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"I have seen that everything [human] has its limits and end [no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent]; but Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity]."
Psalm 119:96, AMP


TODAY'S WORD:
Did you know that you can limit your life by dwelling on the wrong things? So often, wrong thinking keeps people stuck right where they are. If you think you'll never accomplish your dreams, those thoughts will hold you back. If you think you don't have the talent, the connections or the funds, then you are limiting yourself. You are blocking what God can do in your life.

Now is the time to take off the limits and trust God. His ways are higher than our ways. We serve a supernatural God! Just because you don't see a way doesn't mean that God doesn't have a way. God can bring one opportunity across your path that will thrust you to a whole new level. God has explosive blessings in store that can blast you out of where you are and into a place of abundance.

If you'll shift your focus from this earthly realm and look with your eyes of faith, you'll see unlimited possibilities for your future!


PRAYER FOR TODAY:
"Father, today I lift my eyes to You. You alone are the source of my strength, peace and provision. I choose to delight myself in You and take the limits off of my thinking in Jesus' name. Amen."

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT, second edition).

The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:10, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (NLT, second edition). When you use your abilities to help each other, God is glorified.

God wired you to make a contribution. God did not give you your talents and abilities for your benefit. They are for the benefit of other people, and their talents are for the benefit of you.

I am so grateful for people who are talented in areas that I’m not good at. For instance, I’m grateful for accountants. Because I stink at accounting! I’m grateful for people who know how to do taxes.

I’m grateful for people who have mechanical ability. I couldn’t fix a carburetor if I had to. I wouldn’t even know where it is!

Everybody has different talents.

God has given me some talents. One of my talents is taking the Word of God and making it clear for other people to understand. When I use that ability, you get blessed. My talent is for you. It’s to help you.

But here’s the point: You’ve got talent, too. When are you going to start blessing others? When are you going to start helping others?

If you don’t use your talent that God gave you, other people get cheated. The way you bring glory to God is by using your talent. “Use your gifts well to serve one another.” God is glorified when you use your abilities to serve others.

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>

Talk It Over

What are the gifts that God has given to you?
How are you using them to serve others? How do you think God wants you to use them for the benefit of others?


How do you need to accept help from someone so that person is able to use his or her gifts to bring glory to God?

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household?
Matthew 24:45

The Word tells us that God shows Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are "perfect" toward Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). That word perfect doesn't mean that we have to do everything just right and live without making a mistake. Thank God, we don't have to do that. It means "devoted"—a heart consecrated, dedicated, loyal and faithful to God.

The mistakes we make will not stop God from working in our lives. Only our lack of faithfulness can do that.

Who is faithful? The one who spends his time doing what God has called him to do. Or as Jesus put it, the one who takes up his cross and follows Him. The one who denies his fleshly desires and spends his life on the things God desires him to do.

Maybe God has been urging you to spend more time in His Word and in prayer or dealing with you about ministering more to the people around you. He may be calling you to pray for the sick or to teach the Word. But you're busy, so you glide on with good intentions and tell God you'll do it later. Well, later is here!

Decide today that you are going to be the faithful and wise servant. Find out what is stealing your time from the Lord. Serve His interests instead of your own.

Do you want to be a ruler in the household of God? Do you want Him to show Himself strong for you? Then take up Jesus' thoughts today. Take up His purposes and His plans. Now is the time to be faithful!


Scripture Reading:
Matthew 24:42-51

Acts 13:16-22

King David made several big mistakes in his life. Yet he was called a man after God’s own heart and was mightily used by the Lord to lead the Israelites. What set him apart was the priority he placed on his relationship with the heavenly Father.

David delighted in knowing God and sought Him earnestly. Writing, “My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land,” he declared that God’s love was better than life. He went on to pledge that he would praise the Lord all his days (Ps. 63:1, Ps. 63:3-4).

David viewed life from a God-centered perspective. In his writings, he marveled at the Lord’s creative power in the world, relied on Him for protection and strength, and proclaimed allegiance. He also prayed fervently and frequently, lifting requests in the morning and expectantly awaiting a response (Ps. 5:3). At night he’d continue communing with God (Ps. 63:6).

Both actions—praying and meditating on God’s character—fueled his trust in the Lord. His faith sustained him throughout life: when he was a shepherd boy protecting sheep from attacks by wild animals, a young man defeating the giant Goliath, and the nation’s anointed leader escaping King Saul’s murderous plans. Whatever his circumstances, he sought the Lord and gave priority to their relationship.


