03/02/15
DEAD SNAKE

Scripture: Luke 9:1 "He called His twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils."

A few days ago I had one of those mornings that you have every now and then. The electrical power had gone off during a storm the night before, which caused my alarm clock to shut off. When I woke up the next day, I tried to hurry through my morning routine in order to not be late, but then I noticed that there was a snake on my front porch. I ran to the garage to get the shovel so that I could kill it but discovered that the lights had not come back on in the garage. I had to fumble around in the semi darkness and deal with the switches in the fuse box so that I could turn the power back on. I must confess that the fuse box intimidates and frightens me. I dreaded having to deal with it, so I prayed and finally overcame the mental challenge. I turned the lights back on, found the shovel, and went back to battle the snake. But to my surprise, when I started trying to kill it, I discovered that it was already dead. All of my fears were to no avail. I supposed one of the neighborhood stray cats had done the job for me.

After all the confusion, panic, and fear was over, I thought about how many times we face these same sorts of challenges in the spirit. The enemy surrounds us with confusion and darkness and then gives us a frightening vision of what he can do to our lives. He boldly threatens unemployment and financial ruin. He gives symptoms of debilitating and life threatening diseases. He tells us that our relationships with those we love are in jeopardy. He emphasizes every one of our weaknesses and assures us that we will never be able to accomplish our goals. He even tries to scare us with the weather and the world news. Fear is his main strategy and all he has to do is make his lies look real. Even a dead or plastic snake can be frightening

After I thought on these matters, I recalled our true position in the spiritual realm, for God did not create us to live in fear of the devil. God's Word says that He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. God has given us spiritual power and authority over all devils and there is nothing that can touch our lives unless God allows it. Yet, too often, we panic and run around in confusion and darkness as we try to fight the battles that the devil brings to our door. Just looking at the problems that are before us cause fear in our soul because the devil's threats look so real. We fail to remember that he has already been defeated by the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for us.

Jesus said, "It is finished!" He came to give us abundant life and the battle was won on Calvary. His work is complete and available to us today. If we can keep our minds stayed on Jesus when the enemy presents himself, we can have peace in every situation. The victory belongs to us because Jesus has overcome all evil. So let us not give into fear. Instead let us remember who we are in Christ and understand that when we are covered by the blood of Jesus the devil has no power over us. He is just a dead snake. +++

03/03/15
THE ACCUSER

Scripture: Revelation 12:10 "For the accuser of our brothers is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."

The enemy of our soul works overtime in the department of accusations. He is at our heart's door continually reminding of us of our present sins and past failures regardless of how little or how great they may be. He leaves nothing undone because he knows the negative effect his words of condemnation will have upon us. He does not speak with truth and the thoughts that he plants in our minds become mental hurdles that we have to overcome. His reminders become heavy weights and burdens as we attempt to run the race that God has set before us. 

Several times in my life, I have had a recurring memory of an incident that happened when I was a child. I was walking home from school and I took a strawberry from the garden that was near the road. It wasn't a sudden thing. My actions were premeditated. I had to go out of my way and walk around the block slowly so that everyone else would be gone and not see me when I came back to take the strawberry. Taking the strawberry sounds so much better than stealing it. That memory became a stronghold in my mind because I had never dealt with my deed. That was over fifty-five years ago and it still grieved my spirit. It is true that I have done many other things that are far worst since then, but I have always been quick to confess my sins and find forgiveness in the eyes of the Lord. When I have confessed my sins, God has always been faithful to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. He washes me whiter than snow and I am never plagued with guilt. I didn't know this truth when I was a young child. I now realize that I was having this recurring memory because, in all of these years, I had never confessed this sin, nor asked forgiveness for it. When I realize this, I confess my sin to God and He washed the guilt from my soul.

The devil was always there to remind me because he knew that my transgression was not covered by the blood of Jesus. He still had an open door to accuse me and to make me feel guilty. You may ask, "Does God hold us that tight to the law?" I would say, "No". We would all be in big trouble if He did. But I do believe that the Lord saved this particular incident in my mind so that it could be used as an example for this season to let you know that God wants all of us free from the evil spirit of condemnation. He wants us to know that we can be released from the devil's accusations by simply asking forgiveness for our sins.

If you have a recurring memory that brings condemnation, simply confess it to the Lord. Call the sin out by name, ask for forgiveness, and then allow God to wash away the stain with the precious blood of Jesus. You will be amazed at the sweet release that you will feel in your spirit when you get God involved in forgiving your transgressions. Remember that the devil is the one who seeks to keep you in bondage but God is faithful. God's Word declares that the accuser has been cast down and that you can overcome him and his accusations "By the blood of the Lamb and by the word of your testimony" (Revelation 12:11). +++

03/04/15
SHADOWS OF DEATH

Scripture: Psalms 23:4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me ... "

David faced death many times as he was a man of war with a great reputation in battle. He had been chased by King Saul who hurled javelins at him, and even had to flee from his own son, Absalom, who sought to kill him. Many times David ended up hiding in caves and crying out to God for deliverance as he experienced the darkness of death. Yet in each case, he put his trust in God and came out with a renewed faith that even though he was standing right in the shadow of death itself, he had nothing to fear. The Lord was with him! David's faith brought him to the conclusion that the Lord was right there beside him, guarding him and leading him every step of the way. The knowledge of God's presence with him dispelled every fear and anxiety that he had.

