curse by being hung on a tree.
We can rejoice that we can lay aside the curse of eternal condemnation in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15) because we have a Savior who shed His blood and bore the curse of our sin on the cross. The great news is that He didn't die eternally because He was God, and God raised Him from the dead. So, too, by the power of God through a relationship with Christ, we can have eternal life forever with God in heaven. We can be forgiven of our sin and freed from the curse because of the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf if we repent of our sins and turn to Him as Savior and Lord. Where there was cursing, now there can be blessing, all thanks to Jesus Christ. May He Who bore our curse on the cross receive all glory and praise.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Jesus Is Always With Us
"Jesus is our Lord and Savior. He is our healer, our deliverer, our coming King, our advocate, our high priest, our intercessor, our provider, our protector, our friend, and He will never leave us nor forsake us." I say that everyday, so whenever I get into a situation, I know Jesus is with me. He will never leave me, nor forsake me. I can't see Him, because He is in the spirit world. The spirit world is more real than this physical world, because the spirit world created this world. The angels are with me, so I don't worry that anything will harm me, and this keeps me at peace all the time. When I pray, I am not just saying words; I believe what I am saying.
Prayer is a set time with God for devotion, petition, and intercession. We should be praying and spending time with God every day. You should have a set time that you meet with Him. That is how you get to know Him. That is how you can be conscious of Him at all times. Your mind can stay on Him at all times. If your mind is on God, it will not go back to the times that you spent with an old girlfriend or boyfriend and the way you used to be. Those times when you had those candles burning and your romantic music playing in a darkened room. You can't think on that kind of stuff. You have to be thinking about the goodness of God, because if you don't, you are going to go down to the level of the flesh and the way you used to be in sin.
The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 that we are not to be anxious or concerned about anything, but by prayer and supplication we are to make our requests known to God. Supplication is more than just petitioning God or asking God for something. It means a high degree of intensity of earnest and extended prayer. Sometimes certain things will stay with you longer (or as we Believers say, "having a burden for prayer"), so you stay in prayer supplicating, or praying in the Spirit and bringing God's Word before Him. He knows His Word, but we need to remind ourselves what His Word promises. Paul says when we do this; the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
The King James Version uses the word "keeps," and the new King James Version uses the word "guards," but they both mean the same thing. That word "guard" is a military term picturing a sentry standing guard as protection against the enemy. We are in spiritual combat, but God's power and peace are our sentinels and protection. That is why you need to pray, spend time with God, and get to know Him. A lot of preachers say that we who teach faith say that Christians don't have to go through struggles or trials or tests. They have never heard the whole message on faith, because we have never said that with all the things we have been through. No, the thing is that we don't center on the trials and tests, but we center on the truth: "...But the Lord delivers him out of them all" (Ps. 34:19).
I center on the deliverance part, not the going-through part. I refused to be anxious or worried, because I know God is going to bring me through. So, you are going to have to make up your mind that you are going to believe God. The greatest thing you can do in life is to learn to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Luke 18:1 says, Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. We should always pray, but that does not mean to pray 24 hours a day-it means don't ever give up the absence of prayer.
John 15:7 says, If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. You have to have a relationship with Jesus so that you know He will do what He says. He says you can ask what you will. That is a big promise. Why don't you take Jesus at His word and prove Him. I have and I know He can be counted on to fulfill His promises.
First John 5:14-15 say:
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
You have to get into the Word to find out what His revealed will is. His Word covers everything you need in life to live a successful, victorious and overcoming life.
I want you to know that you have a God who loves you, has given His life for you, and He wants the very best for you. I am a living witness of the goodness of God. He has brought me from sickness to health, from poverty to wealth, and He can and will do the same for you. For He is no respecter of persons.
Prayer is a set time with God for devotion, petition, and intercession. We should be praying and spending time with God every day. You should have a set time that you meet with Him. That is how you get to know Him. That is how you can be conscious of Him at all times. Your mind can stay on Him at all times. If your mind is on God, it will not go back to the times that you spent with an old girlfriend or boyfriend and the way you used to be. Those times when you had those candles burning and your romantic music playing in a darkened room. You can't think on that kind of stuff. You have to be thinking about the goodness of God, because if you don't, you are going to go down to the level of the flesh and the way you used to be in sin.
