Abiding TV

I was drawn to painting of bluejays flying into the heavens, and I heard this, "Those are not blue birds, but BLUE EAGLES. You are My Blue Warrior Eagles flying in Glory"

Beloved. Those who have waited upon Me are rising up on wings as Eagles. Not just any eagle, No, Dear One. But Eagles of Blue Fire. Blue Fire is the hottest of all Fires. You are My Stealth Fighters, My Storm Troopers of the Spirit. You shall break the sound barriers of the enemy with My Sound and My Cry in your mouth for you are burning with the hottest Fire of God, flying under the radar of the enemy at great speed.You shall root out the enemy's hiding places, and free My imprisoned ones. The enemy will not know where you came from or where you are going. He will not detect you until it is too late. He will see the evidence of My Signs and Wonders and never know what hit him. You will have come and gone before he even senses your presence, for it is My Presence in you that burns with My Brightness and Glory. In your wake shall be marvels and miracles! Fear not, Mighty Warrior. Soar on My Thermals of the Spirit, for you are hidden in the Shelter of My Wings. Arise and shine in My Light. My Glory is your rearguard; Empowering you, lifting you high up above your enemies, causing you to soar! Now is your time to arise in the Power of My Might and My Authority, The storms shall no longer overtake you but you shall rise far above them and you shall overcome them, for YOU are the Storm, My Blue Eagles! You shall leave the enemy in the dust!

Leave someone in the dust: 1. To leave someone or something far behind due to how quickly one is moving. 2. To completely outclass, outperform, or surpass someone or something else.

...Exodus 24:10 And they saw the God of Israel [the manifestation of His presence], and under His feet it was like pavement of bright sapphire stone, (blue) like the very heavens in clearness.
... Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
...John 3:7Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
See comments for more info on Blue Light and Blue Eagles and a confirming word by sis Bonnie Nelson!

“I trust the LORD God to save me, and I will wait for him to answer my prayer” (Micah 7:7 CEV).

The Bible is clear that we go through seasons in life, and one of the seasons that God talks about again and again is the season of waiting.

While you’re waiting, God is working. Don’t think that a season of waiting means that God has stopped working. He’s just taking you through that season because he’s using the time to work in your circumstances for your good.

You’re going to spend a lot of life waiting. If you don’t figure out how to trust God while you’re waiting, you’ll spend a lot of your life not trusting God.

God is never in a hurry. He’s eternal! He is watching. He is working. He is seeing how and when you will trust him as you’re waiting. You’re saying, “When, Lord? When is it going to happen?” And God’s saying, “You can trust me with this.”

The problem with waiting is that our human nature and our society say, “Don’t wait! Get things as quickly as you can.”

That’s the way our culture is wired, but it goes against God’s blessing in our lives, because God’s blessing comes through these times of waiting. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says God “has set the right time for everything” (GNT).

Are you in a time of waiting? Maybe it’s for school to end. Maybe it’s for the “right person” to come into your life. Maybe it’s for a marriage to happen or a baby to come or a new job opportunity to arrive. And you may be frustrated with how slowly things are happening. We’ve all been there.

There’s a promise in the Bible that tells you not only that God is working but also how God is working, and you need to claim it while you’re in your time of waiting: “I am the Lord, and when it is time, I will make these things happen quickly” (Isaiah 60:22 NCV).

That’s how God worked when he sent Jesus into this world. The world waited thousands of years for Jesus to come the first time. And he came at just the right moment.

We’ve been waiting 2,000 years now for Jesus to come again. When will that happen? At just the right time—God’s time. That’s when he’s going to return.

You can apply this to your time of waiting and remember that a delay is not a denial. When you think God is saying no, he may just be saying, “Not yet. Will you keep trusting me through this?”

Micah 7:7 says, “I trust the Lord God to save me, and I will wait for him to answer my prayer” (CEV).

That is the kind of faith that God blesses.

Talk It Over

What have you been waiting for God to do in your life? What has been your response to the season of waiting?
How have you seen God work in your life when you have had to trust his timing and not your own?
What can you do to slow things down in your life so that you learn patience and trust?

You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come.
Psalm 102:13, NKJV

TODAY'S WORD:

One thing I’ve learned in my life is that God likes to outdo Himself. His dream for your life is so much bigger than your own. His ways are higher, and He has an appointed time of favor for your life. He is going to take you places that you never thought possible. He is going to open up doors that you never have imagined. He’s going to bring talent out of you that you didn’t even know you had. This is the time to get excited about your future! It’s time to get your hopes up because you have been chosen by the Creator of the universe. Your destiny is not determined by the economy, how you were raised, or your education. Your destiny is determined by Almighty God.

