Friday, October 28, 2011

His Vision, His Way, In His Timing


His Vision, His Way, In His Timing



"Then God said, 'Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about'" (Gen 22:2).


Have you ever wanted something so bad that you would do almost anything to get it? Have you ever gotten so close to fulfilling a dream only to have it disappear right before your eyes? Such was the case for Abraham.
God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. He would have a son. However, Abraham panicked when Sarah aged beyond child bearing years and tried to help God by birthing Ishmael through Sarah's servant, who was not the promised son. Eventually, Isaac was born, who was the promised son.
However, God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son on an altar to demonstrate his obedience to God. Truly, this is one of the hardest instructions given to one of God's people in all of scripture. It compares only to the Heavenly Father sacrificing His own Son. God intervenes and allows a ram to get caught in the bushes nearby, symbolizing the Lamb of God as a prophetic sign of what is to take place in the future.
God often births a vision in our lives only to allow it to die first before the purest version of the vision is manifested. This has happened several times in my own journey. Oswald Chambers observes, "God's method always seems to be vision first, and then reality, but in between the vision and the reality there is often a deep valley of humiliation. How often has a faithful soul been plunged into a like darkness when after the vision comes the test. When God gives a vision and darkness follows, waiting on God will bring you into accordance with the vision He has given if you await His timing. Otherwise, you try to do away with the supernatural in God's undertakings. Never try to help God fulfill His word."*
When God's vision is finally birthed, nothing will stop it. Our job is to allow God to birth His vision through us His way and in His timing.

Oswald chambers, Not Knowing Where, Discovery House, Grand Rapids, MI.

Paying Attention to How We Live


Paying Attention to How We Live


One day we’ll give an account of ourselves to the Lord (Rom. 14:12). We must, then, pay attention to how we live.
The rich man in Luke 16:19-31 made the tragic choice of living for himself without regard for the Lord. He also made two other mistakes.
First, he invested everything for himself and nothing for the life to come. When we are blinded by our own desires and personal satisfaction, it is easy to become lukewarm about spiritual matters. We forget that this life is not all there is. Scripture tells us to store up treasures in heaven, not on earth. Where our treasure is reflects where our heart is (Matt. 6:19-21).
The rich man’s other mistake was to prepare everything for himself and nothing for others. Crumbs falling from his table (v. 21) were the only form of assistance he gave a poor man named Lazarus. The one who had much wealth did not share it with the one who had little. Jesus explained what our priorities should be to love the Lord wholeheartedly and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Luke 10:27).
We see the rich man’s mistakes repeated in another parable. This time a wealthy man builds bigger barns to store crops so he will have plenty for the future. God calls him a fool for such shortsightedness (Luke 12:20).
The Bible repeatedly warns us to pay attention to spiritual matters—the Lord is to have first place in our lives and be the center of our affections. He urges us to store up heavenly treasure by caring for the lost and hurting people around us. On whom is your attention focused?

We must focus on those things which are pure and good.


Philippians 4

We must focus on those things which are pure and good.

INSIGHT

You are what you eat." Your body reflects what you feed it. Eat well and your body rewards you with health. The same is true spiritually and mentally. We become like what we put into our minds and like what we allow our minds to dwell on. Paul encourages us to think about whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, or of good report (v. 8). If you are unsatisfied with your spiritual, mental, or emotional development, ask yourself: "What do I put into my mind - what do I think about?" You may need a radical change in your spiritual diet.

PRAYER

God's attributes include love, joy, kindness, and mercy. Praise Him for developing these characteristics in your life:
Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
(1 Chronicles 16:8-11)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,"
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Selah (Psalm 32:5)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
(Psalm 7:17)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
  • Graciousness toward others
  • Laborers for Christ in India
  • Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
The Lord is their strength,
And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.
Save Your people,
And bless Your inheritance;
Shepherd them also,
And bear them up forever (Psalm 28:8-9).

Consistency


Consistency

“And he [Jesus] is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Colossians 1:17

     What better word than “rock” to represent God’s permanence, protection, and enduring faithfulness? He is Yahweh Tsuri (The LORD my Rock). Hannah said,“There is no Rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:2 NIV). He is consistent in love, and faithful to perform His Word. Consistency is a condition of firmness and cohesion (being held together); it is the harmony of conduct with profession – letting your actions match what your mouth says!
     Nature shows God’s quality of faithfulness. The sun has never refused to shine. No matter how dreadful the winter, springtime has always blossomed with new life. Mature fruit always has like-kind seed inside to continue the life cycle. Nature proves that God is faithful to His Word. Nature also proves that the Wisdom of God is unmatched. Who could counsel Him concerning the depths of the sea, or the foundations of the earth, or the vastness of the skies? His Wisdom is unsearchable. Whoever finds and keeps the Word of God is truly blessed and favored!
     Wisdom is not withheld from those who ask God (James 1:5). But if one part of a man is set on God, and the other part set on something or someone else, then that man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:7). Proverbs 18:17 NIV “The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.” We can be firm in our profession of faith, completely content, until seeds of doubt, reason, and discontent are presented. Those opposing opinions cause us to waver from our initial stance, if yielded to, and threaten our sense of consistency. But when your eyes are set on the Rock, your soul finds rest (Isaiah 26:3-4; Psalm 62:1-2). Jesus is the Rock! I must admit that this is a fight. As the Apostle Paul said, we are not fighting to keep our possessions, we are not fighting to keep our position, we are to fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12). He encouraged Timothy that he made a good profession of faith, now fight to keep it!
     “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)” (Hebrews 10:23). In the midst of a society full of inconsistencies, God’s creative power is testimony of His faithfulness and wisdom. Right now your predicament may be inconsistent with God’s Promise, but hold on to your profession of faith. God is holding you together because sooner or later your predicament must bow to the Promise. God cannot lie!

