Abiding TV

"…God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right."
(Acts 10:34-35, NIV)

TODAY'S WORD:

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom—and God's freedom is free for everyone! It doesn't matter what your nationality or heritage is, or who your family is. It doesn't matter how much money you have or don't have; God wants you free from everything that would hold you back from your relationship with Him!

God wants to pour out His abundant blessing on all who honor Him and do what is right. In fact, the Bible says in Galatians that in Christ, there is no Jew or Greek or even male or female. That means God's not judging you based on physical conditions. He's looking at your heart. He's looking at the gifts He's placed inside of you.

Don't let the enemy lie to you and tell you that God is blessing everyone else but you. Look for the ways He is pouring out blessing in your life. Thank Him for His acceptance, love and freedom. Focus on honoring Him and doing what is right, and you'll see His hand of blessing in every area of your life!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father in heaven, thank You for loving and accepting me today. I choose to do what is right and honor You with my attitude, words and actions. Holy Spirit, show me if there is any area that isn’t pleasing to You and help me live as an example of Your goodness all the days of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

— Joshua 1:9

Until I turned sixty-four, I’d never exercised consistently or took it seriously. I had walked and done a few things to stay in decent shape, but I was not dedicated to exercise. I had reached into my excuse bag many times over the years and come up with all kinds of “reasons” I could not exercise. But the Lord spoke to my heart, encouraging me to begin a serious workout program so I could be strong for the last third of my journey through life.

I already had good eating habits, and when I obeyed the Lord and started going to the gym several times a week, I stepped into a new season of life. I looked better, felt better, and most importantly, I was honoring God by taking good care of the body He gave me.

If you have room for improvement in this area, pray and ask God what you should do to start living a healthier lifestyle. The Word says that our bodies are temples of God. And I want to make sure that God likes His temple! Today, make the choice to keep your temple in excellent shape for God.

2 Corinthians 3:4-8

What do you think it means to serve the Lord? We know this is something commanded in the Bible, but at times we’re just not sure what to do. Often, we don’t think we are adequate for the task. Or perhaps we’re so busy with all our other duties and responsibilities that finding the time or energy to serve God seems impossible.

Instead of looking at ministry through the lens of obstacles blocking our path, let’s see what God says about it. True service is not something we do for the Lord, but something He does through us. This pattern was set for us by Jesus Christ Himself, who said, “The Father abiding in Me does His works” (John 14:10). The apostles’ lives also show this is what God had in mind. When Jesus gave them the command to be His witnesses, He said to wait until they were “clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49)

By regarding service as God’s work through us, we can have confidence—not in ourselves and our abilities, but in God, who makes us adequate for whatever He gives us to do. This perspective also keeps us from taking any credit for what we accomplish. Without the Lord’s directive and the Spirit’s empowerment, our service is worthless in God’s eyes, no matter how productive it looks from a human standpoint.

What makes an effective servant of Christ is not natural abilities, creativity, or human initiative, but total dependence on Him for both direction and adequacy. God uses those who are weak, humble, submissive, and obedient so that He alone gets the glory.

Bible in One Year: Leviticus 8-10

February 1, 2018

Romans 5:17 says, “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”

If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord, then you are the righteousness of God. Because of this, you have a right to reign in life. For many Christians, life is reigning over them because they have not had their minds renewed to God’s Word. When adversity comes, they don’t have the will to win, simply because they don’t know that they have a right to win.

Christians who know their rights in Christ are strong willed people. They are as Paul described in his writings: “having done all to stand (they) stand therefore.” Some Christians still have a tendency to think that they are unworthy and no good. They desperately need to hear the truth about becoming established in righteousness.

Some Christians still think that God wants them to be sick and diseased. They, too, need to have their minds renewed to God’s Word. When symptoms come, they do not have the will to resist them because they think that God is the one who sent them. God is the Healer! People who don’t know the Word are people without restraint when pressure comes.

You should know that sickness and disease are not from God. You should know that they are of Satan. You should become so established in the Word that nobody can convince you that God is the one who puts sickness and disease on you.