We find it easy to walk by faith when all reports are good and we are walking in the light. We are able to boldly speak good confessions, and the songs of victory linger in our hearts. We find it easy to shout "Praise the Lord" and "Hallelujah" and rejoice in the goodness of God. But when the bad reports come and the sun sets, we change our tune. Fear strikes as we sense the darkness and see the shadows closing in on us. It is not so easy to have faith when we are facing an uncertain valley. The darkness of the valley begins to wear us out with mental conflict because we turn our eyes away from Jesus and focus on the shadows. Like a small child left in a dark room, we imagine all sorts of things as the shadows themselves become very real and begin to torment us.

There are many kinds of valleys that will challenge you. The shadows of those valleys can be very real and overwhelming. You may face the possibility of physical death or the death of a loved one. It may be the death of a precious relationship when divorce occurs or friendships dissolve. You may even face a situation like David did when his son rebelled and revolted against him. Or possibly your career opportunities and financial security may encounter sudden failure. Death and disappointment in any area brings darkness, and that darkness brings fear.

Your only hope in these situations is to focus on the light who is Jesus. He will comfort you with the Word of God and restore your soul as He walks with you through the valley. As His light begins to dawn, the shadows disappear, for darkness cannot hide the light. In His light you will discover that the valley is full of green pastures and still waters. You will have no need to be afraid of the shadows for the Lord, Himself, is with you. +++

03/05/15
CATCH GOD'S VISION

Scripture: Isaiah 54:1 & 3 "Sing, O barren, you that did not bear; break forth into singing ... For you shall break forth on the right hand and on the left ..."

God has big dreams for you and His dreams are for good and not evil. He has hopes and plans for your future (Jeremiah 29:11). Before you were ever born He formed you into the vessel that He wanted you to be. You are His workmanship and He designed every detail of your being. He gave you a unique personality and endowed with gifts and various talents to enable you to perfect your calling and perform the work that He has ordained for you. No task is too small and no vision too great. Each has its own significance and importance in the eyes of God.

God continues His work in you even now, teaching and training you, leading you, and strengthening you for the destiny that is set before you. Yet, you must catch His magnificent vision for your life. You do this by focusing on the things that interest you, for God placed those desires within you by design. He makes no mistakes. Your likes and dislikes are not accidents or coincidental. They are there for specific reasons. As you submit yourself to God, He will cause your gifts and talents to make room for you. Never give up. You are on the brink of a miracle and a breakthrough.

Up to now, your life may have been barren as the prophet Isaiah described, but he says, "Sing," and then in verse three he says, "Enlarge your borders." In other words, get mentally and physically ready for a change. Expand yourself because something is happening in the spiritual realm even though you can't see it in the natural at this time. Soldiers learn their weapons and prepare for battle long before they engage in conflict. So it is with you. Begin to prepare for something special in your life because it may be ready to happen. God does things suddenly, but He looks for those who are willing, obedient, and prepared.

Ask God to seal within you a determination to finish the course that He has set before you. Strive to obey Him and do His good pleasure with an eagerness to please Him. Don't be discouraged about past failures. Just sing with faith in your heart, for when God begins to move in your life, you will break forth on the left hand and on the right. His work in and through you will be bigger than you are and more than you could ask or imagine. +++

03/06/15
RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH

Scripture: II Timothy 2:15 "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth."

We have access to the heart of God through the scriptures, but we can only understand what He is saying by rightly dividing or properly interpreting His words. God sent the Holy Spirit to be our primary teacher. He is the One who opens our understanding and without His help, we would miss the true meaning of God's Word.

I had an experience with my grandson who misinterpreted my written words. Although he could read block printing very well, he had not yet learned to read cursive handwriting. We were to meet his mother at a fast food restaurant. While we were waiting, he was playing in the child's area and I was drinking tea and writing some notes on a paper napkin. His mother arrived and I left the table momentarily to join her at the service counter to place our food order. When my grandson came back to the table where I had been sitting he saw the writing on the paper napkin, but because he could not read the words he imagined that I had left him a note telling him that I left the restaurant without him. Fear gripped his innocent heart and he panicked. He cleaned the table as he had been taught to do, threw my glass of tea and my notes into the trash and then ran out of the room. As he rushed into the adjoining room, he discovered that we were only a few feet away from him.

My grandson is a precious treasure to me. He should have known from experience that I would never leave him or forsake him and that I would always be there to protect him. I would give my life for his sake if necessary. Yet, because his knowledge was limited and he could not rightly divide the words that I had written, he allowed fear to take over and dictate his actions. If he had simply stopped to think about my past love and care for him, he would have never reacted in that manner. Like my grandson, sometimes we read the Word of God and draw the wrong conclusions because our knowledge of God's Word is limited and we do not have a full understanding about God's nature.

We see God's strict laws but fail to put them in perspective to His bountiful grace. His Words says that where sin abounds, His grace does much more abound. God's grace is sufficient for every lack and yet God's bountiful grace does not give us a license to sin or allow us to neglect the laws of God. There must be balance. We know that God is a God of judgment, but He is also a God of love and His love covers a multitude of sin. Yet even though our sins are covered by His love, our choices demand consequences. God's mercy and forgiveness does not exclude or prevent our suffering for the deeds that we have committed, for His Word declares that what we sow, we shall also reap. God wants us to prosper but in truth it is the blessings of the Lord that make us rich and do not cause sorrow. God wants us in health, but our actions negate His desires when we disregard the laws of life and nutrition. We know that salvation is free and that we cannot gain eternal life through our works, but the fact remains that good works follow salvation. If you have been saved by His love and grace, you are going to follow His example and do good.