The Tipping Point


The Tipping Point



"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers..."(Eph 4:11-12).


Malcolm Gladwell authored a secular marketing book entitled Tipping Point. A tipping point is when an idea, product or movement becomes accepted by the masses. Gladwell says "It is the best way to understand the emergence of fashion trends, crime waves, or unknown books becoming bestsellers." He says ideas, products, messages and behaviors spread just like viruses do but he has discovered there are usually three types of people involved in the marketing process for this to happen. He calls them connectors, mavens, and salesmen.
Connectors are people with a special gift for bringing the world together. They know lots of people who have an ability to make impact.
Mavens are people who accumulate knowledge about a particular area. They are information brokers who like to get information and share it with others to help solve their problems.
Salesmen have an ability to persuade when we are unconvinced of what we are hearing. They are critical to the tipping point for word-of-mouth epidemics.
I believe these three people correlate to the apostle (connectors), often defined as "one who is sent"; the prophet (mavens), defined as 'one who proclaims truth" and the evangelist (salesmen), "one who wins the lost" - all described in Ephesians 4:11.
John Wesley founded Methodism in the 1780s . He went from 20,000 followers to 90,000 in five years. However, he was not the most Charismatic preacher compared to Martin Luther or John Calvin who were recognized as the leading theologians. His genius was organizational. He was a maven (apostle) who stayed in a city after he preached to form small groups of the most enthusiastic of the followers. He used connectors (apostles) and salesmen (evangelists) to get people to his meetings. This created a community around his beliefs in order to practice those beliefs in the context of daily life. This contributed to his success and ability to start a movement.
Mavens, Connectors and Salesmen make an idea contagious by working together to spread the message. Consider bringing these three types of people together to see real success on your next project.

Spiritually Shortsighted


Spiritually Shortsighted


In Luke 16, Jesus told a story about a rich man who lived for himself and ignored God. After death, he experienced the consequences of his choices—eternal separation from the Lord.
Jesus described him as one who lived in luxury every day (v. 19), providing for himself the best that money could buy but giving little to the poor at his gate. It is important to realize that this man wasn’t judged harshly by God because of his wealth. The heavenly Father is not opposed to our success. Nor was the man separated from the Lord because of his lack of charity toward others. He did not deliberately harm others but, rather, overlooked those in need and focused on himself.
The rich man’s mistake was that he prepared everything for the body but nothing for the soul. Our culture practices a similar style of living. Acquiring material riches and satisfying self is the primary pursuit of many in our world. Having what one wants seems to be the goal whether it’s a struggle to make ends meet or the bank account is overflowing.
Scripture says we were created to be in a relationship with the Father through faith in His Son. The rich man ignored God and paid the ultimate price. Our eternal destiny depends on our decision about Christ.
Despite what our culture thinks, life is not about us. It’s about having a relationship with the Lord. Whoever accepts Christ’s gift of salvation will live eternally with Him in heaven. Those who reject God will suffer. If you know any spiritually shortsighted people, pray that they will trust in Jesus.

Our goal in life should be to forsake temporal things for the sake of the eternal.


Philippians 3

Our goal in life should be to forsake temporal things for the sake of the eternal.

INSIGHT

Benjamin Franklin once decided to become morally perfect. He chose 13 qualities he felt embodied moral perfection and tried to perfect one a week - at the end of 13 weeks he would be morally perfect. He failed, yet later wrote he had become a much better man for trying and failing than if he had never tried at all. Our situation with the Lord is similar. We will never become morally perfect, as Paul writes, but we can experience maturation as we grow into the image of Christ.

PRAYER

Because the Lord knows our weaknesses and loves us anyway, we can praise Him with enthusiasm:
Inasmuch as there is none like You, O Lord
(You are great, and Your name is great in might),
Who would not fear You,
O King of the nations?
For this is Your rightful due,
For among all the wise men of the nations,
And in all their kingdoms,
There is none like You. . . .
But the Lord is the true God;
He is the living God and the everlasting King.
At His wrath the earth will tremble,
And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation
(Jeremiah 10:6-7, 10)

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit
(Psalm 34:17-18).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
(Romans 8:26)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
  • A stronger desire to be like Christ
  • Churches across the nation
  • Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen (1 Timothy 1:17). Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
(Ephesians 6:13)

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Remember Lot's Wife


Remember Lot's Wife


"Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 'In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.'" Luke 17:30-33 (New King James Version)
     There are few warnings in Scripture more solemn than this. The Lord Jesus Christ says to us, "Remember Lot's wife."
     Lot's wife was a professor of religion: her husband was a "righteous man" (2 Peter 2:8). She left Sodom with him on the day when Sodom was destroyed; she looked back towards the city from behind her husband, against God's express command; she was struck dead at once, and turned into a pillar of salt. And the Lord Jesus Christ holds her up as a beacon to His church: He says, "Remember Lot's wife." (J.C. Ryle)
     When you consider God's loving and merciful nature, you realize that the aim of testing is not to destroy us, but to purge and refine us. The refining process reducing things down to their genuine value. It removes the contaminants that reduce not only in value, but also in potency, so as to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
     What comes of a person who refuses to yield to the refining process? "Remember Lot's wife." She was more connected to the city, than to God. She was devotedly attached to earthly things. Her heart and affection was still in the world. She perished with the city.
     God's word of encouragement to you today is, "Don't turn back!" God has setbefore you an open door... (Revelation 3:8). Forget what's behind you (Philippians 3:13), set your affections on what's above (Colossians 3:2). Tomorrow is gone, exterminated, finished! Don't perish with your past. God is doing a new thing. Surrender to His will as He leads you to a prosperous, full, and satisfying future!

