"…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…"(Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV)

TODAY'S WORD:
It’s easy to be tempted to go through life competing with everyone around us. When we see someone who’s more talented, better looking or has more gifts, instead of running our race and being comfortable with who we are, oftentimes we feel inferior and think, “I’ve got to catch up to them.” The problem with this unhealthy competition is that it’s a never-ending cycle.

There will always be someone ahead of us. But, it’s a very freeing thing when you realize, “I’m not competing with you. I don’t have to have as big a house as my neighbor to feel good about myself. I don’t have to keep up with my co-worker. I don’t have to be a certain size. No, I understand that I’m not in competition with my friend, my neighbor or my co-worker. Instead, I’m going to be the best me that I can possibly be.” Friend, that’s an attitude God can work with. When you focus on being who God made you to be, that’s when you’ll rise up higher and position yourself for every spiritual blessing He has in store for you!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father, I humbly come to You giving You all that I am. I choose to keep my eyes on You and allow You to work in my heart and mind. I declare that I am free from competition today in Jesus’ name. Amen.

For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.
— Galatians 5:6

God’s love is unconditional and everlasting. I remember how amazed and excited I was when He revealed His love to me. I felt like I was going to burst!

But after awhile, I got used to the fact that God loves me, and I didn’t feel the same passion.

Has that ever happened to you? Are you experiencing it now? If so, I believe there is something you can do about it.

Paul told Timothy to stir himself up, to fan the flame and rekindle the embers of the fire he once had. Paul’s message to Timothy is God’s message to you today: Stir yourself up! Stop living life being tired of the “same old, same old.”

We need to remember this: We make the decision to approach life with passion before it becomes a feeling.

So make a decision today to wake up every morning excited about the relationship you have with your Creator. Stir yourself up and live amazed by Him!

1 Peter 2:15—For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

I Commit And Trust All My Works To God As I Submit With The Same Mindset As Christ Jesus!
I submit myself reverently and completely to God, offering my life as a living sacrifice to Him.  I submit to and endure His discipline as it enables me to share in His holiness.  In obedience to God’s Word, I submit myself to every human institution and authority for His sake.  I honor and respect my parents, for this is pleasing to God.

I will learn Your Word in silence with all submission.  As I submit to God and resist Satan, he must flee from me.  I will trust in Your mercy and my heart will rejoice in Your salvation as I submit to You and Your loving kindness.

I obey and submit to my spiritual leaders and do my part to help them do their job with gladness.  I am subject to those in authority over me in my workplace.  I do my best with all my heart, out of reverence for the Lord and as a sincere expression of my devotion to Him.

In all my ways, with kindly affection, I give precedence and show honor to others.

I have the same attitude, purpose and humble mind in me that is in Christ Jesus.  He is my example in humility.  I am respectful, self controlled and trustworthy in all things.  All the words of my mouth are righteous, pure and pleasing to God.

Source:  Man of God 18 Days of Promise

Daily Living

Philippians 4:11-13
God has provided us with many things to enjoy (1 Tim. 6:17). But our lives are frequently filled with turmoil instead of contentment. Here are four practices that create dissatisfaction.

1. Busyness. We live in a hurry-up society, dashing from one activity to another. Jesus did not rush, yet He accomplished everything God gave Him to do. Rarely did He tell His followers to move faster. He even praised Mary for choosing to stop and spend time with Him (Luke 10:39, Luke 10:42).

2. Earthly perspective. Too often we live focused on our circumstances. Our minds are filled with what occurred earlier in the week, what’s on today’s agenda, and the activities happening next week, month, or year. No wonder enjoyment of life remains elusive. The solution is to have an eternal perspective, which acknowledges God is in charge and our goal is to please Him.

3. Self-imposed pressure. We have all experienced the unavoidable burdens of schoolwork, employment, and relationships. But we bring needless pressure on ourselves when we allow unnecessary “musts” and “shoulds” to rule us. The remedy is to turn to God, acknowledge His right to order our days, and ask for His plan.

4. Unhealthy attitudes. Things like perfectionism, false guilt, and apathy all undermine our enjoyment of life.

Satisfaction is found in a life that reflects God’s priorities—and time with Him comes first. Reading His Word, we become mindful of the Father’s great love, learn what He views as important, and experience the joy of belonging to Him. When contentment is elusive, it’s time to reexamine our priorities.

