Abiding TV

Memorise: 
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of
thy mother:  Proverbs 1:8

Read: Ephesians 6:1-3, 
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.


Bible in one year: 
John 4:30-5:18,
Job 30:16-23

Message:
The Bible teaches that children have mandatory responsibilities to their parents. As a matter of fact, Children owe their parents certain important duties that include the obligation to respect honour and obey them. Children are the heritage of the Lord and God has a special interest in their well-being. Meanwhile God is a disciplinarian as revealed in Revelation 3:19

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
God has decided to commit the discipline of children to their parents as caretakers for Him; therefore, children must cooperate with their parents to make easy for their own benefit. Obedience in this respect attracts long life and prosperity.

If you invested so much in your children, but have retired and they are gainfully employed, yet they ignore you, will you be happy with them? Some fathers have placed curses on their children for neglecting them. A righteous child will not neglect his parents at any time. He will make sure that those of them that are not saved are led to Jesus. After al, that is the greatest gift he can give them. Besides that, he will ensure that they have a roof over their heads and their needs are met in the area of feeding, clothing, healthcare, etc

 God has joined children to their parents as partners in progress. For two people to work in agreement, they must see and mind the same thing. They must be focused on the same goal.

God’s focus is that children have parents that will be godly examples to them, while making efforts to bring them up in the way of the Lord. God wants parents that will introduce their children to Him at very tender ages, so that they may learn to obey God and become familiar with His commandments, worship and fellowship. Children should be careful not to be a source of sorrow and pain to their parents. Proverbs 17:25 says:

“A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.”
I pray that God in His mercy will visit every Christian home and intervene in the life of every wayward child today in the Name of Jesus.

Prayer Point
Father, please help me to always accept correction joyfully in Jesus’ name.

"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe."
Proverbs 29:25, NIV

TODAY'S WORD:
Fear is one of the enemy's favorite tools to keep us from going forward. As soon as we make a decision to step out in faith, immediately, the enemy will bring fear to stop us. He'll put thoughts in your mind like, "What if I fail? What will others think? Maybe I don't have what it takes." He'll do his best to use fear to try to convince you to shrink back and just stay right where you are.

The Bible tells us that fear is a spirit. It affects your emotions. But when you choose to put your trust in the Lord, no matter how you are feeling, you are combating fear.

Today, don't allow fear to trap you and hold you back. Instead, take a step of faith knowing that God is on your side. He is for you and with you, leading and guiding you in the path of victory all the days of your life.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
"Father, I choose to put my trust in You. I press forward in faith so I can overcome fear. I believe You have my best interest at heart and know that You are leading me in the paths of righteousness all the days of my life in Jesus' name. Amen."

Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell].
—Hebrews 4:11

If you read the entire fourth chapter of the book of Hebrews, you will find it speaking about a Sabbath rest that is available to God's people. Under the Old Covenant, the Sabbath was observed as a day of rest. Under the New Covenant, this Sabbath rest spoken of is a spiritual place of rest. It is the privilege of every believer to refuse to worry or have anxiety. As a believer, you can enter the rest of God.

The only way to enter that rest is through believing. You will forfeit it through unbelief and disobedience. Unbelief will keep you in the wilderness, but Jesus has provided a permanent place of rest that can be inhabited exclusively through living by faith.

John 16:23-24

If I were to ask you to name the desire of your heart, would you have an answer? How long would it take you to express your deepest, most genuine yearning?

Of course, most of us have a seemingly endless list of things that we want, whether it be a big screen TV, a new car, a promotion at work, or the respect we think we deserve. Things are added to and removed from our want list every day; our wants are frequently dictated by what those around us have. Sometimes simply seeing a friend’s new vehicle will give us “car fever,” even if we have a perfectly fine automobile sitting in the driveway.

Our wants come and go, but what about our true desires? If you’ve never taken the time to meditate prayerfully on this issue, then you may not even know what your heart’s desires are. And, if that is the case, how can you request them from God? The simple answer is, you can’t.

Not knowing what we truly desire leads us to offer up a string of prayers for random, incoherent wants rather than genuine, heartfelt desires. Sometimes the Lord graciously answers these requests; other times He even more graciously protects us from foolish wants by saying no. If our requests are not grounded in prayer and heartfelt sincerity, however, we may never understand why they go unanswered.

Are you able to articulate your heart’s desire today? If not, dedicate some prayer time this week to the issue. First, ask the Lord to open your eyes to what He desires for you. Then, request that He make His desires your own.

Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 23-25

Isaiah 53:4
Surely He has borne our griefs [sicknesses] and carried our sorrows [pains]…

While waiting for the manifestation of their healing, some people find it hard to believe that Jesus really took their sicknesses and pains, just as He took their sin and shame. If you are one of them, don’t feel condemned. Your Father in heaven understands. That is why He put the word “surely” there when He said, “Surely, My Son has borne your sicknesses and carried your pains.”

Once, my daughter Jessica was crying all night because she was not feeling well. She had been sick for a few days. In my study, I took out my Bible and the Lord led me to Isaiah 53:4 where it says, “Surely He has borne…” Now, I know the original Hebrew here and it says, “Surely He has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains.” So I said, “Surely, He has borne Jessica’s sickness…”

But it was like the verse was just not real to me. Her cries seemed more real. Then, all of a sudden, the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to a word in the verse that really revolutionized the way I saw the whole passage.