Just as you need to become established in God’s will for your health, you need to be established in how to overcome the trials and temptations that Satan will bring against you. As a Christian, you need to face up to the fact that you are still in the world, even though you are not of the world. Therefore, because Satan is in the world, he has the ability to contact you from time to time.

You do not have to be defeated or destroyed by those contacts. By acting on the Word, you can come through every problem unshaken.

If the Bible says that you can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens you and that you are more than a conqueror, then I ask you, what can Satan possibly do to defeat you?

Absolutely nothing!

Author: Jerry Savelle

Beloved. It may look like you are surrounded, but you are surrounded by Me. I am your Hiding Place. 

I preserve you from trouble; I surround you with songs of deliverance. I have you encompassed in My Love, Dear Child. Surely, I shall contend with those who contend with you. The Captain of the Hosts of Heaven has secured your victory.

Your battles are fought by faith in the finished work of the Cross. Come to Me, Weary One. Allow Me to comfort you. This is how you fight your battles. Resting in Me. There is no contest. It is finished. Does not Light always overcome the darkness? Yes, Dear One. Nothing is as strong as the Blood of the Lamb.

It stands at your defense in the Courts of Heaven. Forever, the Blood speaks forth VICTORY. I have gained the victory for you, Dear One. I was encompassed by the enemy at the Cross so that you would be encompassed by Me. You are not your own but have been bought with a price. You are Mine, My Bride. You do not belong to the devil or the world. You have come to the city of the LIVING God.

You are in the company of myriads of angels in joyful assembly. They are joyful because they see your victory. Stand still, Beloved, and see the salvation of your God. I am the first and the last: I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hades and of death. I have fought your battles and won. Fear not, Beloved. Forever you are surrounded by My IMPENETRABLE Arms of Love.

Impenetrable: impossible to pass through or enter.

...Hebrews 12:22Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels 23in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the judge of all men, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.

...Psalms 22:12 Many bulls have encompassed Me (Jesus at the Cross); strong bulls of Bashan have beset Me round.

...Psalms 5:12 For You wilt bless the righteous; O LORD, You encompass him with favor as with a shield.

...Psalms 32:7 You are my hiding-place. You preserve me from trouble; You encompass me with songs of deliverance.

...Revelation 1:17And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:18I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hades and of death.

Amazing Painting by Ricardo Colon;used with permission

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love (Ephesians 1:4).

The blessings of the new man in Christ are just so profound. They’re transcendent, to say the least. One of these blessings is that you’re chosen in Christ to be blameless. Society may blame you; your parents, spouse, or even your children may blame you. Your neighbours, friends and co-workers may blame you when something goes wrong. But there’s one who never lays blame on you—your heavenly Father.

Why isn’t He blaming you? It’s because Jesus took responsibility for all our errors, and now, you’re presented to the Father as holy, unblameable, without reproach. Hebrews 3:1 says, “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” The Word calls us “holy brethren.” Men may look at you as unholy, but God says you’re holy and accepted before Him in love

This is the reason we can pray to God and expect answers. It’s the reason we can change hopeless situations, because we have a right of hearing in the presence of Almighty God. The Bible tells us something so insightful in 2 Corinthians 5:19. It says, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them….” Think about that: If because of Jesus, the sinner isn’t being held accountable for his sins, what about you who are now in Christ? (See Romans 5:10).

Now, read Colossians 1:21-22 and shout for joy! It says, “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.” Notice the reason for the reconciliation: to present you holy, blameless, and unreproveable before God.

It doesn’t matter how much Satan accuses you or how others may blame you, God has chosen you to be holy and without blame before Him in love. Strengthen yourself with this thought today.

PRAYER Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for your love and grace and for your righteousness at work in me. Thank you for choosing me to be holy and without blame before you in love. I walk in wisdom today, fulfilling your good pleasure and producing works of righteousness, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 22:15-46
Exodus 22-23

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Acts 14:8-18
Job 34-35

FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 8:1-2
Colossians 1:21-22 AMPC

SPONTANEOUS: I want you to be Spontaneous with your worship. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and Lyre (Psalm 150:3). 

Make music in your heart to me, the joy of the Lord is your strength.