Send this message to a Friend, and go take charge of the day!Be Blessed,
Katishia Gallishaw
Revival Time Internet Ministries


Regaining the Art of Community


Regaining the Art of Community




"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:7).
I have a friend who spent three months living in Israel with Jewish believers. During one of their conversations the Jewish man noticed how often my friend came to visit him only to discuss a project. He turned to my friend during dinner and admonished him: "You western Christians! You always seem to need a program or an event to get together. Why can't you fellowship with one another just because you love each other!?"
My friend was convicted by his assessment. They began to talk about how Jesus modeled love for the disciples and how they simply hung out together because of their love for one another. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).
Jesus often spent unhurried times of fellowship with the disciples. They shared countless meals together. It is often during such times we get to know others at a deeper level.
Love for one another is one of the greatest signs of faith in Christ. However, the pace of life often contributes to a life being lived for the next event instead of a relationship rooted in the love of Christ.
How many relationships do you have in your life that would allow you to fellowship simply because you cared for one another?

Defend against Temptation


Defend against Temptation


James 1:12-16


To build a defense against temptation, we must understand how it works. Every sin originates as athought, often the result of a flaming arrow the Evil One shoots our way (Eph. 6:16). If a believer holds on to the thought, it becomes a fantasy—the chance to imagine what it would be like to pursue that notion without actually doing so. The problem with fantasies is that they can easily become entangled with a person’s emotions. This creates a desire, which brings the believer to the point where a choice must be made: he or she must either consent to the sin or refuse. This process is quite dangerous, as the progression from thought to choice can be almost instantaneous.
Wise believers determine ahead of time to resist temptation—before it enters their consciousness. There are two cornerstones to a good defense: the commitment to obey God, and the recognition that He is in control and has limited what Satan can do (1 Cor. 10:13).
We can further fortify our defense when temptation actually comes. Satan has a way of spotlighting the pleasure of sin until that’s all we see. But with conscious effort, we can retrain our focus to take in the bigger picture: Is this choice a violation of God’s Word? What are the consequences? Am I prepared to pay that price?
No defense against temptation is complete without Scripture and prayer. Every moment spent meditating on the Word and communicating with God builds our faith. As the bulwark around our mind and heart strengthens, we are ever more prepared to douse Satan’s flaming arrows.

We are exhorted to be like Christ, who practiced only selflessness.


Philippians 2

We are exhorted to be like Christ, who practiced only selflessness.

INSIGHT

Selfishness is the source of most interpersonal conflict. Someone is taking something from us (materially, emotionally, socially, etc.) that we don't want to give, and we fight to keep or gain our desires. Unselfishness is the source of most interpersonal harmony. Think about the people you really like - even famous people you don't know personally. Usually the reason you like them is because they are gracious and kind, and give of themselves. If you want to be a harmonious, likable person, you must be unselfish.

PRAYER

Thank the Lord that we see God in Christ, and praise Him for the privilege of knowing Him:
Daniel answered and said:
"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
For wisdom and might are His.
And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him". (Daniel 2:20-22)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving, and pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight -
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge
(Psalm 51:4)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
(Colossians 1:13-14)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
  • Greater personal discipline
  • Persecuted Christians
  • Your activities for the day
Close this time of worship with the following prayer:
May the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
(1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

Broken to be Restored

Broken to be Restored 

“Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship.” Job 1:20 (New Living Translation)

     The Bible tells us of an extraordinary man by the name of Job. Listen to his back-story: “There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless – a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area” (Job 1:1-3 NLT).

     But in one day, Job lost it all! He lost his animals, his servants, and even his children. Job 1:20 describes his response. He showed grief by tearing his robe and shaving his head. These were usual expressions of great sorrow in his day. Yet even in his sorrow, he possessed his soul. He did not break out in uncontrolled displays of emotion. He did not faint, but arose. He was deliberate in his actions – he experienced grief, yet in repose.

     I love the next part, Job then “fell to the ground to worship” (Job 1:20). If his riches had been, as Satan insinuated, the only reason for Job’s piety, now that he had lost it all he would certainly have lost his religion; but the account in Job 1:20 sufficiently proves the devil a liar and Job a blameless man!

     Job’s experience of loss and brokenness initiated greater depth in his conquest to seek and know God. It is those times of brokenness that allow us to draw near to God and commune with Him more deeply. In his broken state, Job saw himself as “naked” (Job 1:21), not wounded or maimed, but naked – unclothed, unarmed, exposed. He was reduced to humanity’s first condition. He was back to his first love. Even before his wealth was restored, his heart was restored. You may be in a Job-like situation. Draw near to God in worship. Hope in His mercy and experience the restoration only He can provide.

Monday, October 24, 2011

The Coming Wealth Transfer






But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous (Prov 13:22).

In the last days there will be a transfer of wealth into the hands of the righteous for the purpose of funding a great harvest of souls and for believers to have greater influence on society in the name of Christ. This will happen in at least four ways.
1. Supernatural Transfer - Like the Israelites leaving Egypt, Christians and non-profit organizations will receive major gifts from individuals or foundations to carryout their Christian mission. In 2004, the Salvation Army received one of the largest gifts ever for Christian ministry via the founder's wife of McDonald's, Joan Kroc, in the amount of 1.5 billion dollars.
2. Power to Make Wealth - God is going to give witty inventions to believers throughout the world that will generate wealth. This has already begun. "But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today" (Deut 8:18).
3. Social Entrepreneurship - Just as Joseph was entrusted with the resources of Egypt to solve a societal problem resulting from a famine in the land, God is going to transfer money to believers who are solving societal problems. Governments will fund private enterprises because government is not been able to do it.
4. Wealthy Individual "Conversions" ? Finally, many non-believers who are wealthy will become Christians in these last days and will begin to use their wealth for Kingdom purposes.
The transfer of wealth is designed to accelerate God's activity on the earth, not to simply make believers wealthy. Pray that God uses your work life call to accelerate His Kingdom on earth. And pray that God raises up good stewards of wealth.