Notice the first word in the verse? It says, “Surely…” Surely, He has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains. Now, look at the next verse: “He was wounded for our transgressions...” Every Christian knows and believes that Jesus was wounded for our sins, yet the word “surely” is not put here but in the earlier verse. I think God knew that we would find it hard to believe that Jesus also bore our sicknesses and carried our pains, so He put the word “surely” there to help us believe!

When I saw that, I put my Bible on the floor, stood on it and said, “Father, you know I don’t mean any irreverence, but I am standing on Your Word. Surely, Jesus bore Jessica’s sickness and carried her pain! I don’t care if I can still hear her crying. Surely, Your Son, Your beloved Son, bore her sickness and carried her pain! Hallelujah!” That night, the breakthrough came. That night, little Jessica was healed.

Are you or your loved ones suffering some sickness or pain right now?

Surely our Lord Jesus has borne your sicknesses and carried your pains. And as you believe this truth, surely, your healing and breakthrough will come!

Thought For The Day
Surely our Lord Jesus has borne your sicknesses and carried your pains.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ [the Anointed One and His anointing] Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:20

Have you ever run up against a situation and thought, This is hopeless or I’ll never be able to do that? Well, think again. No situation is hopeless when you factor in the anointing. The anointing factor is the very power of God at work in your situation.

The Anointing of the Spirit of God totally obliterates every yoke of bondage until there is no evidence the yoke ever existed. It is God on flesh—in your life—doing those things only God can do. When your mind and flesh try to take over in these situations, you soon realize I just don’t have the strength. I don’t have what it takes to combat this thing and win against it. That’s when you can step back and allow the power of God in your spirit—the Anointing—to take over.

You can expect the anointing factor to rise up in you and turn things around. The Anointing of the Spirit of God in your life can overcome every evil intention coming against you and not only deliver you fully, but also take that situation and turn it around to make something good come out of it.

So when you’re confronted by impossible circumstances in this world, you have a covenant right to expect the power of God in your life to work on your behalf. Factor in the power of God’s Word. Factor in the power of His Spirit. Factor in the Anointing. And watch those circumstances change!

Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 10:27

For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world (1 Corinthians 11:31-32).

It’s not the ministry of the Holy Spirit to convict God’s people of sin. The Bible says the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, not the Church. For the Church, the Bible says, "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged" (1Corinthians 11:31). That means by our own spirits, we can tell when we’ve done something wrong, and our own spirits will judge us. We let our spirits judge us, so that we might not be judged of the Lord. Your spirit has the nature of God.

When you do wrong, what you need is to act on the Word of God: receive forgiveness. You don’t ask for forgiveness, which is where a lot of people miss it. The Bible didn’t say that you ask for forgiveness; rather, it says in Hebrews 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Did you notice it doesn’t say, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, and ask for mercy?" Instead, it says "to obtain," that is, collect it.

You may have done something wrong and prayed to God to forgive you, and in your heart, you knew He forgave you. Some days later, the guilt of what you did weighs down on your mind and it seems as though He didn’t quite forgive you, so you find yourself asking for forgiveness again. The truth is, He isn’t responsible for the accusation you felt in your mind, because it’s not part of His ministry to convict you of sin.

Jesus is your advocate with the Father. Thus, when you say, "Father, I receive forgiveness for what I did," immediately, you’re forgiven. The Bible says He is faithful and just to forgive us, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). It didn’t say He’s quick to judge us and convict us. Your spirit does that; but God is greater than your spirit (1 John 3:20-21).

Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of righteousness bestowed on me in Christ Jesus. I function in righteousness, because I have the nature of Christ. My heart and conscience are purified in Christ. I walk in the reality of the life of righteousness, which I have in Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

further study: 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 1:7-10; Hebrews 4:15-16

: Numbers 6 Mark 9:1-13

: Acts 22:22-30 Psalm 48-49

“Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live.” (Mark 8:35b TLB)

Why don’t we feel more fulfilled? Far too many people are asking themselves that question. We’re not happy, we’re not satisfied — in fact, we’re miserable.

Why? In his book Rich, Free, and Miserable, sociologist John Brueggemann shared a great story that illustrated why. Climbing Mount Everest is one of the challenges that inspire people to do something big. Lots of people try, even though nearly 10 percent of the people who do, die in the process. Many of the corpses still line the path up the mountain. Yet people still want to climb the mountain — though it has no real redeeming social value.

A few years back one climber, David Sharp, was clearly in trouble on the mountain. There were 40 climbers who noticed his obvious need but passed him that day. He died on Mount Everest because none of the other climbers were willing to put their personal goal on hold to help him.

That’s us. Our own personal drive to have more, be more, and do more causes us to lose sight of what really matters. But that isn’t how God wired us. Life isn’t about what you make, who you know, or what you do. Life is all about love — loving God and loving others.

Jesus tells us in Mark 8:35, “Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live” (TLB). God wired you in a way that you’ll never be happy unless you’re giving your life away in his work. You were made for something greater than yourself. The Bible calls this your mission in life. Significance doesn’t come from status, salary, or sex. It comes from service. Only by giving your life away can you feel that your life has significance.


Talk It Over

Are you unhappy, unsatisfied, or miserable? That is a sign that you’ve become focused on a cause other than Christ’s. Why do you think you’re focused elsewhere?
What do you need to do to join God’s mission?
How can you exemplify a life of service?