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones (Proverbs 17:22). I sound heart is the life of flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones (Proverbs 14:30). Strife, envy, depression will sweep you away into a sea of forgetfulness. Forgetting my promises, my love, my protection, my provision in your time of need. Keep your eyes on the Master, the Savior of your soul.

Being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perform and perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). Nothing escapes the eye of the Master, no hidden crack or chink. Polish up your armor, men and women of faith! I am coming, for the perfecting of your soul. And the very God of Peace sanctify you holy; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:4).

We serve a God of completeness, oneness, who wants you walking in the fullness of your destiny. He proclaims, I will fill them to overflowing. How much can your vats contain. May the oil of the anointing flow onto everyone around you. The oil cleanses, purifies, and sets in order for work. I made the work of your hands to be holy. May my peace and grace in you, pave the way for holy interruption.

And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death (Revelation 12:11). But willingly sacrificed for me, which is a sweet aroma in heaven. They were diligent with their time, tears and testimony. Now I will be diligent with the captivity of their enemy. They shall dance on the head of the serpent. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over ALL The power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19).

The time of contention is here, contend for your territory, war for your territory. Oh woman of Zion, awake from your peaceful slumber. Arise, children of Cain , and quiet your murderess hearts. Behold, I will do A new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:19). I will turn the hearts of a murderous generation back to Me.

The God of all peace is showing up on the scene. He brings with him an army of willing saints. Blood bought and tried in the fires of affliction. Some will have paid it all, for this moment with the King. For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last, he will stand upon the earth (Job 19:25). MY REDEEMER LIVES.....

Tammy Lang Jensen

Philippians 4:19

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Are you facing a lack in any area of your life, be it finances, health or relationships? Know that in that very same area, God has already prepared His superabundant supply which will abound toward you, and on top of that, His grace and more of His grace!

In John 6:1–13, Jesus was with a large crowd of people who were hungry. The problem then was a lack of food. But Jesus knew that where there is lack, there is superabundant supply in His Father’s kingdom to overcome that lack.

His disciples, however, did not know that. They did not think the same way as Jesus did. They told Him that there was a boy with five loaves and two small fish, but they did not think that that would amount to anything. They said, “What are the five loaves and two fish among so many?” (John 6:9)

They saw only the problem, the lack. But Jesus took the little, lifted it up as He looked to heaven and gave thanks to His Father, whose supply is so much more than we can ever ask for.

When Jesus started distributing the little that was in His hands, a miracle happened. Five thousand men, not counting women and children, ate as much as they wanted and for as long as they were hungry!

The supply kept flowing as long as the need was there. And after they were so filled, there were 12 baskets full of leftovers! That is God’s superabundant supply. In God’s kingdom, there is no such thing as the Father not having enough or not wanting to give abundantly to His children. No, He promises that He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!

My friend, God wants us to always be conscious of His grace abounding toward us and enveloping us. So let us, like Jesus, acknowledge God’s superabundant supply by thanking Him for it and for whatever is in our hands. Let us believe that His superabundant supply will flow and multiply the little that we have, and fill us up to overflowing!

Matthew 18:18—Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

You Can Take Absolute Control Of Your Life Through Prayer!
When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace.  But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils” Luke 11:21-22.

There are two applications to this scripture.  First, Satan is the strong man who kept the palace.  He had everything his way until Jesus defeated him at Calvary.  Second, notice that Satan is totally unarmed—Jesus has stripped him of all his armor.  To share in the victory of Christ at Calvary, we must first bind the strong man.  Who is the strong man in this text?  He is Satan’s representative over a nation, over a people, over a state, over a city, over a family or over a person.  The powers and principalities are that well organized.  Your problems are not with people.  Your problems are with supernatural powers that control people.

Is your husband a drinker?  Say, “Lord Jesus, in the authority of your name, I bind that alcoholic spirit that drives my husband.  I ask you to make him as sick as a dog the next time he picks up that bottle.”

