04/01/14
FATHER OF GLORY

Scripture: Psalm 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork."

You only have to look at a majestic sunset to appreciate the splendor and glory of God. God is the greatest artist of all. I once saw one of His masterpieces as it spanned the entire sky. In the east were clouds of pinks and grays that were indescribable. In the west, the sun was setting behind clouds of gold, silver, and purple. This was a magnificent creation, and yet, as great as it was, it was destined never to be duplicated. All of heaven was declaring the glory of God in those brief moments as God revealed Himself in nature. However, to experience this glory, you would have had to seen it personally. I could try to paint a picture with words for you. Yet regardless of my detailed description and explanations, your appreciation would be limited because of your lack of experience of this glorious moment.

How often do we miss God's glory in nature by not being in the right place at the right time in order to see it? Likewise, how often do we miss God's glory in the spiritual because we are not spiritually discerning? Paul expressed his concern for the church's inability to experience the glory of God because their eyes were not open to God's calling in their life (Ephesians 1:17-18). As Paul prayed for the church, he addressed his prayer to the Father of Glory, the God of the Lord Jesus Christ. His first request was that the church would have a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that the eyes of their understanding would be opened. The Amplified Bible says that he prayed that God would give them "insights into mysteries and secrets by having their eyes of their heart flooded with light."

Paul was calling out to the Father of Glory. A father is one that creates or originates something and then remains responsible for it. God was the Creator and the Father of the glory of the sunset that I witnessed. He was solely responsible for its majestic beauty, and just as He manifests His glory in that sunset, He desires to manifest His glory in your life. What an awesome thought! In Colossians 1:27 Paul says, "Christ in you, the hope of glory." God's hope of being able to declare His glory to this lost and needy generation will only be revealed when His presence and anointing is abiding in you. You are His hope and He wants to manifest Himself in your life. Yet just as the heavens and the earth are not able to produce their own glory, neither can you. You must trust God to paint your life as He sees fit and use the colors that He chooses. As you do, the Spirit of Christ will live big within you and your life will declare God's glory and it will proclaim His handiwork. +++

04/02/14
BEHIND THE MASK

Scripture: Matthew 6:5 (Amp.) "You must not be like the hypocrites."

The word hypocrite means "acting under a feigned or false part, deceit, or to pretend." In the Greek theater, it meant to "speak from behind a mask." Two masks were used to portray to the viewer whether the play was going to be a comedy or tragedy. We still see those two masks today on theater billboards. The comedy mask is white with a big smile, and the tragedy mask is black with a frown. In the theater, the person behind the mask was called a "hypocrite" simply because his character was pretending to be something in the play that the actor may not be in real life.

Very often Jesus' words were stern, but He really wanted His followers to be different from the world they lived in. Jesus didn't want those who professed to be His disciples to be like the hypocrites who lived behind a mask. In the scripture above, Jesus was referring to those who blew trumpets in front of the synagogue to call attention to themselves when they gave their gifts at the altar. He revealed that these people were only actors and that they were giving only to be seen by others. Jesus emphasized that His followers' alms, prayers, and good deeds should be done in secret.

Even now, human nature has not changed. We still hide our thoughts from others. We would never consider committing murder, yet we harbor our hatred and bitterness behind a mask. We can't imagine ourselves committing adultery, yet lust and passion looms in the secret chambers of our heart. God sees through all of these masks and Jesus said that if we have hate or lust in our heart, we have already committed the sin. And what about the so-called minor infractions, like a small lie or sowing just a little discord among our Christian brothers and sisters. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists these small things right along with the shedding of innocent blood and calls them an abomination to God. God hates sin and hypocrisy. His Word tells us to live our life in truth, for God our Father sees and knows our heart.

To live our life in truth, we must search our hearts daily and determine if there are secrets in our hearts that are unacceptable to a Holy God? In Psalms 19:14, David said, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength, and my Redeemer." David was as concerned about the inside if his heart as he was about his outward actions, for he knew that his character would be revealed by the secrets of his heart. In verse twelve, he said, "Cleanse me from secret faults." This should also be our prayer. We should remove our masks and walk in truth and in integrity before God so that we please our Holy God and so that we do not appear as hypocrites before men. +++      

04/03/14
ENLARGE YOUR VISION

Scripture: Isaiah 54:2-3 "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of your habitations: spare not, lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes; For you shall break forth on the right hand and on the left ..."

After God spoke these words to the Israelites, He followed up by telling them not to fear or be confounded with respect to what was about to happen in their lives. He wanted to assure them that He was right in their midst and that He was working His plan. All that was required of them was that they were to enlarge and stretch themselves to the full so that they may be able to receive His salvation and blessings.

Many times God wants to do something new and different in our lives, but when He speaks a promise to us, fear and doubt also chime in and mingle themselves with the words that He has spoken. Fear and doubt begin to voice all of the reasons why God's plan can't happen. Their arguments are strong. Fear and doubt tell us that we need to stay on familiar ground and that we must not get ourselves into something that is too big for us to handle. They discourage us from stepping out in faith and furnish us with excuses to keep us from walking through the doors that God is opening for us. They paint a dismal picture and challenge every ounce of faith that God has birthed within our spirits. All the while, God continues to speak His fresh and new word to us, "Enlarge, stretch forth, spare not, lengthen, and strengthen yourself, for I am getting ready to use you. Don't fear or be confounded, you are going to break forth on the right hand and on the left hand."

