Abiding TV

Perry Stone (January 27, 2019) - Has the Tribulation Actually Begun

Jesse Duplantis is an evangelist, speaker, and author. HIs best-selling books include Wanting a God You Can Talk To, Breaking the Power of Natural Law and The Everyday Visionary

One could argue we live in a quick fix culture as we’re flooded with ads of quick fixes for our credit, our diets, and even our looks. But, what if we flip the script on what society expects on quick fixes for our lives and do a “fast” fix?

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear… (1 John 4:18).

In 1 Samuel 16, we read something really inspiring about the love of God. God had instructed Samuel to go to the house of Jesse and anoint one of his sons to be king of Israel. But Samuel was afraid. He said to the Lord, “If Saul hears it, he will kill me.”

Saul was the king of Israel at the time, and Samuel was more afraid of King Saul than of God, because he knew that God was loving, merciful and kind. So, God said, “Okay, here’s what you’ll do: organise for a sacrifice and invite Jesse for the sacrifice, and if Saul hears about it, just tell him you came to sacrifice to the Lord.

Can you imagine that? God already had His plan, but now, Samuel was going to influence God’s plan, because of fear. But guess what? God yielded! He found a way to make what He wanted Samuel to do easier for him. One would have expected that God would say, “What? I’m God! I’m telling you what to do; go do it boy; no one can kill you!” But no; God isn’t like that.

When He gives you an instruction or a direction, He watches to see your response or reaction. He may even consider your excuses and make some adjustment for you, just as in the case of Samuel. However, He doesn’t want you holding on to your fears. Our opening verse says perfect love casts out fear.

Many have a problem doing God’s perfect will because of either selfishness or fear. However, the solution to both of them is love. Love has no selfishness, and love has no fear. Love is God’s solution to man’s real problems. You may disobey God and go after your own agenda, or because of fear you may disobey Him and go in another direction. But the truth is, when you learn to walk in love and open your heart to the reality of His personality, you’ll always be in sync with Him.

However, no man can ever walk in love until he discovers Jesus. When you get to know Jesus, things change. This is why we preach the Gospel, so that men may know Jesus, and understand the love of God and learn to walk in His love.

PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for your love, and your Spirit who lives in me, guiding me to fulfil your will for my life. Your love is the basis for my life’s decisions, and my deepest desire is to be all you created me to be, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 3:17-19; 1 Corinthians 13:13; John 15:9-11

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

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Matthew 11:11-20 & Genesis 31

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Mark 11:24

Believing. That's the key to everything in the kingdom of God. It's the way we tap in to the very power of Almighty God. Most of us know that. But few of us are sure exactly how to do that kind of believing. We don't know how to put it into action.

Actually it's so simple, it's startling. It's as simple as saying, "I believe I receive."

Something happens in your spirit when you say those words. I don't understand how, but it does. I don't understand how my digestive system knows what to do when I swallow something, but it does. All I have to do is take a bite of food and it goes to work. I don't have to make it happen. I don't have to feel it happen. It just happens. That's the way the body is made.

In much the same way, when you feed on God's precious promises and "swallow" them into your spirit by saying, "I believe I receive," faith is released. You don't have to make it happen. You don't have to feel it happen. It just happens. The reborn spirit is made that way.

When you constantly say with your mouth, "I believe I receive my healing" or "I believe I receive my financial needs met," and then quote the scriptures that back those things, faith is released to bring power to bear on those needs.

As Dr. Kenneth Hagin says, you need to "keep the switch of faith turned on." And Gloria and I have discovered that speaking out that phrase, "I believe I receive," is one way to do it. We say it when we pray. We say it when we praise God. We say it when we read the Word.

We especially say it in the face of darkness when it looks like we're not receiving. When everything looks the worst, we say it the loudest. I believe I receive!

Do you want to activate your faith today? Then make these four key words the most important words in your vocabulary. Use them every day. You'll soon discover, just as we did...they work!