The psalms reveal David’s desire to know the Lord and be known by Him. He sought God’s guidance through prayer and had a heart for Him. Jesus invites us to draw near and spend time learning from Him (Matt. 11:28-29). Have you made following Christ the priority of your life?

Bible in a Year: Psalms 107-111

Romans 5:5
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Today, we express hope as if we can’t be sure what will really happen. We say, “I hope I will win that prize. I hope it won’t rain tomorrow. I hope everything works out well.”

But “hope” in the Bible is a confident and positive expectation of good. God wants you to have a confident expectation of good because as His child, He favors you. Because Christ is in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), you can expect the glory of God to shine into every area of your life, including your family, job, ministry, health and finances!

God’s Word says, “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” You may have experienced disappointed hopes, but there is a hope that does not disappoint when you are conscious of how much God loves you. It is a hope that springs from the heart of God, who loves you very much.


It is interesting that the first mention of the Holy Spirit in the book of Romans is tied up with the love of God. The book of Romans is considered foundational for Christians. Could it be that the first thing the Holy Spirit wants to do is to establish in our hearts that God loves us? Many people think that the Holy Spirit has come to teach us about power. But the truth is that the Holy Spirit has come not to reveal the love for power, but the power of love!

My friend, you may have just lost your job. But if you can say, “Jesus loves me this I know,” you can also say, “I believe that I will get a better job tomorrow.” Your girlfriend may have just left you for your best friend. But because you can say, “Jesus loves me this I know,” you can also say, “I’ll meet a better girl.”

When you believe that God loves you, you will have a positive expectation of good. You will have a hope that does not disappoint. So be careful what you hope for because you are bound to get it!


Thought For The Day
Being conscious of how much God loves you gives you a hope that does not disappoint.

If you are ever going to experience God’s best then you are going to have to get rid of your mental blocks. You can actually shape a better future for yourself by reshaping your thoughts now.

Jeremiah 29:11 (The Amplified Bible) says, “For I know the thoughts and plans I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.”

Notice how God’s thoughts are connected to your future. Wouldn’t it stand to reason that if you think the same thoughts as He thinks then your future will match His plan?

When God speaks a word into your spirit, He expects you to make it your most dominant thought. Get up thinking about it and go to bed thinking about it. Think about it throughout the day. Never let it out of your mind.

If you’re believing for healing in your body, then the Word says:

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

Imagine that Word coming to pass in your life. Cast those thoughts down that try to say you’ll never be healed of this sickness or disease. Talk about your healing. Confess your healing. Stand on the promises of God for your healing and never give up.

If you’re believing for restoration in your marriage and family, then confess Joel 2:25: “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm…”

Imagine God restoring the years back to you. If you can conceive it in your mind and in your heart, then you’ll eventually have it. Think about God healing your family. Imagine peace and happiness in your home. Talk about it. Believe it. Confess it.

Deuteronomy 6:7, 9 says: “ . . thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. . . . and thou shalt write them . . .”

What was God saying to them? Simply this: “Let My words be the controlling force in your life – think about them, talk about them, and do them.”

Confession: I will let God’s Word be the controlling force in my life. I will line my thoughts with His thoughts so my future will match His plan for my life.


Author: Jerry Savelle

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established (Romans 1:11).

Notice that the Apostle Paul didn’t say, "…I long to see you that we may pray together and ask God to impart you with some spiritual gifts"; no. Rather, he said, "…I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift…." Paul knew he had something to give, contrary to what some people might think about themselves; they don’t believe they have the gifts of the Spirit. "Nobody has any gift; only God has a gift, so stop saying you have a gift," they’d say, thinking they’re being humble.

However, that’s ignorance, not humility; and God doesn’t want us to be ignorant about the gifts or manifestations of the Spirit. He said in 1 Corinthians 12:1, "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant," because the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7). 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 further highlights for us several gifts and manifestations of the Spirit given to each one of us as the Spirit wills.

Paul had something to give, therefore, he longed for the meeting between him and the believers in Rome, because of the effect it was going to produce in their lives and in his as well. He said, "...That I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me" (Romans 1:12). In other words, he’d be comforted by the results of this spiritual impartation in the lives of these saints in Rome.

We need this in the Church today more than ever. Part of the reasons some Christians are lukewarm and seem to be weak is that they’ve never received such impartation of the Spirit. The Bible tells us how the apostles went about confirming or strengthening the saints in the early Church (Acts 14:22). How did they do it? It was through preaching and teaching of the Word, and the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit.