Memorise:
These things I command you, that ye love one another.
John 15:17

Read: 1st Corinthians 13:1-3, 
13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.


Bible in one year: 
John 1:1-3:15,
Job 29:21-30:8

Message:
The Bible takes the subject of love so seriously that love is equated to the sum total of all the commandments of God. The Bible goes further to say that love is the fulfilment of the law. The use of the word ‘law’ in the New Testament sense, is usually a reference to all the commandments and statutes recorded in the Old Testament and specifically those in the first five books of the Bible known as the books of Moses (Pentateuch). Now, the reality that God equates love to the whole of the Old Testament commandments is a serious food for thought. The Bible in 1st Corinthians 13:1-2 says

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

The above passage speaks clearly about the importance of love and how children of God should view or rate love on the scale of spirituality. Here, God compared some special spiritual gifts of uncommon value to love. Speaking in the tongues of men and angles seems to mean the ability to speak in heavenly tongues and at the same time interpret it in the language of men. This has always been a very rare gift which is highly sought after in the body of Christ, yet, anyone with this rare gift but without love, is described as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. In essence, such is viewed by God as a mere noise-maker. Furthermore, the Bible says if one should have the gift of prophecy, understand all mysteries and have all knowledge, even if the person should have enough faith to do great miracles, without love, such a person amounts to nothing in the eyes of God. This simply means that love is the golden rule by which whatever gifts we exhibit and whatever services we offer to God are measured. Therefore, love is the ultimate commandment. Romans 13:10 says:
“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

As I always ask my children, do you truly love God? What price have you paid as proof of that love? If you love what you do, it will be easy to do it with all your heart. Love is missing in our fellowship with God today. All you get from some is lip service. This is professing love without backing it up with physical evidence. Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men”. Your service to God must come from your heart, borne out of love. The service that pleases God is one from the heart rendered in love, as God is love. If you are born again, you have the capacity to manifest agape love. To what extent does this love manifest itself in your life and service? Do you know that faith requires the oil of love to operate effectively? (Galatians 5:6). Add love to your faith and you begin to bask in the glory of God, because He will equally respond out of greater love and your life will never be the same again.

Prayer Point
Father, help me to love You with all my heart in Jesus’ name.

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself… (1 Corinthians 14:4).

For you to experience appreciable spiritual growth, you must speak in tongues often. Praying in tongues is an effective means of spiritual communication with the Lord; it transcends the natural mind or intellect (1 Corinthians 14:14). You’re stirred when you speak in tongues, the anointing wells up like currents from your spirit.

According to our opening verse, you edify yourself when you speak in tongues. "Edify" derives from the Greek word "oikodomeo," which means to construct or build up, much in the same sense as building or constructing an edifice. The idea given to us by the Spirit of God is that when we speak in other tongues, we build up ourselves, like an edifice, brick by brick, as you would a physical structure (Jude 1:20).

In Acts 20:32, Paul said to the brethren at Ephesus "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up…." Connecting this with our text lets us know that speaking in tongues works in conjunction with the Word to build your spirit. If you want to grow stronger spiritually, not only should you study and listen to God’s Word, you should also speak in tongues frequently.

The Bible says, "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost" (Jude 1:20). Speaking in other tongues is therefore a necessary requirement for your spiritual growth and upliftment. If you’re born again and have received the Holy Spirit, you can and should speak in tongues frequently. You don’t need to wait for special prayer times; wherever you are, speak in tongues. It will condition and programme your spirit for the life of success and dominion.

Prayer

Dear Father, my life is transformed, and my spirit is conditioned for success, dominion and victory as I speak in other tongues. I’m catapulted to higher realms of glory, strengthened with your miracle-working ability in my spirit, in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

further study: 1 Corinthians 14:2; 1 Corinthians 14:4

: Numbers 3-4 Mark 8:14-26

: Acts 21:40-22:1-10 Psalm 44-45

John 10:18

Many people wear a cross because it symbolizes the Christian faith. But few fully grasp the depth of love that it represents.

The cross stands for what is arguably history’s most painful method of execution. Crucifixion usually began with two soldiers flogging the criminal from the front and back. They used a strap with three leather cords, each containing a piece of embedded bone that tore flesh to ribbons. No wonder Jesus fell and struggled to carry His cross after such treatment.

The soldiers then hammered a long square nail into the hands or wrists; this shape would heighten the already excruciating pain. Another nail was driven through the ankles into the wood. Raising the cross, executioners would then drop it into a hole in the ground; the thud from it falling into place would further tear the flesh. In order to breathe, the convicted man had to push up on his bloody ankles.

Jesus was fully God, but He was also fully man. He experienced the physical agony any human would feel at such brutality. On top of that, He felt emotional and spiritual anguish because the nation had rejected Him and His disciples had denied Him. Worst of all, when He took our sin upon Himself, the Father turned away (Matt. 27:46; 2 Cor. 5:21). Yet Jesus didn’t see Himself as a victim; He willingly offered His blood on our behalf and considered it a joy (Heb. 12:2). No greater love exists.

Stop to consider all Jesus endured on the cross for your sake. As you begin to grasp the enormity of His sacrifice, thank Him for His boundless love.

Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 18-20

But [God's grace] is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel

2 Timothy 1:10

Have you ever wondered what it will be like when your body dies and you go on to heaven? Well, according to the Word, when that time comes, this flesh and blood tent you live in will die, but you won't feel a thing. You'll just take off the cloak of your flesh, lay it down and go to a better place.