That’s an illustration of binding.  Here’s an illustration of loosing.  In Luke 13 there was a woman who had been bent over for 18 years.  Jesus said, “Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, these eighteen years, be loosed form this bond?” Luke 13:16.  So you attack sickness like this.  “Lord Jesus, in the power of your name, by the shed blood of your cross, I loose from this infirmity.  Be healed in Jesus’ name.”  And that disease has to let go in Jesus’ name.”

If your relatives are bound by alcoholism…by drug addiction…by adultery…by fornication…by bitterness…by resentment…by prejudice…by idolatry…by Satanism…by witchcraft…by the occult…by Eastern philosophies…by mind control…loose them in Jesus’ name.  Agree with another believer.  Put on the whole armor of God and pierce the darkness through prayer.

Source:  Twelve Sunday Morning Part 3

Foundations of Faith

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psalm 23:1-2

Have you ever thought about David and wondered how a shepherd boy could become a man after God's own heart—a man so strong in spirit that God chose him to be king of Israel? I have.

In fact, I asked God about it, and He showed me that revelation was what turned David into such a spiritual powerhouse—revelation that came to him through hours of thinking about the things of God. I imagine the day he wrote Psalm 23 he was just sitting and singing praises to God and meditating on His goodness. Just fellowshipping with Him when suddenly the anointing of the Lord came upon him and he said, "The Lord is my Shepherd!"

Suddenly he thought about the sheep he watched over as a boy, I faced death for those sheep. I led them where pastures were green and waters were cool, clean, deep, and peaceful. He kept on meditating on that until it started to thrill him. When the lion and the bear came, didn't He prepare a table before me in the presence of those enemies? He gave me victory. My God! My God will fight for me. The Lord is my Shepherd! I shall not want!

That revelation welled up in David so strong that the devil couldn't beat it out of him. So when Goliath tried to make a fool out of Israel, David went after him. Goliath was able to scare off everyone else, but he couldn't shake David because he had a revelation inside him that said, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for my God is with me. That revelation enabled David to say, "I come against you in the name of the Lord of Hosts" and to send a rock sailing into that giant's brain.

Is the devil out to destroy you? Do what David did. Meditate on God and His Word. Sing praises to your King. Fellowship with Him until the revelation of who He is in you starts to thrill your soul. Then tell the devil, "You're not going to kill me. The Lord is my Shepherd!" Hit him with the rock of revelation knowledge, and you'll knock him flat every time.

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 23

We know that all things work together for good to them that love God . . . 
—Romans 8:28

We might never have had the songs of Fanny Crosby had she not been afflicted with blindness. George Matheson would never have given the world his immortal song, “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go,” had it not been for his passing through the furnace of affliction. The “Hallelujah Chorus” was written by George Frederick Handel when he was poverty-stricken and suffering from a paralyzed right side and right arm. Affliction may be for our edification and Christian development. Sickness is one of the “all things” which work together for good to them that love God. Don’t resent it. Don’t be embittered by it.


Prayer for the day
You do not make mistakes, Father. If sorrow comes into my life, let me use it to help others know about You.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5 NIV).

Our civilization is losing its civility. The world is getting ruder! One of the things that’s causing that is the internet, because it allows people to hide behind the screen and say things online that they would never have the courage to say to others face-to-face.

All those people are doing is revealing the smallness of their hearts. Great people make people feel great, but small people belittle people. People who belittle others have a little knot for a heart, and they make fun of others because they think it will make them feel better.

How do you handle rude people? You don’t. You let God handle them. You let God be your defender.

King David understood this. He knew what it meant to be attacked emotionally, verbally, and physically. As a young man, he was anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the next king of Israel, but he didn’t become king right away. And that’s why Saul, the reigning king, wanted to kill him, and why David hid in caves while being distrusted, pursued, and in constant danger.

Yet David never said a bad word against the king. He never retaliated, because God was preparing him to be the king after his own heart.

David says in Psalm 23:5, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (NIV).

David was recognizing God’s goodness to him. God would anoint his head with oil, which says to the world, “This is my guy! Back off! This is going to be the next leader.” David’s cup overflowed, which meant God kept blessing him and blessing him, even when others attacked him.

Does it sound like David was stressed out? No! He didn’t have to use up all his energy defending himself because he trusted God to be his defender.