Scripture Reading:
Mark 11:12-24

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.

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:9-10 NLT).

If you want lasting change in your life, you must fill your life with love.

Love is the only thing that can change the unchangeable. Love invigorates. Love revitalizes. Love renews. Love refreshes. Love is the most powerful force in the universe, because God is love. The Bible doesn’t say God has love; it says he is love. Love heals what cannot otherwise be healed. Love uplifts. Love strengthens. Love energizes. Love empowers.

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:9-10 NLT).

“Take delight in honoring each other”—I love that! You know what that means? It means when people in your small group have a win in health, finances, or any goal they’ve set, you need to celebrate with them. Celebrate their wins. You lost two more pounds? Congratulations! You got a little bit out of debt? Fantastic! You had a breakthrough in your marriage? Terrific! The Bible says to take delight in honoring each other and to show genuine affection.

Here’s the amazing thing: God has wired the universe so that when you help other people, God takes care of your problems. God is looking at you not to say, “Are you helping yourself?” but “Are you helping others?” Do you want help with your goals? Start helping other people with their goals. Show love. Give yourself away. There is healing in giving back.

The Bible tells us the story of Job, who lost everything. He lost his health, he lost his family, he lost his wealth. He lost it all. At the end of the book, God gave it all back to Job. Why? Because Job prayed for himself? No. It says, “After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10 NIV).

Why do you need to be in a small group? Not just so other people can help you, but also so you can help them. So you can pray for those people, and then God can help you. Give yourself away in love, and then watch God work in your life.

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
Talk It Over

Think of the ways you show love to others each day. What is the motivation behind your love?
How has loving others blessed your life?
Who in your life needs your love and support or needs you to celebrate with them today?

For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them.
Psalm 44:3, NKJV

TODAY'S WORD:

Do you need God's strength to conquer something in your life today? Maybe you need strength to forgive or to overcome an addiction. Maybe you need strength to deal with a difficult person in the office. No matter what you may be facing, God desires to give you His supernatural strength in every situation. It's interesting that one translation of this verse says, "because God smiled upon them and favored them." Did you know that simply calling on God causes Him to smile on you? Because you are His child, you have His favor! God loves to show Himself strong on your behalf. Be strong in the Lord knowing that He is with you, smiling upon you, and showering you with His favor. As you meditate on this promise, you will be strengthened to overcome every obstacle, and you will live a life of victory!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

God, thank you for smiling on me today. I ask that you show me your favor so that I can walk in your strength today. Thank you for equipping me with everything I need to live as an overcomer. I bless you and choose to honor you in everything I do. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.

— Matthew 7:7 (AMPC)


I have made a commitment to pray more than ever, and I hope you will join me.

Prayer is the greatest privilege that we have. Prayer makes all things possible! God’s Word teaches us that we have not because we ask not (see James 4:2). It is tragic indeed to miss out on the immense benefits that prayer provides simply because we fail to take the time to ask.

My desire is to “pray my way through the day.” It is another way of saying what the apostle Paul said, which is “Pray without ceasing” (see 1 Thessalonians 5:17 AMPC).

This does not mean that I intend to stay on my knees all day or sit somewhere with folded hands praying all day. I simply desire to understand that all failure is a prayer failure and to be wise enough to invite the Lord to help me with each thing I do.

The Bible says in Ephesians 6:18 that we should “pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer” (AMPC). Forming the habit of doing so will open the door to more victory and breakthrough than we can imagine.

I don’t want to miss any more opportunities to see God’s amazing power manifested in my life, and I am sure you don’t either, so please join me in discovering the power of simple prayer!

Prayer Starter: Dear Father, I commit to praying my way through the day, and as I begin, I ask for Your help. I am praying that You will help me pray! Teach me the vital importance of talking with You about everything. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Mark 9:23
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.