Believers who have died and come back say that they have no sensation of loss—no sting. Their minds stay intact, and they even have arms and legs, but they are spirit and not flesh. One man said he couldn't even tell he wasn't in his body until he tried to grasp something. His hand would just go right through the material object. He was spirit and not flesh.

According to the Apostle Paul, to be absent from the body is to be present with God (2 Corinthians 5:1). So, when God calls you home, you'll just abandon your fleshly body and go to be with Him forever.

It's interesting though. God doesn't even refer to our old, abandoned bodies as being dead. He says they're just asleep. Why? Because He knows that just as sleep is temporary, so is the death of the body. He's planned a day when our sleeping bodies will be awakened and raised up in glory just like Jesus' was.

Hallelujah! There's coming a day when not only our spirits have victory over death, our physical bodies do too!

Death is not the "end" for you. It's only a change to a better place!

Scripture Reading:
2 Corinthians 5:1-9

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…

If you have been to motivational seminars, you would probably have heard the speakers say, “If you follow these five steps, then you will come to a place of financial increase.” They would probably have told you also that if you don’t succeed, it is because you did not follow the steps correctly or diligently.

Thank God that the gospel or good news does not work like that! The minute you hear or read the good news, and you believe and receive it, His Word goes forth to sozo (the Greek word for “save”) you, making you whole in every way, “for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes”.

What is the good news? It is that God loves us so much that He gave us His Son to take our beating so that we can have His blessings without having to work for them. Right now, as you are reading this devotional, listening to a preacher or watching a sermon DVD, as you hear God’s Word, His power is released into your situation, working things out for you and turning your situation around for your good.

In Acts 14:8–10, we see Paul preaching the good news in Lystra. A man who was crippled from birth was listening to Paul. Paul, seeing that he had faith to be healed, said, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And the man leaped and walked! He heard the good news, believed it and was healed.

At a leadership conference in Oslo, Norway, where I was speaking, a pastor there shared how a well-respected businessman in his church was healed while listening to one of my sermon CDs. This man was deaf in one ear. And when he was listening to my teaching on the CD, his deaf ear popped open without anyone laying hands on him or praying for him! He was just listening to the good news when his ear opened. Now, that is what I call the power of God unto his salvation, sozo-ing him, making his hearing whole!

My friend, these miracles happen not because we follow some kind of formula faithfully, but because we hear the good news preached and simply believe it!

Thought For The Day
Miracles happen when we hear the good news preached and simply believe it!

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (Philippians 4:6 NLT)

Every time you show generosity, you strengthen your faith.

Why is that? Because when you take something and, instead of using it on yourself, you use it to help others, then you’re going to have to depend on God to help you.

When you choose to help a friend who’s having a tough time paying his bills, you’re going to have to learn to trust God to provide for you.

If you only have a certain amount of time to get stuff done, but you stop and instead use the time to help your neighbor, you have to trust God to expand the time and make it work so you can get your stuff done, too.

Your faith is strengthened when you depend on God in those situations and trust him. You choose to pray, instead of worry and expect God to take care of your needs.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (NLT).

Over 33 years at Saddleback, we’ve had six different times where we asked people to give above their normal offerings. In every one of those times, God stretched my own faith. In fact, during one campaigns, God led Kay and me to give away our salary over a three-year period. Do you think that was a test of faith? How in the world were we going to live if we gave my entire salary to this offering (this was before I’d written any books)? It meant that for those three years, we had to trust God to somehow provide income.

That was a test of my faith. And each time God has tested me, my faith has only become stronger and stronger as God provided faithfully. God will do the same for you when you give generously.

Talk It Over

Talk about a time in your life when you had to trust God to provide for you as a result of your generosity.
What do you need God to provide for you today? Have you shown him that you’re willing to be generous with your time and money?
How might God be providing for you in your current situation in ways or means that are unexpected?

Memorise:
And he said unto me, it is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Revelation 21:6
Read: Revelation 21:1-7, 21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.


Bible in one year: 
Luke 23:6-24:53.
Job 29:7-20

Message:
Some of the major quests of humanity are the search for the existence of God, the nature of religion, and the possibility of life after death. Out of deep concern for this topic, philosophers and the great world religions constantly debate specific views about life after death such as reincarnation, resurrection, and some other options.

Over the years, philosophical speculations on life after death have yielded various theories on the immorality of the soul, to prove that the soul can exist apart from the body, and thereby suggesting that the human soul will live on after death. This view is well suited to our religious beliefs, because it is something like this that gives people hope in the face of death. The question that must be asked, however, is whether there is any good reason to believe in life after death. Is it a reasonable hope or nothing more than wishful thinking?

Though the average Christian does not need anyone to convince him about the reality of life after death, but generally speaking, it is necessary to consider some facts which are not widely known. There is actually empirical, observable and scientifically verifiable evidence about life after death.

This evidence is usually provided by a phenomenon known as a “near-death experience” (NDE), which is an experience where a person who is considered to be clinically dead, is involved in a disembodied state of existence, or other aspects or forms of an afterlife. While in a state of the absence of any discernible signs of life, such as consciousness, pulse, or breathing, some have reported such experiences as having the sense that one is dead and looking down on one’s body.