It’s not enough for people to believe; they must also be confirmed, that is, strengthened through the impartation of the gifts of the Spirit. We have something to give; we’re not ordinary. Bless others with the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Prayer

Dear Father, I thank you for the blessings of your Spirit in my life. Like never before, I’m spreading the fragrance of Christ to my world, that they may partake of your grace, and be blessed by the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit in me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.


further study: Acts 14:21-23; Matthew 10:7-8

: Acts 15:22-35 Esther 5-7

: 2 Corinthians 11:10-33 Isaiah 20

The God of Glory is thundering over you, Beloved. I have heard your cries, My Child. I have bowed the heavens and come down to you. Listen, Dear One. Do you hear the sound of an approaching storm? Hear the sound of the roar of the heavy rain. Listen to the sound of a mighty rushing Wind. See My Clouds of Glory gathering.

Do not fear this outpouring, My Child. This is a storm like no other. There is a tsunami of MY Power and GOODNESS being released in these last days. I shall fill your coffers to overflowing. See the lightnings and hear the thundering voices. The seven spirits of your Glorious Father are standing before the throne. Look up, Beloved. The skies are opening over you. You have dug trenches by faith. You shall see them filled with superabundance. A stream of Fire and Living Water are flowing to you from My Throne of Grace. A refreshing River of Glory is being released fully to you in these last days. No longer shall you lack in any way. Lift your hands and receive it, My Love. Sing and rejoice in My latter rain! You shall hear all of heaven thundering with joy as NEW LIFE flows into you

................................................................................................................................
..2 Kings 3:16 Thus says the LORD, 'Make this valley full of trenches.' 17 For thus says the LORD, 'You shall not see wind nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, both you and yours

..Job 37:4 After it, a Voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice, And He does not restrain the lightnings when His voice is heard. God thundereth marvellously with His voice; great things doeth He, which we cannot comprehend.

.. Daniel 7:9 I kept looking until thrones were placed and the Ancient of Days [God, the eternal Father] took His seat, Whose garment was white as snow and the hair of His head like pure wool. His THRONE was like the FIERY flame; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A STREAM OF FIRE came forth from before Him; a thousand thousands ministered to Him and ten thousand times ten thousand rose up and stood before Him.

..Revelation 22:11Then the angel showed me a river of the WATER OF LIFE, clear as crystal, coming from the THRONE of God and of the Lamb.

..Revelation 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
..Matthew 3:11 I baptize you with WATER for repentance. But after me will come One who is more powerful than I, Whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with FIRE.

..Luke 12:29 "I came to throw fire upon the earth, and what is my desire? Oh that it were even now kindled!"

Memorise:
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1b
Read: 1st Kings 17:12-16, (KJV)

12 And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.

15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.


Bible in one year:
Acts 16:16-18:17,
Song of Solomon 4:9-5:1

Message:
Bible writers under the influence of the Holy Ghost wittily qualified or limited significant nouns common to human experiences. For example, in Psalm 103:4 when the Psalmist decided to qualify the kindness and mercies of God upon his life he wrote:

“Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies.”

In other words, the kindness he received from God was not ordinary but the loving type. Also, the mercies were not the harsh type but the tender ones. My prayer for you is that this will be your own experience too in Jesus’ name.

In our memory verse for today, we read about an attribute of God that is noteworthy for our advantage; “The very present help in trouble.” Going by this testimony of the Psalmist, God is help personified, and He is never a belated help; He is always on time. But for this attribute of God, the widow of Zarephath in today’s reading would have eaten up her last meal before the messenger of the God of multiplication arrived.

“And she said, as the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a curse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”
1st Kings 17:12

As I always tell my congregation in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, I strongly believe that the woman was saying that she was going to prepare the last meal, eat it with her household and then commit suicide but help came for just on time. However, before the Present Help can come to your aid, you need to have the same spiritual conviction of the widow in our Bible reading for today. One of the virtues of this widow is that she believed in the God of Prophet Elijah. Another thing about this widow is that she believed that the God of Elijah was alive. This helped her to respond positively to the instruction of the prophet by going ahead to do what the prophet said, and there came the miracle of multiplication. The Bible says in 2nd Chronicles 20:20

“Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.”


Beloved, if you believe in God as your Present Help, it will show in your way of life. For example, you will not live in doubt of His promises and so you will respond in faith to his directives. You will not cut corners in order to achieve your desires, because you know that the Present Help shall always be there for you. This woman in our Bible reading had faith in the God of Israel and this she showed by according respect to the man of God. Do you have regard for God? It will show in how you regard you pastor and his words. May the Present Help be there for us always in Jesus’ name.