All scripture has been given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit so we need Him to open our understanding. It is imperative for us to study God's Word and allow the truth to be revealed to us by His Spirit, for flesh and blood can not give us Heaven's revelation. When we include the Holy Spirit in our study, He breathes upon the words of God and brings them to life. He also gives us light and makes known the true meaning of God's words. We then are able to rightly divide the Word of Truth and this creates a spiritual balance in our lives that promotes the approval of God. +++

03/09/15
POSSESS YOUR SOUL

Scripture: Luke 21:19 "In your patience, you possess your soul."

Jesus warned His disciples about the hard times that they were destined to face. He spoke of the persecution, imprisonment, and betrayal of family members and friends that they would experience. Jesus told them that they would be brought before kings and rulers for His name's sake, but not to meditate beforehand what their answers were to be. In the most difficult of circumstances, they were to remain patient and rely upon His wisdom and His protection. He promised to fill their mouth and give them words to speak that would be so logical that their adversaries and opponents would not be able to withstand or contradict them. Jesus said, "In your patience, you possess your soul."

The soul of man is comprised of his mind, his will, and his emotions. His mind tells him what to think. His will tells him what he wants, and his emotions tell him how he feels. These three functions of his soul determine his actions and responses. Without patience in his soul, he will fall into a trap. His mind will allow his carnal will and nature to be led by his emotions. Everything will be decided by what he wants and what feels good at the moment. He will seek to gratify his fleshly desires regardless of the consequences. A soul that is patient, however, will weigh the situation by God's Word and God's wisdom. Patience will put all things in the balances of godly counsel and then submit to the will of God, disallowing the soul's own desires and emotions to give in to the moment.

We often wonder why we must go through so many trials and so much tribulation. Yet James 1:3 states that this is the process that develops patience. It is as we go through difficult seasons that we learn to be patient, and then as our patience grows within us, we begin to possess our soul. Trials and temptations train us how to think rationally with our minds, keep our wills in order, and bring our emotions under control. Each mistake that we make teaches us not to be so hasty the next time. Patience teaches us to wait upon God until we are possessing His thoughts and leaning upon His understanding. When we suffer loss because we have allowed our own desires to override God's will, we see the wisdom in listening to His voice and following Him more closely. When we suffer the guilt and shame of allowing our soul to express it's emotions in outrage, we learn to exercise more patience when the challenge presents itself again.

Possessing your soul is a moment-by-moment process and requires that you don't give your soul up or loan it out for any reason. When the enemy tempts you to share your mind, will, and emotions with him, ask God to help you exercise patience so that you are able obey the scriptures and possess your soul. +++

03/10/15
FROM SADNESS TO JOY

Scripture: Psalms 30:11 "You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy."

Dealing with someone who is sad, disappointed, and depressed can be a very discouraging ordeal. Most of us, at some point, have been down this path with those whom we loved and desperately wanted to help, but unfortunately our efforts to rescue them out of the pit did not work. We empathized with them but instead of drawing them out of their sorrow and grief, we have fallen into the same pit with them. We ended up allowing their misery to dominate our lives. 

I remember that my dad had a better remedy for these kinds of situations. Instead of joining the darkness, he always brought light. He created a victory in the midst of defeat. My problems as a child were minor, but there were times that I became sad or would pout when things were not going my way. When my dad saw me entertaining a negative mood of this sort, he would begin to tease me. He would say funny things, make ridiculous faces, and often physically tickle me in order to draw me out of my self imposed doom and gloom. It usually only took a few minutes for him to have me in good spirits and laughing hysterically. His positive response to my needs turned my mourning into joy and caused me to forget the sadness that was in my heart.

My dad passed away many years ago, but I still have someone who can successfully turns my mourning into joy. His name is Jesus. He understands all of my heart aches and pains. He listens to my problems as I rehearsed them over and over again, but He never crawls into the pit with me. Jesus doesn't make funny noises or ridiculous faces and He never tickles me, but He is very present in my life and knows what I need to strengthen and encourage me. He will direct me to a scripture, which will be a personal Word of encouragement or cause a song of deliverance to suddenly spring up in my heart and give me joy.

Jesus is present in your life as well. You just need to recognize that He is near and receive His personal ministry to you. As you focus on His goodness and call out to Him, He will change your darkness into light and bring happiness back into your life. Trust in Him because He knows you better than you know yourself.

Isaiah 61:1-3 tells us how the Lord ministers to all of us when we are down and discouraged. Jesus is anointed by God to speak good news into our lives. He knows how to bind up our broken heart and to set us free from the things that hold us in bondage and captivity. He will give us beauty for our ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. The Lord does this so that we can have and enjoy life, but we must be willing to receive His love and ministry to us. We must believe in Him and ask Him to bring us the restoration and joy that we need in our lives. As we yield to His Spirit, He will turn our mourning into joyful dancing and we will not only be blessed but He will be glorified in our lives. +++

03/11/15
THE KING'S CHAMBERS

Scripture: Song of Solomon 1:4 "Draw me, we will run after Thee: the King hath brought me into His chambers."

Solomon's Song tells us of the plight of the Shulamite woman who spoke to the King about her desire to be close and intimate with him. She said, "Draw me, and I will run after you." Just like the Shulamite, we have a sincere desire to enter the private chambers of the King. Our heart longs to find that intimate place of fellowship with the Lord and seek out His purpose for our lives. However, the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches take precedence over our spiritual desires and we fail to set aside quality time just for the Lord, our King. Our "spirit is so willing, but our flesh is so weak" (Matthew 26:40-31)." We want to be like Mary and choose the good part, but instead we are like Martha and we allow ourselves to be overburdened with the duties of life.