The Danger of Anger


The Danger of Anger


Ephesians 4:26-27

Yesterday we learned how to deal with lingering anger in our lives. Today we'll discover God's principle for preventing long-term resentment. The key is to deal with this dangerous emotion promptly.
It's important to realize that believers can have moments of anger and still remain right with God. Yet anger that is allowed to linger and fester is an opportunity for Satan. He quickly plants justifications in our mind: That person deserves to be yelled at. You shouldn't be treated that way! God understands that you're frustrated. By handing people excuses to build a defense for harboring fury, Satan creates a stronghold in their lives. It is a foolish man or woman who hides behind that wall (Eccl. 7:9).
We are not to lay even one brick for the Devil's stronghold. Instead, believers must respond to provocation by forgiving others as God forgives. His mercy is unconditional; there's no wrong that He does not pardon. Believers cannot stand before God and justify harboring long-term anger. So we must release it at once through forgiveness.
We can further protect ourselves by identifying frequent irritants. When those situations (or people) loom, we should pray that God makes us quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19). That is the spiritual fruit of self-control in action.
Anger produces only rotten fruit—sour relationships, a poor witness, etc. The wise believer takes a two-fold approach to dealing with it. First, heed the Bible's 300-plus warnings about this dangerous emotion and be vigilant against it. And second, forsake your anger in favor of forgiveness.

"To live is Christ, and to die is gain"


Philippians 1

Paul urges us to have his perspective: "To live is Christ, and to die is gain" (v. 21).

INSIGHT

With Paul's perspective on life, he cannot lose. Wherever he is, Paul considers it "the world" into which the Lord wants him to go to preach the Gospel. Even prison is a positive experience for Paul, because he is able to spread the Gospel there. And if he is to die, that is even better. To live is fruitful ministry, but to die is gain. Most of us have our affections too deeply implanted in the things of this world to identify with hisperspective. We must learn to let go.

PRAYER

The Lord is worthy of our praise:
"Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. You show lovingkindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after themÑthe Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts. You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings."
(Jeremiah 32:17-19)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
(Psalm 51:1-3)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Then pray this affirmation to the Lord:
You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
(2 Corinthians 8:9)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
  • An eternal perspective
  • Your ministry in your local church
  • Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
(Ephesians 3:20-21)

Justified Hope


Justified Hope
 
"And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." Romans 5:5 (New Living Translation)
 
     The Bible says that Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness (Romans 4:3). Abraham was established as just, being acquitted from guilt, not because of certain good works or charitable deeds. Abraham was justified based solely on his belief in God. Circumcision, the outward sign of the covenant with God, was done after Abraham believed the promise. 
 
     Likewise, all our good works must come from an inward faith first; for truly we are justified by faith alone. Righteousness is "counted" to us by our faith in God. That word counted or accounted, as seen in some translations, means credited. In accounting, debits are a use of funds, while credits are a source of funds. If you have more debits (uses of funds) than your have credits (sources of funds), your bottom line is in the red – plain and simple. Sin literally accumulated a debt that we could not pay. But belief in what Jesus Christ did for us on the Cross credits our heavenly account, literally clearing the debt situation caused by sin! Wow, that's good news! Jesus puts His righteousness in our heavenly account when we choose to believe in His work of redemption.
 
     Now that righteousness does not only mean the forgiveness of sin, but now I have access to the promises of God! Romans 4:13 says that Abraham received the promise through righteousness of faith. Having received that promise, Abraham (formerly Abram) began to call himself the “father of many nations” before the promised child even came forth (Romans 4:17). 
 
     The Scripture goes on to say in verse 18 that against hope (no cause for hope), Abraham believed in hope. If we look at Abraham’s situation based solely on the facts, then there was no cause for hope. But Godly hope is not mere wishful thinking. When you have received a promise from God, you hope in faith. That was Abraham’s cause for hope – the promise of God given to a man justified by faith! Your current circumstance may not be a cause for hope. All you may have left is the promise of God. Base your confidence on the God who fulfills all His promises. Like father Abraham, begin to call those things
Send this message to a Friend, and go take charge of the day!Be Blessed,
Katishia Gallishaw
Revival Time Internet Ministries


Sunday, October 23, 2011

We All Need Our Purahs


We All Need Our Purahs




"If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp" (Judg 7:11).
The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years He gave them into the hands of the Midianites. Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. God heard their prayers and decided to deliver them from their oppression through an unknown farmer named Gideon. God came to Gideon through an angel and addressed him, "Mighty Warrior" which was quite a stretch of characterization from Gideon's perspective.
All of us can relate to Gideon. He is very insecure about this assignment from God, especially after God reduces his troop size from 22,000 to 300, to insure that Gideon knew where the victory was coming from.
Now Gideon was still not convinced about this battle, so God did two more things to help ease Gideon's anxiety. He told him to go into the camp during the night to eavesdrop on their soldiers. God tells Gideon that what he will hear will encourage him. Gideon is terrified by the whole idea. So, God takes another step in order to use Gideon for His purposes. He sends a trusted friend and soldier named Purah with him.
God knew that Purah was the person Gideon could confide in, probably one of the ten that had helped him to break down the altar of Baal. He must take him and no one else with him. Purah would be a witness of what Gideon would hear the Midianites say and then provide the needed faith to enter the battle. He would also be a witness to what they hear and reported to the troops. Gideon went on and won the battle.
We all need "Purahs" in our lives. We need people who are willing to take risks and who can be used by God to bring our faith up to a level of being able to do extraordinary things in His Kingdom.
Has God called you to a daunting assignment? Perhaps He has also placed a "Purah" in your life to encourage you.

We are to put on the full armor of God to fight and win the spiritual war.


Ephesians 6

We are to put on the full armor of God to fight and win the spiritual war.