Bible in One Year: 1 Corinthians 14-16

Romans 4:7–8
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

Some people think that if they were more “right” with God, then He would hear their prayers. For example, they sometimes believe that if they had not quarreled with their wives or had those bad thoughts earlier in the day, then God would answer their prayers.

God is not like that. He wants you to know beyond any doubt that you can always come to His throne of grace with boldness and have every confidence that you will receive His mercy and grace. (Hebrews 4:16) You see, because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross, you are already right with God. You don’t need to do anything to make yourself more right with God.

In fact, by faith in Jesus, you have received the righteousness of God Himself! (2 Corinthians 5:21) And no matter how many mistakes you make, you will never lose that righteousness because in the first place, God gave it to you apart from your works. (Romans 4:5–6) In other words, God did not impute righteousness to you because you were good, but because you believed in Jesus.

Because of what Jesus has done for you at the cross, all your sins—past, present and future—are forgiven. God will by no means ever remember your sins or count them against you! (Hebrews 8:12, 10:17)

My friend, because Jesus has been punished for your sins, today, God is not counting your sins against you. This means that your sins won’t stop Him from hearing and responding to your prayers. So you can always run into His presence knowing that you can boldly stand in and enjoy His presence and His love.

When you know this truth, it is going to set you free in your relationship with God. You can talk to Him without fear or any sense of condemnation. You can practice His presence and trust that He always hears you. Should something happen at home or at work, you don’t always have to call for your church leaders—you pray and God hears you!

Beloved, you are righteous in Christ and God hears your prayers—all because of Jesus!

December 1, 2017[All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24 AMP)

I want to focus on two particular words found in the scripture verse above: justified and redemption.

The word justified is not one we commonly use in everyday English, but the essence of its simplest biblical definition is “just as if I’d never sinned.” In other words, because of the redemptive work Jesus did at the cross, God now looks at you just as if you’d never sinned.

The word redemption means “to buy back.” Just as an individual who was kidnapped is bought back from their captor with ransom money, so Jesus bought you back from the hands of the devil with His shed blood.

The Bible says, “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin” (Romans 4:8 NKJV) and God is “the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26 NKJV). Never again will your sins be counted against you.

Receiving this justification and redemption does not depend on your performance; it depends on your faith in Jesus and the fact that you are “in Him.” And the good news is, because you are in Him, you are justified!

Confession: Thank You, Father, for treating me just as if I’d never sinned. I cast down all thoughts of condemnation, and I meditate instead on the free gift of redemption that is mine because I am in Christ Jesus.

Author: Jerry Savelle

Friday December 1st 2017

Memorise: And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Luke 9:62

Read: Luke 9:61-62 (KJV)
9:61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.


Bible in one year: 
Psalm 81-88,
Nahum 1,

Hymn: 
Sing hymn 14

Message:
When you walk with God, not only must you be obedient, your obedience must also be complete. From the story of how Elisha stuck with Elijah till the latter was taken up to heaven, we learn that until you obey to the very end, certain blessings may not be received, and certain promises may not be fulfilled by God (2nd Kings 2:1-15). This is very serious issue as it calls for endurance. Would Elijah have been ruptured if he had refused to go on to Jordan, after obeying God’s instructions to go to Bethel and Jericho, and after several years of obedience to God in ministry? I very much doubt it. Similarly, if Elisha had not served and followed Elijah till the very end, would he have received a double portion of the Spirit on his master? I don’t think so.

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
Matthew 10:22

Beloved, to get very special blessings or rewards from God, you must be ready to serve Him till you take your very last breath. You must pay your tithe, obey Him, win souls, worship Him, and follow peace with all men until your very last second on earth. Heaven is not for those who run the marathon for years and give up just a little before the finish line; rather, it is for those who endure all things to the very end.

“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

In God’s Kingdom, there is no room for half measures. It is either you are following Him to the end or you are not following Him at all. If you have decided to serve Him, Please don’t stop to look back! Looking back can disqualify you, rendering you unfit for God’s kingdom. Today, it is rare to get a committed worker or minister like Elijah, who would be doggedly determined to reach his goal without being discouraged, distracted or disillusioned. Have you turned aside from God’s calling on your life? Are you busy making excuses as to why you cannot obey God, saying “after all, God understands”? Sorry, God does not understand you going back on your commitments. He does not understand compromises. If you are in such a state, come out fast and hold the fort to the very end!