Jesus came and lived in a body of flesh so that He could be touched with the same weaknesses that you and I encounter. We see Him sleeping in the boat and drawing away from the crowds when His energies were spent. Yet, He continually arose a great while before the day to spend time with the Father and often spent the entire night in prayer. We also see Jesus as a young child in the temple learning about His Father's business rather than playing with the other children. His personal desires always came second to the will of the Father. He made His communion with His Father the priority of His life.

Our desire is to have this same spiritual discipline that Jesus had. Yet the hunger and thirst is not always there to cause us to follow after that desire. God is the answer to this dilemma. We must ask God to draw us supernaturally to Him. When He begins to draw us, we will want to run after Him. His presence will energize us and cause us to have a supernatural desire to study His Word and commune with Him. The hunger and thirst in our spirit will cause us to seek for Him because nothing else will be able to fill that void. It will be like a natural hunger and thirst that forces us out of our comfort zone to find and prepare food and drink for our bodies.

If you desire to discipline yourself in this area, pray this simple prayer as often as you think of it, "Lord, draw me supernaturally to You so that I will run after You. Bring me into Your chambers." Then write yourself some reminders and place them where they can't be missed. Rest in the fact that God will begin this supernatural work on the inside of you and trust Him to change your focus. You will return to your first love, the Lord Jesus. And He will become your passion and priority as He creates an unquenchable desire within you to be in His presence and to hear His voice. Then when God supernaturally draws you into the chambers of His presence, you will never be the same. +++

03/12/15
UNDERSTANDING GOD'S LOVING KINDNESS

Scripture: Psalms 107:43 "Whoever is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord."

Is it possible to understand the loving kindness of the Lord? David said that we could if we would simply observe the things that happen to God's people. In this psalm, David presented four pictures of deliverance. He told of travelers who were guided out of their distress (vs. 4-9), prisoners who were released from prison (10-16), sick who were restored to health (vs. 17-22), and sailors who were saved from a storm (vs. 23-32).

David said that if we are wise, we can get a revelation of God's love and kindness by looking at the way He dealt with His people in the past. In the four stories in this psalm, there was a problem, a prayer, and God's provision. Each time the people failed God or got into trouble, the scripture says, "Then they cried out to the Lord." When they cried out to God, His heart was touched by their trust and faith in Him and He responded to their cry. Like any father, God was moved by the tears of His children and had compassion for their pain. He possessed tremendous love and kindness towards them and manifested His feelings by being quick to forgive and to deliver them from their situations.

Many times we feel that we have failed God and fallen short of His desire for our lives. Like those in this psalm, we find ourselves wandering in the wilderness of confusion, in the dungeons of despair, sick in our body, or tossed to and fro in the storms of life. We finally come to our "wit's end" as spoken of in verse twenty-seven. We are not sure what to do or where to turn. We have no solutions and our hopes begin to fail. Because of our distress, we tend to lose sight of the never-ending love and kindness of the Lord. We come to a point that we need a new and fresh revelation of the nature of God.

If we consider this psalm, we can better understand God's nature. God is love and His nature is kindness. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His mercies never come to an end. The scriptures declare that they are new every morning. Regardless of our failures towards God, He is still full of love and kindness. If we desire to be wise, we need only to "Cry out to the Lord" in our distress, for He is ready to forgive and anxious to deliver. +++

03/13/15
PURE RELIGION

Scripture: James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

There is religion and then there is pure religion. James makes a distinction between the two and says that pure religion is undefiled in God's eyes. We are instructed to assemble ourselves together on the Lord's Day, but that does not complete our religion. Pure religion goes beyond simple church attendance on Sunday and then living as you please through the rest of the week. We have been issued Ten Commandments to obey, the principals of the Kingdom to follow, which we call the beatitudes, and the fruits of the Spirit that we must allow God to develop in our lives. These reach into the soul of man and expose our motives for worship and our obedience to God's command.

There is an old story about a king who had a beautiful ring. He also had three sons and each son wanted their father's ring. When the king died, he left three rings for his sons with a note that said, "My dear sons, one of these rings is real and the other two are fake. The way that you will know who has the real ring is that the son with the real ring will be kind and generous to all people." Each of the three sons spent the rest of his life being good to others so that he could prove that he was the one who had the real ring that his father had worn. It is the same with religion, for James said the only way to show that your religion is true and undefiled is to live it. Pure religion is measured by the life we live outside the four walls of the church and how we treat people and take care of their needs.

James said that if we want to be pure before God in our religion, then we must visit the fatherless and widows in their afflictions and keep ourselves unstained by the world. In verse twenty-six, he also told us that even our words need to be controlled. He said, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." We must not allow ourselves to be deceived or cause the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to be worthless.

The Lord has put spiritual rings on our fingers that confirm our relationship to Him, the Eternal King. We have a responsibility to show the world that we have the real thing by our kindness and generosity to all people. Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another" (John 13:35). Let us strive to practice this pure and undefiled religion. +++

03/16/15
PROGRESSIVE REVELATION

Scripture: Isaiah 30:21 "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left."

I took my son and daughter-in-law to the airport and as we approached the terminal, my daughter-in-law began to give me instructions. She said, "Follow the Terminal signs, get in the middle lane, stay to the left, and proceed towards the tickets - passenger level." It was comforting to know that someone in the car knew exactly how to get to the right place. My only responsibility was to be obedient and follow the directions one step at a time as they were spoken and needed. If I had been told that I needed to stay in the left lane too soon, I would have been in the wrong lane at the wrong time and would have ended up exiting the airport from the opposite direction that I came. The instructions that I received were very simple and progressive. They were also very timely. I could not proceed to the second step until I had completed the first step without making an error.