What a mighty promise this is, but it comes with much responsibility. It is never in God's plan that we become stagnant in our relationship with Him or our ministry to others. As He instructed the Israelites to make their tents larger, God instructs us to get ready for His plan and purpose to be fulfilled in our lives. He desires to grow our faith and take us from glory to glory, but we must do our part. We must discard the negative words of the devil and stretch our faith to come into agreement with God's promise. We must make ourselves vulnerable in every way and allow His Holy Spirit to empower and strengthen us for the task that is ahead. If we want to break forth into the new dimensions that God has prepared for us, we must take the initiative to enlarge our thinking to see His vision. +++

04/03/14
THE ARMOR AND PRAYER

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11 & 18 "Put on the whole armor of God .... Praying with all prayer and supplication in the spirit."

Paul instructed the people to pray with all kinds of prayer in the spirit. But before he told them to pray, he told them to put on the whole armor of God and he emphasized that we do not wrestle with flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness. He then listed the various pieces of the armor of God that are necessary to fight against these spiritual forces. They are truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:13-17). The first thing that we need to consider is that the armor is the "armor of God." It is not our armor and does not depend upon our own personal abilities. It is supernatural, it comes from God, and it bears witness of His strength.

Every piece of the armor of God is necessary and has a definite purpose. When we wrap ourselves in God's truth, the spirit of deception has no place or authority in our lives. So the devil cannot deceive us into praying for things that are outside of God's will or contrary to His Word. The devil will come against us while we are in prayer and tell us that we have no right to pray because we have sinned or fallen short in our daily walk with the Lord. But when we stand with the breastplate of God's righteousness protecting us, the devil has no room for accusations against us. Our own righteousness, which is as filthy rags, is displaced by the pure righteousness of God. Although our sins be as scarlet, we are made as white as snow because Jesus cleanses us from all sin. This forgiveness allows us to approach God's throne with boldness and without any condemnation. When our feet are shod with God's gospel of peace, we have a peace that passes all understanding. This peace enables us to yield ourselves to God in prayer, unreservedly, because we know that all things are going to work out for our good. As we pray, we can cast all of our cares upon the Lord, knowing that He cares for us.

When faith becomes your shield, it quenches the fiery darts of the devil. Every doubt that comes against you is destroyed by your faith in God. Mark 1:24 says, "When you pray, believe." Doubts may come later, but at the time you pray, your faith must reach out and touch the heart of God. Faith is supernatural. It pleases God and receives God's rewards. Paul also said, "Put on the helmet of salvation." When you pray you must allow God's helmet of salvation to cover your mind and control your thoughts. You must focus on God and believe that He will deliver you from every adversity that is coming against you. Then finally, when you pray, you must take the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. God's Word is your only offensive weapon. There is no mightier weapon than to speak the Word of God in prayer because it silences the voices of evil. Even Jesus used the Word of God when He stood against the devil.

Prayer does make a difference and definitely changes things. It is a mighty force, and like the force of gravity, we may not be able to explain it, but prayer works. Prayer is simple communication with God. A small word of prayer to the Heavenly Father can move a mighty mountain of difficulty. You can stand, sit, kneel, or run when you pray. You can be alone or in a vast crowd when you communicate with God. Your voice can be loud or your whispers can be soft. It doesn't matter. The important thing is that your spiritual man is adorned with truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and also armed with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Your prayers will then be victorious because the forces of Hell cannot come against the armor of God. +++

04/07/14
ARROGANCE OR CONFIDENCE

Scripture: Romans 12:3 "For I say ... to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think." 

Before the Apostle Paul made this statement, he addressed the church at Rome and told them that they were "the called of Jesus Christ, the beloved of God, and those called to be saints." He also declared that "their faith was spoken of throughout the whole world" (Romans 1:6-8). These folks were believers who loved God just like you and me and were doing their best to serve the Lord with all of their hearts. Yet, the Apostle Paul felt it necessary to warn them not to think more highly of themselves than they ought to think. He knew the enemy well and knew that this would be an easy trap for them to fall into.

This warning is for us today regardless of our calling or the depth of our faith. It is like a spiritual pendulum within our souls that can swing to the right or all the way to the far left. We can either be confident because we know that God is with us and working through us or we can become arrogant in our own self-sufficiency. Often it is a difficult matter for us to discern which direction the pendulum in our life is actually swinging. Sometimes our confidence in God is misread by others because our boldness in the Lord and our faith in His Word comes across as being arrogant to those who lack spiritual understanding. Then, there are other times when we are self-deceived. We think that we are being confident in the things of the Lord when we are actually being arrogant and presumptuous. It is an issue of our heart and we must ask God to help us make a distinction concerning what spirit we are allowing to rule.

An arrogant spirit has an exaggerated opinion of itself and is overly convinced of its own superiority. It is proud, lofty, and presumptuous. Arrogance stands alone and says, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing" (Revelations 3:17). This scripture continued to tell us that when we say that we have need of nothing, we don't realize that we are actually "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked." This is a pitiful state to be in. The bottom line is that the spirit of arrogance or self-sufficiency doesn't know how little it really has and how much it really needs.

Confidence, on the other hand, doesn't try to stand alone. It declares, "Without God, I can do nothing" (John 15:5). Confidence understands that it is a branch that can only function because it is attached to the vine of life, who is Jesus Christ. Confidence has faith and relies upon that which has been placed within us by God. It is knowing that the Spirit of the Lord within us is greater than the spirit that is in the world. Jesus was the Son of God and had confidence in who He was, yet He never acted in presumption or relied upon His own strength. He only did what the Father showed Him to do and what the Holy Spirit empowered Him to do. Our confidence should reside in our belief that God is with us and our actions should mirror those of Jesus. We should not attempt to do anything unless the Father shows us and the Holy Spirit empowers us. Instead of speaking arrogantly and saying "I have need of nothing", our confidence should declare the words of Philippians 4:13 (Amplified).