The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 that we are not to be anxious or concerned about anything, but by prayer and supplication we are to make our requests known to God. Supplication is more than just petitioning God or asking God for something. It means a high degree of intensity of earnest and extended prayer. Sometimes certain things will stay with you longer (or as we Believers say, "having a burden for prayer"), so you stay in prayer supplicating, or praying in the Spirit and bringing God's Word before Him. He knows His Word, but we need to remind ourselves what His Word promises. Paul says when we do this; the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
The King James Version uses the word "keeps," and the new King James Version uses the word "guards," but they both mean the same thing. That word "guard" is a military term picturing a sentry standing guard as protection against the enemy. We are in spiritual combat, but God's power and peace are our sentinels and protection. That is why you need to pray, spend time with God, and get to know Him. A lot of preachers say that we who teach faith say that Christians don't have to go through struggles or trials or tests. They have never heard the whole message on faith, because we have never said that with all the things we have been through. No, the thing is that we don't center on the trials and tests, but we center on the truth: "...But the Lord delivers him out of them all" (Ps. 34:19).
I center on the deliverance part, not the going-through part. I refused to be anxious or worried, because I know God is going to bring me through. So, you are going to have to make up your mind that you are going to believe God. The greatest thing you can do in life is to learn to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Luke 18:1 says, Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. We should always pray, but that does not mean to pray 24 hours a day-it means don't ever give up the absence of prayer.
John 15:7 says, If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. You have to have a relationship with Jesus so that you know He will do what He says. He says you can ask what you will. That is a big promise. Why don't you take Jesus at His word and prove Him. I have and I know He can be counted on to fulfill His promises.
First John 5:14-15 say:
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
You have to get into the Word to find out what His revealed will is. His Word covers everything you need in life to live a successful, victorious and overcoming life.
I want you to know that you have a God who loves you, has given His life for you, and He wants the very best for you. I am a living witness of the goodness of God. He has brought me from sickness to health, from poverty to wealth, and He can and will do the same for you. For He is no respecter of persons.
A Shadow Has No Substance
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
The shadow of death is taken from the shadow representing darkness and gloom; it is figurative of a severe test or trial. However, my definition of a shadow is this: a shadow has no substance.
Once you are over the fear, you can walk through a shadow. The only thing that produces a shadow is when something is between the light and the surface or else there would be no shadow.
Many times, we bring on the shadows in our lives because we put something between God and ourselves. It may be him and her between you and God. It may be family or friends between you and God. It may be fear between you and God. Whatever it is, a shadow is produced.
Now let me remind you that a shadow has n o substance. It may be bigger than the object, but it can't do anything to you. Satan's ploy is to make the test or trial that you are dealing with bigger than life itself, so he tries to cast a shadow. He wants you to believe that there is no way around the shadow. He's wrong. When we get out of the way and allow the light of God's glory to shine on the situation, that shadow will disappear.
The Lord is your Shepherd. His light will remove the shadow of tests or trials in your life, but you have to get rid of what's between you and God.
The Shepherd is your protection. "...thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." The rod was used to beat off wolves that tried to snatch the sheep. The staff was used to lead the sheep back in the right direction. The staff had a crook on it that the shepherd used for sheep that strayed away. The shepherd would put that crooked end over the sheep's neck and gently guide him back to the fold.
The Shepherd will guide and lead you. You may not know where you're going or how you're going to get there, but when the Holy Ghost is leading you, you can relax under His protection.
I tell you there is comfort in knowing the Holy Ghost is leading you. Spend time with Him. He will bring you out of the shadow of tests and trials in your life. You don't have to fear any evil that comes against you. Remember: it has no substance.
Scripture References: Psalm 91:1-16; 107: 10-16; Isaiah 35:4-10
The shadow of death is taken from the shadow representing darkness and gloom; it is figurative of a severe test or trial. However, my definition of a shadow is this: a shadow has no substance.
Once you are over the fear, you can walk through a shadow. The only thing that produces a shadow is when something is between the light and the surface or else there would be no shadow.
Many times, we bring on the shadows in our lives because we put something between God and ourselves. It may be him and her between you and God. It may be family or friends between you and God. It may be fear between you and God. Whatever it is, a shadow is produced.
Now let me remind you that a shadow has n o substance. It may be bigger than the object, but it can't do anything to you. Satan's ploy is to make the test or trial that you are dealing with bigger than life itself, so he tries to cast a shadow. He wants you to believe that there is no way around the shadow. He's wrong. When we get out of the way and allow the light of God's glory to shine on the situation, that shadow will disappear.