It takes a lot of faith and humility to rest and trust God when you’re under attack, when you’re misunderstood, when rumors are spreading about you and people are saying things about you online. When that happens, everything in you wants to rise up and do something about it.

But you are most like Christ when you remain silent under attack. Jesus was constantly attacked, yet he never retaliated, even on his way to the cross. He remained silent before his accusers because he had entrusted himself to the care of the Father.

“So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you” (1 Peter 4:19 NLT).

Talk It Over

How important is it to you to have the last word?
What is the physical result of entrusting your defense to God? How does it affect your health?
If you have to speak to your attackers, what do you think God wants you to say?

"I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises." 
(Psalm 34:1, NLT)

TODAY'S WORD:

When you wake up in the morning, do you expect the goodness of God in your life? Do you set the tone of the day for success, favor and blessing with your words? Scripture tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. That’s why it’s so important to declare praises to God all throughout the day. Things may be bad all around you, people may be negative, complaining and discouraged, but don’t let that spirit rub off on you. The worse it gets, the brighter you’re going to shine. The good news is that no matter how you feel, no matter what’s going on around you, you can choose your words. There’s nothing that can stop you from constantly speaking His Word!

Today I encourage you, be determined to set the tone for your day, week, month and year by praising God and speaking words of faith over your future. Remember, when you put God first, He promises to honor you. He will pour out His favor on you and lead you into life, health, strength and blessing all the days of your life!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father in heaven, I choose to bless You at all times. I choose to set the tone to receive Your favor, grace and mercy. Thank You for Your faithfulness at all times in Jesus’ name. Amen!

"I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises."
(Psalm 34:1, NLT)

TODAY'S WORD:

When you wake up in the morning, do you expect the goodness of God in your life? Do you set the tone of the day for success, favor and blessing with your words? Scripture tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. That’s why it’s so important to declare praises to God all throughout the day. Things may be bad all around you, people may be negative, complaining and discouraged, but don’t let that spirit rub off on you. The worse it gets, the brighter you’re going to shine. The good news is that no matter how you feel, no matter what’s going on around you, you can choose your words. There’s nothing that can stop you from constantly speaking His Word!

Today I encourage you, be determined to set the tone for your day, week, month and year by praising God and speaking words of faith over your future. Remember, when you put God first, He promises to honor you. He will pour out His favor on you and lead you into life, health, strength and blessing all the days of your life!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father in heaven, I choose to bless You at all times. I choose to set the tone to receive Your favor, grace and mercy. Thank You for Your faithfulness at all times in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

— Joshua 1:9

I strongly urge you to face your challenges one day at a time. Looking too far down the road only tends to overwhelm us. Trusting God requires that we believe He gives us our “daily bread”; that is, we receive what we need as we need it and usually not before.

Sometimes challenges can seem impossible and overwhelming, but God is always with us. We just need to be courageous and receive the strength He gives us. Remember that God will give you the grace to do what you need to do today, so it’s important to focus on living in the moment, rather than worrying about tomorrow.

This principle applies to many other areas of life—getting out of debt, cleaning and organizing your house, solving marriage problems, disciplining your children, being on time for work or completing a project. Whatever you need to do in life, you can do it.

Philippians 4:13 says you are ready for anything and equal to anything because God gives you strength. Nothing is too much for you when He is on your side.

Romans 6:5-14

Paul served the Lord enthusiastically. The apostle’s zeal was motivated by three things: gratitude for the amazing but undeserved gift of salvation; conviction that the gospel message was true; and the realization that through the cross, sin’s power over him had been broken.

Before salvation, we were slaves to sin and unable to break free. But now, having been united with Christ in His death and resurrection (Rom. 6:5-6), we have received the power to say no to temptation and can choose God’s way instead. Paul knew his old selfish nature had been crucified with Christ; sin no longer had control over him. This knowledge fueled his passion to follow Jesus and live for Him (Gal. 2:20).

Guided by his commission from Christ, Paul expressed his zeal through obedience to the Lord’s direction. Our heavenly Father wants us to focus our passion on carrying out His plan (Matt. 28:19-20).