What would you do today if you knew you couldn’t fail? What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you were going to succeed at it? The Bible says very clearly, “All things are possible to him who believes.” If you’ll go to work and trust in God, whatever you pursue for His purpose and plan for your life will come to pass.

What would be different in your life, in your marriage, in your family, with your children, in your finances, in your career, and in your physical body if you took the responsibility and made the commitment to work toward what you know God wants for you? That’s how God designed us—to believe what He has said and work for it. You have to consistently pursue your goals so you can accomplish what you set out to do. You cannot talk about what you want and not be willing to go to work for it. The difference between a wish and reality is work. The world is filled with those who talk about it. Don’t say, “Maybe tomorrow.” Make up your mind that right now is the moment that you’re going to begin walking toward the greatness that God designed for you in this life.

Blessing:

Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you peace. May God’s Holy Spirit fall on you now and give you the power to live a disciplined life, not in your strength, but in His; that you become totally dependent upon Jesus to be your shepherd as He leads you in paths of righteousness in all that you say and all that you do; that your life may prosper and that you may have the favor of God above and beyond anything you have ever dreamed possible. May this blessing be yours as you practice the disciplined Christian life. In Jesus’ name, we pray and ask it, Amen!

Today's Bible Reading:

Old Testament

Exodus 7:25-9:35

New Testament

Matthew 19:13-30

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 24:1-10

Proverbs 6:1-5

January 30, 2019
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves have been comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV).

The Bible tells us that God is the God of all comfort. Not just a little comfort, but all comfort. The Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary provides a well-rounded definition of the word comfort:

To console in time of fear or grief
A state of ease or well-being
Solace (a comfort in sorrow, misfortune, or distress)
Help, assistance
Something that brings relief or well-being
The capacity to give physical ease
When you put yourself in a position to receive all comfort from God, you can then act as a channel of God’s comfort for others who need it. To receive comfort from God, you must be assured that He is with you and He is for you.

Jesus said of the Father, “He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16-17 KJV). He also said, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:18 NKJV), and “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NKJV).

God’s original intent when He created mankind was so that He could have a friend to relate to and love. That intent remains intact today. God desires to be close to you, so much so that He came to live inside of you. He wants to provide your every need, including your need for comfort.

So go to the God of all comfort and receive!

Confession: I am a child of God, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. I receive that comfort today. The Comforter dwells within me, and because He abides in me I can comfort others in times of sorrow, misfortune, or distress.

Author: Jerry Savelle

1 Corinthians 2:2
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthian church, said that he determined to know nothing among them except “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” In other words, Paul, who wrote two-thirds of the New Testament, had his mind full of Jesus and His finished work.

Beloved, God wants your mind full of the cross of Jesus. He wants you cross-conscious.

But what does it mean to be cross-conscious?

To be cross-conscious is to see Jesus, who loves you so much that He willingly died for you on the cross. To be cross-conscious is to look to Jesus, who offered His own body to be punished, so that your body can be free from all punishment.

To be cross-conscious is to fix your eyes on Jesus, who has provided for your deliverance and victory at the cross. At the cross, all your enemies were vanquished. All your diseases were destroyed. Your poverty was removed at the cross. Your sins were wiped out at the cross.

When the Israelites tasted bitterness in the waters of Marah, God showed Moses a tree, which he cast into the waters, making them sweet (see Exodus 15:23–26). The tree represents the cross, which turned the bitter waters sweet. Today, Calvary’s tree has turned your bitter situations sweet. Because of the cross, you can expect to see the bitter situations in your life made sweet!

When the Israelites were bitten by serpents in the wilderness, God told Moses to put a bronze serpent on a pole. The pole represents the cross and bronze speaks of judgment. Those who beheld the serpent on the pole lived because they saw their problem—the deadly serpent—nailed and put to death on the cross (see Numbers 21:6–9).

Today, you too will not die but live when you see all your sins judged at the cross, and with them, all your sicknesses, diseases, pains, failures and defeats! At the cross, all that is deadly in your life has been removed!