Prayer Point
O, Present Help, please help me today to solve all my problems.

Open Heavens by Pastor E.A Adeboye

I am the Glorious Sword in your hand, Beloved. Be not afraid of those things coming against you. Though the world considers you of little consequence, in the Spirit, you are a Mighty Warrior. The devil is a master of deceit and the father of lies. He desires to control your mind with negative thoughts.


He sends his powerful minions of fear and doubt to hound you and invade your peace. Fear not, My Child. My Glory is a Shield around you and My Blood covers you. Cast down those vain imaginations that exalt themselves against your God. This is a spiritual battle, My Love. You are not fighting flesh and blood. Rise up in the power of MY might.

By My Right Hand and My Arm and the Light from My Face shall all the plans of the enemy fall, for I delight in you. I give you My authority and power to trample all the agents of evil, and nothing shall be any means harm you. Only by My Spirit can victory come. You have this Treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is not from yourselves but from your God. Shout," Grace, Grace," to that problem, My Warrior Bride, and watch it fall before you. Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.

...Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
...Deuteronomy 33:29...Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your shield and Helper and your glorious Sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.
...Psalm 44:3 for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but Your right hand and Your arm, and the Light of Your face, for You delighted in them.

...2 Corinthians 4:5For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.



...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.
...Zechariah 4:6 Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. 7What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"

"If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God."
Deuteronomy 28:1-2, NIV

TODAY'S WORD:
There is a blessing that God has for every one of His children that will cause you to rise out of lack into abundance! It will take you from barely getting by to living in overflow. God's blessing brings supernatural increase. We were never created to drag through life constantly struggling. He has commanded blessing when we come into agreement with His Word in our minds, hearts and actions.

This commanded blessing is found in Deuteronomy 28. It tells us that if we will live a life that honors God and obey His Word, then all these blessings will chase us down and overtake us. It says that we will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. God will open up to you His good treasury and cause you to lend and not borrow. He will make you plenteous in goods and give you a surplus of increase.

Today, let this truth sink down into your spirit: the Creator of the universe has commanded blessing on you. Receive it today and choose to follow Him in everything you do!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
"Father, thank You for Your commanded blessing. I receive Your truth which sets me free. Help me, by Your Spirit, to follow Your commands so that I may live a life that brings You honor in Jesus' name. Amen."

Psalm 121:3-8

We learned yesterday that God is our protector. David’s song in Psalm 121 also portrays the Lord as our keeper.

• “He who keeps you will not slumber” (Ps. 121:3). Many young children are fearful in the dark. If they awaken when everyone else is sleeping, little ones often feel alone and scared. Adults also experience fear, but thankfully, our Caretaker needs no sleep. He is always alert and attentive to our cries, even when our feelings may tell us otherwise.

• “The Lord is your keeper … He will keep your soul” (Ps. 121:5, Ps. 121:7). When parents have to leave their children, they put a trusted person in charge. We often say that this individual is “keeping” the kids. The babysitter is expected to protect and provide for the children. How much more invested and capable is our heavenly Father! Besides preserving us physically and spiritually, He restrains us from any wrong thoughts, harmful words, and inappropriate actions. His Holy Spirit gives warnings to keep us from evil, and He also provides guidance so we’ll grow in a godly direction.

• “The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever” (Ps. 121:8). God is sovereign. He is with us always—protecting, pointing the way, and teaching. He accompanies and leads, even in the small tasks that seem insignificant.

When we grow up, many of us feel sadness and a little fear as we leave the safety of our parents’ home. But we never leave the precious love and watchful eye of our heavenly Father. God is our keeper, and He cares for us better than any earthly mom or dad ever could.


Bible in a Year: Psalms 103-106

Luke 2:40
And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

The verse says that the grace of God was upon Jesus. The Bible also says that where sin abounds, grace abounds much more. (Romans 5:20) And when you put the two together, you may find yourself asking, “If the grace of God was upon Jesus, does it mean that He sinned?”

No, Jesus did not sin. (2 Corinthians 5:21) So there must be another explanation as to why God’s grace was upon Jesus. There must be another explanation as to why someone can abound in God’s grace even when he has not sinned.

Let’s look at the word “grace” when it is first mentioned in the Bible. Genesis 6:8 says that “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord”. Noah’s name means “rest”. So the verse is telling us that rest found grace. In other words, when you rest, you find grace!