Today I want to encourage you to set your thoughts on things above. It’s time for you to move up to a new level. The good news is that God has already laid out victory before you. I declare that in the days ahead you’re going to rise. Get ready because God is going to raise you up into the life of blessing He has prepared for you!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father God, thank You for this day. Thank You for the good plan You have for me. I believe it is my time of set favor; it’s my time to rise higher; it’s my time to experience every breakthrough and every blessing You have in store for me in Jesus’ name! Amen.

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him

Declared as the “The Hall of Faith,” Hebrews 11 recounts name after name of the warriors of old who grabbed hold of the promises of God, and by faith, performed mighty exploits in His name.

Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In other words, as believers, we have full confidence for the things for which we hope; we are completely certain of things that we cannot even see. It was this kind of faith that drove the saints of old and won them a reputation that stands today.

Hebrews 11 calls out some of these warriors by name:

Noah, by faith, built an ark before one raindrop fell.
Abraham, by faith, left everything familiar to search for a Promised Land.
Sarah, by faith, gave birth to baby Isaac long after her childbearing years had passed.
Abraham, again by faith, offered up that same long-awaited son on the altar…before God provided a ram.
Amram and Jochebed, by faith, disobeyed the king’s command and spared the life of their son, Moses.
Moses, by faith, gave up the pleasures of Egypt to suffer the afflictions of his people, the Israelites.
The Israelites, by faith, crossed through the middle of the Red Sea on dry land.

These men and women – and many others – “through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (Hebrews 11:33-34). Can we ever hope to be so courageous and victorious?

The answer is yes! Because none of these people fought in their own strength. They simply took God at His Word. They could not see the outcome with their physical eyes, but when God spoke to them, they took the step of faith that set them on a course to certain victory.

Whatever you face today, the battle belongs to the Lord. Take Him at His Word. Trust and believe. Take the first step, by faith – even as small as the tiniest mustard seed – and watch Him move a mountain for you.

Blessing:

Heavenly Father, fill me with the faith of these mighty warriors. Give me the courage to take You at Your Word, to trust and believe in everything You say. Then, help me take the first step to be more than a conqueror. In the name of Jesus…amen.

Today's Bible Reading:

Old Testament

2 Kings 17:1-18:12

New Testament

Acts 20:1-38

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 148:1-14

Proverbs 18:6-7

Acts 8:26-39

You’ve probably heard the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Although we cannot negate the power of the gospel spoken in words, there is great benefit in seeing salvation vividly acted out in the baptism of a new believer. When we enter the waters of baptism, we are portraying several truths:

We are proclaiming the gospel message—that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and raised to life on the third day. Baptism serves as a reminder of what the Savior has done for us.

We are also showing what has happened to us through salvation (Rom. 6:3-14). Plunging beneath the surface pictures the death and burial of our old self with Christ. Being raised up out of the water expresses our new life in Christ and our union with Him. As our heavenly Father physically raised Jesus from the dead and gave Him life, He has done the same for us spiritually. We are no longer the person we once were, because Christ has broken the power of sin in our lives.

Baptism is also a public declaration of our faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and in our own future bodily resurrection. It points to the truth that there is life beyond the grave. Someday we, too, will receive a resurrected body and live forever with Christ.

Baptism is a commandment for all believers, not an option. As such, it is both an obligation and an awesome privilege. Our unbelieving family and friends need to physically see this truth in our life. Have you publicly identified yourself with Jesus through the act of baptism?

Bible in One Year: Psalm 103-106

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth (Psalm 34:1 NKJV).

Did you know it is possible to experience the joy of the Lord on a continual basis? The key to experiencing continual joy is developing a heart that is filled with continual praise and a willingness to view your life—past, present, and future—with a positive attitude.

The Israelites were surrounded by the goodness of God as they journeyed through the desert to freedom, yet they did not view their experience with a positive frame of mind. Because they complained about their situation, many of them never entered the good land God already had waiting for them.

Had they viewed their circumstances positively, acknowledged the goodness of God, and walked in joy, they would have gone straight into the good land. Their negativity robbed them of joy, dishonored God, and cost them the good life.

So praise God for His grace that covers your past, your present, and your future. His grace is able to turn even deliberate sin from the past around for your good and His glory—if you will hand it over to Him in faith.

You experience joy when nothing from the past has the power to condemn or sadden you, when your memories are only of the positive because you trust in God’s goodness towards you. You experience joy when you focus on the goodness of God in your present situation and believe you will spend your future walking in His grace and mercy.

Continuous joy produces continuous praise for all the good things God has done and is going to do. After all, when you are touched by His goodness, how can you do anything but continually praise God for His kindness and love towards you?

Confession: My God is a good God, and His mercy endures forever. I choose right now to trust Him with every aspect of my life—past, present, and future—knowing that He is able to turn every situation and circumstance for my good. His praise will continually be in my mouth.

Author: Jerry Savelle

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 (see 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 (see 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!

Learn why Israel is the most fought-over piece of real estate in the world as Jonathan Bernis introduces his new book, A Lasting Peace.