Like Paul, we are called to live a crucified life—one in which we make the Lord first in our thinking, attitudes, and actions. Such a life includes learning how to walk by faith and stand firm against temptation. While we are unable to do this in our own strength, it is possible through the Holy Spirit. He empowers us to let go of self-centered ways and replace them with godly ones.

Paul’s faith and commitment to the Lord were integral parts of his thinking, conversation, and work. His passionate faith kept him moving forward, even in times of great adversity. The apostle knew that salvation brought forgiveness of the past and a way to live victoriously in the future.

Bible in One Year: Leviticus 5-7

January 31, 2018
Faith is not a mental exercise but a spiritual force. If you live by faith, you will develop a right mental attitude and you will begin to think positive based on God’s Word.

When you are facing pressure, you should get ready to do something that may be difficult. It may demand discipline. A real “Word person” is strong, determined, and resolute!

When you become strong on the Word of God, you will say like the song, “I shall not be moved. I’m just like a tree planted by the river.” That is the voice of a strong willed person who knows where he stands in God’s Word. He is determined that, if anybody moves, it will just have to be the devil.

This kind of attitude does not come to you overnight. You must feed on God’s Word day and night until you know that you know that you know.

Many people are inspired by the message of faith. It sounds good to them, and they run out and say, “Bless God, I am going to do this! I will not be moved!” Let me warn you: Don’t try to live on something that is not a revelation to YOU personally. But, when the Word is deeply rooted in your heart, then stand your ground until the devil backs off.

When you base your confession on the authority of God’s Word and are deeply rooted in it, then you can say with confidence, “I will not be moved,” and it will come with joy and assurance. You will KNOW that nothing the devil brings your way will cause you to be shaken! You have become strong willed in the Word of God.

Confession: “My faith in God is a spiritual force that will bring about victory in my life!”

Author: Jerry Savelle

Wednesday January 31st 2018

Memorise: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Read: 2nd Kings 6:11-17 (KJV)
11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
 15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Bible in one year: 
Exodus 17-19,
Romans 6,

Hymnal: 
Sing hymn 10

Message:
“There is no King saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.”
Psalm 33:16

Our God is the Lord of Hosts; He specialises in using a minority who put their trust in Him to perform great feats. Open Heaven for today. To a user of this Devotional: with God alone on your side, you will overcome that battle that has besieged your life. rccg open heaven for today. Don’t let your heart be troubled; you are on top of that situation in the mighty Name of Jesus. In today’s memory verse, the Holy Spirit is confidently assuring us that as long as God is for us, nobody can be against us. Through His word that cannot fail, the Almighty God further assures us of victory in Isaiah 54:17, saying:

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”

The most interesting part of this assurance is that victory is predicated on God’s righteousness and not ours. The devil, who is the accuser of the brethren, therefore has no say in this matter.

Our Bible text confirms the statement that says, “One with God is majority”. When Elisha’s servant saw the horses and chariots of the ungrateful king of Syria, whose general had previously been healed of leprosy, coming to attack his master, his heart melted. But the man of God in 2nd Kings 6:16 declared to him thus:

 “….Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”

Whenever God is, legions of angelic hosts are present, and so when God is with you, His innumerable company of angelic hosts are also with you. This is the reason why a child of God cannot afford to either leave the presence of God or engage in things that would make God forsake him or her.  My prayer for you is that you will not do anything that would make the Lord forsake you in Jesus’ Name. The only way to make God your ally is to come to Jesus Christ with a humble heart of total submission to His will. He is inviting you today into a life of victory and rest (Matthew 11:28). Please come to Him and make Him the Lord of your life today.

Prayer Point
Father, please come to my aid as I confront the battles of life that are before me. Please don’t leave me alone to beat the mercy of the enemies that seem stronger than me.

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.

Beloved. Fear not, My Child. Keep looking up. Let My Spirit fill you with wonder and delight. Can you feel My Holy Power crackling in the atmoshere like electricity?

As you pray and decree My Word, My dunamis Power is ripping to shreds the strongholds of the enemy. That very same Power that raised My Son from the dead dwells in you, Dear One. Grace is Power. My GRACE is sufficient for you, Dear One.