Others have reported things like travelling down a tunnel or a dark passageway, meeting other persons or supernatural beings, seeing beautiful scenery, re-entering one’s body, and experiencing feelings of peace. In some cases, some have shared their experiences about a terrifying visit to hell. It is important to note that most of these people give a very vivid account of their personal encounters.

On the basis of divine revelation, we are confident in the promise of everlasting life. As Christians, we affirm the biblical teaching that human beings do live on after physical death. We can therefore confidently answer the question of life after death in the affirmative. We can say beyond any reasonable doubt, YES, there is life after death. Not as an ordinary life devoid of the divine essence, but an abundant life in accordance with the Word of God in Revelation 20:6 that says:

“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
Revelations 20:6

Life after death offers abundant life to all that will faithfully serve the Lord till death. First, we will partake in the first resurrection, and then the second death will have no power over us. We will automatically become priests of God, with the special privilege of reigning with Him for a thousand years. What a life to look forward to, I pray we will all make it there in Jesus’ Name.    

Prayer Point
Father, please grant me the grace to faithfully serve you till the end in Jesus’ name.

You are not helpless, Little One. You are Mine and I am yours. Don't give the devil an inch, Beloved. You are My Child and you are under My Authority. There is no higher Authority in all of heaven and earth. Resist the devil and he shall flee from you. He is a deceiver and a liar. Do not compromise, My Child.

All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

The Kingdom of God has come upon you, Dear One. You are a new creation. My Glory and Power reside within you, Beloved. Be strong in your Lord and in the power of My might. If your God be for you, what can stand against you? I cast out the devil with the Finger of God. Behold, I am your Helper; I am the Upholder of your life. Fear not. Every knee bows at My Name
.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Matthew 28:18 - And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.

Romans 13:1 - Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God.
Luke 10:19 - Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Luke 11:20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Psalm 54:4 Behold, God is my Helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.
Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Titus 2:11-14

Sin does not play favorites. It works its way into everyone’s life without regard to age, race, or economic status. Regardless of the form it takes, sin always tempts us to choose our own way over God’s way. Rebellion is harmful and addictive, and repetitions of sinful behavior lead to more of the same, until the action is so ingrained in our lives that we cannot stop. We become enslaved to it.

The descent into a pattern of disobedience begins in our minds. Once our thinking is involved, the influence extends to our behavior, eventually progressing until we are more entrenched than we ever imagined. Deception permeates the whole process. We tell ourselves there is no harm in what we’re doing—after all, other people behave the same way.

Sin’s demands keep increasing, and yet its benefits are only short-term. Eventually, we experience emptiness instead of satisfaction, pain in place of comfort, and loss rather than gain. Habitual sin splits our mind and emotions. Then we spend less time meeting our responsibilities and more time satisfying cravings. Our care and concern for others diminish, too. Over time, feelings of guilt and entrapment can take their toll and lead toward self-destruction.

Faith in Jesus Christ sets us free from the domination of sin in our lives. Through the Holy Spirit, we have the power to say no to the habits that control us. The road to freedom starts with confession, followed by an admission that we cannot stop on our own. Committing to follow God’s direction is next. The struggle may be fierce, but in Jesus, victory is assured (1 Cor. 15:57).

Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 15-17

And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

Deuteronomy 28:2

Some people have very low expectations of what God will provide for them materially. They trust Him to feed and clothe them, but they don't trust Him to feed and clothe them very well!

Somehow they've gotten the idea that God's an old miser who will do little more than put rags on their backs and beans on their tables. But that's not what Jesus told us. He said in Matthew 6 that God would clothe us better than He clothed Solomon. That one statement alone proves that God wants to do more than just meet our basic needs. He wants to bless us abundantly. I know that from personal experience.

A few years ago I came home and found two expensive automobiles parked in my driveway. They'd been given to me to use by men who'd been blessed by the Lord through my ministry.

I was baffled. "Lord," I said, "I didn't need these cars. I hadn't asked You for them, and I wasn't believing for them. What are they doing here?"

Then the Lord spoke up on the inside of me. Have you ever read the scripture in Deuteronomy that says blessings shall come on and overtake those who hearken to My voice?

"Yes," I answered.

Well, son, He said, you've just been overtaken.

Am I saying God gave me those expensive cars just so I could enjoy them? Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying.

First Timothy 6:17 says, "[He] giveth us richly all things to enjoy." God is a loving Father. He gets great pleasure from blessing His children. He's extravagant where we're concerned. But don't let that worry you. He can afford it.

Once you truly believe that and begin to hearken to His voice, it won't be long before His blessings will be overtaking you.

Scripture Reading:
1 Kings 10:1-24

Mark 5:28
For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

With a crowd thronging Him, Jesus was touched by a lot of people that day (Mark 5:31), but only the touch of one woman drew a response from Him. And her touch sparked off instant healing in her body, releasing her from a sickness that had plagued her for 12 years.

Do you want to know how to touch God and receive the miracle you need?

When the woman heard that Jesus was coming by her village, she said to herself, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” On her way to see Jesus, she probably told herself many times, “If I touch His clothes, I will be healed. I will be made whole.” We don’t know how long she had been saying that to herself, but she was convinced that Jesus would heal her.

If you are sick, convince yourself that Jesus is your healer and that by His stripes you are healed. You don’t need to convince God. He is not the one who needs to be persuaded because His blessing is already on you! It is you who needs to be persuaded that God has already given you your miracle. That is the reason you confess His Word—to convince yourself, not God, to persuade your heart, not His.