Key Point
You cannot afford to stop your race to Heaven now, because you have put in so much to get to where you are today.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical Church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him (Colossians 2:6).

The New International Version’s rendering of our opening verse says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him. ” Notice the underlined expression; it let’s us know that Christ is a place. You were born into the place called Christ when you were born again. He’s your home. Hallelujah!

The Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ , he is a new creature…” (2 Corinthians 5:17). 1 Corinthians 12:13 says, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…” and that body is Christ. In the New Testament, wherever the word, “Christ” is used without “Jesus,” understand that the reference is beyond the person of Jesus Christ. Christ is a person and Christ is a place.

The Bible says God made Jesus to be the head of the body of Christ, and the Church is His body. So, you’ve been born into Christ; that’s where you live now and this must be your consciousness. Nothing that’s inconsistent with Christ and the Christ-life or nature should have a place in your life. The life you’ve received is one of absolute mastery—a life of righteousness, dominion, power, glory and excellence.

In Christ, not only have you been made righteous, you’ve also been made the righteousness of God. Therefore, living the righteous life that He gave us has become our natural way of life. In Christ—our home country—we express and manifest the righteousness of God. We bear fruits and produce works of righteousness.

In Christ, there’s no sin, sickness, disease, failure poverty, defeat, weakness or death; all we have is health, joy, peace, success, strength, prosperity, beauty and life forevermore! We reign and rule over Satan and his cohorts of darkness. We’re more than conquerors. We’re forever triumphant. Nothing can defeat or put us down. That’s the life we have, and live in Christ. So, when you say, “I’m in Christ,” you ought to understand the import of that statement, for it means that’s where you live; your address is Christ!

CONFESSION Christ is my life. Having received Jesus Christ as my Lord, I live triumphantly in righteousness, glory, health, dominion and authority! I walk, conscious of my oneness with the owner of the universe; therefore, the whole world is mine. Blessed be God!

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
1 John 2:15-3:1-10
Ezekiel 45-46

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
John 16:23-33
2 Chronicles 3-4

FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 1:30
2 Corinthians 2:14
Acts 17:28 

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.Hebrews 2:1

It's happened to all of us. We get a little of the Word of God under our spiritual belts. We have a few victories. Our lives are going great for the first time in years. Then suddenly we slip and it all falls apart. We find ourselves having to start all over again.

That's what happened to the people the book of Hebrews was written to. They made such great spiritual progress that they got to the place where they should have been teachers. Then they slipped back so much, they needed baby food again. (See Hebrews 5:12.)

What caused them to fall so far? They let other things get in the way of their faith. They let the promises of God slip, so they slipped.

That's happened to a multitude of believers in the last several years.

"Well, Brother Copeland," they said, "we're tired of that faith stuff." Or, "We just don't have time to spend that much time in the Word."

They've turned their attention away from the promises of God. It's not that they didn't believe them anymore. It's just that they directed their attention to other things. They let their Word level drop and since low Word level equals low faith level, they soon began suffering defeat in areas where they once had victory.

Don't let that happen to you. When things are going well, don't just ride the tide of God's blessing. Dig deeper into what God has for you. Give more earnest heed to the promises of God. Concentrate on moving ahead, on becoming so strong in the Spirit you can not only get your own needs met, you'll meet others' needs as well!

Remember: Low Word Level = Low Faith Level = Slip.

Don't get so busy enjoying today's victory that tomorrow ends up in defeat. Look into the things you've learned. Give the Word more of your attention—not less. Keep moving from faith to faith. Instead of trying to trip you up, Satan and his bunch will be crying, "Oh no, that faith man is coming after us again!"

Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 5:11-14, 6:1-12

As I look up, I see a ceiling made of the finest emerald green stained glass and a golden chandelier. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:2-3).

Shall I come back and catch you unaware, not prepared for the marriage feast. Your bride groom is calling, do you have ears to hear him. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love him (1 Corinthians 2:9). Our human understanding is limited, how infinite are the Father’s ways. How grand must heaven be, how unexplainable the sight.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts then your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand? (Job 26:14). Every day he reveals hints, clues, whispers of who He is. And to the discerning ear and eye, we catch glimpses of the Father. And what pure elation those moments, to feel His presence in the room. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker (Psalm 95:6). Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you (Genesis 28:15).