So grace was upon Jesus because His life was a life of rest and trust in His Father. He said, “The Son can do nothing of Himself. He can do only what He sees His Father doing.” (John 5:19)

Likewise, grace comes upon you when you rest and trust God. If you have a wayward child, stop nagging at him and trust God to handle the problem. Say, “Jesus, I commit this boy into Your hands. I cannot control him. You can.” If you have a persistent pain in your body, bring it to the Lord. Say, “Jesus, I hand all my worries about this pain to You. You work on the pain.”

“Pastor Prince, what if nothing happens?”

Honestly, if after you have given the matter to Jesus and nothing happens, what can you do? If Jesus Himself can’t do anything about it, do you think you can? But praise God, once the problem is handed over to Jesus, He can and will do a perfect work of taking care of it for you!

So live a life of rest. Have this attitude and tell the Lord, “I can do nothing of myself. I just rest in You Lord and I trust You.” Beloved, what you will see is the grace of God upon you in every situation of your life!


Thought For The Day
God’s grace comes upon you when you rest and trust Him.

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV).


When it comes to gaining victory over our negative circumstances, Jesus is our only standard. Other believers—no matter how strong they were or are—are not our standard.

Many compare their experiences to the apostle Paul. Yes, he overcame many trials and tribulations, but he is not our ultimate role model—Jesus is!

Although Paul does instruct believers to imitate his ways, He is talking about his ways in Christ. Paul clearly stated in the scripture above that it is Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. Therefore, He is the model for successful living.

When we make Jesus Christ our standard, the Holy Spirit stretches us to a new level of victory and success in Christ. So, what standard of victory should we expect as we live out our lives in and through Jesus?

When Jesus was taken to the edge of a cliff to be stoned, rather than believing God to survive the stoning, He confidently walked away to safety.
When Jesus was in a terrible storm at sea, He did not believe God to survive the storm; He used His authority to command the storm be stilled.
When Jesus needed to get across the water, He did not believe God for a boat; He walked on the water.
When Jesus lacked enough food to feed more than 5000, He did not go to the local supermarket; He multiplied the food He had.
Jesus used every trial He faced as an opportunity to set a standard of faith that you too can follow. Through the cross He made the way for you to live at that same level. All you have to do is believe.

Confession: Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of my faith. In Him I live, and move, and have my being. I am able to walk in victory over every trial and circumstance that I may face because Jesus is my standard!

Author: Jerry Savelle

For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by his goodness].
—2 Corinthians 5:21
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I cannot think of anything more awesome than being a friend of God. There is nothing I would rather hear God say than, "Joyce Meyer is My friend." I do not want Him to say, "Joyce Meyer—knows all the prayer principles; she can quote dozens of Bible verses; she sounds very eloquent when she prays; but she really doesn't know Me at all and we are not really friends." I want to know that God thinks of me as His friend, and I believe you long for Him to think of you that way, too. Through Jesus Christ, we have a right to be comfortable with God, to hear His voice, and to go boldly to the throne of grace to get the help we need in plenty of time to meet our needs and the needs of others (see Hebrews 4:16).

One of the best things you can ever do is to develop your friendship with God. Jesus has made you righteous through the blood He shed at the cross, so there is no reason you cannot approach God as boldly and as naturally as you would your best friend on Earth. Remember, friendship with God takes an investment of time and energy to develop. But also remember that as your friendship deepens, your ability to hear God's voice increases. A growing, vibrant, increasingly intimate friendship with God will naturally lead to increasingly effective communication with Him.

So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them" (Acts 19:12).

The Bible talks about handkerchiefs and aprons, taken from the Apostle Paul and placed on people who were sick and diseased in their bodies, and miracles took place. The handkerchiefs contained the power of God, and the moment they made contact with a need, the power was activated. The handkerchiefs and aprons were inanimate; they had no intelligence, but they transmitted the power of God.

If such inanimate materials could contain and transmit the power of God, how much more the human body! You’re better than an handkerchief. Being born again and having received the Holy Spirit, there’s an anointing on your life. You’re not an ordinary being. You’re a God-carrier; the dispenser of His grace, power, and glory. God seeks to manifest His glory and power, and establish His righteousness in the earth, through you. His anointing is in you (1 John 2:27). Stir up that anointing always.

How do you stir up the anointing? It’s by getting yourself filled again and again with the Spirit. The Bible says, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:18-19). Speak, sing, and make melody of the Word to yourself continually; it’s something you have to do consciously to maintain the glow of the Spirit and experience His manifestations in your life always.