The conflict surrounding Israel has great spiritual significance, and philosophers, politicians, and theologians agree that it is complex. Jonathan breaks down the many elements of the Middle East conflict to give you a clear biblical perspective. The answer to peace in the Middle East is more straightforward and profound than you could imagine.

Regardless of where a person stands politically or spiritually, the conflict in the Middle East is undeniably controversial. Based on his new book, A Lasting Peace, Jonathan Bernis continues his discussion of the struggles between Israel and Arab nations, revealing the historical and spiritual factors of the generations-old strife. You’ll gain a clear understanding of the ongoing conflict and discover the role you can play during this momentous time in history.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard LIVE singing "God I Look To You" as recorded by Bethel Music. Please subscribe and let me know which videos you'd like to see next! God bless

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27).

Oftentimes, when we say God spoke to us, there’re those who wonder, “What language does He speak?” They want to know how they too can hear God. God is a Spirit, and He speaks to your spirit. What you have to learn is to listen to Him with your heart—your spirit.

Being born again, and having received the Holy Spirit, you’re one with the Lord. He’s come to dwell within you and has mingled with your spirit. The Bible says, “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17). Thus, His voice in your spirit will be unmistakable. All you have to do is listen from within. He knows every language. He can talk to you in any language.

The most important thing about God speaking to you isn’t the language He spoke; it’s whether your spirit received the words. He speaks to you in “spirit language,” because He talks to your spirit. Your mind is what relates with language.

Language is created with sound for your intellect. But God isn’t a mind, neither does He appeal to your mind. He doesn’t need your reasoning faculties to communicate with you. As a result, He doesn’t need to put His message in a language for your intellect.

When He speaks to you in any human language, if you don’t receive the message from your spirit, it may have no impact or meaning. It has to get to your spirit. If you only got the words in your mind, you may even forget what He said, but your spirit can remember.

Moreover, when God speaks to you, your spirit will at once light up and bear witness that He’s the One talking to you. It’s like what Jesus said in our opening verse, “My sheep hear my voice….”

Train your spirit to be a sure-guide and a dependable receptacle of God’s words and signals. Activate your spirit by speaking in tongues frequently. Also, it’s very important that you learn the Word of God, because He never says anything outside His Word. Praise God!

PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the ability to hear and recognise your voice. As you speak to me from the Word and counsel me from within, I respond to your guidance, promptings, and instructions, and receive the corresponding blessings, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Deuteronomy 4:36; Psalm 62:11; John 16:13


1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Acts 15:1-21 & Esther 1-4

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Luke 5:27-39 & Deuteronomy 28

Sunday June 30th 2019
Memorise: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1

Read: Judges 16:28-31 (KJV)
28 And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.
30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
31 Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.

Bible in one year: 
Deuteronomy 5-6,
Ezekiel 7:23-8:6,

Hymn:
Sing hymn 4

Message:
Sacrifice is the act of surrendering a prized possession as an offering to God. In reality, it is the death or loss of the object that makes it a sacrifice.

In this light, the use of the term “living sacrifice” in today’s memory verse seems like a contradiction, since an object or sacrifice should not remain alive. However, the term “living sacrifice” is used in that verse with specific focus on our living bodies being presented as holy and acceptable unto God. To this effect, 1st Corinthians 6:19 says:
 
“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

This verse says that our body is God’s temple. A temple is a holy place of sacred building which has been set aside as a place of worship or consecrated as the house of God. In the Old Testament, the tabernacle in the desert, the sanctuaries at Bethel and Shiloh, and the temple at Jerusalem were all temples of God in different forms. However, under the now covenant, the notion of God dwelling within us is fundamental to our faith. Our Lord clearly says in John 14:23:

“…If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

For anyone who belongs to Christ indeed, God is saying clearly that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. You therefore need to handle it with all the care, holiness and sacredness it deserves, if it is to be acceptable to God as a dwelling place.

When I was a university lecturer some years ago, there was a young lady whose prayer was always “Lord, use me for Your glory.” Shunning interest in anything else, this was the only prayer point consistent on her list. One day, she needed to use the toilet because she was seriously pressed, but as she opened the toilets one by one, she discovered they were all messed up. As she left in annoyance, she heard God saying, “I thought you wanted to use the toilet, what happened?”

She responded that the toilets were all dirty. To her shock, she heard the Lord saying the reason He had not used her, despite her numerous prayers, was because she was dirty! Therefore, for anyone to be used of God as a living sacrifice, he or she must be clean in and out, and thoroughly furnished unto good works. God expects us to live in holiness and righteousness, while handling our bodies in sanctification and honour (1st Thessalonians 4:4).

Prayer point
Father, Please help me to live the rest of my life as a living sacrifice to You, in Jesus’ Name.
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 Churches in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.