INSIGHT

Satan is a deceiver and a destroyer; he deceives in order to destroy. A part of his deception is to have us believe he is not at work opposing our pursuit of righteousness. To combat his efforts, we must do several things. First, recognize that we must "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might"(v. 10), not in our own strength. Second, we must "put on the whole armor of God" (v. 11). Each piece described in verses 14-17 must be in place daily. Third, we must pray at all times Òin the SpiritÓ (v. 18). And finally, having done all that, we must stand firm without fear, knowing we are secure (v. 13).

PRAYER

Because the Lord has promised to fight for us, we can praise Him!
Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.
The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars;
He calls them all by name.
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding is infinite. . . .
The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy. . . .
He has not dealt thus with any nation;
And as for His judgments, they have not known them.
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 147:1-5, 11, 20).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,"
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Selah (Psalm 32:5).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
(2 Corinthians 5:21)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
  • Faithfulness with your finances
  • Revival among Christians in America
  • Your activities for the day
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen
(2 Corinthians 13:14)

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Reflecting the Light


Reflecting the Light




"John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light" (John 5:35).
The moon is lovely on a clear night only because it reflects the light of the sun. It has no qualities by itself to reflect its beauty. Without the sun shining onto its surface, you and I would never see the moon. It would simply be a dark object in the sky.
A diamond is designed to reflect the light to reveal its true value. The cut of a diamond determines its brilliance. There is no single measurement of a diamond that defines its cut, but rather a collection of measurements and observations that determine the relationship between a diamond's light performance, dimensions and finish.
Jesus came to bring the light of His love and grace to each of us. However, we are born into a world dulled by the sin created by Adam and Eve that makes our lives dark until we meet Jesus. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." (Rom 3:23-24).
Jesus contrasted in many parables that those who allow His life to live in them will live in the light amidst darkness. When you invite Jesus Christ to live in your heart it is as though a light is shining upon your life in order to reflect the glory of God's Son through you.
Jesus calls you to be a vessel to reflect the brilliant light of His love to others. The workplace is a great place to reflect His glory. How are your reflective qualities? Ask Him to make your life a continual reflection of His light to others.

Forsaking Anger


Forsaking Anger


Ephesians 4:30-32

A righteous life has no room for lingering anger, whether in the form of rage or resentment. Fury that hardens in our hearts becomes a stronghold for Satan.
The fleshly method for "curing" wrath is to either let it out (rage) or suppress it (resentment). Neither is effective for solving problems or making an angry person feel better. God's way of dealing with this dangerous emotion dissolves it and sets the believer free. As today's passage reminds us, we are to "let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from [us], along with all malice" (v. 31). But to do so requires that we recognize it's there.
Whether we are annoyed at ourselves, another person, or God, we have to own that feeling. Pretending that the emotion doesn't exist or that we've somehow risen above anger is useless. If you're angry, admit it and then identify the source. Knowing who or what ignited the initial fury can prevent people from misdirecting irritation onto the innocent.
Here are some questions to help in identifying a source of anger:
• Why am I angry?
• At whom am I angry?
• What caused me to feel/act this way?
• Where or when did this feeling start?
• Have I been angry a long time?
Once we know the source of our anger, it's time to forgive, no matter what. Fury and unforgiveness often go together, and they're heavy baggage that will drag you down. God calls us to set them aside and take up love and kindness instead. Forsaking anger means walking in His will with a light step.

We are to walk in love just as Christ did.


Ephesians 5

We are to walk in love just as Christ did.

INSIGHT

The wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience (the unsaved). Therefore, we are not to partake of their deeds. For we were formerly darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. If this is so, do you as a Christian need to alter any of your present habits? What about your television viewing habits? If it is disgraceful even to speak of the things that are done by the children of darkness, how much more disgraceful is it to sit in our living rooms and watch it? What about movies, books, magazines, or conversations with friends? Do your habits reflect the light of God?

PRAYER

Praise the Lord that He has transferred us out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light:
Mary said:
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation"(Luke 1:46-50).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving as you pray this confession to the Lord:
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit
(Psalm 32:1-2).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer's feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills (Habakkuk 3:19).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
  • Greater love for your family
  • The work of missions in South America
Finally, close with this prayer:
To Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, . . . to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
(Romans 16:25-27)

Friday, October 21, 2011

BUT GOD......!


Ephesians 2

All men are dead in sin, but by grace through faith in Christ they may be saved from sin.

INSIGHT

Two of the most wonderful words in the Bible occur in this chapter: "But God . . ." We were dead in our transgressions and sins; we followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the spirit of disobedience; we lived to gratify the cravings of our sinful natures; and we were by nature objects of wrath. BUT GOD, because of His great love for us, made us alive with Christ. We have been saved; God has raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms, that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER

Praise the Lord that He extends grace to you:
All Your works shall praise You, O Lord,
And Your saints shall bless You.
They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your power,
To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
(Psalm 145:10-13)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.
The humble He guides in justice,
And the humble He teaches His way. . .
For Your name's sake, O Lord,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
(Psalm 25:8-9, 11)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
  • Christian educational institutions
  • Challenges for the disabled
  • Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore. (Psalm 121:7-8)

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal
but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:4)

Coming Signs of Persecution


Coming Signs of Persecution




"Come," they say, "let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more" (Ps 83:4).
God calls us to know the signs of the times. The final end time conflict will arise when nations of the world will come against Israel. The Bible is clear that Jesus will return to the physical place of Jerusalem to collect His bride, represented as all those who believe and trust in Jesus, the Messiah. "Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready" (Rev 19:7). "I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband" (Rev 21:2).
Israel will always be a place of conflict in the world because Satan knows that this is the place Jesus must come back to in order to collect His bride. And when Jesus does that, it will be the end of Satan's influence on the earth through anti-Christ nations. But until Jesus returns, the land of Jerusalem will be in a tug of war among the nations.
There is a growing intolerance in the world for anyone who has a belief system in absolutes. Christians will be viewed as rigid, inflexible and intolerant of other faiths. There will be a season of political moderate philosophy among many nations and individuals. This moderate philosophy will even happen among Christians, Muslims, and political groups. This will open the door to the influence of the antichrist to come against any group believing in absolutes.
A growing trend of anti-Semitism and persecution will emerge against Jews and committed Christians. Christians will be called to stand with our brothers and sisters in Israel. When this happens it will be one of the reasons Jews will believe in the Messiah.
There has been a season of peace for followers of Christ in the western, European and Asian world. But know that a season of persecution is to come. "However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name" (1 Peter 4:16-17).
Pray that you will be faithful.