The Lord is your Shepherd. His light will remove the shadow of tests or trials in your life, but you have to get rid of what's between you and God.
The Shepherd is your protection. "...thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." The rod was used to beat off wolves that tried to snatch the sheep. The staff was used to lead the sheep back in the right direction. The staff had a crook on it that the shepherd used for sheep that strayed away. The shepherd would put that crooked end over the sheep's neck and gently guide him back to the fold.
The Shepherd will guide and lead you. You may not know where you're going or how you're going to get there, but when the Holy Ghost is leading you, you can relax under His protection.
I tell you there is comfort in knowing the Holy Ghost is leading you. Spend time with Him. He will bring you out of the shadow of tests and trials in your life. You don't have to fear any evil that comes against you. Remember: it has no substance.
Scripture References: Psalm 91:1-16; 107: 10-16; Isaiah 35:4-10
Friday, March 28, 2008
Which Way to Go, Lord?
God wants you to know exactly where you're going in life. He doesn't want you to stumble around, unsure of whether the steps you are taking are the right ones. Instead, He desires that you have crystal-clear spiritual hearing so you can receive specific instructions regarding the path He wants you to take in life. In other words, God wants you to stop and ask Him for directions daily!
Like the prophet Jeremiah, you have a God-given mission (Jeremiah 1:4-10; 29:11). The key to carrying out the mission, or vision, God has given you is your ability to receive directions from Him and your willingness to immediately obey what He tells you to do. God wants to give you detailed instructions about which way to go as well as every situation that concerns you. He doesn't just want to deal with you in vague impressions either, but in specifics. When you increase your awareness of God's voice, you position yourself to step right into His perfect will for your life.
Proverbs 6:23 says, "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." God's directions give light to your vision. They are the steps you must take to accomplish His master plan for your life. The greatest asset you have as a Believer is an unbroken connection with God. Through daily fellowship with Him and the study of His Word, you empower yourself to recognize His voice and obey Him in even the smallest act. Like pieces of a puzzle, each step you take gradually enables you to see the bigger picture.
The will of God for your life is not something that is handed to you on a silver platter-you must discover what God desires for you to accomplish. That means quality time communing with Him and making His Word the final authority in every area of your life.
Being born again is the prerequisite to discovering your God-given assignment. Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior is the doorway to your destiny. Without Him guiding you, you won't reach your final destination. But once you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life and begin seeking Him daily, He will begin revealing your purpose to you.
In locating your purpose, consider those things for which you have a passion. What is it that you could do all the time, even without being paid? What attributes and characteristics do others consistently notice about you? Determine the abilities God has given you and the areas in which you get consistent results. These are signposts to help point you in the direction of your destiny.
Praying in the Spirit is another helpful tool in determining the direction God wants you to take in life. When you pray in tongues, you allow the Holy Spirit to pray through you, and release the wisdom you need to move forward in life. Proverbs 20:27 says that the spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord. The Holy Spirit Who is within your born-again spirit will guide you into all truth, including what it is you are supposed to be doing. When you pray in tongues, you also build up your spirit man and sharpen your spiritual discernment. The more you pray in the spirit and spend time listening for God's voice, the more confident you will be when it comes to stepping out on His instructions.
The apostle Paul said, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain" (1 Corinthians 9:24). There is a set race for you to run, and God wants you to discover it. Make a concerted effort to pray and yield to His instructions daily. Before long, you will find yourself walking in your divine destiny!
Like the prophet Jeremiah, you have a God-given mission (Jeremiah 1:4-10; 29:11). The key to carrying out the mission, or vision, God has given you is your ability to receive directions from Him and your willingness to immediately obey what He tells you to do. God wants to give you detailed instructions about which way to go as well as every situation that concerns you. He doesn't just want to deal with you in vague impressions either, but in specifics. When you increase your awareness of God's voice, you position yourself to step right into His perfect will for your life.
Proverbs 6:23 says, "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." God's directions give light to your vision. They are the steps you must take to accomplish His master plan for your life. The greatest asset you have as a Believer is an unbroken connection with God. Through daily fellowship with Him and the study of His Word, you empower yourself to recognize His voice and obey Him in even the smallest act. Like pieces of a puzzle, each step you take gradually enables you to see the bigger picture.
The will of God for your life is not something that is handed to you on a silver platter-you must discover what God desires for you to accomplish. That means quality time communing with Him and making His Word the final authority in every area of your life.