" I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me
I am ready for anything and equal to anything
through Him Who infuses inner strength into me,
That is, I am self sufficient in Christ's sufficiency." +++

04/08/14
SEARCH ME

Scripture: Psalms 139:23-24 (Living Bible) "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts ... Point out anything You find in me that makes You sad."

Recently, as I passed my rose garden, I noticed that it had been neglected. The grass had crept into the garden area and weeds had grown at the base of the bushes. A wild vine had twined its way throughout the bushes, and the bushes themselves were suffering with dried broken branches. They were desperately struggling against the negative forces that were stealing their water and nourishment. This in turn was deterring their growth and destroying their beauty. Yet, regardless of all the negative distractions, the bushes still had a few roses that were radiant with color and some buds that promised new blooms. The rose bushes were making every effort to keep things going. But they would soon smother and die if left untended, for they had no way of helping themselves or enhancing their hidden beauty. They desperately needed some extra care from their gardener.

This scene pictures our lives at times. Little by little, we allow the enemy of our souls to invade our lives. At first, we may not recognize that we have a few problems. We deceive ourselves into thinking that we are okay because our lives seem to be productive and prosperous. We are unable to see the weeds, grass, vines, and broken branches of our lives because we focus on the few roses that are still blooming. We fail to seek the Lord and to ask Him to search our hearts and point out anything in us that makes Him sad. However, if our lives remain untouched by the Master's hand, those things that make Him sad will soon steal our spiritual nourishment. They will destroy the beauty of our testimony before the world just like it was happening with the neglected rose garden.

God is the overseer and gardener of our lives. We can never escape His eternal presence. He is omniscient and knows everything about us, including the thoughts of our mind and the words of our lips before they are even spoken (Psalms 139:2, 4, 7). God not only knows us, He understands us. We are given the awesome opportunity to commune with this wonderful God who loves us more than anyone else ever could. He is the only One who is able to properly tend the garden of our soul. As we commune with Him, let us ask Him to remove the grass, weeds, vines, and broken branches from our lives. As we yield ourselves to the Lord, He will search us and His Holy Spirit will convict us and purge us of all of those things that make Him sad. +++

04/09/14
FAVOR AND PROSPERITY

Scripture: Genesis 39:3 "And the Lord was with Joseph and he was a prosperous man."

Life was not always easy or fair for Joseph. Many times he had to go back to square one and start over again. Yet regardless of where Joseph found himself, those about him recognized that the Lord was with him, and he always found grace and favor in their sight. Joseph prospered even though he faced many negative circumstances on his journey from the pit to the palace. He probably experienced discouragement, but he never gave up or quit because he had tremendous faith in God. There was a quiet sense of destiny in Joseph's heart because God had given him great dreams. However, God tested the motives of Joseph's heart before allowing those dreams to come to pass. He trained Joseph for this very special place by putting him into various and adverse situations. God then observed Joseph's responses to those conflicts. Psalms 105:19 tells us that "Until the time that God's Word came to pass in Joseph's life, the Word of the Lord tried him."

When Joseph went through these trials and tests, he chose to let these hard places push him towards God, not away from God. He refused to allow bitterness, anger, and resentment to rule his life. Instead, Joseph maintained a good attitude, lived a lifestyle of forgiveness, and worked hard. He understood the process, or the exchange of life. The exchange of life means that what you put into life is what you will get out of it. Even though he was imprisoned and tested for about sixteen years, Joseph wasted nothing. He worked hard and made the most of each moment, and even in prison, favor and prosperity came to him.

You too can translate your dreams into reality, although they may seem vague right now. You may feel that time and opportunity has passed you by. Like Joseph, your life may not have been easy and you may have been treated unfairly. You may have been rejected by your family and may have been emotionally imprisoned without cause. Now, you must choose whether to stay in this pit or proceed towards the palace. You are the only one who can make the exchange of life for yourself. You must believe that this is your time for favor and prosperity. Whichever path you choose, you will reap what you sow. To reach the destiny that God has for you, you must believe and continue to sow in faith. Through it all, you must trust God to cause all things to work together for good. Like Joseph, you must do all that your hands find to do and then do it as unto the Lord. In time, God will cause His Word to come to pass in your life and you will reap favor and prosperity. +++

04/10/14
POWER OF THE SPIRIT

Scripture: Luke 4:14 "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit ... "

The battle you face today is not an uncommon battle. It has been faced many times before by many people, but if you can learn to rely on the Word of God, which is the Sword of the Spirit, the victory will be yours. Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Ghost for the expressed purpose of testing the Word of God that was inside of Him. With all three conflicts, He responded with a scripture and three simple words, "It is written." He did not try to reason with the enemy, nor prove Himself right. He relied on the truth of God, and the truth prevailed. The thirteenth verse says that the devil ended his temptation and departed for a season.

You don't have to be super spiritual or smart to confront the devil. All you have to do is "submit yourself to God" then "resist the devil and he will flee" (James 4:7). When you resist the devil with a portion of God's Word, you shine light on his deception, and the truth of God dispels the darkness of all of his lies. Notice, however, that the devil only left Jesus for a season. The devil doesn't give up easily or stay away for very long. We are in constant warfare with him. Ephesians 6:13 tells us to put on the whole armor of God so that we can stand against the enemy. Then having done all that we can do, stand. The Greek translation of these words is "having done all, stand and get ready for the next battle."