Some people confess their faith to others to convince God indirectly. For example, if they are believing God for healing, they go around telling their friends, “I am believing God for healing.” They are actually trying to convince or persuade God to heal them. They are telling God, “I’ve told so many people what I am believing You for. It would be very embarrassing if You don’t make it happen.” Their confession proceeds from unbelief and is used to manipulate God.

It is okay to tell others if you want to, so that they can stand in faith with you for your miracle. But don’t do it to prove your faith to God and to convince Him. You just need to convince yourself that God loves you and delights in blessing you. Just say to yourself, “By His stripes I am healed. I will not suffer lack. I am greatly blessed, highly favored, deeply loved!” And let God take care of the rest.

Thought For The Day
It is you who needs to be persuaded that God has already given you your miracle.

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians 1:12).

Our opening scripture tells us that God has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. By your own ability, you couldn’t qualify; by your parent’s ability you couldn’t qualify; by your earthly nationality, you couldn’t qualify; by your words and actions, you couldn’t qualify. He qualified you in Christ Jesus; He made you fit to be an associate of the God-kind. He qualified you to be an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ.

This means you shouldn’t have the poverty mentality; you should have no sense of need or lack, because your Father owns everything. Take for instance, little kids who know their parents have and will give them anything; they rarely ask for anything from other kids. They wouldn’t steal or covet something that belongs to other kids, because they know they can get whatever they want from their parents. However, the child whose parents never give anything is the one that’s more likely to steal or covet a toy that belongs to another child.

You belong to the One who made and owns all things, and He’s made you heir of all things. The Bible says, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (2 Peter 1:3). Ephesians 1:11 tells us that in Christ, you "…have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will." These are no promises, but present-hour realities. Therefore, celebrate your inheritance in Christ.

You celebrate your inheritance by giving thanks to God for the things He’s done for you through Christ Jesus. Celebrate your salvation, divine health, prosperity, peace, and righteousness; celebrate God’s blessings in your life. You didn’t do anything to qualify for His blessings; He qualified you. Ephesians 2:9 says, "Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for qualifying me to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. I have no consciousness of need, because you’ve granted me all that pertain to life and godliness. By faith, and with joy, I draw from the wells of salvation, having all sufficiency in all things, and abounding in every good work, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.


further study: Romans 8:15-17; 2 Peter 1:3-4

: Numbers 1-2 Mark 7:24-8:1-13

: Acts 21:27-39 Psalm 42-43

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.
—Romans 8:1

I should have known better,” Cindy cried out to me. “All the signs were there that he wasn’t the man for me.” She had gone through two years of a painful marriage, of verbal and finally physical abuse. Then her husband left her for another woman. Now she felt doubly condemned—condemned for marrying him in the first place and condemned that she couldn’t hold the marriage together.

“If I had been a good Christian, I could have changed him,” she moaned.

I could have confronted her and said, “Yes, you did see the signs and you ignored them. You opened yourself up to this kind of treatment.” I didn’t say those words and wouldn’t. They would not have helped Cindy.

What she needed right then was for me to stretch out my hand and comfort her. She was so self-condemned that she finally asked, “Will God forgive me?”

At first, her words disturbed me. The Bible is clear that God forgives any sin. Cindy knew the Bible, so her question wasn’t due to a lack of knowledge; it was due to a lack of faith in a loving, caring God. She felt so dejected, and she didn’t know if God loved her enough to forgive her.

I assured Cindy of God’s forgiveness, but that wasn’t the real issue that troubled her. Satan had whispered in her mind for such a long time that she had failed God, that she had deliberately disobeyed, and that God was angry with her.

The devil tries to stop us every chance he gets. I often use the analogy of a baby learning to walk. We don’t expect that baby to stand the first day and walk across the room like an adult. Those little ones will fall often. Sometimes they cry, but they always get back up. That may be some inborn quality, but I suspect it’s because the parents are there saying, “You can do it. Come on, baby, get up and walk.”

The scene is much the same in the spiritual world. All of us fall, but when we’re encouraged, we get back up and try again. If we’re not encouraged, we tend to stay down, or at least wait a long, long time before trying to get up again.

Never underestimate Satan’s relentlessness. He will do whatever he can to trip you, and then make you feel so condemned that you won’t want to get up again. He knows that his control is finished once you choose right thoughts and reject wrong ones. He wants to hinder you from clear thinking. He will attempt to thwart you through discouragement and condemnation.

I want to tell you what Cindy did. She wrote Romans 8:1 on three 3x5 file cards and pasted one on her mirror, one on her computer, and one on her dashboard. Every time she looks at the verse, she repeats it aloud. Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.

The Message puts Romans 8:1-2 like this: With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.

We are free in Jesus Christ, and we don’t have to listen to Satan’s condemnation. When we fail—and we will—that doesn’t mean we are failures. It means we failed one time in one thing. It means we didn’t do everything right. That doesn’t make us a failure.

“Just let Christ be strong in your weaknesses; let Him be your strength on your weak days.”

Lord Jesus Christ, in Your name I pray for victory. When I fail, please remind me not only that You forgive, but that You also wipe away the guilt and condemnation. Please accept my gratitude. Amen.

“Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” (Philippians 2:4-5 NLT)

Everything in your life is a gift of God, because God is generous.

God wants his children to become like him. He wants you to learn that you can give without loving but you cannot love without giving.