Being born again is the prerequisite to discovering your God-given assignment. Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior is the doorway to your destiny. Without Him guiding you, you won't reach your final destination. But once you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life and begin seeking Him daily, He will begin revealing your purpose to you.
In locating your purpose, consider those things for which you have a passion. What is it that you could do all the time, even without being paid? What attributes and characteristics do others consistently notice about you? Determine the abilities God has given you and the areas in which you get consistent results. These are signposts to help point you in the direction of your destiny.
Praying in the Spirit is another helpful tool in determining the direction God wants you to take in life. When you pray in tongues, you allow the Holy Spirit to pray through you, and release the wisdom you need to move forward in life. Proverbs 20:27 says that the spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord. The Holy Spirit Who is within your born-again spirit will guide you into all truth, including what it is you are supposed to be doing. When you pray in tongues, you also build up your spirit man and sharpen your spiritual discernment. The more you pray in the spirit and spend time listening for God's voice, the more confident you will be when it comes to stepping out on His instructions.
The apostle Paul said, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain" (1 Corinthians 9:24). There is a set race for you to run, and God wants you to discover it. Make a concerted effort to pray and yield to His instructions daily. Before long, you will find yourself walking in your divine destiny!
Believe God is there just for you...
YOU SAY GOD SAYS BIBLE VERSES
You say: 'It's impossible' God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)
You say: 'I'm too tired' God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: 'Nobody really loves me' God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 3:34 )
You say: 'I can't go on' God says: My gra ce is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: 'I can't figure things out' God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: 'I can't do it' God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
You say: 'I'm not able' God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: 'It's not worth it' God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )
You say: 'I can't forgive myself' God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: 'I can't manage' God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)
You say: 'I'm afraid' God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated' God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)
You say: 'I'm not smart enough' God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: 'I feel all alone' God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)
You say: 'It's impossible' God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)
You say: 'I'm too tired' God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: 'Nobody really loves me' God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 3:34 )
You say: 'I can't go on' God says: My gra ce is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: 'I can't figure things out' God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: 'I can't do it' God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
You say: 'I'm not able' God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: 'It's not worth it' God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )
You say: 'I can't forgive myself' God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: 'I can't manage' God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)
You say: 'I'm afraid' God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated' God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)
You say: 'I'm not smart enough' God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: 'I feel all alone' God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Divine Direction
"Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt." Genesis 37:28
Often, when we look for direction from God we seek the miraculous. We search for a sign, a voice or a vision to make our paths plain. However, God can and does employ more common (even painful) experiences in our life to provide direction for our lives. We lose a job, experience a break up in a relationship, financial instability, stricken with an illness or something is taken from us. These "life events" may be God's way of causing us to look in another direction. God will often close a door, to point us in the direction of another.
God has a purpose and plan for our lives. The problem is - so do we. Often our plans and God's plan are not the same. We often seek things that are short sighted. God knows this and allows certain events in our lives to point us in the right direction. Often these situations look nothing like what we think God's plan for our lives should look like. We must be careful not to misconstrue God's direction as persecution. "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
If anyone's life demonstrates this principle it's Joseph. Joseph received a dream from God revealing his destiny. In his dream he was in a place of prestige and power. In a matter of days, Joseph went from being his father's favorite son to being a slave in a foreign land. He was thrown into a pit, sold into slavery and taken to Egypt to spend the rest of his life. Unbeknownst to Joseph, all of this was God's way of positioning him to fulfill his purpose in life. Joseph had to go into the pit, to meet Potiphar. Potiphar's wife had to falsely accuse Joseph for him to be sent to prison. It was in prison where Joseph met attendants in Pharaoh's court. It was because of this time in prison that Joseph received the opportunity to meet Pharaoh. When he met Pharaoh he entered into his destiny.
When Joseph laid his head down to sleep that first night in Egypt he was far from home, but squarely within God's plan. God declares: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, "declares the LORD." For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9). I am sure Joseph saw the changes in his situation as set backs, when in reality they were setups. God was providing "divine direction" through what appeared to be disaster. Each disappointing turn in his life pointed him in the direction of his destiny and purpose.
Some of you may be experiencing what appears to be a disaster or dead end in your life, when in fact it's direction. As you experience your transition, never lose sight of God's sovereignty. Sometimes God allows us to lose control so that He can take control. When Joseph's brothers threw him into the pit, I am sure he had no idea he had taken the first step toward his destiny. After looking over his life and all that had transpired, Joseph was able to say to his brothers: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result..." (Genesis 50:20). Everything he thought was an accident was really providence. It was divine direction!