Satan attacks us internally through our minds and emotions and externally through circumstances, relationships, and health. His sole purpose is to undermine God's will for our lives as he comes to "steal, kill, and destroy" (John 10:10). But Jesus came so that we could have an abundant life. He defeated the devil and returned in the power of the Spirit, and then empowered us to do the same. Jesus gave us the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and told us that we could bind on Earth whatever was bound in Heaven and loose on Earth that which was loosed in Heaven. God's Word determines what is bound in Heaven and determines what is loosed in Heaven (Matthew 16:19). If you want to be victorious in your time of testing, make sure you are using the Word of God, for His Word is the only sword that will destroy the enemy. You will only return in the power of the Spirit when you boldly come into a face-to-face conflict with the devil and overcome him with the written Word of God. +++

04/11/14
PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLDS

Scripture: II Corinthians 10:4-5 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God."

Satan is the enemy of God's people and his main attack is to come against our minds. He knows his battlefield very well and knows that if he can plant just a few thoughts in our mind, then our imagination will begin to reinforce those negative thoughts. The thoughts and imaginations will then unite and become strongholds in our mind. These strongholds cannot be dealt with in the natural; for there is no way that you can physically pick something out of your mind. You must deal with it spiritually and come against it with the Word of God.

Adam and Eve fought this same battle when the devil tempted them in the garden. He sowed doubt in their minds by saying, "Did God really say, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?'" They began to look at the fruit that he showed them and ultimately fell into his subtle devises. Jesus had the same experience, but He did not fail. Just after God announced that Jesus was His beloved Son, Satan attacked Jesus with the thought, "If you be the Son of God." Jesus immediately responded with the Word and refused to dwell on the deceptive thoughts. He cast down the imaginations that came against His mind and disallowed Satan to build any stronghold that would exalt itself against the knowledge of God. Satan attacked Jesus three times with the same thought in the wilderness, but Jesus continued to say, "It is written".

Satan comes against all Christians and sometimes we can't seem to find the victory in our lives. We are tormented, defeated, and cast down because of the devil's deception. We are waiting for a victory that will never come unless we come to understand that it is our own responsibility to guard our thoughts, to rise up, and to use the weapons that God has given us. The Word of God is our weapon, our sword of the Spirit, and is mighty enough to cast out the thoughts of the devil.

We do not have to understand how the power of God's Word works just as we are not required to understand how electricity works to enjoy the benefits. We are only required to speak the Word. God is the One who does the work, empowers the Word, and defeats the devil. God declared that His Word would never return to Him with VOID marked on it (Isaiah 55:11). Satan doesn't have the authority to disqualify the Word of God. When you are challenged by the enemy, find a scripture that pertains to that battle and take your thoughts captive with that Word. Then use that Word to cast down your imaginations and pull down every stronghold. God has provided the weapons. His Word is valid and will stand forever. Follow Jesus' example and simply say, "It is written." Here are just a few scriptures to help you.

IT IS WRITTEN:
Salvation - "I am saved by grace through faith." (Eph 2:8)
Healing - "He heals all my diseases." (Ps. 103:3)
Prosperity - "God wants me to prosper." (III John 2)
Forgiveness - "If I confess my sins, He is faithful and just to forgive
my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)
Protection - "God is my present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1)
Rejection - "He has made me accepted in the beloved." (Eph. 1:6)
Fear - "God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, and of
love, and a sound mind." (II Timothy 1:7)
Depression - "God heals my broken heart." (Psalms 147:3)
Persecution - "I am persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but
not destroyed." (II Cor. 4:8,9)
Loneliness - "Lo, I (Jesus) am with you always." (Matt. 28:20) +++

04/14/14
BEHOLD THE LAMB

Scripture: John 1:29 "John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world."

John's challenge to the people of his day to "Behold the Lamb of God" still speaks to us today. We are to turn our eyes upon Jesus and look at Him, the One who took away all of our sins by enduring the pain and crucifixion of the cross. Isaiah 52:14 and 53:1-7 prophetically tells us that His face and whole appearance was marred more than any man. Jesus' accusers actually ripped His beard from His face and when they were finished, He could not be recognized. Just think of His pain as you think about the pain that you experience when only one hair is pulled from your face.

As the Lamb of God, Jesus acquainted Himself with grief and sickness, bearing all of our weaknesses and distress. He became a man of sorrows and endured the pain, and despite His sacrifice for mankind, Jesus was still despised and rejected by mankind. Men did not appreciate His worth, nor did they esteem Him for who He was. He was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, yet He had no form of royalty, kingly air, or beauty that would cause men to want to look at Him. In fact, people turned the other way and hid their faces from Him. Yet, Jesus carried the sorrow of pain and punishment for all men. Although He was innocent, He was stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God.

Peter said, "We are not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Peter 1:18-19). We could not be redeemed with corruptible things, so God gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, who willingly offered Himself to be the sacrificial lamb. As the Lamb of God, Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our guilt and iniquities. The chastisement that was needed to obtain our peace and well being was laid upon Him. And by the thirty-nine stripes that were laid upon His back, we are healed and made whole. Jesus was abused and oppressed, yet when He was afflicted He remained submissive and did not open His mouth in self-defense. He was as a lamb that was led to the slaughter. During this season, while you honor Jesus' death and celebrate His resurrection, take the time to behold Him as the Lamb of God who was personally sacrificed for you. +++

04/15/14
TRUSTING GOD IN TIMES OF TROUBLE

Scripture: Psalms 121:1 "I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence comes my help."