Through My Grace you have all sufficiency in all things. Things will not be as they have been. Your Deliverer has come. GREAT GRACE is upon you and in you. It is through My Children's prayers and decrees that heaven's atmosphere invades earth. The enemy is hearing the Thunder of My Voice. I will not restrain My Lightnings. The Son is the Radiance of your God's Glory. I sustain all things by My Word. Whom shall you fear, Beloved?

You are hidden in My Grace and Power. You are hidden in Christ Jesus. Rays flash from My Hand, and therein is the hiding of My Power. The enemy can run, but he cannot hide from Me. My Light has overcome the darkness. Shout Grace, Grace, to that mountain in front of you and watch the enemy fall!

...Psalm 17:7 Show how wonderful is your GRACE, Savior, Deliverer of those who seek at Your Right Hand refuge from their foes. (CJB)

......Zechariah 4:7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”

...Habbakuk 3:4 His Radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, And there is the hiding of His power.

...Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the Radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word.

...Job 37:4 After it His voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice, and He does not restrain the lightnings when His voice is heard. 5 God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things that we cannot comprehend.

...Revelation 4:5 From the Throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven Spirits of God.

...Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And GREAT GRACE was upon them all.

The word I am hearing for God’s people is RESILIENCE: The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, toughness, the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape.

The moral of the story, if the enemy pushes you down, don’t stay down! Have resilience, bounce back, spring back, get back up.

But all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced (Mark 4:19). The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrist have come. This is how we know it is the last hour (1 John 2:17-18). Are you believing for eternity, are you believing you can gracefully slip out of here and let the dust settle behind you. Many are called, few are chosen, and even fewer show up for assignment. Do you hear the shofar in the distance. Do you feel the ground shake and the wind change?

Do you hear the cry of the HOLY WARRIORS. Then the Lord rose up as if waking from sleep, like a warrior aroused from my drunken stupor. He routed his enemies and sent them to eternal shame (Psalm 78:65-66). But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation. God‘s very own possession.

As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). The Lord is cashing in his chips so to speak; Calling in the reserves. He is proclaiming, I wrestled you from darkness, broke your shackles of sin, set at liberty those whom were bound. What will you recompense for your freedom. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.

Freely you have received; freely give (Matthew 10:8). The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim the captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free (Luke 4:18). It is time to resurrect your gifts, unearth the glimmer that resides inside.

Things that are buried rust and decay. Let’s excavate your talent, carefully extract it like an ancient relic. Call forth the ancient ruins of your soul, let Holy Spirit set you ablaze. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundation; you will be called repairer of broken walls, restorer of streets with dwellings (Isaiah 58:12).

Repair the breach....repair the breach. The breaker anointing has been released. Restore of my soul, guider of my hand. Rescue me, set the captives free....Arise, End Time Army, The time is now. Strike with force and Percision as the target comes into sight. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!!!!

Tammy Lang Jensen

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24).

Jesus never said we should call on the saints who have gone to heaven to pray for us, like some Christians do today. Even Jesus said He wouldn’t have to pray for you, because the Father Himself loves you. Thus, the idea that Jesus is beside the Father, begging Him on our behalf, as some Christians wrongly assume, is unscriptural. Read His words: “At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you…” (John 16:26-27).

As read in our opening scripture, He taught us how to pray, which is in His Name, and not through His Name. There’s a difference between the two. To pray through His Name is to make Him a medium. To pray in His Name is to exercise the power of attorney He’s given us. The next time you hear someone pray and conclude with, “...through Jesus Christ, our Lord,” let the person know he hasn’t prayed yet, because that prayer isn’t going to be answered.

You might say, “But I’ve been praying that way and getting results”; that’s because you’re still a spiritual babe, and God is waiting for you to grow up. The Bible says, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30). If you don’t think this means much, try to cast out devils by saying, “Through Jesus Christ, I command you to come out”; it’ll not work, because that’s not what the Word says.

Jesus said in Mark 16:17, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils” ; He didn’t say, “through my Name.” To pray in His Name is to assume His authority, His glory and His person. When you ask the Father anything or make a demand in the Name of Jesus, it’s as though Jesus Himself were asking. We live in His Name. Hallelujah!

PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the legal right to pray in the Name of Jesus and receive answers. Even now, I declare that my day is blessed, fruitful and productive, in the Name of the Lord, Jesus. Amen.

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 21:33-22:1-14
Exodus 20-21

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Acts 14:1-7
Job 32-33

FURTHER STUDY:
Philippians 2:5-11
John 14:13

Matthew 7:11

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Let me tell you a true story I heard. There was a pastor whose young child was diagnosed with cancer. The day his boy was scheduled for an operation, this father cried out to God, “God, I’m almost 30 years old, but my boy is only about three months old. Why don’t you just take some years off my life and give them to my boy?”

Then, from deep within him, he heard the voice of God say, “I am not like that.” When the man heard that, he realized immediately that his son’s sickness was not from God. He also realized that if he, who has faults, could want his child well, how much more his heavenly Father. So he changed his prayer and said, “Father God, I come against this sickness and I ask you for healing for my child.” That day, on the operating table, the surgeons could find no trace of cancer in the child!

Today, God wants you to know that He is not the kind of Father who wants you sick and defeated, keeps you poor and wanting, refuses to provide for your needs and denies you your blessings.

When my daughter Jessica was younger, I bought a beautiful teddy bear for her. Teddy bears are her favorite toys and I could not wait to see her joy when she saw it. My joy is to see her happy. When she is sick and has difficulty sleeping at night, it hurts me to hear her cry. When she is crying, I cannot ignore her cries. I enter into her discomfort and pain even though I know that her sickness is something that will pass shortly. When she is in pain, I feel the pain too. When she is sad, I am sad too.

I believe that God gives us children to help us understand what His Father-heart is like. His joy is to enter into your joy and see you happy. If you, in spite of your faults, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to you when you ask Him! My prayer today is that you will know just how much your Father loves you!

Matthew 7:7—Ask, and it will be given to you.
Ask!!

When you get down on your knees to pray in church, at home, wherever you pray, I’m convinced that God says to the angels, Look, here they come.

They’re going to pray.  Listen, angels.  Get ready.  They’re going to ask for great and mighty things.  Get down there to do it as soon as they ask.”  And then you open your mouth and say, “Oh, God, would you water the grass while I’m gone to Florida?”  God goes, “Aaaaaaagghh.”  He leans back on his throne and says, “I thought they would bind the spirits destroying their marriage.  I thought they would bind the disease that’s destroying their son.  I thought they would pull down the strongholds of abortion and pornography and drugs and pierce the darkness of evil and greed that’s destroying the nation.  No, they want me to water the grass.”

Ask according to his infinite power.  Ask big.  Knock God off His throne by asking things that stagger the human mind.  Attempt to do such great things for God that unless He comes through, you’ll fall flat on your face.  Live in that dimension.

Do you need healing and the doctor says you can’t have it?  “Ask and you shall receive.”  Do you need the supernatural powers of heaven to break the yoke that binds your son or your daughter?  “Ask and you shall receive.”  Do you need peace that surpasses understanding?  “Ask and you shall receive.”  Do you need the stain of sin to be removed from your soul?  “Ask and you shall receive.”  Nothing is impossible with God.

Source:  Twelve Sunday Morning Part 3

Foundations of Faith

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
—Philippians 1:21

Helen Keller, who is a classic example of handling life’s handicaps, said, “I thank God for my handicaps, for through them I have found myself, my work, and my God.” Some people with handicaps drown themselves in self-pity, and thus limit their usefulness and service to mankind and to God.

The Apostle Paul knew the pangs of suffering. He used his infirmity rather than allowing his infirmity to use him, and he used it for the glory of God. He seized everything, even death, to glorify his Lord. No matter which way fate turned, he was one jump ahead of it, and using it to magnify his Savior.

“Broken Body, Grateful Heart”: Listen to the powerful story of woman who’s been disabled most of her life.

Prayer for the day
Even my handicaps can be used by You, Lord Jesus. Like the Apostle Paul, let me rise above them for Your glory.