This is a picture of our walk with the Lord. Too many times we get frustrated because God has not shown us the entire map of His plan for our lives. Maybe He has put a dream or vision in our heart, but fulfilling it seems like a great mystery. It is as though we can see it on the other side of the canyon, but it seems there is no bridge to get us there. Reaching our destiny is progressive and can only be completed as we proceed one step at a time. Each level will have its own tests, trials, and training that will strengthen us for the next level. Once, when I was in a dilemma and seeking God for directions about what to do, the Lord shocked me with His answer, "You haven't completed my first instructions yet." This was a revelation. All the while, I thought that I was waiting on God but in reality He was waiting on me to obey Him.

Moses and the children of Israel were instructed to follow the cloud by day and the fire by night. These were such simple instructions. Their only hope of provision and protection and reaching the Promised Land was to trust God and follow His guidance. The same God that led the Israelites through the wilderness one step at a time also told Isaiah that he would be led in the same manner. Isaiah was told that he would hear a voice in his ears that would tell him when to turn to the left or when to turn to the right. God said His directions would be simple, precise, and accurate.

Just like Moses and Isaiah, we know that we can depend upon God's voice. In John 10:4-5 Jesus said, "My sheep follow me, for they know my voice, and a stranger they will not follow." Reaching your destination depends on you hearing, recognizing, and following the Lord's voice. His voice will be gentle and quiet and His instructions will be as simple as, "This is the way, walk in it." +++

03/17/15
CONTROLLING OUR SPEECH

Scripture: James 3:2 (Amplified) "For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if any one does not offend in speech - never says the wrong things - he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature."

The tongue is a very small part of our body, yet it is one of the most powerful members. James said that the tongue is like the small rudder on a ship that causes the entire ship to go whichever direction the pilot turns it. When the rudder of the ship is turned just a little too far to the left or to the right, it causes the ship to get totally off course. Our tongue has this same ability as it speaks into our own lives or the lives of others. Our words can be instruments in keeping others on the right course or pushing them in the wrong direction.

Proverbs 18:21 says, "There is life and death in the power of the tongue." Our negative words are able to tear down and minister death. For this reason we are not to vent our frustrations at the expense of someone else's feelings. A small harsh word may seem as nothing at the time, but it becomes a small seed that is sown into the garden of another person's heart. This small seed of disapproval is capable of taking root and growing into a mighty tree of rejection, which will create strongholds in the mind of the one who received it. However, when we speak positive words, we encourage and minister life. We minister grace to the hearer by planting good seeds that will comfort their spirit and also shape and mold their lives in a positive way.

David was a man after God's own heart and yet he asked God to help him with his words. He prayed, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer" (Psalms 19:14). He understood the power of words and how difficult it was to keep his words pure and pleasing to God.

Since words are so mysteriously powerful, we must think about them before sowing them into the life of another. In as much as possible, we should examine them as we would a seed that we are preparing to plant and determine if they are seeds from the Holy Spirit. Are they ministering love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control? If not, we must submit them to God and ask Him to help us exercise control over the words of our mouth. As we strive not to offend, we will become the one whom James spoke of, one that is "a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature." +++

03/18/15
THE SEARCH FOR WISDOM

Scripture: Proverbs 2:7 (Amplified) "God hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous - those who are upright and in right standing with Him."

God appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked, "What would you like for me to give to you?" Solomon responded to God and asked for a wise and understanding heart. God granted his request and I Kings 3:12 tells us that there was never anyone so wise as Solomon. Yet with this gift of God upon his life, Solomon still had to apply himself to acquire the wisdom that God had stored up for him. Solomon said, "I gave my heart to seek and search out wisdom concerning all things" (Ecclesiastes 1:13).

The gift of wisdom is no different than any other gift. If you have been given the gift of a musician, you still must study and practice your music. In the same manner, wisdom doesn't come automatically because of age or position and cannot be measured by the number of gray hairs that may have been acquired along the way. It comes by a diligent search and application of the natural and godly laws and reasoning. 

Proverbs 2:4 tells us that we have to seek for wisdom as though we were seeking for silver, and we have to search for it as though we were searching for gold. Our search for silver and gold causes us to spend many years seeking an education to gain knowledge so that we can obtain lucrative positions in our field of study. Then, for the rest of our lives we schedule our days to seek for the silver we deserve, making our professions our priority. We rise early, come home late, work extra hours, and make tremendous sacrifices to obtain the financial status that we desire.

Solomon said that if we desire godly Wisdom, we are going to have to seek for it in the same manner as we would seek for silver and gold. Our quest for wisdom must become a priority in our lives and will demand sacrifice. In order to obtain wisdom, we must search for it like a prospector panning for gold or an adventurer on a treasure hunt. They separate themselves from the normal to focus on their search and are not satisfied until they lay claim to the expected treasure. Regardless of the hardships they have to endure, they continue to search in faith and hope until their diligence is rewarded. When they finally discover the hidden treasure, they recover every ounce and guard it carefully.

Wisdom is a hidden treasure of the Lord, which He has stored up and has given us the capacity to receive. Yet, wisdom only comes to us as we diligently search for it as though it was as precious as silver and gold. When God sees that we place such a high value on His wisdom, He will allow us to find it. +++

03/19/15
VEHICLES OF THE MESSAGE

Scripture: Acts 3:12 "Why do you look so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we have made this man to walk?"