The psalmist speaks of the blessings and help that come from God when we place our trust in Him. He says that God will keep us stable in all situations, whether by day or night, for the same God that led Israel out of Egypt with the cloud by day and the fire by night is also watching over us. This almighty God who is the maker of the heavens and the earth never slumbers or sleeps. He constantly watches to guard us from the enemy and to preserve our body and soul wherever we are and wherever we go.

In times of trouble, there is a special hill that we can look to for all of the help that we need. It is the hill called Mt. Calvary where Jesus suffered and died for you and me. When we have grief and pain, we can look to that hill because it was there that Jesus carried our sorrows. "He was stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." Isaiah 52:14 says, "His appearance was so marred" that He could hardly be recognized. Jesus was also a man who was despised and rejected by other men and He was also acquainted with much grief (Isaiah 53:3-4).

We can also look to this hill called Mt. Calvary for our spiritual cleansing and salvation because it was there on the cross that "Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities." As we look to this hill we can find peace and well being, because as Jesus bore the crown of thorns upon His brow, the "chastisement of our peace was laid upon Him." Through the anguish that Jesus suffered, He provided us with a glorious peace that passes all understanding. When we have physical ailments, we can look to Him for our healing, for on the way to Mt. Calvary, He was beaten and scourged. And scripture tells us that because of the thirty-nine stripes that Jesus bore in His own flesh, we are healed. This hill is also a special place of refuge when we are facing great difficulties and unstable situations. On this hill "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by being made a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13).

Obey the instructions of the psalmist and lift up your spiritual eyes and look. You will not only see the hill called Mt. Calvary, but you will see Jesus, the Son of the Living God, who is your help and your only hope. For with His own life, Jesus has paid the entire debt that you owed. +++

04/16/14
CLEANSED BY JESUS

Scripture: John 13:8 "If I wash you not, you have no part with Me."

At the last supper before the crucifixion, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. It was a very intimate moment and when He finally came to Peter, Peter was overwhelmed as Jesus humbled Himself before him. Peter couldn't imagine that the One whom he, himself, had identified as the Son of the Living God was now kneeling before him and attempting to wash his feet. He spoke to Jesus and said, "You will never wash my feet" (Verse 8). At Peter's refusal, Jesus explained that this was the only way that Peter could share companionship with Him. When Peter heard these words, he said to Jesus, "Wash not only my feet, but also my head and hands." He clearly wanted to make sure that he could fellowship with Jesus. Jesus then explained that Peter only needed his feet to be cleansed.

This act showed not only self-humiliation on the part of Jesus, it was a lesson about receiving daily forgiveness. It teaches that even though we have repented and given our hearts to the Lord, we still need daily cleansing. We are exposed to the world each and every day, and as we travel down the paths of life, our feet become very dusty. Things of this present life lay hold upon us and make every effort to cling to us eternally. Jesus is the only one who can wash these sins away. We must allow Him to examine our lives continually and then wash and cleanse us from all unrighteous. Like Peter, if we refuse and disallow Jesus to cleanse us, we cannot be in close communion with Him because righteousness does not fellowship with unrighteousness and light does not have communion with darkness ( II Corinthians 6:14).

Unrighteousness and darkness challenge us daily causing us to miss the mark and come short of the glory of God. Even Paul who wrote nearly three fourths of the New Testament speaks of the struggles within himself. He said, "I know that no good thing dwells within me. The will to do good is present within me, but I can't seem to perform it. The things that I want to do, I do not, and the things that I don't want to do, I do" (Romans 7:18-19). This war that raged within Paul is also present within us and the same devil who fought against him is the same devil that we struggle with. Life has not changed.

However, the same Jesus who washed the feet of Peter and the other disciples stands ready to wash our feet. We must allow the Lord to do this, for if we do not allow Him to wash us and forgive us, we can have no part with Him. We cannot approach God in our own righteousness as our righteousness is as filthy rags. Jesus is the only one who can separate us from our sins, and as He does, we find His love and mercy overwhelming. Isaiah 1:18 says, "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Allow Jesus to cleanse your soul. +++

04/17/14
WILLING SPIRIT - WEAK FLESH

Scripture: Matthew 26:41 "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples after He found them sleeping when they were supposed to be watching and praying. These were not condemning words but understanding words, for Jesus Himself had just encountered a spiritual battle within Himself. His spirit had experienced the rebellion of His flesh. Jesus was willing to submit to the Father's will, but His flesh rose up in weakness. It fought hard against the coming torture of the crucifixion and separation from the Father. Look at His words from the Amplified Bible as He struggled through this conflict:

- "He said, 'My soul is very sad and deeply grieved, so that I am almost
dying of sorrow.'" (Matthew 26:38)
- "He prayed, 'Father, let this cup pass away from Me' ... He went
away and prayed for the third time, using the same words."
(Matthew 26:39 & 44)
- "He began to be struck with terror and amazement and was deeply
troubled and depressed." (Mark 14:33)
- "Being in agony of mind, He prayed the more earnestly and
intently." (Luke 22:44)
- "His sweat became great drops of blood dropping down upon the
ground." (Luke 22:44)

Sometimes life becomes very difficult and we question in our mind if we can make it. Yet, with all that comes against us, I doubt seriously that any one of us have faced the agony that Jesus faced. He endured so much in the garden as He prayed that His sweat became great drops of blood. Can you imagine that? The purpose of His distress and sorrow was so that He could become acquainted with our emotions and be touched with the feelings of our infirmities. Jesus' experiences qualified Him to become our High Priest and enabled Him to make intercessions for us continually before the Father. If your battle gets tough and you find yourself in deep depression and overwhelmed with grief and sorrow, remember that Jesus had the same struggles. He can help you through yours. Lean upon Him, for He knows your spirit is willing and He understands the struggles of your weak flesh. +++

04/18/14
WHY?