Often, when we look for direction from God we seek the miraculous. We search for a sign, a voice or a vision to make our paths plain. However, God can and does employ more common (even painful) experiences in our life to provide direction for our lives. We lose a job, experience a break up in a relationship, financial instability, stricken with an illness or something is taken from us. These "life events" may be God's way of causing us to look in another direction. God will often close a door, to point us in the direction of another.
God has a purpose and plan for our lives. The problem is - so do we. Often our plans and God's plan are not the same. We often seek things that are short sighted. God knows this and allows certain events in our lives to point us in the right direction. Often these situations look nothing like what we think God's plan for our lives should look like. We must be careful not to misconstrue God's direction as persecution. "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
If anyone's life demonstrates this principle it's Joseph. Joseph received a dream from God revealing his destiny. In his dream he was in a place of prestige and power. In a matter of days, Joseph went from being his father's favorite son to being a slave in a foreign land. He was thrown into a pit, sold into slavery and taken to Egypt to spend the rest of his life. Unbeknownst to Joseph, all of this was God's way of positioning him to fulfill his purpose in life. Joseph had to go into the pit, to meet Potiphar. Potiphar's wife had to falsely accuse Joseph for him to be sent to prison. It was in prison where Joseph met attendants in Pharaoh's court. It was because of this time in prison that Joseph received the opportunity to meet Pharaoh. When he met Pharaoh he entered into his destiny.
When Joseph laid his head down to sleep that first night in Egypt he was far from home, but squarely within God's plan. God declares: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, "declares the LORD." For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9). I am sure Joseph saw the changes in his situation as set backs, when in reality they were setups. God was providing "divine direction" through what appeared to be disaster. Each disappointing turn in his life pointed him in the direction of his destiny and purpose.
Some of you may be experiencing what appears to be a disaster or dead end in your life, when in fact it's direction. As you experience your transition, never lose sight of God's sovereignty. Sometimes God allows us to lose control so that He can take control. When Joseph's brothers threw him into the pit, I am sure he had no idea he had taken the first step toward his destiny. After looking over his life and all that had transpired, Joseph was able to say to his brothers: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result..." (Genesis 50:20). Everything he thought was an accident was really providence. It was divine direction!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Need Directions?
Have you ever been driving toward a certain destination and gotten lost? Most of us have experienced the frustration that comes with losing our bearings when trying to get to a particular place. In situations like this, some people will stop at a local gas station and ask someone for directions. Others will keep driving, confident that they will be able to figure out where they are going on their own.
In life, God wants you to know exactly where you're going. He doesn't want you to stumble around, unsure of whether the steps you are taking are the right ones. Instead, He desires that you have crystal-clear hearing so you can receive specific instructions regarding the path He wants you to take. In other words, God wants you to stop and ask Him for directions daily!
The prophet Jeremiah, was ordained to be a prophet before he was even born; it was God's plan for his life (Jeremiah 1:4-10; 29:11). Similarly, you have a God-given mission that God will help you carry out. The key to executing the mission, or vision, God has given you is your ability to receive directions from Him and your willingness to immediately obey what He tells you to do. When you increase your awareness of God's voice, you position yourself to step right into His perfect will for your life.
Proverbs 6:23 says, "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life."
God's directions give light to your vision. They are the steps you must take to accomplish God's master plan for your life. Your greatest asset is an unbroken connection with God. Through daily fellowship with Him and study of His Word, you empower yourself to recognize His voice and obey Him in even the smallest act. Like pieces of a puzzle, each step you take enables you to see the bigger picture.
You must discover what God desires for you to accomplish in the earth. This means quality time communing with Him and making His Word the final authority in every area of your life. Being born again is a prerequisite to discovering your God-given assignment. Once you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life and begin seeking Him daily, He will begin revealing your purpose to you.
The Holy Spirit is your guide as you walk out the path for your life, so consult Him regularly. Check with Him before making any decisions, and if you don't have peace in your spirit about something, don't proceed. On the other hand, if you feel "clearance" from the Holy Spirit to step out on something you believe God has told you to do, and it lines up with His written Word, move forward with confidence knowing that He is backing you up.
The Apostle Paul said, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain" (1 Corinthians 9:24).