A lame man sat and begged at the gate called Beautiful. He did this all of his life until one day Peter and John passed by him, and in the Name of Jesus, the power of God was extended through them to heal the man. As the healed man walked, leaped, and praised God, the people were filled with wonder and amazement thinking that Peter and John had healed him. Verse twelve says that when Peter saw the people's response, he asked them, "Why do you marvel at this? Why are you staring at us as though, by our own power or holiness, we've made this man to walk?" 

Peter realized that it was not his own power or ability, but the power and ability of God that had flowed through him that accomplished the great miracle. He also told the people that the miracle did not occur because of his own holiness. Peter knew that he was only the vehicle for God's power. He did not allow the people to misdirect their worship, but pointed them to God. He receive no glory for what God had done. In verse thirteen he explained the reason for this miracle by saying, "God has glorified His Son."

God uses whom He pleases, and it is God's message that is important, not the messenger. For the servant of God to take the glory or credit for the miraculous would be like the donkey that carried Jesus into Jerusalem to think that the shouts of "Hosanna" and "Blessed be the King" were for him rather than for the Christ that he was carrying.

We must humble ourselves to God and understand that we are merely like the donkey that carried Jesus before the people. We are only a vehicle of the message and nothing more. When we come to this realization in our life that God's works are not by our own power or holiness then God can use us for the miraculous. +++

03/20/15
REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE

Scripture: Psalms 106:12-13 "They sang His praise. They soon forgot His works."

God delivered His people by performing a mighty miracle. He rolled back the waters of the Red Sea and allowed them to pass over on dry ground and then He used those same waters to destroy the Egyptian army that was pursuing them. There was great rejoicing amongst the Israelites for this wonderful victory as they danced, sang, and shouted in triumph over their enemy. In their rejoicing, they praised the Lord and declared that He was their strength, but in a very short time they forgot His wondrous works.

God caused the waters of the Red Sea to be gathered together like a wall on their right hand and on their left (Exodus 4:29). How could anyone experience such an awesome miracle of God and then forget it in just a few days? It seems that this would have been a life time memory engraved upon the tablets of their heart. They had all seen it with their own eyes and had rejoiced with great joy, but their memory grew short. Within seventy-two hours, they had forgotten this marvelous work that God had done in their lives. Like the psalmist said, "They sang praise, but soon forgot God's work." Three days after the miracle, they were grumbling and complaining because they had no water in the wilderness. At the very edge of this mighty miracle where God had controlled the waters of the sea, they had the audacity to question God's provision for water to quench their thirst. Verse seven says, "They provoked God at the sea, even at the Red Sea."

Did you ever stop to think, that we are much the same way as the Israelites? Of course, we haven't seen God roll back the sea or do the mighty miracles that he did when He delivered the entire nation of Israel. Yet, He has done special things for us that at the time we thought we would remember forever. In the midst of the other believers we have felt triumphant over our enemies. On Sunday, we heard a faith producing message from God's Word, which lifted our spirits. We sang and shouted the victory, but when we returned to our regular weekly schedules, our jubilation diminished quite rapidly. By the third day, the challenges that were before us seemed so much greater than the victory that was behind us. We began to murmur and complain about the politics in the work place, our physical limitations, or the financial difficulties that we were coping with. The Word of promise that we received in worship fades from our memories and unbelief clouds our soul. Like the Israelites, we also go from praise to forgetfulness.

We can change this image by deciding to remain victorious even in the midst of challenges. We can remind ourselves that the Lord is with us even though we are walking through the valleys that are filled with the shadows of death and defeat. The Lord will never leave us or forsake us, but we must recognize and remember that He is there when the giants of our life threaten to take us out. We must keep the memories of yesterday's victories alive, for they are our trophies of encouragement for today and they will be our strength for tomorrow's battles. +++

03/23/15
JESUS NEVER CHANGES

Scripture: Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever."

This wonderful verse of the Bible is like meat that is sandwiched between two pieces of bread. As we look at the verses above and below, we find instructions about who to follow in our spiritual walk. On one side, verse seven encourages us to follow those who speak the Word of God. It says:

Remember your leaders in authority who brought you the Word of God.
Observe attentively and consider their manner of living.
Look at the outcome of their well-spent lives.
Look at the convictions of their faith:
They believed God exists.
They believed God is Creator and Ruler of all things.
They believed God is the Provider of eternal salvation through
Christ.
Look at how they allow their entire human personality to lean on God:
They lean in absolute trust.
They have confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness.

On the other side, verse nine warns us against different and strange doctrines. It says :

Don't be carried away by different and varied doctrines.
Don't give in to alien teachings that concern rules and rituals.
Don't be devoted to things that bring no spiritual benefit or profit.

II Corinthians 11:3 tells us not to allow our minds "to be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." The simple truth is that Jesus is the same today as always. The gospel is that He came to save us and give us abundant and eternal life. Salvation comes by faith and cannot be received by works of the flesh. Allow Jesus to be the same Prince of Peace in your life today as He was yesterday when the angels sang, "Peace on Earth, good will to men". Trust Him to be the same tomorrow and let your heart be established by means of the grace that He has provided, for Jesus Christ is the same forever. +++

03/24/15
JESUS NEVER CHANGES

Scripture: Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever."

This wonderful verse of the Bible is like meat that is sandwiched between two pieces of bread. As we look at the verses above and below, we find instructions about who to follow in our spiritual walk. On one side, verse seven encourages us to follow those who speak the Word of God. It says:

Remember your leaders in authority who brought you the Word of God.
Observe attentively and consider their manner of living.
Look at the outcome of their well-spent lives.
Look at the convictions of their faith:
They believed God exists.
They believed God is Creator and Ruler of all things.
They believed God is the Provider of eternal salvation through
Christ.
Look at how they allow their entire human personality to lean on God:
They lean in absolute trust.
They have confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness.