Scripture: Matthew 27:46 (Amplified) "Jesus cried with a loud voice, My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me - leaving Me helpless, forsaking and failing Me in My time of need?"

When Jesus was hanging on the cross, He spoke these words, quoting Psalm 22:1, which King David had spoken to God. The scriptures say that David was a man after God's own heart and Jesus was God's only begotten Son. Yet both of these great men, whom God loved, found themselves in such distressing situations that they felt that God had utterly forsaken and abandoned them. In their hour of need, the One whom they loved and trusted the most had seemingly rejected them. They both found it difficult to understand why God had not come to their rescue. Their question "Why?" searched for some kind of answer about God's intentions to deliver them from their painful and perplexing situations.

How many times has this small word come to our mind and even crossed our lips when we faced difficult situations? Why did I have to wreck my car, get a ticket, lose my job, get sick, or lose my mate? Why doesn't God come through for me? Why doesn't He heal me? Why is He waiting so long to deliver me? Why has God abandoned me, leaving me helpless? Why has He forsaken me in the time of my greatest need?

These questions are hard and full of reality. We don't always discern God's working or understand His purpose. It is difficult to understand why God doesn't immediately eliminate our painful situation, but it is comforting to know that we have a Savior and a Friend who knows exactly where we are and how we feel. Jesus was touched by every pain and anxiety that we will ever face, and He sits on the right hand of God making intercession for us. As our High Priest, Jesus prays for us with feeling because He was in a place where He cried out in His own pain and distress.

Hebrews 4:15 and 16 in the Message Bible says, "We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experiencing it all - all but the sin. So let's walk right up to Him and get what He is so ready to give. Take the mercy and the help." Hide these words in your heart and when your time of testing comes, turn your 'WHY' into 'WHO' and look to your High Priest, Jesus Christ, who is sitting at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for you. In the final outcome, He will deliver you and give you victory. +++

04/21/14
FA RISEN SAVIOR

Scripture: Luke 24:6 "He is not here, but is risen."

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James came to the tomb where Jesus had been laid after His crucifixion. As they approached the tomb, they found the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty. While they were standing at the empty tomb in wonder and amazement, two angels appeared to the women and asked them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" The angels then declared, "He is not here, but is risen."

The question that the angels asked the women at the tomb that day is still a valid question for us today. Are we seeking the living among the dead? Do we envision Jesus on the cross of Calvary or is He alive in our hearts? Is His presence near or do we feel that He is strangely distant? Can we hear Him in our spirit or is His voice dead to us? Does Jesus walk with us along the pathway of life or He is missing from our fellowship?

Jesus has never changed. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus is as alive today as He was when He was laid in a manger as a babe, when He walked the shores of Galilee with His disciples, when He carried the cross to Calvary, when He rose from the dead, and when He ascended to the Father in Heaven. Jesus is risen from the dead and He has promised to be with us always. This is our hope and our eternal assurance. 

May The Glorious Blessings Of Jesus' Resurrection Be Yours ... Every Moment of Every Day! +++

04/22/14
CAREFUL HEARING

Scripture: Mark 4:20 "Hear the Word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit."

Mark gives an analogy of seeds that are sown in four different types of soil and compares them to the seed of the Word of God that is sown into the hearts of men. The first seed is sown on hard ground by the wayside and is snatched away and stolen by the enemy. The second seed is sown on stony ground and is unable to take root because of persecution and afflictions. The next seed is sown among the thorns and is choked out by the deceitfulness of riches and the lust of other things. Finally, the fourth seed is sown on good ground and brings forth a plentiful harvest; thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.

Notice that all of the seeds that were sown were good seeds. They all had the capacity to bring forth a harvest, but the condition of the heart made a difference and determined whether the seeds were able to bear fruit. The seed that bore fruit was the one that was planted in a heart that met two conditions. The heart had to hear and understand the Word and then it had to follow through by actually receiving the Word. Mark continued to say, "Be listening, and perceiving, and comprehending ... Be careful what you are hearing. The amount of attention that you give to the truth that you hear will be the same measure that comes back to you" (Mark 4:23-24). Your harvest totally depends upon how much thought and study you give to God's Words.

If you are standing on a Word from God, continue to give thought and study to that Word. It may be awhile before you see results, so do not allow offenses of any sort to destroy or steal it from you. Seeds take root downward before they bear fruit upward. You can't see what is happening under the earth, but the seed is working, growing, and pushing itself upwards. The dirt and darkness of the earth may be overwhelming as they speak doubt and fear to the tiny seed. Even after the seed takes root and begins to grow, persecutions, afflictions, deceitfulness of riches, and the things of the world may try to choke it out. Therefore, carefully protect the Word and remain patient. Remember that something is happening in the spirit that you cannot see. Life is being created and growth is taking place in the unseen realm. You will find that as you mix faith with the seed that God has sown in your heart, it will profit and produce fruit (Hebrews 4:2). +++     

04/23/14
WASTED YEARS

Scripture: Genesis 11:31 "Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot, and Sarah his daughter-in-law and they set out to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there."