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). Are you seeking after the pleasures of this world, the desires of the flesh. God promises to never leave you or forsake you. This world is temporary, our God is permanent.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? (Psalm 8:3-4). Just lean into the power of your God, and accept that He loves you just as you are. And He is busy everyday changing you from the inside out.

So when the time is right, you will be like the five virgins with their wicks trimmed and their lamps full of oil, and ready for the marriage feast. Can you hear God calling, “COME AWAY WITH ME!”....
Tammy Lang Jensen

“There is sin in their homes, and they are polluted to the depths of their souls. But I will call upon the Lord to save me—and he will.”—Psalm 55:15,16 (TLB)

The broken home has become the number one social problem of America, and could ultimately lead to the destruction of our civilization. Since the basic unit of any society is the home, when the home begins to break, the society is on the way to disintegration. It is a threat to the American way of life. It does not make screaming headlines; but, like termites, it is eating away at the heart and core of the American structure.

It is high time that our so-called experts on marriage, the family, and the home turn to the Bible. We have read newspaper columns and listened to counselors on the radio; psychiatrists have had a land-office business. In it all, the One who performed the first marriage in the Garden of Eden and instituted the union between man and wife has been left out.

Do you have questions about family? Browse these Q&As.

Prayer for the day
I pray, Lord, for the homes in this beloved country. Without Your love and wisdom guiding us, our society will crumble.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29 NIV).

Radical gratitude means you’re going to walk through life being grateful in every situation, no matter what — in times of plenty, when times are tight, when times are good, bad, right, wrong, whatever. You can develop an attitude of gratitude by choosing to be grateful in every situation. The attitude of radical gratitude actually serves others. It becomes a ministry.

Every believer is a minister. You are a minister! Every Christian is a minister, which means we are to serve other people. We’re saved to serve. You can have a ministry called the ministry of appreciation.

Do you know what the word “appreciation” means? If you’ve ever bought a car, you know the meaning of depreciation. The moment you drive it off the lot, it’s worth less than you paid for it, even if it’s a brand-new vehicle. Depreciation means to decrease in value. Appreciation means to raise in value — and it is a ministry.

When you appreciate your husband, you raise his value. When you appreciate your wife, you raise her value. When you appreciate your kids, you raise their value. When you appreciate your co-workers, you raise their value to you and to the company. When you appreciate your boss, you raise his or her value.

The ministry of appreciation raises the value of people. That’s why God says radical gratitude is a ministry. You can make a ministry out of raising the value of people simply by appreciating them.

One of the things I’ve discovered is that everybody in life needs massive doses of encouragement. I’ve never met anybody who’s said, “Oh no! I don’t need a compliment! I have too many. Please, stop! I’m too affirmed. Don’t give me any more.” You have an unqualified need to be affirmed, to be loved, to be appreciated — and so does everybody else. If you want to be used by God, here’s one way: Affirm everybody. Appreciate everybody. Show gratitude to everybody.

Talk It Over

How does it feel when someone shows appreciation to you?
What are some ways you can show appreciation besides speaking?
How have other people’s appreciation and affirmation drawn you closer to God?

Memorise: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelations 3:21

Read: Revelation 3:21-22 (KJV)
3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the

Bible in one year: 
Psalm 78-80,
Micah 7:8-20,

Hymn: 
Sing hymn 2

Message:
Man’s surest source of rest is Jesus Christ because He never breaks His promises (Matthew 11:28-29, 2nd Corinthians 1:20). In John 16:33, He assures us that as long as we are in this world, tribulations and problems will come, but because He successfully overcame them, He will see us through if we put our trust in Him. Therefore, because He overcame and we are following in His footsteps, we are also bound to overcome. Are you struggling with sin and expressing doubts on whether you can ever overcome like Jesus did? Fear not and do not doubt! You can overcome that besetting sin! The truth with such sins is that the one who keeps falling into them has not truly made up his or her mind to stop them. The Bible declares that sin shall not have dominion over you, and God cannot lie (Romans 6:14). If you are therefore falling into sin and you probe yourself a little deeper, you will find some level of tolerance for that sin, or some excuse you always give for why you cannot stop committing that sin, or even some iota of likeness for that sin. If the devil can find any of these in you, he will celebrate, knowing that any of these can keep you perpetually at the bus stop of that sin. If you are serious about stopping a bad habit, you will have zero-tolerance for it.