There is a set race for you to run, and God wants you to discover it. Make a concerted effort to yield to His instructions daily. Before long, you will find yourself walking in your divine destiny!
In life, God wants you to know exactly where you're going. He doesn't want you to stumble around, unsure of whether the steps you are taking are the right ones. Instead, He desires that you have crystal-clear hearing so you can receive specific instructions regarding the path He wants you to take. In other words, God wants you to stop and ask Him for directions daily!
The prophet Jeremiah, was ordained to be a prophet before he was even born; it was God's plan for his life (Jeremiah 1:4-10; 29:11). Similarly, you have a God-given mission that God will help you carry out. The key to executing the mission, or vision, God has given you is your ability to receive directions from Him and your willingness to immediately obey what He tells you to do. When you increase your awareness of God's voice, you position yourself to step right into His perfect will for your life.
Proverbs 6:23 says, "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life."
God's directions give light to your vision. They are the steps you must take to accomplish God's master plan for your life. Your greatest asset is an unbroken connection with God. Through daily fellowship with Him and study of His Word, you empower yourself to recognize His voice and obey Him in even the smallest act. Like pieces of a puzzle, each step you take enables you to see the bigger picture.
You must discover what God desires for you to accomplish in the earth. This means quality time communing with Him and making His Word the final authority in every area of your life. Being born again is a prerequisite to discovering your God-given assignment. Once you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life and begin seeking Him daily, He will begin revealing your purpose to you.
The Holy Spirit is your guide as you walk out the path for your life, so consult Him regularly. Check with Him before making any decisions, and if you don't have peace in your spirit about something, don't proceed. On the other hand, if you feel "clearance" from the Holy Spirit to step out on something you believe God has told you to do, and it lines up with His written Word, move forward with confidence knowing that He is backing you up.
The Apostle Paul said, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain" (1 Corinthians 9:24).
There is a set race for you to run, and God wants you to discover it. Make a concerted effort to yield to His instructions daily. Before long, you will find yourself walking in your divine destiny!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
An Encounter with The Risen Jesus
"It felt like a fire burning in us when He explained the scriptures to us." Luke 24:32 NCV
The two Emmaus-bound pilgrims discovered the power of the Scripture that first Easter Sunday. They were broken-hearted from the crucifixion: "Sadness [was] written across their faces" (Lk 24:17 NLT). They allowed their pain to blind them to the presence of Jesus. He'd risen from the dead, and though they didn't yet recognize Him, He'd come to take their sorrow. How would He do this? "Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself" (Lk 24:27 NLT).
He opened their eyes, lifting their heavy hearts with the Scriptures. He chose the one thing that never fails - God's Word! Did it make a difference? For those two it did: "It felt like a fire burning in us when Jesus talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us." Trying to live a victorious Christian life without a daily dose of the Scriptures is like trying to run your car on an empty tank, work all week on an empty stomach, or pay your bills on an empty checking account.
Steve Farrar writes: "I need to be reminded of what is true. God's Word gives me a dose of reality. My morning briefing in the Word gives me a perspective that I don't get in the world. I need God's commentary on my life every day. A Christian...in this society is swimming upstream. Without the constant nutrition of the Word, he will soon tire and be dragged off by the sheer force of the current." So, spend time each day in the Scriptures!
The two Emmaus-bound pilgrims discovered the power of the Scripture that first Easter Sunday. They were broken-hearted from the crucifixion: "Sadness [was] written across their faces" (Lk 24:17 NLT). They allowed their pain to blind them to the presence of Jesus. He'd risen from the dead, and though they didn't yet recognize Him, He'd come to take their sorrow. How would He do this? "Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself" (Lk 24:27 NLT).
He opened their eyes, lifting their heavy hearts with the Scriptures. He chose the one thing that never fails - God's Word! Did it make a difference? For those two it did: "It felt like a fire burning in us when Jesus talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us." Trying to live a victorious Christian life without a daily dose of the Scriptures is like trying to run your car on an empty tank, work all week on an empty stomach, or pay your bills on an empty checking account.
Steve Farrar writes: "I need to be reminded of what is true. God's Word gives me a dose of reality. My morning briefing in the Word gives me a perspective that I don't get in the world. I need God's commentary on my life every day. A Christian...in this society is swimming upstream. Without the constant nutrition of the Word, he will soon tire and be dragged off by the sheer force of the current." So, spend time each day in the Scriptures!
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