It is so easy to catch the vision and set out to accomplish the goal, but completing the journey requires much more effort. It requires courage and determination. So many times we are like Abraham's father, Terah. Halfway through our journey we find a place of compromise and just settle there. Terah settled in Haran and never resumed the journey to Canaan, and he finally died there. After Terah died, God called Abraham, and despite the hardships along the way, Abraham eventually reached the land of Canaan.

What dreams have we left undone because of our incomplete obedience? What gifts and talents lay dormant in our lives because of distractions or our lack of confidence? What hopes have we let die because we have faced discouragement? How many times have we allowed the enemy to stop us in our journey towards success on any level, whether it is a grand scheme or a meager project? So often, we get half way to our goal and then settle there. We find ourselves with unfinished songs and poems within our hearts, neglected rendezvous with friends, projects undone, and spiritual commitments unmet. Our good intentions are never fully realized.

So much of life is made of wasted years. You may take some wrong turns and settle in wrong places along the way and it may be difficult to find God's good plan for your life. You may have a desire to do something special for God, but find yourself stuck in the land of Haran. Regardless of where you are today on your journey or how hopeless all of your dreams may seem, you must realize that the gifts and the callings of God are without repentance (Romans 11:29). God doesn't take your gifts back. He wants to help you reach your destiny. He is the God of a second chance and He will make a way where there seems to be no way. Philippians 1:6 says, "Be confident of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will bring it to completion." God never settles in Haran or gives up on you. He will continue to work with you until Jesus comes back again. He is a faithful God, but you are the one who must make the choice to finish your course. You must face the obstacles and adversities with discipline and you must conquer every challenge with courage. You must put forth effort and endeavor to be completely obedient to God's call. You can start again today by moving out of Haran and heading towards your dreams. When you do, God will redeem your wasted years. +++

04/24/14
FLOURISHING IN GOD

Scripture: Psalms 92:13 "Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God."

Trees that are planted and stay planted grow and flourish. The tree itself grows stronger and taller as its roots take hold, make their home in the soil, and spread in every direction. Its height grows in proportion to its root system which gives it the life support, stability, and the security that it needs. However, if the tree were to be moved around every other season, the instability would hinder its growth, for it would never be able to take root nor to bear fruit.

In this psalm that was written as a Song for the Sabbath Day, the psalmist emphasized that God's people are like trees. We need to be planted in the house of the Lord and we need to stay planted. If we are going to grow properly, we need to be nourished on a regular basis. Therefore, God gives us anointed pastors and ministers who give us balanced nourishment. When we stay under their covering, God honors our faithfulness and causes them to minister to our every need. As we find this place where we belong, we begin to flourish. Not only do our own leaves become green because we are being fed, but the nourishment we receive causes us to also bear fruit for others.

In verse twelve, one of the trees that this psalmist compared the righteous to was a palm tree. Some of the characteristics of the palm tree are that it grows from within and has 200 uses. It has deep roots, is always green, and doesn't grow wild. It is able to sustain seasons of drought without wilting. It also bends gracefully with the winds of the storms and does not break under the pressure. What a wonderful analogy of those who choose to be planted in the house of God. We should never allow the devil to distract us but should base our choice on God's call and allow Him the privilege of planting us where He wants us to be. Like the palm tree, when we are in the place where we belong and where God wants us to be, we will be able to weather the storms, not break under pressure, and flourish even in the dry spells. +++

04/25/14
SOWING AND REAPING

Scripture: Galatians 6:7 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he reap."

In both the natural and the spiritual realm, the principle of sowing and reaping is very simple and there are at least three basic laws that are in operation. First, you reap what you sow. If you put a bean seed in the ground, you will reap beans. If you plant potatoes, you will harvest potatoes. You can't plant peas and expect to reap corn. It just doesn't work that way. God established this law in the beginning when He said, "Let it bring forth after its kind." You will always reap whatever you sow.

Second, you reap more than you sow. Sowing operates exponentially. God didn't tell the seed to double, He told it to multiply and bring forth. It only takes one small kernel of corn the size of the end of your smallest finger to produce an eight-foot stalk with twelve to fifteen ears of corn on each stalk. Each ear of corn contains hundreds of kernels, which have the same ability to reproduce themselves after their own kind.

Finally, the third law of sowing and reaping is that you sow now and then you reap later. There is a long season or period of time between sowing and reaping. During this silent time, it appears that nothing is happening with your seed. You must extend your faith for the harvest because you cannot see the changes that are occurring below the surface. Yet as the seed dies in the obscure darkness, it begins to produce life again, which will eventually lead to fruition.

George Washington Carver said:

"How far you go in life depends on your being
Tender with the young,
Compassionate with the aged,
Sympathetic with the striving,
And tolerant of the weak and the strong
Because someday you will have been all of these."

Mr. Carver was in essence saying, "Be careful how you live your life." Job 4:8 says that if you sow wickedness, you will reap the same. Hosea 10:2 also says if you sow righteousness, you will reap mercy. Like the natural seeds, God also established boundaries in the spiritual. You'll never reap mercy if you sow wickedness. You may get by with something for a while, not realizing that you are in a time of silent grace. God is very patient and will wait for your response of repentance. However, do not be deceived. There will always be seedtime and harvest, and your season to reap will eventually come. Sin has consequences and righteousness has rewards so be very careful of the seeds that you sow, for in time they will produce fruit after their own kind. +++

04/28/14
THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1 "Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."