“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcome, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
Revelations 3:21

God does not have double standards in the criteria He uses for allowing people into Heaven, or for giving them rewards for work done on earth. Jesus Christ is God’s standard. So if you will enter into eternal rest in Heaven, you must meet with God’s standard as exemplified by Jesus Christ. If you will be rewarded by God in Heaven, Jesus says you must be prepared to overcome the same way He overcame while He was here on earth. You can run the Christian race without stress when you follow in His steps. Have you taken pains to study the life of Jesus? Have you noted how He responded to temptations, sin, enemies, friends, difficulties, lack, needs, challenges in ministry, and betrayal by associates? God expects you to respond as Jesus did in all these situations. If you do so, you will be granted access to the privileges reserved for overcomers in Heaven.

Key Point
You cannot overcome if you fail to study Jesus Christ and respond to situations the way He did.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical Church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers.— John 4:23

More than anything else, God wants us to have genuine, pure, fervent love for Him and for others. If we can manage only one thing in our lives, it should be to love other people.

Many people think great faith is the number one sign of spiritual maturity. But I believe that walking in love is the true test of spiritual maturity, and I know that it energizes our faith walk.

The Bible teaches that faith works through love. Galatians 5:6 says what really counts is faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love. Love is not just what we say or a theory; it’s action.

Trying to walk in faith without love is like having a flashlight with no battery. We must keep our “love battery” charged at all times, otherwise our faith will not work! I believe Christians run into problems when they do not diligently pursue walking in love as a vital part of their faith and relationship with God.

So pursue a life of love, and watch your faith strengthen and grow. When God’s love comes first, everything else follows.

"…Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty."(Zechariah 4:6, NIV)

TODAY'S WORD:
In the original Hebrew, the word “spirit” in today’s verse literally means “breath.” This scripture is saying that the breakthroughs that are coming in our lives are not going to happen just by our talent, our connections or who we know. It’s going to happen because God breathes in our direction. God will shift the winds that blow healing, promotion and restoration our way.

How are you going to get well? The medical report may say it’s impossible. But when God breathes on you, health, wholeness and restoration are headed toward you. How are you going to accomplish your dreams? You may not know the right people or have enough money or feel like you have the talent. No, God is breathing and sending ideas, resources and the right connections your direction. If you will stay faithful and keep honoring and obeying God, then suddenly things will change. Suddenly, you will come into abundance. Suddenly, your child will turn around. Suddenly, you will get well. Suddenly, the breath of God will shift things in every area of your life!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father, thank You for breathing in my direction. Thank You for restoring life, peace, health and wholeness to my body and mind. I bless You today and receive the supernatural shifts You have prepared for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Beloved. Weep not. There is a King who lives in you and you in Him. There is a Lion who is roaring your victory. 

The intimidation of the evil one will no longer send you fleeing in fear. Oh no, My Child. You have learned that I am He who is faithful and true. You have seen Me by faith. You listen for My Voice. You do not follow another.

You know that I NEVER leave nor forsake you. I have given you eyes to see and ears to hear. I am giving you great boldness and discernment in these last days. You shall overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of your testimony! Cast down negative reports in My name. Speak My Word. Every stronghold shall be broken, every high thing will come down. I am not a man that I would lie, Dear One.

Do not doubt who you are in Me, My Love! We have won the victory! It is finished! Let your FAITH roar louder than your fear! I am the Risen King and you are Mine. I am the Lion of the Tribe of Judah who has come to your rescue. I wear the Victor's crown. You are My Fearless One. My Lions shall stand FIRM with one mind, standing side by side and not frightened by anything. The Righteous are as BOLD as a Lion. I have prevailed, Beloved. You shall break through the enemy's gates and get back all that was stolen from you. I have spoken it. It shall come to pass. And the gates of hell shall NOT prevail against you!

Prevail: prove more powerful than opposing forces; be victorious.
Gates: an entrance on a wall with DEFENSIVE structures. (We are the OFFENSE!!)

...Philippians 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything.

...Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
...Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Colossians 1:15-20
Before we knew Jesus Christ, our life was full of godlessness and wickedness—we had self-seeking ways and stubborn, unrepentant hearts (Rom. 1:18; Rom. 2:5, Rom. 2:8). Like our strife-filled world, we clamored for peace and tried to find it, but our efforts failed.

When we came to faith in the Savior, all of that changed. We were rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into Christ’s kingdom (Col. 1:13). Every one of our sins—past, present, and future—was forgiven. Divine justice was satisfied by Christ’s sacrifice, and God’s wrath upon us was removed. We became a new creation, washed clean by Jesus’ blood (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Now that sin’s power over us has been broken, we can become members of God’s family rather than His enemies (Rom. 5:10). He sent His Holy Spirit to be our personal guide in this new life, helping each of us experience Christ’s peace (Rom. 8:6). We also can look forward to an eternity spent in heaven, where righteousness, tranquility, and joy abound (Rom. 14:17).

The story of the Prodigal Son’s return is a picture of our reconciliation with the Lord (Luke 15:11-32). The young man had chosen to leave his father, living instead to please himself. Repentant, the son eventually returned home; his father joyfully greeted and forgave him, and there was harmony between them. God has done all this for us.

Our unity with the heavenly Father came at a great price—the sacrifice of His only Son. Christ gave His life for us so that we could be reconciled to God (Col. 1:20). Christian lives are to testify that Jesus is the source of our peace. Does your life communicate this message?

Bible in One Year: 1 Corinthians 11-13

Deuteronomy 28:4
“Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.

Would you want to buy a chair that Jesus made? I would, even if it cost US$1,000 because it would be of superb quality. Whatever Jesus did, He did it with perfect excellence.

And because Christ is in you, the things which you produce will be of exceptional quality too. That includes your children, who will be champions. Deuteronomy 28:4 says, “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks”.

God was using terms that the Israelites understood since they were farmers and shepherds. Today, “your ground” is the place of your work. This means that “the produce” of your work shall be of excellent quality.

That is not all. God promises that quantity will always follow quality because Deuteronomy 28:11 says that the Lord will “grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body,” which means that you will have plenty of children, “in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground,” which means that your business will flourish and you will be a leading producer in the area of your specialty.

My friend, your excellence and plenty do not come by your efforts. They come by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who paid for you to have divine provision—“though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich”. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Jesus was made destitute of all material things at the cross. He had nothing! As He hung on the cross, He watched the Roman soldiers gamble for His robe. His last possession on earth was gambled away. He became poor, so that you could be blessed with the excellent and the plenty!

November 30, 2017

Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You from those who rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of Your eye. (Psalm 17:7-8 NKJV)

When you accept how special you are to God, all negative thoughts about yourself will disappear. Have you ever felt insecure? Insecure about your abilities, your appearance, your job, your personality, your life?

Have you ever felt unloved, unaccepted and worthless?

“I’m not attractive.”

“I can’t do all the things that person can do.”

“I’m not good enough!”

If you battle with thoughts of worthlessness, inferiority, and low self-esteem, then today is the day to let go of all those negative thoughts and insecurity!

How do you get rid of insecurity that’s been there your whole life? By realizing that you are a valuable masterpiece to God. If God had to choose the finest thing He ever created, He’d pick you!

Yes, you!

In fact in Psalm 17:8 we find that God sees you as the apple of His eye.

As you come to accept the truth of how special you are to God, all negative thoughts about yourself will disappear. You will rest secure, knowing that you really are loved and accepted by God exactly as you are.

Confession: I thank you, Father, that I am perfectly made in the image of Christ. You have known me since you formed me in my mother’s womb, and I am the apple of your eye.

Author: Jerry Savelle

As you gaze upon a rainbow, you are never sure where it begins or where it ends. Only of the promise of a bright tomorrow. 

The same is true of our God, having no way to determine His beginning or His ending. Only the infinite possibilities born of Him. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! (Romans 11:33). Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite (Psalm 147:5). Why then are our judgments of Him so quick, saying, “Yes I trust God to do this, but he could never do that.” Is He not an infinite all powerful God. Is He not able to go before us and level mountains and break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron (Isaiah 45:2). Is our God not the same God who parted the Red Sea. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dryland.