Obedience or Preference


Obedience or Preference


Matthew 26:36-42 

Every believer must choose whether he will live by the principle of obedience or follow his preferences. When a person commits to doing the Lord’s will, then every situation and decision is sifted through the standard of “God said it, so I’m going to do it—and that’s the end of it.” He may complain, weep, or try to argue. But in the end he will be obedient, no matter what.
I recall being invited years ago to inter-view with a church in Atlanta. During the entire road trip, I told the Lord that I didn’t want to move. I fussed and carried on a good while, but I knew Atlanta would be my new home. I didn’t like the idea, but the alternative was unimaginable: there are few things more unpleasant than living with the nagging anxiety that you missed out on something good.
The Lord certainly understands our need to question, cry out, and petition Him for the strength to do what He asks. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that we have a high priest who can sympathize with us. Jesus wasn’t excited or happy about the cross. He grieved over the coming separation from His Father. Nevertheless, He was committed to following God’s will (Matt. 26:39). No one took Christ’s life from Him; He laid it down (John 10:18).
Our lives are about fulfilling God’s purpose. Many people miss His awesome plan for them because they choose to follow their preferences. Obedience is sometimes hard, but the struggle and sacrifice are worth it. There is joy and peace for the believer who pleases the Lord and lives by His principles.

Christians are to live in righteousness and holiness


Ephesians 4

Christians are to live in righteousness and holiness, worthy of their calling in Christ.

INSIGHT

On the basis of who we are in Christ - redeemed, inheritors with Christ, adopted into God's family, and destined to spend eternity with Him - we are to live a lifestyle that reflects our identity. We are no longer to live as we did before we knew the Lord - or as those who do not know Him. By putting on the "new man" we will preserve the unity of the Spirit and show the world that Christ is real. He makes a difference in the life that is dedicated to Him.

PRAYER

Praise the Lord that He is molding you into His image:
Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
Who delights greatly in His commandments.
His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches will be in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous (Psalm 112:1-4).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I will behave wisely in a perfect way.
Oh, when will You come to me?
I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;
I hate the work of those who fall away;
It shall not cling to me.
A perverse heart shall depart from me;
I will not know wickedness
(Psalm 101:2-4).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, You are very great:
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. . . .
You who laid the foundations of the earth,
So that it should not be moved forever
(Psalm 104:1-2, 5).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
  • Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit
  • Unsaved friends and co-workers
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Whoever is wise will observe these things,
And they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord
(Psalm 107:43)

The Source


Never Thirst Again

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:9-14
          Drought is a condition that results when the average rainfall for an area drops far below the normal amount for a long period of time.  In areas that are not irrigated, the lack of rain causes farm crops to wither and die. Higher than normal temperatures usually accompany periods of drought. These high temperatures increase the stresses on plants and add to the crop damage. Forest and grass fires are more frequent and spread quickly due to the dry conditions. Streams, ponds, and wells often dry up during a drought, and animals suffer and may even die because of the lack of water. Drought ranks as the chief cause of famine. Famine results in crop failure. Crop failure results in food shortages. Food shortages result in starvation.

     The answer for famine is bread and the answer for drought is water. It is God who gives us bread when we are hungry and water when we are thirsty. The bread from heaven that we need for our hunger is Jesus. The rock that the water comes from is Jesus. All you need is Jesus. In John 6:47-48, Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life." When the Jews were in the desert for 40 years, twice Moses struck a rock, and twice water gushed out of the rock for the people to drink (Num 20:1-13; Exodus 17:1-6). The rock is a manifest type of Christ: “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4). My friend, make Jesus your desire and never thirst again.

     Thirst is a perception associated with the body's need for water. The body's internal environment, the organs and tissues, requires certain amounts of water and mineral salts to function properly. Too much or too little water or salt can damage or destroy cells. Therefore, people and animals must control the balance of water and salt within their bodies. This balance is maintained mainly through the kidneys, which remove water and salts as urine, and the behaviors associated with seeking out and consuming water and other liquids.

    Not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration. Symptoms of dehydration usually begin with thirst and progress to more alarming manifestations that are often fatal. Now if dehydration is the removal of water from an object, then the treatment of dehydration to reverse its effects would be rehydration. To prevent dehydration you simply need to replenish the liquids that are lost throughout the day.

    At the end of a feast Jesus knew that there were those in the midst who were still hungry not for food but for God. He also knew by whom their thirst could be satisfied. He said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (John 7:37).”  My friend, we all need that “last day” experience where we come to the end of ourselves. We all need to come to that place where after “that great day of feasting” we realize that we are still hungry and thirsty. Thank God that Jesus made a way for us so that we don’t have to die of thirst. Today I encourage you to daily “rehydrate” through bible study, prayer, fellowshipping with other believers and if you are not saved; confessing Him as Lord and Savior.

Paul is called to be a minister and to take the Gospel to the Gentiles


Ephesians 3

Paul is called to be a minister and to take the Gospel to the Gentiles.