Physical battles are not won when we are engaged with the enemy in combat. Instead, they are won long before we reach the battlefield. It is the preparation and training season that makes the difference in the outcome of any battle. If a soldier wants to be the victor in battle, he must become familiar with his weapon, understand the battle strategy, and know his enemy well. He must also be aware of his own strengths and weaknesses in order to be victorious over the strengths and weaknesses of his enemy. 

Spiritual battles are the same. They are not won as we are engaged in conflict with the enemy of our soul but rather when we are on our knees in prayer before the Heavenly Father. For it is only in the presence of the Lord that we are able to gain the strength that we need to conquer the enemy. And like the military soldier, we too must be familiar with our spiritual weapons. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty and with them we can pull down the strongholds of the devil. We must understand that our battle strategy, or fighting the good fight of faith, is "not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord (Zechariah 4:6)." We must also know the enemy of our soul well. He appears to us as an angel of light, but in reality, he is the spirit of deception, seeking whom he may devour as he comes to kill, steal, and destroy. Finally, it is important to be aware of our spiritual strengths and our spiritual weaknesses. The weakness within us will turn into strength when we rely upon the supernatural power of the Lord.

What is your particular battle today? Is it in your health, finances, relationships, or in the workplace? Whose armor have you put on to engage in that battle? Are you relying on your own knowledge or are you putting on God's belt of truth? Are you standing in your own self righteousness, which is as filthy rags, or have your put on His breastplate of righteousness? Are you trying to work out your own solutions or are you walking in the Lord's shoes of peace and wearing His helmet of salvation? Or are you holding up God's shield of faith and using His Word as your sword of the Spirit? Your faith must be in God and not in yourself or your own abilities, for without the Lord, you can do nothing. Your only weapon is the Word of God, for it alone can stop the voice of the enemy.

When we come to understand these things about spiritual warfare, we will become more than conquerors because we will realize that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. God supplies us with spiritual armor, but we must put it on. When we use what God has provided, we will be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. +++

04/29/14
JESUS IS OUR DOOR

Scripture: John 10:7 "Then Jesus said to them again, I am the door of the sheep."

The shepherd was a familiar figure in Jesus' day. He had many duties to perform but one of his main responsibilities was to protect his sheep from any harm. Shepherds allowed their sheep to graze in the open pastures during the day, but before the sun went down they gathered them into a safe place, which was called a sheepfold. After the shepherd had gathered all of his sheep into the sheepfold in the evening, he would lay his own body down across the entrance. This was a common practice amongst the shepherds. The shepherd's body became like a door, which guarded the sheep. Nothing could pass through the entrance of the sheepfold without going through the door, which meant that nothing could get to the sheep without first encountering the presence of the shepherd. 

Jesus spoke these comforting words to us because we are the sheep of His pasture. He lovingly cares for us in every way. He leads us into green pastures so that we can be nourished and beside the still waters so that our souls can be restored. He doesn't quit there, however. Instead, He is also our way into the Kingdom of God or our door into the sheepfold, for no one can come to the Father except through Jesus. Like the sheep inside the sheepfold, we may have no idea what is on the outside of the safety that our Good Shepherd provides for us. Yet, Jesus is aware of every peril that seeks to destroy us and He places Himself between us and all danger. We never have to fear the unknown because nothing can get to us without first encountering His divine supernatural presence.

We deal with doors everyday and most of us check to make sure that they are secured when we go in and out. A few years ago, I had a door that wasn't very secure. It was safe as far as keeping the rain and creatures out of the house, but it was too old and worn to protect me in the time of real trouble. When the fierce winds of a hurricane came my way, the door could not fulfill its purpose. And even though it was locked and braced with a makeshift board, it still blew open as the raging winds of the storm passed by.

The door that Jesus offers us is not like this, for He, Himself, is the door and He is faithful and dependable. His presence provides safety and security beyond our natural comprehension. He is the Good Shepherd and He will not flee when the enemy attacks and He will not collapse in the midst of the storm. Even when facing the cross, Jesus willingly laid down His own life for us. It is a great assurance to know that we are safely hidden away from harm, for the Lord is our door and His presence is between us and danger. This thought should give us sweet peace and destroy any terror in our soul. +++

04/30/14
HOPE

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Most of the time, our thoughts are focused on obtaining faith and not considering hope. Because hope, by itself, sounds so vague and almost wishful, we forget that it is a very big part of the process of faith. Hope has desire and vision, yet it stands alone as a vision until faith goes into action and adds substance to it. However, this vision of our desire or hope should never be demeaned, for Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." In the end, the vision of our hope rescues us from perishing.

This vision of hope is necessary because it guides us along the path to faith's fulfillment. A good example of hope at work is a blueprint for constructing a building. Without a blueprint and a definite goal, the original purpose would perish. The blueprint gives a clear picture of what the building should look like at its final end. As the construction begins, the ultimate goal is to complete the vision that is on the paper. Yet, the building will never be completed by just studying the blueprint. Conscious effort must be made to work towards the goal of taking the project from the vision state to reality. 

So it is also in the spiritual realm. God gives us a hope of prosperity, health, and peace. III John 2 says, "Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers." This is just one of many blueprints of what God desires for us. For each blueprint, He gives us the materials to build that vision. God speaks and imparts a confident belief in the truth into our hearts through His Word. Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God."

Just like the construction of a building, the Word comes to us "precept upon precept; line upon line; here a little, and there a little" (Isaiah 28:13). Through this Word, we are gradually transformed by the renewing of our minds. As we look at the blueprint that our hope has defined, our faith begins to consciously builds upon that blueprint until it brings our hope into reality. +++