The waters were divided (Exodus 14:21). Can He not blow a strong east wind through your life, and divide and scatter your enemies. The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from One Direction, but flee from you in seven (Deuteronomy 28:7). You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows (Psalm 23:5). Glory day is coming my child, it is on its way. Your vindication for every wrong ever done, your promise sealed with a rainbow. A kiss and a hug from your Father in heaven.

A pat on the shoulder for a job well done. You have withstood the test, and come out on top. Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12). You have been a gallant and brave warrior. Ready for the battle at hand. Victory is mine, saith the Lord, “VICTORY IS MINE!”....
Tammy Lang Jensen

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (Matthew 12:37).

Words are so important in the Kingdom of God. By your words, you can consistently chart your course in victory and success; you can recreate the circumstances of your life. The very principle of salvation is based on words. Romans 10:10 says, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

It’s important to note the two keywords in the scripture above, “heart” and “mouth.” With your heart, you believe and are made right with God, but with your mouth, you confess your way into salvation.

The Greek word for mouth is “stoma.” Stoma means the edge or front of a weapon. That means your mouth was given to you as a weapon. It brings to mind what the Word says in Ephesians 6:17: “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God .”

When you speak forth the Word of God, you’re applying a weapon. For instance, if you’re attacked by sickness, don’t just talk about it, or complain to people about the situation; cut it down with your mouth by speaking the Word of God that addresses the condition.

Remember, what you say comes to be. Your words either make or mar. Like the words of Jesus, your words are spirit and life. Jesus said you shall have what you say (Mark11:23). Ecclesiastes 8:4 says where the word of a king is, there’s power, and He’s made us kings and priests unto God (Revelations 1:6). We make decrees as kings, and we pray as priests, speaking forth God’s Word to bring about a transformation in our lives and that of others.

Use your mouth aright. Speak God’s Word only and always. Hallelujah!

PRAYER Dear Father, I thank you for your precious Words that give life. Thank you for the glory and transformation I experience in my life as a result of your Word that dwells richly in my heart, and proceeds out of my mouth. I walk in divine wisdom, and in the joy and peace of the Spirit, today and always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
1 John 1-2:1-14
Ezekiel 43-44

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
John 16:12-22
2 Chronicles 1-2

FURTHER STUDY:
Isaiah 49:2
Revelation 19:15
Mark 11:23  

Isaiah 41:10—Fear thou not; for I am with thee:  be not dismayed; for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Satan Comes To Steal, Kill And Destroy But Christ Came That I Might Have And Enjoy Abundant Life

I am the righteousness of Christ.  No evil can harm me, for God has given me authority to overcome the power of the enemy.  I will not fear because God is with me.  He holds me with His victorious right hand of righteousness and justice.  As a servant of God, I have inherited peace, righteousness, security and triumph over the opposition.  No weapon formed against me shall prosper.  I overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony.

The devil roams around like a lion roaring in fierce hunger, seeking to seize and devour me, but I withstand the enemy and remain firm in my faith.  With God, I gain the victory.

There is no trial or temptation that comes to me that I cannot bear.  God is faithful to His Word and His compassionate nature.  He will not allow me to be tempted beyond my strength to resist or my power to endure.

The weapons of my warfare are not physical—of flesh and blood.  Rather, they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds.  When the enemy comes against me, I cry out to God, Who is my shelter and my refuge, a strong tower against my adversary.  You are always near to me, a very present help in trouble.

I count it all joy when trials and tribulations come my way, for the testing of my faith will produce patience.  I will stand the test and will be approved.  Thanks be to God, Who makes me a conqueror and give me victory in Christ Jesus.

Source:  Man of God 18 Days of Promise

Daily Living

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings . . .—Philippians 3:10

W.C. Burns of India wrote, “Oh to have a martyr’s heart, if not a martyr’s crown.” Popularity and adulation are far more dangerous for the Christian than persecution. It is easy, when all goes smoothly, to lose our sense of balance and our perspective. The important thing is to walk with Christ, to live for Christ, and to have one consuming passion—to please Him. Then, whatever happens, we know that He has permitted it in order to teach us some priceless lesson and to perfect us for His service. He will enrich our circumstances, be they pleasant or disagreeable, by the fact of His presence with us.

What does living for Christ look like? Read: Choosing the Path of Holiness.

Prayer for the day
Lord, my soul wants to love and know You far more deeply. Forgive the times I have set my eyes on things that keep me from You.