INSIGHT

Paul calls his ministry the fulfillment of a "mystery." In the Bible, a mystery is nothing mysterious but something previously unknown. The mystery was that Jews and Gentiles would join together to form a new entity–the church. This mystery was foretold by Jesus, but the details of the doctrine, walk, and destiny of the church were communicated by Paul and his fellow apostles. Now as a new thing–the body of Christ–we are all to allow Christ to live His life through us.

PRAYER

Praise God for the mighty plan He has for the church:
Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
Praise the name of the Lord! . . .
The Lord is high above all nations,
His glory above the heavens.
Who is like the Lord our God,
Who dwells on high,
Who humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in the heavens and in the earth?
(Psalm 113:1, 4-6)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
By Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:16-18)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
  • Wisdom as you serve in your local church
  • Your activities for the day
  • Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:9-10)

The Wisdom of Right Relationships


The Wisdom of Right Relationships


Hebrews 10:23-24

The subject of positive relationships is near to my heart because God has provided me with such good friends. These are the people who challenge me to do more for the Lord. My friends love me, but they certainly aren’t content to let me stay as I am! If they spot a sin in my life or see something I could do better, they say so.
Paul gave relationships a high priority too. The apostle surrounded himself with people who could help him achieve two things: fulfillment of his God-given mission and conformity to Christlikeness. While Paul was pouring himself into the lives of others, he was being built up and strengthened by his fellow believers. That, in brief, is the Lord’s plan for every one of His children.
What about you? Do you have certain relationships that motivate you to pursue God more fervently? It does matter whom we allow to influence our lives. The Father equips your brothers and sisters to invest in you—to encourage you, to pray for you, and to prod you toward a more complete faith—so that you are prepared to devote yourself to serving others. Good relationships with people who build each other up can help believers fulfill God’s plan for their lives.
The finest relationships are between people who want to see each other succeed in faith and therefore “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24, niv). In other words, our best friends are those who love us as we are but never cease to challenge us to be better for the Lord.

Never Thirst Again


Never Thirst Again

 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:9-14

     A reservoir is a place where large quantities of water are stored to be used for irrigation, power generation, water supply, and recreation. Reservoirs may also serve as a means to control flooding. A reservoir may be either natural or artificial. Natural lakes form reservoirs from which some cities obtain their water supply. Reservoirs that supply water for large cities contain billions of gallons of water.

     The word reservoir also means “storehouse.” A “storehouse” is simply a place where things are stored. A refrigerator is a storehouse. A pantry is a storehouse. Where ever things are kept for present or future use can be considered a storehouse. In other words a “storehouse” is a source the place from which anything comes or is obtained and a resource a place of any supply that will meet a need.


     This woman of Samaria had a need. Jesus let her know that He was her abundant, unlimited supply. Her abundant, unlimited reservoir; her abundant, unlimited storehouse; her abundant, unlimited source and her abundant, unlimited resource. Jesus let her know that He was the answer to her thirst.
     There have been times when I have felt what I thought was hunger. Thinking that I was hungry, I mistakenly would eat something. Afterward, I still wasn’t satisfied. That’s when I knew that I was not hungry I was thirsty. It was water that I craved.
     The woman of Samaria thought that “five husbands” (v18) was a way to satisfy her felt need of thirst. The number five represents the “grace of God.” Her real need was for what only Jesus could give her. She thought the one she was with was the one that she needed. Jesus let her know He was the only One who should be number one in her life.
     My friend, are you thirsty? Don’t make the mistake of seeking after the things of the world to fulfill your hunger. Seek the Lord. He alone is your abundant, unlimited supply; your abundant, unlimited reservoir; your abundant, unlimited storehouse; your abundant, unlimited source and your abundant, unlimited resource. He alone can satisfy your thirst.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Seeing Backward


Seeing Backward




"O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed" (Ps 30:7).
It is often difficult to recognize the hand of God when we are in the midst of adversity. We often feel God has hidden His face from us. When the Lord takes us through deep valleys, there will be fruit from the deep valley that we cannot see. You must press into Him with all you have during this time.
God uses the deep valley to frame our lives to create a change in our nature, not just a change in habits. The depth and width of our valley is often an indicator of the level of calling and influence we will have on others in the future. Our adversity is not just for us, but others who will be in our future path of influence. This is not very comforting when you are in the middle of the valley, but know this is a truth in the Kingdom.
It is often years later when we discover the wisdom of God and why He intentionally led us through the dark valley. Life is often lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back at through valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale and the spiritual deposits He has made in our life while we were there. "He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light" (Job 12:22). When you begin to realize this, you sit back and breathe a sigh of relief because you know that God was in control all along. It didn't seem like it at the time, but He was.
Do you find yourself in the valley? Now is the time to fully trust Him to guide you to higher ground.

The Impact of Right Relationships


The Impact of Right Relationships


Exodus 17:8-13

The Lord laid out the plan for your life before the foundation of the world, and every day He guides you along the path marked with your name. He never intended that you walk it alone. Human beings are designed for relationship. By that, I certainly do mean that God Himself will help you. But in addition, He also provides men and women—fellow believers—to come alongside you as encouragers, mentors, friends, and co-laborers.
There isn’t a single biblical saint for whom pursuit of God was a successful solo venture. Consider Moses, for example—the human hero of Israel’s liberation, the recipient of the Ten Commandments, and the leader of the Israelites throughout their extended trip to the Promised Land. He sounds like a one-man show, but Moses had a network of friends and family providing wise counsel and necessary aid. He relied upon Aaron and Joshua in particular.
For the battle against Amalek, God designed a strategy that incorporated all three men. Moses sent Joshua to lead the troops while he raised his staff in honor to the Lord, who promised victory. When Moses’ endurance waned, Aaron and Hur held his arms aloft, lending their strength to support his mission. What a beautiful symbol of godly friendship.
Self-sufficiency is prized in the world, but it isn’t God’s design for His children. A group of people rightly connected can do so much more than a man or woman acting alone. Moses proved that. He was a wise and formidable leader, in part because he had the support and counsel of loyal friends.