You could be evangelizing in a commuter train or bus, or at the mall or in the street, and all those listening to you would be electrified by the Spirit: "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word" (Acts 10:44). This is the day of God’s power; therefore, be bold to do the Word. Get in the flow of God’s Spirit.

Prayer

Dear Father, I thank you for the anointing of your Spirit in my life. I’m a carrier of your grace, power and glory. I’m your extension today, and through me, you carry out your divine purpose in this world to touch, bless, heal, uplift, strengthen, and inspire others, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.


further study: Acts 10:44-45; Colossians 1:25-27; 2 Corinthians 4:7

: Esther 1-4 Acts 15:1-21

: 2 Corinthians 11:1-9 Isaiah 19

“Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory” (Romans 15:7 NLT, second edition).

Did you know that every time you show love, it gives glory to God? Because God is love, and glory is revealing what God is really like.

God says, “I am loving. I am compassionate. I want you to be like me. I want you to develop my character.” You’re never going to be God. You’re never even going to be a teeny-tiny God. But God says he wants you to become godly. He wants you to develop his character. Like father like son, like father like daughter. He wants you to learn to love people the way he loves people. God is love.

Every time you do that, it shows God’s glory.

Of course, one of the ways you love others is just by accepting them. Just because you don’t like what people do doesn’t mean you can’t accept them.

Do you understand the difference between acceptance and approval? You can accept someone without approving of everything that person does. There is a big difference! We are to accept everybody; we are not to approve everything everybody does. So no matter what people do or who they do it with or how they do it, or how long they do it, you are to love them. You are to accept them. It does not mean that you approve of what they do. God loves you, but it doesn’t mean he approves of everything you do.

Love is not saying I approve of everything you do. Love is saying I accept you in spite of what you do.

Romans 15:7 says, “Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory” (NLT, second edition).

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>

Talk It Over

Who do you need to accept in your life, even if you don’t approve of what that person believes or does?


In what areas of culture is acceptance a seemingly tricky issue for Christians?
What are some practical ways you can show acceptance and love to people, especially the ones the world expects you to turn away from because of what they believe or do?

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Hebrews 2:9


Death. It’s not a popular topic—even among believers. In fact, a great many are just plain scared of it. Oh yes, they talk about having eternal life. Yet when the devil tries to threaten their earthly survival with sickness or calamity, they panic.


Why? Because they haven’t learned to look at death through God’s eyes. Even though their spirit has been made immortal, they haven’t renewed their minds to include that truth. If they had, when the devil tried to push their panic button, they’d just laugh and say, “You can’t scare me, Devil. I’ve done all the dying I’m ever going to do!”

That’s true, you know. The Word of God says that you, as a born-again believer, are never going to see death (John 8:51). Jesus has been your substitute. He suffered death so you wouldn’t have to. And He was raised from death, Hebrews 2:14-15 says, “Destroy[ing] him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver[ing] them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

If you’ve made Jesus the Lord of your life, the only death you’ll ever experience is behind you now. It occurred the instant you received Christ. At that moment, your old self—the one whose nature was to sin and rebel against God—died. Your body didn’t die, but your spirit man—the real you—died to Satan and all of his works. You became “a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17), immortal and absolutely incapable of death!

When you’re finished with your work on the earth, you’re not going to die. You’ll simply shed your earthly shell and relocate to a far more glorious place.

Go to the Word and get God’s perspective on death. Make a study of it. Once the reality of your immortality begins to dawn on you, the devil will never be able to threaten you with it again.


Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 2:9-15

Memorise:
Preach the word; be instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2nd Timothy 4:2

Read: Ezekiel 33:7-9, 
7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.


Bible in one year: 
Acts 14:1-16:15,
Song of Solomon 4:1-8

Message:
As a watchman over the souls of men, it is our responsibility to preach the Word. What word? The Word of life; the Truth that sets a person free from the bondage of sin. Today, there is a scarcity of the Word of God in some quarters. We have been given the mandate to proclaim the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to unbelievers. But it is unfortunate that many are not carrying out this instruction.

There are ministers of the gospel who are preaching other things outside the Word of God. Because all men will stand before the judgment seat of the Almighty God, it is imperative that we proclaim the life-saving gospel to them. We are to preach the Word and the Word alone. We are not to preach the theologies and philosophies of men. We are not to preach the ideals of the western world, but the living Word of God. There are people living in sin today because the watchmen are no longer at their duty posts to reprove them. The Word God is not what you preach when it is reprove them. The Word of God is not what you preach when it is convenient for you alone. Necessity is laid on us all to continue to reprove and rebuke sinners and encourage them to embrace the path that leads to life and godliness.