On the other side, verse nine warns us against different and strange doctrines. It says :

Don't be carried away by different and varied doctrines.
Don't give in to alien teachings that concern rules and rituals.
Don't be devoted to things that bring no spiritual benefit or profit.

II Corinthians 11:3 tells us not to allow our minds "to be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." The simple truth is that Jesus is the same today as always. The gospel is that He came to save us and give us abundant and eternal life. Salvation comes by faith and cannot be received by works of the flesh. Allow Jesus to be the same Prince of Peace in your life today as He was yesterday when the angels sang, "Peace on Earth, good will to men". Trust Him to be the same tomorrow and let your heart be established by means of the grace that He has provided, for Jesus Christ is the same forever. +++

03/25/15
PURE AS SILVER

Scripture: Psalms 12:6 "The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."

Things are no different now than they were when David wrote this psalm. David saw the aggressiveness of the wicked and declared that all of the godly men were vanishing from the earth. The men who were left spoke vain words with flattering lips and a double heart. They spoke proudly saying, "With our tongue we will prevail: our lips are our own: who is Lord over us?" They had no regard for the Lord and felt that they could just say any thing at any time. It is sad to say but this is becoming the mindset of our generation with its offensive language, deceit, perjury, and broken vows. Pure words are beginning to vanish, from the leader to the lowest.

In the sixth verse of this psalm, David contrasts the impure words of the wicked with the pure words of the Lord. David assured us that regardless of what is happening in this earth, we can know that God's Word is true and that He will watch over His Word to perform it. His words are as pure as silver that has passed the test of the fire. There is no dross nor impurities left to weaken what God has spoken, for He speaks no careless words. All that He says is the purest truth. God's Word never fails those who trust in it and have met the terms of the One Who has breathed it. The Word of the Lord never returns to Him void. If God has spoken, we can take His Word to the bank ... and He will validate it. He always accomplishes His purpose and confirms His Word with signs and wonders (Mark 16:20).

We can count on God's Word. The problem is, do we really hear His Word? Like Elijah in I Kings 19:11-12, so many times we listen for God to speak His Word, thinking we will hear His voice in a great wind, an earthquake, or a fire. In the clamor of all that is happening, disappointment and frustration set in when His directions seem unclear. Our hearts wonder, "Did God speak or didn't He?" Experience tells me that if I'm not sure that God has spoken - then He hasn't.

God usually doesn't speak audibly so that we hear Him with hearing of the ear. In fact, that is a rare experience. He speaks to us through His written Word and within our spirits in a still small voice with a sound of gentle quietness. It is a simple impression or a witness within our heart. A moment occurs when our spirit connects with His presence and we know that we know that He has spoken. He makes known His will and reveals His desires to our inner being. When God speaks, it is pure and without dross, like silver that has been purified seven times. It is a sure word that will come to pass. +++

03/26/15
GOD'S WAY

Scripture: John 21:6 "Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and you shall find."

Peter came to a place where he was discouraged by the physical death of Jesus and disappointed that the New Kingdom had not been established. Because things had not turned out as he had hoped, Peter returned to his old life, which was that of being a fisherman. He left the call of Jesus' great commission, which was to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." When he returned to his fishing, however, he found that his prospects left him empty. He fished all night and caught nothing. God was not in Peter's choice. When Jesus questioned Peter, he had to admit his defeat. Jesus asked, "What have you caught?" Peter replied, "Nothing." He confessed his failure and did not try to make excuses or blame the winds, waves, or the fish that were just not biting.

Peter caught nothing and like Peter's fishing experience, we must confess that "without Jesus, we can do nothing" (John 15:5). Success is only reaped as we sow obedience. Our faith is nothing if we are not hearing God's Word (Romans 10:17). Nothing substantial can happen in our finances if we are disobedient and rob God of our tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8-11). We tie God's hands by our disobedience and make it impossible for Him to rebuke the devourer or pour out blessings upon us. And like Peter's empty fishing nets, nothing can happen in our relationships with God and others if we do not obey God's command to love and forgive (Matthew 5:43-48). It's all about obedience. 

Marriage is another issue that requires obedience to God's Word. According to the Word, the husband must love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, and the wife must submit herself to her own husband, as unto the Lord (Ephesians 5:25 & 22). Why do our relationships with our children become strained? It's because we disobey God's Word and "provoke and discourage our children" (Colossians 3:21). What happens in our ministries if we are not obedient to depend upon the Holy Spirit? Nothing significant happens, for it is not by our might, nor our power, but by the Spirit of the Lord (Zechariah 4:6).

After Peter admitted his defeat, Jesus instructed him to "Cast the net on the right side." It was the same water, the same boat, the same net, the same fish swimming around, and the same potential for failure. The difference was that Jesus was now in control and obedience to His command always prospers. Jesus' command came with the promise, "You will find."

God's Word never returns to Him void, but always accomplishes His purposes. If you desire blessings in your life, don't become discouraged by events. Although your own efforts have brought no solutions, trust God and begin to act on His Word. Cast your nets in the direction of His command and start doing things His way, for obedience to God's Word is the basis for blessings in every area of your life. When you obey the Lord, He will turn the "nothings" of your life into "somethings". +++

03/27/15
GIN GOD'S HANDS

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:6 "... as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand."