Your Devotion is Your Victory

Your Devotion is Your Victory

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. Matthew 4:1-11

Before going into war a strategy, a plan for victory must be developed. Only after completing a plan are you ready to go into battle. The first word in verse 1, then, suggests that Jesus, following His baptism, on a forty day fast, led of Spirit, was now ready to go and overthrow the kingdom of satan. Just as Jesus had a plan for defeating satan; satan had a plan for Jesus’ defeat. How was the devil to defeat Jesus? His plan was to seduce Jesus into sinning against God by having Him go against God’s word. Had Jesus at anytime yielded to the temptation of making the stones into bread (verse3), casting himself down from the pinnacle of the temple (verses 5, 6) or worshiping satan himself (verse9), he would have been in violation of the word of God and shown His allegiance to, and agreement with the words of satan.


My friend, you have an enemy who is very subtle and seductive. Satan’s strategy is not just to defeat you, but destroy you. He uses a false light called darkness to tempt men of their own lusts. He uses the false light of darkness to attract those who have darkness in them. And you won’t know you are in darkness unless a true light comes. Jesus is that True Light. He has no darkness in Him at all (1 John 1:5). His total devotion to God gave him the victory over satan. In doing so Jesus showed us that we can do the same. Let us follow after His example of being totally filled with the light of the word of God. Let us be completely consumed and devoted to His will and purpose thereby achieving 100% victory 100% of the time.

Prayer at Work








"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know" (Jer 33:3-4).
Julian Watts and Warren Sinclair, who operate an international company called Markets Unlocked in Guildford, England have learned how important intimacy and the presence of God is to fulfilling His purposes for their business.
In 1999, the Lord asked Julian if he would be willing to resign his partnership in a multi-national company, leave the company and walk out into the unknown. Now without a job, he spent the next few months attempting to discover what the Lord wanted him to do. Eventually, he founded an internet company that specialized in connecting businesses that wanted to buy and sell to each other. He set about building the new company, focusing on all the commercial fundamentals and occasionally praying for God's help to get the task done.
The business grew very quickly, riding on the crest of the Internet wave. But the dotcom crash that swiftly followed in the year 2000 was brutal, and the company was all but wiped out. The Christian directors started praying together - monthly at first, then, as things continued to worsen, weekly, and finally, as desperation set in, daily!
The directors' daily routines soon began to change. At first, Julian started having his own personal time with the Lord from 5:00 A.M. to 7:00 A.M. each day. Then, from 8:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M., all the company directors would meet to worship and pray. From 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. every weekday, one director would worship and intercede for the company; and every Tuesday from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M., everyone in the company would meet, along with local pastors and intercessors, to worship and intercede.
By late 2001, the company had passed through the wilderness of the dotcom crash. In the process, all the commercial aspects of the company had been completely transformed - including its business strategy, organization structure, people, operational processes, location and everything else.
Today, the directors see that the Lord is increasingly establishing their company's corporate identity and defining characteristic as their corporate intimacy with Him. Markets Unlocked is now expanding rapidly around the world, with customers in over 80 countries.

Christians have forgiveness of sin—an eternal inheritance.


Ephesians 1

Christians have forgiveness of sin—an eternal inheritance.

INSIGHT

Most Christians need to re-identify who they are. We still see ourselves as mere human beings, children of the age with the albatross of the world hanging around our necks. That is who we once were, but are no longer. We have been adopted by God and are now His children. We are newly created in Him in holiness and righteousness. We have been given an inheritance in heaven that includes wealth and power. We have been changed; we are no longer what we were. When that truth "sinks in," we begin to act like who we really are rather than who we were.

PRAYER

Praise God for His mighty work of regeneration in your life!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
While I live I will praise the Lord;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. . . .
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God. . . .
The Lord shall reign forever—
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 146:1-2, 5, 10)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I said, "Lord, be merciful to me;
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You." . . .
But You, O Lord, be merciful to me, and raise me up,
That I may repay them. . . .
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen. (Psalm 41:4, 10, 13)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
  • A renewed mind
  • Opportunities to serve the Lord
  • Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 15:13)

The Standard Stops the Flood


The Standard Stops the Flood

When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.Isaiah 59:19

Isaiah lets us know that when your enemy attempts to cover you, submerge you, flow over you and fight against you and take authority over you. It is then that the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard against him. A standard is widely recognized or employed as a model of authority or excellence: A flag, banner, or ensign, especially: The ensign of a chief of state, nation, or city. An emblem or flag of an army, raised on a pole to indicate the rallying point in battle.


For the believer God’s Word is the standard, the model of authority and excellence. God’s Word is the flag of the Holy Nation of our citizenry. God’s Word  is what we raise up as a rallying point in our daily battles. There is no higher standard, there is no higher authority than God’s Word.

In the book of Isaiah chapter 14, satan made this declaration of war against God, “13…I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” He started a war that he can’t win.

When the enemy comes in like a flood, this is who he has to contend with: He has to contend with Jehovah-Nissi: "The Lord Our Banner" (Ex. 17:15). God on the battlefield, from the word which means "to glisten," "to lift up," (Psalm 4:6). He has to contend with Jehovah-Sabaoth: "The Lord of Hosts" The commander of the angelic host and the armies of God (Isa. 1:24). He has to contend with El Elyon: “Most High" (Deut. 26:19, 32:8; Psa. 18:13;). He has to contend with Abir: “Mighty One” (Gen. 49:24; Deut. 10:17; Psa. 132:2, 5; Isa. 1:24, 49:26, 60:1).

My friend, you are an overcomer, not because I say so, but because Jesus says so. Jesus says this about you, “I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:14). Jesus says this about you, Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Today, take Him at His word. His word is the standard that stops the flood.