We live in a world where people are no longer content with the Word of God, they have abandoned the Word of life and they are searching for fables. They are like sheep in search of a meal that will not profit them. God’s Word is the wisdom of God for humanity. The problem with the present day Church is a lack of balanced spiritual diet for the growth of the flock. Potentially sound believers are not sound after all because they lack the wherewithal to grow to maturity despite the fact that they are genuine seekers of the truth.

We should take time to examine the level of pollution in the Church today by the modern and post-modern philosophers who have turned themselves to Bible scholars, thus, misleading the people of faith with their power of logic, oratory and academic tenacity. We need God’s watchmen to put an end to the scarcity of truth in all our assemblies. We need to constantly remind ourselves that the thoughts of western civilisation should not be superior to the Word of God. As watchmen, we need to keep people informed about the correct knowledge of the Word of God. We need to constantly remind ourselves of the beauty of Christian living as the best way of life. We must cast down imaginations and every high knowledge that exalts against the knowledge of God and not allow heresies to thrive in the body of Christ. Your role in the church should put an end to the famine of the Word of God. Don’t join those who only make noise and appeal to the emotions of people with the mind of leading them to hell. To be a watchman unto the souls of men is a divine mandate that must be carried out with urgency. The voice of the watchman must be clear and distinct so that the people that God wants to reach through His voice can hear the warning for the hour. If you want to serve God, serve Him with all of your heart. Let your path be straight. Always be ready to change when there is a need for it. You must be a good example to your hearers. You must be a fire brand for the Lord.


Prayer Point
Father, help me do the work of an Evangelist with diligence.

Open Heavens by Pastor E.A Adeboye

                                    
"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:
God is a rewarder! Notice this verse doesn't say that God rewards those who "deserve" it or have "earned" it. It doesn't say that God rewards those who act perfectly and never make mistakes. No, God's blessing isn't based on our performance, it's based on our faith—our belief in Him and His goodness. In fact, one verse says that He longs to be good to those who are looking for His goodness.

Spend time today meditating on His goodness and dwelling on His faithfulness. Read His Word and spend time in the Psalms. Praise and thank Him for all He is doing and what He will do in your life. Let His Word shape your thoughts; and remember, He is a rewarder! Because He is good, He wants to bless you when you earnestly seek after Him!


PRAYER FOR TODAY:
"Father, thank You for filling my heart and mind with faith. You are good, and You are a rewarder. I choose to put my trust in You knowing that You have blessings in store for my future in Jesus' name. Amen."

“For the kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power” (1 Corinthians 4:20 NLT, second edition).

To live a fulfilled life, you have to live by God’s power.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 4:20, “For the kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power” (NLT, second edition).


Did you know God does not bless self-reliant people? He blesses people who are dependent upon him and surrendered to him.

God wants to use you, but you must live by his power. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

God is able to do more than you can ever imagine. So how do you get God’s power in your life? There are three ways.

You get God’s power by praying. If you don’t have any power in your life, that could mean You’re not praying. Prayer and power go together.
You get God’s power by taking risks to obey God. When you take a risk to do what God tells you to do, even when it’s hard or unpopular, even when it may cost you, even when it doesn’t make sense, even when nobody else is doing it, God will pour out his power in your life.
You get God’s power by not giving up. Don’t give up! In order for God to grow your faith, he’s got to test it. When you’re going through difficulties and delays and dead ends and despair and discouragement, God is teaching you to trust him. Hang on, and God will bless you.


Talk It Over

How can you tell when you have God’s power in your life?
How is God testing your faith right now? How do you want him to bless you through it?
What risks are you taking for God?

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.
Isaiah 1:19

A healthy body. Enough money to pay all your bills and extra to invest in the work of the gospel. A godly marriage and happy, healthy children. Peace of mind. God has prepared a banquet full of blessings for you.

But those blessings are not just going to fall in your lap. You must be willing—as well as obedient—if you’re going to eat the best from God’s table.

So, be willing!

Don’t be willing for Satan to put sickness on your body. Be willing, instead, to be well! In honor of Jesus’ sacrifice at Calvary, refuse to accept anything less than divine health.

Don’t be willing to live in lack, but be willing instead to live in divine prosperity and abundance. Refuse to allow Satan to stop the flow of God’s financial blessings to you.

Be willing to receive God’s best plan for your marriage and your children. Don’t settle for the norms of the world. Live above them in a home full of love and harmony, a home that is what God meant it to be.