This scripture sounds so inviting and it gives us a sense of security, for what better place to be than in the hands of a loving God? We desire to be in this special place so we yield ourselves to God. Yet, too soon we learn the first part of this verse where God says, "Cannot I do with you as this potter?"

God is sovereign and He is in control of our lives just as the potter is in control of the clay that is on the potter's wheel. We are in the hands of a creative genius and He can do as He pleases with our lives. God doesn't look at our problems and failures but instead sees our potential and makes it His business to form us into the vessel that He wants us to become. At times, this may become a very hard process for us because there are no perfect lumps of clay. Each one of us has to be dealt with in a special way and sometimes this is not easy for us to endure. God has to carefully remove the hard places and the bubbles to make us into stronger vessels. We often struggle with this process and like the potter who works with the clay, it becomes necessary for the Lord to allow us to be totally crushed so that He can start the process anew.

God is not only our Creator, He is creative and imaginative in all of His work. When we are created, the mark of God is upon us for we are made in His image. Yet He delights in the differences of each individual. Every vessel that He creates is unique in appearance and purpose. He personally works with each vessel and is able to turn sinners into saints and mortals into eternal beings. God takes extreme pride in His work and each time that He creates, there is a resounding echo of the words that He spoke in Genesis over His creation, "God saw that it was good."

Never allow yourself to settle for second best. Remember that each detail of your life is fitting into God's big picture. Like the vessel on the potter's wheel, your life is revolving around God's purpose. As your life turns, focus your attention upon Him and never forget that as the clay is in the potter's hands so you are in God's hands. As you yield to God and allow Him to work with you as He pleases, you will become an exhibition and trophy of His grace and creativity.  +++

03/30/15
IN THEE DO I TRUST

Scripture: Psalm 71:1 "In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion."

There are many voices in these last days that will confuse us if we don't keep our minds upon Jesus. We are already experiencing wars, rumors of wars, famine, violence, and earthquakes that are spoken of in the gospel of Matthew and which precede the End Times. Each day the news media has another bit of frightening information to offer us. Yet, as we hear of these alarming circumstances, we must face them with courage and place our trust in the Lord God Almighty.

God spoke some encouraging words through the prophet Isaiah and told us not to fear. He said, "I have redeemed you and even called you by name." God said that we belong to Him, that we are precious in His sight, and that He loves us. In Isaiah 43:2 (NLT) the Lord made a comforting promise to us. He said, "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you." God is our Lord and beside Him there is no Savior. In every situation God is able to do a new thing. He is not limited by any circumstance that life has to offer. He can even make a way in the wilderness or a river in the desert, for He is supreme and rules over all.

Don't be confused about life and its circumstances, for God has a plan. The Psalmist asked God for deliverance and petitioned Him to be his strong place of habitation and a fortress where he could dwell continually. He said, "Don't let me be put to confusion." Keep this same prayer in your spirit as you see the dark clouds approaching and changes beginning to occur in your nation and in your personal lives, for God is concerned about it all. He showed His ultimate love by sacrificing His only Son, Jesus. So you can be assured that He is watching over you. Continually dwell in God's presence and make Him your defense. Place all of your trust in Him, for there can be no confusion when God's Spirit fills your heart. +++

03/31/15
DELIGHT TO DO GOD'S WILL

Scripture: Psalms 40:8 "I delight to do Thy will, O my God."

We often pray the phrase that is in the Lord's Prayer that says, "Thy will be done," but we rarely think about the consequences that may happen when this prayer is answered. We tend to forget that life and death is in the power of the tongue and that our words set things into motion. It is very easy to declare our total surrender to the will of God because we love God and truly want His will to be accomplished in our life. Yet, when things begin to change and we find that God's will is much different that our own will, it is another story. It is hard to put everything into God's hand and allow Him full control, for even though our spirit is willing our flesh is very weak.

Jesus came to Earth to do the will of the Father (Hebrews 10:7). God's will for Jesus was that Jesus leave the splendor and glory of Heaven and come to Earth to redeem man from sin. Jesus' venture wasn't just a journey to Earth but a life that was destined for humility and sacrifice. He would face every temptation known to man; yet, He would live a life that remained holy and free of all sin. He would be ridiculed, mocked, rejected, despised, spit upon, brutally beaten, and then hung on a cross in shame to die, not for His own transgressions but for yours and mine. In the course of events, He would be in so much agony that He would sweat great drops of blood. Yet He still submitted and committed Himself to do the Father's will, saying, "Not My will, but Thine be done."

Jesus delighted in doing the will of God because He knew that through His obedience, He would destroy the works of the devil. Completing the will of God meant that Jesus would be able to deliver men out of the kingdom of darkness and translate them into the kingdom of light. God's will meant that Jesus would heal the sick and raise the dead. He would cause the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and the lame to walk. He would turn water into wine, calm the raging seas, and feed the thousands because it was God's will that His Son, Jesus, would work miracles. God's will was that Jesus would preach and teach the Word of God to a multitude of people and that His life would leave such a powerful witness that nearly 2000 years later, people would still be calling upon His Name to be delivered.

Yielding to God's will may not always be easy, but it is always the best thing to do. His ways are so much higher than our ways. The safest place to be is in the perfect will of God, for you know that no matter what happens, God is in control. He is sitting in Heaven and He is managing your life. You can't lose because while Satan is sifting you as wheat, Jesus is there at the right hand of Father interceding for you. You can be sure that all things will work together for good because you are in the will of God. You should delight in fulfilling God's will for your life, for when you are in His will, you are not just in His plan, you are in His hands. +++