You say, “I really love my kids!” Do you give them your time? “I really love my wife.” Do you give her your attention? This is what love is all about. You become more loving when you become more generous.

Every time you’re generous, a change takes place in you. Every time you give, your heart moves another tweak up the dial toward God. You become more loving every time you give. You become more like Jesus.

Philippians 1:11 says, “May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation — the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ — for this will bring much glory and praise to God” (NLT).

What we’re talking about here is extremely counter culture, because our culture does not tell you to give. Everything in our culture says “get.” Would you agree we’re living in an increasingly self-centered culture? Narcissism is on the rise. It’s all about me. Me, my stuff, my needs — me, me, me. We have a “me” problem!

When you’re generous, it gets the focus off you so that you can stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about others. Philippians 2:4-5 says, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

Talk It Over

What have you learned about God as you have become more generous?
What are some ways you can counteract culture and become more generous?

The first and most successful blind date is that of Christ and the church. With no disrespect or dishonor.

The Scriptures say, " whom having not seen, yet ye love...." We have not yet seen Christ, but we shall see him someday soon. but do we love him? Yes. Even the instance of Isaac and Rebecca was some what a blind date... now what am I saying?

Am I advocating for a very risky trend?? Nope. I'm just saying that life is in God's hands and it is not a matter of how long you've known anyone. Only God can guarantee the peace and success of any relationship. But be careful and put your running shoes in your bag all the same.

Ka chi fo nu.

Memorise:
And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth
Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. Luke 16:23

Read: Luke 16:19-31, 

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.


Bible in one year: 
Luke 21:25-23:5,
Job 28:20-29:6

Message:
Hell is a term used in the Bible to describe the place of eternal punishment, originally created by God as the final destination for Satan and his angels, which is the second death. It is also used to define the prevailing circumstances of any human environment that is controlled by the devil. The Bible also portrays hell as the home of evil, a place of intense darkness, and an unquenchable fire that is burning with brimstone. Furthermore, hell is a state of final separation from God, and by extension, separation from life, light, love, peace, pleasure and


fulfilment. However, some people do not believe in the reality of hell, which brings us to one of the most frequently asked question on earth, is hell real?

Our Bible passage for today tells us the story of two personalities, a certain rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. They both died at different times, as it has been appointed unto all human beings to die some day. At death, they were both faced with the reality of life after death, their status here on earth notwithstanding. Lazarus found himself cooling off at the bosom of father Abraham in heaven, while the rich man was being tormented in the flames of hell. Hell is very real because the Almighty God, who cannot tell lies, confirmed it so, though hell was originally created for Satan and his angels, it is also for human beings who choose to reject God and follow Satan. May the Lord deliver humanity from the illusion of the devil and open our eyes to the reality of hell in Jesus’ Name. Matthew 13:40-42 says:

“As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angles, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Hell is usually presented in the Bible as the consequence of rejecting God, as evident in the above passage, Jesus, in several passage of the Bible, tried in every possible way, to illustrate to all humanity that hell is real, terrible, and something to be feared and avoided. All paths do not lead to God; Jesus is the only Way through which we can get to Heaven. Jesus is the only way that leads to God. A great man of God once said that the fastest road to hell is a pretentious and gradual one; it is like a gentle slope, a soft underfoot, which is without sudden turnings, milestones, or signposts.

People on this path are ignorantly and innocently caressed to hell. Matthew 7:13 says:
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in threat:”

Do not be deceived, hell is real and terrible. There is no possibility of amnesty or reprieve. Candidates of hell will suddenly resurrect to eternal condemnation without remedy. I honestly don’t understand why anyone will risk going to hell when the God who never lies has said clearly that it exists and the only contrary opinion is from philosophies of unreliable men. Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour today as the only way to escape the horrors of hell.
Prayer Point

Father, let the reality of hell be imposed upon my heart always in Jesus’ name.

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
Hebrews 11:6, NIV

TODAY'S WORD:
Do you know what pleases God? He's not impressed by how much knowledge we have. He isn't influenced by how many possessions we own. He's not moved by our accomplishments; He is moved simply by our faith in Him.

Faith is a gift. It's not something that has to be contrived or worked up. The scripture tells us that everyone has been given a measure of faith. It also says that faith grows as we hear the Word of God. That's why it's so important to stay connected to a Bible-based church where the Word of God is being taught. It's why we need to make time every day to read and study His Word because that's how you feed your faith. The more you know His Word, the more you understand that God is good, and He rewards the people who seek after Him.

Today, take time to feed your faith. Meditate on His Word and ask Him to illuminate your heart with His truth. Trust that He is good and has good things in store for your future because faith is what pleases God!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
"Father, thank You for giving me the gift of faith so that I can be pleasing to You. As I seek You and study Your Word, illuminate my heart with Your truth. Transform me into Your image and let everything I do bring glory to You in Jesus' name. Amen."

Break out into Joy. Break forth into Peace. Look at your hands and your feet, My Child. The shackles have fallen from them, Beloved. There are no marks left upon you. I alone was pierced in the Hands and Feet so that you could be free. You are altogether beautiful, My darling.

There is no spot in you. Nothing is holding you back. Make a joyful noise and shout unto your God with the voice of triumph! Your praise shall silence your foe and still the avenger. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

The Son of Righteousness arises over you with healing in His Wings and you shall go forth in joy like a calf skipping out of his stall. Once you were lost, My Child, but now you are found. Sing for joy and clap your hands, all My people; shout unto your God with the voice of triumph. Dance on the head of the evil one, Beloved.