Don’t allow Satan to substitute anxiety and ulcers for the peace and undisturbedness that Jesus bought for you. Be willing and obedient to cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.

Refuse to be robbed of the banquet of blessings that has belonged to you since you became a believer. Be willing to eat the good of the land!


Scripture Reading:
Deuteronomy 8:5-20

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV).

Did you know that in every negative situation you may face, God always has a victory plan?

Think about it: God is bigger than any mistake you will ever make or problem you will face. When you follow His victory plan, you are certain to walk out of that situation into the place of success and triumph Jesus has already established for you.

Even if you get yourself into a mess through foolishness or deliberate sin, the moment you run to God and ask His forgiveness, He will come to you in grace and mercy to show you the way out.

God said, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 NKJV). No situation is too hard for God to turn around; no mess is beyond the grace of God. He always as the perfect way to turn everything around for your good.

Joseph faced numerous negative situations throughout his life. However, he was fully convinced that God had a victory plan for him. He knew if he continued to be obedient, then he would rise above every seemingly hopeless situation. And that’s just what Joseph did; he became the prime minister of Egypt!

God is a master at turning the tables on the devil when he sets in motion a plan against you. Joseph told his brothers, who had sold him into slavery, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:20 NKJV).

When you trust God and are obedient to follow His direction, you can walk confidently through every trial that comes you way because—God always has a plan!

Confession: I thank God that His plan for me in every situation is always to triumph in Christ!


Author: Jerry Savelle

Ecclesiastes 9:11
…the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.

God’s Word tells us that being faster, stronger and wiser does not automatically make you a winner in life. No, it is actually being at the right place at the right time that causes you to receive blessings. And God, who holds time and chance in His hands, is the only one who can put you at the right place at the right time.

He did this for Ruth. She trusted God for favor when she went looking for a field in which to glean. (Ruth 2:2) Then, the Bible tells us that “she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech”. (Ruth 2:3) Of all the fields in Bethlehem, she happened to end up in Boaz’s field, and he was a close relative of Elimelech, her father-in-law. This meant that Boaz was her potential kinsman redeemer, someone who could redeem her from her plight as a young, childless widow in a foreign land.

Boaz also happened to be “a man of great wealth” (Ruth 2:1), and as it turned out, he was willing to redeem Ruth. (Ruth 4:9–10) All these right happenings could only mean that God had placed Ruth in the right place at the right time.

I believe that the very day Ruth told her mother-in-law that the God of Israel would be her God (Ruth 1:16), God took note of it and made everything happen right for her.

Today, God also wants you to know that because you have said, “God, You are My God,” He will be your God of divine happenings. He will place you at the right place at the right time, where you will meet the right people, do the right things and even escape danger!

You may not know where all the great opportunities are, but God does. He was the one who put in you the skills, talents and gifts that you have, and He knows where you need to be, when you should be there and what you need to be doing to be truly fulfilled!


Thought For The Day
God, who holds time and chance in His hands, is the only one who can put you at the right place at the right time.

Look unto Me, Beloved. Wait expectantly and with anticipation. I am the faithful One. Though your enemy may rejoice when you fall, his celebration shall be short lived. Those who ask you, "Where is your God? " shall be ashamed. I am your Deliverer.

There is no other who can save. I shall deliver you from this host that has been sent against you. I shall bare My Holy Arm in the sight of all the nations, that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of your God. I am your Redeemer who has plucked you out of the hands of the adversary.

You are my Beloved and I am yours. Remember that I am your Rock, the Most High God, your Redeemer. Lean on Me alone, My Bride. I shall never leave nor forsake you. We shall walk together out of this wilderness. I am still the God of wonders. My Word shall come to pass in your life. Expect a miracle, Dear One. I have spoken and I will make it good.

Strongs 6960; expect; to wait or look eagerly for; to lie in wait for; wait in excitement
(because you know it will happen)

..Mic 5:7 And the remnant shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass which do not wait (6960) for anyone or depend on man.

..Micah 7:8 Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a Light for me.

..Micah 7:10 He will bring me out to the Light, and I will see His righteousness. 10Then my enemy will see, and shame will cover her who said to me, "Where is the LORD your God?"

..Song of Solomon 8:5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved?
..Isaiah 43:11 "I, even I, am the LORD, And there is no Savior besides Me."

..Psalm 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary.

..Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

..Psalm 77:14 You are the God who works wonders
..Romans 3:23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;


..1 Corinthians 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.