"You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the LORD of Hosts.
...........................................................................................................................................................
Psalm 8:2 Through the praise of children and infants You have established a stronghold against Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
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Song of Solomon 4:7 You are altogether beautiful, My darling! There is no blemish in you! KJV Thou art all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee. ESV You are altogether beautiful, My love; there is no flaw in you.

Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 55:12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Malachi 4:2 But for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. 3 "You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the LORD of hosts.…

Jeremiah 32:27
“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?
Do you have a problem believing that the moment a sinner receives Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, he is saved? I believe that you will say, “No.”

Let me then ask you which is harder for God (though in reality, we know that nothing is hard for God): To save a soul from hell or heal a sick body? Of course, it is “harder” to save a soul from hell because God had to send His Son to the cross.

So if God has already given you the greatest miracle that you can ever receive, which is to pluck you out of the clutches of eternal damnation and give you eternal life, what is healing your body, saving your marriage, turning your rebellious teenage son around or giving you that business deal to Him?

Therefore, don’t think that when you come to God with a headache, He says, “No problem,” but should you come to Him with cancer, He says, “Cancer? Wow! Not that easy. This is more problematic. I will need more power!”

No! It may appear more difficult to us, but with God, nothing is too hard for Him because He says, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”

This was indeed the case for a church member who was suffering from ovarian cancer. After I had prayed for her, I told her, “This cancer is not a problem for God. Just believe that when God said that nothing is too hard for Him, it is so!” In a matter of weeks, she came back with tears in her eyes, testifying that she went back to the doctor and he pronounced her healed after he could find no traces of cancer in her.

Beloved, if it is a miracle you need, it is a miracle you will get. God has already given you the greatest miracle of eternal life, so why would He not give you all the other lesser miracles?

Thought For The Day
When God says that nothing is too hard for Him, it is so!

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness (Colossians 1:10-11).

Pastor Chris
In our theme scripture, we see another desire and will of God’s Spirit as He prays through the Apostle Paul for His saints. He wants us to be strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness. What does this mean?

The word "might" is the Greek "dunamis"; it means miracle-working ability; the ability to make supernatural things happen. It refers to an ability to do the impossible; a supernatural ability. This is the power that God wants you to operate in, and with; it’s His will for you. You can change anything. You can fix anything, because of His power working in you. This "might" with which you’re strengthened and energized for the supernatural and transcendent life isn’t according to man’s ability, but according to God’s own ability.

No wonder He says, "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God" (2 Corinthians 3:5). He’s your ability; He’s your strength! Therefore, no matter what happens, no matter what’s going on around you, you’re so strengthened of God, so invigorated with miracle-working ability that you’re not troubled; you’re unperturbed. Oh, what a glorious and triumphant life we have in Christ! It’s a life without impossibilities or limitations!

It makes no difference the troubles, storms or adversities that may come against you, you won’t fret or be anxious when you’re invigorated with miracle working ability. You won’t be bothered about the devil or what he can do, because he’s not a factor. You’re relaxed and joyful always, irrespective and independent of circumstances. Halleluiah!

Prayer

Precious Father, I thank you for the power of the Holy Spirit that’s at work in me. I’m invigorated with miracle-working ability in my spirit, by the Holy Spirit who lives in me. I’m strengthened for greater works, and positioned for the supernatural life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

further study: Ephesians 3:14-16; Isaiah 28:16; Philippians 4:13

: Leviticus 26-27 Mark 7:1-23

: Acts 21:18-26 Psalm 40-41

Choose you this day whom ye will serve.

Joshua 24:15

Choosing to side with God's Word is a continual challenge. It's not something you do just once. It's a process of choosing to believe and act upon the Word of God over and over in every circumstance.

That's what everyone has to do. Years ago I decided I was going to choose Jesus. Since then I've had to choose Him again and again in situations every day. I've chosen Him as my Lord and Savior. I've chosen Him as my Healer. I've chosen Him as my Financier. I've chosen Him as head of my household. I've chosen Him as head of this ministry. And I still have to choose Him moment by moment.

Sometimes that choice gets tough, but God has promised it will never get too tough. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, He says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able." What the Lord is saying is that He will not allow you to be subjected to a temptation you're unable to overcome. With every temptation, He'll make a way of escape. He'll always make sure you have a choice.

The devil doesn't come tempt you while God is off somewhere else, unaware of what is happening to you. The Spirit of God is constantly there with you, providing you with the way to overcome. In other words, God matches even the toughest temptations with the weapons and power you need to conquer them. He always makes it possible for you to choose life.

So choose to walk in love. Choose to walk by faith. Choose to live by the Word. Jesus is the Way! Choose Him!

Scripture Reading:
Joshua 24:14-24

But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.
—Matthew 6:6

Jesus rose early to be alone with God, but Peter pursued Him to let Him know that everyone was looking for Him (see Mark 1:35-36). When you get alone to pray, it may seem that everybody tries to hunt you down. But Jesus sought time alone with God so He could focus on His purpose.

We see the scenario of Jesus praying alone and then meeting the needs of others again and again. Jesus went throughout Galilee preaching and driving out demons. When a leper begged to be clean, Jesus touched him, and the leprosy completely left him (see Mark 1:39-42). If Jesus needed to be alone with the Father before He ministered to others, so do we.